Review of Toys by words&pictures

Attach this sweet and sturdy board book to your stroller and enjoy your time out as baby explores 12 captivating high-contrast pictures of fun and familiar toys, along with the word for each. Smile at yellow rubber duck, choo-choo with the train, and make music with the xylophone.

Keep baby entertained and learning on the go with Little Hands Stroller Books. Babies are born with undeveloped vision and researchers have found that they strongly prefer high-contrast images that stand out in their blurry new world. With a convenient strap that attaches the book to a stroller, each of these durable board books features colorful, high-contrast illustrations on lively, patterned black-and-white backgrounds. Little ones will be enthralled as they develop their vision and language skills, as well as hand-eye coordination.

Book links

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**
I like the concept behind this book. It's designed to be a board book that you can easily strap onto a stroller to allow the child to page through it and read, while being less likely to drop it and lose it along the way. Because I reviewed a digital galley, I cannot speak to the sturdiness of the board book, nor the convenient strap. But I can talk about the content within.

It's very short, with illustrations of familiar objects in the child's environment and the associated vocabulary. The illustrations are sweet and simple, which is perfect for the younger child. And the color scheme is simple. But I found that the backgrounds, while cute, were rather distracting from the main picture and often made it difficult to read the words on the pages. It got too busy for my taste and I think detracts from the purpose of this book.

But at the same time, I do think young children will enjoy looking at the illustrations. I gave it three stars overall.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of Please Don't Say an X Word by W. Nikola-Lisa

Artfully designed in black and white using abstracted portions of enlarged letterforms, Please Don't Say An X Word offers a jumping off point for that all-important discussion about verbal abuse and bullying with upper elementary and middle school students. But first, what is an x word? In math, "x" stands for a missing quantity, as in the equation 2(x) = 4, where x equals 2. And so it is in this book, where "x words" stand for all the "bad, angry, hurtful words" we use to denigrate others in the heat of an argument. Using just the right amount of humor and thoughtfulness, W. Nikola-Lisa, author of the award-winning Bein' With You This Way, urges us to reflect on how we talk to each other, at the same time encouraging us to explore the incredible beauty and richness of language.

Book links

Goodreads * Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

**My thoughts**
When I read the title of this book, I was intrigued to try to figure out what an X-word would be, though I had a pretty good idea. And I was intrigued by the premise of it being an anti-bullying book.

When I started it, I loved the contrast of the black and white pictures. And it started out fun. But then abruptly in the middle, the tone completely changed and I got confused. I didn't really feel the anti-bullying message. I didn't quite understand how X-words were being defined, especially when being compared to other words beginning with other letters. And if I am not totally understanding it, I am not sure that children will get it, either. 

Overall, I feel like it was a great idea that fell short and could be reworked and maybe come across better. I gave it 2.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for fulfilling my review request. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Little Milly and the Great Lakes series by Kelly McInenly

Welcome to this tour for the Little Milly and the Great Lakes series by Kelly McInenly! I admit when I first saw it was being offered, I thought the books were actually about The Great Lakes, on which I have lived my whole life. Not quite, but still a cute series that made me flashback to my own childhood. Learn more about the series about six sisters whose last name is Lake in this guest post from the author and then get my thoughts on the first three books in the series. Follow the tour for even more thoughts and let her know what you think along the way. And of course, it gives you plenty of chances to enter the great giveaway!

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I wrote Little Milly and the Great Lakes to fill an emerging void in the kids’ book section, where it seemed the primary choices were sassy and sassier or weird and weirder. Parents actually enjoy reading these sweet stories, about spritely girls, their simple adventures and a wee moral at the end. Amazingly and encouragingly, it seems kids are still able to giggle and be entertained, even in the absence of eye-rolling and unicorns that vomit rainbows. Phew!

At my nieces’ request, I am hurrying to finish the next three books in the series – Ene and the Ivy, Flo and the Fishermen and Milly and the Mail – including a chance for Little Milly fans’ faces to be included in the illustrations.

At the same time, my quest for projects that help parents raise amazing adults continues. I am co-authoring a business book for young people with my friend and professional colleague, Julien Leblanc.

After years of on-boarding new graduates and coaching executives, Julien noticed a consistent and concerning gap between academic achievement and organizational effectiveness. While academic pedigree provides a solid foundation, that foundation may be too hard, lacking the soft skills that enable agility, creativity and, ultimately, success.

