It’s Cool To Be Kind: A Children’s Book on Kindness and Friendship by Shermaine Perry-Knights
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was really cute. My little boy enjoyed it. It shows the different ways that you can be kind to others. Three friends had an assignment for school. They needed to write about what they are the best at. The three decided that there is still so much to discover.
Down By The River by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Down by the River is a well written children’s book that reads very quickly. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story flows very well. No pun intended. I enjoyed that we learned about the animals and activities that happen by the river while learning positional vocabulary too. Overall, it was a well thought out children’s book!
Cam Creates a Hero by Dagmara Sitek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute story. It’s about a foster kid who dreams of building a robot hero to save kids for bad parents. It shows how to follow your dreams and not give up when things don’t go your way. I read this story with my daughter who really enjoyed reading it. This is the second book of Dagmara Sitek I have read and we really like the series
Hi Little Brother, I Love You: A Sweet Gift Keepsake Book Welcoming a New Baby Brother to the Family. by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hi Little Brother, I Love You is really sweet book about a boy welcoming a new baby brother. This book reminds me of how the girl I care for was towards her baby sister when she was born and a toddler. The older sibling loves their new baby sibling and helps out with feeding and everything else. They love to teach their new baby everything they know from sounds animals make to ABC’s to even riding bikes. Very sweet read
Review by @xchellex
Hi Little Brother, I Love You: A Sweet Gift Keepsake Book Welcoming a New Baby Brother to the Family. by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a cute book for a big brother to read to his younger sibling! I enjoyed the different scenarios the author used for Big Brother to help his Little Brother. The illustrations were well done, too. All around, it is a delightful book to give a big brother!
Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have read a few of these books to my son and we love them. This is the third book to the awesome youth Sleuths series. . You could read it as a stand alone because they are so much more fun when you read them together. This story was so much fun to read it only took us about an hour to finish this book. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
Dylan and his little sister go to camp. He is not too excited especially when it rains for a few days straight. Dylan always brings his detective kit and his trusty dog Theodore wherever he goes. He is getting really bored until Mrs. Fan announces there will be some fun games and the winner will get a cool trophy. When Mrs. Fan reveals the trophy is gone and a rock is in its place. Dylan is so excited to solve this mystery. He needs some help from some of his old friends as well as some new friends. Will Dylan and Emily figure out who took the trophy and why?
Review by @heatherbass
View all my reviews
It’s Cool To Be Kind: A Children’s Book on Kindness and Friendship by Shermaine Perry-Knights
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is a heartwarming story about how easy it is to always be kind. The book introduces us to three characters and we get to see them discover what it means to be kind and how it can really be done anywhere, at any time.
It was nice to see slightly older children in this book to your usual books for kids. My daughter in particular was highly invested in the characters and had plenty of questions. This is a lovely story that reinforces the kindness message in a way that resonates well with day to day life. I would definitely encourage kids to read this book.
Hi Little Brother, I Love You: A Sweet Gift Keepsake Book Welcoming a New Baby Brother to the Family. by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have a grandbaby who is about 5 months old and she has a little brother. As I was reading this book I could imagine him saying all these things to his little sister. I will be visiting with them in the next month or so and I will share this book with both of them.
It is important that we teach them that the little brother won’t take their place but what an important part they can be in teaching the little one things. A cute book for little ones or your grands.
Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Dylan and his sister Emily were at Camp Leaf waiting for the annual event to start. Every year they come and play the different games that the camp sets up so they can win prizes and the trophy. Now they are lifting the cover to see what this year’s trophy looks like to find that it has disappeared.
Now Detective Dylan and his Assistant Emily will be checking out clues and solving the mystery of who took the trophy. Until the mystery is solved and the trophy is returned the games will not begin.
Luca Magoo, Don’t Eat The Glue: A back-to-school tale that encourages positive classroom behavior and creative expression. by Megan Delgado
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Luca Magoo, Don’t Eat The Glue is such a fun and silly read! Luca is super into his art class but gets distracted by the glue and wonders what would happen if he ate it. This leads to some hilarious moments! The rhyming makes the story really catchy, and the colorful illustrations are so fun to look at. It’s a great way for kids to learn about self-control and making good choices without feeling like a lesson. Perfect for a funny read with kids who love art and goofing around!
