Book Review - You Stole My Name Too: A Curious Case of Animals and Plants with Shared Names by Dennis McGregor

My Review

You Stole My Name Too is a beautiful picture book for children about plants and animals that share a name.  The book is told in short, child-friendly rhymes, like the story of CatNip:

"Your minty magic, sweet and herby

sends me on a tail-chase derby!

Then I curl up in your lap

and dream a little nippy nap."

Flora/fauna combinations include: Crab-Apple, Ostrich Fern, Elephant Garlic, ChickPea, DogWood, and more.

This is a big (9.5" x 14.5") book with full page illustrations that are sure to delight children.  I think it would be ideal as a read aloud at bedtime or in a story circle.  I love read aloud books that incorporate both rhyme and engaging illustrations.

I highly recommend You Stole My Name Too for preschool children, who are sure to be delighted by this book!

Book Synopsis

The second addition to Dennis McGregor's fun picture book series features vibrant, hand-painted illustrations and curious questions like "why does the crab apple share its name with the crab?"

You Stole My Name Too features another amazing collection of illustrations that takes you and your child on a colorful journey through nature's most fascinating plants and animals and their namesakes.

The fun pairs of flora and fauna that are featured in this sequel
• Chick and Chickpea
• Cat and Catnip
• Dog and Dogwood
• Hedgehog and Hedgehog Cactus
• And many more!

A beautiful "children's coffee-table-art book" for all ages, You Stole My Name Too is a clever, creative follow-up to You Stole My Name , a perfect book series for parents and children to read and enjoy together.

Book Review - Pumpkin Patch Blessings by Kim Washburn

Book Synopsis
It’s fall and there are blessings all around us, especially in the pumpkin patch! Children will love the sweet rhyming text by Kim Washburn and the whimsical illustrations by Jacqueline East as they take in the fun of the fall season and remember how much they have to be grateful for.

My Review
Pumpkin Patch Blessings by Kim Washburn is a very cute board book for young children.  It is die cut with a colorful cover featuring bunny rabbits playing on pumpkins.

The story is told in rhyme, and would make such a good read aloud for young children at home or in a classroom.   Readers of Pumpkin Patch Blessings will find much to be thankful for in fall including sweater weather, colorful leaves, roasting corn, a hay ride, and of course pumpkins!

An example of the upbeat read aloud quality of this book:

"This time of year
the trees are so bold,
exploding with colors,
red, orange, and gold.

The green leaves turn crispy
and then start to fall.
They crunch as you step
and kick through them all."   

The illustrations by Jacqueline East are colorful and appealing.  They show young children enjoying all the aspects of autumn.

The book is sturdy and well made, with board book pages -- great to read again and again.  I recommend it for a home or preschool library.  It is perfect for a fun fall read!

I received a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Knights Before Christmas by Joan Holub

Book Description:
'Twas December 24th, and three brave knights were just settling in for the night when out on the drawbridge, there arose such a clatter! The knights try everything to get rid of this unknown invader (Santa Claus!), a red and white knight with a fleet of dragons . . .
But nothing would stop
 their white-whiskered foe.
 No matter their efforts,
 he just would not go!
This parody of Clement Clarke Moore's well-known poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is kid-friendly, clever, and just plain silly.  Sure to become a holiday classic of a different kind!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million

Goodreads | Indiebound | iBook | Kobo

My Review:
I am a fan of Joan Holub's books for children.  They are told with such good humor and such clever word play.  I knew The Knights Before Christmas would be another fun book for children, and it is!

This book is a parody of The Night Before Christmas, set in a medieval castle with knights.  It is bright and colorful, with great illustrations by Scott Magoon.

The humor is fresh and breezy.  What a fun book for a home or classroom read aloud! 

To give an example of the humor:

"Silent Knight, in his nightie and iron-armored cap, was just settling in for a long winter's nap."  There is an illustration of the knight dreaming:  "I'm dreaming of a white javelin, just like the one I used to throw."

I enthusiastically recommend this cute and clever children's book for your Christmas collection.    

About the Author:
Joan Holub is the author of 140+ books for children including the acclaimed picture books Little Red Writing, The Knights Before Christmas, and Mighty Dads, a New York Times bestseller. Joan co-authors (with Suzanne Williams) three series: Goddess Girls (ages 8-12, Greek mythology with a middle school twist), Grimmtastic Girls (for ages 8-12, fairy tale adventure with a middle school twist), and Heroes in Training (ages 6-11, Greek mythology adventure chapter books). Watch for her upcoming chapter book, What Was Woodstock?, and her board book, This Little President, both available in early 2016!