Foundation Before Creation is our attempt to bridge the divide between academia and reality, with a book that both in its construct and its content demonstrates the difference…

A slim field guide in place of a bulky textbook, stories and colloquial language not case studies and jargon, practical advice in addition to theory… short enough to read on a short-haul flight but salient enough to stay on a desk as a resource for an entire career.

By the end of 13 chapters, readers will have 78 (+1!) tools and techniques they can use immediately and enduringly in their professional life.

I guess you could say I am covering young readers from-cradle-to-career at this point. Ultimately, I think it is wonderful and important for parents to read to their kids and encourage their kids to read… even if it is books about precocious llamas’ broken iPhones

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About the series:

Kelly knew Little Milly Lake as Grandma Mill McInenly. The usually serious Mildred would occasionally surprise her granddaughter with tales of the fun and mischief that she and her five older sisters found growing up in the Maritimes in the early 1900s. The combination of little money or supervision, and a notoriously grumpy father, made for simple stories with just the right blend of silly and sweet.Little Milly and the Great Lakes is Kelly's first creative writing endeavor... she has been distracted by Little Mateo and Little Lucas.

Get silly with Milly on her other adventures...Bess and the Boil, Marj and the Medal, and Peg and the Party Line.

**My overall thoughts**

It's a cute series with the rhyming adventures of six young sisters back so many years ago. A lot of their antics felt somewhat familiar to me, as I remember hearing similar stories from my parents' and grandparents' generations. They could be a fun way to teach a little bit of history.

And I love the illustrations. They made me think of Ludwig Bemelmans and his Madeline series.

Here are my thoughts on each individual book. (Please note that affiliate links are included below. If you make a purchase through one, I earn a few pennies at no additional cost to you.)

This first book felt relevant to today as the girls are rowing on a crew team of sorts and have a regatta to compete in. When Marj wins, she doesn't want to share her winnings and ends up getting sick off of them. It's a cute lesson on sharing.

Check out Little Milly and the Great Lakes: Marj and the Medal (Book 1)

Amazon US * Amazon CA * Barnes and Noble * Indigo/Chapters

This one really steps back in time and brought back fond memories for me. My grandmother used to tell me stories about having a party line in the small city in which she grew up. My mother grew up in the country, so her family had a party line much longer. The antics the girls pull in this one were very familiar, as my family had their own, sometimes similar, stories to tell about when they had one. 

Kids today already have a hard time conceiving of one phone line and being tethered to the wall while talking in front of everyone. This idea will surely blow their minds!

Read an excerpt:

In the Lake girls’ time – nineteen hundred and nine,
Many homes were connected by telephone line.
Neighbours had their own numbers – but the phone line was shared:
You could pick up and listen to all, if you dared.
And the Lake girls did dare – they goaded each other,
“Peg, pick up the phone and pretend you’re a mother!”

Check out Little Milly and the Great Lakes: Peg and the Party Line (Book 2)
Amazon US * Amazon CA * Barnes and Noble * Indigo/Chapters! 

I think this one is going to be harder to relate to, as Bess gets a boil on her bum, presumably from playing in the dirt in her skirt? I admit that I don't know much about this phenomenon, but kids are still likely to get a kick out of this story.

Check out Little Milly and the Great Lakes: Bess and the Boil (Book 3)

Amazon US * Amazon CA * Barnes and Noble * Indigo/Chapters! 

About the author:

Kelly knew Little Milly Lake as Grandma Mill McInenly. The usually serious Mildred would occasionally surprise her granddaughter with tales of the fun and mischief that she and her five older sisters found growing up in the Maritimes in the early 1900s. The combination of little money or supervision, and a notoriously grumpy father, made for simple stories with just the right blend of silly and sweet.

Little Milly and the Great Lakes is Kelly’s first creative writing endeavor… she has been distracted by Little Mateo and Little Lucas.

Connect with Canadian author Kelly McInenly on

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/little-milly-and-the-great-lakes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlemillyandthegreatlakes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19237406.Kelly_McInenly

Kelly McInenly will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of Escucha Means Listen by Talia Aikens-Nunez

Welcome to the book blast tour for Escucha Means Listen by Talia Aikens-Nunez. I had the honor of reviewing this book and am sharing my thoughts with you today. You can follow the tour for even more thoughts and chances to enter the giveaway. Enjoy!

Take a journey through the world — just listening. Escucha Means Listen helps children discover sounds around them in both English and Spanish. A beautiful picture book with lyrical prose and delightful illustrations, from lawn mowing to the splish-splashing of rain puddles.

Read an excerpt:

Buzz. Buzz. Qué oyes? (What do you hear?)
Las abejas (The bees) circling the flowers.

