Earth Day Celebrations!

Today is Earth Day and I have a few books from past reviews that I felt are worth mentioning for the celebrations!

 

 

 

This is a great book for Earth Day that is not only educational but fun! Children will explore different ecosystems that are so important to our planet.  Each page is filled with a maze to follow from one end to another with their finger.  Along the maze route, they will need to find different animals that make its home in that habitat.  Some are easy and a few are a bit more challenging. There is an answer key at the back with information that teaches about each ecosystem make up and the creatures that live there. It is a fun book with bright and bold mazes.  A "just right book" for ages 5-7.~

 

 

It is never to early to begin teaching children the importance of taking care of our planet and this book is a great start to getting the little ones thinking about what they can do to help our environment.  It offers suggestions that can be done in a simplistic way such as turning off the light when you leave the room or making sure you throw away your trash and not leave it on the ground.  It also opens up a great discussion opportunity about recycling or even my favorite thing to do such as upcycle things for other purposes.  The pages are large, vivid and bold in color while the layout includes a flap so that when you lift it you find an answer to what kids can do which also makes it fun for learning.  By the end of this book kids will think of even more ways to help keep our world beautiful not only for ourselves but for future generations.  My favorite page is the front cover which has a stamp marked that this book was made from 100% recycled material! I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~  

 

 

This book has over 52 hands-on activities with some fun and engaging seasonal ideas that will get the family out into the garden.  Not only is getting outdoors healthy for our kids but garden discovery stimulates the senses and brain.  In Spring, you can start by planting seeds and plants in a pot or recycled old handbag. Maybe you would like to make a beast habitat out of pallets and bricks for observing critters or bugs.  Summer arrives with butterflies, potato print art, outdoor games on the grass and nature hikes. In Autumn,  you can make pies with your fall harvest, plant bulbs for spring or just enjoy the beautiful colors. Winter is not left out because we can still make a compost bin or feed our bird friends with homemade feeders.  There are bound to be a few ideas to spark creativity and help find your own sense of place in the garden.  Many things in the book seem geared for the older child but activities could be tailored towards younger ones by just using your imagination to change around or use proper supervision.  I definitely feel it is never to early to get kids outdoors to learn in nature!  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5 and up.~

 

 

 

Partly Cloudy review

 

 What do you see when you look at clouds?(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Two bunnies are looking at the clouds together but each one sees them with very different perspectives.  One bunny views it with his imagination and the other bunny is all about the science behind the cloud.  

 

This is a very informative book about the various types of clouds but it also teaches us that our imagination is an important part of cloud watching too.  It is whimsical and cute how each bunny tries to get their point across to the other.  There is a lot of cloud science in this story and kids will learn many things about them and the water cycle.  The watercolor illustrations are in delicate hues of blues, green and white giving the feeling of fluffy soft clouds. When the stormy clouds come rolling in the colors changed and depicted another feeling of ominous weather.  The back of the story has even more information about cloud forming, more types of clouds and the water cycle.  The bunnies learn that each others point-of-view can be fun when they bring science and imagination together. This is a great book for a science unit with a fun art project for the younger ones.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-7.~

Title: Partly Cloudy

Author: Deborah Freedman

Pub. date: March 2024, Viking Books for Young Readers

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring is for Strawberries review

This illustrated tale follows the budding friendship between two girls who meet at their local farmers market and reminds us that food is the great unifier of all humankind.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

There are many things to look forward to with the arrival of a farmer's market. After reading this book, I cannot wait for the season to begin here next month.  

 

This story is about a friendship between two young girls and the four seasons while they attend the neighborhood farmers market.  They meet up in spring finding themselves bonding over delicious red strawberries, sugar snap peas and leafy greens.  Summers arrival brings sweet juicy fruits, colorful peppers and corn on the cob.  As the autumn season approaches, a bounty of apples and pumpkins are ready for the picking.  The girls say goodbye for the winter but know they will reconnect in the spring when the first strawberry pops again.  There is so much a farmer's market can offer everyone.  The produce is fresh, nutritious and delicious.  An added bonus are the wonderful smells and the various colors making it a feast for our senses.  

