I love how this author presents the ocean topic. Children learn about twelve examples of sea creatures that inhabit the ocean, and the life cycle of plant life that interact with them. Then the author discusses the problems that modern-day life has imposed on the oceans and the life within them.
The author uses crisp rhymes with challenging vocabulary that is highlighted in colors that pop off the page. Human characters represent the many cultures that inhabit our planet and how they can work together to sustain it. At the end of the book, readers receive an opportunity to go back and identify the creatures they learned about in the story. Then the author presents them with tangible and actionable steps they can take now to protect our oceans and its resources.
This interactive book should be part of libraries and classrooms. Parents who want to teach their children to be mindful of protecting our planet can count on this resource to put them on the right track.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Animal Antics: A Rhyming Book of Creatures Big and Small
Written and Illustrated by Tamar Tepper Kochen
A silly rhyming picture book, the first in a series about animals doing absurd things. A few examples are a deer with a rainbow ear, a ferret dressed as a carrot, and a flamingo who loved to play bingo.
The rhymes are short and easy to remember, the illustrations huge and vibrant. Children are encouraged to make up their own silly rhymes with several scenarios included at the end of the tale.
I think that preschoolers and primary grade children who enjoy books about animals and silly stories will especially enjoy this book. It’s fun as a read-aloud or a bedtime story.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
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.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
AS A BOOK REVIEWER FROM THE INCEPTION OF THIS EVENT, I AM PROUD TO SHARE TWO WONDERFUL NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK EXAMPLESWITH YOU.
📚 Join us for the 11th Multicultural Children’s Book Day on 1/25/24! https://shorturl.at/wG389 🌍 Founded by two book-loving moms, Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen, this non-profit initiative celebrates diverse books and authors. Let’s spread the joy of multicultural literature to young readers and educators. #MCBD2024 #ReadYourWorld 📖
It Is Not What You Think
Old Clothes for Dinner?
Written by Nathalie Alonso
Illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro
This multicultural picture book is a delight for a young child’s eyes, ears, and taste buds. The book packs a ton of information as well as a delightful story of a Cuban family’s culture and homelife.
Magaly and her brother’s grandmother from Cuba have recently joined the family in America. They are delighted with the delicious native recipes she cooks for the family. One day, when Magaly asks what is for dinner, her “abuela” replies “ropa vieja.” That translates to old clothes in English. Magaly and her brother, Camilo, hurry to search for and hide their favorite clothes. Turns out the joke will be on them.
This book targets an audience of children ages four through eight, but it delighted this adult as well. In addition to the interesting tale, the author includes recipes from around the world including their history, facts about Cuba, and details on how to cook two of the Cuban recipes from the story.
THE TREASURE IS IN EVERYDAY THINGS
Treasure Hunt
Written by Stephanie Wildman
Illustrated by Estefanía Razo
When Luis sees a delivery person with a huge cardboard box, he at once thinks of his younger twin siblings, Roberto, and Flor. Luis asks the worker to leave the box behind.
Roberto and Flor return home from school expecting to watch TV and play video games, but Luis has a better idea. He asks them if they would like to go on a treasure hunt. The twins cannot hold their excitement. Roberto hides clues in the kitchen, the bedroom, and the living room.
Flor and Roberto are puzzled when they find and name the objects. Luis brings them to the backyard and the gigantic cardboard box. Immediately, the twins know exactly what to do with it.
This book displays a loving multicultural family with strong sibling relationships. Elementary grade readers will love this colorful picture book with endearing, curious, and intelligent characters. Wildman enriches its value by providing detailed instructions for readers to create their own treasure hunt complete with props.
I highly recommend this interactive book for primary grade boys and girls who seek opportunities for creativity and imaginative activities to engage in at home.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Molly’s Maze Discovery: (Molly Greenwood Adventures Book 2)
Written by Carmen Allen
This is a cute interactive book for elementary school children that encourages both artistic and storytelling skills and is part of a series.
