Tag Archives: parents

When Mom Feels Great Then We Do Too! by Phyllis Schwartz (Book Review)

When Mom, one day, came home and said, “I think I better get in bed,”

it was up to us to get together as a team so she’d feel better.

We came up with all sorts of things to do.

Because “when mom feels great then we do too!”

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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.

 

Growing up, I don’t recall my mother being sick very often. However, when she was under the weather, the entire house jumped on board to help out. I learned to appreciate everything my mom did in and out of the house at a young age. As a parent, I do my best not to get ill. When it happens, I have an excellent support team who do their best to make me feel better. 

My husband reminds the kids to use their library voice while indoors. They make sure I always have a drink nearby. My youngest also brings me a stuffed toy that is supposed to “chase the sick germs away.” 

When someone, anyone, in your home is feeling under the weather, band together like the family did in When Mom Feels Great, Then We Do Too! by Phyllis Schwartz. Sometimes laughter is the best medicine!

At the story’s start, Phyllis Schwartz mentions the dad helping the kiddos make mom’s favorite dish, wieners and asparagus. Be prepared for your child to giggle when they hear “wieners.” Mine did. 

My kiddos are not a fan of asparagus or hot dogs, but if your kids are, I have great news for you—the author included the recipe for mom’s favorite dish. They even included suggested sides: rice and corn (kernel or on the cob). FYI: It “serves 2 adults and multiple kids.”

When Mom Feels Great, Then We Do Too! by Phyllis Schwartz was a charming story. It did have some words that will need exploring, depending on your audience’s age: Motown music. Also, I’m no fashionista, so “Frida Kahlo” went right over my head. 

 Siski Kalla did a lovely job on the illustrations. They were all very nice.

I will recommend When Mom Feels Great, Then We Do Too! to family and friends. 

Recommended reading age is 4-10.

 

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

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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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Coming Soon

A delightful picture book that teaches kids 15 Spanish, Yiddish, & Japanese words as Yoshi crafts a poem about what bothers them the most!

Read My Review on Reedsy Discovery!

 

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Gator Gray Gets Away by Heidi Brooks (Book Review)

Join Gator Gray on a whimsical adventure in
Gator Gray Gets Away!

 

This delightful tale follows the mischievous Gator Gray, who loves to crawl and explore, much to the amusement (and occasional exasperation) of his family. With a knack for getting into all sorts of playful trouble—from sneaking under beds to nibbling on bugs—Gray’s antics keep everyone on their toes!

As his family searches for solutions, Gator Gray’s journey takes a surprising turn. Will he ever trade in his crawling for walking? With heartwarming moments and plenty of giggles, this charming story captures the essence of childhood curiosity and the joy of growing up.

Perfect for children aged 3 to 9, Gator Gray Gets Away celebrates the playful spirit of little ones while reminding readers that every step of growth is worth cheering for. With whimsical rhymes and engaging illustrations, this book is sure to become a bedtime favorite for families everywhere!

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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.

 

In the first several months, parents and babies will share many firsts: first smile, first laugh, the first time they roll over, plus many more. Around the 5th month mark, some babies start rocking, and soon after, they begin exploring their environment on all fours. They go from moving at a snail’s pace to zooming around the house, touching everything at eye level, and putting anything in their path into their mouth. They are constantly on the go, and parents reach a new level of tiredness. 

Gator Gray, a lively baby, was always on the move. He could be found under the table, under the bed, or in one location and then mysteriously gone the next. The dad’s exasperated call to his other two sons, “Go and find some glue,” had me chuckling. The text and accompanying illustrations of Gator Gray with his finger up his nose and his toes in his mouth were equally amusing. Parents, if you thought only your child behaved this way, rest assured you are not alone. Gator Gray’s adventures are a mirror image of every energetic child!

When the day came when Gator Gray pushed himself upright, I knew the parents’ days of rest were not quite upon them. Yes, it’s a monumental day when our child takes their first step. However, a child on their feet is quicker and more apt to get into mischief, which spells the end of relaxing while the child is awake. Like the parents in this humous children’s book, we quickly learn the importance of baby-proofing every door cause if a child reaches a doorknob, they will escape. 

