Book Reviews

January 3, 2016

Mrs. G

Love Thy Fro by Casey Elisha: A Book Review

Love Thy Fro
Written by Casey Elisha, illustrated by Aliecee Cummings

Synopsis
Aimed at girls ages 5-8, Love Thy Fro is about a young girl named Kemi who absolutely loves her big, beautiful, curly afro hair! It’s a simple book with a simple message, the aim is to teach girls the importance of loving themselves and embracing their “non-typical” hair from a young age.

Background
Love Thy Fro debuted for the first time in South East London on December 6, 2015. The very next day the book was completely SOLD OUT. Casey was inspired to write the book based on conversations she had with several people and her own personal reflections on her past issues related to self-love and her hair.

“My decision to write Love Thy Fro was a very random one stemming from my realization that, if I were to become a mother to a daughter anytime soon, I would have a really hard time teaching her to be comfortable in her own skin due to the images of beauty that society constantly throws at us. I wanted my future daughters to know and appreciate their unique beauty, so I chose to create something that I felt would help show them this.” ~Casey Elisha

Reflection
I want my daughter to embrace the hair that naturally grows out of her head and to believe, with confidence, that there is nothing wrong with her hair despite what others may say. Luckily, my daughter absolutely LOVES her hair at the moment. I hope it stays that way for years to come.

I like to think I’m the main reason why my daughter feels so good about her hair. How narcissistic of me, right? Seriously though, I do take good care of my hair and I’ve been wearing it in its natural state for the past six years now. Perhaps by seeing me take care of my hair it in turn made my daughter feel good about hers. In addition, I am constantly telling her how beautiful her hair is hoping it will sink into her head. I think its safe to say it has, at least for now.

I also read beautiful natural hair books like Love Thy Fro to my daughter frequently. As I’ve stated on this blog before, it’s important for me to let my children see characters who look like them in books. That’s especially true when it comes to teaching my daughter about hair. She simply won’t see characters with her hair type featured in princess books. That’s why I’m so glad authors like Casey Elisha and others are on the forefront writing positive and inspirational books for young girls with afro-textured hair.

The first day when the book arrived in the mail I opened it and read through it quickly on my own. Later that night I read with my daughter and we both enjoyed it immensely. I definitely think the book resonated with my daughter because Sundays are the same day I wash and style her hair for the week just like little Kemi in the book.

Throughout the book, Kemi explains the process her mum (mom) follows to shampoo, condition, moisturize and style her hair. We love the rhyming text as well as the gorgeous illustrations that really help bring the book to life. I especially loved that Kemi’s mom let her decide what style she wanted to wear in her hair. How empowering for little Kemi to tell her mom exactly how she wanted to wear her hair -in an afro!

There is also an activity section in the back of the book for girls to: draw a picture of their fro and write a few sentences describing reasons why they love their fro. It’s also worth mentioning that since Casey is a British author located in London, there are some words that are spelled differently than from what we use in the United States like: mummy (mommy), moistrises (moisturizes), colour (color), favourite (favorite) and canerows (cornrows). This was not annoying at all to me though – just wanted to make you aware of it.

Kudos to Casey Elisha on recognizing the need for positive, self-esteem books like this one and for representing for curly girls everywhere. With the help of books like Love Thy Fro, I will continue to show my daughter curly images to help reinforce her natural beauty.

Connect with Casey Elisha on Instagram or her website!

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

Order a copy of the book here.

Your turn: Have you read this book yet? How do you teach your daughter(s) or the little girls in your life to love their afro-textured hair? Feel free to share in the comments.

Giveaway: Win an Autographed Copy of Love Thy Fro!
I’m thrilled to be hosting my first giveaway of 2016! To enter to win this book simply follow the instructions listed in the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Contest ends Thursday, January 14th at 11:59pm. Good luck!

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Book Reviews

January 3, 2016

Mrs. G

My First Book Series: A Book Review

Back in November 2015, I introduced you to author Sophie Helenek when I featured her as the literacy expert for the month. In addition to being an award-winning author, Sophie is an elite athlete, former banker, Everest summiteer, runway model, and mother. Also, her daughter happens to go to the same preschool as my son – how cool is that?

Sophie recently wrote an entire series of children’s board books called My First Book. There are several books in the series including: My First Book Sky Wonders, My First Book Fruits, My First Book Musical Instruments, My First Book Shapes, My First Book Christmas (Kindle edition) and My First Book Pets (Kindle edition).

Summary
Each book in the My First Book series is designed to stimulate and captivate baby from birth to toddlerhood, while fueling inspiration and knowledge of your bundle of joy surroundings.

These board books have received top accolades honoring excellence in family-friendly products, and prestigious awards for its innovation, attention to quality, and educational properties which seals only the very best in reading excellence.

Background
At birth, babies are very nearsighted; that is why they are interested in bold black and white shapes and high contrast patterns. Eager to learn more, Sophie read a bunch of studies on speech development, child temperament, and babies’ milestones. Gathering all this information, she developed and designed My First Books series from a baby’s perspective. She wanted to write an engaging book that promotes bonding and supports an infant’s developmental growth milestones: vision, memory, speech, and social skills.

