Category: childrens books

The Bee Book

Explore the secret world of bees: how they live, how they work, how they support each other and their hive.

About The Bee Book

DK’s The Bee Book is a wonderful introduction to the humble honeybee: nature’s hardest worker, and much more than just a provider of honey! Bees are incredibly industrious, brilliant at building, super social, and-most importantly-responsible for a third of every mouthful of food you eat! Find out how bees talk to one another, what it takes to become a queen bee, what the life of a worker bee is like, and more. The contents include bee anatomy, types of bee, hives, colonies, pollination, making honey, and more. Discover just how much they matter, why they are declining, and what you can do to help!

Our Thoughts

Bees have been a hot topic for the last year or so, and rightly so. These insects are so very important to our everyday lives and we should do everything we can to help them.

The Bee Book starts off with a background about bees, I had no idea there were around 20,000 different species of bees! We learned about the Wallace’s Giant Bee, Dwarf Bee and Killer Bees, which prompted us to look them up online (especially Killer Bees – I always thought this was a made up story to scare kids!).

From here the story dives right into the incredible honeybees, the bees you are most likely to be familiar with. We begin to discover what is a honeybee, body parts (including that famous stinger), why they buzz, and how bees make honey. We really enjoyed reading about the worker honeybee’s life (from birth to everyday life), the Queen bee and how honeybees talk to each other.

But why are bees so important?

“1 in 3 mouthfuls of food that you eat has been made thanks to pollinators such as bees” – The Bee Book.

As we learn about the important process of pollination, quotes like the one above really help kids put into perspective how important bees are. Charlotte helps kids break down all the important steps after pollination – from crop collection, to transportation of crops, to grocery stores and finally to our table. This is important for kids (and adults) to understand why we have to help the bees. She even gives great examples on how we can help bees, from which plants to plant outside to even bee hotels.

This is a wonderfully written and illustrated book about bees that teaches kids all about the importance of honeybees and how we can help them.

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

About the Author

London-based author and illustrator, Charlotte Milner has a strong interest in bees and a natural flair for illustrated storytelling.

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

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The (Not) Bad Animals Book Review

Learn all about those animals that were given a bad name in The (Not) Bad Animals – a perfect book for kids and adults alike.

About The (Not) Bad Animals

We all have a certain creature that makes our skin scrawl and give us the ‘heebie jeebies’. Spiders that make us scream, mice that make us jump on top of furniture until the coast is clear, or bats that make us shudder at the thought of them flapping around our hair. There are creatures big and small all over the world that make us squirm and wriggle in our seats just at the mere thought of them.

But what did these animals ever do to deserve such a bad reputation? Most of the time it’s humans that have labelled them ugly, dangerous and downright gross. But it’s one false acquisition too many for these little guys. They’ve had enough of being called scary, slimy, nasty and ewwy. They’re here to dispel these false acquisitions and set the record straight once and for all!

With laugh-out-loud illustrations from the immensely talented Sophie Corrigan, uncover the truth behind the animal and learn all about how each creature plays an important role in our world. With bitesize text that will leave you giggling and a fact box about each misrepresented creature, this is the perfect introduction to over 30 critters big and small who really aren’t all that bad at all!

Our Thoughts

This book contains many of the creatures that make my skin crawl – from spiders and ants, to mice and slugs and centipedes! The book examines common misconceptions of those animals that have gained an undeserved bad reputation and why they are really good.

There were quite a few animals that I expected to see on their list but quite a few I didn’t think of like pigeons, pigs and snapping turtles. I loved the tone of this book – it is written as though the animals were telling the story (which is super cute). They tell their tale, the common misconceptions about them and tell you why you shouldn’t believe those rumours.

Each animal has four pages devoted to it – the first two explore the common misconceptions people have about them and the second two pages give the animal viewpoint about why none of that is true. I was actually surprised at how many of the misconceptions I had heard before but maybe did not pay too much attention to or assumed it was true. I was even more surprised as we turned the page to see the truth. One that I was not aware of was that hyenas actually catch 50% of their own meals! I had no idea, I thought they only scavenged for their food.

The illustrations are spot on, I loved how the first two pages show the animals how we picture them (creepy, mean, and scary) and in the next two the animals are kind, sweet and show a truer representation of them. I could almost feel bad for the mouse (okay I did, they made them look so cute!).

The (Not) Bad Animals is a fun book to read with your child as you work through some common misconceptions and maybe talk about your own fears with your child. The book is a bit longer so we would read about a few animals at a time and then talked about how we felt about those animals and our own fears.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Sophie Corrigan is a full-time freelance illustrator based in the UK. She graduated from University of Central Lancashire in 2013 with a first class degree in Illustration, and has recently completed a Masters degree in Children’s Book Illustration, for which she received a Distinction.

