Four More Wonderful Books by Carole P. Roman

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

If You Were Me and Lived in Brazil
Readers will learn that Brazil is the largest country in South America and is the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world. They will learn about the Amazon, foods, sports and holidays. The book is full of wonderful information that allows readers to be transported to Brazil.







If You Were Me and Lived in Ancient China
This is a wonderful book for kids to learn about the story of Ancient China. The reader learns about the different classes and how life differed between them. You learn what they ate and why. The author has included information about the three religions. This is a great book to put on my shelves as a resource for my students.

If You Were Me and Lived in the American West
The author has done a wonderful job painting a picture of what life was like as people from the East moved to the West to have a better life. They traveled the Oregon Trail. The reader looks at life lived as they traveled chores the kids had, and what they ate. Readers learn of the hardships they faced and the new life they had. The author has included eight small biographies of famous people from the West as well as a glossary.



If You Were Me and Lived in the Middle Ages

This is one of thickest books this author has written for children. It is another book that I will proudly place on my school shelves. Readers will learn when the Middle Ages began and ended. Readers will also learn about the different classes of people and what life was like for them. Most readers will love to read about knights and castles, foods and jobs At the end of the book the author has once again given us a glossary and short biographies of famous people of the Middle Ages. It is my pleasure to recommend this book.

Cole's Perfect Puppy by Frances Crossno

Genre: Children, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Christian
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:
Cole's Perfect Puppy is a Christian novel intended for young readers who love animals, especially dogs. The story revolves around Cole, his younger brother Caleb, and their new-found friend Rachel who teaches the brothers about friendship, sacrifice, and God’s perfect love.

My Opinion:
I absolutely loved this book. I sat and read it in less than thirty minutes. I liked how the author showed the older brother taking responsibility for his younger brother. She also showed that the older brother could be a little irresponsible when distracted.  All of the characters were believable. The situations such as bullying, standing up for others. Giving to others by making a personal sacrifice are lessons I want my students to learn.  Both Rachel and Cole and his brother Caleb had hardships when it came to their parents. I won't tell what it is because I don't want to spoil it.

I read a review that said this book would be great for a Christian school or library. I find it perfect for a public school because students will be able to relate to the message. I also love that my Christian students will be able to find books their parents will approve of them reading. I loved the Christian message presented, yet not crammed down the reader's throat.  I finished the book and took it in to my mother and told her she had to read the book.  I gave her just enough info she started thinking about who we knew that would love a copy of this book.  I will enjoy putting this on my school shelves and recommending it to all of my students.

Lost Reviews

My last week at school in May was full of me rushing around. I was trying to make sure I had all assignments graded for my students. I was trying to make sure I had everything set up for my sub. I was trying to get our house ready to be tented the day I had surgery. I was trying to help my mother, who lives with us get her items ready as she and my husband would have to be out of the house for three days. My mother-in-law opened her home to my mom so we didn't have to rent a motel.  I was also trying to gather up everything I would need to take to the Therapy Rehab Center. I needed my husband to hold on to that packed bag until I was transferred from the hospital.  The last thing I was preparing was a group of reviews.  As I read and wrote the reviews on paper, I gave the books to a fellow teacher to share with her young son.  Somewhere along the line I never got the reviews posted. As I was going through my notebook, I found them and thought it would be a good idea to get them posted. Here they are, I hope you enjoy them.

Monty: The Courageous Survival of a Rescue Dog by Janet Squires
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Monty is a mixed pit-bull dog. He is found out in the desert. He has been shot and is severely injured, and near death. Nicole is an animal rescuer who finds him and takes him to a vet in hopes he can be save. Once they realize he will live they try to find him a forever home. This is a true story so there are lots of pictures and very little writing. I kept wondering, what kind of person would do something like this to a dog? Then I wondered what made him so special and determined to survive. By all odds he should have died.  If you want to learn more, he has a Facebook page.

If You Were Me and Lived in Elizabethan England by Carole P. Roman

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

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

The author has given us a look at a time called Elizabethan times. This was when Elizabeth the I was queen. The author has done a great job comparing and contrasting the life of the poor to the wealthy. She also showed major differences between life in the city and the country. In the back of the book she has included a small biography of eight very important people who lived during the Elizabethan period and what they contributed. There is also a glossary included to help explain unfamiliar terms.