Website | Author Blog | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Facebook | Facebook (Goddess Girls) | Facebook (Grimmtastic Girls)

I received a copy of this book from Mother Daughter Book Reviews in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: M Is For Manger by Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley

Book Synopsis
Travel through the alphabet with this beautiful rhyming storybook that tells the story of Jesus’ birth. Begin with the angel who tells Mary that she is God’s chosen vessel and follow along until you reach the zillions of stars that paled in comparison to the star that announced the birthplace of the newborn King. Beautifully illustrated and written, this book will be a classic for parents to read to their children every Christmas season.

My Review
M is for Manger is a lovely picture book for children about the birth of Christ.  The Christmas story is told in chronological order with an ABC format.  Each letter has an illustration, a short narrative, and a Bible verse.  For instance:

"A is for Angel.  An Angel said to Mary, 'You are the favored one.  You're going to have a baby boy, and he will be God's Son.'"  "The angel told her ... 'You have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son.' (Luke 1:30 - 31, NLT)."

This is a perfect read aloud, great for home, Sunday school, or a church preschool.  The illustrations by Claire Keay are sweet and charming, sure to appeal to young children.  I highly recommend this book for the Christmas season.
  
  I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway - Crow Made a Friend by Margaret Peot

Synopsis:

• Series: I Like to Read
• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (August 10, 2015)

Try, try again is the lesson Crow teaches beginning readers in this picture book reader. Crow was all alone. But like all crows, he was very clever. Using autumn leaves for wings, sticks for the body and a crab apple for the head, Crow made a friend! But winter winds blew in, destroying his creation. Undaunted, Crow fashioned another bird friend out of snow but could not prevent it from melting in the warm spring sun. Alone again, Crow heard the caw, caw, caw of a real, live bird. Together they built a nest and by summer, Crow had a family. This warm, satisfying story, celebrates perseverance and ingenuity.

Links for more info about CROW MADE A FRIEND

Crow paper doll craft | Author’s Website | Activity Sheets

Purchase Links

Amazon | Indiebound | Barnes & Noble

My Review

Crow Made a Friend is an especially lovely picture book for children.  It tells the story of Crow, who wants a friend.  He tries to make a bird out of twigs, but it blows away.  He makes a bird of snow, but it melts.  Finally he meets another bird, makes a friend, and then makes a family.

This is a short picture book.  It would be wonderful for a story time read aloud (i.e. for a preschool unit on birds), and it also would be a good book for a beginning reader.

The illustrations are vivid and beautiful, and they add much to the story.

I am a former preschool teacher, have a small online children's bookstore, and love children's books.  This book is exceptional in both the lovely, uplifting story and the beautiful illustrations.  I cannot recommend it highly enough for a home or school library. 

About Margaret Peot

Margaret is an artist, writer and costume painter. Margaret has two new books out in 2015, Stencil Craft (F&W) and an early reader picture book, Crow Made a Friend (Holiday House). Margaret’s book Inkblot: Drip, Splat and Squish Your Way to Creativity (Boyds Mills 2011) was awarded a Eureka! Silver Medal for non-fiction children’s books. She is also the author of The Successful Artist’s Career Guide (F&W 2012), Alternative Art Journals (F&W 2012), and Make Your Mark (Chronicle Books, 2004), voted one of Library Journal’s best how-to books of 2004.

An avid believer that art making can be for everyone, Margaret has presented art workshops with cancer survivors, elders, children, parent and teen groups, writers, nurses and caregivers, at The Creative Center at University Settlement’s Creative Aging conferences, and their Artist-in-Residence Training program, with EngAGE Utah, at Gilda’s Club, The Huntsman Cancer Institute, Operation Exodus in NYC, and at Miami University’s Scripps center with Dr. Like Lokon, and Opening Minds Through Art. 

Connect with Margaret

Website | TheInkBlotBook.com | Facebook | Twitter |

Pinterest (Crow) | Pinterest (Birding) 

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a copy of the book (U.S. only).  Winner will need to respond to email notification within 48 hours.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway - Inspector Dewey by Kristen Heimerl

Book Description for Inspector Dewey:

My name is Dewey--Inspector Dewey.

I live in the big green house on Hampshire Avenue with my family: Thumper, Lily, and Anna. I am the Big Cat—responsible for keeping everyone safe and in order. I do this quite well, in spite of the fact that managing my family is like, well, herding cats!

Mostly our life is peaceful. But one night it wasn’t. That was the night the bad guy showed up on our block. Of course, I knew exactly how to outsmart the outlaw, but—miserable mullet!—would Anna and the police understand my instructions?

To find out how the adventure ended, you’ll have to read my book. But I’ll give you a hint: there’s a reason I’m called Inspector Dewey.

Fifty percent of the profits from the sale of this book will fund veterinary care for pets whose families are in financial need, so that the animals can remain in their homes and out of the shelter system.

BECAUSE PETS BELONG WITH THEIR PEOPLE™

To learn more, visit threenorwegians.com
Buy the book: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

My Review:

Inspector Dewey is a big, beautiful picture book that is sure to delight children who love cats.

