I CAN EXPLAIN
I CAN EXPLAIN by Shinsuke Yoshitake is hilarious.
It Features a cute boy who has an explanation for everything he does.
When he picks his nose, it’s not “bad manners” it’s because there’s a button at the back of his nose that releases lots of cheerful beams whenever he touches it, lol.
Each explanation is hilariously funny but also fosters imagination.
With witty illustrations this books makes a great read aloud and it’s perfect for toddlers. Publisher: Chronicle Books(Age 2-6)
THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE
THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE by Thomas Harding is the true story of a house, its history, and the four families who make it home.
The house was home to a doctor and his family, and they lived happily, playing and planting veggies and swimming in the lake, but soon some angry men came and took the family away, leaving the house alone.
A year later, another family lived, and they filled the house with music and love, but that family fled because of the war. The house was once empty again.
Soon another family moved in and found shelter and safety from the war outside, but soon the house was struck with bullets and the family had to escape to another shelter leaving the house alone.
With cobwebs and leaves all around, the house was abandoned, but finally, a new family came after many years.
They fixed up the dilapidated house and children played in the lake once again. The house felt alive and full of laughter and love, but a wall was built restricting them from enjoying their wonderful surroundings.
After some years the wall was broken and the children ran and swam free, but everyone moved away again and the house was along.
Then finally a young man entered and with the help from neighbors, they fixed the house until it was new again.
This book is absolutely amazing and holds strong bonds between families and the value a home brings. People say a house is not a house without people in it.
The wonderful illustrations by Britta Teckentrup are magnificent
It did not matter who occupies the house, whether it was German spies or refugees; the house served a purpose to provide warm shelter and absorb the love and kindness that’s within.
Thank you to our besties for sending us this gem. AGE 6-10, PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press.
SLEUTH & SOLVE
SLEUTH & SOLVE by Victor Escandell features 20+ mind-twisting mysteries that are interactive fun.
Each puzzle allows you to think logically and imaginatively to solve them, which encourages critical thinking.
The stories are historical fiction, so it awakens imagination, and you can play by yourself or with friends and family.
We are obsessed with this book, and it is perfect for middle graders and young adults who love mysteries.
Each page is ladened with bright, vibrant illustrations that are inviting and literally look like a board game in a book. AGE 6-10, PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books.
SOUND
SOUND by Romana Romanyshyn is absolutely beautiful. It pays homage to sound by featuring the many ways sound influences us.
Sound is the vibration of particles in space received by the organs of hearing, which is the ear and measured in decibels.
Whether loud, soft, familiar, or new, sound is all around us. We create music because of sound, and we all have our unique way of sounding. This is our voice.
This book is marvelous and loaded with information about sounds. From the frequency to the many ways we hear sounds, it is definitely a must-have for little scientists.
The bright and vibrant neon illustrations by Avdriy Lesiv are breathtaking. AGE 4-10, PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books.
THERE MUST BE MORE THAN THAT
THERE MUST BE MORE THAN THAT by Shinsuke Yoshitake is an instant favorite of ours.
As a girl ponders on the future, her brother worries her about what he’s been told the future is going to be. “It’s doomed with famine and alien invasions,” he says, but there must be more than that.
As she panics, she is reassured of the many possibilities of the future by her wise grandma. “No one really knows what will happen in the future,” grandma says. Maybe you can eat hot dogs everyday or celebrate Christmas every Saturday. Who knows?
We love this book because it provides hope for tomorrow that children can relate to. The future can be anything. Good, bad, hopeful, or hopeless.
Either way, we should not worry because our future is ours, and we have so many endless possibilities. Special thank you to our bookish besties for sending us this gem. AGE 2-8, PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books.
CATCH THAT CHICKEN
CATCH THAT CHICKEN by Atinuke features a little girl named Lami, who is the best chicken catcher in the village.
Her brother and friends were great at spelling, braiding, and brave with bulls, but Lami was the fastest at catching chickens. Until one day she chased a chicken up a Baobab tree and fell.
She sprained her ankle and could no longer chase chickens. What was Lami going to do, how could she do the one thing she loved doing? With some wise words from her Nana Nadia, Lami figured out a way to have the chicken come to her instead.
She learned that catching chickens isn’t about being the fastest, but being the smartest. Children love to play and run around, but they might not be as cautious as they should be.
