Anna & Froga: Out and About by Anouk Richard

Anna & Froga: Out and About

• Author: Anouk Ricard,  Helge Dascher (Translator)

• Grade Level: 3 - 5
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly (June 21, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1770462406
• ISBN-13: 978-1770462403 
• Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly
• https://www.drawnandquarterly.com/anna-and-froga-out-and-about

  About the Book

In the fifth volume of Anouk Ricard's hilarious modern kids’ classic, Anna, Froga, Ron, Christopher, and Bubu continue their non-adventures with bickering, needling, cajoling, and honest friendship. No white lie goes unexposed, no small embarrassment goes unrevealed, no secret is kept. For Christmas, the gang decides to forego shopping malls and make their own gifts for one another; Bubu goes on a retreat to shed a few extra pounds and get in touch with his zen side; a vampire with exceptional Scrabble skills moves in next door; and the five friends embark on an unforgettable trip to Paris, where they stay in an itsy-bitsy apartment. Rarely is friendship treated so realistically and delightfully as it is in the comics of Anouk Ricard.

My Review

I feel slightly awkward writing this review because I have to confess the book has gone missing. I usually write my reviews with the book sitting right next to me. However, I know why the book has gone missing. Since we received this book from the publisher about a month ago, my children have been obsessed with the quirky, mildly inappropriate, and the unapologetic dialogue between the characters in this book. They have it hidden in their rooms, safe from me taking it away for the purpose of writing reviews. The content is definitely intended for an older audience (8-10 years old). However, my four-year-old has spent countless hours pouring over the bright illustrations.

 What makes the dialogue so hysterical, is because I can actually hear people saying the phrases. Sometimes, when you read children's books, the dialogue comes across as cutesy.

However, the author also knows how to go without any dialogue to get a point across.  In particular, there are two pages that show hot air balloon safety rules which exemplify creative restraint where words are not necessary. My youngest child loves these pages probably because it shows a series of things she would try to do if she had the chance. (See image below.)

I also appreciate how come pages look like comic book pages, and other pages look like they were taken from a children's picture book. For kids who are reluctant readers, this book is an excellent example of making stories intelligent and visually enticing to draw in the reader.

My nine-year-old daughter told me what she likes the most about this book is how each of the characters is unique. The book celebrates their differences rather than have them all act and dress the same way. The book is broken up into several short stories. Her favorite of the short stories is one called "Smartyphone." In this short story, the dog character, who is named Bubu, finds a smart phone and keeps it. When his friends find out he kept a phone he found, they debate whether or not he should try to find the owner. Eventually, the owner of the phone calls and finds the kids. Bubu learned a lesson to try and return items that are found. My daughter told me she really liked how it taught a moral that you should return found items without sounding "like a teacher." This is why I think the book will appeal to the third to fifth grader.

 

Check it out for sale on Amazon:

FTC Required Disclosures:
 *I received a review copy from the publisher free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!

Better Days

I should be writing reviews for books I have received the past couple of months to review, but my desire to write has been stalled. (So if you sent me a book, I haven't forgotten about you. I promise.)

An accumulation of a million excuses has dried up my drive to share the books that continue to shape my daughters' worlds. While my thoughts can't seem to formulate into complete sentences these past couple of months, I have replaced writing with running. Running to find myself and where I belong in this world.

I am thankful for the puppy (Bretagne) we adopted from Angels Among Us Pet Rescue because she has shown me what pure joy is when running. We sprint up hills and splash in streams. It isn't a chore to run, when I run with her. She smiles when we run.

I decided to train for the Disney Marathon in January of 2017 with Team in Training. So many times, early in the morning as we run through the trails of Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield, I am overwhelmed with the spirits of those who have lost their lives as the fog lifts from the fields. Sometimes, Bretagne will stop dead stride and stare, as if she has seen a spirit. Sounds hokey, I am sure. However, somewhere around 4000 people died during the battles that happened during the Civil War on that mountain, so I imagine it is possible. I think a lot about life and death. I think about friends and family I have lost along the way, especially those that have lost their battle with cancer. Cancer is such a horrific illness, it makes me wonder if it is any different that walking into a bayonet, how many men lost their lives on the trails I run.

