[Book Review] Celebrating A Christ-Centered Christmas by Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler

Celebrating A Christ-Centered Christmas

by

Emily Belle Freeman & David Butler

Blurb:

"Discover how each figure of the Nativity can lead your family closer to Christ this Christmas season. This children's edition of Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas will guide you through seven meaningful traditions inspired by the Nativity setting. These simple experiences are not meant to add more to an already crowded holiday season but to offer something different. They will give your family an opportunity to escape from the frantic bustle of the Christmas season and spend time reflecting on the baby Jesus and the miracle of His birth. This interactive book invites children to watch each figure approach the waiting manger and encourages them to ask what they might have done if they had been there on the night Jesus was born. Seen beautiful ornaments have been created to accompany the lesson each figure teaches. Displaying the ornaments throughout the Christmas holiday will remind your children of the lessons they are learning about the baby Jesus. Your free download of the ornaments can be found at www.christcenteredcelebrations.com.

My Review:

Children's picture books are one of my favorite things, and Christmas books are even better! I love reading them, and I especially love reading them to my kids...still! Even though they are big (my baby is 9!), they will all sit and listen. This book will be a wonderful addition to our Christmas books, I am so excited to share it with them! I love the illustrations in this book; they are beautiful; whimsical, and yet so full of emotion. You're supposed to begin reading this book a week before Christmas. Each day you read another page and add another figure to the Nativity scene. There is a question for every day, and as you answer the questions and ponder about the person discussed, you learn more about yourself and your feelings toward the Savior. There is also a quick activity you may do with your family that is suggested for each of the seven days. For example, on the second night it says, 

What secret act of Christmas kindness could your family participate

in this season? As you perform your secret act, think of Joseph. 

His quiet acts went uncelebrated, but they were

so needed. When you have finished this activity,

place Joseph's figure in your waiting stable.

The activities are mostly activities you may do anyway, and I'm sure you could do your own activities if you already have these traditions. It's just a simple way to get the family together at the end of the day and remind them of the true meaning of Christmas. There is also an ornament for each day. You may purchase them ready-made or there is a free download on the website listed above. There's also a cute banner that you may purchase, along with a simple Nativity scene. You don't need anything fancy; just spending time together thinking of the story of the Nativity will bring the true spirit of Christmas into your home. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

[Book Review] Remember the Ladies by Callista Gingrich

Remember the Ladies

by

Callista Gingrich

Blurb:

Ellis the Elephant is headed back to the White House! In Remember the Ladies, the seventh in Callista Gingrich's New York Times bestselling series, Ellis meets some of America's greatest first ladies and discovers their many contributions to American history. Join Ellis as he travels back in time to encounter:

• Martha Washington as she invents what it means to be a first lady
• Dolley Madison as she saves a portrait of George Washington from a burning White House
• Mary Todd Lincoln as she supports Union troops throughout the Civil War
• Eleanor Roosevelt as she redefines and strengthens the role of first lady
• Jackie Kennedy as she brings style and glamour to the White House

With beautiful illustrations and charming rhymes, Remember the Ladies will delight young and old alike with a look at the first ladies who helped make America an exceptional nation.

My Review:

This book is so cute! The illustrations are adorable, and I love that it's teaching the children about the first ladies. I think the first ladies sometimes get overlooked, but many of them have done some great things, and have championed some very important causes. I actually learned a lot! I didn't know about many of the middle first ladies. I know quite a bit about Martha Washington and Abigail Adams, and then I know quite a bit about the more current first ladies, but I learned a great deal about some of those first ladies in the middle. For example, did you know that Abigail Fillmore added a library to the White House? I'd love to see the library in the White House! And I didn't know that Jackie Kennedy gave Americans the first televised tour of the White House, or that Lady Bird Johnson worked to clean up America's highways. This book highlights many of the first ladies, and I love that the title is based on Abigail Adams telling her husband to "remember the ladies!" I think this book does a good job of covering first ladies from both parties. At the end there is a little snippet on each first lady. I was surprised to know that in a few cases the presidents' wives didn't want the role, so a daughter or someone else would fill the position. I enjoyed this book and do recommend it.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Nina the Neighborhood Ninja

Nina the Neighborhood Ninja

by

Sonia Panigrahy

Blurb:

"Calling all Girls to find their inner Superhero! Smart. Strong. Speedy. Nina the Neighborhood Ninja is a creative and take-charge kind of little girl who possesses all of these amazing qualities. Fiona the Firefly is her loyal and trusty sidekick. Through teamwork and bravery, Nina and Fiona spend a typical day boldly rescuing animals in trouble: a baby bird fallen from its nest, a cat left out in the rain, and --just when Nina thinks her work is done--she's called to action again!"

