Posts from the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

CLEVER AND FUN TO READ

The Mosquito Burrito: A Hilarious, Spanish Sprinkled, Rhyming Children’s Book

Written by Didi Dragon

Illustrated by Lenaska Ti

What a fun bilingual read! Dragon cleverly rhymes Spanish and English short phrases that roll off the tongue.

The plot centers around a mosquito who finds himself stuck inside a burrito. After taking a bite, he simply cannot resist eating his way through it. I love the humorous play on words. This book has enthralling illustrations that enhance the plot.

I highly recommend the book as a read aloud for primary grade English and Spanish speakers to promote reading and language skills.

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LEARNING TOGETHER

Mommy Has a Monster on Her Back!: A Story about Chronic Illness

Written by Liz Long

Illustrated by Ethan Roffler

The author and illustrator have succeeded in creating a beautiful picture book with an important message for young children.

This book is done in soft pastels and features words in bold that play on the different feelings engendered by chronic physical or mental illness. The illness is compared to a monster on mommy’s back. Some days are easy and others hard but mommy learns to deal with the illness and the child sees the need for resilience and acceptance. By using humor and analogies, even a preschooler can understand chronic illness.

Highly recommended for families and counselors who deal with chronic or physical illness.

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PREPARED FOR PRESCHOOL

Hello, Let’s Play! Preparing for Preschool

Written by Jennifer Sturgeon

Illustrated by Daniel Klein

This book is an excellent tools for preparing toddlers for the preschool experience. It will work for children about to enter a typical nursery school or those with special needs in an inclusive or stand-alone special needs early intervention program.

As an educator with experience in both settings, I appreciate the way author and illustrator include children from multicultural backgrounds and those with different types of disabilities whether they be physical or learning disabilities. Children are shown with educational adaptive tools like picture boards and braille books. Support staff are depicted working alongside the classroom teacher. Typical activities like independent choice centers, circle time, outdoor play, and singing songs are portrayed.

A young child will get a good idea of what happens when entering any type of preschool classroom.

A good resource for parents as preparation or teachers to use on the first day of school.

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WORRY WART

Troubles and Doubles and Reflections Askew: The Case of the Two Emily Soos

Written by Dr. Drew Palacio

Illustrated by Apolline Etienne

A common dilemma. Emily is going to a party and doesn’t know what to wear. Looking at herself in the mirror, nothing looks right. Suddenly, the mirror begins talking to her? Can Emily find the courage to stand up for her convictions and show the world the real Emily?

I really enjoyed the crisp rhymes that employ lively language of sounds and alliterative phrases that roll off the tongue and make this book a delightful read aloud. Illustrations portray the emotions beautifully. Young readers get the message to stand up and use affirmations to transmit their true feelings to others.

I highly recommend parents, teachers, and counselors place this book on their must read bookshelves.

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NAUGHTY BUT NICE – Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother (Tairy Fails #2) – VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY

This post is sponsored by David Horn. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother

Written by David Horn

Illustrated by Judit Tondora

Ages: 6-10 | 96 Pages

Publisher: David Horn | ISBN: 979-8-9885430-3-9

Publisher’s Book Summary: Fairytale Land’s baddest girl is about to head to a prince’s ball. A modern, twisted retelling of Cinderella.

Once upon a time in Fairytale Land, there lived Sylvia Locke—the baddest girl around. So bad that her grandparents have shipped her off to live with her uptight Aunt Marjorie and two goody-two-shoes step-cousins. When an invitation to the prince’s ball arrives, Sylvia is determined to attend at any cost, even if it means enlisting the help of an evil fairy godmother (against Fairytale Land laws, but has that ever stopped her?). Along this chaotic quest, Sylvia stumbles into some unexpectedly imperfect friends. But will she also learn to appreciate those who truly care for her?

The second book in the Tairy Fails series of modern, twisted retelling that puts a hilarious, rebellious, new spin on the classic fairy tales. Perfect for elementary school kids and early chapter book readers.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Horn lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, and a funny dog named Trixie. He is the author of the popular Eudora Space Kid early reader humorous sci-fi chapter book series. He enjoys making kids laugh.

Learn more at https://www.eudoraspacekid.com/.

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:

NAUGHTY BUT NICE

Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother (Tairy Fails Book 2)

Written by David Horn

Illustrated by Judit Tondora

Sylvia Locke has a reputation for being bad. Her parents disappeared and she lives with her grandparents. In despair Sylvia’s grandparents decided to ship her off to her Aunt Marjorie and twin cousins in the suburbs to learn manners.

Sylvia is distraught. She continues to make mischief. When an invitation to the young prince’s ball arrives at the house, Sylvia weasels an invitation by enlisting the help of an evil fairy godmother, but her plans go awry.

The book contains cute black and white illustrations to appeal to beginning readers. The characters are fun and the humor age appropriate. Cinderella fans will love the twists and turns of this remake of the classic fairy tale.

Although the book is part of a series, this book is independent of the first book. It is not necessary to read them in order.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother and a $25 Amazon gift card!

