Review of Eating These Foods Makes Me... by Kalifa Rodriguez M. SC, RD, CBS

 

Today I'm introducing to you a book you may end up adding to your classroom or home library. I'm giving you a peek inside with an excerpt as well as a guest post from the author letting us get to know her a little bit better. I also share my thoughts from the point of view as an early childhood Montessori educator. Be sure to follow the tour for more. Best of luck in the great giveaway at the end!

Is your kid a picky eater? Do you want your child to enjoy eating a variety of foods? Reading can be a proactive way to introduce your little one to the amazing world of nutrition! In this book, readers will explore healthy foods and learn how key nutrients benefit the body. These pages repeat positive affirmations that will empower and build your child's mindfulness about the foods they eat.

It is never too early to instill life-long healthy eating habits. Happy reading! Or should I say, happy eating!

Read an excerpt:

Fun Learning Activities to Promote Healthy Nutrition

1. Using paper and crayons or coloured pencils, draw a rainbow, and then draw a fruit or vegetable that is the same colour as each colour of the rainbow. You can even use this book for ideas. Remember to eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables (at least 5 servings) each day! How many have you eaten today?

2. Do you like to play any sports or games? Do you like to walk to the park? Help your parents choose and prepare an energizing snack before the next game or walk to the park.

3. Eat your water? That sounds silly! Did you know that some fruits and veggies such as celery are mostly made up of water and can also help to keep you hydrated? Can you think of any others? Now try adding those slices of fruit or even cucumber to your water bottle to give it some pizazz.

4. Try introducing interactive sensory play for preschoolers (age 3 and older). Gather a variety of beans, nuts, or seeds on a tray or in a bowl with a spoon. Under adult supervision, let the preschooler feel, grab, and scoop the legumes, nuts, and seeds. See if the toddler can separate them based on different colours, sizes, and textures while the adult names each food and talks about how these foods make us strong from the proteins and smart from the healthy omega fats.

PURCHASE LINKS

GOODREADS - AMAZON US - AMAZON CA - INDIGO CHAPTERS - BARNES & NOBLE - BOOK DEPOSITORY

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**

I love seeing the smiling diverse pictures of kids on the front of the book. It makes it inviting. And I love the joyful, colorful illustrations within the book that also depict a diverse representation of children engaged in all kinds of familiar activities. Most children should be able to relate to these pictures. I only wonder why real photographs on the front and illustrations inside? 

The Montessorian in me loves the real photographs of actual foods that are being discussed within the book. Those concrete representations will better help children identify those foods at home, at school, in stores, and elsewhere in their environments. 

The story has a great positive message about the reasoning behind healthy eating. And positive affirmations are big right now, so this easily lends itself to creating new affirmations for kids to practice.

I only had one minor pet peeve with the way the affirmations/sentences were laid out. I understand the reasoning behind capitalizing the adjectives, to give them emphasis. But it makes me cringe a bit to see this in children's books because these are laying the foundation for later grammar and writing skills. I would not consider it a deal breaker in using this book, though. 

There are also four follow-up activities at the end of the book to inspire further learning. The first three are directed at children. The fourth one is directed at parents/caregivers. It reads a little weird to me with all four being in the same list when they have two different audiences. I would have split them up under two headings, like "For Kids" and "For Caregiviers." Again, a personal little issue and not a deal breaker for using this book.

It did inspire a lot of ideas and other follow-up activities and additional reading I would include in a full unit on nutrition. This book would definitely add value to that kind of learning, whether at home or in the classroom.

Overall, I'd give it 7 out of 10 stars.