They are not just picture books or bedtime stories, but rather activity books conceived to stimulate a baby’s senses.

Here how it works:

At first, a baby will enjoy simple illustrations with black-and-white and high-contrast patterns designed especially for the very young to focus on.
As babies gets older, their brains learn to distinguish bright primary colors and will start identifying the illustrations with the words you read, which triggers their memory process.
Each picture is accompanied by a simple word that babies will love repeating and which helps their speech development.
The last pages show all the illustrations together, which also helps the baby’s memory process.
My First Book series offers a special feature for toddlers, as they can write on the book with a white board pen, wipe it, and write again!

Reflection
The first thing that surprised me about these books is the way both of my kids gravitated towards them. The first night we read them the kids eagerly wanted to read them again and again…no exaggeration. Perhaps they are attracted to the bright and bold colors of the illustrations or the simplicity of books, I’m not sure. Whatever it is, they like them and so do I.

My children are slowly outgrowing board books as they’re getting older, but I think these books are perfect for babies and toddlers alike. Of course for the youngest readers, you won’t have to worry about these books being slobbered upon, crinkled up, ripped, or worse. These board books provide a sturdy option for the smallest of the small while still offering the opportunity to expose your child to good books.

My three-year old daughter can read all of the words and name the objects in each book without any assistance from me. My son can name the colors, identify the shapes, name the fruits and instruments, but he’s not at the reading stage yet.

I also enjoy using these books for both letter recognition and counting with the kids too. In addition, I like to incorporate theme-related songs like “Apples and Bananas” (when we’re reading the My First Book Fruits book) and activities to expand on the topic of each book. As an added bonus, toddlers and preschoolers can even use a dry erase marker on these books and then wipe them clean when they’re ready to practice handwriting.

If you have an infant or know someone who will be giving birth to a baby in the coming months, I’d highly recommend this children’s book series to help with those important developmental growth milestones.

To learn more about author Sophie Helenek connect with her on social media:
Website: www.nurserybooks.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurserybooks
Twitter: @nurserybooks

Your turn: Have you read any of the books in this series with your little readers? Do you still read board books with your children? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews

December 8, 2015

Mrs. G

Sandy Hook Elementary School Anniversary: Two Children’s Books to Read

December 14th will mark the three-year anniversary of the horrific mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. I’ve lived in Connecticut all my life so that particular shooting hit especially close to home for me.

Talking to your children about tragedies is a daunting task, but I think it’s necessary especially as they get older. When I think about all of the tragedies I’ve lived through prior to becoming a mom: Columbine, 9/11, Virginia Tech, University of Arizona, and countless others I can’t help but think how different I feel now that I have children. What am I supposed to tell my kids? Has this become the “new normal”? I certainly hope not. Luckily, my kids are still young so they don’t really understand.

If you’re looking for books to read with your children in recognition of the Sandy Hook anniversary, may I suggest two books that bring messages of hope and renewal to children and families affected by the tragedy.

Good Dogs, Great Listeners: The Story of Charlotte, Lily and the Litter
by Renata Bowers with JoAnn and Joel Bacon

Book Synopsis
Charlotte loves dogs, especially her loving and loyal dog, Lily. And she loves adventure, especially with Lily and her Litter of six stuffed dogs in tow. But, she doesn’t love to read.

Charlotte has a pesky habit of abandoning a book in favor of a distraction. Paired with her dogs and her bold imagination, that distraction has a way of turning into a grand adventure. But when Lily gets hurt on one of their adventures, Charlotte relies on her imagination and her heart to find a way to love Lily back to health…and discovers a love for reading along the way – along with her beloved companions.

Book Background
This is a charming story from Joel and JoAnn Bacon, parents to 6 year-old Charlotte Bacon who was one of the children who lost their lives on December 14, 2012 in Sandy Hook, CT. The family decided to focus on the things their daughter loved most, which was dogs.

Good Dogs, Great Listeners is a story of imagination, kindness and boldness, created to inspire the story – and the reader – in us all. The book tells the story of Charlotte and how Charlotte’s Litter was started.

Charlotte’s Litter was founded following the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy. The organization supports therapy dog programs in educational and societal settings by connecting resources and experienced people, while providing input and guidance to parents and educators. The Bacon family has founded and developed a number of projects to honor their spirited Charlotte, share her joy and beauty, and advocate for what has helped them most as they grieve.

Reflection
The kids and I truly enjoyed reading this book. It’s such a wonderful story with precious illustrations to match. Even though little Charlotte doesn’t like to read in the beginning she certainly has a vivid imagination and great sense of adventure. In an effort to avoid reading books, Charlotte uses her imagination to go on elaborate adventures with her dogs. Lily and the Litter faithfully follow Charlotte with each new “adventure” they go on until one day when Lily breaks her leg. That’s when Charlotte’s love of reading begins as way to keep Lily company while she rested so her leg could heal.

I think this is a great book to read with children who may be reluctant to read. I’d also recommend this for little readers who may want to become a veterinarian or those who love dogs.

