My Mummy is Superwoman by Casey Elisha, illustrated by Aliecee Cummings

Publisher: Casey Elisha Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 28
Age Level: 3 – 6 years old

Synopsis
Aimed at 3-6 year olds, My Mummy is Superwoman shares all the things a young girl loves about her mummy!

A simple story that highlights the admiration daughters have for their mothers, My Mummy is Superwoman is a book little girls will be able to relate to.

Reflection
Moms are the best, aren’t they?  Whether they’re taking care of you when you’re sick, reading bedtime stories, doing the laundry or cheering you on from the sidelines at a dance competition, they’ve always got your back — even when you don’t come home with the first-place trophy. So for all her grace, patience, hard work and most importantly LOVE, be sure to always let your mother know how amazing and special she is – not just on Mother’s Day.

In the book My Mummy is Superwoman a young girl shares all the things she loves about her mommy.  Told in rhyming verse with the little girl as the narrator, it’s a simple story that acknowledges some of the physical traits her mom has as well as some of the things she does to make the daughter feel special.

My mummy is superwoman, she always knows what to do,

If anything goes wrong, it’s mum to the rescue.

Photo Credit: Casey Elisha Books

The illustrations show the mother doing some of the typical things moms are usually known to do like: washing dishes, doing laundry and cleaning up messy spills.  But moms aren’t just all work and no play – this mother daughter duo is also shown having fun together and acting silly.  Simply put, being a good mom (or dad) requires a lot of work.  In a child’s mind, they may very well equate that to being a superhero.

There is also a cute activity section in the back of the book for kids to complete.  The activities are probably more suitable for kids ages 4-6 and up because most of them involve writing prompts like: “My mummy makes me laugh when she…” and “When I become a superwoman, I am going to…”.  It’s also worth mentioning the author of this book is a British author located in London.  Therefore, there are a couple of words that are spelled differently than from what we use in the United States like: mummy (mommy) and favourite (favorite).

It’s clear to see just how much this little girl admires her mother…such a sweet book for mothers and children to enjoy reading together around Mother’s Day or any time of the year.  Order a copy of the book here.

Connect with Casey Elisha on Instagram or her website!

For all inquiries, please contact Casey Elisha directly at: CElishaBooks@gmail.com

The Giveaway!
Casey Elisha Books was kind enough to sponsor this book giveaway for one (1) lucky winner to win a copy of their latest book, My Mummy is Superwoman.  Open only to US residents age 18 and over.  Good Luck!

My Mummy is Superwoman Book Giveaway

Your turn: What does being a superwoman mean to you?  Who are some superwomen you admire?  Feel free to share in the comments.

A Book of Bridges Here to There and Me To You by Cheryl Keely, illustrated by Celia Krampien

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Age Range: 5 – 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3

Synopsis
Bridges are some of the most fascinating structures in our landscape, and they come in all forms. From towering suspension bridges to humble stone crossings, this book visits them all in sweet, bouncing text with expository sidebars. But while bridges can be quite grand, this reminds us that their main purpose is bringing people together. This is perfect for budding architects, as well as readers who can relate to having loved ones who live far away.

Reflection
Children are curious and fearless by nature.  They love exploring and observing their environment and the world around them.  You could think of children as being natural born engineers and architects.  A Book of Bridges Here to There and Me To You is a great book to read with your little budding architects and engineers.

This book features a diverse cast of characters exploring several different types of bridges including: wood-covered bridges, stone bridges, drawbridges, suspension bridges, wildlife bridges and more.  The overall text is sparse, but there is additional text on each double-page spread that provides more factual information about the different types of bridges.  For example, did you know Banff National Park in Canada has the most wildlife bridges in the world?  Or that days before the Brooklyn Bridge opened to the public P.T. Barnum led 21 elephants over it to prove it was safe?

