What is Supply and Demand?: Personal Finance for Kids
Written by Kelly Lee
Kids love ice cream and cookies. What a creative and fun way to explain the concept of supply and demand to young children!
The author uses animals to explain what happens to the owner of a cookie and ice cream shop when supply and demand change. Ava and Hank are customers who visit the shop in different seasons and note the differences. There are clear explanations and beautiful illustrations.
I especially love that the author makes the book interactive by posing different scenarios for children to think about and offering solutions. Parents are also provided with tips to illustrate supply and demand with their children in everyday situations.
Highly recommended for parents and teachers of children ages three through eight.
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I Escaped the World’s Deadliest Shark Attack: The USS Indianapolis Disaster: WW2
Written by Scott Peters and Ellie Crowe
A powerful story of a historical adventure narrated through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old survivor. Josh enlisted with forged papers to avenge the death of his father at Pearl Harbor. He is straight out of boot camp serving on the USS Indianapolis when the battleship is struck by a Japanese torpedo. He struggles to escape the burning ship, but that is just the beginning of his troubles. No help is in sight; sharks infest the waters, and the survivors begin to turn against each other.
This book is a powerful story filled with raw emotions, adventure, and history. The authors provide readers with an action-packed tale filled with interesting facts about sharks and military history. It contains actual photographs, maps, and hand-drawn illustrations.
The book is little more than one hundred pages. Reluctant readers can easily navigate the short chapters with graphics. Targeted for middle grades but just as appealing to young adult and adult audiences.
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About the Book: Mrs. R Snugglesworth is 70 pounds of low-to-the-ground PRECIOUS. She is the Best at Finding Slightly-Used Sandwiches and the Best at Loving Ham—and now she’s looking for her next big challenge. To her surprise, she finds it at the local Bark Park, when she discovers a passion for the law. Dog law, that is.
In two wags of a tail, she enrolls at Wagsworth Legal Academy, eager to become a lawyer. Turns out, it’s not that easy learning to be the Best at Law School. But when Mrs. R. learns that her friend Pitter-Patter needs help, she can’t wait to take on her first case. Only one small issue: she hasn’t quite finished her law degree. Some dogs might consider this a problem, but not Mrs. R! After all, Pitter-Patter needs a lawyer, and she is ALMOST a lawyer. Which everyone knows is practically as good as being a lawyer, right?
She’ll just juggle her law classes, naps, walks, power naps, chasing tennis balls, snacks, naps, and work on Pitter-Patter’s case at the same time! What could possibly go wrong?
Amy Flanagan is an Instructional Designer and children’s author living with her family in the Chicago suburb of Batavia. She began writing Mrs. R. Snugglesworth, Attorney-at-Law in early 2021 to stay busy during the long pandemic winter. She wanted to create something that would make kids (and adults) laugh out loud. She is already working on the second book in the “Mrs. R.” series. Like you, she wonders what the ‘R’ stands for.
Jon Davis is an award-winning freelance illustrator living and working in Cumbria, UK. He always loved drawing as a child, thinking up characters and stories – paints, pencils, felt tips, crayons, anything would do. So he decided to study Illustration at Glyndwr University, Wrexham. He works digitally in Photoshop with a tablet and pen because the ‘undo’ function saves him from the depths of frustration.
What a fun book choice for a beginning or middle-grade reader! Flanagan tells her story from the point of view of an English Labrador who serves on jury duty and becomes interested in a law career. He enrolls in Wagsworth Legal Academy and soon finds himself practicing law.
The hilarious adventure entertains both children and the adults fortunate enough to read this book. Flanagan appeals to dog and animal lovers with the humor and compassion contained on every page. The black and white illustrations extend the fun displaying playful scenes.
At just under one hundred pages, reluctant readers will gravitate to this tale. Readers may choose to read independently, or teachers may select it as a page-turning read-aloud in the classroom. I hope there will be more adventures with Mrs. R. Snugglesworth in the future.
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Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Mrs. R. Snugglesworth, Attorney-at-Law, and a $50 gift card to bookshop.org*.
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
An autographed copy of Mrs. R. Snugglesworth, Attorney-at-Law
Written by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson, and Nia Roberts
Illustrated by Alex Scheffler
This book is available in kindle, audio, and paperback editions. It is laid out in a question-and-answer graphic novel format.
The characters ask questions about the origin, symptoms, spread, treatments, preventions, vaccines, and social-emotional issues. There is an effort to include examples of diversity and disabilities so that all types of children are included. It provides a great deal of information without advocating a specific approach.
I do think that the print size in the kindle edition could be made much larger. It is rather difficult to read. A larger easy-to-read font would be friendlier to those with visual problems.
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Ninjas Go to a Party: A Rhyming Children’s Book About Parties and Practicing Inclusion
Written by Mary Nhin
Those fun-loving ninjas work hard all week, but they do love to take a break occasionally to party. When they do let their hair down, Inclusive Ninja makes sure that everyone has an enjoyable time. He welcomes all to eat, share activities, and work as a team.
This book is part of a series that employs lovable characters to teach life lessons and values like friendship, empathy, compassion, and inclusiveness.
The entire series is available in boxed sets, individual books, and collections arranged by theme.
A fun book to read aloud, for a bedtime story, or for classroom discussion.