I received a requested review copy from the publisher and Goddess Fish Promotions. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

10 Things You May Not Know About Me

1. I struggled with the idea of writing and publishing my own children’s book. I doubted myself and my credibility as an author. Now Eating These Foods Makes Me... has won a Mothers Choice Award and received a 4.5-star review from IndieReader. It has surpassed my expectations and has proven that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. Never ignore what you are being called to do no matter how scary or difficult it may seem.
2. The hardest and most fulfilling challenge in my life was becoming a mother, I’ve overcome many challenges from a complicated pregnancy, premature birth (my daughter was only 2 lbs when she was born), difficult breastfeeding journey (this motivated me to become a certified breastfeeding specialist), picky eating etc... it’s all so worth it.
3. My best way to cope with stress is guided meditation and deep breathing.
4. I am a total foodie! Most people think because I’m a nutritionist I only eat healthy food but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Of course, I value healthy food choices and eating habits, but I also do not believe in restrictive eating of any form. One of my favourite things to do is try new restaurants and eat great-tasting food, especially traditional ethnic foods from different cultures.
5. I always wanted to adopt a monkey as a pet.
6. I have only written 1 book but I have many ideas for more children’s books I’d like to write. Especially nutrition/health-related and faith-based books for kids.
7. I have a bachelor’s degree in nutritional biochemistry with a minor in Biology. I’ve always been fascinated by the human body, did you know that studies estimate there are about 30 to 40 trillion cells in the human body? Well, I wanted to explore what was happening with our food on a cellular level.
8. My favourite junk food: Poutine. Anyone from Quebec knows how heavenly a good combination of French fries, poutine sauce and cheese curds can be! It’s my go-to comfort food but definitely not something you want to eat too often from a health perspective.
9. I love travelling! My top travelling moments are going on a wildlife safari in Cape Town, eating authentic Indian food in Bangalore India as well as swimming on the beaches of Costa Rica.
10. My favourite time of the day: This is a tough one, there are 2 times of the day I cherish the most and that’s my morning routine which consists go of waking up at 4:45 am doing 10 minutes of breath work, 10 minutes of stretching/yoga, 20 minutes of exercise, 20 minutes of prayer and bible study, and 10 minutes of journaling. This is my quiet time for myself before my husband or daughter wakes up and then it’s go! Go! Go! My equally favourite time of the day is in the evening when we do my daughter’s bedtime routine. I especially enjoy the sacred space we’ve created for undivided family time as we read together, pray together and cuddle together. I bless my daughter each night with words of affirmation or declarations about her future before putting her down to sleep. It’s at this point all the troubles or challenges of the day seem to fade away, and I feel truly at peace with what I was able to accomplish.

Kalifa Rodriguez M.Sc, RD, CBS
Author of Eating These Foods Makes Me...

Kalifa Rodriguez is a registered dietitian and certified breastfeeding specialist. She currently works as a clinical nutritionist in Montreal, Canada. After receiving her bachelor's degree in nutritional biochemistry, she went on to complete a master's degree in human nutrition and dietetics at McGill University. Kalifa is passionate about promoting healthy lifestyle choices through nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness. She also hopes to leave a positive impact in the community through her work by giving nutrition education sessions to community groups and organizations. Kalifa and her husband are parents to their delightful toddler, who is the inspiration for this book.



CONNECT WITH KALIFA RODRIGUEZ

WEBSITE - Kalifa Rodriguez (kalifarodriguezbooks.com)

FACEBOOK - Kalifa Rodriguez Books | Facebook

INSTAGRAM - Kalifa Rodriguez M.Sc, RD, CBS (@the.nutrition.connection)

YOUTUBE - Power of Nutrition - YouTube

GOODREADS - Kalifa Rodriguez (Author of Eating These Foods Makes Me...) | Goodreads

Kalifa Rodriguez will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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The Magical Closet Tome 1: The Faraway Friend by Morgane Dahrup-Andersson, illustrated by Camille Cappe

 Bilingual books are a great way to help your children learn foreign languages at a young age. Here's one in English and in French!

When a little girl comes out of his closet, Arthur discovers his closet is magical. Problem is, she doesn't speak the same language! They become friends and many bilingual and funny adventures arise. The Magical Closet is an entertaining book series for Children aged 3-7 years old to discover and learn a new language, a different kind of bilingual book.

In this first tome, The Faraway Friend, join Arthur and Aline on their first magical adventure and learn French 'Greetings and Introduction'.

Whether you are looking for a good story to read to your child, to expose them to a new language, or to teach them French, The Magical Closet is the book for you!