Woosh. Woosh. What do you hear?
El viento (The wind) is whistling by.

Shh. Shh. Qué oyes? (What do you hear?)
Las hojas (The leaves) are dancing on the trees.

Available on Amazon 

**My thoughts**

This book was absolutely adorable, as we follow the young child around as she explores her environment, taking in all of the sounds. The book introduces words in Spanish, making it a fun bilingual story to learn new vocabulary. I think it would be fun to read at home and in the classroom. I just wish there was a glossary and/or pronunciation guide in the back for readers who are not as familiar with Spanish.

The pictures are stunning and kind of a throwback to more classic children's books. I absolutely loved them. I hope this duo can team up again for more books in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and Goddess Fish for fulfilling my review request. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About Talia Aikens-Nunez

Talia Aikens-Nuñez wanted to be a meteorologist, a politician and a lawyer. She never thought she would be an author. It was the birth of her daughter that caused her to start writing. Raising a bilingual child inspired Talia to write multicultural children’s books.

Talia’s family loves nature so much that she and her husband vowed that they will always try to live close to water. She and her family live in Connecticut with a little pond.

Twitter: talia_n

Website: Http://www.kidslitbytalia.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/taliaaikensnunezchildrenswriter

Talia Aikens-Nunez will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Adventures of Bentley Hippo: Inspiring Children to Share by Argyro Graphy

Bentley the hippo has a dream to go to the moon. As his journey begins, he runs into a silly monkey, Jaxon, who thinks throwing bananas is sharing. Bentley's goal is to inspire children to do better, be kinder, accept and respect each other regardless of size, color, shape, gender or religion; and to help those that face other difficulties and challenges. Without "preaching" Bentley teaches children valuable lessons. Bentley's bubbly personality inspires children to be curious as to what will happen next in this 5-book series. Get ready to fall in love with Bentley.

A must-read for children of all ages

Available on Amazon

(affiliate link)

Praise for Bentley Hippo:

"Bentley is an adorable hippo who isn't treated nice by Jaxson. Bentley considers Jaxson a friend and teaches him how to be kind. A wonderful book about kindness, sharing, and friendship. Beautifully illustrated, Bentley will become a friend to his little readers."

"Bentley teaches sharing in a positive and pleasant manner. This is a book that teachers and parents and all caregivers can use for an effective discussion on sharing. The big plus beyond the moral of sharing were the illustrations - bright and colorful pictures."

"The Adventures of Bentley Hippo: Inspiring Children to Share is an important book because it has a very strong theme, which is sharing. Another element that I liked about this book was that the illustrator created drawings that suited the story very well. The characters were very sweet and showed sharing in a very good way for readers to understand it. I liked that the main characters were animals because it added a fantasy element to the story. There was nothing that I did not like about this book. I would rate this book 5 of 5 stars and recommend it to all ages; it is especially important for younger readers to read this book to understand sharing."

Also available as a video flip book!

Buy it in the Bentley Hippo website store!

Hello,

I am Arygyro Graphy, creator of Bentley Hippo and author of The Adventures of Bentley Hippo Inspiring Children's 5-book series. Throughout my childhood and life, i experienced bullying, discrimination, rudeness, hatred and harassment. While I remained silent, thinking thoughts of fear and inferiority would go away, they were embedded in the back of my mind and to my surprise often found their way to the forefront of my mind affecting everyday decisions. In my adulthood, I witnessed more and more children experiencing the same. Values, common sense, compassion were replaced with people demanding, and having this sense of entitlement, and bullying became a bigger issue as it was no longer in physical form only. I decided to create Bentley, in hopes of giving children a sense of comfort and hope that things will be ok. It is through Bentley that valuable lessons such as caring, sharing, kindness, friendship and gratitude would be taught.

Book 2 also available on Amazon.

Reviews are always welcome and appreciated! Send your review directly to Argyro Graphy at the Bentley Hippo website for a chance at getting another book download for free!


I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Haley and Comet Learn to Plan with Kanban! by Chris Lewis

Haley and Comet are confused. Big brother Bob has won the prize to finish the most chores yet again! Then they find out his secret is Kanban. Join the twins as they discover its power to organise and plan.

A fun ‘how to’ learning story for six years old and up!

Buy as ebook or paperback!

Amazon * Amazon UK *  Apple *  Kobo * Barnes and Noble *  24 Symbols * Scribd

  I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Review of Scaredy Monster by Meika Hashimoto

Scaredy Monster has a BIG secret. He's not scary like many monsters—he’s a scaredy monster! From Epic! Originals, Scaredy Monster is an illustrated early reader series about conquering fears and trying new things!

