Skimmer and Finn: The Circle in the Sky by Christopher Francis

 

Genre: Children, Middle Grade, Graphic Novel

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinion expressed here are my own.

This was so much fun to read. This is the third book in the Skimmer and Finn series.  Trapped on a planet with two other humans and a host of other creatures, Skimmer and Finn meet another robot similar to Skimmer, only with upgrades.  He knows where the human kid's parents are waiting for them. They are on Othello 13. Finn steps up to be the hero to find a way to get them there. I laughed and laughed at Finn.  The questions he asked as he was on his quest were hilarious. I read some of them to my husband. His response was, "You're laughing because you can picture some of your students asking questions like that." He was correct.  In my opinion, Christopher Francis, the author, has never grown up. That is great for readers everywhere because he writes books that kids and adults can relate to in one way or another. I have loved all of his books.  This series makes my sides hurt from laughing.  Need a quick, light, fun read?  This is the book for you.  Literally one of the best things I've read all summer.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

 

Genre: children, realistic fiction

Source: I own a copy

I’ve had this book on my shelf for years. Every time I start it a kid asks to read it. Summer is the best time to read a book. If you want to teach students how to show kindness and be empathetic, then this is the book for you. August Pullman has some issues with his face.  We all know how hard it is going to a new school. It is even more difficult when your face is deformed. He tries to head it off when he notices the kids are looking at him, letting them know that it is okay to look at him because he does look different.  He is bullied by the older kids.  He eventually learns to make true friends who stand beside him.  There are so many great lessons to be learned throughout this book.  This is a definite read whether you are a kid or an adult.

Day 2 - Review of Books by Emily Hartmann

 Here is my second day of picture books.  All of today's books will be picture books created by Emily Hartmann.  I hope you enjoy them.

How to Make Choices – Emily Hartmann

Come along with Max and learn how your little one can learn to control their anger.  This is one of the hardest things for the youngest child to learn. They want immediate gratification and things their way. This book is a tool parents can use to help them learn to control those outbursts. This book teaches just one simple technique and it is easy enough for the youngest child to do.

I’m Mad – Emily Hartmann

This is another book about dealing with your emotions. It shows how you make the other person feel. It also shows you how to deal with those feelings. One other thing it does is shows your child how to make someone else feel better when they have been hurt by another person. Great and simple.

 

I’m Mindful – Emily Hartmann

Teaching children how to deal with their emotions is important. Explaining to them that feeling sad, anxious and angry is normal is one thing. As parents we need to show them techniques for dealing with them.  That is what this book is all about.

 

Me and My Anger – Emily Hartmann

This books shows another technique for getting rid of, or managing those feelings of anger. In this book there is more of a visualization technique.  Even though many of these books have the same theme, I believe it is important to read them all because no two children are alike. What works with and for one child may not work with a different kid.

 

Me and My Choices – Emily Hartmann

Max is excited to go to school. He can’t wait to enjoy all of the new experiences and make new friends. However, Max bows to the pressure of his new friends and finds his first day is not all that special. That night he thinks about what he likes. He decides not to follow the crowd because “they” say so. He will be himself and have fun.

 

Me and My Frustration -Emily Hartmann

Max, like a lot of kids gets frustrated when he can’t do what other kids do. He wants to be the best, win the race. This is perfect for teaching kids that it is okay to be frustrated when you don’t reach your goals. The idea is to keep trying.

 

Me and My Worry – Emily Hartmann

Max wakes up to a sunshiny day. As he prepares for his day he begins to worry. Instead of telling anyone about his worries he holds onto those feelings and they grow throughout the day and into the night. The next morning Max shares those feelings with his parents. They help him understand that it is normal and how to deal with them.

 

Me and the Word NO – Emily Hartmann

Josh is getting frustrated in the grocery store and his mom recognizes it. She tells him when she has to wait she pretends she is a big dinosaur and roars.  Josh uses this in different circumstances throughout the day. When it is time to go home he is not happy.  His sister plays another game that helps him cope with his feelings.

