Tag Archives: picture book

February 6, 2023 · 7:00 am

Have You Ever Seen? by Jacqueline “MAX” Zarro (Book Review)

This book strives to bring joy and giggles as readers follow Max the Mole as he wanders about the land running into animals, vegetables, bugs, fish, and ice cream. His journey involves many unlikely scenarios, including a flower taking a shower, a goat in a boat that doesn’t float, and a fly that is an international spy. This book is sure to bring a smile to children’s faces.

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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.

 

Have You Ever Seen? With “Max” the Mole asks children questions that center around silly and impossible scenarios. For example, have you ever seen a bat on a date with a gnat or a bunny with lots of money? What about a moose and a goose enjoying a cup of orange juice? I bet the only time a child has seen a dragon pulled in a wagon is if the dragon was stuffed or made of plastic. 

There were so many ridiculously funny questions and images. Jacqueline “MAX” Zarro (writer) and Ron Zarro’s (writer and illustrator) imaginations will have children giggling nonstop. Even adults will be smiling at the creative artwork and silliness of the writings. 

Nearly all the scenarios were unlikely. However, I found one that could be plausible, thanks to the Muppets. Miss Piggy has blonde hair. She may have stood on a twig at some point. Therefore, I’d like to answer the writers’ question, “Have you ever seen a pig standing on a twig wearing a wig?” with a firm….maybe.

Since a child’s imagination seems limitless at times, I think they might answer yes to several of the have you ever questions. Children love “tea parties,” so questions involving an animal eating or drinking could land in the yes category. I’d be stunned to hear one say they’ve seen a banana wearing a bandanna unless they like to play with their food. 

In the final moments, Have You Ever Seen? With “Max” the Mole prompts readers to share outlandish scenarios they’ve seen. I bet children will come up with exciting and hilarious combinations. 

Amazon has the set recommended reading age of six to eight years, but anyone from pre-k to fifth grade will find this book highly entertaining. It’s a laugh riot that’ll please many young readers and the adults sharing it with them! 

 

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

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January 26, 2023 · 7:00 am

Lauren The Cow by T I Frazier (Book Review)

Taking place in the countryside, Lauren is a Jersey cow (calf) who is determined to be a jumping cow when she grows up. She has to work hard and train if she is going to accomplish her dream. In the end, she doesn’t just jump but discovers she can fly.

This story teaches children to believe in themselves and to try new things even if it has never been done before. It encourages the spirit of exploring yourself and to push beyond what you think is possible.

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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.

 

Lauren is a Jersey cow (calf) who lives with her mom on a farm in the countryside. Lauren is unlike other calves. She doesn’t spend her days grazing with the other cows in the pasture. No, Lauren has her head in the clouds, dreaming about becoming a jumping cow when she grows up. Even though her mom said, “My dear, cows don’t jump,” Lauren isn’t going to allow that statement to deter her from her life’s goal. Lauren is determined to make her dream a reality. 

With most things in life, practice is key to success. Lauren starts with small jumps— a blade of grass and quickly moves onto bigger targets. With multiple successful jumps, she’s ready to tackle a more challenging obstacle, a fence. Lauren gathered her courage and raced towards the fence. Unfortunately, her first attempt fell short. In life, we often fail at our first attempt at something new, and that’s okay; it’s how we handle these failures that shape us. 

Lauren was feeling discouraged for not making it over the fence. She doubted her ability, a familiar feeling we all face over failing at anything. However, Lauren’s friends rallied around her, boasted her confidence, and the little calf leaped over the fence. Hooray! 

Lauren The Cow by T.I. Frazier is a short story about having the courage to do the impossible and triumphing over adversity. Besides the wonderful plot, the images were stunning. Cheers go out to Meritxell Andreu for their remarkable cover design and illustrations. And cheers to T.I. Frazier for their creating an unforgettable, inspirational story!