Join Scaredy Monster as he overcomes his fears of losing a tooth, riding a bike, and going to his first sleepover. With some help from Mommy Monster, Scaredy discovers he’s much braver than he thought—and he finds ways to feel safe and happy while doing scary things!

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

(affiliate links included)

**My thoughts**
This book is a collection of three short stories about a monster known as Scaredy Monster. Only he isn't a monster who is scary; he's a monster who is often scared!

In the first story, Scaredy Monster Loses a Tooth, we are introduced to this delightful character. I actually grinned when he roared and then apologized if he scared us readers. He's really cute, and he's purple, which is a bonus.

Scaredy Monster has his first loose tooth. While this is a completely  normal rite of passage for children, for many it can be scary the first time that they realize one of those teeth they've had for most of their lives is about to fall out. What's going to happen to it? People have told them all kinds of scary (and untrue) stories about what's going to happen when that tooth is gone. His mom clears up any misconceptions, and he tries really hard to be brave. And of course, that tooth does come out!

I think kids who are nervous about losing a tooth will find some solace in this story and possibly worry less about it.

Next up is Scaredy Monster Rides a Bike. He's been riding a tricycle for so long, but now it is time to transition up to a bike. He wants to learn how to ride all by himself, but quickly learns that he needs Mom's help to do so. She teaches him one skill at a time until he is able to ride the bike by himself. And boy, is he proud of himself when he can do so!

Kids learning how to ride bikes will relate to the many steps it takes to learn how to ride a bike and the persistence needed to do so.

And finally, we have Scaredy Monster and the Slumber Party. It's the first time he is staying overnight away from home. It's so exciting to go to your first sleepover! But it's also pretty typical to get a little scared during that first one. You're in a new place without your parents. And of course, we like to scare ourselves at sleepovers with scary stories and movies. 

He gets so scared that he wants his mommy to come and get him. But after she brings him his stuffed monster toy and reassures him that it is okay to be sad at times, he decides that he wants to stay over anyway. I think a lot of kids go through this experience in their early days of sleeping over, and it's a good reminder that it's okay to be scared. Everything will be okay.

So my overall thoughts on the book: Scaredy Monster is a lovable character to whom children are going to relate as he goes through all of these typical childhood experiences. The stories can be used to prepare children for an upcoming event, or as a basis for discussion for a current event in their lives. I look forward to more stories about Scaredy Monster in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of The Fabled Life of Aesop by Ian Lendler

Honoring the path of a slave, this dramatic picture-book biography and concise anthology of Aesop’s most child-friendly fables tells how a child born into slavery in ancient Greece found a way to speak out against injustice by using the skill and wit of his storytelling—storytelling that has survived for 2,500 years. Stunningly illustrated by two-time Caldecott Honor winner Pamela Zagarenski.

The Tortoise and the Hare. The Boy Who Cried Wolf. The Fox and the Crow. Each of Aesop’s stories has a lesson to tell, but Aesop’s life story is perhaps the most inspiring tale of them all.

Gracefully revealing the genesis of his tales, this story of Aesop shows how fables not only liberated him from captivity but spread wisdom over a millennium. This is the only children’s book biography about him.

Includes thirteen illustrated fables: The Lion and the Mouse, The Goose and the Golden Egg, The Fox and the Crow, Town Mouse and Country Mouse, The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Dog and the Wolf, The Lion and the Statue, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The North Wind and the Sun, The Fox and the Grapes, The Dog and the Wolf, The Lion and the Boar.

Book Links:

Goodreads * Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**
Prior to reading this book, I really had no idea about the life of Aesop. I've only been familiar with his fables, which I've had read to me and I have read on my own since I was a very young child. According to this book, Aesop was a slave who started telling his famous stories as ways of speaking in code to his fellow slaves and to try to impart wisdom on the masters who were constantly buying and selling him. And supposedly only those who were powerless were able to understand what he was saying. 

Even his very biography could be a fable, as there are only snippets of records of him that even exist. All of those snippets have been put together over time to create this idea of the one person who created all of these beloved tales with lessons. It's interesting to read up on what is actually known about his life.

Following the fable of Aesop as a storyteller is a collection of some of his most beloved and best-known tales, complete with beautiful illustrations accompanying them. Each one, of course, lends itself to great conversations. 

This was an interesting way to present the man's history, and I hope it inspires others to go off and do a bit more research on him, as I did after reading this book.