This morning, as I was running, I ended up wanting to tack on an extra half mile, so we turned down a path that I had never been down before today. As I turned onto the trail, the song Better Days by Eddie Vedder came on my iPod.  The trail was magical, lush with green moss, a flowing stream, and flush with wildlife that that hadn't been disturbed yet by runners that morning. We saw a beautiful white owl take flight, and the sadness that had been inside of me seemed to be replaced with hope. Running for a cause, even if I will only make a small bit of a difference seems to give meaning to the thousands of steps that I take each day.

"I'm running... from something

I'm running towards the day... wide awake

all whispered... once quiet
now rising to a scream... right in me

I'm fallin'... free fallin'

world's calling me... up off my knees

oh, I'm soaring... yeah, and darling
you'll be the one that I can need..... still be free

our future's paved with better days." Eddie Vedder- Better Days

If you want to check out my fundraising page, please check it out: http://bit.ly/runjennay.
If you choose to donate, please know that during my runs, I will run for the people in your life that have been affected by cancer, in hopes for better days.

Take me out to the ballgame! Books about baseball review

When I was a little girl, I played for our town's softball league. (I mean I mostly stood in the outfield picking flowers.) I was actually really bad at softball, and I can remember my coach begging me to not swing because I just couldn't make contact with the ball. The only thing I could do was bunt because I could outrun the ball to the base. Even though I was horrible, my dad loved watching us play. When he got sick years later, and my younger brother was still in high school, I knew it killed him that he could no longer throw a baseball around in the backyard. And I am a little sad my brother had to miss out on all the hours I used to spend with my dad tossing the ball back and forth. Had these two books been published when my siblings and I were little, I am sure my dad would have loved reading them to us.

MY FIRST BOOK OF BASEBALL: A Rookie Book by Sports Illustrated for Kids

(Time Inc. Books, April 2016, ages 3-6)

• Grade Level: Preschool - 1
• Lexile Measure: 470
• Series: Sports Illustrated Kids
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1618931679
• ISBN-13: 978-1618931672

About the Book

This all-star lineup tells the story of baseball so that youngest fans can understand it. Perfect for beginning readers, the pages feature straightforward text, fun images, and colorful Sports Illustrated photographs to share the excitement of Major League Baseball. There's even full glossary of essential baseball terms and phrases to inspire a love of America's favorite pastime.

My Review 

My First Book of Baseball is an introduction to baseball for any kid interested in learning about the sport. The book reads like an how to guide, explaining all the rules of the game. Each page contains a combination of real photographs of baseball and illustrations to drive home the concepts of the game. Each page is full of color and printed on high quality paper, making it attractive to even the youngest of readers. 

I read the book again tonight with my youngest daughter. She has had no exposure to baseball, so she was a good litmus test at how well the book explains the sport. Reading it with her, I did find some of the terminology used in the book potentially confusing. My almost four year old could not really grasp the concepts of "offense" and "defense." Even though the book defined the terms, these words were used in the book before they were explained. I kept having to stop and explain things, like the term bullpen, as we read through the book. However, I think that for kids who have already been exposed to this sport and enjoy playing or watching it, I think this book would make a fantastic addition to a home library. I plan on donating it to my daughter's school because I know many of the kids that attend the school would enjoy looking through the pages of this book over and over again.

Baseball Then to WOW by Sports Illustrated for Kids

(Time Inc. Books, April 2016, ages 6-14)

About the Book 

Take a home run of a journey through time with this history of America's passion for baseball that captures every aspect of the sport from then to now. How have baseballs, gloves, uniforms, and even rules changed, and what did we do before instant replay? This look at how baseball grew up through the years appeals to a wide range of baseball-loving readers. 

• Grade Level: 1 - 9
• Lexile Measure: 1150
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Language: English
  
• ISBN-10: 1618931423
• ISBN-13: 978-1618931429

My Review 

The book Baseball Then to Wow! is a collection of interesting facts and figures about the game of baseball all contained within the glossy and vibrant pages of a hardcover book. Baseball Then to Wow! is definitely for any kid who has a love for the game and wants to learn everything there is to know about the sport. I could imagine kids obsessively reading this book over and over again to memorize all the fascinating tidbits. I really enjoyed when the book talked about the changes in technology over the years. Seeing the improvement in technology for the fields, stadiums, bats, and balls over time really helped me to put in perspective how science plays a role even in the sports we play. I recommend this book for the baseball obsessed youth. It would make a great gift for a player as the school team seasons draw to a close.

FTC Required Disclosures:
 *I received a review copy from the author free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!

