Posts from the ‘toddlers’ Category

CLEVER AND COLORFUL

A Big Blue Boat

Written by Susea Spray

Illustrated by Lesley Cybulka

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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FINGER PLAYS FOR LITTLE ONES…

Finger Rhymes

Written by Nigel Tetley

Illustrated by Peter David Scott

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 LOT TO UNWRAP…

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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STAYING STRONG

While Daddy is Away: Days of Deployment

Written by Trista Lawrence

Illustrated by Denny Poliquit

A Christian family talks about how to stay strong while dad is deployed in military service. The older brother and sister help with chores, assist their baby brother and create projects to send dad and keep his spirits up. Though it is difficult for them, they understand the meaning of his sacrifice and are proud of him.

This picture book is recommended as a resource for families in military service.

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COUNTING UP SOME FUN

Ten Little Sandpipers

Written by Kim Ann

Illustrated by Nejla Shojaie

An adorable, little counting book for toddlers and preschoolers. The illustrations are vibrant and fun; the text is easily read aloud.

The author uses sandpipers as her subject. Beach scenes feature counting from one to ten. The bonus features include a song to sing and interactive identification of other sea creatures for the young reader to search out and identify.

Highly recommended and fun for both children and adults.

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PARTY HARDY!

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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COOL, CALM, AND COLLECTED

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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#LETTER SOUNDS ABOUND – a virtual book tour and giveaway

In partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Practice Readers Books

ABOUT THE BOOK

Letter Sounds Abound

Written by Catherine S. Young

Illustrated by Victoria Gesner

Ages 3-6 | 48 Pages

Publisher: Practice Readers Books | ISBN-13: 9781778066702

Publisher’s Synopsis: Letter Sounds Abound is a friendly alphabet book that highlights big ideas about how written language works for preschool and kindergarten children. It focuses on the most common letter-sound relationships while helping children tune in to the fact that letters can make different sounds in different situations to avoid confusion for beginners. The rhyming text makes it fun for parents to read to their children time and again, while simple line drawings inspire imagination without competing for attention with text.

PURCHASE LINKS

https://amzn.to/3tKfe0V

Practice Readers Books

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine S. Young has spent her career putting research insights into practice across the spheres of education, public health, and electronics. The proud mother of three delightful developing readers, she founded Practice Readers Books to provide evidence-aligned books to support the unique needs of fledgling readers (and their parents) at school and at home.

For more information, visit https://practicereaders.ca/collections/alphabet-books.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Victoria Gesner (Pelletier) is an artist and educator based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She believes in making literacy and art affordable and accessible to all.

You can find some of her other artwork at Femme des Fleurs Art at https://www.facebook.com/femmedesfleurs.art/.

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:

EASY PEASY ALPHABET

Letters Abound: A Practice Reading Book

Written by C. S. Young

Illustrations by Victoria Gesner

A simple tool to teach preschool and kindergarten students to learn and read alphabet sounds and words. The author introduces forty-four sounds and the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Young emphasizes first skills of reading like tracking left to right and following with the finger. Gesner’s illustrations are presented as simple black and white pictures containing the single letters, digraph sounds, and alphabet letters. Children learn how to point out the capital and small letters as they find out about the sounds associated with each. Two sentences on each page rhyme to make reading out loud a fun exercise pleasing to the ear.

This book provides a teaching tool for adults to read as well as for the child to pick up independently as she becomes more confident and proficient in phonetic and reading skills. Certainly, a valuable teaching tool for preschool and early childhood teachers as well as parents.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Letter Sounds Abound, the companion practice book Alphabet Print and Colour, a beginner’s notebook, and a set of alphabet letter magnets!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

– An autographed copy of Letter Sounds Abound

– A copy of Alphabet Print and Colour

– A beginner’s notebook

-A set of magnetic alphabet letters

Two (2) winners receive:

– An autographed copy of Letter Sounds Abound

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

https://gleam.io/loYNF/letter-sounds-abound-book-giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Wednesday, June 22, 2022The Children’s Book ReviewA book review of Letter Sounds Abound
Thursday, June 23, 2022The Momma SpotA book review of Letter Sounds Abound
Friday, June 24, 2022Writer with WanderlustA book review of Letter Sounds Abound
Monday, June 27, 2022The Review WireAn interview with author Catherine S. Young
Tuesday, June 28, 2022Lisa’s ReadingA book review of Letter Sounds Abound
Wednesday, June 29, 2022Me Two BooksA book activity to pair with Letter Sounds Abound
Thursday, June 30, 2022Barbara Ann MojicaA book review of Letter Sounds Abound
Friday, July 1, 2022Tales of a Wanna-Be Superhero MomA book giveaway of Letter Sounds Abound
Wednesday, July 6, 2022icefairy’s Treasure ChestA book review of Letter Sounds Abound
Thursday, July 7, 2022Confessions of a Book AddictA book giveaway of Letter Sounds Abound
Friday, July 8, 2022J.R.s Book ReviewsA book review of Letter Sounds Abound
Monday, July 11, 2022Satisfaction for Insatiable ReadersAn article by author Catherine S. YoungFavorite Words for Beginner Readers

ANGER MANAGEMENT

Today I am Mad (Anger Management Series)

Written by Michael Gordon

Illustrated by Max Larin

This book is a good choice for toddlers and preschoolers. It follows a typical Michael Gordon illustration style. There are large, colorful illustrations featuring a young protagonist.

In this example, Josh frequently feels frustrated and angry when he does not immediately have his needs met. That might be with food, toys, or a particular activity. Gordon portrays Josh finding different techniques to control that anger. For example, counting to ten, finding another outlet, or sharing toys.

This book is a way for parents or teachers to demonstrate appropriate behavior strategies without exerting themselves as authority figure.

Especially recommended for toddlers and preschoolers but appropriate for older children as well.

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SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

The Tooth Fairy’s Tummy Ache

Written by Lori Orlinsky

Illustrated by Vanessa Alexandre

A very cute, rhyming picture book selection for preschool and kindergarten readers. A little girl is eating lunch in school when she loses her first tooth. She is dismayed because she swallowed it! How will she be able to put the tooth under her pillow for the tooth fairy?

The protagonist decides on deception. She places a look-alike under her pillow. The tooth fairy takes the bait but later becomes suspicious and calls her friends to check it out. They decide to teach the little girl a valuable lesson.

Young readers will both empathize with the girl and delight in its humorous lesson. A perfect gift choice for children about to lose their first tooth.

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