This post is sponsored by Maya Nurtures. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Guess How Marion Feels

Written by Miss Kaye

Illustrated by Miss Waitthk

Ages 3+ | 34 Pages

Publisher: ‎ Maya Nurtures (2024) | ISBN-13: 9781738593026

Publisher’s Book Summary: Marion is a kind, creative, and easy kid… but he’s faced with BIG emotions. Help Marion identify those BIG feelings in this interactive children’s picture book.

Guess How Marion Feels is a transformative experience that lays the foundation for emotional intelligence and meaningful connections. A gentle Social Emotional Learning (SEL) tool to guide parents, caregivers, and teachers to teach kids who struggle to pick up social cues and have challenges in social situations.

This book is made to celebrate and honor the feelings of our little ones, foster open communication, and create inclusive learning with our neurodivergent kids. Written by a neurodivergent author, Miss Kaye aims to support kids and everyone struggling with social interactions.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Miss Kaye was born in the Philippines. She had challenges as an adult neurodivergent. This serves as her inspiration for writing fun, engaging, and educational stories to teach life skills and mindfulness to kids.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Miss Waitthk is from Hongkong. She enjoys making people feel happy and joyful through her drawings. As a kid, she remembered drawing anime characters and coloring them with colored pencils. Since then, she kept on drawing.

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK

IT’S OKAY TO FEEL THIS WAY…

Guess how Marion Feels

Written by Miss Kaye

Illustrated by Miss Waitthk

A beautiful, interactive picture book that allows young children to explore and communicate their emotions with others.

Marion wakes up happy to start the day. When his mother reminds him that today is the first day at school, his feelings switch to being scared and apprehensive. As the day progresses, readers watch Marion, and his feelings change. A new situation creates mixed feelings of excitement, worry, hope, anger, confusion, and relief.

Young readers are asked to guess what Marion is feeling in each situation by studying the pictures and text. At the end of the book, they get a summary of the book when Marion discusses the whole range of emotions with his parents.

The book is targeted for readers ages one through seven, but I feel the message in the tale is just as valuable for older children.

GIVEAWAY

Enter the giveaway for the chance to win a 1-hour FREE coaching session to launch your own picture book, along with signed copies of Guess How Marion Feels (one to keep and one to share with a neurodivergent charity of your choice under your name).

Click here for the entry form: https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/guess-how-marion-feels-by-miss-kaye-awareness-tour/

TOUR SCHEDULE

Friday, February 9, 2024The Children’s Book ReviewBook Tour Kick-Off

Monday, February 12, 2024Life Is What It’s CalledAuthor Interview with Miss Kaye

Tuesday, Ferbuary 13, 2024icefairy’s Treasure ChestBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Wednesday, February 14, 2024The Momma SpotBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Thursday, February 15, 2024Barbara Ann MojicaBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Friday, February 16, 2024A Blue Box Full of BooksBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels and Little Free Library Drop

Monday, February 19, 2024One More ExclamationBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Tuesday, February 20, 2024Satisfaction for Insatiable ReadersAn article by Miss Kaye

Wednesday, February 21, 2024Crafty Moms ShareBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Thursday, February 22, 2024Get Outside and ReadBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Friday, February 23, 2024My Reading GetawayAuthor Interview with Miss Kaye

Monday, February 26, 2024Froggy Read TeachBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Tuesday, February 27, 2024Country Mamas with KidsBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Wednesday, February 28, 2024The Fairview ReviewBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Thursday, February 29, 2024Pages for PaigeBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Friday, March 1, 2024Cover Lover Book ReviewAuthor Interview with Miss Kaye

Monday, March 4, 2024Shooting Stars MagBook Review of Guess How Marion Feels

Tuesday, March 5, 2024Me Two BooksA Storytime Activity Paired with Guess How Marion Feels

A Home Can Be…

Written by Stephanie Seidler

Illustrated by Anastasia Sikilinda

The author explores the different locations for homes that both humans and animal creatures inhabit. They could be underground, underwater, up in the trees, or under open skies. Some are found in cold climates, and others in warm areas. They might be built of different materials like ice, stone, wood, or even the shell on the animal’s back. Most important, a home can be found anywhere as along as there is a loving support group.

The rhymes are crisp and sharp, the illustrations colorful and alluring.

I highly recommend this book exploring the diversity of our world to parents and teachers of preschoolers and primary grade children.

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This post is sponsored by Purple Butterfly Press. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Written by Talar Hercuilian Coursey and Riley Herculian Coursey

Illustrated by Meri Andreasyan

Ages 4+ | 36 Pages

Publisher: Purple Butterfly Press (2024) | ISBN-13: 9781955119450

Publisher’s Book Summary: We have big feelings!

