Tag Archives: young children

Say Please, Ellie: Learning How To Say The Magic Word (Ellie The Chick Book 2) by Avery Smart (Book Review)

Ellie is a little chick who wants to do many things at once.

She often struggles with expressing her many wants politely. Can you lend a hand with her manners?

In this edition of Ellie the Little Chick series, the story walks us into essential moral lesson for young children who may struggle with courtesy. The emphasis is clear: always remember to say “please” before asking for something.

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

 

How could anyone resist reading Say Please, Ellie after viewing the cover!? Ellie is super cute with her little round body, big, bright blue eyes, and beak that appears to be smiling. The artist did a phenomenal job illustrating the chick in different situations and poses. I loved them all, but as a mother with a child who loves playing dress-up, my favorite was the chick dressed as a mini version of her mommy. What a fashionista! 

Cute illustrations aside, this book is on an important mission: to teach or remind children to say “please.” When a child speaks a few words, it’s important to introduce basic politeness terms into their vocabulary: please and thank you. As children grow, they should understand to add kind words to sentences. If we instill kindness and politeness at a young age, kids will grow up as kinder adults and then pass on the values/manners learned to their own children. Plus, asking instead of demanding makes a person sound nice, not rude.

 

Join Ellie as she scratches items off her to-do list:

  • Build a blanket fort
  • Make paper airplanes
  • Have a tea party
  • Go on a bug hunt.
  • Play dress-up.

Be sure to make your fun list, and don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you” as you carry out each activity! 

I recommend sharing  Say Please, Ellie with children six years and under. 

 

Words to ponder…

“Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back.” ⁠—Thomas Sowell.

“Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them.” ⁠—Bill Kelly.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Avery Smart, a vibrant author who resides in the heart of the lively family chaos with her three energetic kids. Nestled in the midst of parenting, she channels her passion for nurturing well-mannered children into delightful tales.

It is within this dynamic environment that she draws inspiration, transforming her deep-seated passion for fostering well-mannered children into captivating tales.

Avery’s writing becomes a heartfelt expression of her commitment to instilling values in the younger generation. Her three lively kids not only serve as a source of inspiration but also as eager test subjects for the lessons embedded in her stories.

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“Princess Naomi Helps a Unicorn” and “Petunia Perks Up” by Once Upon A Dance (2 Book Spotlight)

Unicorns and Horses and Snakes, oh my!

Interactive movement wrapped up in a charming story of sibling angst, anger management, compassion, and triumph. Grown-ups sit; kids move and practice dance fundamentals. Fed up with her annoying sister, Naomi storms out of the castle, only to discover a unicorn in need of help. With a sense of purpose, she quickly forgets her anger.

This is part of the Dance-It-Out! series, pandemic creations by an award-winning dance teacher and her Ballerina daughter. Ballerina Konora joins each page with instructions and photographs to help readers learn the dance moves.

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Gentle movement and meditation soothe and center as listeners “connect with this charming character and her vivid imagination”…Young listeners will love the interactive component of this series and will feel like a calm princess by the end. (Reedsy)

Petunia woke to yet another rainy day, and she feels particularly gloomy about being stuck inside. By letting ordinary objects and elements of her daily routine spark her imagination, she finds a happy calm she wants to share.

Throughout the Dance-It-Out! 12-book series, Ballerina Konora helps listeners connect with movement and focus the breath in quirky tales by an award-winning dance teacher, turned award-winning author, and her ballerina daughter.

Each Dance-It-Out story is an interactive kids’ storytelling adventure to ignite movement, joy, and imagination.

The Dance-It-Out movement journeys are ideal for dance, pre-ballet, creative movement, preschool, daycare, early learning, physical education, homeschool, kindergarten, or first-grade activities. The full collection features diverse characters. Audiobooks make a great gift for kids interested in dance, ballet, gymnastics, or yoga, or reluctant listeners who enjoy getting up and moving around.

With kind characters, subtle life lessons, and a positive role model in Ballerina Konora, teachers love the kid-approved, ready-made, easy additions to curriculum and lesson planning. Children at home adore the stories that “young readers will return to again and again” (Reedsy). 

In this volume, concepts include breathing, body part isolation/relaxation, energy, swinging, swaying, falling, qualities of movement, speed, and posture, and integrates with themes such as princesses, fairy tales, imagination, elephants, ice cream, boats, gardens, flowers, or cats.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Team! 