My Review:

I love picture books!!! I don't think I'll ever stop loving them. I especially love the time spent sitting close together over a picture book; it's the best! This book does not disappoint! Move over Spiderman, Iron Man, Batman, and Superman, Nina is here to save the day! The story is so cute and fun. Nina is at all the right places at all the right times, just in time to help those animals who need her. There was one time that she was tired and wet and wanted to just go home, but she didn't give up and kept helping. That's a great lesson for children to learn! Fiona is a fun sidekick. I like that this book is positive and focuses on the inner qualities that make superheros. Rather than strong and speedy, I think kind and patient or caring and compassionate may have been a little bit better, but there's nothing wrong with strong and speedy! This is a great book for little girls, especially, but great for boys too! The illustrations are darling. They are bright and colorful, and oh so cute! This book would make a great addition to any picture book library!!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hail to the Chief (An Ellis the Elephant Story)

Hail to the Chief

(An Ellis the Elephant Story)

by

Callista Gingrich

Blurb:

"Ellis the elephant is back, and he's headed to the White House! In Hail to the Chief, the sixth in Callista Gingrich's New York Times bestselling series, Ellis meets some of America's greatest presidents and discovers how they have led our country throughout American history. Join Ellis as he travels back in time to encounter:

• George Washington as he is sworn in as our first president.
• Andrew Jackson as he welcomes thousands of Americans to the White House.
• Abraham Lincoln as he delivers the Gettysburg Address.
• Theodore Roosevelt as he builds our national park system.
• Lyndon Johnson as he signs the Civil Rights Act.

With beautiful illustrations and charming rhymes, Hail to the Chief will delight young and old alike with a glimpse at the leaders who helped make America an exceptional nation."

My Review:

What a great book! I love that it's a darling picture book with colorful illustrations, and yet it's packed with information! Children will think they're reading about a cute little elephant, and yet they're learning about American presidents and history. You know me, I hate it when authors push their agenda onto children through books and movies, and I was worried that this book might do that; it did not, thankfully! It is an unbiased look at several of America's former presidents; Republican and Democratic alike. The only agenda in this book is to get children excited about American history by helping them learn about former presidents. I even learned a few things! It's written in poem format, which is great because learning to rhyme is also an important skill for children to have. It's not forced rhyming, either. It flows well and is easy to read and understand. My copy is hardback, which I love for its durability. The illustrations are very well done. They're colorful, interesting, and full of great details. Not all the former presidents are highlighted in the book, but there is a little blurb on each of the presidents in the back of the book. (*Update 1/6/17: I had a reader contact me regarding the blurbs. She felt like the blurbs were biased, so I read through them. I think most of them are unbiased and informational. There are a few, especially with the more current presidents,  that are slightly biased. I didn't feel like they were extremely biased, but there was a hint. Still, I think the benefits of the book outweigh the negative. If you feel the blurbs are biased then you could take those pages out, since they are not a part of the actual story. The story itself is unbiased.*)  I highly recommend this book for old and young alike! This book should be in every elementary school library in the United States!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone!

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Summer Fit

Are you looking for something for your kids to work on this summer so their brains keep active? Well look no further!  Summer Fit Workbooks are great!

Summer Fit Workbooks

People ask me all the time what homework I give my kids over the summer. I have used the Summer Fit workbooks for a few years now, and I LOVE them!!! They have a level for each grade in elementary school, which is great. The workload is the perfect amount. Each day there is a page of reading and a page of math. It isn't super hard, but it is hard enough to keep the kids from forgetting everything over the summer. I love the Friday material. Every Friday is a value (compassion, determination.....that kind of thing), and it highlights a person who exemplifies that value. The kids do activities surrounding that value and person. Also, each day has an exercise for the kids to do. It's not hard, but it gets them up and moving. And the great thing about these books is that it eliminates all the mom-work. There's no searching the internet or printing off individual worksheets, it's all right there in the book. It makes mom's job so much easier!!!T hey even have a book for 7th and 8th graders, which is great because I never know what to work on with my boys.  I highly recommend this product!!!

