This is a different slant on the Biblical story of Samson and Delilah. In this picture book, Samson possesses exceptional strength which he uses to keep bullies at bay. Delilah is his best friend, but one-day local bullies offer her all kinds of riches and power if she could uncover the secret of his strength.
The bullies convince Delilah to sell out her best friend. Samson is strong mentally as well as physically. Will he continue to resist?
Cute illustrations and simple text make this book appealing to young children under the age of eight.
Publisher’s Synopsis: Meow is definitely not a cat. Cats lick their butts. Follow along as this wild child’s unique way of following instructions ends up going a little bananas.
Meow Is Not Cat is a completely goofy story, guaranteed to make kids laugh. With a cynical cat, wild monkeys, butt jokes, and a banana cannon, even pre-readers will love shouting out their favorite parts as you read aloud. Nestled among the laughs is a lesson about how embracing a person’s different way of interpreting the world can lead to surprisingly good results —and bananas, lots of bananas.
Kelly Tills is the creator of her own uniquely shaped family. Kindness, neurodiversity, and potty humor are her jam. She writes silly stories for kids and believes even the smallest hat-tip, in the simplest of books, can teach our kids how to approach the world. Kelly’s children’s stories are perfect to read aloud to your little humans or to have your older kids read to you (hey, let them flex those new reading skills!). Either way, you’ll enjoy the giggles.
Tills authors this book to celebrate neurodiverse children who think and respond to situations differently from most children.
The protagonist is a young boy called Meow by his teacher. Meow protests he is not a cat and does not act like one. The author adds a cat as a character who ad-libs as the story proceeds. This boy just cannot seem to fall in line. He goes off in the opposite direction. When the class participates in an outing to feed the monkeys, the situation gets out of control. Will Meow find a way to fit in with the group? More importantly, is it fair that he even tries to do so?
The book is full of hilarious illustrations and situations that will have primary-grade readers laughing. They will learn the value of empathy, kindness, and respecting the rights of others regardless of physical or mental differences.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a copy of Meow Is Not a Cat!
Publisher’s Synopsis: Creative and artistic 2nd-grade teacher, Mr. Wilson, wants to teach his students about kindness. Mr. Wilson creates The Kindness Machine, a special machine that shows the students exactly what they can do to bring kindness to their classroom and into their hearts! Instead of telling his students to “be kind,” which is something children hear from a very early age, they learn exactly what they can do in their own lives by pressing the special buttons. In the end, Mr. Wilson teaches his students that they each have their own Kindness Machine within them to help make kind decisions for others and themselves.
This creative, innovative, and fun teaching method will direct kids to be kind to one another in their classroom and beyond. The book includes discussion questions to help the reader consider not only kindness towards others but also kindness towards themselves, a lesson that is not always taught.
The Kindness Machine is a practical and innovative tool for teaching emotional literacy, kindness, and acceptance of self and others.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and as an ebook.
Christina Dankert is a second-grade teacher. She has a passion for literacy and believes that we can change the world by reading to the children in our lives. This is her debut picture book. She lives in Sylvania, Ohio, with her husband, Chad, and their two children. She has dreamed of collaborating with her husband to merge their two professions of educator and artist into one meaningful product. The Kindness Machine allowed that dream to come true.
What a wonderful message for elementary school children! This multicultural book portrays a diverse second-grade class with a wonderful role model as a teacher.
Mr. Wilson is a popular teacher with a penchant for invention. One day he brings one of them to class. He hides the invention under a bedsheet. The children are excited and curious. What could it be?
Mr. Wilson asks the class to identify their superpowers. When they claim not to have any, Mr. Wilson shows them how his invention is the kindness machine that will reveal each student’s superpower.
Can this be true? One by one the students step up to the machine and learn how each possesses a unique superpower that can help them to spread kindness.
The author includes wonderful illustrations and discussion questions to use before, during, and after the reading, making this picture book a valuable teaching tool.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a classroom set of The Kindness Machine or one of five individual copies!
