Tag Archives: children’s book

April 4, 2023 · 7:00 am

The Adventures of the World Patrol Kids by Ben Goldstein (Book Review)


Strange things are happening in town. Mysterious accidents are occurring at the Recycling Center and hazardous wastes are washing ashore on the beach. When the beaches are closed for the summer due to the dumping of medical waste, the “World Patrol Kids” decide to track down who is responsible.

“The Adventures of the World Patrol Kids” features a multi-ethnic, crime-solving, environmental kids singing and dancing group, (ages 10-14) that take on polluters, climate change, and traffickers in endangered species.

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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.

 

Six brave kids, fourteen years of age and younger, have taken it upon themselves to figure out who’s illegally dumping poisonous chemicals into the ocean. Their mission began after they saw plastic washing ashore during a day at the beach. The trash that flowed in the water and covered the beach was potentially hazardous. Ten-year-old Thoreau was unexpectedly cut by the dangerous plastic and needed medical assistance. 

During a town hall meeting, the citizens had the opportunity to let their voices be heard about the closure and how to fix the contaminated water and beach. Many were angry over the closure and thought fixing the problem was too costly. Some opted to burn the trash than recycle. They didn’t seem to mind that it would cause more harm to the environment. The World Patrol Kids did care, and with a handful of volunteers, they went to clean up the beach. It’s at this point that readers will learn a valuable lesson. Tracey tells her friends in the book and readers at home why you should always cut up the plastic ring supporting soda cans and bottles. After reading the story, I implore you to follow Tracey’s example! 

As the kids band together to find the culprits behind the illegal dumping, lives come into jeopardy: on land and under the sea. We see how far some people will go for money. 

I’m unsure how the team found time to write a song for the WW101 Earth Day Contest, but they did. The event enabled them to attend a special Earth Day Special in Kenya, Africa, where the plot went from pollution to poaching. Poaching is a tremendous problem, so I was glad to see this addressed. Children need to realize that humans are causing harm to the animal population under the sea and on land. Humans are also the only ones who can rectify the disastrous situation.

As your family reads The Adventures of the World Patrol Kids: Kids Can Change the World by Ben Goldstein, you’ll learn the importance of recycling and how the process works. You will see the importance of protecting all animals, endangered or not. Thanks to the World Patrol Kids, you’ll also experience many moments of suspense and learn a new catchy tune.

The messages behind the story are ones that every child should learn. I would recommend this book for elementary school age and older.

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

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Meet the Author

Ben Goldstein has written, produced, and directed, books, songs, films, and audio and video productions for such companies as Sesame Street, Jim Henson, Holt Rhinehart, Nelvana, CBS, and Scholastic. He has written for licensed characters, Clifford the Dog, Snuggle the Bear, and Rainbow Brite.

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March 23, 2023 · 7:00 am

Grandma’s Kitchen by Tricia Gardella (Book Review)

 

 


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

 

Most grandchildren share a similar memory of working alongside a grandparent in the kitchen. In Grandma’s Kitchen by Tricia Gardella, Grandma’s oldest granddaughter had been quite the helper during past canning seasons, but now it’s time to include her little sister, Monica. The older sister is reluctant to have Monica join them. She believes her baby sister is too little. Oh boy, Monica proved her older sister wrong!

Through beautiful illustrations, we watch the two young girls and their grandmother pick a few buckets of tomatoes from the garden. We watch them separate them into two piles and learn the reasoning behind the step. After the sorting, it’s time to prepare the tomatoes for their new home: glass jars. You can expect to get a little messy whether you are canning tomatoes whole or making jars of tomato sauce. My advice, goggles! I’m sure Monica will ask for a pair before next year’s canning season. While the process is messy and hard work, it can be loads of fun too. For instance, my kids find turning the crank fun and love watching the crushed tomatoes ooze out at the end. The sisters in the educational picture book did as well! 

Grandma makes the whole process an exciting event. She is calm and patient with them, allows them to taste the fruit of their labor (tomato juice), and even finds the energy to dance a jig. Wow, their grandmother has more energy than me. 

The fabulous thing about canning is that you don’t need a humungous kitchen. All you need is a garden item(s) to can (purchase or grow your own), cans (glass jars), and a few kitchen staples, such as pots, strainers, and pantry items. Grandma’s are optional, but an adult is necessary due to potential hazards to little hands: hot stove and boiling water. 

