Tag: Friendship

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

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.

Friday Faves: Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin Illustrated by Ebony Glenn

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I have another wonderful book to share with you today! Not Quite Snow White is a delightful story perfect for ages 4-8. It’s the wonderful debut book for Ashley Franklin and has vibrant and adorable illustrations by Ebony Glenn.

Tameika loves to sing and dance, and is very excited for her school musical. But on audition day, Tameika over hears the other kids suggest that she isn’t quite right to play Snow White because of how she looks. A once confident young girl starts to second guess herself. She comes home to her loving parents who assure her that she is their princess and has just the right amount of everything. It’s a tender story that teaches kids about kindness, self love, and acceptance of others.

I read this to my 7 year old daughter who saw a girl with different color skin than hers experiencing problems and emotions just like she does. Tameika gets hurtful things said to her, and my daughter pointed out that that would make her feel sad too. Picture books are wonderful and powerful tools that can teach kids how to treat one another from an early age. I encourage you to read this lovely book!

Happy reading!

Friday Faves: Milton & Odie and the Bigger-than-Bigmouth Bass by Mary Ann Fraser

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Fishing and friendship

Oh my goodness….this is a WINNER! This book came out in 2019 and is so delightful. I just picked it up from the library and couldn’t be more pleased with the theme, illustrations, and story line.

To start with, Mary Ann Fraser wrote and illustrated this book. The pictures are lively, bright, and so cute that kids will love the characters. As for the story, it’s a great way to teach children about looking at life’s glass like it’s half full instead of half empty.

Mitlon and Odie are two otters with very different perspectives on life. The each separately go ice fishing one sunny morning. Through a funny chance meeting, they decide to fish together and catch the bigger-than-bigmouth bass! In their teaming up, Milton, the usually “lake half empty” otter, starts to see life’s possibilities instead of its short comings.

I urge you to buy or borrow this book! It quickly became one of my new favorites this year.

Happy reading!

Friday Faves: Monty’s Magnificent Mane by Gemma O’Neill

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Friday! It’s been such a great week of celebrating Halloween with my lil ones. I don’t know about you, but I’m done having candy around the house! I can only resist the treats for so long! Speaking of treats…..I have a treat for you today. (See what I did there!)

Monty’s Magnificent Mane is both written and beautifully illustrated by Gemma O’Neil. Monty is a lion with a stunning mane, and he isn’t shy about how he feels about it. The meerkats like to play in Monty’s mane; but one day, their playing knocks Monty off balance and he falls into the mud. Needing to get clean, he heads to the water against the warning of his meerkat friends. He meets someone new at the water and finds himself in danger of being eaten; worse yet, his meerkat friends are now in danger. Can Monty save his friends?

Theme: In this story, Monty is a proud lion, but soon discovers that friendship is the most important thing of all.

Have a great weekend, and happy reading!

Friday Faves

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Happy Friday everyone! We made it! (Insert celebration dance here!) I have a super cute book to share with you today. Ally-Saurus and the Very Bossy Monster by Richard Torrey is a book about Ally (who refers to her self as Ally-saurus) and her friends who have a great time playing in their shared world of make believe. That is, until Maddie comes along and starts telling everyone the “new rules” she has just made up. It’s a delightful story that gently teaches kids about bossiness and the need to respect each other and our differences. A great message, with cute and unique illustrations makes this book my pick for the week. Enjoy!