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Hole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Tanya Wall, July 2023

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Hole in the RockHole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This a good middle grades story. I really enjoyed the characters and the story line. Lizza learns the importance of being honest and open instead of trying to intervene to get what she wants. I liked that Lizza has a great friend that is there for her whenever she needs her. The fact that they move to a cave made me giggle – even though the reasons why they moved weren’t funny. The characters in this story all have empathy and kindness, even when things aren’t going exactly the right way. So from stealing ladders, to painting a president’s nose and giving him a nose ring, to sneaking animals into the house – Lizza has some action packed adventures that teach her some good life lessons!

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, July 2023

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great book to read with your children or in a school setting. It takes a well-known story and turns it into a learning experience about simple machines. What I love is that Goldilocks is a girl and knows a lot about how to use simple machines to fix things or solve problems she finds in the three bears house. Great illustrations, great story!

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Katie Matthews

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a great re-telling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears with a lovely STEM twist to it. It was everything I’ve come to expect from this author. The story is easy to follow and some fantastic talking points for the children and also a great way to compare the two stories and about different outcomes etc. Great way to encourage children to create their own endings to these lovely stories we all know and love. I loved the additional information at the end of the story that talked through the ways Goldilocks fixed the things throughout the tory – another great opportunity for the children to try these ideas out. The only thing that does let the book down is the illustrations unfortunately but the story was excellently written and really engaging!

@katiem
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Hole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Katie Matthews

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Hole in the RockHole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I first read the synopsis to this story I honestly wasn’t sure what I was about to read. I knew it was aimed at young children and it seemed like a really interesting story to read so I gave it a go. The story was really good, really not what I was expecting at all. It offers so many talking points for young children and a great way to introduce them to chapter books. Lizzie was great characters and I could see her being so relatable to young readers. I enjoyed reading about her as an adult. I loved that there were parts of the story inspired by somewhere real – great for the children reading to be able to explore and find out more about things.
Overall a really great read and one I would recommend to young readers – it was easy to read and really well written.

@katiem
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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Ayla Phipps

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Updated retelling of a classic. This is the first book I have ever read by the imaginative Lois Wickstrom and the title is what pulled my curiosity. While Goldilocks is a classic fairy tale, it always left something to be desired. More than just sneaking into someone’s house, eating their food, and sleeping in their beds. The author takes that classic story but makes it so much more while also teaching kids about simple machines that, in some cases with help, they can do themselves. I honestly truly loved this updated twist of a classic. Responsibility, helping others, and fixing what you broke are all great lessons for growing children and all are told in a creative retelling of a classic for the modern child. I can’t wait to read more of these books to my two little boys. My six-year-old has already discovered that he can make a catapult using the lever.

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Hole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Jennifer Crain

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Hole in the RockHole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute read, and Lizza was a well-written teenage character- at times self-centered, at times caring, and at times annoying- love how she was written. The plot is succinct and fast paced. I could definitely envision a tourist trap like the Hole in the Rock, complete with the tacky souvenirs.

My favorite part was the passion Lizza shows protecting animals and her love for her brother is evident. The cause and effect of her actions also shows a slight character change. I could see preteen readers really enjoying this novel.

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Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi – Review by Cindy Rushin

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Shalom Israel: A place like no otherShalom Israel: A place like no other by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a cute little book. I enjoyed finding out more about the country of Israel. I did not know a lot about Israel but after reading this book I feel like I know a little bit more and it seems really interesting. I recommend this book to parents with kids that like to read and find out about new places.

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this twist on Goldilocks. Giving it a STEM twist helps kids learn science and mechanics. By having Goldilocks fix items, this is a fun way to get kids wanting to learn. It opens conversation. I also loved having the bears come home and being friendly to her. What a fun and cute story. I found it entertaining. We had a long conversation about the story. My grandson asked if he could have something to take apart and try to fix so it sparked some interest for him. This author does such a fantastic job of sparking fun and interest in children to learn and such joy in their lives.

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines By Lois Wickstrom is a wonderful retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears! I love that even though Goldilocks makes messes in the bears’ house, she cleans it up and she uses science to help her. I like the different font faces used to highlight various words throughout the book because it adds movement to the pages and draws the readers eyes to the words. Everything that happened in the classic Goldilocks books happened differently in this book, which is refreshing and truly unique! The thing that I liked the most was that the bears were not mad at Goldilocks when they found her, instead they were thankful. In fact Baby Bear even asked her for help at the end of the book, and the Bear family invited her to come back to visit again. The back matter of the book identifies and explains the six simple machines found in the story. This book would be a great introduction to simple machines and can easily be used to help students think about making their own simple machines.

Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Shalom Israel: A place like no otherShalom Israel: A place like no other by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While this book is technically a children’s picture book, it could also be called a travel book about Israel. I loved how informative it was. It touched on important places such as the wailing wall and the Dead Sea. There’s even a safari area that I had no idea was there. It also teaches about common food available in Israel. It was a fun little read that I enjoyed. As they say in Israel, Shalom!

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Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi – Review by Jamie Burns

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The book Shalom Israel takes the reader on an adventure to Israel, get ready to say Shalom, “hello!” To a new country! I love how the illustrations in this book are both real photographs and illustrations. It is wonderful to see a book that is easy to understand that takes children around the world to see what it is like there. From what I saw online, many of the things that are in this book are prominent to Israel. The words used help children and adults alike understand words used within the story. I really like that the book also has a glossary that includes interesting facts. This is such a wonderful book!

Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi – Review by Shannen Kern

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Shalom Israel: A place like no otherShalom Israel: A place like no other by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book we’ve read by this author, and my kiddos and I loved it so much! They are both bookworms at the ages of 7 and 11, and they loved the illustrations and really enjoyed learning about a culture that differed from their own. I can say that I also learned some things I didn’t know which is always lovely! Both of my kids love to dig deeper into anything they hear about, so this book started a nice conversation that engaged us all. We will definitely be looking for more books by Melissa Lavi!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Hole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Tonya Merritt

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Hole in the RockHole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is based to entertain more middle school aged children. Nonetheless it is a fun little read even for me as an adult. The story is witty and full of adventure. As an adult, I’m not sure it’s the best choice but as a pre teen or teenager it would be an exciting read full of excitement.

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines ( Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Caralee Loonat

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales #3)Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to say that this author does such a good job of making learning fun for children. I just wish my children were young enough for these books. The author is able to take science and make it fun for kids to learn so that not only are they learning to read but also another subject. I like how the characters are relatable. The books are easy for kids to understand and also make it interesting. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone with kids.

Reviewed by @caraleeloonat
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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Michelle Mulvey

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was a great remake
And I loved how Goldilocks came in and fixed everything. The six simple machines are used for many different things as pointed out in the book.
Wedge, Inclined plane, wheel and Axle, screw, lever and Lastly pulley. Great twist to an old favorite.

review by @xchellex

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jenni Bishop

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines is a fun story about Goldilocks and the three bears through Lois’s imagination. Aimed at children aged 4 to 8 years old they will delight in this unique retelling just like my Grandbabies did.
Simple and colourful pictures showcase this original tale of 6 simple machines that help in a variety of ways.
Lois stories engage young minds and inspire their imaginations. I mean if Lois’s imagination creates all these wonderful children’s books imagine what a child could create as they hear the tale.
Be sure to have this book on hand to read to kids.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Terri Jo McAllister

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a cute retelling of Goldilocks & the three bears with a science twist. Goldilocks uses her knowledge of simple machines to help out the Bear family. The story is kept pretty much the same, but I especially like the recap at the end of the book explaining each of the simple machines and the example from the book. Very cute and educational!

Reviewed by Terri Jo McAllister

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jo Wright

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales #3)Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the most adorable kid’s book! I love the remix of Goldilocks and the Three Bears! Goldilocks said “I always leave things better than I found them.” and that’s the type of message you want your kids to get from a book. I personally teach my kids that kind of stuff and I think that the book has such a great message and even shows easy engineering things to try at home. I would 100% give this book to my kids as a gift!

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@jowright

Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jennifer Crain

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales #3)Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the different fonts for words to focus on- like hot, cooled, fly, delicious etc.- made the book look more interesting and fun. I thought it was interesting baby bear is feminine- I guess in my mind, I always pictured baby as a boy.

The physics concepts integrated in the story (titled, flat, dripped, all) provided a nice twist to the story, and would interest even slightly older children as they replicated pitcher pouring or making something level like the table. Even as an adult, I giggled at the fulcrum/seesaw towards the end of the book!

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Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi – Review by Tausha Treadway

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Shalom Israel: A place like no otherShalom Israel: A place like no other by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi. I bought this book for my nephews who are 5 and 10 and they both really enjoyed it. Its a very educational family book that I learned from as well as my nephews. Its basically an adventure of pictures and writing that takes you thru all the diverse locations of Israel. It teaches you about all the diverse culture that is in Israel along with what its like to be Jewish. The story is told in a rhyme so its easy for kids to understand and the pictures are beautiful. It also has a glossary at the end that really helped me understand what some words meant. This would make a great addition to your families library.

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Maikalani Alexander

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales #3)Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Goldilocks is no longer hunted or chased away but thanked for her surprising helpfulness. A book that once screamed danger ahead now says be resourceful. Teaching kids to leave things better than they found them and helping new friends in new ways.

