Tag Archives: preschoolers

December 4, 2023 · 7:00 am

If I Had A Pet Baboon by David Dobbins (Book Review)

Join two young sisters on an imaginative adventure as they play pretend with their toy baboon to explore the wonders of their own world. From the playful antics of the baboon to the far-reaching wonders of the girls’ imaginations, this whimsical story will have readers both young and old transported to a world of surprise and delight. Follow the sisters as they discover the joys and surprises of a world that only exists in their imaginations.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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

 

My eyes were instantly drawn to the cover. I loved the cute, comical snapshot of the family and baboon taped against the bright blue backdrop. It was perfect, and so was the title. I couldn’t wait to dive into the story; kids will be excited to read it, too. 

Kids are always begging their parents for a family pet. Many go the traditional route: dog and cat. Then, we have children who prefer a pet who’s a smaller size or less vocal: fish, gecko, gerbil, hamster, guinea pig, and turtle. Of course, we must remember the daring children who ask for a pet snake, mouse, rat, hedgehog, or spider. There are more pets to choose from, but this is the first time I’ve heard of anyone who’d prefer a baboon as their companion. 

Max Hardison’s illustrations were cute as a button and made me smile. Their cartoon image outshined any real baboon I’ve seen at our zoo or on a nature show. The artist made the wild animal appear cuddly-worthy, whereas the real-life version is frightening. The baboon’s facial expression at the beauty parlor spoke a thousand words. They might not like their “hoighty-toighty hairdo,” but kids will like the drawing. Children might wish for a baboon to join their next tea party after reading the book. Whether the baboon was behind the wheel, playing the bassoon, partaking in a 5-course meal, or looking at the night sky from a hot air balloon basket, the two sisters made having a baboon for a pet a fun and great idea. 

This story captures the beauty of a child’s imagination. This book is perfect for 2–7-year-olds despite a few challenging words. 

School or home, this is a lively book that will get kids excited for story time! Get your copy today, and remember to ask your child their thoughts on the out-of-the-ordinary pet. 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

 
I am a husband of a beautiful wife and two lovely daughter. Because I have these little ones there is ample opportunity to tell them stories and flex my child like imagination. I just recently published my first children’s picture book inspired by my family.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

Happy Holidays

 

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

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

November 16, 2023 · 7:00 am

How to Keep Monsters Out of Your Room by Catie Cat (Book Review)

Dru has monsters in his room! After several attempts, he finally figures out how to get rid of them! This rhyming picture book includes a project so YOU can get rid of YOUR monsters too! Afraid of the dark + problem solver.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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

 

Every night, kids worldwide fear the possibility of a monster lurking under their bed or in the closet. They sleep with lights on, fearing what could creep out from the shadows if they are left in complete darkness. Dru, like so many other young children, has difficulty falling asleep due to fear and anxiety over bedroom “creatures.” 

Due to vivid imaginations, every monster’s appearance varies to some degree. Dru’s unwelcomed guest has large, pointy teeth and green bulging eyes. He looked like a cross between a wolf and a dragon. I can understand why the beast was causing such a fright. I applaud the artist’s skills. Each page looked like a painting.

Dru yelled at the beast to leave his room immediately, but his demands went unannounced. He then remembered the warning signs he’d seen with his mom and recalled their meanings. No left turns. No dogs allowed. No cell phones. Everyone followed these signs and more, promptly Dru to have an ingenious idea. He knew how to keep the monsters out of his room for good! 

Children will witness Dru’s plan in action. They’ll cheer at his success. Then, after the story’s conclusion, they can follow Dru’s instructions and make a “No Monsters Allowed” sign to hang up anywhere in their room. 

When bedtime calls, kids can’t help but fear darkened corners, what supposedly is waiting under their bed, or what else is in their closet besides toys and clothes. How to Keep Monsters Out of Your Room aims to teach kids how to scare “monsters” away so they can get a peaceful night’s sleep. I think everyone will agree that is a great end goal!

Studies show that fear of darkness begins around the age of two; therefore, I recommend sharing the picture book with children as young as two. I also recommend creating your monster “stop” sign. 

Let’s squash those fears before they keep anyone up all night! 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author 

Catherine Castoro (Catie Cat) is an author and illustrator. How to Keep Monsters Out of Your Room is her third children’s book. Published Adult non-fiction: THE FERRY TO DUBLIN, January 2018 edition of The Ocotillo Review. She has two grown children and lives with her husband in Austin, Texas.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

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

November 3, 2023 · 7:00 am

That’s Not a Hat! by Marti Fuerst (Book Review)

 

It’s time to run errands, but Daddy has lost his hat! He tries to find a new hat at each of the stores the family visits, but he can’t seem to get it right.

Predictable and repetitive text makes That’s Not a Hat! accessible and engaging for emerging readers. Simple and colorful illustrations reminiscent of mid-century modern children’s books are sure to make this a favorite.

Grade Reader: PreK – 3


Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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

 

We’ve all probably heard the saying, “A parent’s job is never done.” It’s true. Cooking, cleaning, helping with homework, tending to animals, and chauffeuring kids to playdates and practices are just a drop in the bucket of activities that keep parents go…go…going. The dad in this adorable children’s book is having one heckuva busy day, running errand after errand. He does it all with a smile and a funny attitude. 

At the grocery store, he places a bundle of bananas on his head. He set the most unusual sea animal at the pet shop on his head. An octopus! I hope he didn’t feel the octopus’s beak! The trio visited the hardware store, garden center, bakery, and haberdasher. Each pitstop gives children a reason to smile. 

