Tag Archives: children’s book

Your Friend, Brainy by Natalie Izzi (Book Review)

Meet your new friend, Brainy! Brainy is a fun-loving brain who’s excited to guide you on a journey to explore how your brain works, why we experience big emotions, and how we can support our brain when those feelings arise.

This playful and insightful book empowers children to better understand their brains and gives them simple, easy ways to regulate their emotions using neuroscience. Come along with Brainy for an adventure into the science of feelings!

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Watch the book trailer!

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Our brain is a complex organ with many working parts. Think of it as a supercomputer for your body. It regulates everything your body does thanks to a specific section or part of it. Your brain controls your emotions and movement, tells your heart to beat, stores your memories, and so much more. In Your Friend, Brainy, readers step inside Brainy’s house to learn about three important parts of their brain: the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus.

The first stop on the tour is the amygdala. Before kids learn its function, they discover how to pronounce this strange word: UH-MIG-DUH-LUH. Since the word appears many times in the story, I would mark the page in case young readers forget how to say this “super big word.” On the tour, Brainy teaches readers more than how to say the word. We discover which nut it’s shaped like and how it’s responsible for our feelings, especially the BIG ones.

Brainy informs kids that even though our brains have many parts with designated functions, they must and do help each other out. This leads kids into the next room of the brain tour, the prefrontal cortex, two big words that the author made learning about fun. It’s not every day you see a big brain wearing sunglasses and sneakers while chillin’ out in a cat cafe. This harmonious place was also called the Zen den and the chill grill, so choose which area your prefrontal cortex would visit to help calm the emotions created by the amygdala. Share those with the class!

Like in the last room, aka the amygdala, the author carefully and expertly explains how the prefrontal cortex can calm down those BIG feelings and quiet the internal blaring alarm, and it all starts with you and taking a deep breath. Yes, kids will become active participants in the story, helping them retain the information and (hopefully) recall it when needed. Brainy points out that controlling your breathing is not the only way to calm yourself down. There was a lovely picture collage featuring kids doing what makes them happy, such as talking to someone they love or watching a show that makes them smile. Happy faces on, we enter the last room on the brain tour: the hippocampus. I loved the wordplay and illustration, playfully acknowledging that despite its name, no, a hippo isn’t walking around on your brain. However, this part of your brain is responsible for learning and remembering. It also helps with feelings and memories.

Each part of the brain is remarkable, but they rely on each other every day. Through Your Friend, Brainy, kids learn that even our brains need the power of teamwork to work properly. I recommend adding this delightful and entertaining story to your SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) curriculum. Help kids ages 4 years and up understand how fantastic our brains are and the vital work the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus do through easy-to-understand text brought to them by a humorous and wonderful host, Brainy.

Brainy wrote a sweet thank you letter to readers. Please take a moment to read it and carry out their small request. (Read the story for more info.)

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤1/2
(4.5 stars rounded to 5)

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Meet the Author

Author Natalie Izzi has a Masters in Education and brings 12 years of experience in teaching children and adults the art of self-regulation through a unique blend of neuroscience, mindfulness, and restorative practices.

She founded and led The Enlightened Schools Project, a professional development company dedicated to bringing her program to a variety of districts, universities, classrooms, and homes.

Currently, Natalie continues her work in public education, where she teaches Kindergarten and leads social-emotional learning initiatives for her district in Phoenixville, PA.

This is her debut children’s book, which integrates many of the most effective strategies she’s discovered for helping children develop the skills to self-regulate.

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Happy Bumble Bee by Ngoc K. Schmidt (Book Review)

Have you ever wondered what a day of a bumble bee is like?

He wakes up from his nice long sleep, he takes a shower (maybe?), and he flies out of his cozy nest to look for flowers.

On the way, he also meets many friends. If it rains, he will find shelter so his little wings can stay dry.

He works hard all day as a pollinator, bringing lives and happiness to all the plants, crops, animals and people.

This is a happy and colorful book about a round little bumble bee and his joyful, hardworking day that will bring a smile on your face.

 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 

Are you curious about how a bee spends their day? If so, Ngoc K. Schmidt has crafted a beautifully illustrated storybook that entertains and educates. It provides kids with an inside look into the daily life of bumble bees, making it a valuable and informative addition to any young reader’s library.

We first say hello to the insect as they show us their home, a hive hanging firmly from a tree branch. Next, we are amazed to discover a bee takes a shower every day. Who knew?! The illustration featuring the bee washing up was extremely adorable. I loved the addition of a rubber duckie. Kids will, too, since many have a similar toy in their tub. I also liked their water source. Nice use of nature!

As the insect goes about their day, it says hi to new friends. These two pages mark a great spot to stop and ask your toddler to name what they see. Sunny weather. Thunderstorms. The busy bee’s day is not over until he finds nectar to make honey, and the moon lights the sky. Bees are not the only pollinators featured in the book. In Happy Bumble Bee, the humble bee mentioned a beautiful winged co-worker who helps them bring life and smiles. (Read the book to discover the answer.)