Dragon Cat decides to buy a lottery ticket hoping to win $100. When he discovers he has won the next day, he gets the surprise of his life, discovering 100 otters in his kitchen. The book is filled with black and white illustrations that can be colored in the paperback edition. Yet, that is not the best feature of the book because the author leaves the ending of the story blank, allowing the young reader to become an author by finishing the story and becoming co-author of the book.
The book is a good choice for a reluctant or beginning reader. It could also be used with a group to encourage multiple outcomes to problem-solving.
Especially recommended for ages four through eight.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Dragon Cat Wins the Lottery(The Make-Your-Own Ending Collection)
Written by Audrey Beth Stein
Illustrated by Alina Lutaeva
This is a cute interactive book for elementary school children that encourages both artistic and storytelling skills and is part of a series.
Dragon Cat decides to buy a lottery ticket hoping to win $100. When he discovers he has won the next day, he gets the surprise of his life, discovering 100 otters in his kitchen. The book is filled with black and white illustrations that can be colored in the paperback edition. Yet, that is not the best feature of the book because the author leaves the ending of the story blank, allowing the young reader to become an author by finishing the story and becoming co-author of the book.
The book is a good choice for a reluctant or beginning reader. It could also be used with a group to encourage multiple outcomes to problem-solving.
Especially recommended for ages four through eight.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Publisher’s Book Summary: Meet Toby: a young monster who has skin like a fish, fur like a dog, and smells like cotton candy when he gets excited. He lives with his family in the basement of Marymount Mansion and once a year ventures out into the real world when everyone is dressed for Halloween. Toby becomes frustrated with hiding below ground and sets off on an all-important quest.
Gregory G. Allen is an award-winning author, screenwriter, filmmaker, and actor. His children’s books include Chicken Boy: The Adventures of a Superhero with Autism, Chicken Boy Deals with Doctors & Dentists, and Irving the Theater Nut! He is a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and The Dramatist Guild. The idea for his monster book goes back to the first musical he ever wrote, which was produced for the stage when he was 15, with the message that it’s okay to be different.
Shelby Goodwin is an illustrator, letterer, graphic designer, and all-around creative living in Hoboken, NJ. She is extremely passionate about children’s media and the power of art to romanticize the everyday. When she is not making things, she can be found with her spouse and three cats exploring new places, eating pastries, or cuddling up in her favorite reading chair.
Enter for the chance to win a signed paperback copy of The Monsters of Marymount Mansion, a signed paperback copy of each of the author’s previous picture books** (Chicken Boy: The Amazing Adventures of a Superhero with Autism, Chicken Boy: A Superhero with Autism Deals with Doctors & Dentists, and Irving the Theater Nut!), and a $50 Amazon gift card to buy other books! **All books teach children not to fear those who are different and to be proud of themselves FOR those differences.
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
– A signed paperback copy of The Monsters of Marymount Mansion
– A signed paperback copy of Chicken Boy: The Amazing Adventures of a Superhero with Autism
– A signed paperback copy of Chicken Boy: A Superhero Deals with Doctors and Dentists
– A signed paperback copy of Irving the Theater Nut
– A $50 Amazon Gift Card
Four (4) winners receive:
– A signed paperback copy of The Monsters of Marymount Mansion
Celeste lives in an old mansion that has belonged to her family for years. She hides a secret. There are monsters living inside that no one else knows about. Toby is an eight-year-old who lives there with his younger sister and parents.
Most of the time it’s boring because he must hide whenever anyone visits the house. But this year Toby is excited because Halloween is coming an he is old enough to disguise himself among human trick or treaters on Halloween and venture outside the house.
This book contains adorable black and white illustrations that will captivate beginning readers. (as well as adults) Allen knows how to move the story along for beginning chapter readers. I appreciate the message that monsters (like humans) are unique and special. Children learn to appreciate our differences produce our strengths. Certainly, it’s what inside that counts.
As a parent and retired educator, I would recommend the book as a read aloud discussion for homeschool or classroom. Warning! Adults will enjoy this one as much as the kids.
