Children's Book Review: Nana Claus and the Thank-You Notes (Nana Claus, #2) by Kelly Reddin, illustrated by Aiman Sohail

Nana Claus and the Thank-You Notes by Kelly Reddin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fun but important teaching tool about expressing gratitude with a simple note.

Nana Claus and the Thank-You Notes is the second book in author Kelly Reddin’s delightful Nana Claus children’s picture book series that both entertains and educates. In this story, Nana Claus helps her young visitors – Liam, Juanita, Akira, and Caleb – learn to write thank-you notes to express gratitude for kindnesses from others, a topic their teacher presented at school that day.

With emailing, talking, and texting as the most common ways to communicate, it is rare to see handwritten letters or notes in the mail anymore. Not only does the sender have to gather writing materials to prepare the letter, but once the letter is complete, they must buy postage and perhaps even take it to the post office to send it on its journey to its recipient. Then, of course, there is the wait for it to be received and read, with a response hopefully coming even later.

However, it is this very added effort that makes the thank-you note and the recipient feel extra special. I loved Nana’s discussion of this and appreciated how she gave the children simple prompts for what the thank-you notes can contain. Haven’t we all been stuck at one time or another about what actually to say in one?

The colorful, realistic illustrations by Aiman Sohail were full of detail and really enhanced this helpful tale. This storybook would have been a helpful treasure to have when my boys were growing up, and I know they would have loved Nana Claus, who looks exactly as I pictured her in a modern home setting.

I recommend NANA CLAUS AND THE THANK-YOU NOTES to readers with young children who are learning to write and to anyone older needing a helpful hint or friendly refresher on writing notes of gratitude.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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Book Review: Chicken Fun by Mary Jo Huff

Chicken Fun by MaryJo Huff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For the chicken fan inside all of us.

Chicken Fun by Mary Jo Huff and illustrated by Wendy Fedan gives readers exactly what the title says: Chicken Fun, and that fun is for the cartoon chickens and readers as they smile their way through the ten chickens' antics. With bright colors, clever rhymes, and delightful drawings that magically portray the flock's energetic movements, readers of all ages will find something to enjoy.

Each set of pages highlights the activities of a pair of fluffy cartoon chickens, who could be dancing, munching on snacks, outrunning an aggressive bee, or even going on a date. Rhyming descriptions tell the story, which are punctuated by a funny "Bakk Baba Bakk Baba Bakk Bakk Bakk" refrain that, if delivered with gusto, will capture the attention and amusement of young listeners during a read-aloud. Rhyming, cadence, numbers, and counting are all there to build young ideas and reinforce familiarity with such concepts.

My boys would have loved this book when they were small, and I would have been clucking and "Baba-Bakking" until I couldn't possibly have "baba-ed" out another "bakk" to save my life. I recommend CHICKEN FUN for reading aloud and sharing with the youngest readers and listeners among us at home, in the classroom, or in afterschool programs.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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Book Review: Relatively Normal Secrets (The Falinnheim Chronicles, #1) by C.W. Allen

Relatively Normal Secrets by C.W. Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fast-paced and full of surprises, with engaging main child characters!

Relatively Normal Secrets is the first book in author C.W. Allen’s delightful middle-grade fantasy series, The Falinnheim Chronicles, and features two precocious and curious siblings, Zed and Tuesday Furst. Obsessed with their parents’ shadowy pasts that no amount of questioning seems to shed any light on, Zed and Tuesday decide to take the opportunity to search their house for clues when their parents leave for a short business trip. Instructed to head directly to a trusted neighbor’s home after school, the brother and sister decide to detour to their own home instead to put their plan in action.

Before they can even make a cursory look, two large, menacing men show up at the house and try to grab them and their pet dog, Nyx. With Nyx’s intervention, they escape through the woods behind the house, where they are magically transported to another land called Falinnheim. Suspecting the evil men will soon be on their trail, they travel to the nearest town in hopes of finding a way to return home and reunite with their parents.

The two Furst siblings are fun, smart kids with engaging personalities and a talent for getting into trouble. Their questions about their parents’ pasts are relatable, and their parents’ deft deflection very mysterious. The various conspiracy theories and possible alternate lives the kids dream up to explain their parents’ reactions were wild and fun, and I loved how the two siblings worked together to find answers throughout the story.

The plot is fast-paced and full of surprises, with magical elements, bandits, an evil, tyrannical leader, and a dangerous resistance group in hiding. The children find direction in mysterious, altered nursery rhymes left for them along the path of their journey, and Nyx proves to be more than just a pet dog. The exciting cliffhanger ending left me anxious for the next book.

