Tag Archives: early readers

May 25, 2026 · 7:00 am

Get Through This Book by Brett Rumfelt (Book Spotlight)

A sweet, fun-filled debut for fans of Oliver Jeffers, BJ Novak, and Jon Klassen about perseverance and the joy of reading. Recently awarded a Readers’ Favorite 5-star review!

Some books just seem boring.

But then once you get into a good one, all kinds of things can happen. However, there is really only one way to get through a book.

Help our green friend as he tries and tries to get through this book until he finally figures out the correct way to do it. A lively and interactive read-aloud, Get Through This Book will fill kids with delight in the enjoyment that reading can bring. And they may just want to read it again, and again, and…

Perfect for bedtime, classroom, car rides, the beach, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and pretty much everywhere anytime, Get Through This Book is available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and coloring book versions.

“Readers who enjoy humorous read-aloud stories, interactive picture books, and self-aware storytelling will find plenty to enjoy in Brett Rumfelt’s creative work. It’s an excellent resource for elementary teachers to inspire young students to read.”
– Readers’ Favorite

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Meet the Author

 

Brett Rumfelt is a dad from the Atlanta area who used to create original picture books just for his own kids, to make reading more interactive and fun for them. But now that they’re messy teenagers and into bigger books, he’s sharing those picture books with you. Learn more at brettrumfelt.com

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May 18, 2026 · 7:00 am

Mama Sheep and the Big Cruise Day Checklist by Carlie Guerrier (Book Review)

Mama Sheep has her checklist ready for the family’s first big cruise!

She’s packed, planned, and prepared for everything… or so she thinks.

With three playful lambs, a helpful Daddy Sheep, and plenty of bags to carry, things don’t go quite as planned.

A funny, lighthearted story about family, teamwork, and learning to laugh when things go a little off course.

Perfect for ages 3-7!

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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.

 

Family vacation prep can be stressful. There’s finding a pet and/or house sitter, packing, getting to your departure place on time, and remembering your identification and tickets. Mama Sheep has the fix to ensure everything goes off smoothly and nothing is forgotten; she’s created “The Big Cruise Day Checklist.” Mama Sheep methodically goes through the list with her family, making sure nothing is overlooked. Pack something special. Check, even though one child’s choice was a risky item for a ship! Put the suitcases in the taxi. Check! Deliver the pet and plants to the sitters. Check and check! Make sure you have the tickets! Check! Mama Sheep checks the list more than once, and everything seems to be in order. Now, it’s smooth sailing from here, right? Wrong!

No matter how well families prepare for a vacation, there’s always that one thing they forget. Maybe even a multiple of things! Ask your kid(s) to guess what they think the sheep family forgot before the story’s big unveiling. Teachers, also ask your class to share if they or their family ever forgot something for a trip. Mama Sheep took the missing vacation item(s) rather well, but it prompted her to add a new item to her vacation checklist: a very important item no one wants to overlook! (No spoilers!)

Mama Sheep and the Big Cruise Day Checklist was a fun read. Kids will enjoy watching the Sheep family prepare for a cruise. Parents and Educators will love that the story offers opportunities for group discussions and is also pleasing to the eye. The various animals in human clothing were cute, and so were the sheep’s heart-shaped noses. Kids as young as 2 will love the illustrations, but 3- to 7-year-olds will be more inclined to guess what was left behind and share their own vacation mishap memories. I encourage you to read Mama Sheep and the Big Cruise Day Checklist and Mama Sheep and the Mysterious Cup!

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

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Meet the Author

Since her teenage years, Carlie Guerrier has had a deep passion for writing, finding both joy and comfort in storytelling. When she’s not bringing stories to life, she loves cooking delicious meals for her family and enjoying quality time together.

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May 8, 2026 · 7:00 am

Laggie and Grillo: The Sea Glass Mystery by Phyllis Schwartz (Book Review)

Fifth grade poet Yoshi and her two curious critters, Laggie and Grillo are back!