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The Choices I Make: Children’s Book about Making Choices, Anger, Emotions Management
Written by Michael Gordon
Illustrated by Max Larin
A nice, rhyming picture book to open up a discussion on how to deal with anger for preschoolers and elementary school children.
When Josh discovers that his sister took his favorite toy, he lashes out at her. Josh’s dad hears the shouting and offers some advice to his son. Why not stop and think for a minute and then count backward?
In the coming days, Josh learns other ways to control his feelings when he feels anger rising to the surface. He does not like losing a game to his friends, being refused candy, or waiting patiently for his needs to be met.
Adorable illustrations and simple scenarios teach young children how to control their emotions.
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A complex historical holocaust novel based on a true story. It explores the complex psychological relationship between a mother and her daughter.
The Nazis thrust Ruthie and her daughter Noga into the Belzec concentration camp in Poland. Ruthie desperately wants to save Noga, so she smuggles her out of the camp. The author narrates the saga from both their points of view and alternates back and forth. While the author creates well-delineated characters in heartbreaking situations, this dual arrangement can be confusing and annoying.
For young adults and adults who enjoy carefully researched historical novels or those that explore complex psychological issues, this book is an excellent choice. The characters struggle to survive and experience pain and suffering through physical and mental torture. Readers should expect that the book will make a deep impression on them.
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When Lily May returns home from school in a bad mood, her mom knows just what to do.
What happened to put Lily May in such a foul mood? All her classmates made fun of her favorite ruby heels. The other children seem to favor dull brown flat shoes. Lily’s mom, her cat, and her favorite book are the magical ingredients to rescue Lily May from her funk.
She is reminded of just what a dull place the world would be if we all looked and behaved the same. By the end of the tale, Lily May is celebrating her uniqueness.
This book is written in crisp rhymes with adorable multicultural illustrations. I especially enjoyed the quick exercises that the offer includes for creating, brave, proud, respectful, empathetic, and mindful young readers. Parents and teachers will want to try them all. Highly recommended for primary grade children.
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Another fun book in the Sophie Washington middle-grade chapter book series.
In this one, sixth-grader, Sophie Washington, decides to sign up for her school’s Lemonade Day Challenge Event. Ten teams will compete.
Readers cannot help laughing and empathizing with Sophie. She manages to get in trouble for messing up her mother’s files, failing to supervise her younger brother, and getting mixed up with the family dog, Bertram, and his mischief.
Sophie learns about scheduling, organizing a team, coping with supplies, and facing unforeseen delays. She manages to solve problems with her spirit of determination and perseverance. Readers learn lessons about teamwork, respect, and working with family members.
Readers might be inspired to become young entrepreneurs and learn a few life lessons along the way. Highly recommended for eight to twelve-years olds and adults who love to reminisce about their tween years.
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Publisher’s Synopsis: A Star of David necklace or a rosary?
In 1939 Poland, a young girl is asked to give up one of these and accept the other without understanding why. However, what she must part with happens to be her most prized possession—a precious gift given to her by her father before he died.
The child’s mother then teaches the girl a “game” to prepare her for what is to come. As the Nazis invade the country, the mother is forced to make a heartbreaking sacrifice.
This beautifully illustrated picture book is loosely based on a true story. Although told through the eyes of a young girl, the book is written for readers of all ages. It also contains two study guides. One is for children, parents, and teachers. The other is for adults who may gather in places of worship, book clubs, and small groups. Discussion topics include themes of compassion, empathy, and diversity.
Pat Black-Gould, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and an author. Her short stories have appeared in several literary journals and anthologies.
Many years ago, Pat heard a powerful story that haunted her until she committed it to paper. The Crystal Beads was first published in Jewish Fiction. net in 2020. The short story then won first-place honors in two writing competitions conducted by the National League of American Pen Women, Washington, D.C.
The first was an award by the Pen Women Florida State Association. She then received the Flannery O’Connor Short Story Award as part of the National Biennial Letters in Competition. Pat felt it important to bring the story to a younger audience. At that point, she rewrote it as a children’s book. She hopes that The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey, will do justice to the story she once heard and carry its message to younger generations.
Pat’s writing explores topics such as compassion, tolerance, and diversity. She continues to examine these themes in her upcoming novel, Limbo of the Moon, written with her co-writer, Steve Hardiman.
The story opens in 1939 Poland. A little girl named Lalka treasures the Star of David necklace that her father gave her shortly before he died. Suddenly, Lalka’s mother asks her to remove it and instead gifts her a set of crystal beads called a rosary. They will be playing a game. Lalka must learn all about its secrets.
Shortly after, Lalka’s mother enrolls her in a convent school where she will live and go to Catholic school. She is confused and upset but follows the instructions her mother had given her. When two men come to interrogate her, Lalka faces a difficult decision.
Gould writes about the holocaust story in a way with which elementary and middle-school readers understand. Readers empathize and absorb its impact through Lalka’s experiences. The book is sensitive and well-written. Royz illustrates it with compassion and tenderness.
The discussion guides for both children and adults are carefully crafted. They provide the tools to assure a fruitful learning environment. Gould also explains how children may become involved as active participants in the Children’s Holocaust Project.
I highly recommend the book to parents and teachers of children ages five through twelve.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey!
Four (4) winners receive:
A signed copy of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey.
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