Category: childrens books

February 4, 2020

Shower Your Little One with the Love of Reading from Sourcebooks Kids this Valentine’s Day

I love how reading a good book helps to connect you with others, especially children. A book helps children understand the world around them, helps them verbalize and understand others and their feelings. Books help us put in to words how we are feeling and helps us to better express ourselves.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, what better way to talk about love with your child then with a fantastic, kid friendly book?

Every year we celebrate Valentine’s Day with a gift for each of our children. The following books would make an excellent gift or even a great read leading up to Valentine’s Day to help us talk about our feelings and what we mean to each other. Being a part of a family, we know we love each other but sometimes we also know that we can drive each other a bit bonkers. It is important for kids to know that they are loved for every part of their personality. Thinking a bit outside of the box, these would also make a great baby shower gift and guaranteed to make the parents to be want to cry!

Here are the top five Valentine’s Day children’s books that will show your little one just how much you care.

I Love You All Ways

From the author of Be Brave Little One and If I Could Keep You Little comes I Love You All Ways, an adorable exploration of how love surrounds us, no matter what we do or where we go. From morning to night — through the happy, playful, and mischievous moments — I Love You All Ways is a sweet celebration of the never-ending love for a child.

“In case you ever wonder,
in the busy of our days,
exactly how you’re loved by me,
I think you’ll be amazed. “

This is a beautiful hard cover book that will make you want to cry. The simple sentences that were easy to read, leave a big impact on children. The words remind children that yes we love them when they are good but we also love them when they are loud, mischievous, sick and everything in between. It reminds our children that they will have our love with them wherever they go and whatever they do. The illustrations are done in soft colours that matches the tone of this book.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

I Love You To The Moon and Back

Share your heart with the one you love most in the world and wrap them in the security of God’s protection with this newest picture book from renowned inspirational brand Precious Moments. Written in sweet, rhyming verse, this is the perfect book to share on Valentine’s Day or all year round!

I collect Precious Moments so I could not wait to open this book and it did not disappoint (the illustrations were brilliant!). This beautifully written book starts off with that special moment when we bring our child home and our hearts are bursting with love. It takes on a religious tone, as we talk about the gift from above in the form of His love and our friends and family. That these very important people will be there for us, supporting us and celebrating with us for the rest of our lives. It really helps to remind us of the importance of these relationships and the impact they have on our lives. I loved the ending – I found it was only when I became a Mom that I really understood all my parents did and felt for us.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

Always More Love

Always More Love is a heartwarming story and fun experience for families to share together about how the love for those special ones in your life only grows more and more each day.

“I love you so much, but there’s more in my heart.
How is that possible? Well, where do I start?

Now move in close and you will see
Just how much you mean to me.“

This book was so much fun to read aloud – it is very interactive and you can act as silly as you want together. From tickles, to snuggles, to giggles – this book is perfect for young children as we talk about how our heart is so full of love but we can always love just a little bit more. The book is illustrated with bright, bold colours that your young child will appreciate.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

I Love You Like No Otter

There’s no better way to say “I love you” than with a sweet and heartfelt animal pun! I Love You Like No Otter combines a warm message of love with beautifully illustrated animals, making it the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day and all year round!

This is an adorable and simple read for young children. Each page is a pun using favourite animal characters. The puns are quite funny, I have used a few to put as notes in a lunch pail and it gives us a good laugh at the end of the day. How can you not love animals and jokes?

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

Love: From Sesame Street

In this New York Times bestselling picture book, beloved Sesame characters share what love means to them. This warm and uplifting book will show children new ways to look for love in everyday life—and brighten their day!

“Love is a sunny day!
Love is being an everyday HERO.
Love comes in all shapes and sizes.
Love is cookies… and then more cookies!”