Something mysterious washes up on their hometown beach in the beautiful surf town of Encinitas, California.

“Mommy and Laggie and Grillo and me,
trying to find our beloved sea glass by the sea.

Blue and green and turquoise and gold—
it’s a mystery tale that’s never been told.”

There are lots of twists and turns as they try to answer the question: Is it sea glass or a real gem?

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


Yoshi and her two critter companions are back; this time, they are putting their detective hats on to solve a mystery of who the sea glass belongs to. Pirate? Explorer? Sailor in love or thief? Wager a guess and then read the story to discover who the owner of the heart-shaped sea glass is. 


Laggie and Grillo: The Sea Glass Mystery is a cute detective story, with many positive qualities. The story demonstrates the power of teamwork and determination. It also shows that help comes in all forms and from the unlikeliest characters, as was the case with the lizard and the cricket. In addition, the story incorporates interesting facts about the beach town of Encinitas, California, the story’s setting. Read the story to discover who wrote a VERY popular song about the wonderful waves at Swami’s Beach. Read the story to discover how to say, “small lizard” and “cricket” in Spanish and what Yoshi’s cat’s name, Ketzeleh, means in Yiddish. The book also features pages dedicated to the five jewels mentioned in the story and the Sea Glass Cookie recipe. If that wasn’t all, the author included a tune sung to an old sea shanty “Sailing, Sailing.” If you are like me and don’t know the old tune, I would advise looking it up so your family or class can sing “Laggie and Grillo’s Detective Victory Song” to the right beat.

Laggie and Grillo: The Sea Glass Mystery is a book worth reading time and time again. It’s interactive, educational, and visually very cute. Just wait until you see pirate Grillo! ADORABLE!! 

I recommend this book for readers ages 4-8! I also recommend reading the author’s other creations. Oh, I 100% recommend baking up a batch of the Sea Glass Cookies! Yuuuuummmmm! 


Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤️❤️❤️❤️1/2

(It will be rounded to 5 on Amazon and Goodreads.)

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Meet the Author

Phyllis Schwartz is a married mother of two, who, after a highly successful career in the TV news business, finally has the time to indulge in and focus on her “civilian” writing. Even as a kid, she kept a diary and wrote little stories and poems, a creative release that continued well into adulthood. She wrote news by day and poetry by night. And despite battling three different types of cancer over more than three decades, she is still filled with energy, joy, and optimism, and she looks forward to writing much more poetry and children’s books in the future. Her writing often centers on what she observes daily: including her friends, husband, and two children, as well as her garden and her beautiful beach town residence in dreamy Encinitas, all providing continued inspiration for her verse.

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FB/Insta: phyllischwartz_author

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April 13, 2026 · 7:00 am

The Land of Nod by Jimmy Vee (Book Review)

A rhyming bedtime book that keeps bad dreams at bay.

In the hushed Land of Nod, where moonbeams peek and shadows creep, lives a secret group of sleepy helpers known as Nodlings.

Each night the Nodlings wake, stretch their wings, and fly from their hidden land into children’s rooms everywhere.

Their mission is simple. Chase away bad dreams and make sweet dreams come true.

But there are rules the Nodlings must follow. They must stay out of sight. They must stay quiet. And most of all, they must be back in their beds before sunrise.

Have you seen a Nodling?

Visit the author’s site for purchasing information.

 

 

 

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

 

In the Land of Nod, you will find everyone and everything catching some zzz’s, and most are wearing adorable nightcaps. As the clock passes midnight, the Nodlings wake up, still sleepy but on a mission to bring sweet dreams to the kids in the village. The magical Nodlings had an important task to do every night, and they did it in style. Their caps and onesies were adorable, and the Nodling wearing the blue onesie with white polka-dots made me smile the most. He didn’t speak because that was against the Land of Nod rules. It was all the late-night snacks he had in his hand or falling out of his satchel. Even his artwork featured food.