 

My Chatty Dinosaur – Emily Hartmann

If you have ever worked with children you know one thing for sure, they love to talk. Finn wakes his friend Rawr up and the minute he does, Rawr begins talking. Finn can’t say anything.  The next morning when Rawr wakes up  he can’t speak.  Instead Rawr listens to everything Finn has to say. A wonderful book to teach children the importance of listening instead of talking all the time.

 

My Grumpy Dinosaur – Emily Hartmann

When Rawr the dinosaur wakes up with the grumpies he doesn’t know what to do. His best friend Finn teaches him some things he can do to get rid of the grumpies. Cut book about how to reset your mind and day when the grumpies come and visit you.

 

Stop, Think, Go! – Emily Hartmann

 When Rawr the dinosaur wakes up with the grumpies he doesn’t know what to do. His best friend Finn teaches him some things he can do to get rid of the grumpies. Cut book about how to reset your mind and day when the grumpies come and visit you.

Just Wait! – Emily Hartmann

Rawr is an impatient dinosaur. He wants everything to happen now. He doesn’t want to wait. He bakes cookies and turns the oven up too high and burns the cookies. He doesn’t want to wait for his paint to dry and ends up making a mess.  Great way to teach children about waiting.

Day 1 - Review of Books by Emily Hartmann

For the next several days I am going to post reviews of children's picture books I have purchased but have not yet read.  As many of you know, in March we lost a teacher I worked with.  I was asked to help with his classes until the end of the year. Unfortunately that meant I read very little except history assignments and my students' English assignments.  I am trying to make up for that. I am taking a couple of days to read a middle grade, young adult or adult book. Once finished I will post a review of said book.  In the meantime I am trying to read down the children's books I have in my Kindle. They tend to grow daily. So sit back and enjoy reviews from some of my favorite picture book authors.

Here are  reviews of books written by Emily Hartmann

Ask First
Emily’s books are full of wonderful illustrations.  In this book children learn boundaries. They learn before they ever do something they may need to stop and ask first.  The story is interactive so it is best for those preschoolers just learning life lessons.

Think First 

This is another book with Bobo. In this book Bobo needs to learn to stop and think first before he does
something. Once again it is interactive. After Bobo has a couple of problems, children are asked to help  Bobo remember to stop and think first before he does things.

Stay Calm – Emily Hartmann  

This cute book shows Bobo going ballistic with his emotions. He blows up at everything.  The book gives children two or three ways to calm themselves down before they throw that tantrum due to getting so emotional.

My Daddy is the Best – Emily Hartmann

A great bedtime story with dad. A father spends quality time with his daughter having all kinds of
adventures. He checks under her bed for monsters, tucks her in tight. She knows that she is loved and she loves him back for being such a great father.  We need more books like this about fathers.

The Invisible Bubble – Emily Hartmann

This is probably one of my favorite books.  We need to teach kids from the youngest age about boundaries. I teach middle school and will have kids get within a couple of inches of me. I ask them to take two steps back then jokingly say, “This is my space,” as I draw a box in front of me. I tell them I have space issues. Some of them apologize because they get it. Some look at me like I have two heads. Maybe if their parents had read this book to them as a child they would understand. This a a children’s book, but I believe everyone can benefit from it.

Goodnight Little Sleepyheads – Emily Hartmann (Animal Bedtime)Once again the author has used animals performing one last nighttime ritual before going to sleep. The author asks after each page to do something the animal is doing. All of this is to prepare your little one for sleep.

 

The Sleepy Animal Game – Emily Hartmann

Great to read to your young one as you put them to bed. The story is comprised of small animals and what they do as they prepare to go to sleep.

 

Curl Up Tight - Emily Hartmann

This book is similar to Breathe Like an Owl. This book uses farm animals to help your little one relax. Once again she give little tidbits of information about the farm animals. This is a two for one book. You get relaxation techniques and information for your child in a simple calm manner.

 

Sleepy Snuggles – Emily Hartmann

Another bedtime story to prepare your child for sleep. Read to them what little animals do to prepare to sleep. Each page asks the child to perform an act the animal would, such as moo like a cow or tuck their head in like a duck. Simple pre-school bedtime book.

