Kindergarten Graduation review

 

The perfect Little Golden Book to celebrate finishing kindergarten!(goodreads summary)
 

 

 

 

 

 

It is the final days of kindergarten and the class is getting ready for the big graduation celebration!  Each student reflects on their favorite thing about kindergarten by making a drawing for a special keepsake booklet.  

 

This is the perfect story to wrap up the last days of the kindergarten school year.  Reflecting back on all that they learned, along with some fun times throughout the year, will help kids get ready to take the next step into first grade.  Making a memory book to look back on is an extra special thing too for parents and children to share with each other.  It is a joyful book celebrating all the experiences of a great year and getting ready for what comes next.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-6.~

 

Title:  Kindergarten Graduation

Author: Jennifer Liberts, illustrated by Courtney Dawson

Pub. date: March 2024, Golden Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 24 pgs.

 

The House with the Little Red Door review

 

If you knocked on the house with the little red door three times you would find...(book jacket)

 

 

 

 

 

If you knocked on the house with the little red door you would meet Olivia.  Olivia is a young girl who feels lonely and that something is missing at her home.  Inside the big oak tree in the yard, there is a mouse, who wishes he had someone to talk to.  When it begins to snow, the two come together and discover the beauty of the outdoors.  But when mouse's tree falls from the snowstorm, can Olivia help find a new home for him? 

 

This is such a sweet and heartwarming story about finding friendship.  The beautiful cover was the first thing that caught my eye and once inside, you will find the perfect book to read on a snowy day or at bedtime. The illustrations are in cozy winter hues and kids will enjoy the detailed illustrations. Throughout the pages there are lift-the-flaps which adds many extra interesting finds to discover.  The story is about kindness and filling the empty feelings we sometimes have by finding companionship.  It is a simple story but with a tender message.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title: The House with the Little Red Door

Author: Grace Easton

Pub. date: September 2025, Thames & Hudson

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

 

 

 

As the World Goes By review

 

When Buttons the dog sees a beautiful blue butterfly, he is sure everyone will want to see it, too.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buttons the dog casually spots a beautiful blue butterfly and thinks everyone will want to see it too.  But when he follows it through the hustle and bustle of town, nobody pays any attention to it as it floats on by.  Buttons is determined to find a way to get people to see what he sees.

 

We definitely need a book like this to remind us of the beauty nature has to offer and how it can calm us from the busy world.   Constantly rushing here and there, this book will bring you back to slowing down and taking time to enjoy the little things in life.  It is a sweet, simple story with a cute dog character, as cute as a button if I may say, that is impactful and meaningful and would be wonderful to share as a family. The illustrations are in subtle hues and it could also be a peaceful bedtime read to help wind down from a busy day.   Nature can center us when we need a break and this gentle story will inspire you to stop and smell the roses, if only for a moment. Within our hectic lives there is beauty waiting to help ground us.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-8.  

 

Title: As the World Goes By

Author: Jonny Lambert

Pub. date: June 2025, Tiger Tales

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

 

Pizzasaurus review

 

 Pizzasaurus cares about one thing and one thing PIZZA!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone has heard of the mighty T-Rex or the giant horned Triceratops.  But did you know they are not the only superstars of the dinosaur world?

In this cute and hilarious book, we meet Pizzasaurus, a dinosaur who has a love and a huge appetite for Pizza.  He sings about pizza, he dreams about pizza and he only eats pizza!  The text flows nicely for reading out loud to a group and the dinosaurs add to the humor of the story with their word bubbles. The bold illustrations have many details and will have kids finding new things at the turn of each page. There is so much humor it will have the younger kids laughing out loud.  Just as the dinosaurs get used to having Pizzasaurus as part of the group, there is another surprise that adds a bit of sparkle to the end.  This would be a fun book to read for a pizza party and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 Title:  Pizzasaurus

Author: Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Kyle Beckett

Pub. date: March 3, 2026 Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Genre: picture books

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

 

Tractors in Space review

 

Come along on a side-splittingly funny adventure and meet the tractors with a big secret ... they're going to space!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

Toby has dreamed of going up into space to see the moon!  He decides to make his wish come true by blasting off as high as he can and his amazing journey begins. While up in space, he meets several other tractors.  They show him around the universe and eventually he happily finds the moon.  When he realizes though that he doesn't have enough fuel to get back home, the other tractors pull together to help him return safely to the farm.

 

This is a cute book for kids who have an interest in either tractors or space and putting the two together makes for a fun story.  The illustrations are in bright, bold colors and the characters are full of smiles.  The text flows easily which is perfect for a quick read aloud. There are great descriptive words that will help kids learn some new vocabulary such as; wispy, twirly, whirly galaxy, whizzed through space or the shimmering moon.  It is great on imagination and includes problem solving when they have to get Toby back home with a creative way that will make kids giggle in the end.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

 

Title: Tractors in Space

Author: Ross Mackay, illustrated by Alex Willmore

Pub date: January 2026, Dorling Kindersley

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

 

 

Book Blogger Hop - March 6

Book Blogger Hop

Thanks must go out to Billy at The Coffee Addicted Writer for hosting this weekly book blogger hop. It is a fun and great way to meet other bloggers and share our thoughts. 

This week's question is:

"If you had to, would you pass your book collection on to someone special? If not, what would you prefer your family or friends do with your books after you’re gone?"      

                                                          (submitted by Billy @ Coffee-Addicted Writer)

My Answer:  

Wow! What a deep thought -

I don't think my family would want any of my book shelf reads since they have their own genres that they like to read.  Maybe my daughter would want some of my favorites that she knows are special to me but I would hope they donate things to our local libraries.  But I plan on being around for a while yet, so it would be a good question to throw out to them and think about. 

