Author: kswemba

CHICKS RULE! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen Illustrated by Renee Kurilla

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Theme: girl power, self belief, teamwork, ingenuity, perseverance

Publication: 2019

Age: 3-8

Let me just start by saying I LOVE THIS BOOK! It’s such a call to arms/ wings really, so to speak. This book starts with a chick on her way to a space rocket meeting. She’s excited. She’s enthusiastic. She’s…..not welcomed?! The nerve of that club excluding chicks! Well, this chick marches on, and finds other wonderful chicks that specialize in everything from art, to construction, to coding and more. They all come together and decide to use their skills and talents to make something together.

My daughter loved this book. My SON loved this book and asked me to read it again! The illustrations are beautiful! It’s colorful, it RHYMES, which is honestly, a talent in itself. I’ve tried to rhyme and failed. This book does so flawlessly.

I highly recommend this book! (If you can’t tell). It’s a great book to read aloud, and I guarantee you will be asked to read it again, and again.

Happy reading and re-reading!

The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirosta’s Garden by: Heather Smith and Rachel Wada

kswemba

Themes: grief, loss, love, healing

Publication: 2019

Age group: it’s a picture book but I feel it could work for grade school aged kids because of the topic

This is a beautiful story based on real life events. The story follows Maiko, a young boy, and his neighbor, Mr. Hirota. One day, a tsunami washes away the loved ones in Maiko’s village. The entire community is shadowed in sadness. Wanting to talk to his daughter again, Mr. Hirota builds a telephone booth and places an unconnected phone inside. He sits in the phone booth and talks to his daughter, hoping his words are carried to her by the wind. Soon, others visit the booth to talk to their loved ones. Eventually, Maiko talks to his father and begins the process of grieving and healing.

This story touches my heart. I think it’s a great example of how a void is created when we lose people we love. Mr. Hirota’s phone booth allows the villagers to stay connected to those they’ve lost. It doesn’t quickly solve the pain and sadness the villagers feel, but gives them an opportunity to start the healing process. When Maiko does talk to his dad, he tells him he misses him. I think this can show children that it’s okay to say you miss the person you’ve lost.

I recommend this read and hope you’ll give it a chance.

Book Review: LULA and the SEA MONSTER by Alex Latimer

kswemba

Age group: 4-7 year olds

Publication date: 2018

Theme: Conservation, friendship

Summary: Lula and the Sea Monster is a wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated book by Alex Latimer. The story follows Lula, a young girl who lives by the sea. She spends her days combing the beach and finds a small octopus she names Bean. She visits Bean daily, to feed and to talk. Her family gets news they have to move because construction for a highway will start soon. Lula protests and pickets but the machines still come. Luckily, her small friend Bean has grown as large as the house he now helps defend.

This story is about the love of the sea, and the love between friends. It’s a great story to teach children about the preciousness of both. It introduces children to conservation efforts while engaging them through the growing friendship between Lula and Bean. And how can you not like a story about an octopus named Bean!?!

Taking Care of You: All About Self Love

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Hi everyone and happy new year! I can’t believe this year brings us a new decade! WOW! It makes it feel more special than other new years. What will we do in this bright new decade?!

I am taking part of Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days of Christmas for writers, and today’s focus was about taking time for yourself. This is such a wonderful concept, but somehow gets pushed to the back of our busy days, schedules, and family responsibilities. She stated that taking time for yourself isn’t selfish…..it’s self LOVE! Yes, I completely forgot about this somewhere along the way. Just because you stop to do something for yourself for more than a moment or two, does NOT make you selfish. How can we be expected to run 24/7 without ever taking care of ourselves? And, more importantly…..should we be ignoring our own needs? The answer to that is no.

We as individuals are people too….with needs, wants, and desires. Whether that desire is to take time to write, to read a book, to build something, to go outside in nature, or to pamper ourselves…it’s ok! And in fact, it’s necessary. Self love preserves who we are. I catch myself telling my kids (in-between their requests for more milk and lunch #2, don’t ask) that I’m a person too!!! They just look at me like I’m silly….like, come on Mom! Oh well, at least I’m voicing it! But now I need to put that into action.

Putting self time into action isn’t always easy. If it is for your, that’s wonderful and do please share your secret! If you find it harder, than take a serious look at your schedule. When does time work for you? Are days of the week better than others, or specific times of the day? For me, I struggle with getting up before my kids. But if I did, that would be a nice amount of quiet time for me to enjoy my coffee WHILE sitting down and relaxing. Another option is when the kids are in bed, but by that time, I would like to maybe somedays workout, spend time with my husband and watch an adult show that doesn’t consist of kid creature rescues or dinosaurs on trains.

So as this journey of self love starts, I wish you luck. And please, write me with your thoughts, struggles, suggestions or just to say hi. Let’s make this a great new decade!

