Tag Archives: picture book

March 27, 2023 · 7:00 am

“ABSURD,” SAID BIRD by Tricia Gardella (Book Review)

Mouse promises to bring back cheese for every farm animal to help him build the plane he thinks he needs to get to the moon. He ignores Bird who all the while warns Mouse that his plan is absurd. The fun comes when we discover the reason Bird calls the plan absurd in this short and to-the-point tale.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review

 

The joke that the moon is made up of cheese has been floating for as long as I remember. Family members often ask one another, if it were made up of cheese, what kind would it be? The mouse in “ABSURD,” SAID BIRD. also believes the moon is composed of cheese ad plans to snatch a chunk. The barn animals are curious about his mission and how mouse plans to build a plane for the extraordinary trip. 

The farm animals agree to help him with his project after he promises them he’d bring back a moon souvenir, in other words, cheese! Ginger Nielson did a phenomenal job taking barnyard junk and morphing them into a recognizable plane. The windmill for the propeller was ingenious! 

This short story teaches children that not everything will go as planned when transitioning from concept to construction. Mouse faced such a predicament. But engineers never quit; they return to the drawing board and brainstorm ideas. Mouse leaned on their team for help, and his actions made him a great role model to future engineers. When in doubt or trouble, always ask for help! 

Did mouse ever make it to the moon? Did he and the farm animals get their cheese? Those questions can only be answered by reading “ABSURD,” SAID BIRD. by Tricia Gardella. 

Amazon has this children’s book listed for 3 – 8 years. Even children younger than that will love the story. Babies will love the bright illustrations. And the drawings will help teach toddlers farm animal names and then sounds. Of course, readers in the recommended age bracket will enjoy the adventure story. Let them draw their conclusion before starting the story. Let your young readers explore how the tiny mouse could reach the moon through art, Lego building, play dough, or brainstorming ideas from your family’s “scrapheap.” 

I loved this story, and I believe your family will too! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

 
 
 
Meet the Author
 

Tricia’s books are influenced by ranch, animals and family life. She has tried it all, and almost mastered some: canning, cooking, knitting, fiber arts, rug-making, gardening. She has a BA in Ancient History and lots of grand children, giving her much food for thought. She lives in California.
 
 

 

 

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March 23, 2023 · 7:00 am

Grandma’s Kitchen by Tricia Gardella (Book Review)

 

 


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Most grandchildren share a similar memory of working alongside a grandparent in the kitchen. In Grandma’s Kitchen by Tricia Gardella, Grandma’s oldest granddaughter had been quite the helper during past canning seasons, but now it’s time to include her little sister, Monica. The older sister is reluctant to have Monica join them. She believes her baby sister is too little. Oh boy, Monica proved her older sister wrong!

Through beautiful illustrations, we watch the two young girls and their grandmother pick a few buckets of tomatoes from the garden. We watch them separate them into two piles and learn the reasoning behind the step. After the sorting, it’s time to prepare the tomatoes for their new home: glass jars. You can expect to get a little messy whether you are canning tomatoes whole or making jars of tomato sauce. My advice, goggles! I’m sure Monica will ask for a pair before next year’s canning season. While the process is messy and hard work, it can be loads of fun too. For instance, my kids find turning the crank fun and love watching the crushed tomatoes ooze out at the end. The sisters in the educational picture book did as well! 

Grandma makes the whole process an exciting event. She is calm and patient with them, allows them to taste the fruit of their labor (tomato juice), and even finds the energy to dance a jig. Wow, their grandmother has more energy than me. 

The fabulous thing about canning is that you don’t need a humungous kitchen. All you need is a garden item(s) to can (purchase or grow your own), cans (glass jars), and a few kitchen staples, such as pots, strainers, and pantry items. Grandma’s are optional, but an adult is necessary due to potential hazards to little hands: hot stove and boiling water. 

With grandma’s guidance, children will learn how to can tomatoes: picking, sorting, seasoning, cooking the fruit, washing, and storing the cans. This book will encourage children to try canning fruit and other items.  