Animal Planet's Animal Bites Books- Where Young Readers Discover Nature

I am so very excited to share these two, newly published books from Time Inc. and Animal Planet. These books, for the past month, have become staples in our house for reading, exploration, and contemplation about the world around us.

Animal Planet Polar Animals (Animal Bites Series)

• Author: Animal Planet and Laaren Brown
• Age Range: 7 - 10 years
• Grade Level: Preschool - 3
• Lexile Measure: 850
• Series: Animal Bites
• Flexibound: 80 pages
• Publisher: Animal Planet (March 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 161893161X
• ISBN-13: 978-1618931610

 

 

About the Book:

With more than 200 gorgeous animal photos of penguins, polar bears, sea lions, walruses, reindeer and others, Animal Planet Polar Animals is a fun, habitat-by-habitat guide that provides kids in the first years of schooling with the perfect bite-sized view of their favorite animals living in both polar climates. Arranged thematically with focus on animal behavior and family relationships, young readers will explore sections about animal bodies, baby animals, food, play time, conservation, and more. Special book features designed for this age group include Quick Bites sidebars with cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of the coldest places on Earth.

Animal Planet Ocean Animals (Animal Bites Series)

• Age Range: 7 - 10 years
• Grade Level: Preschool - 3
• Lexile Measure: 860
• Series: Animal Bites
• Flexibound: 80 pages
• Publisher: Animal Planet (March 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1618931628
• ISBN-13: 978-1618931627

About the Book: 

With more than 200 gorgeous animal photos of sharks, whales, clown fish, jelly fish, dolphins, and others, Animal Planet Ocean Animals is a fun, habitat-by-habitat guide that provides kids in the first years of schooling with the perfect bite-sized view of their favorite ocean-dwelling animals. Arranged thematically with focus on animal behavior and family relationships, young readers will explore sections about animal bodies, baby animals, food, play time, conservation and more. Special book features designed for this age group include Quick Bites sidebars with cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of Earth's watery environments.

Miss M's Review (age 8)

In both books, I really loved the real photographs. Also, I like how the pictures have labels to explain more about each of the animals. Another thing I love is that the books have activities, places to visit, other recommended books to read, and websites to visit listed at the end of each book. I really like when the books explain what animals say and how to draw animals.

My Review

With the push in schools for children to read more non-fiction titles, there are so many publishers that are rushing to print books that are a complete bore to read for the sake of saying they meet "common core" standards. I know because my daughter, who is in third grade, brings them home and complains how terrible they are to read. Nothing aggravates me more than when young children at the beginning of their educational careers lose their love of reading because of boring texts. However, this new series from Animal Planet is like a breath of fresh air in the non-fiction section of our library. The images contained within this book are phenomenal. There are large, full page photos of animals printed on thick, glossy paper. The quality is not only in the images, but also in the writing and physical pages of the book that bring these creatures to life. While the recommended ages for these books state 7 to 10 years, my three year old has spent hours pouring over the pictures and asking me to read the captions to her. She even brought them with her sister's soccer practice a couple of times and all the little kids poured over the pages of the books while their siblings played. 

The content of these books is also excellent quality. I found the captions next to the pictures to be chock full of interesting tidbits about the animals featured in the books. The information provided is not just interesting, but there is a lot of really great science hidden into the pages of these books. Kids will learn about hydro-thermal vents, the zones of the ocean, migration patterns, and so many other fantastic concepts that teachers could use to incorporate the books into their science lessons.

What makes these books even better is that the publisher sent along these fantastic printables to supplement the series.

Who doesn't want to learn all about the different types of penguins? I mean, my youngest cannot get over the fact that there is an actual Macaroni Penguin. Here she thought macaroni was just the only thing she would eat. 

And the following two images are examples of the pages my oldest fell in love with in the books.

At the end of each book there are fun activity suggestions that include arts and crafts, physical activity, and dramatic play.  My artistic kids are always looking for inspiration, and these books provide ample extension activities to allow the books to extend into hours of play.

Go buy these books because:

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Animal Planet's R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond.) project which partners with leading animal organization to make the world a better place for domestic and wild animals.

FTC Required Disclosures:
 *I received a review copy from the author free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!

Megan's Brood- Book One by Roy Burdine - A Review.