The brilliant and bright illustrtions by Angela Brooksbank are absolutely magnificent. AGE 4-8, PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press.
ME AND THE WORLD
Did you know that people in India read the most and that Hong Kong is the most visited city in the world?
ME AND THE WORLD by Mireia Trius is a magnificent infographic book about this beautiful and diverse world we live in.
From the different types of families to different jobs, homes, school uniforms, and even playground games, this book highlights our differences, and what makes each country, each culture, and each person special?
Thanks to the vibrant and vivid illustrations by Joana Casals, this is the perfect pictorial Encyclopedia for children and even adults.
Teachers and Educators will love it, we couldn’t put this book down. AGE 4-8, PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books.
A WHALE OF A MISTAKE
A WHALE OF A MISTAKE by Ioana Hobai teaches people to embrace their mistakes and not allow them to weigh you down.
It reassures children that no matter the mistake, there is often a greater mistake being done by someone else and it’s perfectly fine.
It is beautifully illustrated and sends a great message. AGE 4-6, PUBLISHER: Page Street Kids.
SEEDS
SEEDS by Carme Lemniscates is easily our favorite springtime book for 2020. It starts with the most important sentence in the entire book; SEEDS CARRY THE POWER OF LIFE. It outlines the relevance and importance of seeds and portrays the reoccurring life cycle of seeds and its role in nature. A seed is tiny but can grow in size and quantity.
NEIGHBORS
NEIGHBORS by Kasya Denisevich features a little girl exploring her new neighborhood.
Like most people, she is curious to know what her neighbors are like. Are they like her or different, what if there are no neighbors, and she is all alone?
She realizes that they are all connected, even if it’s from ceiling to floor or wall to wall and the only way to know for sure is to venture out and meet them.
Moving to a new neighborhood is great, but we all wonder what our neighbors are like. Will they be friendly, mean, or quiet? Either way, it’s great to make friends and meet new people.
We loved the wonderful and imaginative illustrations that allow children to explore the unknown. More colors emerge as she ventures out. Special thank you to our bookish besties for sending us this book. Link in bio to get this and more of our faves. AGE 4-8, PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books.
THIS OR THAT?
THIS OR THAT? by Pippa Goodhart explores the many artifacts of the British Museum.
It is interactive and loaded with information, giving you an array of options to play with as if you were virtually visiting the museum.
From tents to treehouses, sandals to slippers or different modes of transportation, children will love the variety and splendid attributes this book has to offer.
What even more amazing is the index at the end of the book listing dates and information about every article pictured.
The illustrations are absolutely amazing. Thank you @nosycrow for sending us this gem. AGE 4-8, PUBLISHER: Nosy Crow
GROW
GROW: Secrets of our DNA is a fascinating book by Nicola Davies, that’s loaded with important information about our DNA.
It features detailed info about organisms on earth and the components that make them what they are. These components determine how we grow.
From the time you were the size of a tiny dot, your body has been following a set of instructions written in a code made of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA.
Children will be extremely excited to learn about the genetic code and their similarities and differences. Teachers, educators, and aspiring Biologists will revel in the details of this book It’s a total must-have.
This book is so beautiful, and the illustrations by Emily Sutton are beyond captivating. Thanks to our bookish besties @candlewickpress for sending us this book. AGE 5-10, PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press.
JOBS YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF
Natalie Labarre’s INCREDIBLE JOBS YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF features over 60 unique jobs that most people don’t know about.
From Cow Massagers to a Christmas Lights detangler, this book explores them and provides information about what they entail.
It’s interactive and fun with hidden objects that encourage children to explore the pages.
It motivates children to be whatever they want to be and inspires them to create their own jobs. The illustrations are magnificent with glossy, vibrant colors that children will love. AGE 6-10, PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press.
LET'S GET SLEEPY
Tony Cliff’s LET’S GET SLEEPY is such a fun and exciting book to read.
After waking up one morning, a clowder of cats embarks on a quest to get Sleepy the mouse.
Sleepy was the prince of the night, Master of Dreams and King of Moonlight, but he was also very sneaky.
They searched through the neighborhood parade, the beach, through wintery mounts and prehistoric times and even out of space, but they still couldn’t catch that sneaky mouse. Will they find Sleepy or will he find them?
LET’S GET SLEEPY takes little readers on a delightful and whimsical journey of a cat-and-mouse chase of hide and seek as they help the cats find Sleepy. It’s full of imagination and the cats are adorable.