The Dogs of Newtown
by Guy A. Bacon

Charlotte’s brother Guy Bacon also has his own book, “The Dogs Of Newtown” which describes the therapy dogs that greeted him when he went back to school. Guy is an 11 year-old boy who is a student at Reed Intermediate School in Newtown, CT. He dedicated this book to his sister, Charlotte Bacon who was one of the 20 children who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Book Synopsis
The sadness in Newtown got a little bit better because of the therapy dogs that came to visit from around America. The Dogs of Newtown is packed full of beautiful photography is the product of long, snuggle-filled interview sessions, and the mutual love that was, and still is, shared by Guy and the dogs of Newtown. A student at Reed Intermediate School in Newtown, Connecticut, Guy shares the story of some of the most special therapy dogs that visited him and his friends at school and helped lick the tears away.

Book Background
Following the tragedy, therapy dogs were brought to school to help comfort the grieving children, one being Charlotte’s older brother, Guy. The dogs sat patiently as students read to them, petted them, and spoke to them, and provided a much-needed calming presence for both children and teachers. Once the Bacons witnessed the wonderful influence of the dogs, they knew Charlotte had something to do with it, as she had loved animals fiercely – especially dogs. The Bacon family hopes to promote the use of therapy dogs to aid in both children’s literacy as well as emotional support.

Reflection
I enjoyed reading about each one of the therapy dogs featured in this book, but the kids loved looking at the pictures the most. We’re just a dog loving family. The Dogs of Newtown is a true story about each of the heroic therapy dogs who helped students to feel safe coming back to school. The dogs and their owners spent every day for the rest of the school year in service to the staff and students of the school. How awesome is that!

I never realized the wonderful effects therapy dogs could have on people prior to reading the foreward message written in this book. It’s so beautifully written that it actually made me tear up a bit. The rest of the book includes photographs of the therapy dogs as well as a brief description about each one.

Overall, I think both of these books can help spark a conversation with your children about the Sandy Hook Elementary anniversary whether they are still in diapers or elementary school.

Please continue to hold our friends and neighbors here in Connecticut close to your heart, especially as we enter the holiday season.

For more information about both of these books, visit gooddogsgreatlisteners.com and charlotteslitter.org, and connect with Charlotte’s Litter and Good Dogs, Great Listeners on Facebook.

Good Dogs, Great Listeners and The Dogs of Newtown can also be purchased on Amazon.

Your turn: Did you enjoy this post? How do you talk to your children about tragic events that occur? What are some of your go-to children’s books to read? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews

November 14, 2015

Mrs. G

Stunning Braids: A Book Review

Since I have a daughter and I’m a natural hair enthusiast, it was inevitable that I at some point I was going to write a post about hairstyling books. I own a few hairstyling books in my personal home library so I was excited to have the opportunity to review Monaé Everett’s book Stunning Braids.

Synopsis
Nothing impresses like an intricate braid. Whether you’re looking for a fun way to fix up day-old hair, a chic look for a night out on the town or a dazzling do for your wedding day, the braid is the way to go. In this DIY guide, New York City celebrity hairstylist and YouTube sensation Monaé Everett presents easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos for creating beautiful looks. Up your skills as you master a range of braiding techniques for any hair type, including:

•Five-Braid Updo
•Diagonal Lace Braid
•Fancy Fauxhawk
•Fringe Lace Braid
•French Fishtail Pony

Reflection
Stunning Braids is a beautiful publication that includes step-by-step illustrated tutorials for 25 braided hairstyles. I love the fact that each style is accompanied by color photographs on different models with various hair types and textures. I think this book also does a great job of describing different styling tools and equipment that is needed to achieve each style.

I tried out several of the hairstyles on my own hair and was pleasantly surprised at how they turned out. I’ll definitely be wearing these styles at various holiday parties I’ll be attending over the next few weeks. This book is my new go-to book when I want to style my hair in a cute, chic, braided style for weddings or other special occasions.

The photographs are professional quality and they’re not over-styled as they perhaps would be in a fashion magazine, making them seem achievable – even to some women who may be ponytail kinda girls. I think this book is great for tweens, teens, and adult women especially if you like braided hairstyles with a touch of elegance that are not too overwhelming. I suspect the intended audience for this book is teens and adults, but the tutorials are so well laid out that they can be followed by all ages with ease. A must-have for your home library collection if you’re into hair as much as I am.

About the Author

Monaé Everett knows how to bring out the beauty in everyone. Her celebrity clients have include: Taraji P. Henson, Mariah Carey, Connie Britton, Lauren Graham, and more. Her expert opinion has been featured in major publications such as: Huffington Post, Redbook.com, and Essence magazine. To help make women look and feel their best, she regularly blogs at HairandMakeupBlog.com and uploads beauty tutorials to YouTube.

Connect with Monaé!
Website: MonaeEverett.com
E-Mail: Monae@HairandMakeupBlog.com
Stunning Braids Press Release

Find Her on Social Media!
YouTube Instagram FaceBook Twitter Pinterest Google+ LinkedIn

Your turn: Did you enjoy this post? Do you like to experiment with your hair and try new styles or do you usually play it safe and wear your hair the same way all of the time? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews

November 11, 2015

Mrs. G

Crow Made a Friend Book Tour & Giveaway!

I’m thrilled to be a part of the TLC tour for Crow Made a Friend by Margaret Peot!