With grandma’s guidance, children will learn how to can tomatoes: picking, sorting, seasoning, cooking the fruit, washing, and storing the cans. This book will encourage children to try canning fruit and other items.  

I recommend this story to 4 years of age and older. 

 

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

 
 
 
Meet the Author

Tricia’s books are influenced by ranch, animals and family life. She has tried it all, and almost mastered some: canning, cooking, knitting, fiber arts, rug-making, gardening. She has a BA in Ancient History and lots of grand children, giving her much food for thought. She lives in California.
 
 
 
 

 

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March 15, 2023 · 7:00 am

Piki Goes Flying by Joan M Hellquist (Book Review)

Piki Goes Flying is a beautifully illustrated, entertaining, educational and fun story for children about Piki’s first flights on an airplane. It is the second in a series of three adventure books about Piki (rhymes with sneaky), a Service Dog. Our mischievous and independent friend, Piki, again tells her own story and just because she is a well-trained Service Dog and is flying with her person, Joan, doesn’t mean she isn’t full of questions and opinions about all of the rules they must follow. Children will love Piki’s quirky antics before, during the flight and getting off the plane. She is very proud to be the only one on the plane to receive a gift from a special person, but Piki adds that she was the only one on the plane who didn’t get one of those tiny bags of treats!

In Piki’s first book, Piki Goes to College, the story of her training to be a Service Dog, there was information about Service Dogs making it educational for both adults and children. In Piki Goes Flying, Joan includes up to date information including rules and regulations from the U. S. Department of Transportation and airlines about traveling on a plane with a Service Dog.

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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.

 

Piki Goes Flying is the second in a series of three adventure books about Piki (rhymes with sneaky), a Service Dog, by author and illustrator Joan M Hellquist. In this under-50-page tale, we follow Piki as she takes her first airplane flight. We see the adventure through the eyes of the canine. 

Service dogs are vital to many individuals’ mental and physical well-being. They come in different sizes and breeds, requiring exceptional training to complement their owner’s wants and needs. They are introduced to various scenarios and locations, acclimating themselves to whatever situations might arise. 

Piki was preparing for their first flight, which entailed Joan (trainer and owner) prepping them before stepping onto a plane. The process was enlightening. Joan set up rows of chairs, simulating aisles on an aircraft. After Piki grew comfortable navigating the rows and listening to commands on the flight simulator, they headed inside a local airport. There, I learned how escalators are hazardous to a dog’s nails. I never saw them as a threat to animals; I do now. 

Airports are busy, loud, and crowded, and animals must be prepared for the hustle and bustle they will encounter. Being a service dog means they must be hyper-vigilant to an owner’s every need. I found it cute how Joan and Piki conversed with each other, as we all do with our furbabies. We watched as Piki went through a metal detection screening and received wings from the Captain. Joan M Hellquist did a lovely job explaining to Piki and readers at home the role of a captain, what TSA means, and what the three-letter code on our baggage ticket means. 

Piki was quiet as a church mouse throughout the entire flight. They became a bit vocal when they touched down, but that only made them more endearing. 

After the charming story, the author included questions and answers to help young readers gain insight into a few areas featured in the story. For example, Tiki explains why participating in the “Lawn Chair Squeeze” was essential to elevating fears of flight. You really do not want an animal panicking thousands of feet in the air. 

Piki Goes Flying serves dual purposes. It entertains and educates listeners. Joan includes up-to-date information about traveling on a plane with a Service Dog, including rules and regulations from the U. S. Department of Transportation and airlines (found in the book’s final pages). 

I loved the story and the cute pictures of all the furry animals: Teddy, Piki, and their doggie cousins (Boomer and Ender). It’s perfect for ages four and older. 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Joan grew up in Summit, NJ and has lived in New Mexico since 1988. She is retired from healthcare, but continues to pursue her artwork and writing. Joan’s loves include children, animals, the wilderness, traditional music, travel and singing loudly while listening to music while alone in her car.

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March 12, 2023 · 7:00 am

TAG YOU’RE IT! by Jonathan Barnett (Book Review)

Tag for this father and daughter is definitely more than just a game. An exciting story for children and adults alike, Tag, You’re It explores life’s ups and downs through a simple game that’s been enjoyed through the ages. As father and daughter enjoy their nightly routine of playing tag, the conflict caused by ending the game each night, and the insight that can be gained, is celebrated in something as simple as a game of tag.