 

Breathe Like an Owl -Emily Hartmann

Teach your little ones relaxation techniques with this book.  The author not only uses animals to help little ones stretch, breathe and relax, but she also gives a tidbit of information about that animal at the bottom of each page. For example, “Lynxes have extra furry paws to help them walk on snow. “  I never knew that. The relaxation techniques could become a nightly ritual for you and your little one. The illustrations in this book are in shades of blue to create that calming effect.

 

Forest Night, Sleep Tight

A book of bedtime routines using forest animals and gentle rhyming lines. Just the thing to read with your child before bedtime. Beautiful illustrations.

 

You Are One of a Kind

Teach your children that they are unique by reading them this bedtime story of mothers and babies. The story told in rhyme shows a mother pointing out what makes their child one of a kind, before they tuck them in for the night.

Giant Island by Jane Yolen

Genre:  Children's Picture Book

Source: I purchased a copy.

A delightful book in many ways. A grandfather takes his grandchildren to Giant Island. While he fishes the children explore the island with their dog. They explore inside and out, above and below the water. By the end of the book they learn what their grandfather has known all along.  Beautiful storyline and the illustrations are fantastic.  I felt like a kid again as I read this book. It made me long for the days when my imagination ran wild.  Then again, with a book this wonderful, maybe the author has never let her imagination grow up.  Definitely a book to purchase for my great grandson.

 

Maple Syrup Maven by Nick Segal

 

Genre: Children, Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Maddy loves maple syrup. She makes it her goal to produce the best maple syrup. The only problem is that Maddy only has the trees in her back yard. Her first attempt and making maple syrup is poor. She only has two bottles that she sells to her parent. However, the taste just isn't there. Maddy begins to encourage her trees by telling them how lovely they are.  Things change for Maddy because she has actually put love into her trees. 

This reminds me of the saying that love conquer's all.  She discovered love was the missing ingredient in the taste of her maple syrup. A lesson we can all learn.  This book not only has an uplifting message, but beautiful pictures to enhance it.

Two Wonderful Children's Books by M.M. Rodeheaver

 

Haunted Holiday: A Christmas Cookie Ghost Story

Genre:  Children's Mystery

Source: Purchased

Calypso and her two moms have just moved into an old house on Grimsly Road. The day they moved in is when Calypso met the ghost named Charles. She saw him in the hallway and he pointed to her room and told her it was his room before he vanished. He didn’t scare her, but her cat Whiskers was definitely scared.

Her Mama Rae bakes delicious desserts, and her Mama Vic is a potter. Her studio and kiln are in the old barn.  Strange things began to happen around the house. The two mama’s plan a cookie exchange Christmas party. The morning of the party they awake to find all of the cookies destroyed. Calypso suspects it is Charles doing. She lets her new best friend Abbey know about Charles. Together they work together to try to find out why Charles would do such a thing and how he died.

I have read this book and its sequel twice. It is a short book, but one I really loved.

Genre: Children's Mystery

Source: Purchased

Calypso and Abbey are on a mission. Charles has told them about a jar of money he and his friends collected and saved and buried under the old chicken coop at his best friend's house. They ride their bikes down and shortly after they arrive a car pulls in. The house has been sold. The realtor offers them a tour along with the Drama teacher. Before the house is turned over to the new owners it will be used as a haunted house to raise money for their spring performance.  Calypso and Abbey are poking around where the chicken coop should be when Mr. Davis the realtor shows up. He asks if they are looking for treasure. They find that odd. What is even more odd is when they arrive the next day they find him already there digging in the same area.  They are on a mission to find the money jar before Mr. Davis. Their only hope is to take Charles with them inside a pumpkin, and let him do the searching. This story was so much fun to read. It was about twice as long as the first book. 

I loved how we learned a lot more about Charles and his friends. I loved how Calypso goes out of her way to help a ghost. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a feel good story with an element of mystery to it.

