Remembering Finn by Lauren Birman Illustrated by Brelyn Giffin

Meet Ragdoll cats, Ty, Tasha, and Finn. They're a happy family that lives in Dallas with their Mom. However, one summer day, Finn doesn't feel so well, which brings unexpected changes. Follow this adorable, furry family as we learn that with sudden changes, love, faith, and healing will always matter at the heart.

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Lauren Birman lives in Dallas, Texas, and is the proud cat mom of Ty and Tasha mentioned in the book. She is a secondary school teacher and enjoys helping others, especially in creative endeavors!

When she isn’t teaching, reading, or writing, she enjoys peaceful walks, spirituality topics, singing, anime, video, and board games and quality time with family, friends, and of course, her adorable cats.

Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rememberingfinnbook/

Moose and Cow Are Friends by Claudia Alonso

Sometimes, all we need is a hug...

Moose has lost his home. As he runs to save his life, he ends up on a farm. He doesn't know anyone. He's alone.

Then, Moose meets Cow. She is exactly what he needs: A friend.

Meet Moose and Cow in their first adventure together, where a friendship is born because sometimes . . . all we need is a hug.

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Amazon * Kobo * Apple Books 

Google Play * Barnes & Noble 

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

Voyage for a First Mate (A Stevie & Scruff Story) by Stephen Reynolds

As his human pal Stevie tries to survive her first day at a new school, Scruff goes on a voyage to find her a new friend.

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

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

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

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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

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

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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.

Ecko el Geco: Aprende lo que significa ser un Gelo par HeavenLee Molina-Neal y Ailana Molina

Ecko, el pequeño y curioso geco, aprende acerca de la gratitud, la empatía, la compasión, y el optimismo.

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

Ecko the Gecko Learns What It Means to Be a Gecko by HeavenLee Molna-Neal and Ailana Molna

In this book, Ecko, the curious little gecko learns about gratitude, empathy, compassion, kindness, and optimism. The story presents simplified explanations that most ages will easily understand, while the activity pages are a bit more advanced for younger learners to complete alone to encourage open dialogue and calls to action that fortify comprehension.

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

The Quiet Koala From Walla Walla by Wally Bee

One day a little koala learns from her teacher that she has to do show and tell. This sweet animal does not like the idea of getting up in front of her classmates to speak. Find out if she can overcome her shyness on this big day at school.

Book Links

Amazon * BN

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Since an early age, Wally Bee loved to draw and create characters. After working in the publishing industry for over a decade, he is finally bringing his characters to life. Wally wants to tell stories that help very young children understand the world around them. "I Am", his first children’s book, was written for his first son and can be appreciated by all little ones. "The Quiet Koala from Walla Walla" is his second book and aims to provide inspiration for shy kids. In his spare time, Wally Bee scribbles enthusiastically in his notebooks searching for the best way to tell his next story. He currently lives with his wife and two sons outside New York City.

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 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

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

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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

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

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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.