This book tells the story of how Dewey (also known as Inspector Dewey) stops a would-be robbery with the help of his cat friends Thumper and Lily, and his person, Anna.

The book is told in Dewey's voice and he has an engaging tone.  I must say that Dewey is a born storyteller!  I can imagine this book as a read aloud.   Children will sit on the edge of their seats waiting to hear what happens next in this fun and suspenseful story.

The book design and illustrations are beautiful.  They truly catch the nature of cats.  Each cat depicted has a different personality, seen not only in the book's text, but in the illustrations as well.

I recommend this book highly for preschool children.  It would be a great addition to a child's book collection or to a school library.  

Author's Bio:

Kristen Heimerl

Marketing Officer, Strategy Expert, Innovator and Brand Builder, Kristen’s business career spans 20+ years serving the biggest brands in industry and the biggest hearts of start-ups and entrepreneurs. Kristen revels in bringing compelling products and services to life and helping leaders and individuals with big dreams realize their big goals.

Kristen’s life joys include her 2+ year obsession creating the most beautiful self-published picture book possible, the breathtaking forests and lakes of her Minnesota birthplace, the family that really does love her no matter what, and her three magnificent Norwegian Forest Cats who together, with Kristen, helped catch the bad guy on their block that inspired her upcoming book (stake out and high speed chase included!)

She holds a master of science in eCommerce from Carnegie Mellon University, an MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, and a BA from the University of St. Thomas. As the great transformer in her life, Kristen supports others’ education and literacy as an adjunct professor of business and strategy and, more recently, through her children’s book, Inspector Dewey (Available September 2015).

Kristen’s site for her work “Inspector Dewey” will be premiering on May 31st, 2015. In addition, you can read more about Kristen’s work at threenorwegians.com, also live on May 31st.

Connect with Kristen:

Website ~ Facebook Author ~ Facebook Inspector Dewey

Giveaway:​
Prizes:

1) 1 of 10 copies of Inspector Dewey (International) or

2) 1 of (4) $20 Amazon gift cards (international) or

3) 5 books to the literacy non profit, library or school of your choice (USA only) or

4) $100 payable for vet visit for family/pet in need (USA only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Weekend Window Shopping at Birdhouse Books - Cat Postcards, New Year Cards, Children's Books

Just stopping by with a glimpse of some new arrivals at Birdhouse Books. 

You'll find all these goodies at Birdhouse Books on eBay!

Lovely French postcard, a black and white photo of a cat watching birds from an apartment railing.  This charming card would look great framed.

Vintage postcard of cats exploring the patio at the Hemingway House, Key West, Florida.

Lovely vintage New Year postcard with a fireplace and spinning wheel.

This 1910 New Year postcard shows a book and pink flowers.  It is a John Winsch postcard.

This vintage B.B. London postcard celebrates the New Year with lovely pink dogwood blossoms in a basket.

What a charming vintage postcard!  "Look Pleasant."  There is a short verse with daisies and a rural scene.

Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse is a picture book by Leo Lionni.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is one of my favorite picture books for children.  This lovely story is about snow and winter and friendship.

Wee Witches' Halloween is a picture book by Jerry Smath.

The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin is a cute Thanksgiving picture book for children.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Book Review and Giveaway: Pants! No Chance! by Susan Lanyi

Book Synopsis:
Lulupop rarely puts up a fuss, except when it comes to wearing pants. Dresses, dresses, dresses, is all she will ever wear! With time, a little drama, and no lack of imagination, Lulupop realizes that wearing dresses is not always the best choice. 

My Review:   
Before I was a blogger and vintage bookseller, I taught 3 and 4 year olds at a play-based preschool.  Each year there were always a couple of little girls who wanted to wear their prettiest dresses to school.  I always reminded parents that we would be fingerpainting, going to the playground, decorating cookies, planting flower seeds - and pants were practical for active play.  I wish that Pants! No Chance! had been in my classroom library.  It would have been a great read aloud to share.

Pants! No Chance! is a charming picture book for young children.  Lulupop wants to wear a dress to school every day, although her mother suggests that pants might be more appropriate.  Because of this, Lulupop finds riding a bike difficult, cannot participate in gym, and scrapes her knees on the playground.  Young readers will find out how she decides that it might not be such a bad idea to wear pants to school.

The storytelling in this book is fun and lively.  A week in Lulupop's school life is presented with details about each day.  The drama and school adventures will make for a great read aloud at home or in a classroom.

The illustrations by Alexandre Rouillard are charming.  The colors are bright and vivid, and the pictures help advance the story.

I would recommend this book for preschool children or early readers (kindergarten to first grade).  It would be a fun book to read at home, but also a nice addition to a school library.