Skimmer and Finn: Lurkers and the Little Boop Creature by Christopher Francis

Genre: Children's Graphic

Source: I received a copy from the author. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I loved this second book in the Skimmer and Finn series.  In book one Finn wakes from hyper sleep on another planet. The earth has been destroyed and they must survive. He has a robot named Skimmer who is supposed to help him survive. Finn and two friends he meets along with a monster he saved have a new issue.  They have run into a group of monsters who are not happy with them. Boop is another robot who now helps Finn.  What is making the group of monsters so angry and how can Finn help them and their planet?  As they search for materials to build a door over a cave they hear a signal.  This book is all about Finn learning to survive, helping a planet heal and of course friendship  It is cute, it is funny, and I am looking forward to reading the next one.  I don't read many graphic novels, but this is one I definitely recommend.

 

Student Saturday: Connecting Dots: Poems of my Journey by David L. Harrison

Genre: Children, Poetry
Student Reviewer: Aleah F.

"Connecting Dots” is a poetry book. The reason I like this book is because it is a book of poems about his life. He had lots of pictures he loved, and he always wrote poems about his life. His life was very difficult. His high school year was fun. He played basketball and always tried the best he could. He would always shoot the ball and miss the basket, but he never gave up. He kept going. He did not care who was in the crowd watching him. All he was worried about was if he was getting somewhere in life. 

The lesson he learned was that it's okay to miss the basket but never put that down on yourself. People would always laugh at him, but the lesson he learned was never to care what people thought about him.

After he was done with a basketball game, he was surprised with a puppy, and his teammates were so proud of him. The teammates told him to go outside right after the game, so he did. His coach was outside and told him to close his eyes; when the coach told him to open his eyes and when he did, his coach had a black and white dog for him. 

 After he did all of that, he went home and got puppy love from his new puppy named Freckles.

I would recommend this book to people who like basketball, and to those who believe they should never give up.

I Am A Big Sister by KidsUp

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

What a wonderful book to read with your soon to be big sister, or even your soon to be big brother. It puts a positive spin on being an older sibling. The story takes you through the things your child can do to help take care of your new baby. Instead of feeling left out they become a very important part of the help with the new baby.  I didn't have a book like this when my second child was born. However, we sat down nightly with our son and talked about the things he could do to help with his new sister when she was born. There was no feelings of being left out. He took his "job" seriously. Before she was born he talked to her in my tummy nightly and kissed it and told her good night. The funny thing is, he was the only one who could calm her down. She recognized his voice. They maintain that closeness today, forty years later.  

This is a must read book for all new to be brother or sister.

 

Student Saturday: Tales of the Cryptids by Kelly Halls, Rick Spear, and Roxyanne Young

 

Genre: Children, Science and Nature
Student Reviewer: Dylan H.

“TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS” by Kelly Halls, Rick Spear, and Roxyanne Young is about the authors investigating reports of many different cryptids around the world. Cryptids are animals that come from legends, like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. The book goes into extreme detail about the number of interviews and information that they found out about each and every cryptid mentioned in this book. Most importantly cryptids such as, Hellhounds are legendary dogs that accompany the newly dead into the afterlife, or the New Jersey Devil with the earliest reported sighting was during the American Revolutionary War. Did you know in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas local villagers have reported sightings of the Yeti, also known as abominable snowman, which resembles Bigfoot. Overall, this is an incredibly good book and has so much information about cryptids and the stories that go with them.

Wilda Reads at Recess by Karen Georgiev

 

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

There is a reason my blog is called "The Musings of a Book Addict". Read below to learn why.

I absolutely loved this book. I was Wilda in first grade. My friend played on the swings, slides, and monkey bars while I sat against a tree and read. I preferred reading over everything else. This type of book should be in every kindergarten through second-grade classroom. It shows how some people value reading over everything else. It also shows that it is okay to be that person. This would also make an excellent mentor text when teaching alliteration to students. The story flows naturally, making it easier for children to pick up on. I loved the illustrations. My favorite was the picture of the children looking at Wilda reading, their mouths open in awe or surprise. Definitely, a book I will recommend to my friends who have younger children.