If You Were Me and Lived in Renaissance Italy by Carole P. Roman

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

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

In this book we learn about the period after the Middle Ages. It was a time of rebirth. The awakening of creativity. It was called the Renaissance. The author has given a lot of information about how those who had some money lied. Everything was different from the clothes they wore to the food they ate. The author included a section on the changes in art, famous artists and a glossary.

If You Were Me and Lived in Colonial America by Carole P. Roman

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

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

The research done for this book had to have been extensive. The author gives the reader some history in England that led to people moving across the ocean to what became Colonial America. We get a look at how tough life was for these people, especially the first year. You learn about the friendship with the Natives that helped them survive. The back has small biographies of several important people to the colonies.

If You Were Me and Lived in Ancient Greece by Carole P. Roman

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

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

Readers will learn about some of the most important city-states. They will also learn a bit about the different gods they believed in. They will learn about how homes were made and what they ate. I found it interesting that girls were not considered citizens. I loved the way this book was set up. As you read about a specific topic you learned about the god or goddess that best fit with that topic. There is a separate section in the back that deals with the different gods.

Mortimer: Chapter Book for Early Readers by Mary Kincaid

Genre: Children, Early Reader

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

This story is written in first person. This is the story of Mortimer the mole. He learns to dig and eat worms with his family. However, Mortimer is very curious. He hears noises from above. He asks his father about them and is forbidden to go above ground. His father tells him that moles that go above ground never return. What will happen to Mortimer when his curiosity gets the best of him?

Children’s Books 3 complete children’s stories and 23 previews of our children books by Francois Bissonnette

I AM BACK!
I apologize for not being around for a while. As the school year was coming to an end I had to take some time off. I left school three weeks before it was over. This was very tough as I had wonderful sixth grade students this year. On May 23rd I had both of my knees completely replaced. That was followed by 3 and a half weeks in a nursing rehab facility. I underwent therapy three times a day. Finally I was allowed home. I do home therapy four days a week and go to my doctor for therapy three days a week. Unfortunately, I had a setback. The day I left the hospital and went to the rehab facility the nursing staff found a pressure wound on the back of my left leg. They have been treating it ever since. Then one week after getting home I was working out on my recumbent bike, I was having trouble getting my right foot to sit properly in the pedal stirrup and banged my right knee and incision on the display screen. I ripped a scab off of my incision. This is where the setback comes in. Now the wound doctor had another wound to take care of. Unfortunately, the wound on my knee has gotten deeper and larger. It is possible it may compromise my implant.  After debriding, taking a culture and x-rays I am playing the waiting game. If all comes back negative they may use a wound vacuum to heal the wound. The only problem with that process is that it may mean I can't go back to school the first week.

Now, I've gotten to a point where I've been able to read and begin to write reviews again. It has been a long time.  Here is my first review.

Genre: Children's Picture Book

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

Francois Bissonnette has long been one of my favorite authors. In this book we get excerpts and previews of his many stories.

Wanoo the Sorcerer: Naloo's version. Naloo visits her friend Wanoo. The last time she had seen him he was trying to learn magic. He told her that after training with the Enchanter Tarzi, he learned he could become a great magician if he persevered.

The City of Cats. One day in the city of cats a new family moves in. The new family was a mother dog and her pups. Muffy the kitten became friends with the pup named Goldy. Muffy's mom learns of the friendship and forbids it because they were different. In this book we learn that sometimes being different is the best thing.

Alicia and the Wolf is a wonderfully twisted version of the Red Riding hood Story. In this version Red Riding hood is being followed by a robber and a white wolf saves her.  It was a short but delightful story.

There are so many previews in this e-book. Once you read it you will see why his stories are some of my favorites. His fairy tales are so wonderful I use them in my classroom when I teach a unit on traditional stories.  I do hope you will check this author out.

Three Oliver and Jumpy Stories by Werner Stejskal

Genre: Children's Picture Books
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my reviews. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Oliver and Jumpy Stories 40-42

Story 40: Elephant Heaven
In this story Oliver, Jumpy and Joey visit ghost castle. They find a group of elephants in a desert waiting for them to lead them to fertile ground. Oliver is up for the challenge. They encounter a grass fire and an avalanche. Will they find the land of plenty?

