Book Review: The Friendly Mouse

Happy Thursday! I get to pick Jackson up from his college prep thing tonight, a day early, so I'm ready to hear his stories of the first week. I feel like I'm starting to get into some kind of groove with Pep and Lu by myself during the day, and I'm trying to keep myself busy all day otherwise my depression starts taking a dive, and that's not good. One of the things we've been doing is reading books. Lots of books.... all of our books. I was SO grateful to have something new to add to the mix, that's for sure! 

The Friendly Mouse - Sophia R. Tyler

A Small Mouse with a Big Heart Changes the World One Friend at a Time. . .

Mouse is a field mouse who loves living in the country, but works in the city. This leaves him with a major problem: he is constantly late for work. In the face of losing his job, Mouse makes a bold, faith-filled choice that could cost him everything.

An unexpected story about how a little mouse overwhelmed with his own struggles finds himself to be the miracle prayed for by another.

 

I'll tell you, Pep and Lu really liked this one, they picked up on the moral of the story without me asking. Throughout the book we follow a hard working little mouse who works at a cheese factory, but happens to have a gruff boss named Mr. Roo. Mr. Roo doesn't come off very nice at all and he makes it hard for mouse to get through his day and mouse doesn't really know what to do to make things better/easier. 

Which brings us to the main point of this book, compassion and kindness. The rest of the story unfolds and we see different situations where mouse received kindness and then practiced kindness onto others. The Golden Rule, treat others as you wish to be treated, is shown in several examples, easy for children to understand and practice showing you their comprehension. The story is wholesome, but I will let you know that it does touch on God and the power of prayer, so if that isn't something you practice at home, this may not be the book for you. It would make a great story for a church children's room or as a story during vacation bible school this summer. 

I really loved how the last page of the book features 11 comprehension questions for children to answer and expand upon. You wouldn't even need to go through each question afterwards, you could easily pick one or two to talk about because each one would definitely lead into other stories because you know kids always go off on tangents! Overall we really enjoyed this story and Penelope loved the illustrations. She's been busy trying to copy some of the drawings (as she does with all books, it's how she's teaching herself some drawing skills this way). 

Thank you to PR by the Book and Tiger Lily Publishing for sending me a copy for review! You can learn more about The Friendly Mouse on the website dedicated to it, and it is available as a hardcover (my favorite for children books) on Amazon: 

This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: Love You, Little Lady

Happy weekend! I am so screwed up on my days of the week so I woke up thinking today was Friday and I had to get my weekend planned out and organized. JOKE IS ON ME though because today is Saturday and I missed half of the things I was supposed to do yesterday because I thought yesterday was Thursday. 

How I'm allowed to adult and being in charge of four little humans is beyond me, to be honest. Ha!

Love You, Little Lady - Brett Young

There's something special about the love between a father and daughter. In Love You, Little Lady, award-winning singer-songwriter Brett Young writes a love letter to his daughter as he shares what it's like to hear her heartbeat, hold her for the very first time, and watch her take her first steps.

This heartfelt picture book is ideal for kids ages 4-8 and shares the wonder of becoming a new parent

the unconditional love dads and moms share for their children beautiful artwork, a heartwarming cover, and sweet rhymes inspired by Brett's lyrics. 

I have a solid rotations of music channels while I'm in the car and one of them is a country station so I actually know who Brett Young is. I also know the song that this one is inspired by and I am a sucker for songs about parenthood. When I heard this book was coming out, I was so excited and knew this was a perfect book to add to my little girls' library. 

If you are looking for the perfect book for a baby shower, gift for a new mom (or dad), or just need to add a new one to your library, this book is adorable. I loved the illustrations throughout, they are so colorful and reminiscent of everyday life, we enjoyed looking at those with the story. The story is really genuine and loving mixing the wishes every parent has for their child while also reinforcing the hope that the child finds their own way. I love instilling the confidence that your child is capable of forging their own way while knowing they have the support of their parents no matter way, that's the greater meaning of the story. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour! I highly, highly suggest picking this one up to include in your next gift or to add to your bedtime routine. 

