Review: A Flood of Kindness by Ellen Leventhal and Illustrated by Blythe Russo

Summary

Perfect for all children experiencing loss or grief, A Flood of Kindness gracefully confronts difficult feelings and celebrates the healing power of kindness.

"The night the river jumped its banks, everything changed."

So begins A Flood of Kindness, a poignant picture book that addresses grief and loss and demonstrates how kindness can bring hope. Written in spare prose and told from an intimate first-person point of view, the story follows Charlotte, a young girl who watches floodwaters rise in her home and is forced to evacuate to a shelter with her parents. Kind people she doesn't know give her food, socks and shoes to keep her feet warm, and a place to sleep. As Charlotte adjusts to the shelter—a strange, crowded place that is not home—she grapples with feelings of anger and sadness. But as the days go by, Charlotte starts to realize how grateful she is for the things that she does have—her parents, a cot to sleep on, food to eat—and starts looking for ways to help others in the shelter.
All children deal with sadness and loss in some way, whether it stems from a natural disaster, the death of a pet, or moving to a new place. A Flood of Kindness acknowledges those difficult feelings and helps readers process them in a healthy way. Children will be encouraged to be kind to those who need a friend and to help others in whatever way they can, no matter how small.

Review

A Flood of Kindness is a beautiful story sharing the experience of a child being displaced by a flood. She goes through every emotion and is trying to work her way through understanding that her current situation is necessary but temporary. This has such a wonderful message being how children in times such as this don't understand leaving all that is familiar to you to the unknown. No matter how hard things might be, there are always people there to extend themselves. I love how everyone at the shelter, despite not having much, has everything to give including themselves. This presents such a wonderful lesson on being there for each other and making sacrifices for others who may need something you have more. Through dealing with her pain of loss and uncertainty, she gains the experience of strangers and their kindness, inspiring her to do the same.  

Pages: 32

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Review: You Wonder All the Time by by Deborah Farmer Kris and illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

Summary

“Where do colors go at night, and why do shadows creep?” You Wonder All the Time celebrates curiosity and the thought-provoking questions children ask and supports them as they continue to learn. “Will you stay curious as you grow? It’s a brilliant part of you!”

Asking questions is an important part of learning that helps children grow and understand the world. Inspired by and containing questions from real kids, You Wonder All the Time explores and affirms all the questions children ask. The book features a series of engaging, playful, and curious what, when, where, why, and how questions from the child to the adult. “What if we rode a T-Rex and shook the forest floor?”

Its charming rhyme and heartwarming message that children’s many questions are welcomed and their wondering is loved make the book perfect for storytime, home, and the preschool classroom.

Review

You Wonder All the Time is a wonderful book in the All the Time series. If you haven't discovered this wonderful series, please check out the other books as well. In You Wonder All the Time, we see the best of a child's curiosity with one that asks endless questions. For some, it may test their patience but as we see in the book what happens when that curiosity is nurtured. It can be a wonderful experience that promotes knowledge and can be fun. The colorful illustrations make the book fun and engaging. My favorite part is how the child is encouraged by his mother and also assured that if she can't answer, they will explore together. So many kids get discouraged when their questions are turned away but when you have someone that promotes their enthusiasm to learn, you plant the seed for their mind to be limitless.

Pages: 32

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Audio Review: Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli

Summary

Owl tries his best to wrap up his night and settle in for a long sleep–after moving past a few bumps in the road—in this Geisel Honor-winning, giggle-worthy bedtime story.

Will Owl ever get a good night's sleep? He's ready for bed, but as soon as he settles in, he hears a strange noise. He looks everywhere—in his cupboard, underneath the floorboards—even in his walls. He'll never get to sleep unless he can figure out what's going on! But as he's busy tearing his house apart, he doesn't notice one tiny, squeaky, mouse-shaped detail—the culprit!

Every observant young reader will point again and again to the answer to Owl's persistent question, laughing all along the way. From the creator of The Watermelon Seed comes another pitch-perfect tale that's empowering, engaging, and entertaining.

Review

This was such a wonderful audiobook. The narrator did a wonderful job entertaining with the various inflections that made the story so engaging. He made such a good distinction of the characters with his voice that it was so natural to follow along. The transitions pique your curiosity. The sound effects complement the narrative. With seeing the visual, this really captures the imagination. This cute story would be a lovely bedtime listen.

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Review: The Story of Abraham Lincoln by Patricia A. Pingry

Book Summary

Introduce little learners to Abraham Lincoln's childhood and presidency with this 200-word board book.

This little book introduces Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. Simple, toddler-friendly text tells the story of his childhood, his rise to the presidency, and the part he played in the U.S. Civil War. Accompanied by vivid and engaging illustrations, The Story of Abraham Lincoln will help even the smallest children understand who Abraham Lincoln is, and why he is so important.

Review

The story of Abraham Lincoln chronicles the highlights of his life this colorful, vibrant board book. The young reader will get the main points that define his life, who he was, how he became president and how he influenced two major events in American history. This is a nice one to add to the collection.

Pages: 22

Reading Age: 2-5

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Review: The Story of Easter by Patricia A. Pingry and Illustrated by Alice Buckingham

Discover the story of the first Easter day in this newly illustrated classic, perfect for little ones curious about the story behind their Easter celebrations.

Expertly crafted for the attention span of toddlers, this simple book tells the biblical story of Easter—from Jesus' entry into Jerusalem to his triumphant Resurrection. The story also helps little listeners understand the connection between the first Easter and today's celebrations. With bright illustrations and a toddler-friendly length of just 200 words, this book is a gentle, age-appropriate way to introduce Jesus and the meaning behind the Easter holiday. And it makes a great addition to any Easter basket!

Review

The Story of Easter is beautifully illustrated book that is warm and embraces us with love. The book simply shares the story of Easter adapted for the younger reader. It highlights his death, when he rose again and the significance on why we celebrate it. I loved the representation of the different people in the book. Overall, it presents everything is a way that the young reader will understand and enjoy.

Pages: 22

Suggested reading age 2-4

Review: Southern Baby: Southern Sayings for Little Ones by Rebekah Moredock and Illustrated by Jennica Lounsbury

Southern Baby: Southern Sayings for Little Ones is an adorable board book that introduces young readers to some of the expressions used in the South. This book is fun, cute and sassy. It teaches them basic Southern phrases and words that are common in everyday chat. It is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that make this an engaging read. If you’re not from the South, you may have heard a few and might not have known what they meant. I know for myself, I’ve heard a few but it was interesting to know the actual meaning behind. If you are from the South, then this will be a great way to introduce some of those catch phrases that capture that everyday charm.

This book has 20 pages.

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