Story 41: Waking the Princess
In this story Oliver sets out on his own to break a curse. Years before a Princess was put to sleep until a cat Prince could wake her with a kiss. However, the cat prince would have to overcome three challenges. The challenges included a genie out of a bottle, a giant and a spider. Will he be able to wake the Princess?

Story 42: Space Ball
Jumpy and Joey were watching a star in the sky when suddenly it began to move. It became a fireball and landed in their lake. The next morning a spacecraft emerged from the lake. A creature came out. What do you think the creature wants?

Oliver and Jumpy Stories 43-45

Story 43: Flying Carpet
In this story a stork from Africa delivers a letter to Oliver. He is needed to rescue another princess. He and his friends travel to Africa where they are given a magic carpet to help them rescue the princess. They manage to do this, but the guards chase them. Can they evade the guards and take the Princess to her destination?

Story 44: Birthday Party
Oliver returned home from one of his adventures to a surprise birthday party. His friends had cake and presents for him. He felt their love.  What kind of presents do you think he got?

Story 45: Magic Berries
In this story the three friends visit Ghost Castle again and end up in a land where there were very large berries. Before anyone could stop him, Joey ate a handful. He began to shrink. He found another colored berry and ate it. It caused him to grow fat. He found a third berry and ate it and it caused him to grow tall again, but remain fat. They were told they had to find a wood fairy to help them. Will Joey be able to do what is needed to get back to his regular size?

Oliver and Jumpy Stories 46-48

Story 46: Saving Fairyland
Fairyland was under attack. Their food was being destroyed. The Fairy Queen asked Oliver and his friends to help save her land. With their magic wands they went to help.  Will they be able to save fairy land?

Story 47: Cat King
Oliver and his friends visit the Ghost Castle again for another adventure. They find themselves in a room with several statues. One of them looks just like him.  The statues come to life and declare him their returned king. They take him to meet his bride. They get married and begin to eat. There is one major problem. When Oliver eats anything with mice or birds in ti he begins to turn white. The other cats think he is an impostor.  What will happen to Oliver and his friends.?

Story 48: The Bee Gnomes
Oliver is not the neatest cat. Sometimes his home can be quite messy. One day he woke up and found his house had been tidied up.  This happened several mornings. He pretended to go to sleep one night and found out who was cleaning up his house.  The bee gnomes had a favor to ask of him. Would he be able to help them?

Children's Picture Books by Amy Best and Rachel Michaels

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

A wonderful group of picture books by two very talented authors. These are great for the youngest child up to kindergarten.

Hopper and Friends
Hopper was moving. Like many kids he was afraid he would not be able to make any new friends. Read to find out whether he was right or wrong. This is a wonderful book to read to a child who is getting read to move. It will show them there is nothing to fear.








Hopper's Birthday Surprise
Hopper's friends want to surprise him on his birthday. Hopper has seen many of them throughout the day and no one wished him a happy birthday. He believes they all forgot ad runs away. Will they be able to find him and give him his happy birthday?

Fiona Fox's Not So Happy New Year
Fiona Fox is dreading the new year. She has set up a list of resolutions and this year she wants to follow all of them. Her resolutions are so strict that the more she thinks about them the sadder she gets. They are very strict. Will she be able to do it?







Jungle Juniors and the Mysterious Egg
Geoff the giraffe and Monica the monkey find an egg while out walking. They take it home to help it hatch. Read the book to find out how they work together to help this egg hatch and exactly what hatches.

Hopper and the Rollercoaster
Hopper is happy a new amusement park is coming to his part of the forest. But, Hopper is hiding a secret. He has a fear of rollercoasters. Every time his friends invite him to go to the amusement park he comes up with an excuse. Then his friend Shannon Squirrel invites him to her birthday party. He accepts and then learns it is to be at the new amusement park. Will Hopper learn to conquer his fear? Will his friends learn his secret?





Belinda Bear's Special Talent
Everyone has a special talent in this wonderful story. That is everyone except Belinda Bear. When an announcement is made that there will be a special talent show, everyone demonstrates their talent except belinda Bear. She has tried telling jokes, Singing, dancing and a circus act, but none of them seem to work for her. She is sad, but happy for her friends. To support them she begins to bake treats for them while they practice. What will happen the night of the talent show?

Lucas the Lion and the Pirate Ship
Lucas the Lion has always protectedhis friends from the hunters. He chases them to the river and stops. He never catches the because he's afraid of water. What do you think will happen when his friends get on a boat on the river?