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

https://gleam.io/WHoAW/sylvia-lockes-cinderella-and-the-evil-fairy-godmother-book-giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, September 3, 2024The Children’s Book ReviewBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Wednesday, September 4, 2024Satisfaction for Insatiable ReadersBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Thursday, September 5, 2024Crafty Moms ShareBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Friday, September 6, 2024Twirling Book PrincessBook Spotlight of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Monday, September 9, 2024The Fairview ReviewBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Tuesday, September 10, 2024@avainbooklandInstagram Post about Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Wednesday, September 11, 2024Barbara Ann Mojica’s BlogBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Thursday, September 12, 2024Me Two BooksInterview about Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Friday, September 13, 2024Deliciously SavvyBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Monday, September 16, 2024Cover Lover Book ReviewBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Tuesday, September 17, 2024icefairy’s Treasure ChestBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Wednesday, September 18, 2024It’s Free At LastBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Thursday, September 19, 2024The Momma SpotBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Friday, September 20, 2024Country Mamas With KidsBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Monday, September 23, 2024Mommy’s MemorandumBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Tuesday, September 24, 2024Diva LikesBook Review of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother

EVENING LULLABY

Good Evening, Good Evening: Mindfulness and Affirmations for Babies and Kids.

Written by Kaarjal Agnani

Illustrated by Ekta Makhijani

This is a sweet rhyming picture book for toddlers and preschoolers. It contains short affirmations connected to evening that will calm them down and prepare them for bed, while reminding them of the many beautiful images associated with winding down at the end of the day.

Recommended for children ages two through five to be read aloud as a bedtime lullaby.

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A STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD

Unfair and Lovely (U.S. Edition

Written by Mallika Thoppay

Illustrated by Kavitha Amarnath

An illustrated chapter book that delivers an important message for tweens and teens. You cannot judge a book by its cover.

Sahana and her sister, Surabhi, have just moved to a new town in India. They eagerly anticipate the first day in a new school. Sahana will enter seventh grade and Surabhi, the third grade.

The sisters share much in common, but there is one significant difference. Sahana has a dark complexion. When the sisters learn about an interclass dance competition, both want to participate. Despite the fact the sisters both excel in dancing, Sahana is denied a spot in the competition; she hears the snickering and understands why she has been excluded.

Sahana’s mother explains that much in life is unfair, and sometimes one needs to find a different path to success. It turns out Surabhi gives Sahana an opportunity to prove herself and to teach her classmates an important lesson.

Highly recommended for preteens and teens who face similar issues and difficulties in social situations.

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AN INTERESTING ANGLE…

Fires of Alexander (Alexandrian Saga Book 1)

Written by Thomas K. Carpenter

This book is set around the topic of the burning of the library in Alexandria at the time of Cleopatra’s rule. Most historians consider the fire an accident with Caesar setting the fire to prevent the Romans from capturing him. The famous library built by Alexander the Great becoming an unfortunate victim.

Heron of Alexandria was indeed a great inventor though he was probably a biological male.
The protagonist in this novel is a young girl who has assumed the identity of her brother. As Heron, she receives a coin to investigate the arson crime.

The story is really about the life of this young girl, her inventions, and her struggle to survive and escape slavery The story moves along well, but some of the sentences are disjointed and the language confusing.

This is the first book in a series. Hard to tell exactly where it will go from here. Appropriate for young adult and adult audiences.

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IS YOUR WEBSITE UP TO SNUFF?

Best Practices for Designing a User-Friendly Website Navigation and Layout

Make your site easy to navigate and you’ll see more conversions, improved SEO, and stronger relationships with your audience.  Here are some best practices you can implement today to create a website with user-friendly navigation and layout.

Keep It Simple

  • Prioritize and organize site elements by relevance
  • Minimize clutter and unnecessary design elements

Consistent Design

  • Maintain design consistency across all pages
  • Ensure uniformity in navigation elements

A Clear Hierarchy

  • Establish clear visual hierarchy for content and navigation
  • Use visual indicators and drop-down menus for primary options

Breadcrumb Navigation

  • Use breadcrumb navigation for user location tracking
  • Represents categories, subcategories, filters, tags, user path

Mobile-Friendly Navigation

  • Ensure easy navigation on all mobile devices
  • Incorporate collapsible menus, recognized icons, adaptive layouts

Easy Search Function

  • Provide prominently visible search bar on all pages
  • Keep search bar placement consistent

Footer Navigation

  • Use footer navigation for additional options
  • Include links to key pages like About Us, Contact, Privacy Policy, etc.

White Space

  • Enhance navigation with white space for element separation
  • Ensure white space doesn’t distract users

Testing

  • Gather user feedback through testing for improvements
  • Conduct usability testing in-person or remotely

Good Design Is All about Good User Experience

  • User-friendly design leads to positive user experience
  • Increases engagement and conversions

There’s magic in hope…

Chester and the Magic 8 Ball

Written by Lynn Katz

The author tackles several difficult issues that middle-grade students might find insurmountable.

Georgia is a sixth grade student who desperately wants a dog. She cannot convince her parents to agree, and they argue incessantly.

One day, Georgia succeeds in convincing her mother to take her to the humane society “just to look.” Enter Chester, an adorable toothless mixed breed who turns out to be “pyschic.” Georgia’s world is rocked when her dad finds the dog at home and walks out on the family. Is it Georgia’s fault?

Georgia faces the usual middle graders difficulty handling jealousy and peer relationships. Up to this time, she has relied on her Magic 8 ball to give her the answers, but now her world has been turned upside down. That is, until she discovers her dog might be able to help.

The characters are believable and genuine. They are placed in situations that seem impossible to solve, but this author navigates them and explains them in a way relatable to its target eight to twelve age audience.

I would highly recommend it to parents, teachers, and counselors who work with this age group as a tool to discuss divorce, illness, and mental health issues.

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