Lauren The Cow is a perfect book for many ages. Babies and toddlers will love the bright colors and animals. Three through five-year-olds will adore the story’s plot and resolution. Kindergarteners and older can use this book as a tool to practice their reading skills. 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

After nearly 10yrs in the military, T.I. Frazier settled in the countryside of Michigan with his wife, son, dog, and cat. Tim writes inspirational books and children’s stories. He aspires to teach, motivate, and serve others, empowering them to strive past the unknown and to explore their passions.

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January 23, 2023 · 7:00 am

Leah Travels to The Red Mountain Peak: A Book on Mindfulness, Speaking Up and Letting Go by A. S. Tudo (Book Review)

This anti-bullying story carves the path of kindness towards conflict resolution.

Is your little one transitioning towards being a balanced, calm being, but could use a little bit of help with regulating their emotions? Or perhaps they had a challenging time with someone who said or acted in an unkind way?

Meet Leah!

Leah’s journey to The Red Mountain Peak will make her stronger without bursting her bubbly self and everyone is welcome for the ride.

Leah is different. Beautifully different. From the bright orange colour of her wings to her taking-things-easy-attitude.

She makes a special friend because she is present enough to see it. She learns how powerful her breath is when she needs it the most. And she learns to deal with her emotions, speak up and stand up for herself when someone treats her poorly. Uncover the natural wisdom of the world with Leah and her friends.

This story deals with tackling bullying and teaches children to take action in five easy steps, starting with the mindfulness practice of thinking of the breath. Help empower young humans to apply critical thinking and open up to deep conversations by sharing and talking about stories like this.

P.S. This story also addresses the uncomfortable truth – parents are humans too and sometimes they might give conflicting signals when showing affection. Trust gets consolidated through owning up and talking things through and accountability goes both ways in the parent-child relationship.

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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.
 

“Is your little one transitioning towards being a balanced, calm being, but could use a little bit of help with regulating their emotions? Or perhaps they had a challenging time with someone who said or acted in an unkind way? This anti-bullying story carves the path of kindness towards conflict resolution.” 

Leah Travels to The Red Mountain Peak: A Book on Mindfulness, Speaking Up and Letting Go, written and illustrated by A. S. Tudo, is designed with children 4-12 years in mind. The illustrations appear to have been drawn by a child. I’m not sure if this design was intended, but I think they will appeal to 2 to 4-year-olds. However, 10 to 12 years olds might consider them and the storyline childish since their taste starts to involve more complex designs and longer page counts at this age. Leah Travels to The Red Mountain Peak: A Book on Mindfulness, Speaking Up and Letting Go was a cute story that I’m sure many children will select to read daily during story time. 

The Land of the Seven Hilltops and a Mountain are waking up, and every bug is hard at work except Leah, the ladybug. The other bugs were not so nice to Leah and made her cry. They said rude things to her and hurt her feelings. This behavior will strike a chord with many children and opens the door to discussing bullying and the effects of not treating others with kindness. Ersa, the dewdrop, will teach children what to do if and when they are bullied. This story also points out that everyone, including parents, makes mistakes, so communication is an excellent first step in handling issues. 

While I wasn’t overly impressed with the illustrations, the story made excellent points and should be shared with children, even those not currently being bullied. 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

A. S. Tudo’s mission is to create stories that help adults and children act with kindness, even when someone’s actions are hurtful. ‘Leah Travels to The Red Mountain Peak’ is the first book of ‘Leah’s Adventures’ series.

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January 6, 2023 · 7:00 am

Healthcare Heroes ABCs: A Journey Through the Alphabet with Your Healthcare Hero Team by Courtney Booth (Book Review)

Healthcare Heroes ABCs takes children on a colorful and engaging journey through the alphabet to learn about 26 different kinds of healthcare professionals! From anesthesiologists to occupational therapists, home health aides to veterinarians, and medical social workers to genetic counselors, children will easily connect with the different heroes they see on each page.

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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.

 

Even before the latest pandemic hit, healthcare workers work day in and day out, saving lives. During the pandemic, we gained a newfound respect for the healthcare industry and those who work in that field. We’ve seen them pushed to their max, but they keep fighting. Courtney Booth, the author, is correct—healthcare workers are heroes!