Monica Monkey Saves the Day
Monica Monkey visits Monkey Beach when his friend Geoff is gone. She has had trouble at Monkey beach in the past. Monica doesn't seem to fit in with the other monkeys. They make fun of her because she is small and not their same color. She has to eat by herself. When they are caught and put in a cage by hunters it is Monica who must save them.

Ryan the Rabbit's Big Move
Ryan and his family have always lived in the carrot patch behind a farmer's house. They have lots of friends. One day his parents tell him and his sisters that they will be moving half way around the world to Africa. They are not sure they will be able to make friends. They don't know what to expect. Imagine Ryan and his sister's surprise while exploring the jungle around their house when they meet a lion. They soon learn that he is friendly and introduce him to carrots. What will happen next?

When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Good Person by WIGU

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

When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Good Person
Genre: Children/Middle Grade Non-fiction
Like all of the other books in this series, children learn so much. In this particular book, two young boys are getting ready to go to a funeral. They don't want to go, but their parents insist they must because it is the right thing to do. Once at the funeral they learn so much about Mr. Beckett and the life he lead. He was a friend to everyone. He believed that you had to be the best person you could.  After listening to all that the different adults had to say Brendan and Blake decide that they want to grow up to be like Mr. Beckett and be the best person that they can be.  I love the lessons that are taught throughout this book.


If You Were Me and Lived in Italy by Carole P. Roman

Genre: Children's Picture Book
This is another book that takes the reader on a journey. This time we visit Italy. Italy is the home of the Roman Empire.  I also learned that the Catholic church is considered an independent state and the capital is Vatican City. Italy is also home to so many wonderful old ruins, such as the Colosseum. One other ting I learned is that March 8th is International women's Day. If you want to learn all about Italy, the country and it's culture then get your hands on this wonderful book and share it with a child.

Navy Seals For Kids by Eric Z
Genre: Children's Nonfiction Picture Book
I had always heard how grueling the training to become a Navy seal was. I really had no idea how truly tough it is until I read this book. This is a small book packed with a tone of information about what it takes to become a Navy seal. I now understand why so many who try the program wash out. It is not for the faint of heart. I have a new respect for these people we call Navy seals.



A Home For Kayla by Kim English

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Once there was a stray dog who found herself hungry and cold. A kind lady picked her up and took her to an animal shelter. The brown dog was given food to eat and clean water to drink and put in a cage.  She had no name, only a number she was given, the number twenty-two. She watched people come in looking for a forever dog.  She watched a lot of her new friends find their forever home. No one seemed to want her. Everyone assured her that someone would want her. One day a young girl named Katie and her father came into the shelter. Katie walked past all of the other dogs and stood in front of number twenty two.  Will this cute little brown dog find a home? This is a story with a great message of how important it is to find your pet at your local animal shelter.

A Collection of Children's Books

Genre: Children's Picture Books
Source: I received copies to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.



Zoom Boom the Scarecrow and Friends by Joel Brown
Zoom Boom is a scarecrow on a farm. He loves helping everyone and taking care of them. He makes sure they stay safe, especially the crows who are always getting into trouble.





Be Tidy or Not? by Joel Brown
I thought this would be a book about how to tidy up your room. I was surprised to find it was about being a friend to those who are different. Dirty Bird is a very clean and tidy bird. Charming is a very dirty and messy bird. Both of these birds are best friends. They look past each other's differences.

Be Careful by Joel Brown
Zoom Boom is at it again. This time Careless Carrie the Crow is not paying attention to what she should be doing. He saves her from a car as she is crossing in front of the bus. He keeps her from running out into the street to get a book she dropped and then he saves her when she trips going down the stairs.  Great lessons about how to stay safe.





Fussy Gussy and the Giant Broccoli by Ortal Zerat & Hadas Korb

This book is a creative way to get kids to try vegetables, especially broccoli. Fussy Gussy hated vegetables. His mother tells him a story aout aking, who through a trick of the royal magician, learned to like broccoli.

Lily and the Animal Choir by Ayala Saar
Lily and her friends love to sing and dance. They set off one day to find a choir to join. All of the animals they meet and ask refuse to let them sing with them, saying their choirs are the best A wonderful book to read to see if Lily and her freinds will fina a choir to join.





