Review of Bright Dreams: The Brilliant Ideas of Nikola Tesla by Tracy Dockray

Young Nikola Tesla got a shock when he rubbed his cat's fur. That small spark lit his imagination forever. Covering his early years to his eventual success in the world of electricity, Bright Dreams showcases Tesla's incredible journey of discovery and perseverance. Author-illustrator Tracy Dockray conveys Tesla's busy and imaginative world with collage-style artwork and informative sidebars.

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**My thoughts**

When I was a kid growing up we didn't really talk about Nikola Tesla. I'm not really sure why and honestly didn't find out until I was an adult about how much he had contributed to the discovery and use of electricity. This book opens up that lesser known bit of history so that today's kids can know more about the true story. I found it really interesting and think it will appeal to lower elementary kids who are interested in science.

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

Review of Little White Fish Deep Beneath the Sea by Guido Van Genechten

Internationally bestselling series Little White Fish, from author & illustrator Guido Van Genechten, has sold over 600,000 copies!

How deep is the sea? Little White Fish is curious. But his friends Little Goldfish, Little Turtle and Octopus warn him: the sea is very deep and very dangerous. Yet Little White Fish wants to know...

An adventurous picture book about the deep sea for little daredevils ages 2.5 years and up.

At Clavis, our focus is on what’s best for children. We believe that books play an important role in each new phase in life. Our toddler books are tailored for every stage from 0 to 3 and focus on the five most important themes in their life: daily life, skills, emotions, the world, and language development. The age range and theme of every book in our toddler series can be found on the back cover in the form of a colored train.

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**My thoughts**

It's a cute little story about a little white fish that is curious about what it's like in the deep. He defies the warnings of his friends, who tell him it's not safe to go venturing out that far into the deep. And so of course, he gets lost, but is lucky enough to find a fish to help him find his way back home. It's a quick read and the friendly characters are vibrantly colored. The deep dark sea is quite apparent as the pictures get darker and darker.

I would use this book as a talking point about listening to directions, how to stay safe, and what to do if you get lost, and emphasize that the little white fish was lucky to find a safe helper.

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

Review of Pups on the Run! by Hannah Hurdle, illustrated by Marissa Pruett

When Hazel and Kaya discover the open gate, they are ready for an adventure. They wander, and tumble, and play all day. As the sun begins to go down, the pups head home.

But which way is home? They soon realize they are lost. And it's getting darker, and scarier!

Finally, they begin to recognize sights and smells and sounds. The tired pups retrace their steps and find their way home.

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**My thoughts**

This is a cute story about two pups who go off on an adventure, lose track of time, and then get lost trying to find their way home. Of course, they persevere and figure out how to get home, much to the delight of their young owner, and make plans to do it all over again tomorrow. It's the kind of story that has a classic feel to it.

Because I was getting that classic story vibe, I was a bit thrown off by the illustrations. They're quite vibrant and intense. Reading the illustrator bio at the end, I guess she is a comic illustrator, and I can definitely see that influence in these pictures. It's not my favorite type of illustration for picture books, but I know others quite enjoy it.

This would be a fun addition to a classroom or home library to enjoy again and again.

I received a requested review copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of Marcy's Having All the Feels by Allison Edwards

What do you do with all your feelings?

In Marcy's Having All the Feels, counselor and therapist Allison Edwards explores how sometimes feeling so many feelings doesn't feel so good at all.

Review of Finding Om by Rashmi S. Mismark, MD, MPH

Finding Om is an illustrated children's book that shares the story of Anu, an Indian African girl who explores the mantra Om with her beloved grandfather, Appuppa. Through this story, she begins to uncover techniques of mindfulness that readers can explore along with her. This wonderful multicultural, intergenerational story is sure to become a staple in classrooms and homes across the world.

Review of Daddies and Daughters Stick Together by Aissatou Balde and Diariatou Sow, illustrated by Nandi L. Fernandez

Diari doesn’t mind when Mommy goes into the city for work, because she and her little sister, Fatima, get to spend the whole day with Daddy.