Rating: G (clean!!!)

Recommendation: Pre-K-6th grade

A Rare Nativity

A Rare Nativity by Sam Beeson (Images by Nina & Terral Cochran)

Blurb:

"We've all heard the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and we've all seen the traditional Christmas crèche. Now, author Sam Beeson and photographers Nina and Terral Cochran combine these two classic Christmas icons to create A Rare Nativity. Upon reading the first lines of the book, it's clear the narrator holds a bitter grudge as he sends his enemy crude and discarded gifts...Night after night the "gifts" pile up--shards of glass, rusty nails, gnarled twigs, and more. What the narrator's enemy decides to do with each of these odious gifts is nothing less than a Christmas miracle. The photographic creation of the rare nativity at the end of the book is both a work of art and a wonder to behold. Forgiveness is something we all need to give and receive, and A Rare Nativity opens our eyes to the act of forgiveness and the true meaning of Christmas. It's a universal message to be shared with readers of all ages. Christmas is a season for giving. Make it a season of forgiving."

My Review:

I have to admit that this book was not at all what I imagined when I opened the cover. When I think of Christmas books, I think of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, I think of angels and wise men, and I think of happiness and joy. I think of children smiling, of carols, and of family. I also think of yummy treats. When I opened this book I expected to find those things, or things that are similar. Especially thinking of the nativity, I think of Joseph and Mary with their baby in the stable. I think of angels, wise men, and shepherds. That is not what I found when I opened this book, and it definitely surprised me. This book is very different from every other Christmas book I have ever read, and I'm still trying to decide if that is a good thing or not. It opens with the line, "On the first night of Christmas I gave my enemy a briar from a tanglewood tree." This includes a picture of a burr-like thing; I'm assuming it's a briar. It goes on like that for many pages, with the narrator giving his enemy all these awful things. In the end, there is a good moral, it all comes together, and you understand. However, I felt like it focused way too much on the negative gifts and the enemy. Maybe it's because it's Christmas, but I just felt like it was 90% negative and 10% positive, and even though the positive was good, it wasn't enough to win me over. It's still a good book, and it's a good lesson to teach my kids, but unfortunately it will not be my new favorite Christmas book. If you're looking for something different this year, then A Rare Nativity will be just the book for you!

Rating: G (It's clean)

Recommendation: Everyone

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Best Nest

The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman

Oh, how I love this book! This is one of my childhood favorites, and I love that my kids enjoy it now! Mrs. Bird is expecting a baby, and decides she wants a new home. She and Mr. Bird travel everywhere looking for a new house. They find a few they like, but they are already occupied, and they have some close calls. Finally, it begins to rain and Mr. and Mrs. Bird get separated. They are sad and wonder if they'll ever see each other again. The sky is filled with lightning and thunder, and suddenly Mr. Bird crashes into something! What is it? Well, you'll have to read to find out!

This is a beginning reader, and my first grader can read it well. It's a fun, fun read-aloud, and it's a great silent read because it is easy enough for the beginners to read. It's fun to guess where the birds will end up, and it's fun to see the places they thought would be good homes. I love the illustrations and I love that the kids love reading it. Next time you're at the library or a book store, check this one out, you won't be disappointed!

Rating: G (Clean!!! Yay!)

Recommendation: Everyone!

This is the Turkey

This is the Turkey by Abby Levine

This is a fun story! It's written in rhyme, which is always fun, and it's actually well done. It is clever and full of some fun surprises. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and so cute! I love the expressions on the faces. I love that, although exaggerated a bit, it is real. Life with family on Thanksgiving never turns out perfectly, and instead of getting upset and angry, you just need to learn to roll with it. Also, we all make mistakes, and it's okay. We shouldn't "cry over spilled milk," but be thankful for what we do have. I think this book is so cute!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