Stories for Children 9 by Francois Bissonnette
The Musician and the Princess
In a kingdom lived a musician who was loved by all including the animals in the forest. He asked the King's permission to marry his daughter as they were in lovel The king agreed as long as he participated in three tests. Can you guess what the tests were and how well he did?

Alicia and the Unicorn
In the Rickward Kingdom was a princess named Alicia. Her father King Richard would do anyting for her. Her seventh birthday was approaching and she asked her daddy for a unicorn for her birthday present. Will she receive her wish?
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Yalu and the Puppy Room by Brian T. Yates
When a small puppy is the last of her brothers and sisters left behind in a kennel, she wonders if she will ever find a forever home. She tries her best to stand out. When she finds her forever home, she realizes it is the perfect place for a princess like herself.



Oliver and Jumpy Stories 34-36 by Werner Stejskal

How I Found My Top Hat
This is the story of how Oliver obtained his white top hat. He always wanted to be an elegant hat. One day he passed a hat shop and saw the white top hat. He just had to have it. He worked hard to earn money to buy it. When the time came it was gone. Someone had bought it. Read to find out how he ended up with his beloved hat.
Oliver in the Circus
In this story, the circus comes to town and Oliver tries to join them. You can read about all of the different things he did in the circus and decide for yourself what he did best.
Ship Wreck
A ship is wrecked and sunk during a terrible storm. On board the ship is a treasure, including a tiara the kings daughter is to wear at her wedding.  The President asks Oliver and Jumpy to dive to the wreck to  retrieve the tiara. What kind of danger will they face, and who will help them?

As always these are wonderful stories, so fun to read.

1,2,3 Count With Me by Sybrina Durant
This is a cute counting book full of animals and other charming pictures to help your child learn to count to 10 and back There is a song that goes with it and you can find it here.

Five Books by Nancy Guettier

Genre: Children's Picture Books

Source: I received copies to facilitate my reivews. The opinions expressed here are my own

These five books are a wonderful way to teach your children about several different things. The drawings are wonderful and will entice any child or parent to pick up these books.

Mermaids on Mars by Nancy Geuttier

This is a story about mermaids who live on Mars and have lots of fun swimming and playing in water. But, they waste the water and use it all up. They must come to the Earth. The book is full of tips for conserving water.

Circus in the Sky by Nancy Guettier

This is a wonderful way to entice the youngest child to look up at the sky and teach them about the constellations.

Jude’s Moon by Nancy Guettier

Jude loves everything about the moon. While looking for his moon he learns so much about the moon. This is a wonderful book for teaching the different phases of the moon.

Roy G. Biv is Mad at Me Because I Love Pink

I loved this book. It teaches the reader the colors of the rainbow. It tells them about the emotions associated with them. There is so much to learn and such wonderful pictures.

I Wish

When two girls find a magic wand one of them  makes wishes for what they would want to be. However, when all is said and done they decide the best wish of all is to be best friends forever.

The pictures in this book are absolutely bright and beautiful.

Three Monkeys Bundle by Rob "Nanook" Natiuk

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

Great group of stories to teach simple lessons through the antics of 3 monkeys and their friends.

Treehouse Lane  Book 1

Tale 1 – Move in, Shout Out

In this first  tale Booey, Hooey, and Fooey are looking for a treehouse to move into. They find an ad in the paper and go to meet the person in charge. They buy the treehouse without seeing it first. Will it be a great treehouse, or will they be sorry they bought it?

Tale 2 – Will a Gorilla Become a Pal

In this second tale as Booey, Hooey, and Fooey continue to work on their treehouse, they are visited by Kabooley the gorilla and Jerry the giraffe. Both of them want to become friends with them. Can these three monkeys become friends with two very different animals?Tale 3 – Strangers in Coconut Town

The three monkeys and Kabooley take a trip to Coconut town.  He teaches them how to cross the river by giving a snack to the crocodile and the turtle. But, when they get to the town they see three blue faced monkeys running toward them. Shortly after that they see some monkey cops coming to arrest them.

Tale 4 – Kabooley to the Rescue!

This is a continuation of take three. Kabooley ran back to track down the true robbers and bring them back to the jail. He needed to rescue his friends from jail. They found out how true a friend he was.

Tale 5 – The Big BIG Day!

In this tale we find our jungle friends playing in a soccer game. The prize is a whole lot of food. They are playing a group of orangutans. Do they stand a chance? Read the book to find out.

