This book is part of a series of illustrated, beginning chapter books featuring Tweet Tweet and her penguin friends.
In this adventure, the Aurora Borealis is beginning to appear in the skies. Tweet Tweet, siblings, and friends understand this means it is almost time for the Christmas festival on Christmas Eve. They wait for their teacher to assign each a special role to prepare. They work together to prepare food, gather stones to decorate the tree, dance, and prepare for the parade. This book teaches children the lessons of the need to prepare ahead of time, work as a team, share tasks, and show empathy for each other.
The illustrations are in full-color that provide extra encouragement for beginning or reluctant readers. I recommend this series for readers in the six to nine year old age group.
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What Am I? Christmas: A Picture Book of Read-Aloud, Rhyming Christmas Riddles
Written by Shana Gorian
Illustrated by Art Porta
A beautifully illustrated Christmas holiday picture book!
Children (and adults) love solving riddles. This book could easily become a family holiday tradition passed down from one generation to another. These rhymes contain riddles about easily recognizable holiday objects appropriate for all ages from preschool on up.
Suggested for families and classrooms. Siblings or classmates might even want to turn the fourteen riddles into a competition to see who might get the most correct answers. Fun for all ages.
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This past year has been a hectic year for many all over the world. People have been coping with all that life brings in many ways. One way is working on self-care practices. There are many reasons why introducing practices of self-care into your life can make a pivotal difference in your life. For many, these practices and habits get overlooked in the chaos of the day, particularly during the busy holiday season.
What Is Self-Care
Self-care is defined as any activity that is intentionally meant to care for our mental, physical, emotional, and even spiritual health and wellness. Certain activities are common self-care practices. This means taking care of yourself so that you are healthy physically, and mentally.
You are at your best so that you can work, interact with friends and family, and you can do all the things you need to and want to in a day. This can look very different for each individual but some common self-care activities are listed below.
Self-Care Practices:
Yoga
Taking a hot bath to relax
Enjoying a cup of tea
Journaling
Meditation
Spirituality Practices
Getting a massage.
Listening to calming music
Cutting down on screen time.
And many more.
Why Is Self-Care Important
Adding self-care practices to your life has many benefits. Self-care is shown to reduce stress. In addition, many people feel that making time in their lives for self-care practices improves their own mental health greatly. Many people also report greater levels of happiness in their daily lives when incorporating self-care practices.
Taking care of yourself can also improve physical health. In addition to self-care on a personal level, self-care is a factor when facing illness, disease, or disability. Many health care professionals are adopting an integrative health care style approach that includes checking in with patients to help them seek balance in all aspects of life. This helps people facing illness or disease recover faster, better, and more successfully overall.
Tips To Practice Self Care In Your Life
Get enough sleep
Balance your commitments and priorities
Make a weekly schedule
Say no to optional tasks or events you don’t want to take on.
Stay on top of physical and mental health
Exercise
Allow quality time for friends and family.
Making space for self-care in your life provides great benefits to physical and mental health. Some aspects of self-care are personally enriching and fun.
Self-care is not selfish; it is vital to being a well healthy and balanced person. This lets you face whatever life throws at you without breaking your stride.
Schoochie and Skiddles: Schoochie’s Adoption Story
Written by Tom Tracy
Illustrated by Dustin James
Scoochie has been adopted by two men. She understands that her mother needed help in raising her. Scoochie explains the steps in the adoption process and how she feels loved and accepted. The subject is handled in a non-judgmental way that clearly explains the adoption process for children of all ages to understand. Non-traditional families with two dads as the adopters willing to maintain a relationship with birth mother and sister are presented simply and logically so that even the youngest child may grasp the situation. This picture book is part of a series that focuses on the non-traditional family.
I would highly recommend it for all parents, teachers, elementary and middle-school children as a springboard for discussion about both adoption and non-traditional families.
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The Squirrel that Watched the Stars (Starry Stories Book 1)
Written by Tom Kerss
Illustrated by Anni Betts
Written by an astronomer, this book is the first in a series. The rhymes are catchy and fun to read; the illustrations sparkle like the stars that are the subject of this book.