We love that Sleepy is a metaphor for sleep, and it encourages children to get out and explore.
It’s great for bedtime and best of all, the illustrations are amazing with beautiful gradients that pop and set the mood on every page. @mackidsbooks We love this one SO much, thank you for sharing it with us. AGE 2-6, PUBLISHER: Imprint.
SANDCASTLE
One of the best things about visiting the beach as a child is building sandcastles.
In SANDCASTLE by Einat Tsarfati a cute girl visits the beach with her parents and builds a sandcastle unlike any other. This sandcastle was huge with massive windows that overlooked the ocean.
People came from everywhere to see her castle. Kings and Queens, princesses, and knights had fun dancing and playing, until they realized everything was made of sand. That made them upset.
A fun game of sand-ball fight made them happy again, but caused the castle to tumble into the sea. SANDCASTLE explores a world of imagination that children will enjoy. It promotes creativity and resilience with a great message.
The bright and exquisite sandpaper-ish illustrations are delightful and remind you of a perfect beach day. AGE 4-6, PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press.
LITTLE GREEN DONKEY
LITTLE GREEN DONKEY by Anuska Allepuz is such an adorable book. It features a little donkey who loves eating grass.
He ate it every chance he got until he started turning green. His mom suggested he try new foods, so he tried apples, watermelons, and even broccoli, but he liked none of them. He tried carrots and loved it so much; he ate it every chance he got and guess what? He started turning orange.
This book is hilarious and encourages children to try new things and to be creative with food.
The green-orange illustrations are beautiful and vibrant, and the donkey is so adorable. Thank you to our bookish besties @candlewickpress for sending us this book. AGE 4-6, PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press.
KARATE KIDS
KARATE KIDS by Holly Sterling is absolutely delightful. It features a cute girl named Maya as she goes to her Saturday morning Karate class.
Wearing her crisp white uniform called a “gi”, she meets her friends and teacher at the Dojo and they learn Karate.
First, they greet their Sensei, then practice moves such as “age uke” and “gedan barai.” Her friends also help her with the moves and after practice, they cool down with a “mokuso” or breathing exercise.
This book is perfect for children who love Karate. It’s great for improving their flexibility and they learn discipline and respect. It’s also a wonderful way to remain active during these times.
The karate steps in the book are easy to follow along and the illustrations are bright and engaging.
I especially love how diverse the children are on the cover. AGE 4-6, PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press.
SOÉ DE STORK
All the way from Indonesia, SOÉ DE STORK by M. Tiyasaa is a sweet story about self-acceptance and friendship.
It’s the first day at a new school and Soé is excited to meet new friends.
Gili de pigeon politely waved her good morning, but she was not interested in being her friend. She wanted to find a cooler friend, so she kept looking. She introduced herself to Poso de Peacock, but he was too busy and chased her away. Soé felt sad.
The next day she met a fancy but angry crowned crane and a mean singing Cockatoo who all rejected her friendship. Feeling confused, she receives some encouraging words from the very pigeon she rejected at the beginning. She learned that it wasn’t about being everyone’s favorite or being cool; it was about having fun with good friends.
This book teaches a valuable lesson of genuine friendship and how your appearances don’t have to define who you are. The illustrations are so bright and beautifully articulated.
A STORY ABOUT AFIYA
A STORY ABOUT AFIYA by James Berry is a captivating book that features a young, spirited girl named Afiya.
She owns a white frock that she washes every night because it collects everything she encounters on her adventures during the day.
Whether it’s walking through the rose and sunflower fields, visiting animals at the zoo, or watching the fishes by the sea, they all imprinted on her white dress. When she returns home, her frock is adorned with sketches and designs she picked up along the way.
A STORY ABOUT AFIYA pays homage to the playfulness and imaginative nature that is the beauty of childhood.
Rather than seeing the dress full of dirt, it reflected the fun and adventures Afiya had during the day.
The illustrations by Ann Cunha are majestic with chalk-like hues that capture the message in the book. AGE 2-6, PUBLISHER: Lantana Publishing.
THE BOY WHO DREAMED OF INFINITY
I first learned about world-renowned Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan when I saw the movie “The Man Who Knew Infinity” starring Dev Patel and loved every minute. (Check it out)
Amy Alznauer’s THE BOY WHO DREAMED OF INFINITY features his life as a child growing up in South India. Born in 1887, as a child he never talked much, but he had a passion for numbers which often got him in trouble. He wanted to understand how many numbers made a single number by understanding how they work.