Go Bananas  Book Two

Tale 1 – The Awesome Threesome

The three monkeys and Kabooley headed to Coconut town to get some ice cream. They promised to bring back some lollipops  to the rhino who guards the bridge and the turtle and crocodile. They took most of their money and gave it to a family in need. Will they have enough to help their friends

Tale 2 – Adventures at the Circus

The three monkeys and their friend the gorilla wanted to visit the circus in town but the three monkeys only had sixteen cents between them and the gorilla only had twenty-seven cents. It would cost them four dollars to get into the circus.  Will they be able to go? How will they get in?

Tale 3 – Hooey’s Wonderful Not-So-Great Day

 Hooey woke up thinking he was going to have a wonderful day because the sun was shining brightly. It seemed from the minute he slid down the tree and got a splinter, then got bonked in the head with a coconut that his day was not going to be so great? What do you think? Will he have any blessings to count?

Tale 4 – Can’t Miss This Mess!

 Hooey was a messy monkey. Booey was always telling him something bad was going to happen if he didn’t clean up his room. Read this wonderful tale to find out just what could and did happen.

Book 3, Go Flying High

Tale 1 – Fooey’s  Banana-Licious Birthday

It is Fooey’s birthday and his sister Booey made his delicious cake. But what happens when he tries to blow out the trick candles on his cake? What special gift does he want from Kabooley?

Tale 2 – Kabooley’s Awesome Ride

Kabooley took the monkeys to the rodeo. Hooey had a surprise for Kabooley. He signed him up to ride the big brahma bull. He only had to stay on for ten seconds to win a hundred dollars. Do you think he can do it?

Tale 3 – Fooey’s Best Day Every Day!

The day after Fooey’s birthday he was sad. He wanted to have a birthday everyday and not have to wait 364 days until his next one. His brother Hooey and sister Booey come up with a great idea. Can you guess what it is?

Tale 4 – Pick a Picnic

The three monekeys set out for a picnic. They walked and walked to find the perfect place to have a picnic. They wanted a place no other animals would try to eat their food. Do you know where they had their picnic?

Tale 5 – Full of Hot Air Adventure

Kabooley the gorilla came by the monkeys treehouse to take them on a hot air balloon ride. Read along to see what great adventure they will have.

Book Four, Swing Low, Swing High

Tale 1 – Where’s Kabooley

When Kabooley doesn’t come around for several days the monkeys set out to find him. They find him in his house very sick. Read to find out how they help their friend.

Tale 2 – Storm Warning

When a big storm coming from all directions heads for the treehouse, guess who comes to help the three monkeys stay safe?

Tale 3 – A Really Big Visitor to the Jungle

The hippos get a really special visitor from North America. Can you figure out who would visit them?

Tale 4 – Can You

Kabooley visits the monkey and tells them about something special he bought in Coconut Town. Can you guess what it would be?  What will happen when he lets the three monkeys try it out?

Tale 5 – Mother Monkey Rhymes

This last tale is a remake of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes into Mother Monkey Nursery Rhymes. The author has done a fabulous job recreating them to fit the monkey theme.

Book Five: Christmas Treehouse

Tale 1 – Christmas Tree Hunt

Booey, Hooey, and Fooey are three monkeys who live in the jungle. One day they received a package from their uncle. It was full of decorations for a Christmas tree. They set out through the jungle to find the perfect Christmas tree to decorate. When they realized there were no Christmas trees in the jungle they came up with the perfect solution. Can you guess what it was?

Tale 2 – Joyful Jungle Bells

It is Christmas and the three monkeys wanted to go to Coconut Town to buy themselves Christmas presents. They meet their new neighbors who will have nothing since the father is in the hospital. Will they be selfish and buy themselves gifts or will they discover what the true spirit of Christmas is?

Tale 3 – Grandpa Monk and Sunny Paws

In this tale Grandpa Monkey is telling the three monkeys the story of Sunny Paws who delivers candy and presents to all of the jungle animals. The songs that accompany each story is really a fun take on a familiar song.

Tale 4 – Laughter the Day After

In this story we find the three monkeys and their gorilla friend making New Years resolutions.  What kind of resolutions do you think they made?

An Assortment of Picture Books

Genre: Children's Picture Books
Source: I received copies of these books to facilitate my reviews. The opinions expressed here are my own.