A squirrel sits in a high oak tree near the observatory. He wonders about the stars and wishes he could communicate with the workers in the observatory to learn more about them. Suddenly, a beautiful swan named Cygnus appears to him and brings him on a tour of the stars. The squirrel learns about the magnitude of stars in space and the one closest to earth, our sun. Star School is a teaching tool provided at the end of the fictional story that provides a jumping off point to more research about the stars for budding scientists.
The book is a lovely bedtime story for young children and an introduction to astronomy that will peak the interest of school-age children. I would also suggest placing the book in the science section of elementary school classrooms.
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Publisher’s Book Summary: In the sixth installment of the delightful Honeycake book series, Nala’s uncles, Victor and George, take her to a fundraiser where she meets Alexis, a girl with an artificial arm. Through her interactions, Nala learns that you are never too young to lend “a helping hand,” that it’s okay to be different, and that being different doesn’t stop you from doing great things in life.
PURCHASE LINKS
All proceeds from each book sale go to The War Amps CHAMP Program as Medea Kalantar’s charity of choice.
Medea Kalantar is a Reiki master and practitioner, a Guinness World Record Holder, and a multi-award-winning, best-selling author of the Honeycake Book Series(TM). Inspired to write these books when she became a grandmother, Kalantar’s stories are based on her own family, whose members come from many ethnic backgrounds. This unique mix is a perfect recipe—just like the spices in a honey cake. That is why she calls her grandchildren her little Honeycakes.
With all the negativity in the world, Medea Kalantar’s series is a much-needed glimmer of hope and positivity. The Honeycake Book Series(TM) teaches valuable life lessons, giving children the tools to overcome obstacles in their everyday lives. The Honeycake books teach children about diversity, acceptance, kindness, mindfulness, trust, and gratitude. This series will enlighten, empower, educate, and entertain children and their families for generations to come.
Nala is so excited. She is wearing the beautiful pink dress that her married uncles bought for her and she is going to attend a special fundraiser with them. They tell her she will meet a remarkable girl named Alexis.She is surprised to find out the event is being held at a store. At the party, Nala meets children who have different types of physical disabilities. What really amazes her is the fact they have learned to lead independent lives and remarkable achievements.
Alexis is beautiful in spirit as well. She has managed to raise ten million dollars with her charity. Not only does Nala meet many new friends. she learns that being different is not a handicap if you are motivated to achieve great things. Nala is inspired to follow in her footsteps.
The book contains a glossary to explain terms that might be unfamiliar to the elementary school reader. Kalantar also reveals a bit about the real life character behind the story.
This book contains many important lessons for young readers. It is beautifully illustrated with multicultural illustrations that show different cultures and display many types of disabilities. I would recommend it be placed on the shelves of libraries and classrooms to be used as a valuable diversity discussion tool.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win 6-book set of the Honeycake series with bookmarks—including a copy of Honeycake: A Helping Hand autographed by Madea Kalantar!
All proceeds from each book sale go to The War Amps CHAMP Program as Medea Kalantar’s charity of choice.
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
– A signed hardcover copy of Honeycake: A Family of Spices
– A signed hardcover copy of Honeycake: Help, I Swallowed a Butterfly
– A signed hardcover copy of Honeycake: Special Magical Powers
– A signed hardcover copy of Honeycake: A Circle of Trust
– A signed hardcover copy of Honeycake: Counting All My Blessings
– A signed hardcover of Honecake: A Helping Hand
–Bookmarks
Four (4) winners receive:
–A signed hardcover copy of Honeycake: A Helping Hand
Five (5) winners receive:
– A signed paperback copy of Honeycake: A Helping Hand
A beautifully illustrated picture book with an important message for parents and their children.
A king receives a prophecy that his son will be a talented musician. The king immediately decides the prince will be a royal trumpeteer. After the child is born, the king becomes frustrated when it appears the prince has no musical talent.
Eventually, the prince meets someone who inspires him to find his own way. Children learn that they must listen to their heart and use their own talents. Parents learn that it is wrong to place their own expectations or desires upon their children.