I love Sesame Street and the message that it sends to young children. This book has a powerful impact on young children as we explore the many sides of love and how it comes in all shapes and sizes. It can help children to discuss their feelings and how love makes them feel, and even the examples of love that they see every day. How do we show love to our friends? To our teachers? To our family? And even gives children a great way to describe these feelings. It helps to really open the door to the endless possible ways that we can describe love.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? Make sure to add one or more of these great books above and get ready to start engaging your child in the wonderful topic of love and what it means to us.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned books in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

January 21, 2020

Sports Legends Book Review

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on an Olympic podium having just won a gold medal? Or what it takes to become a record-breaking soccer player? Find out all about sports stars and their inspiring achievements in this nonfiction book for kids.

About Sports Legends

Perfect for young sports lovers, this chapter book for kids tells the stories of a range of different sports people who have risen to the top of their game. From Usain Bolt, to Steffi Graf, and Muhammad Ali, to Ellie Simmonds, in Sporting Greats readers will learn about the unique stories of these athletic heroes.

Sporting Legends is a new Level three title in the four-level DK Readers series, aimed at children who are beginning to read alone. Developing a lifelong love of reading, DK Readers cover a range of subjects to support children as they learn.

Packed with fun facts, this series of guided reading books balance amazing photography with non-fiction narratives tailored to specific reading levels. DK Readers are assessed on both Fountas & Pinnell and Lexile levels, and are ideal for learning to read while building general knowledge.

Sporting Legends covers a topic that will inspire and educate kids, encouraging reading for pleasure, which is linked with improved reading and writing abilities, as well as a wider vocabulary and greater self-confidence.

Our Thoughts

We are HUGE sports fans in our home – you can always find us watching sports (soccer is very much the number one match to be on) or playing sports. It is how we bond, how we have fun and how we keep physically fit together.

It can sometimes be hard to find a book topic that your child loves, especially if you have a reluctant reader. Our eldest was this way when he was younger, we had to really search for books that would engage him and were on a topic he would like.

Sports Legends covers some of the greatest athletes of all time from all types of athlethic backgrounds – from track to the court to the field and to all seasons. Many names you will know but some you may be newly introduced to.

My youngest loves Pele – we watched a documentary on him a few years ago and since then he has looked up to him with all that he had accomplished at such a young age. It was fantastic to learn that he played for his country at the age of 16! Which is a goal that he himself is working towards. We learn about more incredible athletes and the sucess they had including: Jackie Robinson (first African American player in the MLS), Wasim Akram (Pakistan cricketer), Richie McCaw (New Zealand rugby player), Ma Long (Chinese table tennis player) and so many more.

The book contains photos of the athletes in motion along with short bios and descriptions of their biggest achievements. The book itself has a great flow – starting with field sports, sports on court, track and field and then other sports. In between chapters, are sections on young stars, record breakers and winter sports athletes. There is even a quiz at the very end of the book! It is written in a way that your child (or yourself) can easily read aloud or an older child can read on their on.

This is a great learner book for young children, especially those who have a hard time finding books that they can engage in. My son’s only complaint? He wanted the section on Messi to be longer!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Chapters.

About the Author

Caryn Jenner writes and edits a variety of books for children of all ages, including both fiction and nonfiction. For DK Publishing, she has written Eyewitness Workbook: Earth, as well as several titles in the DK Readers series. Her picture book, Starting School, was one of the eight books longlisted for the UK’s 2012 School Library Association Information Book Award in the Under 7 age group. Caryn also teaches English to speakers of other languages and volunteers at a local school. She grew up in the United States but has made her home in the UK for many years.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review, all opinions are my own.

December 19, 2019

Cookies for Santa: The Story of How Santa’s Favourite Cookie Saved Christmas

The Kringle family cookbook has gone missing, and Santa can’t remember the recipe for the special cookies he makes every year. But where can he turn for help? From the experts at America’s Test Kitchen comes a new twist on a holiday tradition.

About Cookies for Santa: The Story of How Santa’s Favourite Cookie Saved Christmas

Millions of people bake special Christmas cookies during the holidays―including Santa! In fact, every year he bakes his family’s favorite cookie and gives them to the elves and reindeer to show them how much he cares, just like his father and grandfather did. But it’s just days before Christmas, and the Kringle family cookbook is nowhere to be found! If he has no recipe, he can’t bake his cookies. And if he can’t bake his cookies, Christmas might as well be canceled! Luckily, a little girl finds the cookbook and, with the help of America’s Test Kitchen, inspires families from all over the world to work together to make sure that Santa and his family have a happy holiday.