I recommend this story to 4 years of age and older. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

 
 
 
Meet the Author

Tricia’s books are influenced by ranch, animals and family life. She has tried it all, and almost mastered some: canning, cooking, knitting, fiber arts, rug-making, gardening. She has a BA in Ancient History and lots of grand children, giving her much food for thought. She lives in California.
 
 
 
 

 

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March 12, 2023 · 7:00 am

TAG YOU’RE IT! by Jonathan Barnett (Book Review)

Tag for this father and daughter is definitely more than just a game. An exciting story for children and adults alike, Tag, You’re It explores life’s ups and downs through a simple game that’s been enjoyed through the ages. As father and daughter enjoy their nightly routine of playing tag, the conflict caused by ending the game each night, and the insight that can be gained, is celebrated in something as simple as a game of tag.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

When I was younger, I recall playing two variations of tag every day on the playground: original and freeze. I had all the energy in the world and never wanted recess to end. Fast forward to adulthood, and I’m playing the game with my children, like the father in the story Tag You’re It! by Jonathan Tyler Barnett. 

Children grow up too fast; before you know it, they’ll want to hang out with their friends instead of their parents. Or, they’ll be off to work or college. Or they are starting a family of their own. Tag You’re It! shows how a father makes the most of his child’s younger years. It also shows how exhausting it is to keep up with a child who seems to have a tank full of gas 24-7. Kids are always on the move indoors and outdoors once they take their first step. I can empathize with the dad’s need to sit down and request a change in games. I was tired just watching them run around their home.

I adored the illustrations by Penny Weber. They truly brought the story to life. I could practically hear Sadie’s infectious giggle as her father chased after her. The father and daughter love each other very much, which shows in the adorable drawings. It’s also apparent in the images that the mom loves watching these two play together. As a mom, I also love watching my children play with their dad. 

Tag You’re It! was a true delight to read. The story’s core was only twenty-two pages short, making it the perfect size read for toddlers through four years of age. This story would also be an ideal choice for beginning readers. 

Your child will love the story and acting it out, too. In other words, get ready to read and run! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Jonathan Tyler Barnett, self-published author of IngramSparks currently sells rank #1 in JUVENILE NONFICTION / Family / Multigenerational children/picture book titled “Tag You’re It!” Emergency RN, Father, Author, and Player of Tag!

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March 9, 2023 · 7:00 am

Baby Zebu’s Ears by Alana Zimmerman (Book Review)

 

What makes us different makes us important.

Baby Zebu is a little different from the other cows on the farm. Some would say it’s a pity, but to Zebu, it’s just part of his happy life!
And, as all the animals will soon find out, Zebu’s flaw is much more special than it seems.

Read a book and DO GOOD: A portion of your purchase will be donated to the Iowa Farm Sanctuary which is devoted to giving neglected and abused farm animals a second chance at a happy life. Help us do more good by reading the next books in the series!

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Baby Zebu entered this world looking slightly different than the other calves; his ears were pinned back. For weeks, his mother unsuccessfully tried to free them. Zebu tried with all their might too. The other animals soon realized even though Zebu looked different, that didn’t make Zebu any less lovable, friendly, or playful. Zebu came to accept who they were and how they looked. We should teach our children this lesson while they are young and reinforce it as they grow! 

Zebu explored the meadow, taking in all the colorful sights, sounds, and smells. In his exploration, he noticed something strange but extraordinary; his pinned ears amplified his hearing. He could now hear sounds miles away and far below the ground. 

His newly discovered superpower alerted him when a nasty storm was brewing, unlike any he’d seen before. Zebu tried to warn his friends and family, but no one would listen. Children will empathize with Zebu’s plight of not being heard. Sometimes small voices get overshadowed by louder ones, or the person they are talking to is too busy to listen. 