The Land of Nod was a peaceful, magical land where Nodlings entered our world through a magical portal. (Read the story to discover what linked their world to ours.) The fairy-like characters with very large ears had to follow 5 rules. They were essential to protect their world, themselves. (Read the story to see the list.) There was an amusing illustration of them having to quickly hide from a child who was up past their bedtime. Again, it was the polka-dotted Nodling who stole the show!

The Nodling used special means to keep the children asleep while they chased away their bad dreams and thoughts. They used funny means to tell Nodlings where to land, and the jester-looking Nodling was quite the cut-up in one scene. I loved his facial artwork on the sleeping child and wondered if it will disappear at the dawn of a new day. Oh, and the polka-dot pajama-wearing Nodling…well, he made me chuckle again thanks to the comical illustration of him in a hairy situation.

The Nodlings’ mission is to chase away the bad dreams and replace them with good thoughts, ensuring a peace’s night’s sleep. They succeeded in their mission, but did they do it in time before sunrise? Read the story and see if they broke this rule or not.

I recommend The Land of Nod to all kids 3 years and older. It is a fun, amusing rhyming story, perfect for bedtime.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 1/2

(4.5 rounded to 5 stars)

Visit the author’s site for purchasing information.

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Jimmy was a creative kid who was always building, tinkering, and rigging up something around the house. These days, his kids say he just makes stuff up for a living—they’re right. As the owner of a creative marketing agency, Jimmy really does “make stuff up all day” for businesses and entrepreneurs.

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March 17, 2026 · 7:00 am

Reading Shmeading Stinkin’ Reading: An empowering book for children with dyslexia by Nat Gibson (Book Review)

Out today!!!

For children with dyslexia, learning can feel frustrating – and confidence can fade fast.

Benji knows this feeling well.

But during a class project, a moment with his teacher helps him notice something new: his mind works differently than the other children’s – and that difference helps him come up with a unique solution no one else sees.

More than a story, this book is a gentle tool for parents and educators to start a meaningful conversation about dyslexia – helping children shift their perspective to see it as a powerful part of who they are, one that can bring extraordinary strengths and opportunities for success.

Printed in a dyslexia-friendly font. Great for classrooms, bedtime, and days when dyslexia feels extra tough.


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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.

 

The Mayo Clinic defines dyslexia as “a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding).” Contrary to stigmas, individuals with dyslexia do not read backwards, and the condition doesn’t diminish their intelligence. A dyslexic person’s brain can confuse the correct order of letters in a word (writing) and become confused by two similar words (reading, e.g., “from” and “form”). This can be frustrating for the individual and affect their school or work life.

In Reading Shmeading Stinkin’ Reading: An empowering book about dyslexia, we step into Benji’s world. We witness how frustrating reading and writing are for him because the letters flip and flop, and sometimes he struggles to start a word. Though Benji struggles with reading and writing, his brain excels creatively. Where other kids need step-by-step instructions to complete a project, Benji’s supercharged brain examines the supplies and creates a mental path to the final product. (Fantastic illustrations showing his struggles and strengths.)

Benji’s teacher understood his condition and tailored this activity to fit his skills. It boosted his self-confidence, allowed him to show his leadership skills, and demonstrated how we all learn in different ways. There will undoubtedly be many children listening to this story who will relate to Benji. They will share his frustrations and (hopefully) speak up if reading, writing, or processing language is difficult for them. This story will also show kids that having dyslexia does not mean a person is not smart. It means educators and parents must find ways to help a child express or make sense of what they see.

I recommend reading Reading Shmeading Stinkin’ Reading: An empowering book about dyslexia with any child facing day-to-day challenges. Share Benji’s story with your students and let’s squash the misconception that a person with dyslexia has a lower intelligence, because they don’t! Also, see which five famous people with dyslexia the author featured in the book who have left a positive mark on history!

The recommended reading age is 5-9 years.

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Nat Gibson lives in California with her husband and two children, both of whom had surgery before turning 4 years old. Her books are designed to help parents engage their child’s imagination as they go through new or difficult experiences.
 

 

 

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