From when the moon trades places with the sun until the sun trades places with the moon, daddies and daughters do everything together.

A day with Daddy means cooking, learning, dancing, and playing. After all, Daddy knows that with a little imagination, a sense of fun, and a lot of love, every part of a normal day can feel special!

Review of A Bed for Fred by Lori Zoss

Book blurb:

Ready for a nap, young Fred the Basset Hound goes to his room after an energetic morning of play and the unthinkable happens: his favorite comfy, red bed has disappeared! After a search of his house that involved an exchange with a less than helpful mouse, Fred sets out on a journey outside to find his bed. Along the way he meets a sedentary frog, an enthusiastic cricket, and a sympathetic owl. The dilemma of his lost bed intensifies as Fred realizes he has strayed too far from home without telling his father that he left. A Bed for Fred is a delightful journey relatable to young children, figuring out the world they live in as well as their first experiences with complication and change.

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**My thoughts**

It's a cute rhyming story about a bassett hound who is upgrading to a big boy bed, but doesn't yet know it. He becomes distraught when the bed disappears, much as a young child would if he weren't a part of the changeover process. I like how the father realizes that he should have told Fred that he was changing the bed, as it is important for children to be part of such changes in their lives. The book also touches on a little lesson on not disappearing without telling your parents where you are going. The illustrations are also really cute. I would give it about 3 1/2 stars.

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

Review of Dinosaur Lady by Linda Skeers

This is the story of a woman who dared to dig, explore, and discover. This is the story of Dinosaur Lady.

Mary Anning loved scouring the beach near her home in England for shells and fossils. She fearlessly climbed over crumbling cliffs and rocky peaks, searching for new specimens. One day, something caught Mary's eye.

Bones. Dinosaur Bones.

Mary's discoveries rocked the world of science and helped create a brand-new field of study: paleontology. But many people believed women couldn't be scientists, so Mary wasn't given the credit she deserved. Nevertheless, Mary kept looking and learning more, making discoveries that reshaped scientific beliefs about the natural world.

Dinosaur Lady is a beautiful and brilliant picture book that will enlighten children about the discovery of the dinosaurs and the importance of female scientists. It also includes a timeline of Mary Anning's life and lots of fantastic fossil facts!

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

Did you know that the first paleontologist was a woman? I had no idea! But this book tells us the story of Mary Anning of Lyme Regis, England, who loves to be out and about exploring her world. One day, she accidentally stumbled upon a couple of bones and knew there had to be more out there. She patiently waited for Mother Nature to help her out and eventually discovered the first Ichthyosaurus skeleton. And from there, she made many more important discoveries. The book is subtle and yet to the point about how back in Mary's times, women were not allowed to be scientists or professors and how it was difficult at first for people to want to believe her. It also repeatedly emphasizes how she was a determined learner and kept right on studying and discovering, in another subtle, yet clear message to keep on exploring.

After her story is a bunch of fun facts about the history of dinosaur studies and a timeline of Mary's life. The Author's Note gives me my favorite bit of trivia, that the famous tongue twister "She sells seashells on the seashore..." is likely about Mary! I never knew that.

This book fascinated me because it is a bit of history I did not know. I don't know that kids will be as excited about the revelations as I was, but I think they're still going to really enjoy this book. I mean, dinosaurs are fascinating and the true stories are even better!

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

Review of A Last Goodbye by Elin Kelsey

How do we say goodbye to a loved one after they die?

This book broaches a difficult topic in a heartfelt way by exploring the beauty in how animals mourn. From elephants to whales, parrots to bonobos, and lemurs to humans, we all have rituals to commemorate our loved ones and to lift each other up in difficult times.

New from the award-winning team behind You Are Stardust, Wild Ideas, and You Are Never Alone, this book gently recognizes death as a natural part of life for humans and all animals. Written in spare, poetic language and illustrated with stunning dioramas, it draws out our similarities with other animals as it honors the universal experience of mourning. The touching and uplifting book ends on a hopeful note, showing how we live on both in memories and on the planet, our bodies nourishing new life in the Earth and the oceans.