This picture book features a comic book format. For fans of mermaids, sea creatures, and jokes, the first grade reading level makes it a good fit for a beginning reader. There is a bit of potty humor though it is not the focus of the jokes. Eel presents some puns and jokes about mermaids and later gets into a debate with a shrimp who has a much more serious demeanor.
The illustrations are colorful and engaging. I would suggest this short book as a good choice for children who are reluctant readers or comic book lovers.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
I Am an Amazing Asian Girl: A Book of Positive Affirmations
Written by Yobe Qiu
Illustrated by Jade Le
This book features an Asian-American girl as the narrator, but the story is strongly multicultural. Qui discusses adjectives that describe qualities of the character like being adaptable, appreciative, and assertive. She is also independent in her opinions, while also being very community oriented. She interacts with children of different cultures while pursuing her own interests and projects.
There are not too many books available with female Asian protagonists and this book is a good choice for primary grade children to encourage self-confidence and reinforce self-esteem.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Publisher: Valley of Mexico | ISBN-13: 9781950957248
Publisher’s Book Summary: Everything is fun until nighttime comes. Are the howls in the dark only in their imaginations, or do ghosts and goblins become real when the full moon rises?
The children love visiting Grandmother. Playing great games and reading cool books goes perfectly with eating her delicious cookies and cakes. But when bedtime comes and off go the lights, things get a little scary as they say their goodnights.
The kids shiver at the creepy sounds from the attic and the strange shadows floating through the air. But Gran’s not worried at all; in fact, she has a secret to share…
Will they find a way to get over their dread, so they can finally rest their heads?
Grandma’s House is Haunted is a delightful children’s picture book, both spooky and sweet. If you like Halloween fun, bumps in the night, and doting grannies, then you’ll adore Stephen G. Bowling’s cheerfully eerie Picture Book that shows children there’s nothing to be afraid of when the lights go out.
Read Grandma’s House is Haunted to happily hide under the covers today!
Stephen G. Bowling is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Much like Peter Pan, Steve never wanted to grow up. Or rather, while he didn’t mind getting older, he never wanted to lose the child-like enchantment of imagination and wonder. Creating colorful worlds and stories for children has allowed Steve to both preserve his own imagination while sharing the joy of learning with children worldwide.
Steve has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Brandeis University. He is an entrepreneur who has worked on and holds several U.S. Patents. He heads The Prometheum Foundation, a non-profit philosophical organization that helps teach students critical and analytical thinking, freedom of thought, and entrance into the marketplace of ideas. He is a lifelong weightlifter, an avid student of history and philosophy, and has a fascination with astrophysics.
A charming picture book that is clever, charming, and creative. The narrators are a brother and sister who describe their experiences when visiting their grandma’s house. While they thoroughly enjoy reading books, playing games, and laughing during the daylight hours, grandma’s old house transforms into a scary place at night.
The children imagine ghosts, goblins, shadows become witches, wolves, and all manner of beasts when darkness descends. Grandma calmly dispels all their fears by pointing out the sources of their imaginary visions and sounds.
I love the vintage feel of the illustrations painted with emotional expressions and coupled with crisp rhymes. The author deftly uses onomatopoeia and alliteration that promotes a fun read aloud. Vocabulary can be difficult in spots, but readers are encouraged to use context clues to stretch their reading comprehension.
I would highly recommend the book to both elementary and middle-grade readers for a Halloween choice or any time of the year.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for the chance to win a set of five books by Stephen G. Bowling, including Grandma’s House Is Haunted, and a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
– A paperback copy of Grandma’s House is Haunted
– A paperback copy of Calvin the Christmas Tree
– A paperback copy of Simon’s Tree Party
– A paperback copy of Simon’s Search for the Scary Dragon
– A paperback copy of Rocket to the Moon
– A $25 Amazon Gift Card
One (1) runner-up winner receives:
– A paperback copy of Grandma’s House is Haunted
– A paperback copy of Calvin the Christmas Tree
– A paperback copy of Simon’s Tree Party
– A paperback copy of Simon’s Search for the Scary Dragon
February 21, 2024
bamauthor
Comments Off on RESPECT OUR WATERY WORLD
Barbara Ann Mojica's BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.