Cam Creates a Hero by Dagmara Sitek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Cam Creates a Hero is such a heartwarming book! The story follows Cam, a foster kid, who builds a robot to protect children in need after seeing a sad news story. The illustrations are bright and colorful, bringing the story to life. It’s a perfect read for kids who need a little resilience boost and hope. I definitely recommend this one, it has a great message!
Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Book three in this cozy mystery for young readers will keep you guessing who’s the thief and what happened to the trophy. There is minimal illustrations but they’re of the characters in the book. This story chapter book has 10 chapters and plenty of resources at the end for classroom learning. Each chapter has ELA and Math curriculum-aligned resources for each chapter. It make a great learning to for class.
It’s Cool To Be Kind: A Children’s Book on Kindness and Friendship by Shermaine Perry-Knights
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What are you best at? Several friends investigate this question in this very inspiring read. One might not find a way to walk on lava but how about helping someone tie their shoes? That would show a kindness that is rarely found these days.
This is a great read but I do disagree with the last two pages of this book. I do not believe that everyone deserves a trophy in life. Other than that, this was a very enjoyable read.
Luca Magoo, Don’t Eat The Glue: A back-to-school tale that encourages positive classroom behavior and creative expression. by Megan Delgado
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a cute little rhyming book. I really enjoyed watching Luca think of all the things that could go wrong if he actually ate glue. The book had me smiling all the way through. I enjoyed the book and I think many kids would enjoy it as well. I recommend this book to everyone who has children who love reading.
It’s Cool To Be Kind: A Children’s Book on Kindness and Friendship by Shermaine Perry-Knights
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fantastic story of kindness. Not just being kind but helping whenever a need arises. Children learn kindness, but it has to come from our parents first. Once the example is set, our children will be sure to follow. This is such a great story. It is well written and easy for our children to follow. The examples are simple yet something we see daily. The author has done a fantastic job with this story. It is a must have for all libraries.
Review@cinful
Hi Little Brother, I Love You: A Sweet Gift Keepsake Book Welcoming a New Baby Brother to the Family. by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An adorable children’s book for Older siblings. I read this to my nephew and niece as they will have a little brother in about 6 weeks and they loved it. The illustrations are very well done and the story is very cute.
.•°
°•. PREORDER .•°°•.
Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is book 3 in The Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series.
Detective Dylan is back again along with his sister Emily and Theodore the dog. Since they never go anywhere without Dylan’s Detective kit, they have another mystery to solve.
My grandkids love these books and as a parent/grandparent, I love how educational these chapter books are. Finding books that will keep them interested can sometimes be a challenge, but these are perfect. The bonus material is a big plus, there are QR codes, and one is for some downloadable ELA/math activities. Very easy to read and some great illustrations to keep little ones interested.
Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am a fan of Detective Dylan! He’s a super sleuth who uses clues and his notebook to find the culprit and solve the mystery. He’s at camp with his family and friends and a trophy for the Camp Leaf Games goes missing. Dylan is determined to find who stole the trophy so that it can be returned and the games will be played.
This is a great book with very short chapters. It would be great for those 8-12 to read independently or for any age to read aloud. The end of the book has different words that might be new or difficult along with their definitions. I highly recommend this book!
Hi Little Brother, I Love You: A Sweet Gift Keepsake Book Welcoming a New Baby Brother to the Family. by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This beautifully written book captures the sibling bond in a heartfelt way, with warm illustrations complementing tender words. Highly recommended for families seeking a comforting story
Down By The River by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this book with my two sons – D (age 6) and S (age 3). This book had my boys asking lots of questions and wanting to learn more about the animals/fish that live in rivers.
A review from an actual kid:
D (age 6) – ”Lots of different fish live in the river.”
S (age 3) – “Fishies splash when they jump in the river.”
We gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Hi Little Brother, I Love You: A Sweet Gift Keepsake Book Welcoming a New Baby Brother to the Family. by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Although this book has a focus on brothers, this is a fantastic story that really captures what it is like to welcome a new baby into a family. It brought back a lot of lovely memories from when I brought my youngest home and it really felt like I was able to relive that again.