This post contains affiliate links.

Book Review: The Teensy Weensy Virus

I know, you're like, "has Sara died?" and honestly, it feels like it! I feel like garbage, I'm exhausted, and I have seventy million things going on all at once. I'm trying really hard to keep it together. I thought for sure once school was done for the year I'd be able to get it together because it would be one less thing, and I guess that is true to an extent, but I now have the added job of you know.... watching four kids all day, every day. I feel like maybe I didn't plan that out all the way, you know? Anyways, let's talk children's books! 

The Teensy Weensy Virus - Sherri L. Rose

COVID-19 is a big deal-but with all that adults have to worry about, it's easy to overlook the pandemic's impact on children. This book provides a great way for parents and caregivers to introduce and reinforce the importance of safety measures to children while giving kids the opportunity to ask questions and share their feelings. Embracing the latest science, The Teensy Weensy Virus pairs simple, kid-friendly explanations with bright colorful illustrations, while offering additional resources for adults and an informative song to help lighten the mood as families engage with this serious topic.

I remember when Covid-19 was first a thing, people were freaking out and the default thing was, "what about the kids"? Which, as a mom of four ranging in ages from 4 to basically 16, I totally get. I was concerned about them not getting sick, my husband and I not getting sick so we can still be here for them, and just doing our part in keeping it at bay. Not once did I worry about mental health, isolation, and all of the other things, not because I'm an insensitive person, but because I feel like those are mostly adult fears and I feel like us adults don't give children a lot of credit about persevering. WE are worried about that so obviously the kids do, too, right?  

Maybe, to an extent, but kids are a lot more resilient than we realize. I think as adults we lose that as we grow up. We can really take a lesson from kids. 

I also struggled with having to explain what the virus is, why it's scary, why we wear masks and take extra precautions, why the world is changing around them. When I saw this book come around, I jumped at the chance to review it because there really isn't anything like it out but also, it is based around one of our very favorite songs to sing together. 

Let's talk about why I loved this book: first off, the diversity! Characters of all colors and ethnicities throughout this book and I am here for it! It was so great to see that, and I love that children's books are so quick to adapt to audiences (makes me wish adult books would catch up!). Secondly, the simplicity of it is perfect. It features information often heard on the news or through conversation, such as staying in our own bubble, and I think the tie in from those outside conversations into the book really help. The book is positive, it doesn't refer to death, but it does say that some people go to the hospital, but it's OK because people are helping. I really enjoyed that this is overall a positive, upbeat, "we're all in this together" kind of mentality, and that's what we all need to remember. 

Overall, this was a really cute book, perfect for the preschool-kindergarten group. The words were simple so even if you have an early reader starting to get through books (like my kindergartner going into first grade), they can read this one. 

Thank you to PR By the Book and author Sherri L. Rose for sending me a copy to review! I really enjoyed this adorable book, but even my Lucy and Penelope (4 and 6) liked this one as well. If you're looking for a library or classroom read, or even something to read at home, this is a great addition to the shelf. 

This post contains affiliate links. 

Book Review: Lola Koala's Travel Adventures (Children's Literature)

I know I normally don't post on the weekend but I have SO many review books I need to talk about so you might be seeing more of me, even on the weekends. Today (and tomorrow) I am sharing some children's literature, which is a favorite in our house. 

Lola Koala's Travel Adventures 

Join Lola Koala as she travels the globe, teaching your little explorer important language skills along the way. Children will love lifting the flaps to answer questions as they find clues that will help them to figure out where in the world Lola has traveled to this time!

If you have been around the blog for a while you'll know that my Lucy, age four, is in speech therapy for apraxia and possibly other issues. She's been in speech therapy for about a year now and though we've seen some improvement, she is still difficult to understand if you aren't around her regularly. Even I struggle to understand her sometimes. 

We try to use the skills her speech therapist uses when she's at home for consistency and that has been really helpful. It seems like her little brain moves much faster than her mouth can and it will come out as gibberish. A technique we use frequently is to have her slow down and we ask her yes/no questions. Sometimes we'll ask her clarifying questions such as, who is sitting at the table, what color is Jackson's shirt, which fruit would you like? Instead of open ended questions, which are sometimes hard for her, we give her three or four answers to choose from and that helps her stay focused on the question. 

