Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lois Wickstrom does it again. I’m truly enjoying all of her children’s books and my kid also. After reading this informative book we tried to blow holes in ice cubes lol 🤣it worked on a couple. We are definitely going to continue reading more of her stories. I really liked it.🥰
Bake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Bake Off is a charming book for all ages that has a story similar to Like Water for Chocolate, Just Add Magic and Encanto combined with its own flair. It will leave you feeling warm and wanting to bake. The best part of all is that for each chapter there is a recipe included that allows you to recreate some of the magic from the story.
The main character Cat goes on a trip with her family to learn more about baking and ends up there just in time for a wonderful surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development and was able to follow along well despite not having read the previous book in the series, although now I’m even more intrigued to see how that story unfolded into this enchanting sequel. The ending of the book concluded well but left me wanting more. I enjoyed the book and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
I highly recommend this book for baking enthusiasts and those who are looking for a small town packed full of adventure and mysteries to be uncovered.
Deborah White,
June 2022
Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace (Mermaid Science)
By Lois Wickstrom
4 Stars
I found this to be a cute story geared towards children between the ages of 4-8 years old. Maia is the only one to be able to see the mermaid. With the help of the ice cube necklace, Fig knows that Trezzie exists. Children will learn what happens to ice in different temperatures of water. While enjoying a book, they will learn something as well which is important. I loved that at the end of the book, the author explains water in all its forms. This is an entertaining story kids will love.
Review by @Anna Hirsch
View all my reviews
Jake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jake the Growling Dog loves running his trail daily and meeting up with his friends that he shares his trail with. One day, Jake and friends find strange tracks on their trail and are very afraid of the unknown marks. Jake and his friends go back to the trail and eventually come across another dog whose name is Tuck. After making friends with Tuck and playing for a while, Jake realizes that his new friend Tuck is making the strange tracks due to his missing leg. In the end, Jake and his friends learn that being different in physical appearance is not something to fear and doesn’t change the inside or basic make up of a being. Great story about acceptance of those who do not appear as we do. Cute story and likeable creatures. Great lesson for our children today in a story that is easy to relate to and the discussion and projects given at the end of the book are a great way to help them understand the lesson of the story.
Oliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a cute story and would be a great read for children whether they are adopted or not. I’m pretty sure everyone at some point has wished their parent weren’t theirs so I think that this story would help the see that that’s ok to feel that way at times. I have no experience with adoption but I can imagine this being a nice story to read to younger children to help them express their feelings. The language is simple and is easy for children to follow and understand. It did finish a little abruptly I felt however it’s still a good 4 star read.
Oliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Only able to give a 4 because I feel like this book should have had more closure in the end, but I still thought the life lesson here about adoption is relevant and real.
I did think that the story was very believable for what adopted children will do and go through when hardships arise with their adopted family.
It’s easy for adopted children to think of “what if” and all the questions of “why” or “who.” when it comes to their birth parents. I did appreciate that Oliver’s adoptive parents confirmed that they loved him dearly and wanted him as their son. There was no question about that.
I thought the artwork was very well done. I loved the black and white scheme the illustrator used.
Jake the Growling Dog by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
An absolutely adorable tale. The main character is a four-legged pet. The pet confronts fears. He learns about kindness. He discovers the joy of sharing, as well as that of making friends.
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~☆ COMING SOON ☆~~~☆
Maia’s best friend is named Fig. Maia’s imaginary playmate is a mermaid named Trezzie. One of Trezzie’s treasures has a pattern on it. Is it art, or something else? They need to look with a magnifying glass. Maia shows the mermaid how to make a magnifying glass with a drop of water and a plastic veggie box she had among her treasures.
Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book for children combines mermaids and science. The mermaids learn about ice cubes through a cute story that will keep kids interested. I love books that are able to teach kids without them realizing that is what is happening!!
Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This adorable book is such a fun learning experience for children. Not only is this an easy and interesting read but I loved that the story teaches the reader a bit of science in the midst of the small adventure.
The illustrations are beautiful and colorful. The overall story is well written.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is an easy-to-follow story about two young friends and a mermaid. It was nice to see how parts of the story involve science. While the story is easy to follow, I found it a bit choppy in parts and not flowing easily for me. I love how it explains science in an easy to learn way for kids. Mai and her friends give young readers a great science lessons with this adventure.
