The Legend of the Sleep-Eating Elephant (Global Beekeeping Tales)
Written by Nicola Williams
Illustrated by Henry Ezeokeke
A charming legend from Kenya relates the tale of an elephant who cooperates with the humans and animals of his village by watering the crops.
One day, a cabbage is missing from the fields. On subsequent days, more crops are missing. Elephant becomes distressed as do the other animals and humans of the village. The members of the beehive community invent a clever solution.
Readers discover the problem and the innovative solution after reading this book. They also learn facts about elephants, honeybees, the environment, and conservation.
A good choice for the classroom or home bookshelf for children who enjoy learning about animals, problem-solving, and conservation.
Recommended for ages six through twelve.
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A charming legend from Kenya relates the tale of an elephant who cooperates with the humans and animals of his village by watering the crops.
One day, a cabbage is missing from the fields. On subsequent days, more crops are missing. Elephant becomes distressed as do the other animals and humans of the village. The members of the beehive community invent a clever solution.
Readers discover the problem and the innovative solution after reading this book. They also learn facts about elephants, honeybees, the environment, and conservation.
A good choice for the classroom or home bookshelf for children who enjoy learning about animals, problem-solving, and conservation.
Recommended for ages six through twelve.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Aye- Aye Gets Lucky: Endangered and Misunderstood Animals Book 1
Written by Terri Tatchell
Illustrated by Ivan Sulima
Aye-Aye, a lemur, enjoys pulling pranks on the people who live in the villages of Madagascar. After a time, the inhabitants tire of his pranks and ban Aye-Aye. He wanders around scared and hungry.
After a while, Aye-Aye encounters a flying fox who terrifies him. The fox did not mean to frighten the lemur. He turns out to be a friend trying to teach Aye-Aye a valuable lesson. Aye-Aye becomes brave enough to attempt to regain the villagers approval. He hides for a while, building up his courage. Will he discover a way to obtain their forgiveness?
This rhyming, picture book for elementary school age children teaches them about endangered species and encourages children to get involved in their protection. A portion of the book’s profits go to that cause. As a bonus, readers learn how to draw lemurs and flying foxes, discover fun facts about them, and learn different ways they can protect them.
Recommended for elementary age readers who enjoy books about animals, the environment, and community involvement.
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Born in a Treacherous Time (Dawn of Humanity Book 1)
Written by Jacqui Murray
I read Jean Auel’s series and as other reviewers have mentioned, this series has a similar flavor.
The reader meets Lucy, a Homo Habilis creature, living in Africa 1.8 million years ago. She struggles each day to live to the next one. The author introduces a slew of characters. At the beginning of the book, it is difficult to sort them out, but they add depth to a plot that includes descriptions of ancient peoples struggles to communicate, to hunt and be hunted, and compete with an environment they did not know how to control.
This book is, of course, historical fiction. The amount of historical evidence is scant and much is left to our imagination. In my opinion, Murray does an excellent job of fitting the pieces together while adding compassion and empathy to soften the rough edges.
Recommended for readers ages ten and older who enjoy historical fiction, especially in the prehistory genre.
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Weeny Meeny is rather young for a witch just passing the 1000 year mark. She enjoys newfound independence as she can now consider herself a mature witch. One thing bothers her. All the other witches fly about town never considering the litter in the streets. Weeny Meeny is environmentally conscious and wants to do something about it so she teams up with her pets, a black crow and a black cat.
Weeny Meeny strives to combine her magic with some hard work. The three friends enlist the aid of some unlikely allies and set to the task. Will the streets of the town be clean for Halloween?
The illustrations are child-like pencil drawings etched in Halloween colors. They add a unique aspect to the tale. While the book is targeted for readers ages three through ten, there is quite a bit of text on each page, which makes me feel it more suitable for a bit older reader or as a child’s beginning reader rather than a picture book for the younger child.
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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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Publisher’s Synopsis: Everyone’s favorite character from I Need a New Butt!, I Broke My Butt!, and My Butt is So Noisy! is back in a hilarious new story about a silly butt that won’t stop moving! The talented duo of children’s author Dawn McMillan and illustrator Ross Kinnaird have created another delightful, laugh-out-loud tale of a bothersome backside that leads to all kinds of amusing adventures. The fun never stops, from the first page to the last of this newest book in the best-selling series.