This book also includes the delicious cookie recipe.

Our Thoughts

Cookies for Santa is a beautiful book about the true meaning of Christmas, people working together for a greater cause and the warmth of family and friends.

In Cookies for Santa, Santa can’t find his cookbook which holds all of the recipes handed down from generation to generation. Santa loves to bake and he loves to share this love with the people, elves and animals that mean the world to him. When he loses the book, he feels all is lost and doesn’t know if he can go on with Christmas. A young girl finds his cookbook and comes up with the brilliant idea to bake cookies for Santa with the help of America’s Test Kitchen! Soon, kids all around the world are showing their love for Santa by helping bake his favourite cookies.

I love to bake for others, there is something so satisfying when you can share the time and energy you put into baking with someone you love. I can only imagine how Santa would have felt losing his cookbook – I love the recipes that my Dad cooks, they hold so many memories. I would be devastated losing something like that.

What was so beautiful about this book, was the way the community came together to support and show their love for Santa. People all over the world made his favourite cookies as a symbol of their love and support. This was a beautiful gesture and so very touching.

We loved the illustrations and the ease of reading this book aloud. It was a beautiful story that showcases the true meaning of Christmas. A huge bonus was the delicious Santa’s Chocolate Krinkle Cookies at the back of the book, that your child and you can bake together!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN is the most authoritative resource for reliable, kitchen-tested recipes and cooking information. They value process, curiosity, practicality, and honesty. They believe everyone can learn to be a successful cook and their mission is to test recipes over and over until they understand how and why they work, and arrive at the best version.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

December 19, 2019

Dear Santa Book Review

A beautiful story of honesty and the spirit of Christmas.

About Dear Santa

When Ms. Holly asks the class to write their letters to Santa, Parker gets nervous. He has done some things this year that might put him on the naughty list. Like feeding Brussels sprouts to his dog and staying up past his bedtime. Should he gloss over his mistakes like his classmates do, or take responsibility for his actions? Deciding that honesty is the best policy, and hoping that Santa understands, Parker hands in his letter and hopes for the best.

Christmas morning arrives and Parker finds a big surprise under the tree ― PLUS a letter from Santa!

BONUS: Kids can write a letter to Santa using the festive holiday-themed stationery included in every book. Parents can also visit putmeinthestory.com/dearsanta for a FREE downloadable personalized letter from the desk of Santa Claus, or get a letter and official ‘Nice List’ certificate sent in a magical envelope all the way from the North Pole! It’s never been easier to make your child’s Christmas wishes come true.

Our Thoughts

Dear Santa is the perfect Christmas book that will make you laugh, smile and start all of those important conversations with your child around their actions and being the best person that they can be.

Writing a letter to Santa is a tradition that we have all done every year as a child. It is so important to children and for the magic of Christmas. It can also cause a bit of anxiety, as children tend to worry if they have been good enough for gifts, if they should be showing off all of their good deeds and if Santa will put them on the good or bad list. It can be quite a stressful time for a child!

This beautiful book follows Parker, a young boy who is tasked with writing a letter to Santa at school. He listens to his classmates writing their letters and is shocked when they write about how good they are. Because to be fair – no one is perfect 100% of the time. Parker knows he is not perfect and he doesn’t want to lie to Santa, even if it means he may not get any presents on Christmas. So Parker explains to Santa how he tried to be good and why he wasn’t.

This was an adorable, sweet and funny book that we loved from start to finish. Parker’s fears are something that every child can relate to and it is such an important lesson for children to learn. It is okay to make mistakes and to not be perfect – it is when we own those mistakes that we grow as a person and become better individuals. I loved how this book explained this concept in a way that children can understand – we don’t want our kids to be perfect, just the best version of themselves.

