Tomorrow’s Trailblazer: A Story of Change and Growth (Trailblazers)
Written by Carolyn Watkins
Illustrated by Remesh Ram
Charlotte is intrigued when she finds her mom reading so many books! Her mother explains that she is returning to school to become a veterinarian.
At first, Charlotte worries, but her mother assures her that she will still be a “mom.” Change can be a good thing as our brain continues to expand and grow. Charlotte is excited to share her news with classmates.
Mother and child learn that it is okay to be unsure when trying out new things, but the reward is well worth the effort. This expressive, multicultural picture book encourages preschool and elementary readers to push the boundaries and explore new passions. Recommended especially for ages three through six.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG TO GET NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Sadie Soars into Space: A Storybook with Fun Solar System Facts (STEM Storybooks for Toddlers)
Written by Arezu Sarvestani
Illustrated by Floss Pottage
I received this book to review from Penguin Books and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this board book.
Few books written for a toddler audience combine interesting rhymes with appealing illustrations, plus a wealth of factual information about space. The toddler journeys with Sadie the astronaut and her cat Buckles on an adventure through space. However, the author includes a wealth of supplementary information about stars, asteroids, galaxies and more. As the child matures, he will return to this book for more space science to investigate.
This is a delightful read-aloud and parent or classroom library resource to entice young minds to become interested in stem.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG TO GET NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Publisher’s Book Summary: Felix and Harry, two best friends, are super excited to go away for the summer to Camp Horizon, a sleepaway camp in the woods of New Hampshire. There, they can bike, hike, and ride canoes on Lake Omigosh. But something mysterious lurks in the depths of the lake.
For many years, people have claimed to have spotted a mysterious creature drifting on the surface of Lake Omigosh. One day, when Felix and Harry decide to go canoeing, a bad storm arrives, putting the two in real danger. Who will come to their rescue when their canoe flips over and the boys are left stranded in the middle of the lake? Fuel your imagination with Adventures at Lake Omigosh.
Having worked as an investment banker in the municipal securities industry for decades, Scott Sollers created this and other nighttime stories for his daughter, Stephanie, when she was a youngster. Originally, he handwrote and illustrated these stories and finally had the inspiration to get them published. Scott still works, is an avid golfer, and leads a not-for-profit organization that helps disadvantaged children. He currently resides in San Mateo, California, with his cat, Charlie.
DANGER AFOOT Adventures at Lake Omigosh Written by Scott Sollers Illustrated by Brian Janky
Felix and Harry look forward to fun and adventure at summer camp every year when they visit Lake Omigosh in New Hampshire. How did it get such a strange name? For years, people have reported a strange creature resembling a large turtle swimming on the lake. Blurting out, Oh my gosh! Became a common reaction. The lake became associated with the name.
When Harry and Felix decide to take a rowboat out on the lake during their free time, they ignore one of the cardinal rules, to take lifejackets aboard. When an unexpected storm arises, they tumble out into the waters. Will they survive? Enter the strange legend. Read this beautifully illustrated multicultural picture book to find out.
Recommended as a bedtime story or read aloud for adventure story enthusiasts ages four through eight.
GIVEAWAY
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a hardcover copy of Adventures at Lake Omigosh and a notebook.
Would You Rather? Hanukkah Edition: Light Up the Season with a Hilarious Holiday Game for Kids
Written by Lindsey Daly
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zeitgeist Press and voluntarily decided to review with my honest opinions.
This book is filled with more than 160 questions about the Festival of Lights. The questions are aimed at readers in the eight to twelve year old audience. Each of these feature a choice with the reader being asked which is the preferred choice. Players of the game have fun while learning about the preferences of each participant. Judges choose the best answer based on humor, creativity, and logic. There are eight rounds to the game.
An enjoyable way to learn about the foods, rituals, history, and culture of Hanukkah while employing critical thinking skills. This book just might become and annual family Hanukkah tradition.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
How to Train Your Amygdala Written by Anna Housley Juster Illustrated by Cynthia Cliff
Most kids have never heard of the Amygdala, but it plays a vital role in keeping them safe. The author uses creative imagery to explain in simple language how it works. Sometimes worrying about what might happen can make the Amygdala work overtime so it is important to train it not to set off false alarms.