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

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50 Reasons to Love Animals Book Review

In case you needed a reminder – check out these 50 reasons to love animals!

About 50 Reasons to Love Animals

Discover 50 reasons to love animals! Lions have magnificent shaggy manes, penguins go tobogganing on their tummies, bears wiggle and dance as they scratch, whales sing songs, and elephants can feel sadness. But all the animals in this book especially need our love – now more than ever. Learn about their habitats, what makes them special, and show them you care with simple activities you can do at home.

Our Thoughts

We love animals in our home – from taking care of our own dogs to learning about new animals and experiencing rescue shelters on our trip to Botswana. Animals are a huge part of our life and we all should do everything we can to protect these beautiful creatures.

50 Reasons to Love Animals looks at six habitats and the animals that call it home. We look at the dry savanna, the coral reef, icy poles, evergreen forests, the open ocean and tropical forests. The book gives a brief overview over several pages of the habitat and the animals that live there. Each two page spread contains roughly three featured animals of that habitat and an interesting fact about them. I have to admit, I learned some pretty cool facts about animals from this book (I never knew that hippos released their own fluid to help protect their skin from the sun!). You can also find suggestions on how to protect and show your love for a particular animal throughout the book.

50 Reasons to Love animals is a wonderfully illustrated and easy to read book for young children. The illustrations are lovely and capture the innocence of the animals perfectly (I personally loved the eyes the most on each animal, they just drew me right in). The book itself is easy to read with your child and encourages you to do more research and help give back. You have suggestions on how to show your love for these animals that are easy to accomplish for a child, for example creating a list of ways that your child can help fight climate change at home. The book flows nicely and has the right amount of text to illustration to capture a child’s attention and interest.

This is a beautiful book for a child that loves animals, who wants to learn more and is passionate about protecting our animals and environment.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Catherine Barr studied Ecology at Leeds University and trained as a journalist. She worked at Greenpeace International for seven years as a wildlife and forestry campaigner and has a long-running interest in environmental issues. While working as an editor at the Natural History Museum, she researched and wrote two major summer exhibitions: Dinosaurs of the Gobi Desert and Myths and Monsters. She is now a partner in communications company bwa design. She lives on a hill near Hay-on-Wye in Herefordshire with her partner and two daughters. She is a proud Patron of Reading for a local school, and mother of two teenage girls. Catherine’s first book, The Story of Life, was shortlisted for The English Association Picture Book Award.

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

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Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday

iRead Book Tours

Get ready to have fun and learn all about talent, skill and luck, with Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday.

About Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday

A “Mom’s Choice Award Winner”! Alycat’s brother, Bugsy, is playing in a golf tournament with some of his friends, and wants to use his lucky ball to win the game. But when Alycat forgets his lucky ball at home, Bugsy learns what luck is really all about. Can Bugsy win the tournament without his lucky ball? Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday is part of the Alycat Series: alycatseries.com.

Our Thoughts

This is a super sweet book that both parents and children can appreciate. Do you have a lucky pair of socks or underwear? A lucky hat? Or perhaps a ritual that may seem silly to others but is something that you swear by? That item that you have to have, otherwise you feel that you will lose?

I think we can all appreciate the concerns of Bugsy in this story. He swears by his lucky ball for when he plays golf. He truly believes that he needs that ball in order to succeed and win. It doesn’t matter that he was encouraged by his parents and sister that it isn’t the ball that makes him win – that it is his natural skill and how much he practices. In a twist of events, his lucky ball was left at home and his sister wanting to help him tries to trick him but was unsuccessful when he realizes her trick. Can he still win? Can he find the courage to belief in himself?

I loved this beautiful story. It was easy to read to my child and the illustrations helped capture his attention. But more importantly, it was the plot itself that was so important. Even at the young age of six, my son felt he needed to have a certain lucky item on his person during his soccer games. He is a wonderfully talented soccer player who practices daily, so I was surprised that he felt (and still feels), he needs his lucky item in order to win. I want him to understand and believe that it is HIM that will decide the outcome of his success, not a physical item on his person. This story sparked a great conversation of ‘lucky items and superstitions’ and how it is us, as a an individual, who decides our future. This is a fantastic read for all young children that I strongly encourage parents to read and speak to their child about. It doesn’t matter if your child is an athlete – a lot of times they carry over these beliefs into tests, assignments, presentations. It is so important for children to be empowered and to know that they hold the key to success.

You can pre-order a copy of this book here.