Ivy Tara Blair ably narrates the audiobook and creates distinct voices for each character. I appreciated the clarity of her delivery and the variety and vocal nuances she used to create the impression of different speakers. I would be happy to listen to more of her narrations.

I recommend RELATIVELY NORMAL SECRETS to fans of middle-grade fantasy books.

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Children's Book Review: Ziva the Great by Cindy J. Vanous; illustrated by Rebeckah Gerstner

Ziva the Great by Cindy J. Vanous
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lovely story with unexpected emotional depth.

Ziva the Great is the name of a beautiful Maine Coon cat and the title of this lovely children's picture book by Cindy J. Vanous. When Ziva comes to the Freedman's, she finds a home full of warmth, safety, and love, and later, when a young girl named Elsie shows up on their doorstep, a single small suitcase in hand, Ziva recognizes a kindred spirit in the way only an animal can. Together, they bond and help each other heal, getting a new start on the kind of lives they were always meant to have.

The tale is a quiet one, with so much left to the reader's imagination. We are not told the backstories of either Ziva or Elsie, but we know both have been through troubling, traumatic times. The author points out the look deep in the cat's eyes as a window into her soul. Experiences in Ziva's past destroyed her trust in humans, especially strangers, but her life with the vulnerable young Elsie is a turning point for the cat as much as it is for the sad, little girl.

The illustrations by Rebeckah Gerstner are wonderful renderings of the story's actions and emotions. Each colorful image does its utmost to bring Ziva's and Elsie's story to life.

With its poignant inferences and lovely resolution, this story is as much for older readers as it is for young listeners. I recommend ZIVA THE GREAT to picture book lovers of all ages.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.

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Children's Book Review - The Adventures of Hairy Spinner: A Friendship Discovery by Heidi Scarano

The Adventures of Hairy Spinner: A Friendship Discovery by Heidi Scarano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Charming story about an unlikely, unexpected, and unusual friendship between two young creatures!

The Adventures of Hairy Spinner: A Friendship Discovery is a delightful children’s picture book written by Heidi Scarano and illustrated by Joylin Kulp, which features the unlikely, unexpected, and unusual pairing of Hairy Spinner, a bored young spider, and Blitz, a young bat just learning to fly. They meet when Blitz, out on an early evening flight, crashes into Hairy’s spider web. Since cleaning up his web is the last thing Hairy wants to do, he jumps at the chance to ride on Blitz’s shoulder as she darts through their forest canopy home. But when the two forget how to get back to where Hairy’s mother and siblings are, things get a little scary.

Throughout the story, the two young friends learn about each other, their differences and similarities, and generally have an exciting time as Blitz perfects her flying skills. When things don’t go as planned, they support and comfort each other, helping each other to overcome their fears and not feel so alone. There is a lovely surprise leading to the happy ending that all readers will enjoy.

I liked the artwork that helps to tell Hairy and Blitz’s story, starting with the intriguing cover. While Hairy is clearly identifiable, there’s only a glimpse of another creature in the picture, hinting at what may be found when you open the book. This small mystery makes for a fun jumping-off place for introducing the story to young readers and listeners.

With its fun plot, colorful illustrations, plentiful stopping points to ask questions of a listening audience, and two unusual creatures as the main characters, THE ADVENTURES OF HAIRY SPINNER would make an excellent selection for reading aloud at home, in the classroom, or during after-school enrichment programs.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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Children's Book Review: It Takes a Forest by Jessie Todd Mayfield; illustrated by Amanda Ravensdale

It Takes a Forest by Jessie Todd Mayfield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Warm and comforting tale of a community bolstering a mom’s sacrifice.

It Takes a Forest is a warm and comforting children’s picture book by Jessie Todd Mayfield that tells the story of a mother’s sacrifice to ensure her baby’s safety and how the larger community steps up to help while she’s away doing what needs to be done. Told from the perspectives of a mother wolf and her cub, the story has clear parallels in the human world.

When a strong winter storm proves more than what the wolf den can endure, Mama Wolf seeks safety for her young cub with other residents of their forest. Finding room with the badger family, Mama temporarily leaves her baby in their loving and capable hands while she goes back into the winter landscape to improve the den, promising to return when all is well.

