Review: Dream Big, My Precious One by Jill Roman Lord and Illustrated by Brittany E. Lakin

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Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Summary

Celebrate the hopes and dreams you have for your little one with this rhyming picture book that inspires children to dream big, work hard, and trust in God.

In Dream Big, My Precious One, a narrator wonders what a young child will enjoy as he or she grows up—sports, art, music? The narrator imagines all of the incredible things the child could become, from "a doctor or zoologist, a nurse or archaeologist" all the way to "a preacher sharing God's good news, a captain on a sailing cruise, a vet to cure sick kangaroos!" Upbeat and playful, this book will inspire children to passionately pursue their dreams, knowing that God will be with them every step of the way.

Review

Everything about this book is so beautiful. If every parent read and shared this encouragement, kids would know they could be or do anything. I love the illustrations. They are fun and will draw interest to the pages. I especially love the page at the beginning that shows the mom and her son. It truly sets the tone for the book. That moment between the parent and child, the sharing of possible hopes, dreams, and experiences they may have for them is so wonderful. The message to dream big and the endless possibilities of what could be is so inspiring. I’d recommend this book for all parents.

Age Ranges: 3 - 6

Pages: 32

Review: The Bedtime Chronicles: Legend of the Dadman by Derek Siskin and illustrated by Jamie Sale

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Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Summary

The Bedtime Chronicles is a new children’s book series that brings a unique and innovative spin to the traditional rhyme book genre. Inspired by the creative wordplay and style of hip-hop music, the series centers on the Rimes family: parents – Stan and Pam, their kids – Benny and Mary Lou, and Benny’s stuffed animal bunny, Hip-Hop. Each tale takes place at night as Benny requests a bedtime story – and in every book, a different family member takes him on a hilarious, rhyme-filled adventure meant to capture the imagination.

What’s more, The Bedtime Chronicles isn’t just for kids. With clever illustrations and pop culture references sprinkled throughout each book, it also appeals to those often-overlooked individuals responsible for the buying and reading of said books… the parents! Imaginative, funny, cool, and musical - The Bedtimes Chronicles is truly fun for the whole family. Legend of the Dadman is the first book to be released in The Bedtime Chronicles series.

Review

Legends of the Dadman, the first book in The Bedtime Chronicles series, isn't your traditional children's book. Inspired by the rhyme of hip hop, the book is innovative and fun not only for your child but for the parents as well. What I thought was fun for the parents were the pop culture references that will leave you feeling nostalgic and the play on rhymes give the story its uniqueness. The illustrations were colorful and fun. You really feel like you get to know the family. I love the familial bond and how a bedtime story can bring them together. The book inspires the idea of how fun bedtime stories can be.

Overall, it was a different spin on the traditional story. I look forward to see what the next book in the series will bring. The idea of each future book's bedtime story being told from a different family will keep this series fresh and unique. If you are looking for something fresh and different for a bedtime read, check this out.

Review: Perfect Patchwork Purse By Corey Ann Haydu and Illustrated by Luisa Uribe

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Summary

Family magic saves the day for best-friend-cousins Del and Alma in the third Hand-Me-Down Magic book! With adorable illustrations and short, easy-to-read chapters, this series is perfect for fans of Ivy & Bean and Dory Fantasmagory.

Alma knew it the first time she saw it: The patchwork purse in the window of the Curious Cousins Secondhand Shoppe was magical. Special. Perfect. But when her friend Cassie spots the purse and buys it, what could Alma do but agree that the purse really did look just right on Cassie?

Del decides it’s up to her to bring some homespun magic back into Alma’s life, and she’s got just the plan to do it. After all, she is the EXPERT on magic!

All she needs is some glitter and lots and lots of glue . . . because she knows magic can always come from the most unexpected places, but most importantly, that best-friend-cousins never let each other down.

Review

This was a pleasant surprise. This was my first experience with the series. Perfect Patchwork Purse, is the third book in Corey Ann Haydu's Hand-Me-Down series. There is so much to love about this book. Anything involving something magical always brings fun to a book. The story was one that was easy to follow and had some wonderful takeaways that makes you want to follow. The beautiful friendship between the girls, familial loyalty and the willingness to be a true friend really shine throughout. One of the best parts of the book is the beautiful illustrations by Luisa Uribe. The girls are so adorable and give off a warm welcoming that you feel like you want to be there friends. There is a sneak peek in the end with the introduction to the upcoming book in the back, The Mysterious Tea Set. I'd recommend this book and series. The book is recommended for ages 6-10.

Review: The Grumpy Frumpy Croissant by Mona K and Illustrated by Korey Scott

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Summary

Croissant isn't happy, and he's taking it out on the breakfast plate! Toast, Scone, and Milk think he's being mean, but Croissant thinks they were being mean to him first. A sip of Milk and ten deep breaths help everyone calm down and talk to each other.

The Grumpy Frumpy Croissant is a children’s picture book with fun and colorful hand-drawn illustrations that teach a lesson about misunderstandings any child can grasp. Croissant learns how to let anger pass, and that yelling hurts others’ feelings. It's a simple story for parents to introduce ideas of managing feelings to children.

Review

The Grumpy Frumpy Croissant was a cute, beautifully illustrated book that had a great message with helping children understand how to deal with others who are angry and how to work through misunderstandings. What made the story more engaging was how the children can see the expressions though the illustrations that complement the points the story is trying to make.

The book also had a delicious recipe in the book which I can't wait to try and illustrations that will be fun to color in.

Overall, this was a wonderful that would be very helpful especially in these times. The age range for this selection will be between 0-7.

Review: The Alekizou: and His Terrible Library Plot! by Nancy Turgeon and Patricia Cullen Raine (Illustrator)

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The Alekizou is a mischievous creature. Find out what happens when he gobbles up the vowels from all the books in the library. Then help him fix the terrible mess using just your fingers! An inspirational literacy adventure that Dr. Seuss himself would enjoy.

Review

Through humor and rhyme, The Alekizou and His Terrible Library Plot take a creature named Alekizou and his friend the Wise Owl on an adventure to the library that leaves your child with a fun and wonderful message that not only supports literacy but promotes libraries and the importance of books. 

Wonderful, colorful illustrations with an engaging story, we experience Alekizou going from not liking libraries to loving them. This would be a wonderful addition to add to your child’s collection or local library. One note to mention, I appreciated greatly the introduction of ASL for those not familiar and how it was incorporated in the story. I feel that would be a wonderful conversation and invitation for them to learn more.

Review: I Am Awesome! by Ryan K. Maule & Illustrated by L.M. Phang

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Review: Amazon

Review: Amazon

Summary

Do your children know how awesome they are? Follow along as two robots named Grace and Zeal learn that self-confidence is not only a good thing, it’s what God intended! God made you awesome because he loves you! So, no matter how old you are, you have everything you need to believe in yourself and live with a God powered confidence! At the end of this incredible story, you will be shouting - I am awesome!

Review

I couldn't help but smile throughout the book. Colorful and cheerful, the takeaway of the book has such a positive message for those faith-based readers out there to share with their children. I found myself inspired and encouraged and can't help to not to feel awesome.

This is easy to follow along. I love what Goodland represents and what Grace and Zeal strive for and seek to maintain. A wonderful lesson in loving yourself, knowing that you have within you everything needed to be the best you can be and do awesome things.

Overall, I feel for those faith-based readers, this has a great message that will encourage and inspire your child to strive for goodness and feel “awesome”.