Kelly

Book Review: PEARL by Molly Idle

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Age group: 4-8

Themes: Perseverance, beauty and belief in hard work

This book was a lovely surprise! I don’t like to read the inside flap of picture books because I love the adventure they take me and my children on. The cover shows the reader the story is about a mermaid….and so much more!

Pearl is a young mermaid who longs to have an important ocean task like her fellow mermaids. Her mom decides it’s time, takes Pearl to the surface and entrusts her to care for a single grain of sand. Completely disheartened by this small task, her mother reminds Pearl, “The smallest of things can make a great difference”. (How amazing and lovely is that line!? I think we all need to hear the wisdom in this book.) Pearl cares for the sand and over time it grows, and grows and then glows. It becomes light and lifts Pearl up to the surface where her once grain of sand rises into the sky, becoming the moon! (So incredible!)

The illustrations are light, airy, and filled with great character and feeling. To me, the book itself glows. I completely recommend this book to read to your child. There’s a wonderful lesson about taking care of something even when you don’t want to, and seeing beauty and promise where you wouldn’t have thought to look.

Book Review: Going Places by Peter and Paul Reynolds

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Themes: Teamwork, ingenuity, importance of creativity and imagination

Age: 4-8 years old

Copyright: 2014

Summary: The book begins with a building competition where each student has to use the GOING PLACES KIT to build a go cart for the race. Rafael takes his book home and follows the instructions, while his friend Maya thinks outside of the box. Rafael sees her invention and asks to team up with her to create something new together. They let their imagination take flight, literally, and build a flying go cart which they race together and win.

This book teaches children that it’s okay to think differently, and follow your creative mind. It touches on the topic of friendship and shows children the greatness that can come from teamwork

Holiday Story Contest: The Christmas Hike

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Hi everyone! I’m entering a holiday writing contest hosted by Susanna Leonard Hill. The rules are: the story must be 250 words or less, for children ages 12 and younger, and revolve around a holiday treat. I was inspired by the power of memories and the love that still exists even though someone is no longer with us. The holidays have a way of tugging at our hearts, and flushing our minds with memories so vivid and beautiful. My story focuses on this concept. I posted it below and hope you enjoy it.

The Christmas Hike
By Kelly Swemba (243 words)

On Christmas Eve, wrapped in warm scarves and fuzzy mittens, my family heads into the night. Our boots crunch the fresh, thick, snow as we climb the hill. I follow my big brother’s tracks, my boot fitting inside his print.

“Wait up!” I yell, and race to catch up. He holds my hand, and we enjoy each step of this special Christmas treat.     

“Wow!” I gasp seeing the brilliant stars twinkle in the heavens. My parents tie a red ribbon around a pine tree to remember our Grandma. She started this tradition, and we will continue it.

I wish on a star as the wind brings water to my eyes and drops snowflake kisses to my cheeks. It’s almost as if Grandma’s here with us.

I fall into the bed of snow with a thump! Laughing, I swish my arms and legs out and in.  
“I’m making a snow angel for Grandma,” I say to my brother, who joins in.

My parents hug and say it’s time to go. Taking one last look at the stars, I smile, blow a kiss, and say, “I miss you Grandma”.  

I know she hears me, for I feel it in my heart.  
With tingling toes, we race back home, fueled by thoughts of hot chocolate and puffy white marshmallows. Inside, we sit together in peaceful silence. Warmed by the fire and the warmth in our hearts, we remember what’s most important on Christmas. Love and family.

Book Review: The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright, Illustrated by Jim Field

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Themes: Friendship, teamwork

Age: 3-5 years old

Summary: This book is about one squirrel who lives for the present, and another who has worked hard to store nuts for winter. When each notice the last acorn, they both fight to have it. In a hilarious tale, we watch the squirrels squabble over the acorn, taking the reader on a wild ride through the forest, which ends with a ride over a waterfall and…….without the acorn. In the end, the squirrels laugh at themselves and decide that from this day on, they’ll gather food together and share.

It’s a great story to share with children because it teaches them that arguing and fighting isn’t the way to behave. Through funny illustrations, it also shows children that sharing and friendship what’s most important.

Book Review: Gorillas In Our Midst by Richard Fairgray illustrated by Terry Jones

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I love this book! The title automatically makes me think of Jane Goodall. This book is a fun read that children will sure enjoy! It centers around the idea that gorillas have been living in our midst for a long time, naming Aperaham Lincoln and Gorilliam Shakespeare as examples. They live in society and have gotten pretty good at hiding, taking jobs where they can wear masks like surgeon, astronaut ect. There are delightful examples and humorous illustrations that accompany the story, which my kids found pretty hilarious! The end has a twist that even left me surprised! It’s a great book, meant for pure enjoyment, and I hope you find the time to read it!

Happy reading!