Buy on Amazon

(affiliate link included)

Buy in other countries and find accompanying activities on the website:

https://www.onceuponalanguage.com/the-magical-closet/t1/

Morgane is an enthusiastic French writer and certified teacher with a passion for languages and words. For the past ten years, she taught French and took care of children of all ages as a nanny. Originally from Bretagne, she now lives with her little trilingual family in Copenhagen, where she teaches French online to children and adults from around the world. A love for children, storytelling and education, added to a strong belief in instilling in them a life long love of learning, inspired her to create Once Upon a Language.

Follow on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/onceuponlanguage

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 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.

Book Links

Amazon * BN * Goodreads

(affiliate link included)

**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

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

(Affiliate link included)

**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.

Toby, Toby, Worry Free by Lucinda Grapenthin illustrated by Kevin Gosselin

 

When Toby is faced with learning to ride his bike so he can play with his friends, he begins to worry and worry and worry.

"What if I fall?" "What if other kids laugh at me?" "What if I can't ride my bike?!"

Mommy pauses, attuning to his behavior. She accepts his emotions and calmly engages with him, encouraging his discovery of positive steps to solve this dilemma.

Toby learns a better way to manage his feelings by using his can do thoughts. Now, he can have fun!

Goodreads * Hardcover * Paperback * Kindle

(affiliate links included)

About the author:

Lucinda Taylor Grapenthin, PhD, is a Licensed Psychologist in private practice and Assistant Professor at Brenau University, also serving as Clinic Director for the Brenau Center for Counseling and Psychological Services and Director of the Brenau University Play Therapy Training Institute. Dr. Grapenthin has over 20 years’ experience working with children and families as the founder of the Family and Child Development Center. She also presents at academic conferences and professional institutions on topics related to mental health disorders, such as trauma and attachment, as well as play therapy and parenting.

Dr. Cindy lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Richard, and golden retriever, Currier. Their adult children, Alex, Kristi, and Trevor, float in and out of their home, adding delightful chaos.

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

Can I Play With My Food? by Ali Manning

 

Can I Play with my Food? is an early-reader picture book that explores food and science through the eyes of two sisters. Nema and Lexi let their imaginations run wild as they discover where food comes from and how a simple experiment can shape their dreams.

This story shows children that playing with food can be fun, but it also highlights the importance of acceptance. While others might think a disability like Down’s Syndrome is a hindrance, Nema and Lexi show us that the ingredients of compassion, acceptance, and love make anything possible.

Book Links

Goodreads * Kindle * Paperback * Hardcover

(affiliate link included)

BIO:

Ali Manning is a food scientist and the owner of Umami Food Consulting. With over ten years in the food industry, she utilizes her passion for food, science, and community to help food entrepreneurs. Ali is also the founder of Food Science 4 Kids, a program that teaches grade-school children STEM-related topics. Aside from her day-to-day businesses, she’s an all-around creative that loves to skate, travel, eat and enjoy life with her husband, Brian Manning. Find out more about Ali at ali-manning.com

Website: https://ali-manning.com
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3HuFMYq

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

Review of Andy Gets Angry by Mike Masse, Painted by Emily Corbett

 I'm so glad to see more and more resources available to help children with their social-emotional learning. It's been needed as long as I have been involved in the education/childcare profession and it feels needed more now than ever. Mike Masse has put together the words and Emily Corbett has painted the illustrations in their book Andy Gets Angry. Take a peek inside and read more of my thoughts. Follow the tour to see even more. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Children can develop the ability to respond to their emotions in a healthy way through the practice of mindfulness. Andy Gets Angry is a great introduction for children to learn a fun and simple breath technique to respond to their emotions. The beautifully hand-painted illustrations provide the perfect landscape to tell the story of Andy and his journey in learning the wonderful skill of mindfulness. Share the book with your loved ones, and help us all plant the seed to be present!

Read an excerpt:

Andy doesn’t like being angry, mad, or frustrated – he hates how it makes him feel. Sometimes he feels angry in his face. Sometimes he feels angry in his hands. Other times, he feels angry in his stomach and even in his mind.

Andy later feels bad about some of the things he said or did when he was angry. He felt bad after he yelled at Bobby, and he felt bad after he slammed the door on Sierra… and he felt bad after the one time he told his dad that he didn’t like him anymore. And that didn’t just make Andy angry. It also made him feel sad.