Which is where this book comes into play. I read a LOT with my kids! Olivia and Jackson mostly read on their own (which I love to see) and I am book recommendation central for them. Penelope (5) is an emergent reader so she's learning letter sounds and we're working on sounding out words. Lucy though, she is all about the story. She wants to be engaged and she likes to be involved so a lift the flap book is absolutely perfect for her. 

The story is about Lola Koala going on an adventure and you have to use picture clues to guess where she is going, all the while you are learning about this new and exciting land. 

Each page has a series of four questions, each with it's own flap, and your child picks the answer based on the four pictures on each flap. It's pretty easy, but for children in speech therapy or struggling with reading comprehension, this is teaching them basic beginner context clues. Even if you have a kiddo who isn't struggling on any of this, this is such a great book to keep in the car to keep them entertained, throw it in your purse or diaper bag to look at while running errands, or even use in a gift. 

Lucy had a great time going through this book and she can't wait to bring it to show her speech teacher! I'm glad it is a sturdy board book because she's hauling it around everywhere so at least I know it'll hold up for awhile. It's only 22 pages and great for ages 2-6.

Thank you to PR by the Book and Dr. Tinita Kearney for sharing this book with me for review. Lucy is having the best time with it and I'm so glad to see her so engaged in a new book. You can purchase your own copy of Lola Koala's Travel Adventures (also your child's very own passport booklet or set of postcards) on LolaKoalaExplorer's website. You'll find plenty of FREE resources including grade level resources, games and activties, and ways to connect home and school- perfect for all of the parents currently participating in virtual school looking for new things to do. 

Book Feature: Time Kids Historical Reference Guides for KIDS

If you have a child in the upper elementary, middle school grades you're probably familiar with beginning essay papers and beginner researching. Its a hard thing to learn but if you have the right resources it can make it easy.

Featuring:

Heroes of History Series with Alexander Hamilton and George Washington

   

Both of these titles will be published in June 2018, with more to come in Fall 2018 (Eleanor Roosevelt and Thurgood Marshall), these are a thorough, kid-friendly look at people from the history of the United States. I know history can be a bit boring if not dry, but these books give fun facts with quick information that make learning about these people quick and easy. These would make a great classroom or library resource!

Our Nation's Documents

On sale this week, Our Nation's Documents goes into the founding documents and the ones that shaped our country to what it is today. This one is elementary friendly and makes learning about these documents fun and easy to learn. The book gives great definition to the people of the time, features "conversations" between the characters who were responsible for each document to answer the questions kids would ask, talks about the most important amendments and really delves into why they are important, but coolest to my kids were the maps of what the United States once looked like (before we were 50 states). This really is a must have in any classroom collection aimed at teaching the basics of democracy.

      

Can - Do Kids Series

I don't get the opportunity to read and review kid books as often as I'd like but when I saw this come up as an opportunity, I took it!

Can - Do Kids Series - Kayla J. Marnach

(I Can Do That! * My Actions Matter * My Body's Mine)

I Can Do That!: helps children learn self-regulating techniques. Told through rhyme from a child's point of view, strategies are shared empowering the child to effectively learn and practice ways they can control their emotions and actions when they feel themselves becoming dysregulated. The questions at the end of the book provide an easy transition for counselors and parents to open a discussion, assisting the child in exploring ways they can learn to manage themselves. 
This one is SO GREAT because it talks about children controlling themselves. Nervous energy, anger, anxiety, etc are hard things for children to deal with and this book gives the child different techniques they can do to calm down and relax. Chewing gum, pushing a wall, chair push up's, and more are different techniques they can use at home or at school. This would be good for kids who have a hard time at school and sitting for long periods. Perhaps working with the teacher to allow some of these techniques would be beneficial for the student and the rest of the class. Or something to incorporate into the day for all of the students?