After the finale, the author highlighted a variety of hats. The collage includes familiar hat names like pirate, baseball, and wizard. I was impressed with the lesser-known hat titles; at least they were lesser known to me: sou’wester, slouch, and pork pie. There were twenty-eight hats in total. There would be plenty of more to list during discussion time. 

The delightful children’s book has simple, repetitive text. It would make an excellent book for young readers to practice skills on. For non-solo readers, the repetitive action will encourage their participation as well. 

I recommend That’s Not My Hat! to children two years through third grade. It blends new and familiar words. FYI: Haberdasher is one of the new words, but picture clues should help older kids decipher its meaning. The illustrations are fantastic! The story as a whole is outstanding!

Get your copy today! 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Marti Fuerst is a former librarian and English/Language arts teacher, artist, technical writer, and author of That’s Not a Hat! Marti has been drawing since she could first hold a pencil. One of her earliest works (permanent marker on drywall) is still on display on the wall of her childhood home. She loves history, the mildly spooky, making art, and goofing around with her kids. She also has an interesting collection of hats. Marti lives with her family in New Hampshire.
 
Contact Links:
 
 
 

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

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

October 13, 2023 · 7:00 am

Luna and Helio The Eclipse by Gina Keulemans (Book Review)

Luna and Helio is a fictional tale of the Sun and Moon,and of their place in the solar system. It is a story of how one day Luna must stop Heliofrom making a very big mistake. it is a heart-warming tale of friendship and the value of helping each other to do the right thing, even when it isn’t easy.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

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

 

Luna (the moon) and Helio (the sun) help Earth, but they couldn’t agree on which had a more vital role. Their arguments led to important facts about the sun and the moon. Helio, the biggest and brightest star in the solar system, helps warm up the planet and helps things grow. Luna guides people through the darkness, such as fishermen. During their spat, Helio (sun) shouted that he planned to move closer to Earth, which all the other planets quickly voiced their opinion on why that would be a horrible idea. Helio is stubborn and thinks he knows best. Many parents can relate to their children thinking they are correct, and parents are clueless. No amount of talking will change their mind. That’s what occurred in Luna and Helio: The Eclipse. Helio’s mind was made up; he was moving closer to Earth.

Helio’s stubborn actions could’ve been disastrous without the quick thinking of Luna and the eight planets in our solar system. However, instead, Helio’s actions caused what earthlings call an eclipse. They are spectacular to see, and we have an annular solar eclipse crossing North, Central, and South America this October! 

I recommend reading this story for fun or in preparation for the annular solar eclipse crossing the Western Hemisphere later this year or the total solar eclipse happening in April 2024. Creating a viewing apparatus so your family and class can watch the amazing display safely is a great idea, too! 

Luna and Helio: The Eclipse gives basic information about the sun and moon’s usefulness that is easy for preschoolers to understand. The book could inspire a research project about our sun, moon, and planets. 

My recommended reading age is three years and older. The illustrations are quite lovely, and the story is educational but doesn’t overload young minds with a thousand facts. 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

This is Gina’s first published children’s book, she lives in London with her husband and has two grown up children. Gina worked as a P.A in advertising before donating her time to raising funds for Cancer Research UK, Gina now spends her time working on her creative side.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

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

October 9, 2023 · 7:00 am

P.E.T.R.A. The Little Earth Rover From Mars by Trevor Allan (Book Review)

A 24 page illustrated children’s book. Scientists on earth send a rover to Mars to collect some specimens.

Meanwhile a little Mars rover travels to Earth to collect items that might prove Martians once lived there.

The story with fun illustrations, also explains why we sometimes lose things and don’t know where they have gone.

Order through Author’s Website

 

 

 

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

 

In real life, on November 26, 2011, NASA scientists sent a rover (Curiosity) to Mars to discover if the planet ever possessed the proper environmental conditions to support small life forms called microbes. This burning question has the rover exploring and collecting rock, soil, and air samples. That mission was real; what occurred in this children’s book is loosely based on those events.

As Earth’s rover was roaming and analyzing the terrain in this fictional children’s book, P.E.T.R.A. (Pink. Extra. Terrestrial. Roving. Accumulator.) was embarking on a mission for their home planet: Mars. P.E.T.R.A. arrived as a streak of light in the night sky. Its arrival did not go unnoticed, but the McKay family had no idea what landed in their yard. Grandpa and Dad set the unidentified flying object on the hall table and went to bed, unaware of what would occur. As the family slept, P.E.T.R.A. changed from a stationary pink “egg” to a walking pink “egg.” It had two eyes, a mouth, green objects posing as ears, mechanical arms and legs, and sprouts of yellow hair. It was an adorable extraterrestrial being. Maybe even cuter than the notorious E.T.

P.E.T.R.A. went room to room, collecting items that would prove (Mars) Martians once called Earth home. Children will giggle at one bedside piece of “evidence” P.E.T.R.A. took back to Mars and presented to her superiors. They will probably snicker at the key item that gave the aliens hope that Earth housed some of their relatives. 

I recommend sharing this family or class. Its plotline is packed with humor, and the illustrations will have you smiling. It creates opportunities to discuss the possibility of alien life. Ask your child if they believe aliens have ever visited Earth or if they think aliens might be calling another planet home. Ask your child to design their own extraterrestrial visitor.  

At only twenty-four pages, P.E.T.R.A. The Little Earth Rover From Mars is a quick read, perfect for preschoolers and elementary students. 


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

Order through Author’s Website

 


Meet the Author

I am a self taught illustrator, cartoonist and was published as an illustrator for ‘Poppa McPhee gets the eggs” by John Parker, published by Scholastic NZ. I have been a cartoonist for magazines and newspapers. I am now retired and have time to publish five children’s books.    Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

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