Jake the Growling Dog by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jake the Growling Dog is such a great book. I read it with my grandson, and he loved it, as did I. It teaches kindness, sharing and empathy. It is such a cute read with a wonderful lesson.
Jake the Growling Dog Goes to Doggy Daycare by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jake the Growling Dog experiences a lot of mixed emotions when he has to go to a new place and meet new friends. It is a very relatable feeling, especially resonating with kids who are different. He quickly learns how to have fun with his new friends, but it is a comfort to have his best friend squirrel there with him. Though he doesn’t need to spend every minute with him, it shows kids there is a way to gradually introduce yourself into a new situation.
This book is complete with activities and breathing exercises. The author does a great job introducing mindfullness concepts and stress relief techniques in a way that kids can share with the significant people in their lives. The story is easy to read and the rhymes make it easy for kids to remember the lessons. The illustrations are so cute too! This is a great series for any age and I am excited to read more!!
Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Everyday science experiments plus fantasy, love this series.
The next installment in the very cute Mermaid Science series. A great kids picture storybook. Includes some fantasy (imaginary friend, mermaid) plus everyday science.
I’m loving this series and the little science lessons and experiments which can occur with everyday items. I also enjoy that the characters (Maia, Fig, and Trezzie) look diverse in how they’re depicted and in their names.
Here, we get to see the effect that breath has on ice cubes, as well as external stimuli, such as warm air and cold water. A cool lesson for young ones that they can then replicate on their own (with supervision).
Oliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oliver is a great children’s story about adoption. Adoption is not talked about enough today, so I think this book is a great conversation starter for our little ones to learn more about it. I also love how it touches on the adopted and their expressions and feelings, which in turn makes it a great book for any adopted child. This adorable story was written well, and the illustrations were perfect! This is a well written book for a wide range of adoption perspectives that I believe every child should read.
Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is such a cute book for younger kids. I read it with my 7 year old who LOVES mermaids. This book is a great way to add a little science into your kids life without them even realizing that they are learning something! The book is about a pair of friends (Maia and Fig) who are out on a picnic together. While on the picnic they blow holes into ice cubes they brought for their lemonade, so they can make a necklace for Trizzie the mermaid. One of the girls notices that the ice cubes that were in their cup were melting faster than the ice cubes they blew the holes into. “That’s Science!” was the other’s response. How cute right?! The book also adds in more information on other forms of water at the end. My daughter really liked the book. I feel adding in small bits of information like this helps kids retain it for later when they learn more about it in school. I’d personally recommend this book for kids ages 3-8.
Reviewed by @jaimie0459
Oliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is a great teaching book for younger kids. Being adopted has many struggles that can come up. It teaches kids that many people imagine different lives when they are in trouble and/or upset and that it is normal. Especially when you’ve been adopted and don’t know much about your birth family. The book follows an adopted lizard named Oliver. Oliver is playing and climbs a little tree that he is pretending is a pirate ship. The tree is young and because of Oliver’s weight and the tree’s flexible branches he falls overboard onto the grass and hurts his hip. As he’s in his room upset and thinking about how to play more safely he thinks about his birth parents. He imagines many different things. He thinks about a different life that he could be living if he wasn’t in his room upset. It’s a cute book and the pictures are fun. My now 7 year old enjoyed the book very much when we read it together at bedtime. It was also a great book to read and then talk about adopted families and how other kids may feel.
Reviewed by @jaimie0459
Oliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oliver is a young boy who lives with his mummy, daddy and goldfish and he likes to play pirates in his street, but one day when he decides to climb the maple tree which looks like a mast, the branches aren’t strong enough to hold him, so he falls down onto his hip. When his daddy comes out to see if he is ok, he talks to Oliver about playing safely and send him up to his room to think about what has happened. While he is up there Oliver dreams about what it would be like if he was living with his birth parents, what would his life look like? Would it be exciting like a trapeze artist, or a scientist? Do other people wish for another life and what should Oliver do with all these thoughts?
This is a story which talks about a challenging subject in a fantastic way, which children of all ages can understand whether they adopted, or not.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
~ ~ ~ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jake’s third kids book about diversity, disability awareness, sharing, and kindness from the top-selling Jake the Growling Dog children’s books.