Deemed unteachable by several teachers, Ramanujan left school and studied math on his own, using college math books. He studied math every chance he got and discovered intricate formulas and patterns. Will an endless list of tiny numbers add up to one or infinity?
Soon Ramanujan’s ideas on infinity were admired all over the world. He was a genius at Mathematics, and like most child geniuses, often misunderstood.
With exquisite and vibrant illustrations by Daniel Miyares, this book is perfect for young aspiring Mathematicians. It’s very inspirational and encourages children to embrace their differences and to never be afraid to explore their curiosity. Thank you to our bookish besties @candlewickpress for sending us this gem. Perfect for middle graders. AGE 6-10, PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press.
SUMMER FEET
Summer to some means bare feet and open-toe shoes. SUMMER FEET by Sheree Fitch is a poetic ode to summer feet.
It celebrates every hop-scotching, hide-and-seeking, tree climbing, toe-tapping on the grass, toes that enjoy the freedom summer gives it.
I will inspire children to explore the joys of summer feet in the sand and stomping in muddy puddles.
The illustrations by Carolyn Fisher marvelously adorn every page with summer delight. AGE 4-8, PUBLISHER: Nimbus Publishing.
THE SEED OF COMPASSION
THE SEED OF COMPASSION by His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivers a valuable lesson in Compassion.
It features his life as a boy in Tibet and the lessons his mother taught him.
She taught him the importance of sharing and showing compassion to everyone around them. She raised him on a diet of love and always give to those less fortunate.
It shows his life as a Buddhist and the many lessons that the monks taught him. No matter how many lessons he learned, he always remembered the seed of compassion that his mother planted in him as a child.
The Dalai Lama has done many remarkable things, and we see his compassion throughout the world. This book is amazing and is a perfect example of what we need in the world today.
Anyone can learn to be compassionate, and this book teaches children that Compassion isn’t just giving goods but it’s also giving a genuine smile with a genuine heart.
The illustrations by Bao Luu are so realistic. It vibrant and sets the scene for the entire book. AGE: 6-12, PUBLISHER: Kokila Books.
BE PATIENT, CIRCE
With uplifting rhymes, Natalie McChlery promotes self-love and self-acceptance in her debut book, BE PATIENT, CIRCE’.
Circe’ is a young phoenix who worries that she won’t be as good as the other students at her school. Her friend Kaliope the mermaid is an amazing singer and Lutfi the unicorn is thoughtful and sweet. They both receive praises from the teacher and Circé wants praises too.
Each day she discusses her dilemma with Mama Phoenix who gives her wonderful advice. Be patient, learn from others, and be yourself are some gems her mother gives.
This book encourages children to be themselves while being patient and working hard to achieve their goals.
The relatability of the story is current and relevant, which makes it a perfect book for teachers and educators who wish to promote self-approval and acceptance within the school system.
Children sometimes feel pressured to be like their peers.
This informative book helps parents answer some tough questions children ask, while reassuring them they will always be ENOUGH.
AGE 4-8, PUBLISHER: Hasmark Publishing.
MADAME BADOBEDAH
MADAME BADOBEDAH by Sophie Dahl is a delightful book about an unlikely friendship between a mysterious, uppity hotel guest and the hotel manager’s inquisitive daughter Mabel.
The strange guest whom Mabel named Madame Badobedah was mean and came with a lot of bags. This made Mabel curious about her.
Is she an ancient supervillain, running from the police? It was time to spy, Mabel thought. What happens when this mysterious recluse invites Mabel for tea? Maybe Madame Badobedah just needs companionship or a friend.
This book is SO creative and full of imagination. Children bring out the best in people, and after their encounter, Madame Badobedah was never the same.
She was no longer lonely, and her days were full of pirate adventures and crawling through secret pathways that lead to the ocean.
The illustrations by Lauren O’Hara have a rustic yet mysterious feel that keep readers engaged and curious to know more.
Sometimes we think we know someone life, but often times we have no clue and getting to know someone can be amazing.
Perfect for elementary/middle grade. Special thanks to our Book Besties @walkerbooksus for this book. I couldn’t wait to review this. AGE 6-10, PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press.