I loved every colorful page, especially the scene featuring the tired bee napping on a flower. Kids will be excited to see the bee has a snuggle toy. They’ll probably announce what toy or other item they can’t sleep without. As a cat owner, I smiled at the black and white cat, closely watching the snoozing bee. It reminded me of my indoor cats, who love watching and jumping at anything that rests or flies near the windows. Kids will have fun helping the bee hunt for flowers. They’ll laugh as the bee’s powerful sneeze causes a small caterpillar to fly off the purple flower and soar across the page. It was adorable!

Happy Bumble Bee is ideal for babies to five-year-olds. The large, bright drawings will capture the attention of babies and toddlers. Parents can use this book as an educational tool to teach toddlers their colors and practice counting by adding up the flowers and bees. Three- to five-year-olds will also love the images but understand the text more—mainly everything on the “Benefits of Bumble Bee” page. The limited words per page make this a great story to start kids on the independent reading journey.

My love for the story is overflowing, but one item kept nagging at me… Where are the periods? We see commas, exclamation points, quotation marks, and ellipses, but not one period is used at the end of a sentence. I don’t know if this was an oversight or a design choice. However, this minor issue does not detract from the book’s overall readability.

Rain or shine. Bumble bees are hard at work, from the sun’s first light to the moon alerting them it’s night-night time. I recommend reading Happy Bumble Bee and teaching children that we should be thankful for every buzzing bee!

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤1/2 
(4.5 stars, rounded to 5) 

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Meet the Author

Ngoc K. Schmidt is a self-taught illustrator/author who has great love for animals and nature. Her style of art is always considered to be digital color pencil and full of joys and colors. Besides drawing, she is also a polymerclay artist.

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Bobby the Bear Helps Build a Nest: Bobby the Bear, book 2 by Ryan O’Connor (Book Review)

Some things are hard, and they take time to do right. In the second book in the series by Ryan O’Connor, Bobby the Bear teaches his friend Ollie the Owl an important lesson on perseverance using the skills of patience and cooperation. Bobby the Bear books focus on the themes of kindness, respect, positivity, and helping your neighbors. In each story, Bobby guides his forest friends through life’s trials while learning some lessons of his own along the way.

Teachers will appreciate the available free activities and exercises that satisfy basic common core curriculum requirements in math, science, and English language arts.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

We first met Bobby and his forest friends in Bobby the Bear and His Big Surprise, book one in the adorable series. We watched animal friends band together to throw a surprise birthday party for their dear friend, Bobby. In Bobby the Bear Helps Build a Nest, book 2 in the series, Bobby returns the nice gesture and lends a helping paw to his crying friend – Ollie the owlet.

Ollie is in tears because he desperately wants to make a special nest for his sister, but his structions keep breaking. Bobby, being a good friend, offers his assistance. He has never built a nest before but is willing to learn. He understands how important the nest is to Ollie; it’s a thank-you gift to Olive for all the times she’d helped her sibling. Ah, what a sweet, loving gesture!

Bobby and Ollie’s first nest was not a success, which caused Ollie to break down in tears again. Bobby’s comforting words were perfect: “Never give up on something. Some things are hard to do and take many tries to get right.” He also mentioned how it took him five attempts to make it his first bed. Bobby’s correct; we should learn from our mistakes and try again. In the case of the nest, Bobby problem-solved on how to make the nest’s base sturdier. Of course, the two friends continued efforts led them to a secure nest that could hold Ollie and his sister. Success at last!

Happy smiles were all around after the big unveil, and Ollie realized the importance of never giving up. Kids will also learn the value of hard work and the feeling of accomplishment. Bobby the Bear Helps Build a Nest shows the power of kind gestures with its sweet storyline and illustrations. It’s also a powerful reminder of the value of perseverance and the rewards it can bring.

The synopsis states there are free activities and exercises. I didn’t have an opportunity to examine them (I received a free reviewer copy), but I still suggest taking advantage of the free resource material!

Extended activities: Nests are made of different materials. Have your family or class explore birds and the material each uses for their nests. Gather material and build a nest; see which nest can hold the most weight before its base collapses.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Award-winning author and teacher Ryan O’Connor hails from Kansas, where his passion for writing and education developed. Ryan has spent the past fifteen years teaching English to students of all ages in the United States and China. After spending a decade living abroad, Ryan calls Kansas City home.

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Gentle Hugs by Lily Guzmán (Book Review)

Alex treasures the time he spends with Nico, his loyal and curious dog, who is always by his side. Day by day, Alex confides in Nico about his mother’s health challenges, sharing his concerns and hopes. Despite her illness, Alex witnesses the unwavering depth of her love, a love that remains constant, though gentle. This story explores themes of resilience and the quiet strength of love.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Starting at a young age, kids pick up on cues that a friend or loved one isn’t feeling well. They make the connection between a cough or sneeze, which means a person is sick. That doesn’t mean they fully understand why mommy or daddy can’t play with them. In their eyes, parents are superheroes; nothing can keep them down for long. However, what happens when one day becomes two, two becomes three, and so on? Will their young mind understand why their parent isn’t getting better? Will their mood change? Kids are observant; they listen and see more than we realize. They catch whispered conversations. They notice a person is going to the doctor, sometimes a lot. They take notice of changed behavior and appearances. They may not fully grasp the root cause, but they know something isn’t right. That’s why we must include kids in the conversations and reassure them that they can talk to us about their feelings and that we’ll answer all their questions to the best of our ability.