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**My thoughts**

This is not a book that you are just going to randomly read for fun or leave out in your classroom. It's designated for those who are preparing to say goodbye to a loved one. The story was inspired by a young girl who was there when her dog had to be put down, but it also applies to people. I had a hard time getting through it, because it took me back to those final moments with each of my parents as they passed. I think I actually uttered some of those words to them.

It's also supposed to show how animals deal with death and grief, which I think too often we forget they also go through. 

I think maybe because of my own personal experience going through this relatively recently with my parents, it was harder for me to read the book from the perspective of animals. I think I know what the author's intention was. And I also had moments of remembering being there when my elderly pets also died recently and how the younger ones reacted. But the part about "I will watch our children grow up. I will watch our grandchildren, too," kind of threw me off a bit. I don't know how children will relate to that part. I felt like I was getting mixed stories from this one book. Is it people or is it animals? I think minus that little bit, I may have appreciated the story more.

Nevertheless, I think it could potentially be a starting point for conversation with children when you know that a pet or beloved relative or friend is going to pass on, how you can say goodbye and grieve as you remember them after they're gone. We never know how we are actually going to react as adults, let alone how the kids are going to react in these situations.

I will say that the illustrations are absolutely beautiful and do compel all kinds of emotions when you look at them. I could feel the sadness and the pain of the animals saying goodbye to their loved ones.

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

Review of Community Questions: How Can People Help Communities? by Martha E.H. Rustad

A community is only as strong as its individual members. What roles do those members play, and how do citizens work together to complete common tasks and achieve goals? A clear question-answer format, paired with photos kids can relate to, shows the importance of responsibility and cooperation. A simple activity encourages young readers to actively participate in their own community.

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**My thoughts**

What is a community? Who is in our community? How can we help our community? All of these questions are discussed and accompanied by real photos of a diverse group of people in their own communities. I appreciate the real pictures because those will help younger children better relate to the concepts. They may better recognize themselves and family and friends in these pictures. The book also allows for discussion around the concepts. I would add it to my collection on community helpers for the classroom.

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

Review of Letters A to Z by Susie Jaramillo

From the Emmy-nominated, award-winning bilingual preschool series Canticos, comes Letters A to Z, a part of the Canticos Bilingual Firsts collection.

Learn the letters of the alphabet in both English and Spanish. Includes the Spanish letters of Ch, Ll, and Ñ, and the words associated with them. Complete with beautiful illustrations, this book is a great way to make learning opposites with your little chickie special and unique in not one, but two languages.

Concept: Letters, Words.

Format:
• 6" x 6" board book format perfect for little readers.
• English and Spanish on the same spread.
• "This book belongs to" page to personalize with a child’s name.

"Canticos resonates with parents who want to raise multilingual children through quality, appealing content." ― NBC

"Good books not only teach your child about different cultures and their traditions, they are also a great way to help your child pick up new vocabulary and information about different regions around the world. Canticos...is a great place to start" ― Motherly

"Susie Jaramillo created a media company with an educational, cross-cultural, and intergenerational mission." ― School Library Journal

"¿Qué hacer cuando los niños no quieren dormir? La colección bilingüe Canticos de Susie Jaramillo reúne tiernas canciones de cuna de nuestra infancia." ― People en Español

Children can also watch our bilingual videos on the Canticos channel!

Beloved by kids, parents and educators, Canticos is the #1 bilingual preschool brand.

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**My thoughts**

This bilingual Spanish and English book has super, super cute illustrations in it. You journey through the alphabet in both languages. On the left side, you have the capital letter and an English word beginning with that letter. Its Spanish translation is underneath. Then on the right side, you have the lowercase letter and a Spanish word beginning with that letter. Its English translation is underneath. The pictures on both sides fit together into one large picture. 