Let's Celebrate Thanksgiving

Let's Celebrate Thanksgiving by Peter and Connie Roop

We got this book a few years ago in a book order from the school, and I actually like it. It has some very good information about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. It isn't a fictional story, it is facts and information about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans involved in that first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Colony in 1621. I love that they tried to make it accurate. The Pilgrims did not wear black and white clothing, and the Native Americans did not live in teepees. It talks about the Mayflower, the hardships that the Pilgrims faced, how Squanto and Massasoit fit in, how the Wampanoag tribe helped the Pilgrims, and what they probably ate at that first Thanksgiving. As far as I can tell, the information is accurate with what I have researched myself. So that part is great for the parents! Then there are fun jokes and fascinating facts interspersed with all the information to make it more fun for the kids. For example, "The Mayflower traveled at a speed of 2 miles an hour. That is about 48 miles a day." And, "If a Pilgrim threw a pumpkin into the air, what came down? Squash!" Hahaha..... The illustrations are bright and colorful, and they are well done. They are still cartoony (is that even a word??), but they try to be more accurate than most illustrators do. I also like that they talk about different Thanksgiving celebrations around the world, and that there were a few Thanksgiving celebrations before the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony.

I like the accurate information in this book! I like that the authors took the time to do the research and teach the children correct information. I love the illustrations! We talked about Thanksgiving last night in our family, and my 11 year-old son kept giving all these correct answers. When I asked him where he learned it (because I'm sure he didn't remember it from last year, and I'm pretty sure he didn't learn all of it in school), he said it was from this book. Yay! Love it!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone!

The Adventures of Geo the Pebble

The Adventures of Geo the Pebble by Jay Gerald

Summary:

"Have you ever picked up a pebble and wondered where it came from and the adventures it has had? This is the story of Geo, who was born at the top of a mountain and traveled all around the world to end up in the palm of your hand."

My Review:

This is a cute story. It is fun to see what happens to Geo on his travels, and it definitely makes you think more about the rocks in parking lots and up in the mountains. It's too bad that rocks don't have some sort of tracking device so you can see where they have been. There is some humor, and a little potty humor (which isn't my favorite, but the boys and little ones will love it). The illustrations are bright and colorful. They aren't my favorite style, but they are well done. This book would be fun for a social studies class to read. This book is also great for boys because it's about rocks and it's not frilly or princessy. It would be fun to use this book as a kick-off to a rock unit. It would also be fun to have a class rock that children could take on vacations and such, and take their pictures with it all the different places they go. Then they could each write about it a class rock journal. 

Rating: G (Clean! There is that one little potty word, but even though it's not clean, it's clean-hahaha!)

Recommendation: Everyone!

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Bunny Cakes

Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells

Summary:

It's Grandma's birthday, and Max's sister Ruby says they are going to make Grandma an angel surprise cake with raspberry-fluff icing. But Max has a better idea: an earthworm birthday cake topped with Red-Hot Marshmallow Squirters. Now if only he can figure out a way to add Squirters to Ruby's shopping list...Brimming with color and fun, Bunny Cakes is a wonderfully satisfying story young readers will want to indulge in again and again.

My Review:

We love Max and Ruby at this house! I admit, Ruby can be a bit bossy sometimes, but, she kind of reminds me of me. I have hopefully grown out of my bossy stage, but I may have been a little like that when I was little. I know, hard to believe, right?? I was first introduced to this book by the Read For The Record 2014 day, October 21, 2014. I worked with our school's reading specialist to help our whole school read it. 

This is a fun book. I like the colorful illustrations, Max's persistence is, as usual, annoying to Ruby, and I love that he was able to find a way to make his cake at the end. My girls (6 and 9) enjoyed it. I like that Max shows determination in writing and getting his point across. It's just a fun picture book, and there may be some cooking instruction as well!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

It's Halloween

It's Halloween by Jack Prelutsky

There are lots of children's picture books for Halloween, but this one is fun because it's a little longer and even has chapters! It's great for the second/third graders who want to read something a little more than a picture book. It's written in lyrical form, which is so fun, and it's all about the kids on Halloween. There are ghosts and goblins, jack-o-lanterns and witches. There are some tricksters, some goblins, and even a scare or two. The illustrations are cute and fun, and it's a story all the kids will love.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone (Silent Read: End of first grade, second grade, third grade)

The Dark

The Dark by Lemony Snickey

I didn't know Lemony Snicket wrote picture books until I picked this one up at the library. It's a cute story about Laszlo, who is afraid of the dark. He knows that sometimes the dark hides in the closet or behind the shower curtain, but it is always hiding in the basement. Then, when night comes, the dark comes out of hiding and spreads out around the house. One night the dark visits Laszlo in his bedroom. What happens after that helps Laszlo to not be so afraid. It's a well written story, it's clever, and the illustrations are simple yet well done. This story would be great for a child who really is afraid of the dark, and it's fun for Halloween as well. It has a good twist that teaches some valuable lessons.