About the Author

Alysson Foti Bourque is the author of the award-winning Alycat series. Alysson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Juris Doctor degree from the Southern University Law Center.

After practicing law for six years, she traded in writing trial briefs for writing children’s books. Alysson enjoys public speaking opportunities at schools, conferences, and festivals nationwide. She hopes to inspire people of all ages to follow their dreams and believe in themselves wholeheartedly.

You can connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

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

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Work It, Girl: Inspiration from Michelle Obama and Mae Jemison

Work It, Girl is an empowering series of biographies featuring modern women in the world of work, from designers and musicians to CEOs and scientists. 

About the Work It, Girl Series

Work It, Girl is an empowering series of biographies featuring modern women in the world of work, from designers and musicians to CEOs and scientists. Each of these illustrated books tells the story of a remarkable woman in ten chapters that highlight transformative moments in her life, following the ups and downs that she faced on her road to success. At the end, ten key lessons show what you can learn from these moments, and self-reflection questions help you apply these lessons to your own life.

Brightly colored photo illustrations of 3-D cut paper artwork featuring inspiring quotes from these amazing women bring their stories to vivid life. Learn how to work it as you lay the foundations for your own successful career.

Work It, Girl: Become a Leader Like Michelle Obama

In this imaginatively illustrated book from the Work It, Girl series, discover how Michelle became an inspirational leader, FLOTUS, lawyer, author, and role model in this true story of her life. Then, learn 10 key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life.

Michelle Obama grew up on the South Side of Chicago in a little bungalow with a close-knit family. She loved going to school, and she knew that, one day, she would use her voice to empower other young girls, just like her. Young Michelle was a brilliant student and wonderful daughter. With hard work and talent, she propelled herself into the universities of Princeton and Harvard. She qualified as a lawyer and life was going smoothly…Then she met a guy named Barack.

My Thoughts

Wow – this is an incredibly powerful and inspirational book. When I first opened it, I thought it would be geared towards younger children but this is an excellent book for individuals of all ages (I felt empowered reading it). It tells Michelle’s story from childhood up until her time in the White House. We learn about her family, how she was raised and how she got to where she is now. The road was not easy for her but she never gave up. One of my favourite parts was – ‘when someone says you can’t: prove them wrong!’. This is a lesson that I have tried to instill in my kids, that there will always be people who tell us we are not enough, but we always need to fight back and push for what we want. We don’t have to be mean to others but we have to know that we can accomplish anything we put our minds to, regardless of what others think of us.

My favourite quote from this book: “The lesson I learned from that is that as women and girls, we have to confront those negative voices – the ones in our head and the ones from people in our lives – telling us what we can’t do”.

It is sometimes hard to tell what is worse – the voices from others or our own self-doubt that can eat destroy us. As women, we need to lift each other up and know that we can accomplish anything we put our minds to.

I think this is a must have book for all youth – to understand, appreciate and relate to the struggles that Michelle went through and how she was able to rise above them. She shows compassion, understanding, kindness and resilience. All of the things that we want as parents to teach our children. This is a definite must have addition in your child’s library.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Work It, Girl: Blast Off Into Space Like Mae Jemison

In this imaginatively illustrated book from the Work It, Girl series, discover how Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space in this true story of her life. Then, learn 10 key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life.

When Mae Jemison was a little girl, she loved science, dancing, and dinosaurs. She watched the Apollo moon landings and wondered why none of the astronauts were women—and she just didn’t buy the answers she was given.

My Thoughts

Another powerful and inspirational book in this series, featuring Mae Jemison. Mae teaches everyone to dream BIG. She grew up in a time where women had limited opportunities and she could have let a teacher’s comment throw her off her dream but she didn’t (imagine how she must have felt when a teacher told her she should be a nurse instead of a scientist). Instead, she decided to work harder and dream for the stars – because everything is in your reach if you are willing to try.

She was an incredibly bright student (entering university at the tender age of sixteen!) and dancer – both careers quite demanding on an individual. She went on to become a doctor, joined the Peace Corps and was the first black woman to go into space. She re-invented herself time and time again, always focusing on her goals and what her heart desired. She never let what others thought about her determine her future – something I truly admire and hope all children realize. We should never ever let others define us, instead use this to push ourselves further.

My favourite quote from this book: “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations”.

This is so important for our youth – we should never allow other people to determine our future. We are capable of accomplishing anything we put our mind to with determination and strength.

Another excellent, must have book in this series. It is powerful, telling the story of a woman who defied society and set an example for others. She was a trailblazer, full of compassion, strength and determination. She would set goals, accomplish them and set new ones. A definite must read book for youth of all ages.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

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