I keep going back and forth on this. I feel like the children are not going to connect the uppercase and lowercase letters as being the same letters because you are going to pronounce them differently, depending on the language being used. At the same time, you could maybe read it in a way that associates the two. And then all of the English nouns are capitalized to go with their associated capital letter, which is not how we normally treat nouns in English. We only capitalize proper nouns, unless they are at the beginning of a sentence. German is the language that always capitalizes its nouns. And then finally, it's a personal pet peeve that everyone uses ice cream for the letter I. I know that it's something that children love and relate to. But when we are teaching kids their phonics, we always start with short i, not long i. And with Earth, yes, the word does start with the letter E, but it's an r-controlled vowel and not the short e that we are teaching kids in the beginning. Because of the inclusion of ch and ll as Spanish letters in this book, I felt like the authors were trying to encourage learning those beginning sounds, so I would personally prefer to have the early ones that we teach.

Otherwise, it is a fun way to learn the vocabulary for so many words in both languages. And I have to reiterate that I absolutely adore these illustrations. I would still probably add it to my classroom library, because those illustrations are going to draw in the children to looking at it. I just think I would have to get creative if using it as an alphabet/phonetic teaching tool.

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

Review of The Magic of Clay by Adalucia

Listen to your clay feel its magic and create!

How does a formation of rock and minerals transform into a ceramic masterpiece? In this picture book guide, budding artists and enthusiasts will learn all about facts about clay, from its chemical makeup and formation to the hands-on processes of molding, forming, heating, and glazing. Simple explanations and clear language allow readers to easily understand terminology, techniques, and the art form of ceramics. Fresh and vibrant collage-style illustrations aid the text, demonstrating the charm of one of Earth s most useful minerals.

The Magic of Clay is an informative journey into the world of ceramics perfect for readers of all ages. Children, parents, and educators alike will marvel in this essential instructional tool, and walk away inspired to create their own artistic gems.

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

How many times have you made something out of clay, whether for fun or for an art class? And how many times did you think about from where it comes? I have used it many times over the years and lived for a several years in an area where the ground was clay and not the sand like where I had grown up. But I have never really consciously put the two together. This book takes you through all of that, where it comes from and how potters use it. You learn the science behind its geological nature. You learn the technical terms, just like we learned in art class. 

The illustrations are reminiscent of an Eric Carle style.

It's an interesting book for those who are interested in pottery. Perhaps they will be inspired to try to make something new after reading it.

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

Review of Window by Marion Arbona

A young girl is walking home from school in a big city. As she gazes up at window after window in the buildings on her route - all different shapes and sizes - she imagines the most fantastic goings-on behind each one, which we can see by opening the gatefold. A tropical jungle. A whale in a bathtub. Vampires playing badminton. Her fantasies know no bounds. Until, behind the very last window, we discover the girl back home in her own room, where the toys surrounding her look strangely familiar.

This highly original wordless picture book by Marion Arbona is a celebration of curiosity and imagination that is sure to inspire a sense of wonder in readers of all ages. There are thirteen windows to open in all, and each scene is intricately drawn in black and white and packed with level upon level of extraordinary details to explore: a gathering of gnomes, a deep-sea diver under water, a collection of masks, small cars that drive up the walls. In a special touch, each window contains a clue to what's behind it - for example, a plant on the ledge of the window that opens to the jungle, and a window shaped like a porthole that reveals the whale in a bathtub. With so much going on, this book will entice even the youngest children to pore over the pages for close reading, promoting observation skills and visual literacy.

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

Oh, these kinds of books are so much fun because they elicit so much imagination in the reader! It's a wordless book showing a young girl walking home from school. Along the way, she looks up at the different windows that she passes and imagines what may be going on inside.

The first time you read this with kids, as them to imagine what is in that window before they turn the page to see what the girl is thinking. Let them stretch their imagination wings first. And maybe they will be inspired to create their own drawings of what's behind each window, or even create their own windows. You could also go on a hunt around the neighborhood to see what kinds of windows you can find and what may be happening behind them. So much open-ended fun with a book like this!

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

Review of Think Big by Kat Kronenberg

Set in the wilds of the African savanna, Think Big follows moody Baboon as he discovers another powerful secret.

In the third installment in her Live Big Series, best-selling, award-winning author Kat Kronenberg takes readers back to the wilds of the African savanna where the animals not only still struggle to find food, but now they face life-threatening situations. They must fight to survive and are terrified.