One (1) winner receives:
A classroom set (30 copies) of The Kindness Machine will be sent directly to the winners’ school of choice, along with autographed bookplates personalized for each student and the teacher.
Five (5) winners receive:
A copy of The Kindness Machine, with bookplates autographed by author Christina Dankert
Cinnamon the Adventurous Guinea Pig Goes to Devil’s Island
Written by Daniel Turner
Illustrated by Gayle Skinner
This is a delightful beginning reader chapter book. It contains a few simple illustrations peppered throughout to keep the reader interested. The animal characters featuring guinea pigs and Siamese cats are delightful. They provide young readers with models of compassion, kindness, empathy, resilience, and teamwork.
Driven to flee their home because of a volcanic eruption, the animals get lost at sea, captured by the nasty, Captain Blood, and develop a plan to resist their enslavement. Will they be able to escape his clutches? What will the future hold for them?
The book is under sixty pages which makes it a good choice not only for a beginning but also for a reluctant reader. I would also recommend it as a classroom read-aloud that could be used to teach desirable values.
If you are looking for more teaching resources, check out my youtube channel.
This book is Part One of a two-part series about a beloved grandpa. Grandpa wants to oblige and help, but he has his way of doing things. When his wife makes a simple errand request, he immediately offers to comply. There is one problem, he has a unique way of achieving that goal.
In this tale, Grandma asks her husband to perform four simple errands to purchase ice cream, pizza, soil, and oranges, but in each case, Grandpa causes great anxiety by disappearing. Grandma is frantic. She calls the family, neighbors, hospitals, and police. Ultimately, Grandpa calls from a different destination each time telling her he is unharmed.
This book has a unique message. Not all people follow the accepted way of achieving our goals. It is okay to be different. Mrs. D’s beginning chapter book contains beautiful, color illustrations, and an important life lesson. I would recommend the book for elementary school readers and would also be an excellent choice for families with members afflicted with early Alzheimer’s disease. Looking forward to Grandpa’s adventures in Book 2.
Publisher: Journey with Story Press | ISBN-13: 9780578651965
Publisher’s Synopsis: After Jesús finally lands a part as an innkeeper in his school’s Nativity play, he asks God to help him be the best innkeeper ever. Day by day, he grows more and more confident in his role, but on opening night, he finds himself so swept up in this long-ago world, that when Mary and Joseph asked him, ”Do you have any room at your inn?” he comes up with his own answer, causing chaos on the stage.
KATHLEEN T. PELLEY is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, but spent most of her childhood summers playing on her grandparents’ farm in Ireland. Her passion for stories stemmed from listening to them on the radio during the BBC children’s story hour. She is the award-winning author of seven other picture books and hosts her own storytelling podcast, Journey with Story.
This is a sweet story of a boy named Jesús who yearns for a part in the Nativity play. When his teacher, Mrs. Rodriguez chooses him to be an innkeeper, Jesús is ecstatic. He tries hard to learn his lines, but he is so nervous. Jesús takes us through the typical feelings faced by a child in his situation. Will he succeed? There is a surprise ending that reveals the depth of Jesús’ character.
Children learn about the Nativity story through the eyes of a child as Jesús relates his hopes and fears through prayer. All types of children are represented. The soft colors and simple drawings correspond well with the mood of the narrative. Recommended highly for preschool and primary grade children. A nice book for families to share during the Advent season.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a Jesús, Mary, and Joseph prize pack!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
A hardcover copy of Jesús, Mary, and Joseph, autographed by Kathleen T. Pelley
A paperback copy of Five Little Angels
An Audible copy of Five Little Angels
A $25 Barnes and Noble gift card
A Nativity sticker book
A shoutout on the Journey with Story podcast
Five (5) winners receive:
A hardcover copy of Jesús, Mary, and Joseph, autographed by Kathleen T. Pelley
A Nativity sticker book
The giveaway ends November 30, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
Lindy Nelson is an American who has spent most of her adult life teaching English in China after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She enjoys arts and crafts, funny memes, eating candy, and of course, spending time with her greyhound, Clarence.
MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:
This is Clare is an adorable picture book about a lady named Lindy and her adventures with her greyhound named Clare. The author uses verbs that end in air and are to teach English vocabulary. The illustrations are adorable and the simple text will expand vocabulary for anyone learning English. It is a book that is fun to read aloud and will enrich the vocabulary of native English speakers as well.
The multicultural illustrations that feature Chinese culture will provide a springboard for discussion and further research. This book will delight all ages from preschool to adult English as a Second Language Learners. I am looking forward to more adventures with Lindy and Clare.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a copy of This Is Clare, along with a virtual Questions and Answers session with the author!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
A copy of This Is Clare
A virtual Questions and Answers session with the author via Skype
Nine (9) winners receive:
A copy of This Is Clare
The giveaway ends December 2, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
This book is a delightful new version of The Underground Toy Society. This society is a group of toys that are no longer being used by their former owners. Together they work as one to find new homes to love them.
Children will love these adorable toys that act like human characters. When the toys find their way to a toy store, they are excited to find a donation box for Christmas toys. Their hopes are dashed when they discover the toys must be new.
I love the section that describes how these toys make themselves new again. Will these toys find a way into the hearts of new children owners?
Adorable illustrations and characters will make this book a new holiday favorite. Recommended for a Christmas story or any time of the year.
The author is an educator and parent of six. She shares the hopes that most parents have for their children. Courage, resilience, empathy, and kindness are a few of these. The short rhymes are easy for young children to remember. Illustrations are multicultural and include references to the author’s own family as revealed in the fun facts at the end of the story. Adults and children will enjoy learning about the symbolism of nature and the themes included in this book.
A delightful read-aloud or bedtime story for elementary age readers.
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In partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Kathleen T. Pelley.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Five Little Angels
Written by Kathleen T. Pelley
Illustrated by Dubravka Kolanovic
Ages 3-7 | Pages 54
Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. | ISBN-13: 978-1649491794
Publisher’s Synopsis: Join this celestial romp with five little angels, who hop on a cloud to take a peek at the world below, and see all sorts of loving acts of kindness, which sends them into a frenzy of delight. A lyrical read aloud to teach your little angel how kindness can build heaven on earth.
KATHLEEN T. PELLEY is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, but spent most of her childhood summers playing on her grandparents’ farm in Ireland. Her passion for stories stemmed from listening to them on the radio during the BBC children’s story hour. She is the award-winning author of seven other picture books and hosts her own storytelling podcast, Journey with Story.
What a charming and sweet message for young children. The author has created a reverse counting book written in easy to read and listen to rhymes. As the story opens, five little multicultural angels are looking down on people on earth. Some of these are practicing acts of kindness like crowning their sleeping mother with a crown of flowers, others are arguing or showing signs of frustration. When the angels witness a good deed, they dance for joy. Unfortunately, that sometimes leads to a fall. The young reader is asked to study the pictures to see where each angel lands. That invites the child to become an active participant in the tale.
The language is easy to understand and full of words that encourage the child to imagine the scene and use his senses. Soft watercolor illustrations are pleasing to the eye. They are reminiscent of a child’s crayon drawings.
I highly recommend this picture book as a read aloud discussion activity with young children. It will encourage them to become little angels bestowing empathy and kindness on friends and family.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a Five Little Angels prize pack!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
A set of seven books by Kathleen Pelley, including Five Little Angels
A $25 Barnes & Noble gift card
One Hugging Plush Angel Slap Bracelet
Your child’s name mentioned in the Journey with Story podcast
Five (5) winners receive:
A hardcover copy of Five Little Angels
One Hugging Plush Angel Slap Bracelet
Five (5) winners receive:
A paperback copy of Five Little Angels
One Hugging Plush Angel Slap Bracelet
The giveaway begins May 26, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends June 26, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
June 5, 2022
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