Tag: picture book

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Children Diversity Reading Challenge

Let’s Dance! by Valerie Bolling, Maine Diaz (Illustrations)

Let’s Dance! by Valerie Bolling,
Maine Diaz (Illustrations)

There is SO much to love about Let’s Dance! It’s a picture book that incorporates music and dance from all around the globe.

This rhythmic showcase of dances from all over the world features children of diverse backgrounds and abilities tapping, spinning, and boogying away!

Tap, twirl, twist, spin! With rhyming text, author Valerie Bolling shines a spotlight on dances from across the globe, while art from Maine Diaz shows off all the moves and the diverse people who do them. From the cha cha of Cuba to the stepping of Ireland, kids will want to leap, dip, and zip along with the dances on the page!

There’s more to the book than just the dancing though. The accurate depictions of the people of color ensure that all children of all races and abilities are represented. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that! I could imagine singing and dancing with a class of littles with this title. Super Great story!

Here’s where you can find the author:

valeriebolling.com

Twitter: valerie_bolling

Instagram: valeribollingauthor

Instagram: letsdancebook

And because there is so much diversity, it qualifies for the Diversity Reading Challenge!
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Categories
Children Diversity Reading Challenge

I Used to Be Famous by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie is THE BOOK WE ALL NEED

I Used to Be Famous by Tara Luebbe
and Becky Cattie

Do the illustrations look familiar? They should! That’s because they are by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, who has illustrated a number of SUPER ADORBS books like:

Love

and

Beautiful

Both of which were uplifting messages for the littles.

I Used to Be Famous is the story of a darling and multi talented Brown skinned girl who laments her fall from fame due to a new baby in the house.  You’ll love our heroine because she’s not bratty at all.

There’s so much to love about this story because any child who’s had a new baby sibling in the family will be able to relate to Kiely’s (the star) feelings. Additionally, the book reflects positive images of an African American family, which while encouraging, allows readers to see that  families of POC are no different than theirs. Similar to Peter’s Chair (Ezra Jack Keats) you’ll see the gentleness and understanding of what it means to be a big sibling.

I can’t love this book any more. It’s so friggin fraggin adorable.

Add I Used to Be Famous to your TBR pile for kids of all ages. It qualifies for the Diversity Reading Challenge too!

 

Becky Cattie has always had a flair for the dramatic and loves all things entertainment—especially character-driven narratives. She was a casting producer for reality TV shows like NBC’s America’s Got Talent, ABC’s Extreme Makeover, and E!’s The Simple Life in Los Angeles. She lives in Chicago. Tara Luebbe is a self-described “Picture Book Nerd.” In her previous life, she owned a toy and book store in Atlanta, which was a catalyst for writing her own books. This is the third picture book collaboration for sisters Tara and Becky; their first two books, I Am Famous and Shark Nate-O, were published in 2018. To learn more, visit http://beckytarabooks.com/.
Facebook: BeckyTara Books
Twitter: @t_luebbe and @b_cattie
Instagram: @taraluebbe and @beckycattie
PRAISE FOR I USED TO BE FAMOUS
 
“This clever exploration of the mixed emotions of welcoming a new baby into a family is sure to elicit more than a few laughs from the divas accustomed to having all the attention.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a copy of I USED TO BE FAMOUS  (U.S. addresses), courtesy of Albert Whitman & Company.
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Categories
Children Diversity Reading Challenge

The 12 Books of #Diversity for the Holidays Day 5

The 12 Books of #Diversity for the Holidays

Beautiful by Stacy McNaulty

On the fifth day of the Diversity Countdown we have Beautiful by Stacy McNaulty, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Every girl is unique, talented, and lovable. . . .Every girl is BEAUTIFUL.
Much more than how one looks on the outside, true beauty is found in conquering challenges, showing kindness, and spreading contagious laughter. Beautiful girls are empowered and smart and strong!
BEAUTIFUL breaks barriers by showing girls free to be themselves: splashing in mud, conducting science experiments, and reading books under a flashlight with friends. This book will encourage all girls to embrace who they are and realize their endless potential.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the illustrations in this adorable picture book. It shows girls of every race, ability, etc, doing what girls do; which is everything. A great way to break those gender stereotypes that kids start to believe in their preschool years.

 

Categories
Children Diversity Reading Challenge

Happy Hanukkah! Schmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe, illustrated by Howard McWilliam

Schmelf the Hanukkah Elf

Shmelf is one of Santa’s most important elves. He’s part of the List Checking department, and he makes sure all the good boys and girls get their presents! But when Shmelf finds out that some children are missing from Santa’s list, he goes to investigate.

What Shmelf uncovers is Hanukkah, a wondrous and joyful holiday that Jewish families celebrate each year. As Shmelf observes a family lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, and hearing the Hanukkah story, he sees how special the traditions of the holiday truly are-and he wants to be a part of it! Luckily, Santa just might have a special role in mind for Shmelf….