At the end of the book Lois lists the sketches and instructions to test out the machines yourself.

The book is colorful and full of bloom. Italicized words or different font highlights and captures the reader and listeners eyes. A very fun scientific twist on a classic.

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A Teacher’s Heart by Melissa Lavi – Review by Tracy Greenhalgh

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157547117-a-teacher-s-heart” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”A Teacher’s Heart” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1684500258l/157547117._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157547117-a-teacher-s-heart”>A Teacher’s Heart</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19602225.Melissa_Lavi”>Melissa Lavi</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5682525521″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A really sweet lyrically written book about teachers that will be a great tool for those starting school or changing year groups that are a little nervous regarding meeting their new teacher.<br />Beautifully Illustrated.
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Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi – Review by Dr. Anya Schultz

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Shalom Israel: A place like no otherShalom Israel: A place like no other by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shalom Israel was a great learning kids book. It was great to feel like you were traveling to this country and learning about all the aspects in the culture. The book talked about the language, the people, the landscapes, art, shopping food, etc. Kids will learn a lot about this country and culture through the easy-to-read story. I also like that they included animation in with real pictures from Israel.

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

My great nieces, great nephew and I really enjoy Lois Wickstrom book and her stories are very innovative, imaginative and engaging.

This spin on Goldilocks and the 3 bears introduces us to learn about simple machines. When the 3 bears leave their cottage to go for a walk while their porridge cools down to eat, Goldilocks adventures into their house. Goldilocks uses simple machines to help her fix items in the bears cottage to make them better than they were before. What happens when the 3 bears come home and meet Goldilocks?
Definitely read and find out!

You are never to young or old to learn new things and that is what I love about this book….learning different simple machines that are useful. The only drawback on this book was the illustrations… I was hoping they would have been more engaging and full of life like her other books.

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales Book #4) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Angela Hayes

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Ada Konewki
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 – 3 Stars

 

Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines is the fourth book in the Science Folktales series by Lois Wickstrom. It is an illustrated children’s fantasy story- a reimagining of the classic fairytale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears- but with a little STEM twist.
The story introduces children to the concept of problem solving, being helpful, kindness, fixing things, and a little ‘science’.
The story is cute, but the illustrations really let the book down. I just wish the internal quality of the illustrations matched the quality of the ‘new’ cover picture- as the internal illustrations are awful, really quite ‘bland’- and don’t grab and hold your attention like the cover image does, so I was left feeling frustrated, and very disappointed…
The Science Folktales Series contains (so far):
-Chicken Little (Book #1)
-Huff…Puff…Grind! The Three Little Pigs Get Smart (Book #2)
-Fee, Fi, Fo, Grow! The Real Magic of the Beans (Book #3)
-Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Book #4)
-Little Red, the Detective (Book #5)
-Just One More Egg (Book #6)
-The Dwarves’ Dilemma (Book #7)
-Saving the Gingerbread House (Book #8)
There’s lots to explore in this series- plenty of adventures to take, with things to learn along the way.
Happy reading…

 

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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A Teacher’s Heart by Melissa Lavi – Review by Trista Martin

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A Teacher's HeartA Teacher’s Heart by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cute children’s book celebrating teachers. Think it would be a great gift for teachers, but also to read to young children who might be nervous about starting school.

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A teachers heart by Melissa Lavi – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

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A Teacher's HeartA Teacher’s Heart by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Every teacher has a heart and they are always big, they come in all shapes and sizes, they are all different and they are all around.

In this book, the story and illustrations tell you all about teachers and their hearts, while showing that on the outside, even though they are all different, inside they are all the same.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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A Teacher’s Heart by Melissa Lavi – Review by Michelle Troyer

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A Teacher's HeartA Teacher’s Heart by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book is about teachers showing how most of them have a big heart. There’s always those few that don’t though. It’s a quick, easy read. Very well put together.

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Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi – Review by Amanda Gonzalez

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Shalom Israel: A place like no otherShalom Israel: A place like no other by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is such a sweet and beautiful book! I love the natural pictures that have the main characters of the story throughout! I feel like we get to see more of Israel than the brief images we may run across on the news or in passing from the media. This short picture book contains a rhyming explanation that’s sure to hold a child’s attention – as well as a small glossary/fun facts page to help caregivers explain terms used. By the end of the story, I feel like I’ve gained a little more curiosity about the country and really appreciate the differences between Israel and the place I come from.

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Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi – Review by Stephanie Robb

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Shalom Israel: A place like no otherShalom Israel: A place like no other by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This unique picture book takes us through Israel with engaging rhymes and colourful pictures. I would highly recommend this book for all ages to experience the streets of Israel in a distinctive way.

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