 

The rhyming text is short and easy for reading aloud and the illustrations have so many things to look at in beautiful colors of the seasons.  This book is a celebration of those who farm and sharing all their hard work with the community.  In turn, it teaches how the community helps support their local farmers so the markets can continue each year.  I think this is a "just right book for ages 3-7.~ 

Title: Spring is For Strawberries

Author: Katherine Pryor, illustrated by Polina Gortman

Pub. date: March 2023, Schiffer Kids

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

In and Out the Window review

 

The largest single anthology of Jane Yolen's poetry, containing more than one hundred poems for all occasions(goodreads summary).

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a beautifully written poetry book and a wonderful way to introduce and encourage children to write their own poems.  Author Jane Yolen offers a collection of poems that celebrates childhood in various ways. She shares over one hundred writings about home, family, school, music, sports, animals and even nature. She includes calendar poems for the months of the year and a Who, What, Where, When and Why to write a poem.  Each one is a personal feeling she captures that kids will relate to with their own feelings they may be experiencing about a subject.  There are so many different poems inside that it would be hard to not connect to any of them.  I had quite a few I liked and related to when I was a kid myself.  She tells readers to look in the window but also outside the window for inspiration which makes a great title for the book. Scattered here and there are black and white illustrations to go with a certain poem to ponder.  Some are short and some are longer but all are thoughtful and tells a story about being a kid.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8-11.~

Title:  In and Out the Window

Author: Jane Yolen, illustrated by Cathrin Peterslund

Pub. date: March 2024, Philomel Books

Genre: poetry

Hardcover, 208 pgs.

 

The Great Puptective review

A set-in-his-ways housecat has his routine upended by an enthusiastic new puppy with a nose for solving mysteries(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Truffles the Cat has his quiet life turned upside down after Poppy arrives.  Like all puppies, Poppy is energetic, loud and full of excitement.  She thinks she is a Puptective who has the eyes and nose to solve crime and mysteries. Her first crime solving mystery is to find the owner of dirty paw prints left on the floor. But when Truffles gets in trouble for being the perpetrator, he is determined to trap Poppy so he can send her away for good. 

 

This funny graphic novel will be a hit with early readers.   It is has a short introduction, four quick chapters, epilogue and even bonus pages on how to draw Poppy and Truffles at the end.  The illustrations are vibrant and full of silliness that will have kids giggling.  When Truffles is caught trying to get Poppy in trouble, he sets traps to catch her and ships her off to the North Pole.  Kids will play along with the clues and no doubt figure things out for themselves before young Poppy does. There are plenty of mishaps and misunderstandings throughout that are humorous adding to the characters personalities. But after guilt sets in for Truffles, he decides to rescue Poppy and becomes a Cattective himself.  In the end, Truffles finds that he likes Poppy and the two will make a great pair for crime solving.  All in all, this is a fun graphic novel chapter book for kids that like animal characters, humor and fun reads.  The story is age appropriate for young elementary readers and there is a second one coming soon called The Great Puptective - Paranormal Activity which I am looking forward to reading when it comes out.   I think this is a "just right book" for ages 6-9.~

 

Title: The Great Puptective 

Author: Alina Tysoe

Pub. date: March 2024, Simon & Schuster

Genre: graphic novel

Hardcover, 128 pgs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ferris review

 

The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie has outdone herself with a hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

It is the summer before fifth grade and Emma Wilkey (aka Ferris) seems to have a lot happening all at once. Her younger sister Pinky thinks she's an outlaw, Uncle Ted moves into the basement determined to paint the history of the world, her father thinks raccoons are taking over their attic and grandmother Charisse is feeling poorly and recently started seeing a ghost in her bedroom doorway.   On top of this, she gets an unexpected new hairdo from her Aunt Shirley that does not suit her.  But Ferris keeps in mind Charisse's saying that "every good story is a love story" to keep her focused on what she needs to do. 

