Tag Archives: early readers

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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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.


Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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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Fox Who Can Wait by Kateryna Dronova (Book Spotlight)

Help little readers learn the beauty of patience with this animal rhyming story book!

A cooking contest is bubbling deep in the bright green forest, and Bear, Rabbit, Mole, and Fox are ready to impress the wise judge, Owl. Each animal brings their favorite food – sweet honey, crisp carrots, scrumptious roots, and juicy berries. Everyone is excited… maybe a little too excited! Soon, things get sticky, gooey, and runny for everyone, except for clever Fox. What did he do differently?

The Fox Who Can Wait is a heartwarming moral story that teaches patience, kindness, and cooperation, and the gentle wisdom and self-control that come from taking your time. Through the fun and chaos of a forest cooking contest, children will see that good things truly come to those who wait!

Inside this forest storybook, they’ll learn:

  • Why being patient can be hard, but worth it
  • What impatience can look (and taste!) like
  • How rushing can turn even the best plans into a sticky, gooey mess
  • Why a calm heart and steady hands lead to success
  • That success tastes more delicious when it’s shared with friends!

With lovable forest animals, playful rhyme, and a sweet moral at its heart, this kids’ book about patience is perfect whether you have an impatient little one(s) learning to slow down, or you’re simply looking for a fun storybook with a meaningful lesson!

Amazon Purchase Link

Read My Review on Reedsy Discovery!

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Kateryna Dronova is a children’s writer who loves turning imagination into playful and heartfelt stories. Growing up surrounded by rich traditions and storytelling, she draws inspiration for her tales that nurture curiosity, courage, and kindness in young readers. Kateryna believes books can spark magic in every child—and she writes to share that wonder.


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Little Monkey’s Big Moment by Christopher Esteban (Book Spotlight)

An adorable story about a small monkey who desperately wants to eat bananas, but he’s too small to reach them.

Can a vine-swinging contest change that? This story is a great lesson in self-confidence.

Amazon Purchase Link

Read My Review on Reedsy Discovery!

 

 

 

Meet the Author

I am an Adelphi University graduate in Communications and graphic design. I am passionate about cartooning, art and gaming. Little Monkey’s Big Moment is my 2nd children’s book.

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Fort Night by Jimmy Vee (Book Spotlight)

From best-selling author Jimmy Vee comes a story about imagination, ingenuity, and the magic of making your own fun—because sometimes Plan B is better.

Every night, Hugo sleeps in his very own bed in his very own room. But tonight? Hugo has a bigger idea. He wants to sleep in his very own fort—in the room with the very big TV—and have a night filled with action, adventure, fun, and frights!

Armed with his Jumbo Book of Fort Building, a pile of pillows, and his fuzzy friend Joe, Hugo sets out to build the ultimate blanket fort. He stacks, balances, and engineers with big dreams and even bigger determination. But when his creations keep collapsing, Hugo learns that sometimes the best plans aren’t the biggest—they’re the simplest.

bellylaughbooks.com/books/

Read My Review on Reedsy Discovery!

 

 

 

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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