Sometimes we don’t know what to do with them or how to change our thoughts that cause these feelings. The first day of school can be scary, but “Furrapist” Jackson Johnson and cute pup Ralphy of Ralphy’s Rules for the Good Life are committed to helping a busload of kids understand and manage their big feelings. During the ride to school, Furrapist Jackson Johnson teaches the children that they can choose their emotions and decide how to respond to them. Ralphy and Jackson make the complicated subject of emotional intelligence accessible for kids to understand and, more importantly, implement in their everyday lives.

So hop on the bus with us, and let’s learn about how taking charge of our feelings can change our day!

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Talar Herculian Coursey is a lawyer by day and a children’s book author, Life Coach, and philanthropist by night (more like mornings). She has been a General Counsel since 2011 and recently joined ComplyAuto, a privacy/cybersecurity SAAS company. Before going in-house, she was a file clerk, associate, and partner at the national labor and employment law firm Fisher Phillips LLP. Talar is a co-author of both #Networked: How 20 Women Lawyers Overcame the Confines of COVID-19 Social Distancing to Create Connections, CultivateCommunity, & Build Businesses in the Midst of a Global Pandemic and Women In Law: Discovering the True Meaning of Success. Her first children’s book, Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life, was published in 2021.

Talar has served as the President of the Salt Lake City Chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (“SOAR”) since 2015. SOAR, founded in 2005, supports orphanages in Syria, Lebanon and Armenia. She runs the Salt Lake City Half Marathon every year to raise money for SOAR in memory of her father. Net proceeds from her children’s books also go to SOAR. In addition to being a mother, wife, lawyer, life coach, and philanthropist, she is also a runner, yogi, and Jesus, Eckhart Tolle, Peloton, and Brandon Flowers groupie.

For more information, visit talaresq.com.

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS EXPLAINED FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Written by Talar and Riley Herculian Coursey

Illustrated by Meri Andreasyan

This is the second picture book in a series that defines and explains how to deal with emotions for elementary school age children.

Ralphy, a dog, drives the school bus and his friend Jackson Johnson, the Furrapist, sits next to him on the first day of school. As each child passenger enters the bus, Jackson asks how they are feeling. The children express feelings like excitement, sadness, nervousness, and tiredness. Jackson encourages each child to put this feeling on the front seat and decide later whether to leave it or take it with them when getting off the bus at school, teaching children that a feeling can be changed by thinking differently about it. The book portrays a wide range of feelings exhibited by multicultural children, which allows any reader to identify with the characters. At the end of the story, readers are encouraged to discuss their own feelings.

While the book is targeted for readers ages four through ten, it is relevant for a reader of any age. I would recommend it to parents and teachers for a read aloud and discussion.

GIVEAWAY

Enter the giveaway for the chance to win a classroom set that includes 25 copies of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings!

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

https://gleam.io/VfBnl/ralphys-rules-for-feelings-book-giveaway

  

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, January 22, 2024The Children’s Book ReviewBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Tuesday, January 23, 2024Me Two BooksA Storytime Activity Paired with Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Wednesday, January 24, 2024Life Is What It’s CalledAuthor Interview with Talar Herculian Coursey

Thursday, January 25, 2024The Fairview ReviewBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Friday, January 25, 2024Confessions of a Book AddictBook Spotlight of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Monday, January 29, 2024A Blue Box Full of BooksBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings and Little Free Library Drop

Tuesday, January 30, 2024icefairy’s Treasure ChestBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Wednesday, January 31, 2024Satisfaction for Insatiable ReadersBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Thursday, February 1, 2024Cover Lover Book ReviewBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Friday, February 2, 2024One More ExclamationBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Monday, February 5, 2024Country Mamas with KidsBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Tuesday, February 6, 2024The Momma SpotBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Wednesday, February 7, 2024Barbara Ann MojicaBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Thursday, February 8, 2024Deliciously SavvyBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

Friday, February 9, 2024Stargirls Magical TaleBook Review of Ralphy’s Rules for Feelings

The Mayfly and the Methuselah Tree: Memorable Children’s Story of Living Joyfully

Written by Bob Zaslow

Illustrated by Robert Askew

What a charming picture book done in soft pastel colors. The characters include a Methuselah Tree, which is almost five thousand years old, and a young Mayfly.

The tree has lost enthusiasm for life having seen and experienced similar experiences for so many centuries, but the newly born Mayfly lives with a zest for every sight and smell. The Mayfly challenges the tree as to why he cannot appreciate the beauty which surrounds it. These two completely opposite creatures share two diverse viewpoints that cause each of them to appreciate the joys of living each day.

This is a beautiful way to teach children empathy, compassion, and tolerance.

Recommended especially for readers in primary grades, but a beautiful reminder for any age reader.