Lily Guzmán beautifully explained what was happening to Alex’s mom and allowed us to view her “not-so-good days” through his eyes. When mom had a fever, Alex compared her body to the sun. A simile that kids of many ages can comprehend. When his mom was too tired to read a bedtime story, Alex explained to his best friend and dog, Nico, that he knew his mommy still loved them because she checked on them while they slept.

Love. Whether mom’s skin felt like it was being stung by a hundred ants or her legs felt like big balloons, Alex knew his mother loved him. Even when Alex couldn’t receive big bear hugs, he reassured himself and his furry companion that Mommy still loved them. Sickness can come in short-term bursts or long-hard battles. Our job is to share with our kid(s) what we believe they can handle at their age and reassure them that, through it all, they are loved. This story is an excellent demonstration of both.

Gentle Hugs is a touching picture book showing how love can be expressed, not only with words but also with our actions. The book is filled with lovely illustrations that vividly depict Alex’s journey and his mother’s battle with an illness. The heartwarming storyline moved me. I teared up at Alex’s observations and how he never once doubted his mother’s love. I recommend sharing this story with your child, especially if someone close to them is battling a health issue. It’s a beautifully crafted storybook that’ll leave a lasting impression on every reader, young or old.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤1/2
(rounded to 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads)

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Lily Guzmán is a physician specializing in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, currently based in Puerto Rico. Born and raised on the island, she spent a formative period in Miami, Florida, where she trained to become a Rheumatologist. Her passion for medicine stems from a deep desire to improve the lives of her patients, particularly those living with chronic pain.

Outside of her medical practice, she cherishes time with her family and her beloved dog, Nico. It was the comfort and companionship she found in Nico, along with the resilience of her patients facing chronic pain, that inspired her to write Gentle Hugs. The book serves as a heartfelt reminder that empathy and compassion, like any other qualities, need daily care to thrive.

Through her writing, she hopes to offer comfort and support to families facing similar challenges, particularly those affected by chronic illness. Gentle Hugs helps children understand the emotional complexities of having a loved one who struggles with health issues, while also reminding readers of all ages that love, empathy, and care can endure even on tough days. Lily hopes the book encourages a deeper sense of kindness and compassion in everyone who reads it.

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Bobby the Bear and the Great Race by Ryan O’Connor (Book Review)

“We all want to win, but we must never cheat.” In a world growing ever more competitive, people sometimes will do anything to win, even if it means sacrificing a friendship. In the third book in the Bobby the Bear series, Bobby the Bear and the Great Race explores the important themes of sportsmanship and integrity. Bobby and his forest friends decide to hold a community-wide race to find out who is the fastest animal in the forest, and the event turns dramatic. Tanya the Tiger learns in a showdown with Rachel Rabbit that winning is not always the most important thing. The results of the race will prove that playing fairly and honestly is the way to preserve trust in a friendship.
 
 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 

It’s human nature to want to win. We strive to be the best and bask in the euphoric high of being crowned champion. While many people train or follow the rules, there are those whose need to prevail victorious can lead them to cheat. The third book in the Bobby the Bear series, Bobby the Bear and the Great Race, focuses on one animal who veered off the path and took a shortcut to victory and how their friends reacted when they discovered the truth. The picture book explores sportsmanship, integrity, and doing what’s right. Three qualities that shape how we handle ourselves in various situations.

Bobby the Bear and his friends are enjoying a sunny day in the forest when the topic comes up about who their group’s fastest animal is. Not every animal claimed to be the fastest, but only Tanya the Tiger was laughed at for proclaiming she was the quickest. The snickering could affect someone’s mood or actions; in Tanya’s case, the laughter caused them to make a wrong decision in the race. The smiling tiger took a shortcut to ensure they crossed the finish line first, needing to win so badly after the animals laughed at her.

Ready. Set. Go. Bobby the Bear and the Great Race is a remarkable story for blossoming independent readers. Through easy-to-read text, young kids learn that everyone would like to win, but no one can win every time. The lovely book informs kids that cheating is wrong and can affect friendships; the deceitful act might end a friendship permanently. Though losing can be hard, it can and will happen to us all. It’s important to be a good sport and try again next time.

Tanya the Tiger’s initial actions were wrong, but, in the end, she made the right decision and apologized for cheating. Tanya’s tale teaches kids to play fair, be a good sport, and try their best. It also shows the effects laughing at someone can have. Remember, be kind and supportive of one another!

I strongly recommend adding Bobby the Bear and the Great Race to your library. It teaches invaluable lessons for kids three and up. It’s also a visual delight for babies and toddlers, making it a must-have for any young reader’s collection.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Award-winning author and teacher Ryan O’Connor hails from Kansas, where his passion for writing and education developed. Ryan has spent the past fifteen years teaching English to students of all ages in the United States and China. After spending a decade living abroad, Ryan calls Kansas City home.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

 

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