I enjoyed this story, and my kids love it. I'm sure it is one of those books that we will check out and recheck out often.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

The Halloween Play

The Halloween Play by Felicia Bond

This is a cute little story. Roger's school class is putting on a Halloween play. They practiced, sent out invites, and were ready to perform. Roger had an important part in this play and he was a little nervous. He had to wait a long time, and then it was finally his turn! This is a short book but it is cute and fun. The kids like it. Kids who have been involved with school performances will definitely relate. The illustrations are well done and tie the story together nicely. This is a fun book to add to your Halloween stack.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

[Book Review] T. Rex Trick-or-Treats by Lois G. Grambling

T. Rex Trick-or-Treats 

by

Lois G. Grambling

My boys were crazy about dinosaurs when they were little. We have tubs of dinosaurs. They don't get played with very often any more, and it's crazy, but I miss it. This book is cute, but I think I love it more because of the sentimental value. It reminds me of those crazy-fun dinosaur days. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and so much fun. The characters' expressions are great! The fonts are fun and different, and there are even different colors! I love the idea of the book that T. Rex wants to be something scary for Halloween. Hahaha.......is there anything scarier than a T-Rex dinosaur? T. Rex's friends try and help, but they end up taking all his ideas. So what does T. Rex end up being for Halloween? You'll need to read it to find out! The kids love this book! I love that there are repetitive phrases and words that even little kids can say, and I love that it reminds me of my cute little boys who loved dinosaurs. Even though they are big now (13 and 11), they will still sit with me and listen when I read this story. My girls (9 and 6) enjoy this book too! This Halloween book is definitely a keeper!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone!

Skeleton Hiccups

Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler

"What's the best way to help a skeleton get over his bone-rattling teeth-chattering belly-laughing hiccups?"

This book is so fun. We have had it for a few years, and every Halloween this is the one the kids want me to read the most. We read it over and over. The poor skeleton and his friend ghost try everything to rid of his hiccups, and nothing works. When you're reading it you have to say, "Hic, hic, hic" many times, but I usually make the kids say it, and they think that's fun. The illustrations are great and well done. My kids love this story. It's different and fun for Halloween. 

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone

All Hallows Eve: The Story of the Halloween Fairy

I'm starting Halloween Week with a girlie Halloween story. There's nothing scary about this book, but the princesses and fairies will love it!

All Hallows Eve: The Story of the Halloween Fairy by Lisa Sferlazza Johnson

Summary:

Hailing from All Hallows Pumpkin Patch, the young fairy Eve loves candy, but can only make toys. Desperate to conjure her heart's true desire, Eve practices and practices and is sure she will be successful on her birthday, October 31st! But when the day comes, even Eve's finest attempts just yield toys shaped like candy. As her frustration grows, her party guests think up a wonderful way to save the day and create an annual celebration to share! Welcome to this enchanted fairy glen where Halloween's origins and customs are presented in a way that will satisfy and delight readers of all ages! Beautiful illustrations and a lyrical story help Eve sprinkle her fairy dust as she exchanges her toys for collected candy to create the happiest, healthiest Halloween for us all!"

My Review:

What a cute story! My six-year-old daughter checked this out at the school library, and I think it is just adorable! A lot of the Halloween books are scarier and geared more toward boys, but this one is all for the girls! I love the illustrations and the cute curly font. This story explains how Halloween began, and it's a great message of sharing, caring, and friendship. It's creative and fanciful, well written, in lyrical form, and has a great message; what more could you ask for? I highly recommend this book for all the Halloween princesses, fairies, and girlies.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone!

