NaMOOste: A Yoga Book to Develop Social-Emotional Skills

Written by Marlee Kostiner

Illustrated by Manvi Semalty

A very cute book for a parent or teacher who wants to introduce young children to yoga as a way to relax, become mindful, and deal with social emotional issues.

Thirteen basic yoga poses are presented by different animals portrayed in attractive watercolor illustrations. After trying out the poses, young readers can move on to the fourteen emotional skills in the glossary. The author explains the behavior in simple terms. The author also includes discussion questions based on the content in the book and a link to free resources like videos and free printables.

An excellent introduction to yoga for primary grade and elementary age students.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

Get Out Your Paper

Written by Renee Hayes

Illustrated by Rochelle Steder

An illustrated rhyming book with a twist. The protagonist, a young boy who hates writing, gets a writing assignment in class. He daydreams about the many activities he would prefer. While, he is a good student, he just cannot decide on a writing topic. Desperate, he scribbles all his ideas on paper in random fashion. When lunchtime arrives, the teacher collects all the papers.

The boy assumes he will fail. What do you think will happen? The plot thickens.

I especially appreciated the multicultural illustrations which also include students with disabilities. All children can identify with the characters in this inspirational read for students in the six to ten age group.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island

Written by Linda Marie Frank

Illustrated by Marianne Savage

I have read other books in this author’s middle-grade/YA mystery series, and I think this one is my favorite.

A group of eighth-grade children decide to raise money to buy toys for children in a homeless shelter in far-away New York City. When the money they have collected is stolen, they bond together to find the clues and catch the thief. Despite warnings from the adults who care about them, this unflappable group of stubborn friends refuse to withdraw from the challenge.

Set on an island originally inhabited by pirates, the setting exudes mystery. The 1940’s characters are colorful and fun, and the short book of under one hundred pages is definitely a page-turner.

An excellent choice for a reluctant reader, pre-teen or teen, but definitely one that can be enjoyed by adults as well.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

Stay Curious and Keep Exploring: Next Level

Written by Emily Calandrelli

This book is packed with opportunities to expand the imagination, creativity, and knowledge of science principles and experimentation. As with previous books in this series, children ages five through twelve are provided with diverse subjects and opportunities to use all their senses to learn science. They can become superheroes, use food substances, glitter and glow, work with the environment, and share experiences with friends.

Calandrelli presents clear instructions, lists of materials, scientific principles, and a glossary for those tough terms to understand. This book is invaluable for use in planning science fair projects, rainy-days at home, or a classroom group project.

Recommended for any parent or teacher of curious children in elementary or homeschool school. Adults will have fun engaging in the activities along with students.

– Reviewed by Barbara Mojica for Net Galley

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

A Home Can Be…

Written by Stephanie Seidler

Illustrated by Anastasia Sikilinda

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.

Hockey Wars Journal: Stat Tracker Activity Book

Created by Sam Lawrence and Ben Jackson

The authors have created a unique product that functions as a diary, journal, statistical record, exercises for mind and body, as well as fun activities geared toward life on and off ice. Inspired by The Hockey Wars series of books, boys and girls who are enthusiasts of ice hockey receive an opportunity to incorporate their passion with other areas of life.

Writing prompts encourage creativity, puzzles, inspirational quotes, tips on exercise and proper nutrition, riddles, space for artwork, and outside reviews of their games all have a place in this tracker. It is the perfect gift for children who are ice hockey afficionados.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG TO RECEIVE NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

Diwali in My New Home

Written by Shachi Kaushik

Illustrated by Aishwarya Tandon

Priya has moved nine thousand miles from her old home in India. It’s time for the festival of lights, but here in America nothing is decorated, and the streets are quiet. Priya experiences mixed emotions.

When Priya returns home from school, she finds her mother preparing dishes of cardamom and ghee. Priya prepares flowers to make a rangoli and her father strings lights along the outside of the house. This draws the attention of neighbors who are invited to celebrate Diwali with the family.

Readers learn about the religious customs, dress, food, and fireworks of this festival. Kaushik includes illustrations of members of diverse communities and those with disabilities. Children receive a glossary of multicultural terms and a summary explanation of the Diwali festival.

This is a well-written and illustrated picture book that encourages empathy, compassion, and friendship among members of diverse communities. Highly recommended for parents and teachers of elementary school children as a read aloud book to discuss customs and traditions.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from the author. I voluntarily chose to read and review with my honest opinions for no monetary compensation.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG TO RECEIVE NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

Have You Seen My Sock? A Fun Seek-and-Find Rhyming Children’s Book for Ages 3-7.

Written by Barbara B. Thompson

Illustrated by Remesh Ram

I loved this rhyming picture book for toddlers and preschoolers. A little boy becomes increasingly frustrated when he cannot find his favorite dinosaur sock. The repetitive lines encourage vocabulary retention and early reading skills. Bright illustrations draw children into the story. It teaches them the necessity of patience and the ability to be patient as they learn to logically follow a sequence of steps to solve a problem. This book encourages interactivity and helps parents and teachers to guide their young charges to follow through and remain on task.

I highly recommend it for a home or classroom bookshelf.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

Math Dragon: fun fast-paced beginning chapter book series for kids 8-11 (Junkyard Adventures 10)

Written by Tevin Hansen

Book 10 in the Junkyard Adventures pits two angry dragons against each other.

When Eli and Grace arrive at Larry’s secondhand store, they cannot find Uncle Larry. Instead they discover Professor Harvard who is temporarily watching the store. Despite Larry’s absence, a new fantasy adventure involving a war between two diverse dragons, the Word Dragon and the Math Dragon erupts and the children find themselves in the middle of it. Must the siblings choose a side? Can they restore order and find a way back to the present to escape the turmoil?

Non-stop adventure and colorful characters continue to enthrall chapter book readers from ages eight up. A fascinating independent read or classroom read aloud.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

The Wondercurrent: (Rella Pen Sword and The Red Notebooks Book 1)

Written by J.R. Parks

Rella’s parents belong to a secret group of storytellers. First, her mother disappears, eventually her father suffers the same fate. Rella must now flee her homeland. She finds herself in the land of Hleo, where she joins up with four other children. They encounter shapeshifters and mysterious animal guardians. Rella must find a way to defeat the plague ravishing the land and retrieve the red notebooks. Fans of Harry Potter will enjoy this adventure.

Some reviewers discuss errors in the manuscript but many of these appear to have been corrected in this rendition. The characters are interesting and the action fast-paced in the 300 page adventure.

I think younger middle-grade readers might find the read a bit difficult and would classify it more as a young adult read. A good discussion book for issues like friendship, inclusion, facing fears and cultivating humility.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.