 

I am looking forward to reading what others have said and maybe I will clean up the book shelves this weekend too!  Have a great hop weekend everyone!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Blogger Hop - February 27

 

Book Blogger Hop

Thanks must go out to Billy at The Coffee Addicted Writer for hosting this weekly book blogger hop. It is a fun and great way to meet other bloggers and share our thoughts. 

This week's question is:

"When you spot giveaways, do you enter just for fun—even if you’re unsure you’ll read the book—or only when you truly want the title?"    

                                               (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

 

My Answer:  

 

Love today's question from Elizabeth! 

 

I usually enter giveaways if the book sounds interesting or if I have seen good reviews on it.  In the past years, I have entered many, many giveaways but only won 2 books from goodreads.  I guess I am not a lucky enough person!! 

 

 

I am looking forward to reading what others have said and will catch a few new blogs along the way. Have a great hop weekend everyone!!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Blogger Hop - February 20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks must go out to Billy at The Coffee Addicted Writer for hosting this weekly book blogger hop. It is a fun and great way to meet other bloggers and share our thoughts. 

This week's question is:

“ When writing reviews, do you align your text to the left, center, right, or justify it? ”

My Answer:  I am still writing my reviews aligned to the left. I guess I am old school and like to stick with what I know.

 

 

I am looking forward to reading what others have said and will catch a few new profiles along the way. Have a great hop weekend everyone!! 

 

Book Blogger Hop

The Trouble with Giraffes review

 

A girl and her pet giraffe are friends despite their difference in size(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Having a giraffe for a pet can be tricky at times. Giraffes have different food choices and the height difference makes walking together difficult.  But the girl loves spending time together even though she feels the two are more different than alike.  But a big part of being friends that are different; is that they always find a way to meet in the middle.  One day at the clubhouse, while trying to shield the giraffe from the rain, an accident lands the girl in a cast. When she is feeling better and ready to rejoin pet club, her friends give her a welcome back party.  But after finding it a problem to climb up to the clubhouse, the friends find a solution to make it welcoming for everyone again.

 

Here is a sweet book that gives warmth and has a positive message about friendship. It is a wonderful concept of "having to meet in the middle" and showing kids how to work out problems to include others in things that they may not be able to participate in due to certain limitations.  The text flows nicely and the illustrations are cute in eye pleasing colors.  Friendship is abundant and the gentle message on inclusion makes for a good conversation after reading in a large or small group setting.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title: The Trouble with Giraffes

Author: Lisa Mantchev, illsutrated by Taeeun Yoo

Pub. date: September 2025, Simon & Schuster for Young Readers

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

It's Winter review

 

Flurries flutter, soft and light. It’s winter, and our world is bright!(bookjacket)

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a wonderful story that shows us all the ways we can enjoy snow and the various events that come with the winter season. Bundle up in mittens and puffy suits, go sledding on hills of snow, build the roundest snowman ever or have a snowball fight. These are only a few things we can look forward to in the winter months.  There are also many celebrations during this time as well.  For example, the book illustrates pages on Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day. The text is rhyming and the bold, colorful illustrations definitely will have you feeling winter.  There are so many fun things to do during this time of year and reading this story with a hot cocoa will give you many ideas.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~ 

Title: It's Winter

Author: Renee Kurilla

Pub. date: October 2024, Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40n pgs. 

 

 

 

 

The Heart of Winter review

 

A heartwarming winter story that reminds us of the comforting power of friendship and the joy of helping others.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

A snowstorm moves in and a sudden gust of wind separates Chip the robin from the rest of his family.  When he begins to look for them, he meets Lula the red fox, who offers her warm home to escape from the weather.  Lula lives alone and is happy to have the company and the two enjoy spending the afternoon together.   They watch snowflakes fall, build a snow fox and snow bird and played outside until sundown.  But when Chip's family finds him and he flies back home, Lula misses her new friend.

 

By the front cover, this looked like a story about winter and I didn't realize it was for the Christmas season until I read it today.  It is a cute book about kindness and friendship which is always perfect for the holidays. Chip and Lula are sweet characters among the bluish/black and white illustrations with pops of red which gives a chilly winter day feel.  Lula is lonely after Chip leaves but a knock on her door reveals a family surprise waiting behind it for her. It is a quick read about opening your doors with kindness to others in need and making new friends. It also conveys the message of how your friends are your family too.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

 

Title:  The Heart of Winter

Author: Alessandro Montagnana

Pub. date: August 2025, NubeOcho

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 36 pgs. 

 

 

 

 

A Field Guide to Winter review

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This kid friendly Field Guide to Winter shows us the wonder of the outdoors and all that it has to offer during the cold, snowy months.  By using your senses, scientific explanations of nature, writing poems and stories, making crafts or animal hibernation, this book has everything needed for a fun way to learn about our winter season.  It suggests how kids can help birds with food and water, star gaze in the clear night skies or even start a nature journal to log observations of animal tracks and findings.  Geared towards the lower elementary kids, it would work for a science unit in the classroom or a family day out together exploring if you are looking for something fun to do on a weekend.   The illustrations are in pretty winter colors and the snowy pages add to the feeling of being outdoors.  The book cover is eye-pleasing as well.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-8.~

Title:  A Field Guide to Winter

Author: Gabby Dawnay, illustrated by Dorien Brouwers

Pub date: October 2025, Thames & Hudson

Genre: non fiction

Hardcover, 64 pgs. 

  

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