Animal Motions

Animal Motions by Melissa Pilgrim

(This summary is taken from an email the author sent to me.) ""Animal Motions" is a fun, easy to follow, low-impact movement routine told as a story in a colorful picture book for ages 3-6.  Follow Eric as he stretches and moves his body at the start of his day by using his imagination to become some of his favorite animals.  Travel with him to the jungle, the desert, the forest, the ocean—-and don’t forget to keep your body moving!  It’s inspired by the theatre games I used to play with my young actors in Chicago at my theatre there, and I’m hoping it helps all children everywhere stay “creatively fit!” 

The beautiful, full-page watercolor illustrations are done by the very talented Ira V. Gates."

This is a fun new children's book! I read it to my kids this morning. My six-year-old laughed and loved it, my eight-year-old said it was ok, and my eleven-year-old just shrugged. So there you go. It says ages 3-6 and that's spot on. Eric wakes up in the morning and stretches his body. He moves like many different animals, and each animal is a different position or stretch. My kids were eating breakfast when I read it to them, but if we had all been sitting together I would have made them follow along. I think this is a fun concept. It gives kids a more exciting way to stretch and move. Not only is it great for families, it would also be great for preschool, kindergarten, or first grade classrooms. (There are lesson plans to go along with the book on her website, which I will give below.) It would also be great for a younger dance or gymnastics class as well. The illustrations are so bright and colorful. They are captivating and really bring the story together.  

The website that coincides with this book is a great resource for parents and teachers. The website is: www.animalmotions.com . There are lesson plans and a mini poster that you can print for kids to color. Also, there is an app that goes along with the book! It goes through all the animal motions and the kids can follow along. So fun! (It's FREE on amazon.com for android today, Sept. 4th, so grab it while you can! It's also FREE on itunes today!!!)

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: It is recommended for ages 3-6. I think even toddlers could do it.

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Here is the link to the app on amazon:

Here is the link to the book:

Discover America: From Sea to Shining Sea

Discover America: From Sea to Shining Sea Illustrated by Julie Olson

(Summary taken from amazon.com) "Follow the patriotic journey of a little red balloon as it makes its way from the West Coast to the East Coast of the United States. Accompanied by the words of one of Americas most beloved anthems America the Beautiful, From Sea to Shining Sea shows the diversity and beauty of our great country through the eyes of our nations children. To add an interactive experience, kids all across the United States will be able to go online to send their own balloons on their own journey." 

I have always loved the poem "America the Beautiful" by Katharine Lee Bates, and this children's book, illustrated by Julie Olson, is a perfect fit. The words of the book are the words of the poem, and the illustrations are beautiful. I love this book! Not only are the illustrations extremely well done, but there is a fun side story with a red balloon floating across the country. The illustrations are of real places, and the balloon ends up floating from the west coast of the country all the way to the east coast. There is a map at the end that shows its route, and it was fun to see that I have been to a few of the landmarks. This book is perfect for home, school, and everywhere in between. It will be a new favorite at my house, for sure. There is also a website that goes along with the book. It is www.discoveramericabook.com, and it has some great resources. You may send off your own digital balloon and track it, there are coloring pages, quizzes, lesson plans, and so much more. I highly recommend this book to everyone!!!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone!

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Escucha Means Listen

Escucha Means Listen by Talia Aikens-Nunez

(Summary taken from an email sent to me by the author) "This bilingual picture book journey through our world introduces children and toddlers to the sounds around them in English and Spanish. From the blaring sound of an ambulance to the buzzing of bees,Escucha Means Listen is written mostly in English but sprinkled with Spanish to introduce children to the language."

This is a darling book! The pictures are bright and colorful, and the little girl is so cute! Not only is it a book children will love, it is also one they can learn from, which I love! The little girl tells you to listen (escucha), and then she takes you on this journey of sounds. From the ambulance (la ambulancia) to the squirrels (las ardillas), and everything in between, children will hear the sounds, learn the words, and love every minute of it. I love that the Spanish versions of some of the sounds are very different from the English sounds, but some of them are the same. This would be great for a beginning Spanish class. It is also great for people like me who speak some Spanish, but who don't have a clue how to teach it to their kids. It's just an all-around fun book. I really enjoyed it! I read it to my 5 year-old daughter and she said she liked it. I recommend this book for everyone!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Everyone!!!

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.