Image courtesy of sleepingbearpress.com

The kids and I really enjoy this STEM themed book.  By reading this book children will discover the many ways bridges can bring people and animals together which may spark curiosity in how to construct their own bridges.  I also love the overall message of this book about staying connected and building bridges with people.

But the bridge I like the best isn’t so grand.  It connects me to you and you to me…through the simple holding of hands.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that in order for younger students to succeed in our 21st-century world they are going to need to have experiences with creativity, engineering, and technology.  I think this simple book, yet detailed book is a great example of the type of books you can read with little readers to provide an early introduction to architecture and engineering.  This book may also help children have a better understanding of how bridges help bring the whole world together.

About the Author
Cheryl Keely became a journalist because she never wanted to stop learning.  Writing picture books combines her love of learning and love of play.  When not writing, she volunteers with her dog as a pet ambassador team with a local pet therapy organization.  She currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

About the Illustrator
Celia Krampien grew up near Owen Sound in Ontario, Canada in a house in the woods.  She was inspired by the surrounding wildlife and developed a love of naure and animals.  She currently lives in Oakville, Ontario.

This post may contain affiliate links and may include items that I received at no cost in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan, illustrated by Grace Zong

Publisher: Peachtree Publishing
Pages: 32
Format: Hardcover
Grade Level: Preschool – 3

Synopsis
Join the children of Room 3 and Mrs. McBee as they find their own ways of helping each other get ready to leave and say goodbye. It’s not just the end of the school year at Mayflower Elementary. It’s time to say goodbye to Mrs. McBee, who is leaving the school. Jamaika, William, and the other kids in Room 3 have to figure out a special way to celebrate their beloved teacher. But everyone has a different idea. How can they arrive at an agreement?

Reflection
It’s never easy to say goodbye to the ones you love, but it’s a lifelong process that will happen many times throughout the course of our lives.  There inevitably comes a time when we must say goodbye to people, things, and routines.  As the school year comes to a close, children will be saying farewell to teachers, friends, and a daily routine they have come to expect.  This fall, my daughter will be transitioning to a new classroom and my son will be moving to a completely different school.  It will be great having them both in the same school, but it will be a period of transition and change for all of us.

The kids in Room 3 at Mayflower Elementary will soon be entering a period of transition too.  The end of the school year is always bittersweet, but it’s even more tough when your beloved teacher decides to leave the school.  Mrs. McBee tells the class she will not be returning after the summer vacation, but she doesn’t say why.  Perhaps she’s retiring or moving to a different school?  Whatever the reason, the kids in Room 3 are sad to see Mrs. McBee go, especially William.

To help clean up the classroom and get it ready for the next school year, Mrs. McBee assigns each child a job.  The kids help organize the books and pack away all of the classroom belongings.  I liked how all of the kids and cooperated worked together as a team in their own way.  The act of deconstructing the classroom is a concrete way to signify that the school year is ending.  Together with Mrs. McBee, the children in Room 3 created the environment and now they have the opportunity to see and be part of it being treated with respect as it is put away.

With a lively and diverse cast of characters, this book highlights themes of: teamwork, coping with change, compassion and feelings.  The illustrations are cute and the text isn’t too lengthy.  My favorite illustration is the adorable cover image where all of the kids are shown embracing Mrs. McBee in a group hug.  This is a great book to read with a classroom of preschool and early-age elementary students, especially if a teacher is leaving at the end of the school year.  It’s also a good book to have discussions about dealing with change and respecting others feelings.

About the Author
Gretchen Brandenberg McLellan is a former reading specialist at Dorothy Fox Elementrary in Camas, Washington.

About the Illustrator
Grace Zong was born in Illinois and moved to Korea when she was seven.  She returned to the United States to study art at the Rhode Island School of Design where she majored in illustrations.  She currently lives in New York and Korea.

This post may contain affiliate links and may include items that I received at no cost in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Your turn: If you’re a teacher, how do you handle end of the year transitions with your students?  Do you do anything special with your class to say goodbye? Feel free to share in the comments.