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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.

 

When I was younger, I recall playing two variations of tag every day on the playground: original and freeze. I had all the energy in the world and never wanted recess to end. Fast forward to adulthood, and I’m playing the game with my children, like the father in the story Tag You’re It! by Jonathan Tyler Barnett. 

Children grow up too fast; before you know it, they’ll want to hang out with their friends instead of their parents. Or, they’ll be off to work or college. Or they are starting a family of their own. Tag You’re It! shows how a father makes the most of his child’s younger years. It also shows how exhausting it is to keep up with a child who seems to have a tank full of gas 24-7. Kids are always on the move indoors and outdoors once they take their first step. I can empathize with the dad’s need to sit down and request a change in games. I was tired just watching them run around their home.

I adored the illustrations by Penny Weber. They truly brought the story to life. I could practically hear Sadie’s infectious giggle as her father chased after her. The father and daughter love each other very much, which shows in the adorable drawings. It’s also apparent in the images that the mom loves watching these two play together. As a mom, I also love watching my children play with their dad. 

Tag You’re It! was a true delight to read. The story’s core was only twenty-two pages short, making it the perfect size read for toddlers through four years of age. This story would also be an ideal choice for beginning readers. 

Your child will love the story and acting it out, too. In other words, get ready to read and run! 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Jonathan Tyler Barnett, self-published author of IngramSparks currently sells rank #1 in JUVENILE NONFICTION / Family / Multigenerational children/picture book titled “Tag You’re It!” Emergency RN, Father, Author, and Player of Tag!

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March 9, 2023 · 7:00 am

Baby Zebu’s Ears by Alana Zimmerman (Book Review)

 

What makes us different makes us important.

Baby Zebu is a little different from the other cows on the farm. Some would say it’s a pity, but to Zebu, it’s just part of his happy life!
And, as all the animals will soon find out, Zebu’s flaw is much more special than it seems.

Read a book and DO GOOD: A portion of your purchase will be donated to the Iowa Farm Sanctuary which is devoted to giving neglected and abused farm animals a second chance at a happy life. Help us do more good by reading the next books in the series!

 

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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.

 

Baby Zebu entered this world looking slightly different than the other calves; his ears were pinned back. For weeks, his mother unsuccessfully tried to free them. Zebu tried with all their might too. The other animals soon realized even though Zebu looked different, that didn’t make Zebu any less lovable, friendly, or playful. Zebu came to accept who they were and how they looked. We should teach our children this lesson while they are young and reinforce it as they grow! 

Zebu explored the meadow, taking in all the colorful sights, sounds, and smells. In his exploration, he noticed something strange but extraordinary; his pinned ears amplified his hearing. He could now hear sounds miles away and far below the ground. 

His newly discovered superpower alerted him when a nasty storm was brewing, unlike any he’d seen before. Zebu tried to warn his friends and family, but no one would listen. Children will empathize with Zebu’s plight of not being heard. Sometimes small voices get overshadowed by louder ones, or the person they are talking to is too busy to listen. 

Many children, especially in certain parts of the U.S., are very familiar with tornados, their destructive powers, their roar, their imposing size, and the importance of seeking shelter when one has touched down. Whether you read this book at school, the library, or at home, I encourage you to review and practice your tornado preparedness plan with your young listeners. Tornados are scary, and a solid plan in motion will create less chaos during an overwhelming and frightening experience. 

Luckily, every animal in the meadow survived the turbulent winds and thanked Zebu for saving them. This story reinforces that it’s okay to be different. It doesn’t make you any less helpful or important. Your difference might give you an advantage over others, like a superpower.

Baby Zebu’s Ears by Alana Zimmerman had words and phrases that might be too complex for toddlers and preschoolers: mottled, basked, billowing, and tentative steps firmer. However, the illustrations were bright and eye-catching, and they explained precisely what was happening in the story. 

I think all elementary school children will enjoy listening to the story. I would encourage those living in tornado prone areas to share Baby Zebu’s Ears with their children and remember to go over your tornado emergency plan.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

I loved reading as a child, so much so that the giant box of books that was loaned to my family I would repeatedly try to sleep in hoping to be closer to the books I loved. That love of reading grew into a full fledged adult passion and writing a children’s book was something I dreamed of doing.

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