Lighthouse and the Little Boat review

 

A sweet, tender, and touching tale about a wise lighthouse guiding a young boat through the turbulent waters of life. (goodreads summary)

 

 

 

The warm glow of the Lighthouse watches over the harbor keeping everything safe and secure.  When a new little boat named Brightness arrives, Lighthouse tells her to stay close and she will keep her safe.  But Brightness becomes curious of the horizon and the vast open sea.  Little by little she drifts away from Lighthouse's protective light until one windy morning Lighthouse could see not her.  As the seasons change, Lighthouse keeps watch for Brightness to return. But when a harrowing storm hits she knows she must stay steady and strong with hopes that Brightness will find her way back to the harbor.

 

This is such a sweet story perfect for reading to the young ones.  The text is gentle, calming and flows easily for reading aloud.  It could be a great story for going back to school or cuddling at bedtime.  The beautiful illustrations in sea shore colors had me feeling the activity of the ocean and harbor.  Parents will connect to the story as little boat wants to go exploring but lighthouse worries about her venturing to far away. We want to protect our children but yet we know we have to let go when they feel the need for some independence.  There is a wonderful message about letting go but also finding the way back home again.  I think this is a "just right book"  for ages 3-6.~

 

Title:  Lighthouse and the Little Boat

Author: Katie Frawley

Pub date: May 2024, Quill Tree Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

 

 

 

 

How to Make a Picture Book review

 

Make your own picture book with this hilarious, activity-filled guide (goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

Here is a wonderful step-by-step guide book to help with the creative writing process for younger grades.  It offers great tips along with activities for kids on writing and illustrating their own story or picture book.  

 

By showing kids how to start with story ideas, then character development and setting, Elys the worm helps with sentence starters to form a plot.  An activity is added after each one so readers can put what they learned into practice.  When their story is finished, there are details on how to put it into a picture book format, illustration blocks and how even color affects the feelings and thinking of a reader.  There is so much useful information to learn and the illustrations are bold and bright.  It is an engaging activity guide but entertaining to read as well.  Perfect for the start of the new school year. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 6-9.~

Title: How to Make a Picture Book

Author: Elys Dolan

Pub. date: November 2022, Walker Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 48 pgs.

Faker review

 

The story of a family of liars... and the son who wants to break the family tradition.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trey is used to moving around and being the new kid in school.  While attending boarding schools, he knows how to make friends with the rich kids.  Once they are hooked,  it is then his dads turn to lure in the parents for one of his investment scams.  Trey's dad is a con artist and good at his profession.  But once the investment scheme is completed and the money is all set, Trey and his family pull a Houdini.  A Houdini is when it is time to take the money and run, immediately leaving everything behind to disappear for a while.  But Trey starts questioning what he has been taught to do after settling in Boxelder, Tennessee and starting a public school for the first time.  His dad offers a new investment on a fake start up electric car company, the biggest scam by far.  Trey longs to lead a normal life but does not know how to tell his dad he is tired of lying and running.  

In this new middle grade novel, readers will find themselves pulled into Trey's story.  It is filled with internal conflicts and life lessons as Trey tries to navigate his 12 year old self while being his con man dad's partner in crime. When his social studies teacher does a unit on debating ethical issues, he begins to take a different look at the family business.  On top of this, his teacher's daughter takes an environmental stance to save a local pond polluted with sludge.  Things begin to become personal when Trey joins the cause and he begins to care for the friends that he is making at his new school.  He also questions his dad's swindling lifestyle and sees things differently after his 10 year old sister becomes a little to enthusiastic about ripping people off.  She is quite a feisty character but does not have the maturity to fully understand what is going on.  Trey has a lot of character development and readers will connect with him as he questions right from wrong and longing for a normal life.  His dad promises it will stop after the big one but will it ever?  The book touches on many themes such as; morals, values, friends and family relationships, trust, lying, guilt and even environmental issues.  The book is a quick read and has some twists and turns. The ending wrapped up a little fast but had a positive outcome.   If kids are looking for a book to start the school year off with this would be a great read.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10-12.~

 

Title:  Faker

Author: Gordon Korman

Pub. date: July 2024, Scholastic Press

Genre: middle grade, realistic fiction

Hardcover, 224 pgs.

The Dictionary Story review

The much-anticipated new picture book from the best-selling, award-winning creators of A Child of Books.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dictionary was full of words but felt that she didn't have a story to tell like other books could.  So she decided to make her own and let her words come to life.  Her pages soon became a hungry alligator chasing after a donut.  While donut was escaping, it rolled through a napping ghost and waking him up.  The story grows more and more chaotic as donut rolls along the pages to find a moon, a queen and a terrible tornado.  Dictionary's story unfolds into a very messy situation and begins to worry that nothing makes sense and she needs to make it right again.  But how will she turn everything back to normal order?  Then, she remembers her friend alphabet.

 

This is a clever and creative book that would be a fun read aloud.  It is also a wonderful way to teach kids about the dictionary and its purpose.  The illustrations are simple but unique as chaos erupts throughout the pages making for some funny moments to look at.  Be sure to read the scrolling definitions along the bottom of the pages as well.  I didn't realize it at first but after a second look, there is silly humor that makes you giggle.  The end pages also give a quick overview as to how the dictionary came to be.   Kids will have fun singing the alphabet song to help put everything back in its place. This book was definitely fascinating and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-8.~

 

Title: The Dictionary Story

Author: Oliver Jeffers, Sam Winston

Pub. date:  August 2024, Candlewick Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 56 pgs.