Isn’t that the cutest little elf face ever? I love that this book is focused on the little ones. I know some little ones don’t understand that they celebrate differently than their friends. Here’s a way to make Hanukkah feel special for the little ones who are confused or who want to learn about Hanukkah.

Schmelf!

This fun book counts for their Diversity Reading Challenge!

Categories
Books Children

Celebrate Black History Month with Kadir Nelson Day 21

Celebrate Black History Month with Kadir Nelson

Black History Month is a great time to discover new authors and illustrators of color. I’ve been crushing on Kadir Nelson for some time now, and try as I might, he seems to allude me.  What better way to celebrate his beautifully moving illustrations by highlighting one book a day during Black History Month?

Thunder Rose

 

Thunder Rose

Jerdine Nolan & Kadir Nelson

Categories
Books Children

Celebrate Black History Month with Kadir Nelson Day 16

Celebrate Black History Month with Kadir Nelson

Black History Month is a great time to discover new authors and illustrators of color. I’ve been crushing on Kadir Nelson for some time now, and try as I might, he seems to allude me.  What better way to celebrate his beautifully moving illustrations by highlighting one book a day during Black History Month?

Mama Miti

 

Mama Miti by Donna Jo Napoli & Kadir Nelson

Categories
Books Children

Celebrate Black History Month with Kadir Nelson Day 13

Celebrate Black History Month with Kadir Nelson

Black History Month is a great time to discover new authors and illustrators of color. I’ve been crushing on Kadir Nelson for some time now, and try as I might, he seems to allude me.  What better way to celebrate his beautifully moving illustrations by highlighting one book a day during Black History Month?

Heart and Soul

 

 

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans

by Kadir Nelson

Categories
Books Children

Celebrate Black History Month with Kadir Nelson Day 12

Celebrate Black History Month with Kadir Nelson

Black History Month is a great time to discover new authors and illustrators of color. I’ve been crushing on Kadir Nelson for some time now, and try as I might, he seems to allude me.  What better way to celebrate his beautifully moving illustrations by highlighting one book a day during Black History Month?

 

Baby Bear

 

 

Baby Bear, words and pictures by Kadir Nelson

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Children

Don’t Forget DEXTER! by Lindsay Ward is so Cauuuuuute! and #GIVEAWAY

Don’t Forget DEXTER!

Dexter T Rexter might be the cauuuuuutest T-Rex I’ve ever met! And sadly, I would be devastated if he were mine and got separated from me. But you know what, that’s exactly what happens in this adorbs story. Poor Dexter gets left behind in the doctor’s office waiting room. He’s sure his best buddy would never leave him behind on purpose so he sets out to figure out what happened and then tries to help himself get rescued.

The illustrations are multidimensional and so clever. I love love love this story. No spoiling the ending either, so you’ll hafta find out for yourself what happens.

PS you’ll be singing the dinosaur song all day!

 

Lindsay Ward was inspired to write this book after her husband texted her a photo of a toy dinosaur abandoned at a doctor’s office. The caption read: “Well, they left me here.” Lindsay thought it was so funny that she sat down to write Dexter’s story immediately. She is also the author and illustrator of Brobarians, Henry Finds His Word, and When Blue Met Egg. Her book Please Bring Balloons was also made into a play.
Most days you can find Lindsay writing and sketching at her home in Peninsula, Ohio, where she lives with her family. Learn more about her online at www.LindsayMWard.com  or on Twitter: @lindsaymward.
 
Praise for  DON’T FORGET DEXTER!
★ “Ward’s ink, colored-pencil, and cut-paper illustrations give readers a toy’s view of the world and allow children to stomp in Dexter’s feet for a while, his facial expressions giving them lots of clues to his feelings. Lost and found was never so riotously funny or emotionally draining.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Ward (Brobarians) is as funny as ever as she chronicles her orange hero’s nervous, no-filter state of mind, and her cut-paper, pencil, and ink drawings—with their visual asides, annotations, and shifts in scale—are irrepressible. It’s high anxiety made highly adorable.” —Publishers Weekly
Check out some fun activities here!
And now the GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment here for a chance to win a copy in what’s sure to be your new beloved book! LOOK AT ALL THE CUTE!!!!
Categories
Children

Loblolly, Loblolly, You’re So Tall by Mommy Moo Moo

Loblolly, Loblolly, You’re So Tall
by Mommy Moo Moo

 

I love the title of this book thats why I chose to review it. Loblolly is so fun to say! Who knew that it’s an actual real thing? I didn’t until I looked it up. How cool is that?

Loblolly is a tree that grows in the South. This adorbs book is a children’s adaptation of America the Beautiful. Everything rhymes (bonus in my opinion) with a lyrical feel that littles will love. Such a cute addition for your little green activist. Set it on the shelf next to The Lorax.

Super Cute!