My Actions Matter: helps children learn life value skills, creating a foundation on how they can connect with others. Told through rhyme from a child's point of view, this book provides strategies for the child to learn how their actions influence others. The questions at the end of the book provide an easy transition for counselors and parents to open a discussion, assisting the child in exploring ways they can effectively correct their behavior and connect with others. 
Probably my favorite because I think we all know Penelope needs this. HA! This one highlights a child's actions and how it relates to others around them. What I like about this one is that it talks about being sassy, not just with words, but with looks and attitude as well. It really pushes the topic of respect and being respectful to people around you but also objects, too. Nice and short, would be good for late three/early four year old's for an introduction. Older children would be able to answer the questions at the back of the book and would be able to engage in a conversation easily.

My Body's  Mine: helps children learn they have the rights to their body. Told through rhyme from a child's point of view, this book on boundaries empowers a child to say no when others approach him or her in ways that make them uncomfortable. It also gives clear instructions on what to do if they are approached in an  unwanted manner. The questions at the end of the book provide an easy transition for counselors and parents to open a discussion to prevent abuse or to further explore if abuse has occurred. 
This one is rather short and easy to read, the rhyming throughout makes it almost sing song like. I like how this book reviews what is OK and what is not OK, but also what a child should do if they get an uncomfortable feeling. I also am glad that the author chose to include recognizing when you feel uncomfortable, almost like a beginner's guide to your gut instinct, because I think kids need to learn that their gut instinct is important and they should always follow it. It reiterates that the safe grown up's in their lives should be their defenders. It's a great introductory look at what is safe and unsafe touch.

If you're looking for an introductory series on self regulation, this would be a great place to start!

      

Crow Made a Friend and giveaway!

Have I mentioned lately how much I am loving being able to read and review children's books? My kids love to read and before I became a mother I knew reading to and with my kids was going to be one of my favorite parts about being a parent, and it turned out to be true! I also discovered that I like to read to groups of children because anytime I can see a spark in a little set of eyes, that's the best feeling.

Scheduling didn't work out so that I could read this to my first grade friends in time for the review, but I'm hoping to do it with them soon AND do a fun little craft with them. But in the meantime, here's a cute little book you might want to add to the Christmas list for a little person in your life.

Crow Made a Friend - Margaret Peot

Try, try again is the lesson Crow teaches beginning readers in this vibrant early reader about a lonely crow who works hard to make a friend.

Crow is all alone. But like all crows, he is very clever. Using autumn leaves for wings, sticks for the body and a crab apple for the head, Crow makes a friend! But winter winds blow in, destroying his creation. Undaunted, Crow fashions another bird friend out of snow but cannot prevent it from melting in the warm spring sun. Alone again, Crow hears the caw, caw, caw of a real, live bird and finally forms a friendship that will last in this warm, satisfying story that celebrates perseverance and ingenuity.

 I actually had Olivia (10) read this to Jackson (7) and Penelope (6 months) because she enjoys reading for others. The book is really short, perfect for the pre-school and Kindergarten age child. Also, it's a really good early reader book as part of the "I Like To Read" series. Nice, short sentences that feature sight words that pair perfectly with beautiful illustrations. Truly, the illustrations in this book are so great. The story is a simple one, crow feels lonely so he tries to make a friend. His first two attempts at building a friend prove to be unsuccessful, but then he meets a girl bird and together they make a little family, thus crow isn't alone anymore. It's almost reminiscent of the The Little Pigs, the first friend falls apart in the wind. The second friend melts in the sun but the third friend is just right. If your child is familiar with that classic story, you can ask them if they see some similarities, which will help with comprehension and critical thinking of the story. 

Overall? My kids enjoyed it. They especially loved the little bird craft, which you can find on her website HERE.  For those that homeschool, on her website under "Activities" there are several other activities you can do, including a crow fact dial so your child can learn some basic facts about crows and maybe you can go out on a little nature hike looking for some. You can connect with Margaret Peot on Twitter, her website, also on The Inkblot Book website. Crow Made a Friend is currently available on Amazon, as well! 

