Tag Archives: first readers

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!

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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.

Reedsy Author Link

 
 
 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 15, 2026 · 7:00 am

Me and My long, Long Hair by Pria Dee (Book Review)

When Sita moves to a new school, her hair is the first thing everyone notices—long, shiny, and impossible to ignore. At first, being different feels awkward. But with a little encouragement from her mom, Sita learns to see her hair as something to celebrate. Then she hears a heartbreaking story about a child with cancer, and a spark of kindness turns her self-consciousness into courage. Could her long hair become a gift that changes someone’s life?

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

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

 

Sita Reddy and her family have relocated from Chennai, India, to America. Being the new student in class comes with its challenges. The stares. The whispers. Sita really wants to fit in at her new school, but the unwelcome attention to her long, black hair is making her feel self-conscious. Sita decides to hide in the shadows, keeping to herself, but she must come into the light eventually, and that’s when this story starts tugging on heartstrings. 

Misunderstandings can stem from many reasons. For Sita, it stemmed from a classmate who kept staring at her very long hair. She thought he had an issue with it but soon discovered the real reason behind his stares. Chris’s sister has cancer, and he would love to grow his hair out to make a wig for his sister. Unfortunately, his hair is not growing fast enough. His stare was in wonderment; how did Sita grow her hair so long? The sweet gesture and the sadness in Chris’s eyes were touching. Sita’s plan to cut and donate her hair to a cancer charity was also very moving. 

Me and My Long, Long Hair is a sweet, heartfelt story that shows how one’s act of kindness can bring sunshine to another’s dreary day. Though Sita is right, “hair is just hair,” but to those who have lost it due to chemo, a wig brings them joy. It offers them a reason to smile. To hope. 

Sita’s act of kindness did not stop with donating her hair; she rallied her classmates to create a fundraiser to raise awareness about kids with cancer. Hair or money, a little bit goes a long way! 

I highly recommend reading this heartwarming story with your family or class. I also recommend reading and completing (at least) one option from “Ways to Help.” Let’s eradicate cancer and support cancer patients and their families!

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

 Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Award-winning author Pria Dee believes that it’s important for children to learn about the wonderful differences in other cultures, as well as how hard life can be. In her new children’s picture book Little Moe Can’t Fly, she depicts the struggles of a little gosling who is a late bloomer face. The story of a gosling from hatching to migration also deals with the emotional distress that is experienced by children when they feel they are “slow” to learn. In this poignant story, Dee describes how maternal love can support a little one through these insecurities.

Pria has an active imagination and often weaves her stories around ideas that pop into her head, spurred by current events, personal observations, and her imagination. She thinks a wonderful children’s story shows empathy and involves relatable characters. She hopes her young readers come away from her books with a glimpse of another’s life and learn both the similarities and differences in their own lives.

When she isn’t writing thoughtful and enlightening stories to children, Pria enjoys reading, walking, painting, drawing, and listening to music. She also appreciates spending time in nature, often with her dog, and draws inspiration from it. She is also the published author of an adult novel under a different pen name.

Reedsy Author Link
Website Link
Amazon Author Page Link

 

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,