Author's Bio:

Susan Lanyi lives in Montreal with her husband, three children and puppy. She is a writer and has previously been published in The Globe and Mail. When Susan is not busy writing or doing "mom stuff" she is shopping for dresses with her daughter….Too bad her daughter only wants to wear pants!

​​

Connect with Susan: Website ~ Twitter

Where to buy the book:

Domnizelles Publications
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Barnes & Nobles

​Giveaway:​

​Prize: ​One of 5 print copies of Pants! No Chance! Open internationally. Ends March 7.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Book Review: Reindeer Dust - Kate Dwyer and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Reindeer Dust is a picture book for children written by Kate Dwyer and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff.  This Christmas story is about Santa's reindeer, who are tired from work one year.   A smart little boy named William comes up with a recipe for reindeer dust to attract and feed the reindeer.

The book includes a poem for children to read on Christmas Eve, and a recipe for reindeer dust.  (It contains brown sugar, oats, and bran.)

The story is told in rhyme, and it would make a fun read aloud for preschool age children.   The illustrations are charming with a retro inspired flare and an appealing color palette of seafoam green with pastels and red.

I think this book (and the reindeer dust activity!) would make a fun annual tradition.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway: Liesl's Ocean Rescue

Liesl's Ocean Rescue is a picture book by Barbara Krasner, illustrated by Avi Katz.  This moving story for children is based on a real life person, Liesl Joseph Loeb.  Liesl was 10 years old when she left Germany with her parents in 1939. They traveled with 900 other Jewish refugees on the MS St. Louis to Havana, Cuba.

Incredibly, the boat was turned away in Cuba and also could not find harbor in the United States.  Liesl's father negotiated with the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee's Paris Office and found refuge for the boat's passengers.

This book has a powerful message for elementary school level children about Jewish history and the power of heroic people to overcome.  There is a historical note by the author at the end of the book, as well as a list of books and DVDs for further study.  

Liesl's Ocean Rescue is movingly told, with a narrative that begins in Germany in 1938 and ends with safety for the MS St. Louis passengers in 1939.  Liesl is a brave and inspiring girl, and she will capture the hearts of young readers.  The illustrations by Avi Katz are beautifully done.

I highly recommend this book for young readers, for classroom study, and for home libraries.   

About the Author and Illustrator:

Barbara Krasner is a historian and professor of creative writing. She publishes the popular blog, The Whole Megillah: The Writer’s Resource for Jewish-Themed Story. She runs workshops and conferences for Jewish writers at the Highlights Foundation and in conjunction with the Association of Jewish Libraries. Barbara has a B.A. in German from Douglass College, an M.B.A. in Marketing from the Rutgers Business School and an M.F.A. in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a candidate for the M.A. in Applied Historical Studies at William Paterson University.

Connect with Barbara Krasner online:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Blog

Illustrator Avi Katz was born in Philadelphia where he studied in the Schechter and Akiba schools as well as the Fleischer Art Memorial. After three years at U.C. Berkeley he moved to Israel at age 20, where he graduated in Fine Arts from the Bezalel Art Academy. He was the staff artist of the Jerusalem Report Magazine from its first issue in 1990 until 2012, and is active in the international Cartooning for Peace program. He has illustrated over 160 books in Israel and the U.S. including the National Jewish Book Award winning JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible. His books have also won the IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Honors four times and Israel’s Ze’ev Prize six times. His art has been exhibited in Israel, America and Europe.

Connect with Avi  Katz online:

Website

Book Trailer:



Where To Buy The Book:

Gihon River Press

Amazon

Book Depository

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway: Whiny Whiny Rhino

Whiny Whiny Rhino is a new picture book for children written and illustrated by McBoop.  McBoop is the father-daughter team of Carmin Iadonisi and Amanda Iadonisi-Word. 

Whiny Whiny Rhino tells the story of a little rhinoceros who whines because he is afraid to try new things.  His brothers encourage him to be tough.  He goes out to have fun with his animal friends instead.  He chooses not to swim with his alligator and elephant pals because the weather might be too cold.  He doesn't want to play ball with his bird buddies because he might fall.  His bat friends invite him to explore a cave, but he decides it is too dark.  He goes home, disappointed that he did not have fun all day.  When he ventures out again, his friends are riding in a wagon.  He trips and ends up in the wagon and surprises himself by having fun -- while trying something new!  

This story for children is told in rhyme, and it is perfect for a preschool read aloud.   The bright, colorful illustrations are sure to please young children.  The message about being brave to try new things is a great one for young readers.  

I would enthusiastically recommend Whiny Whiny Rhino for preschool age children. It is available in paperback and Kindle format at Amazon.

I received this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

iRead and McBoop are sponsoring a book giveaway.   14 winners will receive a copy of Whiny Whiny Rhino.  The entry is easy, by Rafflecopter form.
a Rafflecopter giveaway