Juster provides children with strategies and techniques to relax and remain calm. Examples include deep breathing, relaxing, and connecting with favorite people. The interactive part of this book provides step by step directions for children and an accompanying guide for adults working with children.
Kudos to the author for writing this guide in simple, easily understandable language with large text and appealing illustrations. Recommended for children from preschool through primary grades and the caretakers who love and support them.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
What is Hanukkah?: Your guide to the fun traditions of the Jewish Festival of Lights (Jewish Holiday Books)
Written by Shari Last
A comprehensive picture book about this Jewish celebration including lots of additional resources. Last provides facts about its basis on the lunar calendar, the history of the Maccabees, the lighting of the menorah, and the word’s many spellings. Going beyond that, she reveals how Hanukkah is celebrated in different countries, foods and recipes, and how to play the dreidel game associated with the holiday.
The illustrations are bright and appealing and the text large enough to read easily for beginning readers. Language is informal and geared to the elementary school age target audience. This book is a good choice to place on a classroom multicultural holiday bookshelf or as a family activity book to celebrate the Hanukkah holiday at home.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
As a singer, storyteller, and composer, Barbara Roman possesses the right credentials for writing this beautiful picture book with a wonderful message for parents and an interesting story for young readers.
When Horace’s parents hear strange sounds coming from his room at night, they are curious to investigate, but when asked, Horace says he doesn’t want to explain unless he has to. Furtively, the parents try to peek through the keyhole, climb a tree, and peer down from the attic to find the answer. When they hear Horace singing into a conch shell, they are even more mystified.
The answer is revealed at the school talent show, and things seem to return to normal. There is a surprise ending at the end of the story that puts a smile on the face of the reader. The text contains prose and rhyme, accompanied by colorful illustrations. A book that can be enjoyed by a reader of any age, but highly recommended for middle-grade readers.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Thankful Day In Animalsville: Thanksgiving Story About Being Thankful And Showing Kindness to Others By Serving The Community
Written by Virtuous Nyamesem Cornwall
This book is a beautiful and effective way to explain the meaning of giving thanks and putting the message into action. It is particularly effective for young children.
Using animals as the main characters, the author explains that the town has decided to express gratitude on Thanksgiving Day by doing kind things for others. Thinking as a community, each family decides on a way to help someone outside their own family. Then the families of Animalsville present the action steps. Examples include visiting a food pantry, cleaning up trash, visiting a nursing home, assisting the homeless, and cleaning house for the elderly.
At the end of the book, young readers receive a list of suggestions to practice their own action steps of gratitude in their own communities.
Highly recommended for parents and teachers of children from ages five and older to teach the values kindness, respect, gratitude, and civics.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
The Knock – A Collection of Childhood Memories: Level 2 Reader for Children 9 – 12
Written by Carolyn Watkins
Illustrated by Lindsey Erickson
This is a poignant children’s book that creates a valuable resource for children living in military families.
This memoir is written from the point of view of an eight-year-old child whose father is called to serve in the Vietnam War. Readers learn about the fears of a child for his father’s safety, the difficult adjustment of a single mother and the turbulent life of military families who must pick up and move at a moment’s notice.
The book is written with the intention of providing an outlet for today’s children and military families to become a vehicle to express their hopes and fears.
The Level 2 Reader is appropriate for middle-grade readers. There is a Level 1 edition written in simpler language for military children who are younger.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Bembe’s Heart: An old as Earth…this is a story about a boy born without a heart but full of his mother’s love
Written and Illustrated by Marin Darmonkow
This book is a beautifully illustrated folk tale that delivers a message of hope, resilience, dedication, and love.
Readers meet Bembe, a boy born with no heart. That does not deter him from working harder than most, laboring in the fields with his mother by day, and helping her at night while she knits ponchos to make ends meet. All the villagers believe Bembe will not survive.
On the eve of Bembe reaching maturity, the shaman comes to visit their home to see what will happen. The story builds to a climax as the shaman and Bembe’s mother wait. Readers have no idea what to expect.
This book is suggested for elementary age readers, but I feel its message will be better understood by readers in the eight to twelve age range.
Highly recommended reading for parents and teachers to include on their bookshelf.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
December 18, 2024
bamauthor
Comments Off on EXCITING NEWS!
Barbara Ann Mojica's BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.