But when our beloved moody Baboon challenges Kudu on what to do, everything begins to change. One by one, Kudu, Giraffe, and Bee are faced with the dilemma of who they want to be. After watching Bee choose to do good, Baboon figures out a new secret: We can light the stars in our hearts, empowering our lives, once we smile big deep within, truly believing in who we are, our ideas, and the importance of caring for others.

The danger continues to mount and Baboon finally gets so scared that he cries out for help. Luckily, some fun animals and Baobab Tree come to the rescue! Will they try the new—SHHH—secret so their collective ideas not only help all the animals survive, but thrive together so that their dreams can come true?

Once again, Kronenberg creates a mythical evolution story of some of nature’s most fascinating characters to teach young readers foundational skills for life—in this case, helping them build a loving community that knows the joy of gratitude, giving, and going for the extraordinary. Through playful dialogue and beautiful illustrations, readers learn to take a deep breath, connect their heads to their hearts, and celebrate their best lives as they problem solve. As with Dream Big and Love Big, Kronenberg includes hands-on activities at the end of the book and on her website. Her dream is that the whole experience will inspire young readers everywhere to learn to think big together.

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

This is a fable involving African animals learning how to become their best selves. And by doing so, whether it's gathering food or saving others from a fire, they evolve into the creatures that we know today. And they share ways of being a great person (or animal in this case). The pictures are lively and colorful, which is attractive to the reader. But I had a really hard time with the giraffe, because in the beginning, he has no neck. I understand the story, that he evolves to growing the long neck to be helpful in getting food for the other animals, but that picture really bugged me for some reason. I know that the kudu also ends up changing its appearance, but honestly was not as familiar with that animal before this book. I think children are also going to question what is wrong with the giraffe's neck, because it reminds me more of a cow or something, instead.

I did like how the author included factual tidbits about each of the animals, such as the dance that bees use to communicate with each other about where to find flowers. 

At the end of the book are several activities that children can do to re-engage them with the book as they go on hunts or interpret some of the information differently. Plus they can practice ways of living to the best of their abilities, using the Think Big ideas.

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

Review of Doctor Mouse by Christa Kempter and Amelie Jackowski

Going to the doctor has never been so fun!

Friendly Doctor Mouse is happy to help all of his patients, but he can only see them one at a time. When the dog, hen, owl, and fox start talking to each other in the waiting room, they start to solve problems themselves. Will dog finds a new friend? Will hen lose her fear? Will fox get a new pair of glasses? This humorous story will tickle your funny bone!

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

To start, I absolutely adore these illustrations. I just prefer these hand-crafted illustrations so much more than the newer digital ones. These take a different kind of time and talent to create. And you can just feel the warmth and love inside of them, almost like how Grandma's chocolate cake always tastes better because it has that extra bit of love inside of it. And I guess they make me a bit more nostalgic. 

This story is also sweet with a really good message. Every day, Doctor Mouse opens up for consultations on whatever seems to be the matter. He has six chairs in his waiting room. And he will not start discussing your problems until the chairs are full. It becomes kind of a group therapy session. Each animal who comes in shares with Doctor Mouse what is bother him or her. But instead of the doctor figuring out how to fix it, they all figure out ways to help each other.

It reminded me of when I had my Montessori classroom. Children would come to me wanting immediate answers. I would pause and wait, maybe give them a small hint, and then they would eventually figure it out for themselves or find ways of helping each other instead. And that actually works better than having someone solve all of your problems for you. 

So I think this is a great lesson to kids about being helpful with each other. And did I mention how much I love these illustrations? I give this one 4.5 stars.

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

Review of A Little Courage by Taltal Levi

Through the eyes of a child, the world is full of adventure!

A teacup-sized little girl discovers a playground in a potted plant, and the perfect swimming pool in a glass of water. Then when she sees a mysterious shadow lurking beyond her books and paper clips, she must summon her courage. But wait! Could this fluffy, purring creature be a friend?

Taltal Levi’s evocative text and illustrations tell an inventive story about courage, imagination, and friendship.