Lucky for you, I can give away one copy of Crow Made a Friend (US only)! All you have to do is: 

• Leave a comment telling me what your favorite children's book is.
• Make sure to leave your email address so I can contact you! 
• Follow me on Bloglovin'!

Winner will be drawn on Friday, November 13! 

Children's Literature Themed Baby Shower

To be fair, I'll tell you right upfront that I was on Pinterest almost every day for a week trying to find ideas. I really wanted every aspect of this shower to have literature thrown up on it. My friend Emily, whom I adore to bits, is an English major and she absolutely adores everything about children's literature. Plus we became fast friends over our love of books so it's only fitting that this is the shower I would give her.

Let's start with the Harry Potter themed diaper cake that was the one thing I knew I absolutely HAD to have at the shower.

I got the hat, scarf, booties, bibs and wand from Etsy. All different shops, all had to be on this cake. I found an image of the Hogwarts crest, printed that off to be in the front on the bottom tier. Also tucked in next to the hat is a platform 9 3/4 ticket. I've made diaper cakes before but this one is probably my absolute favorite.

One idea I found on Pinterest was to have literature quotes all over the party area in frames. I found a bunch of cute frames on clearance at Target that I was going to use for my office, but they worked here too.

Another book I pulled from was Alice in Wonderland. I mean, how could you not? I really want to do an Alice themed party sometime.. we'll have to cook something up. But for favors, I found mini bottles of water and put a really great Alice and Cheshire quote on them and made "drink me" tags. Also put Skittles in tulle circles (because Emily is not a chocolate fan) and made an "eat me" tag.

 So when you came in, you saw the diaper cake and the favors, along with some quotes, my Alice in Wonderland book, and the third book in the Harry Potter series opened up to the chapter "Flight of the Fat Lady" which was kind of funny because Emily is the smallest 7 month pregnant person I have ever seen.

I even stayed up the night before to make her lemon cupcakes with American butter cream frosting to go with my If You Give a Cat a Cupcake area. 

 And a few mini cupcakes for good measure.

Each table had a book in the middle with a few things. So this was The Little Engine That Could, but I also had a Knuffle Bunny, The Day the Crayons Quit, and Here We Go, Harry on tables. Instead of using table cloths, I use receiving blankets that the mom to be can take home.

 We didn't have a full lunch, but we had snack things.

 So we had meatballs (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), popcorn (Popcorn Poems), pasta salad (Strega Nona), fruit tray with pickles (The Hungry Caterpillar), cheese/crackers (The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly  Stupid Tales), and we had blue punch and put some rubber ducks in it for Ten Little Rubber Ducks.

 I had asked everyone to bring a book instead of a card, which is far more practical. People throw cards away, they love books for a long time. So then I found one of my very favorite quotes, "Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them" by Lemony Snicket. So clearly, that went on the gift table.

We had a "price is right" themed game where people had to guess the price on a few baby things. I made it with a Doctor Seuss theme to it.

Then I filled the table with our favorites, with some characters we had.

Oh yes, and then I had guests write either a piece of parenting advice for the parents to be or something funny for when they get peed on at 2 a.m. when they aren't fully awake., using the concept of Harold and the Purple Crayon. Also amazes me how many people haven't written that book. It's kind of great and it's a far better lesson than something like The Giving Tree. I fucking hate that book. At least with Harold, he figures life out for himself and takes life by the balls. Whereas in The Giving Tree, the character is incredibly selfish and dependent on everyone else. *end rant*

But you can see the fun urine fact I left her to get people started. She'll know who that came from without question.

We also measured her belly. Which was adorable because she is like the perfect pregnant person.

Overall it was a great party. I am so glad she let me give her a party, I'm so glad she's pregnant because YAY BABIES, and I'm so glad she's my friend. Emily is easily the most carefree, upbeat, positive person I have ever known and it just makes her amazing. She is going to be an amazing mom and I can't wait to snuggle her baby. I may or may not have already offered to spend an entire weekend letting them sleep so I could get my baby fix. Here's hoping that 48 hours of screaming, fussing, very needy infant will cure my uterus down.

Otherwise Matt is basically screwed. :)