The minute Ferris arrived into this world she knew she was loved.  From the very first chapter, that is exactly what this heartwarming and moving new middle grade novel gives us.  This story has so many things to offer from family, friendships, love, humor, community and a sweet ghost story.  Ferris's six year old sister Pinky is a wild child.  She gets herself in trouble numerous times wanting to be an outlaw on a wanted poster. Uncle Ted is separated from his wife and does not want to give up on the marriage, so recruits Ferris to be a spy and report back her findings about her Aunt Shirley's feelings.  Charisse's visiting ghost requests that the chandelier in the dining room be lit by candles.  Before the chandelier could be hung, her husband went off to war and never returned. Lighting the candles now will help him find his way back to her.  Ferris and her best friend Billy Jackson are determined to do this for Charisse even though they cannot see the ghost for themselves.  Her dad is mild mannered and reads encyclopedias and her mom pastes stamps into the S&H Green Stamps book and seems to be the one to have to deal with Pinky and her shenanigans. Each character is its' own story within the story. The family and community is quirky but it all adds to the book and Ferris's relationship with each one.  

 

There are new vocabulary words with their meanings for kids to learn, funny moments and sad moments, loss and grief and a very exciting ending that kept me turning the pages to see what happens.  The short chapters help make this a fast-paced read.  There is a lot for Ferris to sort out for such a young age of ten but she handles the situations with smarts, calmness and determination all in the name of love.  There is a bit of a magical presence for Ferris that she discovers about herself as well.  I am never disappointed when I read a story by Kate DiCamillo. The thing I like best about this book is that it is written with tenderness of relatable family situations.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-11.~

 

Title:  Ferris

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Pub. date: March 2024, Candlewick Press

Genre: middle grade, fiction

Hardcover, 226 pgs.

 

Escargot and the Search for Spring review

 

Bonjour! After a long winter spent indoors, Escargot can’t wait to look outside for the first signs of Spring. Will he find a new friend in the fluffy white bunny he meets along the way?(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

Escargot is tired of winter and seems to be suffering from a bit of cabin fever.  He is ready to find signs of spring and asks the reader to come along to help him search.  What he thinks is a snow bank is actually a very cute fluffy bunny who wants to be friends. Escargot seems to be a bit annoyed with her until he sees the bunny brought him a basket full of goodies.  He realizes that his rudeness and sadness must have been caused by hunger. 

 

A cute interactive book that makes for a good read aloud.  Some of the French words need a little practice though because there a few tricky ones to pronounce.  The illustrations are colorful and the bunny is so sweet with the most adorable eyes.  Escargots french flair is mixed with humor that kids will find funny and good for a few giggles.  Good opportunity to talk about feelings since Escargot seems a bit grouchy towards the bunny. But all-in-all, a nice story to welcome in spring for the little ones.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title:  Escargot and the Search for Spring

Author: Dashka Slater, illustrated by Sydney Hanson

Pub. date: February 2024, Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Genre: picture book, spring

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

 

 

Wild Places - The Life of Naturalist David AttenBorough review

 

An inspiring and accessible picture book biography of the beloved naturalist, broadcaster, and documentarian David Attenborough.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

"If we take care of nature, nature will take care of us" - David Attenborough

 

I have been a longtime fan of David Attenborough. Between his distinctive voice and beautiful documentary shows, I am captivated whenever I watch.  I was happy to see a biography picture book sharing his philosophies and all that we can learn from his life's work.  

 

It tells the story of David as a young boy, exploring the wild places of England, to adulthood where he becomes a TV host of a nature program featuring zoo animals.  But that was not enough for him so instead proposes filming animals in their natural environments to better learn about them.  Through his films, he takes viewers to different and unusual places to witnesses animals in their natural habitats rarely seen before.  As a young naturalist and televising his findings, he becomes widely popular.   But sadly as the years pass by, he notices that wild places were starting to vanish.  The animal populations are beginning to decline and our weather was becoming more extreme.  He shifted direction from naturalist to advocate on the education of environmental changes/causes and what can be done to help bring it back.  

 

The book is easy to read but very impactful.  Beautiful illustrations throughout and I liked the quotes from David on various pages.  The end has a wonderful author's note and ways we can contribute to "rewilding" our planet. It would make a great book for a project, science unit or upcoming Earth Day events.  It not only portrays David's ambitions but the changes that our planet is experiencing.  If we do not recognize what is happening, we may someday not have a planet Earth. It is a story that will have you thinking about our natural world.   My hope is that this book will inspire kids (and adults) to think about our planet, our nature and what they can do to help protect our resources. Not only for now and for the future; but for the generations to come.  I think this is a just right book for ages 7-11.~

Title:  Wild Places The Life of David Attenborough

Author: Hayley Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco

Pub. date: February 2024,  G.P. Putnam & Sons

Genre: nonfiction

Hardcover, 48  pgs.