Recommended for Children Ages: 4 to 8
Themes: Easy Readers, Animals/Fiction, Friendship

Book Synopsis
Try, try again is the lesson Crow teaches beginning readers in this picture book reader. Crow was all alone. But like all crows, he was very clever. Using autumn leaves for wings, sticks for the body and a crab apple for the head, Crow made a friend! But winter winds blew in, destroying his creation. Undaunted, Crow fashioned another bird friend out of snow but could not prevent it from melting in the warm spring sun. Alone again, Crow heard the caw, caw, caw of a real, live bird. Together they built a nest and by summer, Crow had a family. This warm, satisfying story, celebrates perseverance and ingenuity.

Reflection
Making new friends can be intimidating, but it’s definitely rewarding. After all, friends form a big part of our life. They are the ones who walk through life together, share our ups and downs and joys and pains. Without friends, life wouldn’t be the same at all. The lonely crow in this book certainly understands this so he goes on a quest to make a new friend and ends up starting a new family at the end.

The kids and I really enjoy this book! It’s a wonderful, charming, beautifully illustrated, short story that my three-year old daughter can read word for word on her own. It’s a quick read and perfect for beginning readers to enjoy over and over. I think the overall messages about the importance of friends and continual effort are easy enough even for the youngest readers to understand.

After reading the book, the kids and I did the craft activity that was included to make our own “friend”. I adore doing craft activities with the kids after reading the book as it seems to help reinforce what we’ve just read while having fun. You can download your very own crow activity sheet here!

I’m a true believer that children’s books teach us some of life’s most valuable lessons. The valuable lesson I took away from this book is the key to making new friends is YOU! Friends will not magically come your way. It takes time, trying different things, and lots of effort on your part. Just like shopping for shoes, you have to try on lots of pairs before finding the right fit.

About the Author

Margaret Peot is an artist, writer, and a teacher. Some of her other books include: Inkblot: Drip, Splat and Squish Your Way to Creativity (Boyds Mills 2011), The Successful Artist’s Career Guide: Finding Your Way in the Business of Art (F&W 2012), Alternative Art Journals: Explore Innovative Approaches to Collecting Your Creativity (F&W 2012), and Make Your Mark: Explore Your Creativity and Discover Your Inner Artist (Chronicle Books, 2004).

Margaret attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and studied with Alex McKibben, Rocio Rodriguez, Lon Beck, Thomas Effler, Geoff Fishburn, Michael Griffiths, and Crossan Curry. She is currently serving on the first College of Creative Arts Advisory Board at Miami.

Connect With Margaret!
Author’s Website
The InkBlotBook
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest (Crow)
Pinterest (Birding)

Also, be sure to “like” the TLC Tours Facebook page for contests, giveaways, book talk, links to great reviews, and much more!

Now you can enter to win a copy of the book! TLC Book Tours is Giving Away a Copy of Crow Made a Friend to one random reader. To enter simply leave a comment below. Hurry, ends Monday, November 16, 2015.

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Book Reviews

November 5, 2015

Mrs. G

Princess Cupcake Jones Book Series: A Review

Well, it finally happened. My three year-old daughter “Sparkles” is officially obsessed with all things related to princesses. It all started shortly after her third birthday a couple of months ago. I always knew if I had a daughter at some point she’d be hit by the princess craze like a tidal wave.

I don’t mind that “Sparkles” already knows what a princess is or even that she pretends to be one on occasion, but I want her to have a healthy view of herself and have good role models even if some happen to be princesses like Princess Cupcake Jones.

Princess Cupcake Jones is a beautiful, spunky, natural-haired, brown girl who happens to be a princess. She lives with her parents (the king and queen) in a beautiful castle located at 6 Garden Place. There are currently three books in the series and each one celebrates diversity and teaches children valuable lessons while allowing each reader to have a fun, interactive experience.

I was immediately drawn to this adorable book series because it features a little brown girl on the cover. Yay! As you may know, finding a book that actually includes African princesses, African American princesses, Native American princesses, Indian princesses, Latina princesses, or Asian princesses, is next to impossible. Perhaps one day book publishers, television producers, and movie producers will understand the beautiful variety of princesses (and princes) that the world has to offer. Good thing there are children’s books like these to help remind little readers of all cultures and backgrounds that princesses, kings, and queens are not limited to the images they see in the mainstream media.
So far, the kids and I have read two out of the three books: Princess Cupcake Jones and The Missing Tutu and Princess Cupcake Jones Won’t Go to School. The third book in the series is called Princess Cupcake Jones and the Queen’s Closet. The author is also hard at work writing the fourth book about a dance recital that’s due to be released in 2016.

To add to the interactive element, each book includes the word “love” hidden within the full color illustrated pages. Helpful hints to finding the hidden word are available on the book’s website, which also features downloadable color pages and other activities.

Both of the books we read teach an important lesson in a fun and whimsical way with gentle, rhyming cadence to match. Oh, and the illustrations are gorgeous throughout. They are so vibrant, bold, cheerful and really compliment the story well. I can’t wait to read about Cupcake’s next adventure!

If your daughters have been hit by the princess craze like my daughter has, consider checking out Princess Cupcake Jones. Little readers who like the series Fancy Nancy or Pinkalicious will adore these books just as much. Cue the sparkles, tiaras, and tutus!