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

This is a cute and simple story about a little creature who could be something like a fairy, but more reminded me of one of The Littles (if you remember that cartoon from the 1980s). Or perhaps you would be more familiar with The Borrowers? And this little creature loves to go exploring around the house during the day, but is scared by some kind of a shadow. But this little crisis turns into a new kind of friendship. It inspires a sense of adventure, even in your own home, and kind of reminded me of my explorations around the house when I was a kid. 

The drawings are also simple with a subtle color palette, but also inspire a sense of adventure and a bit of confidence with the creature who is narrating the story. It was a fun read.

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

Review of The Shared Room by Kao Kalia Yang

A family gradually moves forward after the loss of a child—a story for readers of all ages

When someone you love dies, you know what doesn’t die? Love. On the hot beach, among colorful umbrellas blooming beneath a bright sun, no one saw a little girl walk into the water. Now, many months later, her bedroom remains empty, her drawers hold her clothes, her pillows and sheets still have her scent, and her mother and father, brothers and sister carry her in their hearts, along with their grief, which takes up so much space. Then one snowy day, the mother and father ask the girl’s older brother, “Would you like a room of your own?” He wants to know, “Whose?” They say, “Your sister’s.”

Tenderly, and with refreshing authenticity, beloved Minnesota writer Kao Kalia Yang tells the story of a Hmong American family living with loss and tremendous love. Her direct and poignant words are accompanied by the evocative and expressive drawings of Hmong American artist Xee Reiter. The Shared Room brings a message of comfort and hope to readers young and old.

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

Please note that while this is a picture book, it is not appropriate for very young readers. It is the story of a family coping after their daughter passed away in a drowning accident, leaving behind her parents and three siblings. Understandably, there's a dark shadow that covers everything. And then one day, months later, the parents ask their one son if he would like to have his sister's room after having been sharing one with his brother all of these years. You can feel the pain of the parents as they are cleaning the room. One particular picture of the father really pierced my heart. So it's a small snippet of how a family tried to move on after such a horrific tragedy.

It's a very moving story and the pictures in particular really elicit a lot of emotion. I can't help but think that it is based on a true story. It captures some of the confusion and conflict that her older brother must have been feeling. But I felt like something was still missing. It felt like such a small snippet of the story that I wanted more from it. My cousin lost his son at a very young age in a tragic accident, so I know there would be more to the story that could be told. And yet reading it multiple times, I know that it was about how the family found a bit of peace while moving on. 

It's not a book that I would just randomly read to kids. I think it would be best for an older child who is dealing with loss in some kind of way, most likely also the death of a sibling. There's a lot to unpack in its simplicity. And this book is going to just barely scratch the surface. There's still a lot of discussion to be had. I gave it 2.5 stars. Beautiful, emotional pictures and a good concept that just fell a little short for me.

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

Review of My Ocean Is Blue by Darren Lebeuf And Ashley Barron

"This is my ocean," the young girl begins as she heads over the dunes with her mother. Then, as they pass the whole day at the seaside, she lyrically describes her ocean in simple, sensory detail. It's both "slimy" and "sandy," "sparkly" and "dull." It has wonderful sounds, as it "splashes and crashes and echoes and squawks." And it contains so many colors, from "rusted orange" to "runaway red," "faded white" to "polished green." Though "mostly it's blue." Nothing the girl experiences escapes her careful observation and appreciation. And at day's end, she can't wait for her next trip to the beach.

Author Darren Lebeuf, an award-winning photographer, uses spare text and a rhythmic style to create an evocative read-aloud. The vivid adjectives, both concrete and abstract, will inspire children to try to capture in words what they notice not only at the ocean, but in any natural setting. The bright, richly colored cut-paper collage illustrations by Ashley Barron add a captivating visual texture and depth to the story. The portrayal of a girl with a physical disability enjoying and actively participating in a day at the beach encourages all children to do the same in their own lives, while also offering a character education lesson in adaptability. This book has strong curriculum ties to primary nature units and life science lessons on oceans and the seaside, and it offers a perfect focus for nature-based education and outdoor classrooms.