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Diwali in My New Home

Written by Shachi Kaushik

Illustrated by Aishwarya Tandon

Priya has moved nine thousand miles from her old home in India. It’s time for the festival of lights, but here in America nothing is decorated, and the streets are quiet. Priya experiences mixed emotions.

When Priya returns home from school, she finds her mother preparing dishes of cardamom and ghee. Priya prepares flowers to make a rangoli and her father strings lights along the outside of the house. This draws the attention of neighbors who are invited to celebrate Diwali with the family.

Readers learn about the religious customs, dress, food, and fireworks of this festival. Kaushik includes illustrations of members of diverse communities and those with disabilities. Children receive a glossary of multicultural terms and a summary explanation of the Diwali festival.

This is a well-written and illustrated picture book that encourages empathy, compassion, and friendship among members of diverse communities. Highly recommended for parents and teachers of elementary school children as a read aloud book to discuss customs and traditions.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the author. I voluntarily chose to read and review with my honest opinions for no monetary compensation.

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Kindness Week

Written by Tahiya Cooper

Illustrated by Patricia Grannum

A lovely picture book that includes diverse multicultural characters and children with disabilities.

The protagonist, Tahiyah, is a third grade student who is a member of the Kindnesss Club. She has been waiting all year for Kindness Week. Tahiyah guides the readers through Day One in her classroom.

The book gives practical examples about spreading kindness in everyday situations. Tahiyah teaches children how they can practice kindness and teach others to do the same.

Beautiful illustrations and a wonderful teaching tool for elementary school classrooms and children’s home bookshelves.

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FORGOTTEN CHRISTMAS TREE (KITTEN’S STORIES

Written by Mrs. D.

Illustrated by Saima Malik

A holiday picture book for children that is sure to become a classic tale. Malik never fails to impress the reader with vivid colors and expressive images. This fantasy picture book story reminds all of us that what is old and discarded can become new and beautiful once more.

A kitten looks forward to the first Christmas. The kitten discovers a freshly cut Christmas tree in the garage. The kitten wants to know all about Christmas, but the tree has no experience to share. Then the kitten uncovers an old artificial tree that has been discarded.

What can the old cat and the old plastic tree teach the little kitten and the child who opens this magical Christmas tale?

Open this charming book and share it with your child today.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and voluntarily chose to read and review it with my honest opinions for no compensation.

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Luna Heartsong and the Explorers of Deep Space

Written and Illustrated by Lyra Brave

The protagonist, Luna, is a young girl who is brave and compassionate. She lives at the edge of the Milky Way. Luna’s fondest desire is to venture into deep space and explore the universe.

When the opportunity arises, Luna’s mother pleads with her not to go. Drawn by her insatiable curiosity, Luna answers the call. Her adventure will lead to many dangers, but Luna’s determination, empathy for others, and spirit of teamwork allow her to overcome the most formidable obstacles.

The illustrations are marvelous and the rhymes spot on. While the book is targeted for ages five through eight, the longer page length and vocabulary suggest for me a middle-grade audience as well.

This book with its strong female role model and intriguing plot make it a top choice for your next book selection to a home or classroom bookshelf.

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Melusine Birds of Many Feathers

Written by Geraldine V. Oates-Sese, Ph.D
Illustrated by Franchesca A. Guerrero

Children who are unfamiliar with birding may be inspired to become nature lovers after reading this book. Highly recommended for elementary and middle grade readers.

I loved this colorful picture book packed with so much knowledge.

The protagonist, Melusine, enjoys bird watching. One day she notices an unfamiliar sound outside her window. Melusine travels to her multicultural neighborhood to identify this bird. Along her journey, readers learn about the songs and calls of many birds. In addition, Melusine’s trip to the market with her parents exposes readers to the different languages spoken by members of her community.

The author provides a comprehensive summary of each bird call and a glossary of the terms expressed by humans in the various languages spoken in the market. This book portrays a beautiful message of the diversity and inclusive sounds emitted by human and feathered friends.

Children who are unfamiliar with birding may be inspired to become nature lovers after reading this book. Highly recommended for elementary and middle grade readers.

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The Gift of Being Different

Written by Monica Berg

Every child is unique and special. One of the reasons I believe each child’s educational setting needs to be unique not formulated by a cookie-cutter curriculum.

Abigail, the eight-year-old protagonist in this book is intelligent and happy until she notices that her reading group moves slower than the others and fellow classmates make fun of her. When she is diagnosed with dyslexia, Abigail feels stupid and lonely until her family and reading specialist show the remarkable capabilities and achievements of dyslexics. Through their love and support, Abigail learns there are many ways to be “special.”

The illustrations are soft and sensitive, yet emotionally powerful and appealing to the eye.

I would strongly suggest this book be included in elementary and middle school classroom bookshelves as a read aloud discussion book. It provides a wonderful asset for parents of a child with any type of disability to raise self-esteem.

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