Megan's Brood- Book 1

• Series: Megan's Brood (Book 1)
• Author: Roy Burdine
• Illustrator: Shawn McManus 
• Paperback: 107 pages
• Publisher: We Built It Publishing; Book 1 edition (February 28, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1495167763
• ISBN-13: 978-1495167768
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.3 inch

About the Book

New Edition - Featuring 6 New Full Page Illustration Megan's life is uprooted when her family moves to a new house in a far away town where she discovers a tiny brood of mysterious creatures living in the attic. As she raises them each begin to manifest unique traits of their own -- one that blows fire like a dragon, one who sprouts wings and flies, and a girl with a hypnotic singing voice, are just a few among the group. The mystery of where these fantastical creatures come from and what their ultimate purpose might be leads Megan down an exciting path to adventure and discovery (and not just a little danger!) Written by Roy Burdine and beautifully Illustrated by Shawn McManus. (Sandman, Fables)

My Review

This is not a book I would typically pick up. It is dark and brooding, a way that I used to be but no longer am. However, I was intrigued by the concept of the book. Here is a girl, ripped from here school and moved to a new town with her family. In her loneliness, she discovers a brood of creatures to keep her company in her attic room. Adventures ensue when one of the creatures turns against them, but Megan finds her purpose.

While, I have aged out of this story, and I am not a brooding preteen or teen, I have a nine year old that is quickly approaching that brooding stage.  I see glimpses of it after a long day at school. When I look at the beautifully macabre illustrations, I see a reflection of how I was a teenager and know that kids all over will connect with Megan. I am excited that this is a series because the first book was both well written and a fast read. The book has the perfect blend of darkness without being morose, angst without being dangerous, and action without being inappropriate. I can feel comfortable as a parent passing this book along to my daughter knowing she is going to eat it up.

FTC Required Disclosures:
 *I received a review copy from the author free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!

Zen and the Art of Running on Empty

Let me start at the ending. Several months ago, I set a goal for myself to run a marathon in under four hours. Last weekend, I crossed the line in 4 hours and 52 seconds. Sigh.

Don't get me wrong, I know that my time is nothing to be ashamed of, I did pretty well; however those 52 seconds have been taunting me. I keep going over the four hours I spent running around Birmingham thinking of where I could have shaved off the extra time. I stopped to use the port-a-potty. I dropped my iPod at one point. There was that moment during mile 20 that I stopped to stretch my calf muscles. Lots of moments, lots of excuses.

The thing is, this past week as I have been wasting countless seconds worrying about my missing a goal, and indeed I have completely missed the point the past couple of days looking only at the finishing time instead of this amazing experience I have had training for the marathon. Running has been how I have coped with my anxiety, my stress, my writer's block, and my lack of desire to read or do pretty much anything else.

I ran, and I thought.

The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is credited with saying, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." As a marathon runner, I have to agree with that statement.

Page one of my book. Funny how this reminder keeps popping up today. This is not the first time today I was reminded how lucky I am to breathing.

A photo posted by Jenny (@booksbabiesandbows) on Oct 9, 2015 at 4:00pm PDT

Years ago, I had given up running after completing a lackluster college running. I never was able to run the way I ran in high school. I essentially forgot why I fell in love with running in the first place. Always focused on times, I never could really enjoy the journey. I didn't know how to breathe.

I am no fitness model. I am no superstar. I am just a working mom trying to fit in exercise on a rainy day. Miss M is home sick today, so I opted for running sprints up the hill in our backyard with my favorite running partner- Bretagne. Love this windbreaker from #fila I picked up from @kohls helping me keep dry. #makeyourmove #kohls #running #rescuedog #hills

A photo posted by Jenny (@booksbabiesandbows) on Feb 23, 2016 at 1:22pm PST

However, after reading this book Zen and the Art of Running, I came to peace with running for the love of running. I began to use running to clear my mind, find peace in my heart, and work through my worries. I finally found a way to breathe again.

Post race recovery brought to you today by #drtealsepsomsalt. #runmercedes #running #drteals

A photo posted by Jenny (@booksbabiesandbows) on Feb 16, 2016 at 3:30pm PST

For me, running is healing and a means to finding balance. When there is pain in other aspects of my life, running eases that pain. And when running causes pain, I rely on Dr. Teal's Epsom Salt to ease the pain from running.

The past couple of months, I have had writer's block. Or, maybe it is just a lack of desire to write. Whatever you might call it, it is this feeling where you feel incapable of being creative. I lost myself.