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

This is a sweet love letter to the magnificent ocean, that is always changing and has so many wonderful things to offer. It's a playful look at opposites and an ode to the beautiful blues. It also really captures how much fun you can have in one day at the beach. I can appreciate all that the child loves about the ocean, because I also love the ocean.

The illustrations are unique in a way, looking to be intricately cut and painted pieces of paper, maybe? You can tell they took an awful lot of time to be put together just right. And I felt like they did capture the essence of the story. And I appreciate how on the jacket, it says that the illustrator Ashley loves to spend time biking along her "ocean," aka Lake Ontario. I'm on the opposite side of the Great Lake from her and have also often thought of it as my own ocean. It is quite ocean-like, even though it is a lake.

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

Review of Bee Heartful: Spread Loving-Kindness by Frank J. Sileo

Readers will rejoice that Bentley the bee is back in this third book in Frank J. Sileo’s award-winning series. When compassionate Bentley sends loving-kindness thoughts to himself and others, he can feel his heart growing: May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be peaceful. When Willie Wasp steals Bentley’s favorite red scarf, it really stings! Bentley has the whole garden buzzing as he works through the situation. This sweet story shows the power of strong, positive, and loving thoughts.

Includes a note from the author with more information about loving-kindness and related meditation, and guidelines for how readers can practice being heartful just like Bentley!

Book Links

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**My thoughts**

Reading this book took me back in time to when I was doing my Montessori training. My mentor teacher often had the children do these still exercises and sending loving-kindness thoughts to other children, especially when they were absent for any period of time. You could really see the difference in the kids as the school year went on and they practiced this more and more. They also were calmer themselves. It wasn't a perfect cure-all for agitation and other problems. But it was a sweet and calming activity to do. This story of Bentley the Bee would be a great introduction to using the calming breathing with kids. And placing it where children could look at it again and again would let them practice it on their own. 

The book also gives a lot of information to adults about why these meditations are beneficial and how to present them to children. It provides a script to use as you are introducing it. And it encourages you to seek help for a child who appears to be suffering from any clinical issues.

I would definitely add this book to my classroom collection.

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

Review of Tiny Travelers India Treasure Quest by Wolfe & Jaramillop

Inspire children to fall in love with the world they live in with Tiny Travelers!

"A+ educational content….Wonderful... to share with young kids -- to broaden their horizons and discover new places of interest!” ― Common Sense Media

The Tiny Travelers “Treasure Quest” Series takes its readers on a fun-filled journey to discover what makes each country special with search-and-find features on every spread.

In Tiny Travelers India Treasure Quest, readers journey from the magical Taj Mahal to fabulous Bollywood. From the beautiful festival of color Holi, to the incredible Himalayas, Tiny Travelers will enjoy getting closer to Indian culture, making magical discoveries along the way.

Each illustrated spread invites children to discover hidden "treasures" - icons, animals, statues, instruments and more - that make up incredible India.

“Most kids today are told that it’s a small world, when in fact it’s a really big world,” says Encantos CEO and Tiny Travelers creator and author Steven Wolfe Pereira. “And because the world is so big, there are many countries, cities, and cultures that have yet to be discovered and explored by kids. We created Tiny Travelers to foster curiosity, empathy, and understanding by learning what makes people and places so special.”

“Purpose is at the core of the Tiny Travelers launch... The goal is to expose kids to the vastness and diversity of the world beyond their backyards, engendering empathy for different cultures, geographies and languages at a time when people all over the world are more connected than ever via digital platforms.”- Forbes

“The books are full of fun facts, hidden “easter eggs” , and rhyme-based storytelling. They’re infused with keywords from the featured country’s language, helping teach kids correct pronunciation and useful phrases for travel.” - Parentology

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**

This is another cute installment in this series that takes kids around the world. You learn some vocabulary words and touch on some of the highlights of Indian culture and cuisine, while also visiting some of the most well-known places. The rhyming text is fun to read and should keep kids engaged. I appreciate the pronunciation guides that accompany the vocabulary. And the illustrations are super vibrant and happy all throughout.

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