About the Author
Ylleya Fields has three daughters and a son. While looking for books to read to her eldest daughter (when she was 2), Ylleya was struck by the limited number of titles featuring African-American characters. Blending both of her daughter’s images and personalities together, Cupcake Jones was created. Born in South America, Ylleya currently resides with her family in Cleveland, Ohio. She enjoys writing and is currently working on new Princess Cupcake Jones adventures.

Your turn: Have you read any of the books in this series yet? Do you have a princess book that you feel great about reading with your children? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews

October 19, 2015

Mrs. G

Poems for the Smart, Spunky, and Sensational Black Girl: A Book Review

One night while browsing on Instagram, I spotted the book Poems for the Smart, Spunky, and Sensational Black Girl and my daughter happened to be sitting next to me. She saw the picture and said, “Mommy, what’s that?” When I told her it was a book she said, “I want to read it.” I had already made up my mind I was going to purchase it as soon as it came out because it looked amazing, but my daughter re-affirmed it for me.

I love reading stories with my daughter that she can relate to (and my son too). That means stories about kids—or, more specifically, stories where girls take the lead. (Yay, girlpower!) And the spunkier the heroine, the better. That’s why Rachel Garlinghouse’s latest book is the perfect choice for my smart, spunky, and sensational little Black girl.

Poems for the Smart, Spunky, and Sensational Black Girl
by Rachel Garlinghouse, illustrated by Sharee Miller

Synopsis
Today’s girl has a lot going on! From beads, bullies, and birthdays, to school, sunglasses, and siblings, Poems for the Smart, Spunky, and Sensational Black Girl resonates and inspires! From Rachel Garlinghouse (author and mom) and Sharee Miller (owner of Coily and Cute) comes this one-of-a-kind poetry collection that will certainly bring a smile to your little lady’s face and heart.

Reflection
The first day this book arrived in the mail I read it on my own before reading it to the kids. When I read it to the kids I read half of the poems in the afternoon before nap time, then read the other half later that night at bed time. They both listened and were attentive and engaged throughout each reading session. There are a total of 23 short poems contained in this book so I think breaking it up and reading a few at a time may work best, especially if you have little ones who tend to get fidgety. Older kids should have no problems reading this book in one sitting though.

One of the poems is entitled The Things I Like. I adore this poem because people are so quick to ‘box your children in’ these days. Meaning, they try to label your child as shy, aggressive, tomboys, or a girlie girls. I think you should allow your kids to be exactly who God created them to be whether that be a beauty queen or a brainiac, an athlete or a quirky, creative type, or a lovely mixture of all of the above. This poem does a great job of expressing that through the text as well as the illustration.

There is also a short thought-provoking poem called What If. It’s a series of questions like, ‘What if Oprah Winfrey never would have spoken?’ ‘What if Rosa Parks never would have refused?’ Not only did this poem cause me to reflect on all of these wonderful women, but it also inspired me to leave behind my own legacy to make people ponder their own ‘what if’ question about me. Hopefully, this poem will resonate with my daughter throughout the years as she gets older.

Another favorite poem called Between Mama’s Knees is simply beautiful. It’s about a little girl sitting between her mama’s knees to get her hair done. Something I remember all to well as a child. The last line in that poem is “Between mamas’ knees beauty is born.” How perfect is that?

The illustrations in this book are so bright, vibrant, and beautiful! I love the representation of girls, boys, men, and women of different races featured throughout. Oh, and because I am also a natural hair enthusiast, I must mention the hairstyles are adorable! You’ll see little girls rocking afro puffs, beads, ponytails, braids, and twist outs.

It’s also worth mentioning this is a paperback book. Therefore, if you have little ones who are still in the phase of putting everything in their mouths keep this in mind as the pages may rip easily. The glossy cover of the book seems more durable than the actual pages.

The childish viewpoints in the poems feel bright, unforced, and happily spontaneous. There are short and funny selections mixed with slightly longer, more thoughtful verse. Some of the poems may even help to build up a girl’s self-esteem so she can walk and breathe with pride accepting herself for who she is. This book may also inspire girls to start writing some poetry of their own.

Overall, I think this is an excellent book to add to a girls’ book collection! Especially if she’s a smart, spunky, and sensational Black girl.

Disclaimer: I purchased this book with my own money and was not compensated to write this review. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

Your turn: Did you enjoy this post? Are you looking forward to reading it with your little ones? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews

October 14, 2015

Mrs. G

Monster Trouble: A Book Review

Monster Trouble by Lane Fredrickson

Synopsis
Nothing frightens Winifred Schnitzel—but she DOES need her sleep, and the neighborhood monsters WON’T let her be! Every night they sneak in, growling and belching and making a ruckus. Winifred constructs clever traps, but nothing stops these crafty creatures. What’s a girl to do?

Reflection
Both of my kids really enjoyed this book – it was a big hit last month and this month. Little Winifred Schnitzel is too cute with her two afro puff ponytails! Oh, and she’s very brave too.