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON.COM * KINDLE * BOOKSHOP * BARNES & NOBLE * BOOK DEPOSITORY

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**

It's hard enough for adults when we aren't sure how to handle our anger or strong feelings. It's even worse for young children. We need to give them as many tools as we can and present appropriate ways of handling those big feelings. This book is a good way to start. 

Andy gets angry, and understandably so with some of his life's frustrations. And then when those feelings have calmed down, he feels bad about it. Kids reading this book will probably recognize some of those frustrating situations and those feelings. So the adults in his life decide to help him by taking him to see Mindful Mike, who teaches him breathing techniques to help him calm down when feeling angry or frustrated. 

Stress breathing techniques really do work wonders with children. They're not going to stop being angry, but they may be able to better control those feelings when they rear their ugly heads. Mike presents them in a creative way that will speak to children. And the paintings by Emily Corbett are bright and lively enough to grab attention and seem familiar.

I would read this with the whole class on occasion and then use it more one-on-one with a child who is feeling particularly frustrated. It would also be a good book to leave out in the reading and/or peace area of the classroom as a reference for kids to go back to on their own. It's long enough that it will probably speak to kindergarten and elementary-age students more than preschoolers. But even preschoolers can benefit from learning these breathing techniques. You could adapt it to fit the audience, if needed. I would definitely add this to my mindfulness arsenal.

Thank you to Goddess Fish and Tellwell Publishing for providing a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mike Masse is a mindfulness consultant and public speaker who specializes in mindfulness-based stress reduction. For over a decade, he has been teaching adults, youth, and children mindfulness skills to help reduce their levels of stress and anxiety. A highly sought-after trainer, Mike facilitates workshops with educators, first responders, health care providers, and others who work in high-stress environments. Mike lives in Stratford, Ontario with his two sons and his wife.

CONNECT WITH AUTHOR MIKE J MASSE

WEBSITE: https://mindfulmike.ca/

FACEBOOK: mindfulmike.ca

INSTAGRAM: @mindfulmasse

Mike J Masse will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Enter to Win a Nat Geo Kids Prize Pack! Ends 2/26 via @mommysplaybook

  

The National Geographic Kids Books have been some of my favorites for quite some time now! You've seen me feature them and other giveaways on the blog before. Check out this collection and enter to win your own!

Note that affiliate links are included throughout. Should you make a purchase through one, I'll earn a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my sites!

ENTER TO WIN a National Geographic Kids Books prize pack! This great giveaway is sponsored by National Geographic Kids Books and hosted By Mommy's Playbook. One lucky winner will receive So Cute: Puppies, We Love Babies!, My Weird But True Fact-a-Day Fun Journal, Little Kids First Big Book of Animals, The Big Book of Bling, Little Kids First Big Book of Animals, and Just Joking 3! That's seven NatGeoKids Books in all! Enter to win on the easy Rafflecopter form below, AND be sure to come back to complete your daily entries tomorrow!

   

So Cute: Puppies That wrinkly little face. Those sweet puppy dog eyes! That squishy, pudgy, fuzzy body! Let's face it ... puppies are SO CUTE! And, well, so is this book! Try to contain your squeals of delight as you flip through pages of the fluffy fur balls. From puppies at playtime to rascally ruff-housing, this book is filled with humor and informational sidebars, and pairs super cute puppy photos with imagined inner dialogue that will have the whole family laughing. Perfect for little kids getting acquainted with a new pup at home or kids who love animals in general.

We Love Babies! “Love + adorable baby animals = a MUST for Valentine’s Day. This hilarious picture book with rollicking, rhyming text reads like a crowd-pleasing call, pumping up readers' excitement for the cutest baby animals ever. Illustrated with lively National Geographic photography, We Love Babies! presents furred, feathered, and finned baby animals of all shapes and sizes, celebrating their glorious diversity, from "paws and claws and little flippers" to "feet that look like fuzzy slippers!". Whimsical cartoon cheerleaders add to the fun, popping up throughout the book to lead fans in the irresistible refrain: "We love babies, yes we do, we love babies, how about you?”