Each page of the book, each step of the story is beautifully illustrated by Amanda Ravensdale, emphasizing the details of Mama’s decision, the young cub’s time with the badger, and how other creatures bring food or materials to make the badger den more comfortable as they accommodate their surprise but welcome guest. While the young cub yearns for his mother to return, the experience is made palatable by the badgers’ complete acceptance and inclusion of the young one, who is different from their own.

Parents and foster parents will easily pick up on the parallels in the sacrifices that a parent may have to make on behalf of their children, while children will see the mother wolf fulfilling her promise to return after having reinforced the wolf den. Even taken at surface value, the story is a lovely one of everyone coming together when someone needs help.

I recommend IT TAKES A FOREST for children, young and old, for one-on-one sharing or reading aloud to a group.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.


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Children's Book Review - Spoons: A Family Story of Enduring Loss by J. Corn

Spoons: A Family Story of Enduring Loss by J. Corn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Colorful, simple, and comforting story about missing and remembering our loved ones who have passed on.

Spoons by J. Corn is a helpful children’s picture book about how we can gain comfort from loss by remembering our loved ones who have passed on before us. Grief, loss, and loneliness are natural feelings after the death of someone we love, but when missing them, remembering the good times with them and their special traits or talents or things that made them happy can lessen the pain of loss and make those reflections a positive and healing experience.

The author conveys these ideas through the whimsical story of the Spoon family whose Grandmother Spoon has died and becomes Grandmother “Angel” Spoon. Mom and the young Spoons miss her physical presence in their lives as they go about their day. But when they remember how she, too, enjoyed the same activities they were doing that day, they began to feel she was with them in spirit. The author color codes the lines of dialogue to the colors of the Spoon family members so readers can easily identify which of the Spoons are talking. This lovely picture book, with its simple message, would be a gentle way to open discussions with young children about the loss of someone in their lives.

I recommend SPOONS to families with young children who have recently experienced the loss of someone in their lives.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.


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Children's Book Review: Goats Afloat by Lezlie Evans, illustrated by Julia Patton

Goats Afloat by Lezlie Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whimsical and amusing retelling of The Three Billy Goats Gruff with a HEA for everyone!

Goats Afloat by Lezlie Evans is the whimsically amusing tale of a family of goats in a story with elements similar to the familiar, old fairytale of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. In this updated version, the goat family has expanded to five, and there is a wonderful happy-ever-after in store for all involved.

Told with rhyme and rhythm, rather than the possibly frightening and confrontational meetings set on the bridge pitting cunning goats against an evil troll, this is a fun story with goats on a mission to celebrate Granny Goat’s birthday at her home some ways away. Worried about the troll who lives under the bridge, which is on the only footpath to granny’s house, the goats hatch a plan to bypass it entirely and travel downriver by canoe, carrying with them a tall and delicious-looking but very unstable and wobbly birthday cake. The suspense around whether that cake is going to make it is very much a part of the fun. The young troll is very interested in what the goats are up to, but in a curiously longing fashion, as if he’s sad at being left out of the coming celebration. With a girl goat and boy goats, some less athletic and others more physically coordinated in the group, this little story has five goats of varying characteristics and abilities for children to consider and relate to, and all the characters are adorable.

What would a children’s picture be without gloriously colorful images to help tell the tale? This one is filled with cute and engaging illustrations by Julia Patton, and it has lots of fun details to examine with each and every reading. Children and the adult guiding them through the story will delight in trying to locate the shy troll hiding on every page as he follows the goats’ progress down the river in their canoe.

The book would be perfect for bedtime reading or reading aloud and sharing in larger group settings. With its variety of characters, detailed illustrations, and sweet story with its surprise ending, this book could attract interest and provide entertainment over multiple readings. I recommend GOATS AFLOAT for children of all ages and for sharing at home, in the classroom, or after-school program settings.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.

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Book Review: I'm Beautiful Because I Am by Azizi Tuere

I'm Beautiful Because I Am: Valuing Myself & Others With Empathy and Care by Azizi Tuere
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Joy-filled, relatable, and sharable!

I’m Beautiful Because I Am is the first book in author/illustrator Azizi Tuere’s children’s picture book series “Because I Am…,” and it is a lovely, joyous story of a young girl’s search for what made her HER. With its engaging main characters and gorgeous illustrations, it was easy to linger over each page and consider the child’s many discoveries.