In this book, she tries several different tactics to keep monsters at bay so she can get some much needed beauty sleep. Winifred sets traps using string, she uses some stinky Limburger cheese, and even a pokey chair. Unfortunaley, she is unsuccessful at trying to trap or trick the monsters and she eventually falls into a deep sleep. When she is awakened by one of the monsters, she kisses him. Well, the monster is totally disgusted by the kiss and he starts freaking out. Wise little Winifred takes notice of how grossed out the monster is, so she starts kissing all of them and they finally leave her alone at night to sleep. So if you’ve ever wondered how to get monsters to leave you alone now you know the secret…kiss them!

I think this is a great book for children who are afraid of the dark when the lights go out at night. It can also be used to teach kids how to deal with their fears and being strong and brave. I would recommend this book for children ages 3 – 8 (even though I read it with my little guy who’s almost two years old).

Parents, caregivers, and teachers don’t have to worry about scary or spooky looking monster illustrations in this book. The pictures are colorful and entertaining. The story is written in a fun rhyming way that’s perfect for story telling and keeping little readers and listeners captivated. A great Halloween read aloud book for both girls and boys!

Looking for more Halloween-themed books for kids? Check out one of my previous posts here.

Your Turn: Did you enjoy this book review? Have you read this book yet? If so, feel free to let me know if you and your little ones enjoyed it.

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Book Reviews

September 12, 2015

Mrs. G

Picture of Grace: A Book Review

Picture of Grace
by Josh Armstrong

This Sunday, September 13th is National Grandparents Day. I’ll be honest and say I didn’t even know such a day existed until my adult years. This is probably because it didn’t originate in the United States until the year 1978. It’s often one of those holidays that can be easily overlooked especially since it’s right around back-to-school, Labor Day and adjusting to new routines for both kids and adults.

Of course, one way the kids and I will be celebrating Grandparents Day is by reading grandparent-related books like Picture of Grace written by Josh Armstrong.

Summary
Six-year-old Grace aspires to be an artist like her beloved grandfather Walt. Every week, she goes to his house and watches with great joy as he paints.

Of course, not everyone appreciates Grandpa Walt’s artwork. But as Walt tells Grace, “Some people appreciate the hard work while others just want the painting to be finished. But you can’t be distracted by either group.”

When tragedy strikes, Grace takes it upon herself to honor Grandpa Walt in a special way. Through her act of love and kindness, Grace’s family discovers an amazing secret about Walt’s final, unfinished masterpiece.

Reflection
What a heartfelt story about a little girl who is her grandfather’s biggest fan! First off, let’s talk about the book cover illustration. It’s so simple, yet so beautiful! I think the illustrations used throughout this book are amazing and really do an awesome job of capturing a wide range of emotions: happiness, sadness, shock, confusion, and anger.

Next, I think the story is very engaging and interesting. I love the relationship between Grace and her Grandpa Walt. How cool would it be to have a grandfather who is also a famous artist? What a treat it would be to sit and watch him paint his masterpieces and have them come to life right before your eyes! It’s apparent that Grace envied her grandfather as she told him she wanted to be just like him when she grew up. I loved Grandpa Walt’s response when he said to Grace, “That’s very kind of you, but I can think of nothing better than you simply being yourself.” Who wouldn’t love a grandpa like that?

Grandpa Walt was in the process of painting his final masterpiece and Grace enjoyed sitting by her grandpa’s side each day while he painted. Then one day tragedy strikes and Grace is heartbroken.

I was surprised when Grandpa Walt passed away. I wasn’t expecting that at all. This is the first book I’ve read to the kids where someone actually dies in the book. Although death is touched upon briefly, I didn’t find it to be disturbing to the kids in any way. My kids are still too young to have an in depth conversation about death so when Grace’s mother tells her she can’t visit Grandpa Walt anymore, I just told the kids Grace was sad and moved on with the story. I think it also helped that the author chose not to dwell on the loss of Grandpa Walt with text. Instead, the illustrations did all the talking and let you know why Grace wouldn’t have the opportunity to see her grandfather again.

Finally, I really enjoyed the ending of this book when Grace took it upon herself to finish the painting her grandfather started by adding her own special touch. She painted herself and her grandfather both smiling and having fun – just the way she remembered spending time with him. It was perfect!

Although death is addressed in this book, don’t let that deter you from reading it to your little ones. Besides, there are other topics to be explored and discussed like: grandparents, art, honoring loved ones, love, courage, and respect.

Overall, I think this is a good, quality book for children, although I would recommend it for children ages 4 – 8 years old. Consider letting the kids snuggle up with a grandparent and read this touching story. Or, if your child’s grandparents have passed away read it in remembrance of them.

Special Grandparent’s Day Deal: The e-book is FREE until Grandparent’s Day on Sunday, 9/13. Get your FREE e-book copy here. Hurry, expires on 9/13!

About the Author
Josh Armstrong is a bereavement counselor for Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care. This year, he published his first illustrated children’s book, Picture of Grace, collaborating with Tear Soup illustrator Taylor Bills. He has also contributed to several newspapers, including The Mount Airy News, The Winston-Salem Journal, The Elkin Tribune and The Weekly Independent. He and wife Chelsea celebrated their third anniversary this March.

For more information about the book or the author please visit the website: http://josharmstrong.com/
Picture of Grace is also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/picofgrace

Your turn: Did you enjoy this book review? How will you be celebrating Grandparent’s Day with your little ones? Feel free to share in the comments below.