Once Upon a Dance is a mother-daughter team who share a passion for dance and storytelling. Teacher Terrel and Ballerina Konora create books that spark imagination and inspire children to move, breathe, and connect. Four series span ages 3-12: 

   • Dance Stories with Props (for age 3+) (2023)
   • Dance-It-Out! Creative Movement Stories (4-9)
   • Dancing Shapes: Ballet and Body Awareness (6-9)
   • Ballet Inspiration & Choreography Concepts (8-12)

Once Upon a Dance was named a top 10 author of 2022 by Outstanding Creator Awards, and they’ve been honored by over 40 book awards, 1000+ 5-star reviews, and a Kirkus Star. They donate all royalties to charities supporting the arts, animals, environment, or people. Visit DanceStories.com for more info.

@Once_UponADance (Instagram)


DanceStories.com 

 

 

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Jungle Jim’s Coloring Book for Toddlers by Pixie Publishing House (Book Review)

ntroducing our “Alphabetical Animals” coloring book for kids, featuring Jungle Jim and his animal friends! This educational and fun-filled coloring book is designed to help children learn the alphabet and develop their writing skills while they explore the wild world of jungle animals. With each page dedicated to a different letter of the alphabet and a corresponding animal, children will have the opportunity to practice writing both uppercase and lowercase letters while they color in their new jungle friends. The book is filled with delightful illustrations of the animals in their natural habitats, providing an engaging and interactive way for children to learn about the animal kingdom. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, this coloring book is a perfect addition to any child’s learning journey.
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

This activity book has a lot going for it. 

1.) It teaches children both upper and lower case letters. 

2.) It spells out animal names using dotted letters so children can trace each one. 

3.) Plenty of dotted lines to allow children to practice their writing skills. 

4.) The images are large, with many white open areas.  

5.) The animal names are perfect sight words for beginning readers. 

6.) The book blends new words with familiar words, usable for several ages. Example: Money (recognizable) – uakari (possibly not identifiable) 

Most workbooks only reach one age bracket. Jungle Jim’s Coloring does not. Toddlers will love coloring the images. Preschoolers can color, trace, and use the book to learn and write the alphabet. Kindergartners can do every a preschooler can, but also practice reading and recognizing the words in print. 

I recommend buying this book for your home or childcare setting. 


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

 
 
 
Click HERE to be redirected to Pixie Publishing House’s website. 
 
 
 
 

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Mother’s Love: Animal moms and their babies by Diana Aleksandrova (Book Review)

MOTHER'S LOVE by Diana Aleksandrova

 
A mother’s love is like the air;
you may not see it, but it’s there.
 
A mother’s love is universal; and yet the way each species shows its love is unique.
 
In a cloud, I’ll build a nest.
For you, I want the very best.  
My love is fierce and very bright.
It makes the world feel safe and right.       
 
Mother’s Love is a lyrical celebration of the unconditional bond every mother has with her child. Written from the point of view of ten different animal moms, ranging from elephants to eagles it depicts the various sides of motherhood, including joy, resilience, and sacrifice.
 
 
 
Buy the Book:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble 
 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 
First and foremost, I would like to praise Svilen Dimitrov’s illustrations. They were absolutely precious. Svilen made animals that we wouldn’t consider cute very adorable. For example, the momma and baby bat hanging side by side from a tree branch. Also, the color choices for each page complemented the animals they accompanied beautifully—all in all, lovely artistic design. 


Diana Aleksandrova’s story was sweet. She shows readers how mothers love and take care of their babies. For non-readers, this book will help teach or reinforce animals’ names. For young readers, the text is simple enough most they won’t have too much trouble reading this book alone. 


Even though Mother’s Love was designed for younger readers, I enjoyed the “Did You Know” section very much. I didn’t know every fact about octopuses, so thank you for teaching this “old” lady something new. 🙂


My daughter knew most of the facts about the animals, but she said that’s because they had a lesson over them in school. Plus, she loves learning facts about animals. She’s a bookworm. 🙂


No matter what reading level your child is at, I think they’ll fall in love with the animals, the cute babies, dialogue, and bonus material. 


Happy reading! 

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

Meet the Author:
Author Diana Aleksandrova

 
Born and raised in Bulgaria, Diana Aleksandrova moved across the ocean in pursuit of the American dream, only to realize that her dream was not limited to any one country, or even continent. Rather, it was within her all along.
Diana finds joy in creating stories that make kids of all ages laugh-out-loud, open up their minds and hearts, and let their imaginations run freely.
“Books are our tickets to adventure. They let us explore fascinating places, and join charming heroes, crooked villains, and magical creatures through unforgettable journeys. My job is to create the itinerary.”
 
 
connect with the author: 
website facebook twitter instagram goodreads
 
 
 
 
 

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