Jake loves hiking on his trail most of all.
He’s proud to say that he made it with his own four paws
What happens when Jake fears something new on his hike?
Will he learn that despite our differences, we are so much alike?
Follow Jake, a sweet, kind, and misunderstood dog, as he learns more about sharing, facing his fears, and the many remarkable differences in the world.
Jake loves his favorite trail, but when he and Neet encounter something different on the trail, their minds are full of worry. The two friends find it difficult to sleep, face new feelings that question their love for sharing, and even find it hard to enjoy their favorite things. When Jake’s friends Bodhi and Luna come over to play, they won’t let their friends worry all alone. Will Jake overcome his fears and have fun? And what is this new strange thing that’s trying to share his trail? Kindness, open minds, and aid from loved ones fill this children’s book.
Looking for Kids Books about Sharing, Disability Awareness, and Facing Fear for Kids?
Jake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail is a fun-loving tale about sharing, finding friendship despite differences, and overcoming fear.
Author and licensed educational counselor, Samantha Shannon, brings Jake back to show that even brave, sweet, and kind dogs get scared, and sometimes fear makes us do or feel different. We’ve all been protective of something we love and allowed our imaginations to run wild. Jake’s kids book shows kids that they aren’t alone in having those emotions or feelings. The story gives gentle suggestions on handling fears, meeting new friends who might look or act differently, and all while having a blast with their favorite growly character and his furry friends.
Includes Social-Emotional Conversation Starters and Fun Activities for Children, Families, Schools, and Counselors to help with sharing, disability awareness, overcoming worries, and more!
This kids book is packed with fun while also educating our little ones on overcoming fears, sharing, making new friends, and making someone feel welcome. Along with Jake’s story, this picture book also includes talking points to help our kiddos learn how to share, steps to help children squash worries and fears, and tips on how to get to know someone and possibly make a new friend!
Jake’s third book is packed with more interactive fun as kids get to fill in a sharing list, happy list, and even draw their own kindness critter. Kiddos will also have a blast finding all of their critter friends in a full-color find-and-seek page and learning about the kindness critters they spy on each page.
These activities are perfect for families, schools, and counselors to help bring families and friends closer by encouraging sharing, healthy socio-emotional development and by encouraging awareness and inclusion of others whether they talk, dress, or learn differently or are a person with a disability.
A Positive Children’s Book to Promote Self-Confidence and Empathy
Jake’s story encourages children to meet new people and overcome worries and be kind to others who may be different from them. Knowing we live in a world where everyone is different, but we also have a lot in common, which will help create a kinder world, appreciate differences, and find connections. These topics are presented in subtle, sweet, and impactful ways for both young readers and the supportive adults in their lives.
Ages and Grades
While many kids in grades K-5 (ages 6-11) will be able to read this story independently or with assistance. Parents and grandparents will enjoy reading the story to baby, making it the perfect gift.
Samantha Shannon is a best-selling author and licensed educational counselor who uses her background in education, love for nature and animals, and experience aiding in the emotional social development of children to create fun and impactful books. Samantha has also published multiple books under her pen name, Parker Sinclair, in the fantasy and YA genres.
Visit: parkersinclair.net & jakethegrowlingdog.com for more information or find all books on Amazon and Ingram Content.
Samantha’s love for creatures great and small has led her to incorporate animals in all of the books, from eagles to cheetahs! Throughout her life, Samantha’s family has always included a dog, and they’ve always been more than pets. They were fur-brothers, sisters, and babies.
When Samantha had her first child in 2009, she wanted to write a picture book based on her sister’s dog, Jake. While visiting her sister in the Pacific Northwest, Samantha realized that Jake growled all the time. He growled while playing frisbee, getting an ear rub, running, and even when he was sleeping! Despite his unusual choice of noisemaking, Jake is a sweet dog, which makes him the perfect character for a children’s picture book.
Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another fun science read from this author and again its well written and would make an excellent resource for children to encourage their scientific knowledge. I could definitely see this forming a lesson at school and the children following it up by trying to make their own ice cube necklaces. The characters are really fun and engaging and as always the lovely illustrations really bring the story alive.
Oliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When Oliver gets in trouble for climbing a tree that wasn’t ready for it, he finds himself upset and in his room thinking about what life would be like if he weren’t adopted.
Like many kids, Oliver wonders what it would be like to have a different family. Would he still be in trouble? What would his family be like? Would he have a big family or small? But just as we have all likely wondered, we’ve all come to conclude our lives would be a lot different if we weren’t where we were.
This is an adorable book about how family is what you make it and shows a great, realistic perspective of a child’s mind when they don’t get their way.
As an adoptive mother, I’m excited to share this story with my little one as he grows up and wonders about his biological family. Definitely recommend this book for families of all kinds!
Oliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oliver is just another book in the list of hits by Wickstrom. This book was a cute and simply way to explain different reasons adoptions take place as well as a few of the feelings an adopted child may experience. It tells them everyone not just adopted child at different points in life have the same feelings. This book normalized adoption in a way that would make sense to a young child. I would absolutely take the opportunity to read as well as share this book.
Oliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thought this was a really cute read for children! Not only is it inclusive for kids that have been adopted but it also paves the way to talk about anger issues and how to handle things when they don’t go your way. I loved the illustrations and thought they were adorable and fit the story very well. I would definitely recommend this to parents who have adopted or are considering adoption.
Oliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great story for kids to read! It normalizes struggles that people who are adopted go through and lets you know that strong feelings are normal! We need more books like this where people can see themselves and acknowledge that everyone has a different life story but we can all help to make the best of the situation we are handed. There are things both in our control and out of control that can affect the way we react and being able to see that represented in a book is very therapeutic. I would love to read more stories by this author!
Oliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When Oliver gets in trouble he goes to his room upset. In his room he starts thinking about what life would be like if he was still living with his biological parents instead of being adopted. He ponders what it would be like to have a different family and how much that would change his life. Would he have brothers and sisters? Would he get in trouble like he did now? Would he live with one parent or both parents? So many questions and different possibilities compared to his life now.
This is an amazing book about different kinds of families and the thoughts that go through a child’s imagination. This book would be wonderful for anyone dealing with adoption. I also think any kid who gets in trouble would also enjoy this book, because they can see that even if they get in trouble and dream they were somewhere else in some other family, that in the end their family loves them no matter what. It is a really great and powerful message!
Oliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
Oliver, A Story of Adoption is a children’s book about adoption and we absolutely loved reading it. This is for ages 3 to 9 but honestly I think any age would enjoy it. There’s a great message to be learned from this book. I have three niece’s and nephews that my brother and sister in law adopted and I love them just the same if not more then if they were blood related. They are now old enough to seek out their real mom if they choose. My four year old learned from this and asked lots of questions. I love Oliver and my son did to. This is a short book and I highly recommend reading this cute book and we look forward to reading more from this Author.
Oliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a grand story for children of all ages. Children who are adopted as well as those not. This story shows Oliver’s train of thought when he was angry. Not at the tree he climbed, but at the parents who care for him. Sometimes books explain things better than the adults who love us. This is one of those. The author really looked at adoption from a child’s eyes. The story is well written as well as the illustrations that help tell the story. This is a must have in your library and on your child’s shelf of books. This author has many help books that open the eyes of our children. She is definitely a must have in my library. I hope it is yours too.
Review@cinful
Oliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is not the first book that I have read by this talented author, and it will not be the last one! I have found myself becoming immersed in the wonderful world of children’s books. This was a very kindhearted kid friendly story that anyone at any age can read. This is a book that I can see myself reading with my future children or even with my friend’s children now! If you are looking for your next children’s book to read look no further as this author always writes books that are relatable and lighthearted for everyone to enjoy.
Oliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was an interesting take on a story of adoption. The illustrations were cute and the story was easy to read. There were elements of the story that normalized childhood imagination and the need we all have to belong. It was an easy read and I think would generally be enjoyed by children and could be relatable. I love the author trying to tackle the topic of adoption and addressing the reality how children of adoption may wonder about their biological parents.
Oliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is short and sweet. Perfect for a child. Oliver gets in trouble for playing not safely. So he gets disciplined. While he is enduring his punishment he starts contemplating about his birth parents. Then he understands he’s wanted and loved from his adopted parents.