An Illustrated Bedtime Story For Children: Little Darling and the Fuzzwells by Ness Kelly

The premise of this story is a great one. A young dog goes to the beach with her family. While chasing away birds from her owners belongings she gets lost. She finds her way back to the beach oly to discover her family is gone. She decides to wait for them. They never come. A kind-hearted man finds her and takes her to a dog shelter. After several months she finds a forever home. The story was one that kept your emotions high, which in my book is a great thing.  Unfortunately the language drove me nuts. I felt while reading it that one of my students had written it. The author used a lot of slang, for instance they used the word 'cos' throughout the story. I know this is how kids speak, but I would have preferred the author kept the language a little more formal to make it a well rounded book. It wasn't enough of a deterrant to make me stop reading the book. All in all I really enjoyed the book.

Your Special Space by Sagit Cohen
This is a wonderful book to read to a child when the are old enough to ask questions about their birth. This book talks about how a mother prepares the child's first home, her tummy and then the child's room for when they come home from the hospital. You can feel the love and warmth in this book. Every new parent to be should have this book read to read to their child.

Wizard Bill's Secret by Anat Umansky
What if crocodiles had elephant ears and zebras had pink stripes? In this cute story Bill the wizard visits the zoo after al lthe people have left, and grants the wishes of the animals. When daylight returns, the animals return to their normal selves. The first thing I thought about after reading this book was that this would make a great read to use for creative writing. Having students write about other things the wizard could do to the animals. Another writing idea that popped into my head was, what if the sun rose before the wizard could turn them back. Great mentor text for creative writing possibilities for children.


Danny's Great Heart by Sagit Cohen

This is another wonderful book by Sagit Cohen.  This book teaches children that when something happens like your best friend moves away, you will always have room in your heart for new friends.  Like all of Sagit's other books this not only teaches through rhymes, but leaves the readers with those warm fuzzy feelings.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Your Amazing Dad by Sagit Cohen
Sagit Cohen has written a book praising the efforts of new fathers and fathers-to-be. In this wonderful book we are taken on a ride from the moment a man finds out he is to be a father to the day his child is born. We see the father stepping in to help the mother/mother-to-be with everything she may need. He cooks, cleans and when the baby is born he can hardly contain his excitement. He is ready. He's watched shows to prepare himself. He changes diapers and most importantly he speaks lovingly to his child while he holds the baby with pride. What a wonderful book to celebrate fatherhood.
I received a book to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I Wish I Was a Brownie by Marsha Casper Cook

I don't know how many times I hear my students wish they were someone else, or looked different. This story is just like their's. Chippy is a chocolate chip cookie who wishes he was a brownie. In his mind if he was a brownie the other chippies wouldn't laugh at him and he wouldn't feel so alone. His teacher Mrs. Chipster invites him over to her house and presents him with a costume to try on. It is a brownie costume. As he looks at himself in the mirror he discovers it is what is inside and not on the outside that matters.
What a wonderful story.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.






Are You Eating My Lunch? by Dr. Nicole
This is a wonderful bi-lingual book. Xavier goes to the zoo. When it is time for lunch he begins to ask the animals one by one if they are eating his lunch. When they answer the reader earns what that animal eats. The repetition makes this a great book for a beginning reader. The pictures are wonderful and it is written in English and French. The story has a wonderful ending and wonderful pictures to go along with it.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinons expressed here are my own.




Strike at Charles' Farm by Dr. Nicole

When Charles' animals on his farm refuse to cooperate, they tell the farmer what they want. The horse wants to pull a lighter cart, the rooster wants to have more hens under his control. The list goes on and on. The farmer listens to each of the animals then simply tells them they can go live in the zoo and that way they can have what they want.  The animals suddenly decide they like their freedom and want to stay and do their jobs. The farmer throws the a party out of gratitude.  A great way to teach children that everyone must do their part for things to move smoothly.





Dog Tails From The Dog Park II by Max and Luther
In this second book Max and Luther once again charm us with their stories about the dog park. Luther loves mud after it rains. Unlike most dogs he doesn't like to roll in it, he likes to eat it. His mom doesn't approve, but he just can't seem to help himself.  Max loves to dig holes and search for gophers.  We learn many more things they love to do and the family fun they have.  However, for me the most enjoyable part of this book is all of the facts we learn about dogs. This information is sprinkled throughout the book.  Like the first book in this series, this is a keeper, a must read.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.