Dawn McMillan writes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and storybooks for children. She is also the author of Woolly Wally and Holy Socks. Dover also publishes her collaborations with illustrator Ross Kinnaird including everyone’s favorite character, the boy with the troublesome backside from bestsellers I Need a New Butt!, I Broke My Butt!, and My Butt is SO NOISY! Additional Dover publications include Doctor Grundy’s Undies and Seagull Sid and the Naughty Things His Seagulls Did! She lives in Waiomu, New Zealand.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
In addition to his collaborations with Dawn McMillan, Ross Kinnaird has illustrated such children’s books as 50 Body Questions and the animated poem “Smaller,” winner of the People’s Choice Award at the World Parkinson Congress. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
This book is a rhyming picture book that is also a good choice as a beginning reader or a selection for a reluctant reader. Children will enjoy reading it aloud. Fans of the series will laugh at the hilarious hijinks of a butt that has gone out of control. The sounds and sights featured delight fans of potty humor. For children ages six through ten who can’t get enough of silliness.
ADDITIONAL BOOKS BY DAWN MCMILLAN
I Need a New Butt! 978-0-486-78799-2
A boy suddenly notices a big problem — his butt has a huge crack! So he sets off to find a new one. Will he choose an armor-plated butt? A rocket butt? A robot butt? Find out in a quirky storybook that children and parents will love, no ifs, ands, or butts about it!
I Broke My Butt! 978-0-486-84273-8
The inventive young hero from the bestselling I Need a New Butt! is back and this time he has accidentally glued a serving tray to his behind — and he’s tickled pink! See, it’s great for sliding down hills, surfing big waves, and other booty-full fun and games. Now all his friends want one too! Another cheeky farce from Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird.
My Butt is SO NOISY! 978-0-486-84731-3
Everyone’s favorite character from the bestselling I Need a New Butt! and I Broke My Butt! is back with a new problem — his butt is too noisy! The latest and loudest sequel follows our hero’s hilarious adventures caused by the hooting and tooting, humming and strumming, and clicking and ticking of a bothersome backside. Can the noises be put to good use? Find out in this latest cheeky tale from Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird.
I Need a New Butt!, I Broke My Butt!, My Butt is So NOISY! 978-0-486-84863-1 – Hardcover bindup with sound button
Brimming with fun, this hilarious collection combines all three bestselling books about the boy with the troublesome backside: the original I Need a New Butt!, its sequel I Broke My Butt!, and the latest addition to this series of silly stories, My Butt is SO NOISY! The children’s book duo of author Dawn McMillan and illustrator Ross Kinnaird offers laugh-out-loud humor in these delightful rhyming stories, now with an interactive sound button that will keep preschoolers and kids—and grown-ups, too—giggling from the first page to the last.
Doctor Grundy’s Undies 978-0-486-83248-7
A strong gust of wind sweeps Doctor Grundy’s best undies off the clothesline and out to sea. Who will get their hands on these unusual undergarments? A cracked crew of pirates? A silly Scottish bagpiper? Find out in this fun-filled and irreverent world tour by the bestselling team of McMillan and Kinnaird, the cheeky creators of I Need A New Butt!
Seagull Sid 978-0-486-83247-0
The bestselling creators of I Need a New Butt are back with more wisecracking rhymes and side-splitting illustrations! Seagull Sid and his fine feathered mates are sick of looking at all the rubbish that people leave behind at the shore. But how can the seagulls reclaim their beach from the trashy humans? No worries, Sid has a mischievously messy plan of attack — watch out below!
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a prize pack that includes three hilarious stories in one NOISY book with a sound button!
Five (5) winners receive:
A copy of I Need a New Butt!, I Broke My Butt!, My Butt is So NOISY!: 3 Hilarious Stories in one NOISY Book
The giveaway ends February 27, 2022, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
Celebration Babies: Highlighting Special Events for Babies, Toddlers, and Children, from Around the World
Written by Stephanie Seidler
Illustrated by Pete Olczyk
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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A Tree Full of Wonder: An educational rhyming book about the magic of trees for children
Written by Anna Smithers
Illustrated by Martyna Nejman
What an adorable rhyming picture book! The story begins with a riddle for young readers to ponder.
Children learn how humans and trees are dependent upon each other. Trees give off the oxygen that we breathe in while taking in the carbon dioxide humans breathe out. The author explains how trees are useful. They provide wood and paper for us, stabilize our weather, provide shelter, give us food, and afford countless opportunities for having fun.
At the end of the book, readers can test their knowledge by identifying the twelve different trees mentioned in the book and accepting the challenge to replace the trees that have been cut down.
Highly recommended for primary and elementary grade readers.
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Barnaby, a young badger, is eager to explore the wonders of his environment for the first time. As he awakens to face the night, he marvels at the moon. His mother takes him on a tour to explore the woodlands at night.
Barnaby discovers marvelous sights and sounds. He finds owls, insects, mice, grasshoppers, and flowers. Then his mother introduces him to a puddle and he discovers the greatest gift of all.
A cute book with beautiful illustrations appropriate as a bedtime story for toddlers and preschoolers.
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September 24, 2025
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