I had no balance.

However, I found a "New Balance" by taking a step outside.

Time to #makeyourmove #marathontraining -love my #newbalance from #kohls

A photo posted by Jenny (@booksbabiesandbows) on Jan 23, 2016 at 11:05am PST

Yes, there were literal and figurative mountains to climb. However, the act of climbing gave me the confidence that I needed to face the challenges of each day.

Just a little hill workout up the mountain.

A photo posted by Jenny (@booksbabiesandbows) on Nov 17, 2015 at 1:21pm PST

There is something about getting down and dirty. After all, don't they say that every flower must grow through dirt? 

Loving the new #asics I got from @kohls today. Broke them in on my trail run Tand took them through mud and rain puddles. Ready to start training for a .marathon now. #runningintherain #kennesawbattlefield #kohls #findyouryes

A photo posted by Jenny (@booksbabiesandbows) on Aug 20, 2015 at 2:21pm PDT

My marathon was really the celebration of my many hours of training, where I learned to keep putting one foot in front of the other until I reached the finish. Knowing I am able to keep moving forward through pain empowers me. And it is also pretty amazing when your child tells you that you are strong.

This LIttle President- A Presidential Primer by Joan Holub and Daniel Roode

In celebration of President's Day weekend, I would like to share one of my favorite new publications by Joan Holub- This Little President: A Presidential Primer. So, if you are out shopping this weekend for sales, be sure to pick up this book at your local bookstore. (I know I received a 20% off coupon from Barnes and Noble in my email that is for this weekend. Just a thought.)

• This Little President: A Presidential Primer
• Author: Joan Holub
• Illustrator: Daniel Roode
• Age Range: 3 - 5 years
• Board book: 26 pages
• Publisher: Little Simon; Brdbk edition (January 12, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1481458507
• ISBN-13: 978-1481458504 

About the Book: 

Learn all about the US presidents with this fun and colorful board book perfect for leaders-in-training!

Leading our country.
Helping you and me.
Keeping all fifty states
safe, happy, and free.

Little presidents have a great big job. 

Can you guess which President had an affinity for Jelly Belly jelly beans?

My Review

In case you haven't heard or have been completely (and most likely blissfully) disconnected with society, there is a presidential election underway. I honestly feel like the campaigns for this election have been going on forever, and we have only just started the primary season. We try to avoid political talk in our family because my husband and I are pretty much on opposite sides of the political spectrum. My oldest has become aware of our inability to agree on political policy with curious amusement. The one great advantage to this, for her, is she gets to observe civil discourse in our home. This apparently something that is not very common in today's society.

For the most part, if you listen to the news, it is people debating whether President Obama is doing a good job, which can be confusing if kids overhear and it contradicts their lessons in school about the job of President. Enter this adorable book by Joan Holub. Once again, she takes a complex subject and makes it palatable for a small children. Daniel Roode does an excellent job taking that images of the previous Presidents from long ago, that to children of today may seem really strange looking, and make them relate-able but still accurate.

I also love how all the Presidents are listed in the back of the book. My daughter makes me read every name each time we read the book. Maybe she will learn them all by the time she reaches school? That would be awesome. I even learned something new reading the book. One of the pages has President Reagan holding a container of jelly beans. I was just a child when he was President, and so I researched why he would be holding this candy. Turns out he was a Jelly Belly addict. We had to eat a bowl of beans to celebrate his affinity for this confection.

Looking for more Presidential inspiration? I learned the President's as a child by watching the Animaniacs.
 

FTC Required Disclosures:
 *I received a review copy from the author free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!  

Ellis and the Magic Mirror by Cerece and Aryeh Rennie Murphy - A Review #ReadYourWorld

Hooray for Multicultural Children’s Book Day!!! I am so excited to share with you the wonderful book I received- Ellis and the Magic Mirror by Cerece and Aryeh Rennie Murphy.