On a personal note, as I said above I was Wilda in first grade.  However, I did not stop there. My first-grade teacher asked if I would help another young girl with reading because she was struggling and I did. I tutored other students throughout my school years.  I have been a teacher for thirty-one years.  I teach middle school English. I make it my goal to turn non-readers into readers. I make them set a reading goal, and in exchange, the classes all choose my reading goal. (Just as a side note, this year my reading goal was set at  95 books by the end of May. When I left school last week I had read six.  I will add four more to that list since we were out for the hurricane.) I check in on them weekly. I know my first two - three weeks are hectic so I get little reading done. When I come in and write books on my list and tell them I'm trying to catch up, the game is on. I've been able to turn several in to life long readers. The best compliment I ever received was on the last day of school. A student told me he hated me. This was just before he grabbed me and hugged me and told me the reason was because I made him love reading.  He had stopped reading when his mother was accidentally killed before his eyes. She had read to him as a young child. His dad remarried 8 months later and that was the end of reading for him.  He keeps in touch and asks for recommendations for his young kids. It is fulfilling to get email with recommendations from former students.  So whether you are a teacher, parent, grandparent, or just someone who loves gifting kids with great books. This is one you must read.

It's Up To You by Christopher Francis

 

Genre: Children
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

ChristopherFrancis is one of my all time favorite authors. Whether he is writing for the younger reader or young adults, his books always have some sort of lesson to be learned. As a teacher of middle grade students I often see bullying at its worst.  It isn't just the name calling, and physical kind of bullying. Even worse is the bullying that degrades a person by ignoring them or leaving them out so they feel as if they are nothing. We see more of that in middle grades.  At the end of his book he has a game called stand up.  This is important not just for the youngest children, but for all ages.  When I teach about the holocaust, I do something similar called "walk the line".  We have to reach these kids when they are young. If we don't the consequences show up when they are adults.  This is a very important book that I highly recommend.

How to Be a Big Sister Book for 1 and 2 Year Old Toddlers by Mam Talk

 

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a great book to read with your child when they are expecting a new sibling. The story is written so that each page has one line. This makes the book easy for kids to follow along. The story line follows a young girl who is a new big sister. It shows how she interacts with her new sibling. It shows how they do a lot of the same things and she even helps out. The pictures as always are bright and simple.

I Love My God-Given New Baby Sibling: How to Be A Big Sister by Lamb Library Press

Genre:  Children's Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

A young girl grows up having so much fun. Then one day she realizes it would be a lot more fun if she had a brother or sister to play with.  She tells her parents she wants a sibling. Eventually her mom has another baby and the little girl is thrilled. This is where real life sets in. The baby cries a lot and needs a lot of time and attention from the mother. The little girl feels left out. Mom sits her down and explains that her sibling is a gift from God. From that point on the girl takes special care of God’s gift.  A wonderful way to let children know how special they are, and that all children are a gift from God.

Four More Picture Books by Various Authors

 Genre: Picture Books                    Source:  Purchased

Books for Benjamin by R.G. de Rouen

I absolutely loved this book. Benjamin is a worm. Unlike his family who lives on the rotten fruit and vegetables the store owner throws out, Benjamin prefers reading. He slips into the store one night to hide inside a paper. His idea is to be taken to a home where he can read books. Instead he is almost eaten by a parrot. Read this wonderful adventure to see if he succeeds in finding books to read. Cute, while showing the value of reading. There is extra information at the end of the book about libraries.

Night Cats by Pippa Pralen

This is the story of cats that are homeless. One day when the author left a restaurant she saw a hungry cat and decided to feed it. That was the beginning of her adventure.  I loved this book because of the humorous pictures. At the end she has pictures of the cats she takes care of. I could understand. We inherited five semi-feral cats from a gentleman across the street. He had been feeding them and took them to the vet to be fixed. When he passed he left them to us in his will. We still have four of them.  I couldn’t imagine not helping them.

 

The Unusual Penguin by Madeleine MacRae

I loved this book.  A penguin finds a lone egg on the ice with no one around. She takes it home and cares for it. When it hatches she proudly takes care of her son. When he begins school it is quite apparent he doesn’t fit in. He can’t seem to do what the other penguins do. He doesn’t even look like them.  There is a reason for this, but I won’t tell.  A great book about being proud of who you are and not worrying if you aren’t like each other.  We need to celebrate our differences.