I adored reading Gator Gray Gets Away. It read like any day from my children’s first couple of years. I highly recommend sharing this with your children, especially if a new baby is coming. There were a few grammar errors, but the laughs this adorable picture book brought me far outweighed any shortcomings. It’s a must-read for parents! 

Sit back, relax, and read Gator Gray Gets Away. Read fast, though, because if your youngster is like Gator Gary, they won’t sit still long! 

 

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

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Meet the Author

Heidi Brooks is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother whose delightful experiences with her grandchildren fuel her passion for writing. With a lifelong love for children’s literature, Heidi is particularly inspired by the whimsical worlds of Shel Silverstein, Dr. Seuss, and Roald Dahl.

Her keen sense of humor allows her to find joy in the everyday antics of her grandchildren, often turning their adventures into tales featuring brave heroes and heroines.

When she’s not writing, Heidi cherishes spending quality time with her family, embarking on countless adventures that spark laughter and inspire her next story. Through her writing, she hopes to capture the magic of childhood and share it with young readers everywhere.

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Fulami Wins The Race by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Review)

A sweet and inspirational story about a space girl who overcomes her weakness to achieve her goal.

This book will motivate your child to strive hard in all they do. Once you pick it up you will not want to put it down.

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

 

Fulami, an elf with horns protruding from the top of her head, lives on Venesha, the largest planet in their universe. Fulami’s home planet somewhat resembled Earth. The illustrations showed lush greenery, colorful wildflowers, various creatures, and beautiful mountain ranges. Fulami’s town was much like many others; it had multiple stores, such as the cake shop, florist, bookstore, and grocery store. On one trip to the local grocery store, she saw a piece of paper floating by. It announced that there would be a “Young Creatures Relay Race” happening on Saturday. How exciting!

Fulami was overjoyed that her parents had signed her up for the race. Her excitement bubbled over when all her friends also agreed to participate in the race. Fulami and her friends practiced hard for the event, but the outcome differed from what Fulami expected. She could’ve sulked and vowed never to race again. She could have, BUT she didn’t. Fulami’s story shows readers that practice, patience, a positive attitude, and hard work can help them achieve their goals. Fulami also demonstrated how one should act if a person doesn’t win or perform as well as they hoped. Follow Fulami’s example—congratulate the winners because they worked hard to earn the trophy. Smile knowing that you did your best and should be proud of yourself for giving it your all.

Fulami did not hang up her sneakers and refused to try again. No, she got back out there and practiced even more, this time with her parents. Fulami is a great role model!

I loved the story’s vibrant colors. I also liked the alien animals peeking around plants, between leaves, and over flowers. It was like they were playing hide-and-seek with the reader. I also liked the trail of gold twinkling lights that floated around the characters on every page. I even like the panda-themed trash can!

I recommend sharing this story with kids aged 2-9.

 

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

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Meet the Authors

Lamar:  I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

Liana:  Second grade student who enjoys playing with friends, going to KidZania & Disneyland, learning at school and spending time with my mom and dad.  I love the zoo, learning about nature which my dad alw

 

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Milo and the Big Yawn by Milt Lowe (Book Review)

In Milo and the Big Yawn, Milo Crenshaw is a mischievous boy with the annoying ability to make everyone yawn.

In other words, Milo is a bit of a brat.

He loves tormenting his sisters, teachers, classmates, police officers, and everyone else he sees. That is, until one day when Milo discovers the joy of being a hero instead. He learns that using his talent to deal with bullies and scary lions and helping kids and parents is a lot more fun and rewarding. Impossible to read without yawning in appreciation of the story, this humorous book makes the perfect bedtime reading.

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

 

Everyone is different to some degree. Your uniqueness might stem from a physical trait, talent, hobby, skill, life choices, etc. For Milo Crenshaw, nobody could yawn bigger than him.

Have you ever found yourself yawning just because someone near you did? I have, and the people occupying space near Milo couldn’t help but succumb to the need to stretch their faces and deliver one large yawn, too. Some individuals who witnessed Milo’s superpower didn’t just yawn once and go about their day. No, many people yawned and fell asleep like the principal and soccer players.  