My Weird But True Fact-a-Day Fun Journal Start 2022 off right! Here's a chance for Weird But True fans to keep their own personal diary about the weird and wacky world around them. For inspiration, there's a Weird But True fact a day, plus a daily place for kids to report on all the WBT stuff they observe and experience on their own 24/7. It's a year's worth of fun to enjoy, record, and remember!

Little Kids First Big Book of Animals Filled with fluffy and scaly creatures big and small, this book introduces the youngest explorers to the world of wildlife, including dolphins, tigers, butterflies, frogs, penguins, wolves, and pandas. More than 150 of National Geographic’s most charming animal photos are paired with just the kind of facts that little kids want to know―the creature’s size, diet, home, and more. Child-friendly text explains how animal parents take care of their young, how baby animals change as they grow, and how they learn to hunt and eat. These animal tales will quickly become favorites at storytime, bedtime, and any other time.

The Big Book of Bling From upscale splurges to flashy fun in nature, this treasure trove is filled with wonders that will dazzle and delight. Read about how nature struts its stuff with tantalizing tidbits about animals, including a few that literally glitter with iridesence to confuse predators. Or maybe you'll strike it rich after reading about Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, U.S.A., where anyone can go hunt for sparkling gems. Dig into info about the world's mysterious minerals, gorgeous geodes, and ritzy rocks. Discover extravagant expenditures like Canada's million-dollar solid gold coin. Learn all about the splendid science of diamonds that rain from the sky in space. Get the secret behind glowing bioluminescence. And go back in time to uncover palatial palaces, the riches of royalty, and other ancient treasures. To show off the lush content in proper fashion, readers will be dazzled by hundreds of fun flashy photos throughout.

Adorable Animals Super Sticker Activity Book Two sticker books in one that are chock-full of the cutest animals on the planet: pandas, koalas, rabbits, kittens, puppies, and so many more. A perfect cure for cabin fever, kids are sure to love these pages of 2,000 stickers that are loaded with fun.

Just Joking 3 Packed with silly jokes that kids love, including knock-knocks, tongue twisters, riddles, traditional question and answer jokes, each joke is paired with laughing animals, funny people, and other colorful photos in National Geographic Kids' signature colorful, photo-driven style.  

ENTER TO WIN!

One Winner will Receive a National Geographic Kids Books Prize Pack!

(APV $95)

The giveaway is open US Only, 18+

The giveaway ends 2/26 at 1159 pm est

Be sure to come back daily for more chances to win.

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Mommy’s Playbook Giveaway Rules: This giveaway is Sponsored by National Geographic Kids Books and hosted by Mommy’s Playbook. Mommy's Playbook and the participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. By entering this giveaway you are giving the giveaway host and/or event sponsor permission to retain your email address for future communication, you may choose to opt-out of such communications at any time. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by any social media outlet including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Only authentic accounts are eligible to win. Dummy/fake accounts are not eligible for entry and will be blocked. Entrants who have created social accounts purely to enter competitions or sweepstakes will not be eligible to win. All social accounts used must be public. See Rafflecopter for official rules. Please contact Victoria (at) MommysPlaybook.com regarding any questions you have pertaining to this giveaway.

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.

Goodreads * Amazon * BN

(affiliate link included)

**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.

Goodness on Deposit: The Ginormous Tiny Idea by Mary Argento

 

"Goodness on Deposit - The Ginormous Tiny Idea” is the first in a series of books which promote a child's awareness of other's needs and demonstrates practical ways for children to make a difference in the life of a friend, neighbor or family member. It is a sweet interactive story which teaches children, through M.T.'s journey, to identify acts of kindness that need doing and record them in their Goodness on Deposit bankbook which is outlined in the book. M.T., our 8 year old main character very much admires his mother because she is kind and loving to others and possesses what he believes to be a "heart of gold". A small seed of an idea begins to percolate in M.T.'s head. He has a vision where he, along with his buddies, would open up a Goodness on Deposit Bank where children like himself would deposit their good deeds until they reach a balance which would earn them a heart of gold.

Buy on Amazon

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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.