 

This is Not Enough by Anna Kang

Two friends try to find gifts for each other to show how much they care.  Neither of them think what they have chosen or made is enough.  However as we learn, when it comes to friends, the love they show us in whatever form is always enough.  Cute little book about friendship.

Three Lovely Books by Lois Petren

Genre: Picture Books
Source: Purchased

Lulu and Lainey…the Lucky Day – Lois Petren

Lulu visits her grandmother with her knitting. Her grandmother suggests they take their knitting to the park. She watches the bees, plays with a boat, watches the ducks and then they go to the carousel. This was her favorite spot. Today was lucky because she caught the ring. They find a place to sit and eat and knit. Suddenly a squirrel grabs her favorite yarn she calls Lainey.  An adventurous quick read. You must read it to find out if her luck holds out.

Lulu and Lainey…a Christmas Yarn – Lois a. Petren

It is Christmas time and Lulu visits her grandmother with her knitting basket. After lunch she sits down prepared to make her brother a beautiful scarf from Lainey. Lainey her green yarn is not in her basket. She sees her grandmother’s cat playing with it, and then it disappears. Her grandmother gives her some red yarn to use for the scarf.  But, what happened to Lainey and will she find it?

Lulu and Lainey…at the Farm – Lois Petren

Lulu is excited. They are going to visit their grandparents on their farm. She loved visiting the farm. She loved the sheep named Lainey the best That is where her soft yarn come from. Her grandmother takes her out to the barn and shows her the new baby goat. That night her grandmother asks a special favor from Lulu. Read the book to see how Lulu and Lainey help out her grandmother.

Three More Cute Picture Books

Genre: Picture Books
Source: Purchased

The Little Mouse in My House – Adisan Books

A cat goes out to catch a fish for his dinner. When he returns he finds a mouse has moved into his house. He tries staring at him, scaring him, offering him cheese. The little mouse ignores him. The cat just really wants the mouse out of his house. Very cute bedtime story.

 

Parker & Penny Save the Penguin Olympics – Brent Stradford

Penny and Parker are penguins. They wake up excited. It is the day of the penguin Olympics. When they get down to the Olympic playing field they see their friends. Their friends are sad. There is a big ice block in the middle of the field. They try to move it on their own. When they can’t move it they have to think of another way.  This is a great book about friendship and teamwork. It leaves a message of never giving up.

 

Honey Bee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera – Candace Fleming, Eric Rohmann

Think you know everything there is about honey bees?  I used to think that. Then my husband became a bee keeper and I realized I actually knew nothing about them.  In this book, the author takes you through the life of a bee, which is approximately 35 days long. The end of the book is fabulous. The author has included a page that tells you about the body parts of the bee and what each part does. Then they have included information on what you can do to help the bees.  Very informative book.  Read it and find out like I did, what you thought you knew, but didn’t.

Three Wonderful Books by Darcy Pattison

Genre: Children's Picture Books, Early Chapter Book
Source: Purchased

Diego is a Galapagos Tortoise originally from the Island of Española. Over 200 years beginning in the early 1600s the tortoises were harvested for food.  Scientists visiting the island in the early 1900s found only three tortoises. A female laid eggs and a short time later they found the tortoise they would eventually name Diego. He lived in the San Diego Zoo. 

The book is all about how scientists work together to try to protect near extinct species. Once again I learned so much. I definitely recommend this book.

I have to say I love this author’s books. I teach 8^th grade, yet I put her scientific books on my shelves because my reluctant readers will pick them up. Then I hear them talking about what they learned.

This book has two parts on each page. The author takes you through the history

of the 1919 eclipse. In a second box she adds more detailed information. This is what my eighth grader enjoy.  I myself had never known about the first eclipse photographed, and what they learned from it.  I highly recommend this book.

I have to say I love this author’s books. I teach 8^th grade, yet I put her scientific books on my shelves because my reluctant readers will pick them up. Then I hear them talking about what they learned.

This book has two parts on each page. The author takes you through the history of the 1919 eclipse. In a second box she adds more detailed information. This is what my eighth grader enjoy.  I myself had never known about the first eclipse photographed, and what they learned                                        from it.  I highly recommend this book.