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Book Reviews

September 3, 2015

Mrs. G

Destiny: Step Into Your Purpose (A Book Review)

Destiny: Step Into Your Purpose
by T.D. Jakes

Book Summary
In this book, T.D. Jakes teaches you to find order in the steps of your life and have the courage to say yes to destiny. We all have a destiny. Finding the courage to drive past the challenges, pains, and even the shortcuts of life to the deeper purpose of living is to thrive in one’s divine destiny.

Most people have sensed destiny pulling them to just the right place or person. Whether it is the spouse you meet, or the children you bear, or the promotion you receive, everyone has a purpose to pursue. Sometimes it is understanding our destiny that helps us accept what on the surface appears to be failure.

Throughout the book, T.D. Jakes shares insight to help you play the roles you were designed for. Expanding on his #1 bestselling book Instinct, Jakes reveals that instinct is the first step to the destiny that awaits.

Author Background
Thomas Dexter, better known as Bishop T.D. Jakes, has turned his lifelong love of Scripture into a thriving empire that has inspired millions of people around the world. Jakes is the bishop of The Potter House, a megachurch with over 30,000 members. His ministry program, The Potter’s Touch, is televised to 3.3 million viewers weekly.

If you’ve never heard of him before, I think T.D. Jakes can be best described as one of the most influential black thought leaders in America today. With his very charismatic demeanor, he’s a visionary and provocative thinker. Jakes is also a communicator, evangelist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and bestselling author of over 25 books.

Reflection
To say that I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. I truly LOVED this book! It spoke to the very depths of my soul and came into my life at the perfect time. I devoured this book in just two days while on a mini family vacation over the summer.

The book starts out with Jakes recounting a conversation he had on an elevator with the late Coretta Scott King several years ago during her last days. He asked her why she never remarried and she said, “I was called to be his wife”. It was in those moments after his interaction with Mrs. King that Jakes began to ponder about his own destiny. Hence, he wrote this amazing book to help others clear their paths of distractions and disruptions and get on the path to destiny.

This is the first book I’ve read that was written by T.D. Jakes. The thing I noticed right away was his writing style. It’s exactly like his speaking style…straight and to the point. No sugar coating. As I was reading the book, it felt like he was right there in the room preaching a private sermon to me. It might sound funny, but I could actually hear his voice in my head as I read each word.

Throughout the book, Jakes shares stories of some of the challenges and setbacks he faced throughout his life while traveling on the path to his destiny. He tells readers to get their relationships, money, and thoughts in step with their destiny and pull away from visionless people who have no plans for their future. He also urges you to pour into relationships that pour into you and discusses the importance of being intentional about the people you are connected to.

There are so many great nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout this book that I took note of. Here are just a few:

Leave behind small thinking and think big – always go above and beyond.
Stop allowing minor thoughts to occupy your mind.
If you pray for an oak tree, God will send you an acorn because things can come from small beginnings. Don’t throw the acorn away because your tree is the seed. God works through the agricultural principle of planting a seed and reaping a harvest.
There are times when emptiness is needed so that God can be allowed to fill a void.
God can use disorder to create a new order in your life.
Be determined to invest in yourself despite delays, setbacks, and sidetracks.
The most important things in life require struggle.
Destiny becomes reality when you partner with God. Be open to listening to God.
Let God fight the battles you can’t win for yourself.
Add someone you your life who is smarter, more knowledgeable or accomplished than you and learn from them.
To expand your knowledge and exposure in life, let go of the easy and familiar.
Be careful with the gift of time. Every day is a withdrawal from the bank of time.
Don’t spend your time obsessing about what others are doing. Don’t be jealous.
Declare there is more inside you yet to be discovered and focus your attention on getting it.
The journey to destiny requires a curious mind.
Gain knowledge from unlikely sources. Knowledge comes from all types of people and sources.

Although there were some points in this book I’ve heard other motivational speakers say before, they weren’t articulated quite the same way that T.D. Jakes said them. His matter-of-fact tone really resonated with me.

Throughout each revealing chapter, Jakes shares how stepping into his purpose got him where he is today. He is also transparent about a few of the mistakes he made along the way, what he learned from each and how he overcame them.

I really felt T.D. Jakes’s charismatic personality shine through in each chapter as he unfolded each topic with lots of colorful anecdotes and high-paced energy. Overall, I think this is one of the most inspirational and motivational books I’ve read in a while. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is ready to discover how to step into their God given destiny and purpose in life. I think this book is an excellent blue print that outlines the steps you need to take to reach your destiny. A winner!

Your turn: Have you read this book yet? Have you figured out your destiny and purpose in life yet? If so, what is it? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews

August 25, 2015

Mrs. G

El Perro con Sombrero: A Book Review

El Perro con Sombrero: A Bilingual Doggy Tale
by Derek Taylor Kent

Summary
Pepe is a lonely street dog without a home or a loving family. When a strong wind blows a sombrero onto his head, people begin to take notice of the pup, and soon he and his sombrero are making movies and receiving letters from fans every day. Although Pepe now has fame and fortune, he has no family to call his own. When the jealous cat with purple shoes (el gato en zapatos) hatches a plan to take away Pepe’s hat—and the fame it brings—a chase through streets, weddings, and movie theaters ensues, ending with the cat cornered in a playground sandbox. Just as Pepe is about to get his sombrero back, a family nearby takes notice of him, and the little girl asks if they can take him home. Pepe looks at the family and at the cat holding the hat that made him so famous and tells el gato he can keep the sombrero. Pepe finally finds the precious love he has been seeking.