 

 

 

 

No Cats in the Library review

 

A stray cat follows her love of books all the way to a new library home in this charming debut picture book.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Clarisse the Cat doesn't understand the words but she really loves looking at the pictures in books.  One day, she notices people walking into a big building and coming out with an armful of books!  This was exciting and she knew she had to somehow get inside. But each time she tried to sneak in, the librarian caught her and told her no cats are allowed in the library. 

 

We always enjoyed the Reading to Dogs program at our local library when my kids were younger and this story is a cute spin on this.  Beginning readers will connect with Clarisse's feelings of viewing words as squiggly lines that make no sense. When she finds a little girl wanting to read aloud to her, she realizes how the words and pictures together make a story.  The story is simple and the illustrations are full of happiness, charming character expressions and good library vibes.  Everyone benefits from having a read aloud to a cat program after the librarian welcomes Clarisse to stay.  Even Clarisse gets a new home!  It is important for kids to practice reading to learn new words and become fluent.  Reluctant readers may find themselves more interested in books and less of a chore if they practice read to an animal.   I remember in elementary school I would panic when we would read aloud in class and freeze when my name was called for my turn.  If only I had the opportunity to read to a dog or cat I might have had more self confidence.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title:  No Cats in the Library

Author: Lauren Emmons

Pub. date: March 2024, Simon & Schuster

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

 

 

 

The Wrong Book review

 

This hilarious book from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit will have you correcting what you're reading—and laughing!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

This a fun and silly book that will have everyone entertained and definitely laughing.  From the sounds animals make to different kinds of objects, the narrator of this story has things mixed up.   Do flowers go Chugga, Chugga, Choo-Choo?  Do Lions live on farms and say moo?  Luckily, there is a bookmark (this is my interpretation of what it is) to the rescue to straighten things out for us.  There are bold, vibrant illustrations and easy text for reading out loud to preschooler and kindergarten ages.  Kids will giggle and interact during reading when they figure out how silly the story is.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

 

Title: The Wrong Book

Author: Drew Daywalt

Pub. date: February 2024, Philomel Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

 

 

How to Babysit your Grown-up review

 

It's time to have some fun with your grownup! All you need are basic materials and some imagination. (goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping the kids busy during spring break can be a challenge. Here is a fun-filled activity book the whole family will enjoy. 

It is divided into seven categories listed as "fun...with" and there are step-by-step instructions for over 40 different activities you can try.  For example; having fun with fresh air you can make an easy-peasy kite or having fun with crafts you can paint a rock. You could also have fun with imagination and make race cars out of cardboard boxes.  By just using simple materials, easy-to-follow instructions and a little imagination, this book will keep everyone entertained for an afternoon.  You could even take the ideas and expand on ones yourself.   It also does not limit adults to just parents but includes extended family members such as grandparents as well. This book will create wonderful moments of bonding time together for young and old. The illustrations are bright and colorful.  Seeing the characters having fun will inspire everyone to use the check list in the back of the book to see how many activities they can do.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-8.~

Title:  How to Babysit your Grown-up

Author: Jean Reagan w/Janay Brown-Wood

Illustrated by: Lee Wildish

Pub. date: June 2023, Alfred A. Knopf

Genre: non fiction

Hardcover, 96 pgs.

 

 

 

I Spy with my Little Eye Easter Hop & Find

 

Follow along with the Easter Bunny and his helper, Chick, as they deliver treats on Easter morning!(book cover)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter is right around the corner and this book would be a fun addition to the kids baskets.  Readers will search and find items while the Easter Bunny travels around town delivering special treats. Kids will count, learn shapes, match objects and find various items throughout the story.  The text is rhyming and the illustrations are in bold Easter colors.  Older kids would be able to do this book on their own but younger ones may need help as the pages do seem a little busy with a lot to look at.  Some of the items were a bit tricky to find, so kids will need their thinking caps on for a few of them.  All-in-all, it is a fun holiday interactive book which also sneaks in some educational opportunity without them realizing.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

Title:  I Spy with My Little Eye Easter Hop & Find

Author: Rubie Crowe, illustrated by Melanie Demmer

Pub. date: November 2023, Cottage Door Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.