I’ve seen countless books on learning ABCs; however, this is the first I’ve noticed that focuses on healthcare workers. The picture book covers every job imaginable, from “A” for an anesthesiologist to “Y” for youth counselors. Under each letter and position, there’s a brief overview of what the job entails. For instance: “T is for transplant surgeons” informs children that these workers help kids and adults live longer by giving them new organs when they are sick. There wasn’t a specific job title that began with “Z.” The author expressed how they were zillions of other jobs not covered. The illustrations accompanying this letter and description mentioned a handful of other healthcare-related careers. 

The healthcare industry is vital to our survival. There are so many jobs that one can choose for their future career if they choose that path. But even if your child doesn’t want to enter that industry, Healthcare Heroes ABCs: A Journey Through the Alphabet with Your Healthcare Hero Team by Courtney Booth will give elementary school children a better understanding of what each job does (from A-Y). If you are a teacher reading this to your class, you might prompt your students to share if they have a family member who works as a healthcare worker. Maybe even consider a healthcare career day at school. 

Amazon’s recommended reading age is two-ten years (grade level: preschool-fifth). Learning the letters is more suitable for two and three-year-olds, while the information about each specific job would be ideal for school-age children. 

I recommend teachers share this book with students. I also hope parents buy this book for their child(ren). 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Courtney’s had her pencil on paper since she was little. She wrote her first story in second grade and told her first story to a group in elementary school. After reading countless children’s books, she’s happy to pour her passion into creating stories she wants her daughter to hear.

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January 3, 2023 · 7:00 am

Blank Canvas by J.M. Jackson (Book Review)

Keagan paints his canvas daily by being thoughtful, loving and kindhearted. Every day is new with challenges and adventures, clouds and sunshine. No matter what the day brings, Keagan paints his strokes on his blank canvas. Whether it’s a good or bad day, Keagan remembers that every action he takes must still reflect the little boy from inside. When his day is over, and he looks at the paint strokes on his blank canvas, Keagan is proud no matter what his mood is that day. He knows that today will become yesterday in hopes of tomorrow… and that there are no redoes for today so each action and paint stroke must count. Hopeful and vibrant, come join Keagan as he paints his blank canvas!

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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.

 

Each day begins with a blank canvas. Our actions, words, and attitudes affect the final day’s image. Was it a joyous day? Was it terrible? Did you do something nice for others? Did you wake up in an excellent or sour mood? How you wake up can set the tone for the day, so try to be like Keagan and start the day with a positive outlook, ready for whatever adventure awaits you. 

As I was reading Blank Canvas, I was in awe of the beautiful illustrations by Marina Saumell. Each image resembled a painting and tied in perfectly with the book’s theme. I loved that when a color name was mentioned through text, it was written in its shade. Another good design choice! 

Blank Canvas shows it’s not always easy to keep your chin and stay positive. Yes, some moments are filled with rainbows, but others are filled with dark clouds. I was impressed by how Keagan kept his smile while handling the bullies. We didn’t see the result of that conversation, so I would discuss with your child or class what you think happened next. You can also discuss what to do when talking nicely doesn’t calm a situation. 

Keagan is a good role model for children. He helps others in need. He picks up trash. He shares his food with friends. (If your child’s school is like mine, there is no food sharing due to potential allergies. However, it was a nice gesture.)

Keagan also shows young children that not every will be sunshine and smiles, and that’s okay. In these dark times, it’s still important to be friendly and helpful and realize that tomorrow is a new day and the start of a new canvas. 

I recommend child therapists share Blank Canvas with their young clients. I think it can help them open up about their feelings. Parents, I encourage you to share this story with your child. Everyone has sad days, and this book shows readers that even though today wasn’t the best, a new day is just around the corner. 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

J.M. Jackson inspired by three beautiful grandchildren each with such different personalities. Being able to see the world through their eyes convinced me to start writing about their adventures. At 58 years old this new adventure is filled with excitement and tons of fun.

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