This will become a favourite holiday read in your home and is perfect for children of all ages. We also loved that the book came with beautiful paper in the back for your child to write a letter to Santa to, as well as with a free Santa letter download.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Susanna Leonard Hill is the New York Times bestselling author of Moon’s First Friends, as well as many other award-winning books for children. She does frequent school and library visits, teaches picture book writing, and offers picture book critiques. She lives in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley with her children and two rescue dogs.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

December 2, 2019

Snuggle Up and Cherish the Holiday Season with Raincoast Books

We have definitely had a few early blasts of winter weather as the holiday season quickly approaches. This is the perfect time to open up some holiday treasured books with your children and spend a little extra time reading each night. Or perhaps to even discover new family favourites leading up to the Christmas holidays?

Raincoast Books has a beautiful collection of books that will make great gifts leading up to the holidays or even as a special gift under the tree. Both my kids and their cousins, always receive at least one special book as a Christmas gift because I feel so strongly that these are something that they can treasure long after the holiday season is over.

Looking for three new books to add to your holiday reading routine? Look no further then these top three picks from Raincoast Books:

Christmas Is Coming! An Advent Book

Every day of December brings a new Christmas tradition in this keepsake Advent book. Each flap on the cover of the book reveals a clue to a festive activity that can be found inside the pages. It might be a recipe for a delicious homemade treat, instructions for a cozy craft, a game to play, a carol to sing, or a beautifully illustrated story to read with the whole family. This inviting twist on the traditional advent calendar is perfect for families who love to put their own spin on celebrating the holidays.

I fell in love with this special book the moment I laid my eyes on it. Advent is a very special time in our lives and sometimes we can forget what makes life so important; family and opening our homes and hearts for Christmas. There is more to Advent than just chocolate and presents!

I put this book under our Christmas tree and we waited patiently for December 1st to open it up. This was not the easiest task for any of us, as I really wanted to dive in and see what kind of activities were in the book but we also wanted it to be a special surprise that we uncovered day by day.

We had a snowstorm yesterday and decided that we would open the book after dinner. His first activity? Write a letter to Santa. The reading for December 1st was beautiful and my son was excited to write his letter (I couldn’t believe I had not done this yet with him!). We have decided as a family, that we would do each activity after dinner but before we wind down for bed. You can follow along on Instagram as we work our way through the book.

This is the perfect book for parents and grandparents that are looking for something different and meaningful during the Advent season.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

Don’t Shake the Present!

Go on a festive and fun-filled adventure with Larry in this hilarious holiday edition of the USA Today bestselling series, Don’t Push the Button!

Larry (the lovable monster) has received a present, and he is desperate to know what is inside, but he needs your help to figure it out. But whatever you do. . . DON’T SHAKE THE PRESENT!

This is an adorable book perfect for young readers just before the holiday season. We have two kids that love to touch and shake their presents (and even sometimes peel away the wrapping at the side so that they can see inside!). We had so much fun reading this out loud and I definitely did not see the ending coming but it was perfect and gave us all a great chuckle.

The book itself is small, hard covered and interactive, making it a great read for young children that have a harder time sitting still at reading time. It also is a book that children can relate to and helps parents explain the importance of patience during the holiday season.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

How to Hide a Lion at Christmas

Iris and her lion go everywhere together. But when Christmas comes and the family is going away, Mom says her lion must stay behind. After all, you can’t take a lion on a train! Luckily the lion has other ideas. He sets off on a festive, snowy adventure to find Iris – and almost bumps into Santa Claus!

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book about the friendship between Iris and her lion in the context of Christmas. Iris is visiting family for the holidays and her lion is just too big to go on the train (or even to fit in her suitcase!), not to mention he may just scare her family. Her Mom makes the lion stay home, but lion has other plans – he follows them on the train! The only problem, he sleeps through their stop! He must find his way back to Iris (which he does) but encounters a unique method of finding her using Santa Claus’ method of climbing up and down chimneys. Can you imagine a lion coming down the chimney?

This was a great book to read out loud to our kids. It has such a great flow and full of great age appropriate humour. We had a few great conversations of all the animals we wished we could have at home (a gorilla was one). The illustrations are beautiful and fit the story perfectly. This will make for a great read before bedtime as we gear up into the holiday season.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

What is your favourite holiday book?

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned books in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.