Category: childrens books

I Can Do That! helps children learn self-regulating techniques.

About I Can Do That!

I Can Do That! helps children learn self-regulating techniques. Told through rhyme from a child’s point of view, strategies are shared empowering the child to effectively learn and practice ways they can control their emotions and actions when they feel themselves becoming dysregulated. The discussion questions at the end of the book provide an easy transition for counselors and parents to open a discussion, assisting the child in exploring ways they can learn to manage themselves.

My Thoughts

As adults we have learned tools that help us control our emotions, maybe you crack knuckles, maybe you do slow breathing or meditate or maybe you need to take a walk. Whatever you do, it is so important to have a tool to help control the emotions that we experience throughout the day.

For children, these emotions are present and can be difficult for them to understand, explain and talk about. It is important for us as parents and caregivers to understand and watch for signs of these emotions and help them understand what they are feeling. Even more important is giving them tools and techniques to help them control these emotions.

In beautiful rhyme and illustration, I Can Do That! helps children by acknowledging their feelings of being mad or bored from sitting still and how they can help themselves with these feelings. It also lets them know how these useful tools make their body feel better. I think it is important to validate their feelings but to also empower them to take charge of their feelings and actions. I love that Kayla also includes  helpful discussion about regulation that forces parents and caregivers to think about actions and their child as well as activities and questions to do with your child. This is a fantastic resource for parents and children.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

A native Texan, Kayla lives with her husband and three cats in Austin. Her two married daughters, along with her faith, have been an inspiration in many of her writings. She has been a guest speaker at elementary schools, women’s retreats, writer’s groups, and University of Texas. At the request of teachers and counselors, she has provided stories to broach difficult situations. Her passion is to empower and validate children, helping them know they are not alone in their feelings or circumstance, and ways to deal with it. When she is not writing she loves spending time with family and friends, read, scrapbook, and watch old movies. You can connect with her on her website.

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

My Actions Matter helps children learn life value skills, creating a foundation on how they can connect with others.

About My Actions Matter

My Actions Matter helps children learn life value skills, creating a foundation on how they can connect with others. Told through rhyme from a child’s point of view this book provides strategies for the child to learn how their actions influence others. The questions at the end of the book provide an easy transition for counselors and parents to open a discussion assisting the child in exploring ways they can effectively correct their behavior and connect with others. In my professional counseling, I encourage caregivers to use My Actions Matter as a part of their everyday interaction. Kayla has written an easy to use tool that is foundational in implementing life value strategies for children and their ability to connect with others. With the sing-song rhythm and diverse characters, children can relate to and understand that their actions do matter. The Behaviors Display a Need and Explorations and Activities sections add a dimension making My Actions Matter a complete tool for caregivers to use easily, effectively, and with confidence.

My Thoughts

It can be quite difficult for children at times to control their actions – they may shout out answers, be a little too rough, may talk back or not want to listen. None of this is done because they are a bad child but they sometimes tend to forget or not understand how to control their behaviours. They need a positive adult who can help guide them in this time about why we behave in certain ways, respecting feelings and listening to others.

My Actions Matter is a soft cover book shows children and adults how to respond to negative behaviours that are typical in children. These behaviours can be not wanting to share, wanting to be the boss, being a bit too aggressive or rough and even talking back. The book then shows them the proper behaviours in a positive light. I loved the way the book is written as it makes it easier to read with your child out loud and engages them in the story. Especially with the repetition of positive behaviours and actions. The illustrations are beautiful and show children of all backgrounds.

I really liked that Kayla includes two sections in the back of the book for parents – one about behaviours displaying a need and another that encourages discussion with questions for your child. I loved that she points out that your child’s behaviour is not them, it is a need that we as parents need to understand and figure out. The questions are great for opening up dialogue between parent and child about actions, both good and bad, and how they can  make others feel.

This is an excellent resource for both parents and young children.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

A native Texan, Kayla lives with her husband and three cats in Austin. Her two married daughters, along with her faith, have been an inspiration in many of her writings. She has been a guest speaker at elementary schools, women’s retreats, writer’s groups, and the University of Texas. At the request of teachers and counselors, she has provided stories to broach difficult situations. Her passion is to empower and validate children, helping them know they are not alone in their feelings or circumstance, and ways to deal with it. When she is not writing she loves spending time with family and friends, read, scrapbook, and watch old movies.

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

One Eagle Soaring explores counting and numbers with the help of beautiful West Coast animals.

About One Eagle Soaring A First West Coast Book

Following on the success of their bestselling board book Hello Humpback!, award-winning authors Roy Henry Vickers and Robert Budd are back with One Eagle Soaring, the second edition in their exciting new series, First West Coast Books.

One Eagle Soaring is a “first numbers” book and explores counting and numbers with the help of West Coast animals—from a single eagle aloft, to a pair of swimming whales, as well as leaping frogs, honey-hungry bears and a group of ten dozing marmots.

This book combines Roy Henry Vickers’ vivid illustrations, a glossy tactile finish and a simple yet catchy text. The sturdy board book introduces babies and toddlers to the spectacular scenery and wildlife of British Columbia.

My Thoughts

This is an absolutely stunning hard cover book geared towards your toddler but that even a preschool aged child will love.

This beautiful book features ten West Coast animals set in a beautiful back drop. Each number and animal spans two pages of this book that is roughly the size of your hand in a square shape. The animals are bold and bright, featured in either black or colour. The animals are lightly textured in designs that are unique to the West Coast (we loved running our hands over the patterns). The background imagery is done in a complementary colour scheme that really helps the images pop out of the page (I loved the sea-lion page with bold blues and yellows!).

The wording itself is easy to read and geared well to this age group. It also gave us an opportunity to make up a bit of the story, for example when it was written two moose wander by – we asked where were they going, what did they see? It was easy to get silly or serious and even ask further questions to learn more about these animals.

One Eagle Soaring is an incredible and beautiful book featuring the beauty of the West Coast. I loved that it celebrates the breathtaking nature of the West Coast – it is always refreshing to find a book that features Canadian themes! It will make for a wonderful baby shower or first birthday gift and an excellent addition to your young child’s home library.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Harbour Publishing.

About the Authors

Roy Henry Vickers is a renowned carver, painter and printmaker. He is the co-author of Harbour Publishing’s popular children’s Northwest Coast Legends series, which were shortlisted for the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award: Raven Brings the Light in 2014, Cloudwalker in 2015, Orca Chief in 2016 and Peace Dancer in 2017. He lives in Hazelton, BC.

Robert (Lucky) Budd is the co-author of the Northwest Coast Legends series and the author of Voices of British Columbia (Douglas & McIntyre, 2010), which was shortlisted for the 2011 Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award, and its sequel, Echoes of British Columbia (Harbour Publishing, 2014), which won second prize in the BC Historical Federation’s writing competition in 2014. He lives in Victoria, BC.

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