Reflection
This is the first bilingual book I’ve added to the kid’s home library so I’m thrilled about that! I plan to start introducing both of my children to Spanish somewhere between the ages of 3 and 4 years old, so having this book in my possession now is a treat!

The first time I sat down to read this book with the kids they were confused whenever I read the Spanish text. I’m sure they were wondering what I was saying as that was the first time they heard me read full sentences to them in Spanish. Since then, I’ve read the book several more times and now they seem to understand the word “perro” means dog, “gato” means cat and “zapatos” means shoes in Spanish. I think they learned this so quickly because the book has a page where each of those words appear in both English and Spanish along with pictures right next to them.

I was even surprised when my daughter, who is almost 3 years-old, pointed to some money and said “dinero”, the Spanish word for money. One thing I’ve witnessed during my parenting journey is just how amazing little minds are. They can grasp so much more than we give them credit for.

This book keeps the children engaged and entertained as they listen. There are a couple of pages that make them laugh out loud, which in turn makes me laugh. The illustrations definitely help make this story come alive. You can feel the sadness that Pepe feels in the beginning, the sheer joy he feels when he finally finds a family in the end, and the sadness “el gato” feels when he’s left all alone in the sandbox.

There were a few things I personally liked about this book. First, I think Pepe is so cute and when he puts that over-sized sombrero on he looks even more adorable! It really does make him look like a movie star. What a difference a sombrero can make!

Next, I liked that each page has English text with the translated Spanish text written in red right below it. I think by having the Spanish text in a different color it makes it easier to read. Parents and children can choose to either read only the English text, only the Spanish text, or both the English and Spanish text.

I also enjoyed the story line and the overall message of the book. I think it’s simple enough for children to understand even for younger readers. This book will teach children that having a having a family and being loved is more important than fame, acceptance, and possessions. Other topics touched upon are feelings, jealousy, and friendship. Learning a few words in Spanish is an added extra bonus.

Lastly, the ending adds an element of both suspense and surprise when you find out what happened to “el gato”, the cat. I think it really helps to drive the moral of the story home.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and the kids seem to enjoy it too. I think it’s a fantastic read aloud book, especially for children learning Spanish. I’ll definitely be reading more bilingual books to the kids after reading this.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Derek Taylor Kent is a screenwriter and the author of the award-winning middle-grade series Scary School. He lives in Los Angeles with his greyhound puppy, Zander, whose nose for mischief was the real-life inspiration for El Perro con Sombrero.

For more information about the book or the author please visit derektaylorkent.com or check out the Facebook fan page.

Your turn: Did you enjoy this review? Have you ever read any bilingual books to your little ones? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Book Reviews

August 20, 2015

Mrs. G

Heave Ho! – A Book Review

Book Title: Heave Ho!
Author: José Lucio

Summary
Heave Ho! is a children’s book about teamwork and outside-the-box thinking. When a cheerful little worm pops his head up above ground, he is surprised and grabbed by a hungry bird. The worm must get help from his other worm friends, but the bird has help too…which leads to an intense tug-of-war battle. The battle goes on until the worms are losing ground no matter how hard they try, which leads one worm to come up with a new idea!

Reflection
When I was asked to review this book by the author himself, I was thrilled! I was immediately drawn to the concept and overall message of the book from the brief summary he sent me.

The kids really seemed to enjoy this story and they loved playing with the little worm stickers that were included. They had fun counting the number of worms each time a new one joined in on the tug-of-war battle between the worms vs. all of the other animals. The kids also laughed out loud when the fifth worm came up with an idea to end the tug-of-war that sent all of the animals flying into the air.

The text is simple enough for my two-year old daughter to read on her own from start to finish. The kids love saying the phrase, “Heave Ho!” each time it’s repeated throughout the book.

The illustrations are simple and wonderful, especially the expressions on the animals’ faces. You can really tell what they are feeling and thinking throughout the story. The question marks and the light bulb illustrations add a bit of suspense to the book and serve as excellent prompts to ask children what they think is going to happen next before turning each page.

This book is durable and printed on quality semi-gloss card stock paper, which is perfect for younger readers who may be prone to ripping book pages.

Overall, I believe this makes for a good read aloud book for smaller children ages 1 – 6 years old. They will learn about topics like: teamwork, problem-solving, friendship, outside-the-box thinking, persistence, feelings and helping.

For more information about the book or author please visit http://www.joselucio.com.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Your turn: Did you enjoy this review? Have you read this book to your little ones yet? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Love Thy Fro by Casey Elisha: A Book Review

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Monster Trouble: A Book Review

Picture of Grace: A Book Review

Destiny: Step Into Your Purpose (A Book Review)

El Perro con Sombrero: A Book Review

Heave Ho! – A Book Review

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