Many children, especially in certain parts of the U.S., are very familiar with tornados, their destructive powers, their roar, their imposing size, and the importance of seeking shelter when one has touched down. Whether you read this book at school, the library, or at home, I encourage you to review and practice your tornado preparedness plan with your young listeners. Tornados are scary, and a solid plan in motion will create less chaos during an overwhelming and frightening experience. 

Luckily, every animal in the meadow survived the turbulent winds and thanked Zebu for saving them. This story reinforces that it’s okay to be different. It doesn’t make you any less helpful or important. Your difference might give you an advantage over others, like a superpower.

Baby Zebu’s Ears by Alana Zimmerman had words and phrases that might be too complex for toddlers and preschoolers: mottled, basked, billowing, and tentative steps firmer. However, the illustrations were bright and eye-catching, and they explained precisely what was happening in the story. 

I think all elementary school children will enjoy listening to the story. I would encourage those living in tornado prone areas to share Baby Zebu’s Ears with their children and remember to go over your tornado emergency plan.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

I loved reading as a child, so much so that the giant box of books that was loaned to my family I would repeatedly try to sleep in hoping to be closer to the books I loved. That love of reading grew into a full fledged adult passion and writing a children’s book was something I dreamed of doing.

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March 6, 2023 · 7:00 am

Ganesha’s Cramped Statue (Stories about Indian Festivals Book 3 by Mayuri Amarnath (Book Review)

With its bold and colorful illustrations, Ganesha’s Cramped Statue is a delightful way for children of all ages to learn about Indian culture and appreciate its grand festivals.

It is Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesha, the elephant-headed Indian God, is so excited. It is his birthday and believers from all around the world will celebrate him for 10 whole days. There will be prayers, delicious food, and special yummy laddus made just for him. It is a huge festival and every year he parties with his devotees by going down to earth and living in one of his biggest, most lavish statues.

This year is no different. Ganesha is all set to go down to earth to bask in the glory of people’s admiration. He jumps into the river Sarasvati. But wait. What just happened? He is stuck. This is not the best statue on earth. He is stuck in a dingy, cramped statue. How is he going to get out?

In this fresh take on Ganesha Chaturthi, Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles, has to overcome his own obstacles with the help of his new friends Khalid and Kabir.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Did you know Ganesha is an elephant-headed Indian God? I didn’t, and I know this will be new information for many children and adults (like myself) too. The image of the Indian God will amaze young readers because Ganesh not only has the head of an elephant, but he also stands upright and has 12 arms (page 3).

In Ganesha’s Cramped Statue by Mayuri Amarnath, it’s festival season, and millions of people travel and pray to the Indian God while eagerly awaiting his appearance. They are optimistic that the god’s spirit will land in the 50-foot statue that honors him yearly. Ganesha was looking forward to the week-long festival, powering up from his worshippers because, without their prayers, he won’t have the strength to rejoin his body. However, things didn’t go as planned. Poor Ganesha’s spirit didn’t get inside the enormous statue of the temple. 

Some text on pages 15 and 16 was difficult to read due to its placement and color compared to the background color. Some words were written on the window trim, making them nearly impossible to read on the file. There were also words used in the story that I was unfamiliar with and weren’t clearly illustrated: laddu and biryani. I had to look up those two words and mandap. I’m assuming the author wants all children worldwide to read this, so they need to explain and illustrate sections, so those not in that culture understand what the foreign words mean. 

The illustrations showed Ganesha with twelve arms and later on four. This confused me, so I did a bit of research. I discovered that the god is typically seen with four but can have many more. While the information after the story about Ganesha Chaturthi was informative, I wanted to know more about the festival. I discovered that the festival date varies. This year it happened in August, and next year it’s projected to occur in September. 

Learning about other cultures is important, so parents and educators should share this book with their children and class. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Mayuri Amarnath is an Aerospace Engineer by education, a teacher by profession, and an author at heart. She grew up in a traditional South Indian family and now writes stories about Hindu Gods and their festivals. Her stories bring a new perspective to these ancient celebrations.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

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