I gave it four stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Brown Bear Won't Share by RW Culpepper

Teaching Kids to Share and Show Kindness

Brown Bear awoke from hibernation to the tempting scent of pears in the air. It was spring, and the forest was buzzing with life. He could see Owl, Rabbit, Squirrel, and three little mice.

“Good morning, all,” said Brown Bear. “I'm on my way to pick some delicious sweet pears, ten, twenty, thirty if I dare. I will eat them all without care.”

“That wouldn't be wise,” said Owl. “Your belly could turn sour and pass gas that is foul. Instead of eating them all without care, do the right thing, and share.”

BROWN BEAR WON’T SHARE is a book about a selfish, greedy bear. Brown Bear is so selfish and greedy he won’t even share with his friends. Now that’s one selfish bear. Brown Bear soon realizes that he needs his friends and being unkind to them is not the way to go.

A Note From The Author

Thank you for your support! I hope you enjoyed reading "BROWN BEAR WON’T SHARE." Writing and illustrating children's picture books are super fun for me, especially those that teach moral lessons and help build a kid's self-esteem. I hope that my books will increase a child's love for reading, listening, and storytelling, allowing parents and children to spend quality time together. Your opinions, thoughts, and suggestions are always much appreciated.

-R. W. Culpepper

Boys and girls ages 0-8 will love hearing about Brown Bear and his forest friend’s adventures in this new book series teaching moral lessons and self-esteem along the way.

Get it on Amazon

Just 99 cents!

(affiliate link)

R.W. Culpepper was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 19 in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Growing up, seeing ghosts and other strange things has influenced his writing and story creation tremendously. Mr. Culpepper being a big fan of R. L. Stine, Rod Serling, and Stephen King, may have a little something to do with it. Although his stories may contain monsters and other creatures, they mainly showcase kid's/anthropomorphic animal's extraordinary bravery, overcoming their fears and facing the unknown. Mr. Culpepper writes his books in the genre of fantasy/sci-fi books for children ages 7-12 in the form of short story picture books.

He will also release rhythmic storytelling books for toddlers to 2nd graders teaching moral lessons.

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Turtle Tales: The Shell, The Race, and The Bad Day by Matthew Munguia

Turtle Tales follows Turtle and his young friends as they play and have fun, learning life lessons along the way.

The Shell

Turtle’s friends Bear, Fox, and Rabbit all have brand new backpacks, and Turtle’s shell just doesn’t seem as cool...after all, it’s not made of shiny red plastic! But Turtle learns that what makes his shell unique makes it just as cool.

The Race

No one can beat Rabbit when Turtle and his friends run a foot race. He’s just the fastest creature in the forest. Everyone is good at something, but no one is good at everything, and Turtle might just prove that Rabbit is only the fastest creature in the forest… on land.

The Bad Day

Papa Turtle is having a bad day that just seems to get worse and worse. Isn’t there anything that will make this bad day better?

Available on Amazon

Just 99 cents through 4/10!

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Review of What Is Family on Sesame Street? by Craig Manning

From world-renowned children's brand Sesame Street comes a new, heartwarming title in the series with New York Times bestseller Love. 

Featuring inspiration from beloved Sesame characters, What is Family? reminds you that even though every family is different, home is where your loved ones are. This inspiring picture book is a beautiful gift for all types of families.

When you think of a "family," what comes to mind?
How would you describe it? Which words do you find?
No exact meaning quite fits like a glove.
Except maybe this one: it's all about LOVE.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * B&N

**My thoughts**
I really like the idea presented in this book that family is made up of parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends. Some of your family is related to you by blood from birth, and some of your family consists of those you choose to make part of your family. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and each one is unique. The important thing is you care for each other and spent quality time together, even when you're miles apart. Your family are those you hold dear in your heart.

The illustrations are quite simple on the pages that have the text of the story on them. I almost want to color them in myself, like a coloring book. But they are perfect for those pages. And then where the illustrations are showing the various families found on Sesame Street, they are vibrant and full of color and happiness. I just do not really care for the illustration style being used where the characters seem scribbled in. It almost reminds me of drawing them on a scratch board or something. It probably bothers me most because these are not the illustrations of my beloved characters that I have seen since the 1970s. It's definitely a personal preference and others will love them as they are.

So overall, I think this is a good book to share with kids. There is a part of me that wishes that families with same-sex parents were also included, as that is another kind of family that is common today. But I really do appreciate how the book tells us that your dear friends can also be an extension of your family. We don't talk enough about that extended support system that so many of us depend on these days.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.