I am a parent, grandparent, author, historian, and educator with forty years of experience as a teacher, principal, and school district administrator serving children in both the general and special education populations. I provide parents and teachers with tools and resources to accomplish their goals.
A family enjoys a picnic in a local park. When a bottle-cap falls off the table, their dog Buddy runs away with it. He just wants to play fetch. But that bottle-cap finds itself on an unexpected journey when different animal groups in the park commandeer it to use for fun. The boy runs around trying to regain possession while readers are treated to a riotous adventure.
The funny picture book features huge, colorful illustrations and large font. It is a fun read aloud for adults or beginnng readers. Characters are multicultural and diverse including children with disabilities.
Highly recommended for children ages two through five.
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A simple title for a book that delivers a lot of value in a picture book. The author employs rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia, descriptive adjectives, and sentence building to offer a host of learning opportunities for toddlers and preschoolers.
The words are associated with the colors that represent them, each page adds more text so that as the book unfolds readers repeat and reinforce the learning. At the end of the book a glossary is included to remind young readers exactly what those “hard words” mean.
The female captain is a role model for young girls unaccostumed to seeing females heading up the captain’s job.
This book is one that will be read over and over, each time reinforcing and building upon the learning that has already taken place.
Highly recommended for parents, teachers, and librarians who work with toddlers and preschoolers.
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Adventures into the Heart, Book 2: Playful Stories About Family Love for Kids Ages 3-5
Written and illustrated by Eric Klassen
A rhyming picture book for preschool readers that explores the concept of beauty through an explanation of familiar objects in the ocean. Part of a book series featuring the characters of a bear and a fox.
Children learn through words and colorful graphics that when one has love in the heart its expression cannot be measured. A perfect bedtime or read aloud picture book for toddlers and preschoolers.
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Miranda grew up in an ordinary town, but her temperament was different from most children. While her friends discarded toys that were broken or in which they lost interest, Miranda collected and cherished these toys. Her friends thought her strange. Soon they abandoned her. So Miranda ventured far away, and became the Queen of Broken Toys. She lived a lonely life until one day a boy who had lost a toy came to her castle. An incident changes the lives of both.
The soft pastel illustrations are appealing and appropriate to the mood of the tale. Elementary school readers can learn many lessons from Miranda. I am sure many children will empathize with her.
A charming, quick read for children of all ages. It might inspire a few to take better care of their toys.
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Publisher’s Book Summary: When Angelic hears that Daddy spread his love for her around the whole universe, she worries she hasn’t done the same for her baby brother. Only one thing to do! Brother and sister rocket into the night sky to explore the universe in search of the most awesome thing there. “Space Baby Salute!”
Under multiple pen names, Jay Dee is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author behind chart-topping comics, fiction novels, and business books, including THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS and GROW THROUGH IT, which was written, illustrated, and published during the CV-19 lockdown with proceeds donated to coronavirus relief efforts. PASS THE PIG: LEADERSHIP BY ATTRACTION was his first non-fiction book, and he made his fiction debut with the multimedia sci-fi/fantasy THE PLAGUE and EZEKIAL, followed by RENEGAYD, all of which became bestsellers.
Tom McGrath is based in the North West of England, working as a freelance illustrator since 2012. Despite being repeatedly told that all artists drink too much absinthe, cut their own ears off , and only make money after they’re dead – he has always wanted to be one. In fact, this has only encouraged him. He still has both his ears.
Angelica is infatuated with outer space. Her father tells her that his love for her fills the universe. One thing bothers her. Angelica has not spread her own message of love for her baby brother, Ollie.
Angelica cannot sleep. She transports her brother and herself on a trip through space visiting the galaxy, sun, planets, and space objects. She leaves a message of love everywhere they go. Soon she becomes sleepy and decides that finishing the task will have to wait.
This is a charming, picture book that teaches young children about family values and the world around us. Its story contains lots of dialogue among the main characters. The illustrations are colorful and endearing to young and old alike. While I would recommend the book especially for children under five, its universal message is one that should be shared with any age reader.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for the chance to win an autographed copy of Space Baby and a $250 donation to The Planetary Society and its mission to increase discoveries in our Solar System, elevate the search for life beyond our planet, and decrease the risk of Earth being hit by an asteroid.
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
A signed copy of Space Baby
A $250 donation made in your name to The Planetary Society and its mission to increase discoveries in our Solar System.
This rhyming picture book aims to teach toddlers and preschool children how to count from one to five and back. Each one is accompanied by a pastel illustration that has a vintage feel. They feature common situations like cooking in the kitchen, playing at the seashore or frolicking on the playground.
The book is an excellent choice for a circle time in nursery school or a bedtime interactive reading activity. Parents of children with sensory needs or occupational therapists will find it useful in improving a child’s fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
I received a copy of the book from the author and voluntarily decided to read and review it for no compensation.
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A picture book that is a feast for young eyes. The pictures come in brilliant colors that seem to pop off the page.
A brother and sister come across a Tyrannosaurus Rex on the way home from school. Quickly deciding that he is hungry, the female sibling names him Henry and offers him a sandwich. When she decides to bring Henry home to her kitchen, the mischief escalates.
This book is part of a series of fanciful adventures for young children. Rhymes are crisp and sharp. While the vocabulary is challenging, it serves to enrich a young child’s language skills. Recommended especially for children with active imaginations in the three to six-year-old range.
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Celebration Babies: Highlighting Special Events for Babies, Toddlers, and Children, from Around the World
Written by Stephanie Seidler
Illustrated by Pete Olcyzk
This picture book packs a lot into forty pages. The author covers countries from around the globe and their cultural celebrations. These include celebrations connected with religion, holidays, heritage, and environment.
The description mentions that the book is appropriate for babies and toddlers. While the illustrations will enthrall that age group, the vocabulary and length of sentences are too complicated for that audience. Parents and teachers will need to adapt it to make the concepts clear for them. I would suggest making the font of the text a bit larger so that new readers might be able to handle it better.
Nevertheless, this is a beautiful book to place on a parent or teacher’s bookshelf to celebrate the best of all our cultures and remind children of the beauty of diversity and multiculturalism. I especially recommend it for ages five through nine.
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The Amazing Snowman Duel (bedtime story, children’s picture book, preschool, kids, kindergarten, ages 4-8, Snowman Paul): A humorous tale about friendship, bullying and rejecting violence
Written by Yossi Lapid
Illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Another fabulous adventure in the Snowman Paul series written and illustrated by this talented team. This time around Bill and his friend, Snowman Paul are challenged to a duel by a Nick, a local bully, and his Snowman Nick. Nick is much larger than Paul and very well-armed, but Paul agrees to fight as long as Nick sticks to “snowman rules.” Will this bully play fair?
On the night of the duel, animals arrive by land, sea, and air, to watch the battle. Bill covers his eyes because he fears for his friend, Paul. Who will prevail? Are Paul’s fears justified? I am rooting for Paul, who always seems to come up with the right idea.
This book teaches preschoolers and primary grade children lessons on how to treat a bully, reject violence, and develop the skills to get along with others. I recommend that teachers, parents, and librarians add this beautiful picture book to their collections.
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March 1, 2023
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Barbara Ann Mojica's BLOG 
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