You’ve heard the infamous line, “With great power comes great responsibility.” In the case of the two bullies, Milo used his superpower, aka his infectious yawns, to put the brother/bullies asleep. Nice move! His yawns also had a surprising effect on a zoo animal. (Identity withheld on purpose. Read the story to learn more.)

Milo became famous for his superpower. Parents called him, asking if he would use his power to get their kids to sleep at night.

If Milo’s power was present in the real world, he could’ve made a fortune working his sleepy time magic on all the world’s children!

Adult insomniacs would definitely utilize his power to get some much-needed zzzz’s.

I had mixed feelings regarding the illustrations. The zoo animal was cute. Bullies catching some zzz’s was funny. I didn’t care for the long and large round faces of the non-yawning people. Kids will likely find them humorous. On a separate note, I didn’t understand why Milo’s yawns didn’t affect every parent in the group yawn image (17). I would’ve also moved the text fully onto the purple background for easy visibility. Maybe even bump up font size on every page. (I am mentioning these suggestions because I had to enlarge the text on the PDF.)

Milo and the Big Yawn was a cute, funny, quick read that will induce yawns. The perfect time to read this book is at naptime or bedtime.

Amazon’s recommended reading age is 4-9 years.

 

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

Ingramspark.com

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Meet the Author

A former copywriter at top New York City advertising agencies, Milt Lowe has won over 60 major awards -including Gold and Silver Lions at the TV Cannes Film Festival – and has written humor pieces for The New York Daily News and Advertising Age. Milt has written four children’s books so far.

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How to Make a Sandwich by Lorena M. Proia (Book Review)

Making a sandwich is fun and easy! And Rae knows just how to do it. The bread is like the parents, it keeps the sandwich safe and happy. The turkey is the love, the lettuce is the fun. But every time Rae adds an ingredient, it disappears, and she soon realizes there is a sandwich-stealing thief intent on eating her creation!

Will Rae ever get to eat her lunch? Suddenly making a sandwich isn’t so easy after all!

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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.

 

Rae has a BIG imagination. With it, she can transform into anything she desires. On Mondays, she’s a budding artist, while Saturdays see her donning the role of a doctor for her stuffed toys. She’s also a scientist on Wednesdays, but today, she’s embracing her culinary skills as a chef. 

Feeling a little hungry, Rae heads to the kitchen with her kitty trailing close behind. I loved how Rae spoke to Nero (the cat) as if the feline understood every word. I do the same thing, and I’m sure many other pet owners do as well. While Nero was super cute, the real showstopper was another pet. Its identity is purposely hidden in this review not to spoil who’s stealing Rae’s sandwich contents. While her dad does snag pickle chips from her, the main bandit’s sorry expression will melt your heart and make you say aw, look at those big, sad eyes.

As Rae makes her sandwich, she compares it to her family. She remarks that the bread is like her parents, each keeping their ‘family’ safe and happy. Rae also draws interesting parallels between turkey, cheese, mayo and pickles and her family dynamic. My daughter does tell a lot of cheesy jokes and makes life interesting, so I agree she is the “cheese” of our sandwich, too! 

After reading the final page, I was left wondering what role did the avocado play in the family. I bet kids will have a theory on this! I also pondered what professions she pretended to play during the rest of the week. I bet your child or class will have input on this topic, too! 

How to Make a Sandwich is a delightful, humorous story that your family will love to read. It might even make your belly growl. After reading it, I recommend you and your kids put on your chef’s hat and make a sandwich together. Be sure to watch for sandwich-stealing furry friends or pickle-loving dads!

I recommend How to Make a Sandwich to children three years and up. It’s a cute story that will make your whole family smile from ear to ear!


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

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Meet the Author

When Lorena graduated with a BFA, she never imagined she’d become an Information Architect. She thought her creativity was lost until she was rescued by an Australian Shepherd named Phebe. How to Make a Sandwich is her first picture book. Find out more at www.lorenaproiabooks.com

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