I loved watching that sibling relationship develop. It was so heartwarming to see and my kids loved watching them discover more about each other. The illustrations really helped to bring this story to life even more. From the moment we started reading, this book was a hit. I would highly recommend this story and cannot wait for us to pick up another book by this author.
Hi Little Brother, I Love You: A Sweet Gift Keepsake Book Welcoming a New Baby Brother to the Family. by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this story from this author, whom I never read before. The story was beautiful and meaningful. I read this with my grands that just welcomed a little brother so, they felt like the story was written just for them. I feel this story will help them be better siblings. The illustrations were beautiful. Will be recommending this author and specifically this book to others with kids.
Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Very cute kids mystery book. I remember reading all sorts of kids mysteries as a child and this would have been one of my favorites. The characters are relatable and the mystery is believable. I would recommend this for a child.
.•°*°•.
BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE .•°*°•.
Debbie Sullivan is a children’s author who released her first book at the age of 49. She truly believes it’s never too late to follow your dreams! Debbie is happily married with one beautiful son (who has inspired many of her stories), and a lovable cavapoo. Debbie started Little Pumpkin Publishing, Inc. in 2023, with a mission to create books that parents can relate to, and children love.
Cam Creates a Hero by Dagmara Sitek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Cam has a big heart and a big imagination and lives with his Foster family. While listening to the news one day he hears about another girl in Foster care who’s mother hurt her bad enough that the girl needed to be in the hospital and he wanted to help, but how?
Cam had a school project coming up due,and he decided he was going to build a robot to protect other children for his assignment. He worked hard on his robot but wasn’t happy with its outcome, especially when it hit him in the head hard! He had to go to the hospital to be examined and while he was there he met the little girl from the news.
In his dreams that night his robot who he named Giorgio and the robot told him he had to believe in his ability to make him come alive.
After that dream he starts drawing the robot and makes a book all about the robot adventures. He brings this book to the kids in the hospital and there Giorgio comes alive!
Such a cute story about perseverance, compassion, believing in yourself. Imagination and so much more. My daughter who is 6 loved it
Down By The River by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Down By The River is a cute and entertaining little story that teaches children about nature and wildlife. The story follows the twists and turns of the river as it flows and follows the adventures it takes along the way. Children will learn about fish, birds, butterflies, otters, and different landscapes that shape our ecosystem. This delightful story is told in rhymes which makes it engaging for children of all ages. The bright and colorful illustrations help make the story pop off the page and really bring the story to life. A great addition to any children’s library.
Luca Magoo, Don’t Eat The Glue: A back-to-school tale that encourages positive classroom behavior and creative expression. by Megan Delgado
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Luca Magoo loves school and everything he learns there, but his favourite subject is by far, art! So when his teacher shouts “Art” and invites them all to get creative and use their imagination, Luca cannot wait to get started.
So he gathers his materials and when he is ready, he picks up the bottle of glue and thinks about what it would be like if he had a taste, just a tiny drop of this gooey substance, but his teacher stops him before he can.
This is where his imagination goes wild and he thinks about what would happen if he did eat it, but what does the future look like if he eats the glue? This story is a great lesson for children to learn about how every action has consequences and how important it is to make wise choices when faced with a new situation and all done in an easy to understand way for all ages.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
A Pig and A Poke by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One day in a barn, a small pig was running around in the mud and sawdust when a group of children entered the barn and started to chase it around. This was not a random event though, whoever caught the pig could keep it!
Angela is one of those children, but there was also the town bully called Bruce and he wanted the pig too, so as one by one the children give up and leave the barn covered in mud and sawdust, only Bruce and Angela are left and they start to chase the pig in earnest, even when Angela gets poked on the eye.
Will Angela be able to use her persistence and determination to catch the pig and stand up to Bruce, or will the poke in her eye stop her winning? This is a fun filled story of a contest between the bully and bullied in a way which shows that kindness and determination can take you a long way in life.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217447617-a-pig-and-a-poke” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”>A Pig and A Poke by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute kids book about perseverance and believing in yourself. I read this with my child and they absolutely love the characters and the descriptions. There’s a wonderful lesson in the book about not giving up and overcoming what other people think. I would love to read more books by Tricia Gardella. This is a perfect book for a child. My daughter actually read the majority of it to herself