 

 

 

Title: Ellis and the Magic Mirror

• Author: Cerece and Aryeh Rennie Murphy
• Illustrator: Gregory Garay
• Paperback: 37 pages
• Publisher: LionSky Publishing; 1st edition (August 18, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0985621052
• ISBN-13: 978-0985621056

About the Book

Ellis Monroe has always been curious about the world. When his father brings home an ancient mirror with the power to reveal the truth about the people and things around him, Ellis begins to see the world in a whole new way. But things get more than a little strange/even more interesting when Ellis brings the mirror to school. While on the playground with the mirror and his best friend Toro Quispe, Ellis discovers that someone or something is hiding out at Harriet Tubman Elementary and trying to stop children from learning. Determined to solve the mystery, Ellis, Toro, and his little sister, Freddye go on a secret mission to find out the truth about the mischievous Buddy Cruster and stop whatever he has planned. Join Ellis, Freddye and Toro as their quest leads them deep into the forest and on an adventure you will never forget.

My Review

I had the pleasure of receiving Ellis and the Magic Mirror to review as part of Multicultural Children’s Book Day. The story follows Ellis, his sister Freddye, and their friend Toro as they discover a secret society of troll looking creatures (Bugabols) using a Magic Mirror that Ellis and Freddye’s father found during an archaeological excavation. At a mere 33 pages, I was delighted at how the authors captured a fun and adventurous story succinctly in a manner that will inspire even the most reluctant of readers to pick up the book and read. The illustrator captures the essence of the characters with fierce illustrations that draw a child’s eye to the page. While this book would be listed as an “Early Chapter Book,” it stands to be put in a class of its own because of the bright, colorful illustrations throughout the book, the edgy, kid approved story line, and the short, easy to read chapters.

What I absolutely love about this story is how the parents are all positive role models. Ellis and Freddye’s father is an archaeologist, and Toro’s mom is also some form of a doctor. There is also this great scene in Chapter 3 where Mrs. Monroe (Ellis and Freddye’s mother) spends time talking to them before bed. In both the text of the story and the illustration, she is engaged and actively listening to her children. Both the children also portray a deep love and respect for their mother. I appreciate this sentiment so much, as many of the books I read capture kids being snotty and rude to their parents or as the parents being complete idiots.

The Magic Mirror that the children use to discover the secret society of Bugabols is magic because it reveals a person’s true self. What a powerful concept to have kids think about how a person is on the inside, instead of just their outer appearance. Thinking about this makes me realize just how profound this book is as a representation for Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Not only are the children in the book culturally diverse, but the overall message in the story is that of assessing a person by their character and integrity.

I plan on donating this book to my child’s elementary school, where I know it will be loved by so many children. I am impressed with how the author engaged her children in the story writing process to create something that will resonate with kids.

Looking through the Magic Mirror

To go along with the concept of the book, I created a printable of a mirror for kids to imagine how amazing they "look" on the inside. Check it out:

My oldest daughter loved the activity and created the following picture:

I love that she sees herself as a rainbow.

To download your own copy of this printable, check out this link. 

Here is some more info about Multicultural Children’s Book Day-

The co-creators of this unique event are Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom and Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a  Book/Audrey Press. You can find a bio for Mia and Valarie here.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day has 12 amazing Co-Hosts and you can view them here.

All Done Monkey, Crafty Moms Share,Educators Spin on it,Growing Book by

Book,Imagination Soup,I’m Not the Nanny,InCultural Parent, Kid World Citizen,Mama

Smiles,Multicultural Kid Blogs,Spanish Playground

A Special Thanks to the Multicultural Children's Book Day Sponsors: 

Multicultural Children’s Book day 2016 Medallion Level Sponsors! #ReadYourWorld

Platinum: Wisdom Tales Press * StoryQuest Books*Lil Libros

Gold: Author Tori Nighthawk*Candlewick Press,* Bharat Babies

Silver: Lee and Low Books*Chronicle Books*Capstone Young Readers T

Tuttle Publishing ,NY Media Works, LLC/KidLit TV

Bronze: Pomelo Books* Author Jacqueline Woodson*Papa Lemon Books* Goosebottom Books*Author

Gleeson Rebello*ShoutMouse Press*Author Mahvash Shahegh* China Institute.org*Live Oak Media

Multicultural Children’s Book Day has 12 amazing Co-Hosts and you can view them here.

The Classroom Reading Challenge has begun! Teachers can earn a free diversity book! #teachers, #books
 http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/?p=1796​

-Our Diversity Book Lists and Resources for Educators and Parents are now available. Spread the word! http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/multicultural-reading-resources/diversity-book-lists-for-kids/

-Connect with us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MulticulturalChildrensBookDay

-Connect with us on Twitter https://twitter.com/MCChildsBookDay

FTC Required Disclosures:
 *I received a review copy from the author free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!