From the cover to the very end, readers will notice that the illustrations are joyous and joy-filled, employing a vibrant color palette that makes each scene sparkle with magic. Every step of the main character’s journey through her day is relatable. Whether she’s outdoors soaking up nature, enjoying indoor hobbies and activities, or spending time with a friend or family pet, the familiar examples of the daily life of a child provide opportunities to share relatable experiences customized for the little ones in your life. At the end of the book, the author even offers suggestions for enrichment activities that are simple, doable, fun, and meaningful.

I recommend I’M BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE I AM to readers with young ones in their lives.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.


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Children's Book Review - Who Am I?: A Child's Journey of Discovery by Veronica Landers

Who Am I?: A Child's Journey of Discovery by Veronica Landers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A faith-forward, shareable journey for children and parents.

Who Am I? is a new children’s picture book by Veronica Landers that begs to be shared between children and their parents. Cozy and comfortable illustrations bring Emeri Adira and her loving family to life as she tells readers (and listeners) about her name, how it came to be hers, and what it means.

The narrative presents important ideas critical to helping children grow to adulthood with love and strength, reinforcing that they are loved and parents are there to protect, nurture, and empower them with positive words, care, and encouragement. Thought-provoking Bible verses in the story can be a starting point for discussions for adults and children alike. However, the basic story and vivid pictures are warm, loving, and worth sharing with even the youngest children.

I recommend WHO AM I? for sharing with young children and parents.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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Book Review: I Know A Guy Named Noah Guy by Jeanne Ward

I Know a Guy Named Noah Guy by Jeanne Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Everything as advertised and more!

I Know A Guy Named Noah Guy is a fun and inspiring new children’s picture book by Jeanne Ward featuring the adventures of an “everyone’s good friend” type of boy named Noah Guy. The simple narrative, which becomes catchy as can be in the musical rendition by Ward’s son, Tyler, emphasizes never giving up, being a good friend, and working together to accomplish whatever is needed. The story is illustrated in bright, vivid colors in heartwarming scenes that will make readers smile and inspire children to imagine the possibilities ahead.

As mentioned above, the entire text of this first book in the series has been set to music and recorded by the author’s son, Tyler Ward, and is available for for listening online through the author’s website or YouTube.

I recommend I KNOW A GUY NAMED NOAH GUY to young readers and reading aloud in the classroom, during afterschool programs, or at home with family.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.


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Children's Book Review: The Cats' Museum by Viviana Falleti

The Cats' Museum - Mom’s Choice Awards® Recipient! by Viviana Falleti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This based-on-the-truth story blossoms with colorful fantasy!

The Cats’ Museum by Viviana Falleti tells the history of the cats that have inhabited the famed Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, from the 18th century to the present. The cats were originally brought into the museum by Catherine the Great to combat a rampant rat problem, which they still do to this day. The initial recruits did such a good job their numbers eventually swelled to as many as 74, and staff was assigned to attend to their needs and daily maintenance, as well as weekly brushing and monthly health checks. Once a year, Catherine would provide an amazing feast for these small essential workers consisting of delicacies specifically chosen to please the feline palate. In 2005, the Hermitage Museum began holding the annual “Day of the Hermitage Cats” celebration. The areas in the museum where the cats reside are opened up, and the cats are allowed to mingle with the public. A cat-themed festival is held on the grounds for all to enjoy.

While relating this history, the author also whisks readers into an imaginative and whimsical behind-the-scenes look at the annual feline feast. What we have is a magical evening of food and fun, complete with a feline dance recital in traditional costumes. The fantastical tale is beautifully illustrated in luscious colors with intriguing details to explore again and again. The cats’ faces are delightfully expressive, and their appearance is so varied that cat lovers will be able to find an example of their favorite furry friend. Key felines are revealed to have traditional Russian names.

The narrative is perfect for reading aloud and includes questions to engage young listeners further. I recommend THE CATS’ MUSEUM for young readers and listeners, especially those who have a soft spot for cats.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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Book Review: One Little Witch by Crystal Beach

One Little Witch by Crystal Beach
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another adorable children’s picture book from the creative and talented Crystal Beach!

One Little Witch is the first book in author/illustrator Crystal Beach’s new children’s picture book series, Little Witch. This adorable debut is full of giggle-inducing rhyme and vivid, color-drenched illustrations that will have children begging for it to be read “just one more time!” While the plot revolves around a little young witch watching over her crop, the rhymes delightfully guide young readers or read-aloud listeners through counting the number of pumpkins, revealing the fun hidden secret inside each one. Perfect for the upcoming Halloween season!

I recommend ONE LITTLE WITCH to parents, caregivers, and those who have young children in their lives for reading aloud and early readers.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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