A book for elementary school readers and their parents or teachers to enjoy reading together.
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Publisher’s Book Summary: This delightful rhyming story follows our inventive young hero as he dreams about dressing up his plain backside in something festive “with layers and layers of green, with baubles that glow, bows in a row, and a star where it’s easily seen!” Will he get his wish? Kids will find out as they giggle all the way through this sweet holiday story.
Dawn McMillan writes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and storybooks for children. She is also the author of the hilarious best-selling I Need a NEW BUTT! series, as well as the adorable Doctor Grundy’s Undies, Seagull Sid and the Naughty Things His Seagulls Did!, and many more wonderful children’s books. She lives in Waiomu, New Zealand.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Ross Kinnaird‘s collaborations with Dawn McMillan include the popular I Need a NEW BUTT! series, as well as Doctor Grundy’s Undies and Seagull Sid and the Naughty Things His Seagulls Did! Ross also has illustrated such children’s books as 50 Body Questions and created the animated poem “Smaller,” winner of the People’s Choice Award at the World Parkinson Congress. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:
My Butt is So Christmassy
Written by Dawn McMillan
Illustrated by Ross Kinnaird
It’s Christmas Eve and the house if filled with cheer and chaos. Presents are gathered and the children scream in delight, but our protragonist is unhappy. While the tree looks amazing, he is unhappy with the pants he wears. What can he do to decorate them? Nothing seems to work. Finally, he realizes the true meaning of Christmas. The message is not about him. Will Santa provide him with the perfect Christmas?
Children learn about empathy, compassion, and family values while reading this hilarious picture book.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a copy of My Butt is SO CHRISTMASSY!
Bright Star: Empowering Children to Believe in Themselves and Follow Their Dreams
Written by Heather Dodge
Little Star is struggling to find her way in the world. Can she perform her job well? As she experiences failures and successes, Little Star discovers how to believe in herself and follow her dreams.
Children develop self-confidence and self-esteem, how to develop courage and resiliency. The questions and reflections prompt young readers to develop empathy for Little Star while building up the same skills within themselves. It enables readers to enjoy the adventures through the interactive experience.
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Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group | ISBN-13: 978-1626349759
Publisher’s Book Synopsis: Can You Spot the Leopard? is author/artist Karen B. Winnick’s newest picture book, an adventuresome African safari presented through poems and full-color paintings. Readers begin at sunrise, climbing into a jeep for a bumpy ride to view the wondrous animals as they would on a real safari. All the poems are based on real observations of what animals do in the wild, related in an accessible way. There’s even a sighting, finally, of the elusive leopard, before returning to safari camp under a starry night. At the back of the book, further information is related about each animal. A fun, informational, educational adventure to read and reread.
Ms. Winnick is an animal enthusiast, president of the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, and author of more than a dozen picture books, including Gemina: The Crooked-Neck Giraffe, How Lucky Got His Shoe, and Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers.
KAREN B. WINNICK is the author of more than a dozen picture books for children, most of which she illustrated. An animal lover, she serves on several boards devoted to the well-being of animals. She’s a graduate of Syracuse University, mother of three grown sons, grandmother of eight, and minder of five pups.
A beautiful adventure for the child with an active imagination. Winnick deftly authors the entire book in crisp rhymes that invite reading the tale over and over.
The illustrations are large and colorful, popping off the glossy pages. Young readers learn about animal habitats, food, family life, and survival. Children may have knowledge of elephants, rhinos, and giraffe but others like bushbucks, marabou, and bat-eared foxes are sure to intrigue the imagination.
Winnick presents the dangers in a non-threatening way. For adventurers who want to research, the glossary contains more information about thirty safari animals. This book is highly recommended as a reference book for a home or classroom library. It has appeal for elementary school and middle-grade readers, librarians, and teachers.
I look forward to reading more books by this talented author and illustrator.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win an awesome Dooney Press Gift Pack of books and more fun goodies!
Ten (10) winners receive:
– A signed copy of Can You Spot the Leopard? An African Safari
December 18, 2022
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