Review: Rachel’s Day in the Garden by Giselle Shardlow

About the Book

Title: Rachel’s Day in the Garden (A Kids Yoga Spring Colors Book)   
Author: Giselle Shardlow
Illustrator: Hazel Quintanilla
Publication Date: December 23, 2014
Publisher: Kids Yoga Stories
Number of pages: 34
Recommended age: 3 to 6 years

Summary: Experience the benefits of yoga while learning about the signs of spring!

Join Rachel as she and her adorable puppy look for signs of spring in the garden. Crawl like a caterpillar, buzz like a bee, and flutter like a butterfly. Discover spring, explore movement, and learn the colors of the rainbow.

The storybook includes a list of kids yoga poses and a parent-teacher guide.

Kids Yoga Stories introduce you to engaging characters who will get your child laughing, moving, and creating. Reading is good for the mind AND body! The story links several yoga poses in a specific sequence to create a coherent and meaningful story.

This spring yoga story for ages 3 to 6 is more than a storybook, but it’s also a unique experience for children.  Rachel’s Day in the Garden is the first book in a seasonal yoga book series. The summer yoga book is also now available: Ella’s Summer Fun.  The fall and winter ones are in production, coming soon!

AMAZON * BOOK WEBSITE * GOODREADS

My Opinion:

I love this book a lot!

I love the idea that Rachel and her dog, Sammy, exploring the garden while doing yoga, or perhaps doing yoga while exploring the garden? :) It gave me ideas to tell my nieces and nephews that while we're doing exercise outdoor, we'll get to see and learn things, too. So not only you'd be healthier (and more relax), you'd be more richer in experiences and knowledge. So it's definitely good for mind, body and soul. ;)

The illustrations were clear, beautiful, colorful, and somehow brings the joy in me and I couldn't help smiling while going through pages. Maybe it's because Rachel and Sammy seems to enjoy it so much and have those happy faces with them. ^^ 

This kind of book is to be read and enjoyed with children ages 3- 8. But I guess I got that too though I read it by myself. Adult like me can learn and do the simple pose for daily simple exercise. It's so simple that it can be done anywhere. Perhaps in your office after sitting and working for hours? Definitely good for stretching the muscles and relaxation.
Just like the other of her book, the poses in this book were simple and easy to follow. Even if (big if) you don't really get it while reading and going through the pages, there would be list of poses in the end of the book. I also love the fact that there's a Parent-Teacher Guide with tips to get the most out of experiences of yoga stories with young children.

Overall, I really really love and enjoy this book.

***I was given a digital copy for an honest review.

About the Author

Giselle Shardlow draws from her experiences as a teacher, traveler, mother, and yogi to write her yoga-inspired children’s books. This story was inspired by her unforgettable travels to Bali and her desire to share these experiences with her daughter. She lives in Boston with her husband and daughter.

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Goodreads

About the Illustrator

Since her childhood, Hazel Quintanilla has been passionate about illustration. This dedication to her art has led very talented authors from around the world to her. She has illustrated more than twenty books, and she hopes there will be many more to come. She lives in Guatemala with her husband and their three beautiful dogs.

March New Release Giveaway Hop (INT)

This Giveaway Hop is hosted by Librarian Lavender

Hi, there!

I'm glad to be able to participating in this hop again. And since this month one of my nieces is having her birthday (as well as her parents!), I'm thinking to giveaway a children book (actually, it's my sister's idea. :D). Even if you don't have kids (yet), maybe you could use it for other kids around. Niece? Nephew? Student? Neighbor? ^^
Anyway, I'm offering one of eight choices listed below... (3 choices consist of 2 books).

1st choice

2nd choice

3rd choice

4th choice

5th choice

6th choice

7th choice

8th choice

It is open to INTERNATIONAL as long as The Book Depository ships to your country (you can check it here). Just enter the rafflecopter below (please wait for few moments or use different browser) for the chance to win and good luck!

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Thanks for stopping by and entering. Good luck to you all. And have a wonderful month! Remember to hop to another awesome blogs! ^^

e-ARC Review: The Rat by Elise Gravel

The Rat
by Elise Gravel

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published August 5th 2014 by Tundra Books

(first published August 14th 2013)

ISBN 1770496580 (ISBN13: 9781770496583)

edition language : English

One in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Rat is a look at the black rat. It covers such topics as the rat's long, agile tail (it's good for balancing and picking noses), long teeth (they can chew through anything, including books) and disgusting taste in food (delicious electrical wires in tomato sauce, anyone?). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Rat contains real information that will tie in with curriculum.

(taken from GOODREADS)

What I Think

I loved this book. A LOT!

Let's start with the cover. It has a simple, wonderful illustration and first time I saw it, I was caught. Like, I really really had to get it. And knowing it's promoting real information in humorous way, I requested it right away. And I'm not disappointed. At all.

Presented with cute font (one that looks like children hand-writing, I love those kind of fonts!), every page gave a short factual information about rat. There's also one or two BIG word that worked like a theme/title for the page. Although the illustration had said it itself very clear. It also had a little humor, told by the rat, in every page which I think it's cute because I felt like the rat is either helping or encountering the narrator with their own view/opinion.

I don't like rats in real life. I hate it because, yeah, they're disgusting. But I must say I really love these rat characters in this book. 

I'm sure my nieces and nephews will find this book entertaining. Some information in this book helped me to gain more understanding about rat. Especially about how they manage to skip the trap we set most of time. Or how they manage to get into the house, the kitchen, the cupboard and so on. Of course, an adult is expected to read along with young readers to explain more about this and that. 

As an adult who loves cute books with wonderful designs and illustrations, it's definitely a must have. I can't wait to read the other books in the series and collect them all.

BUY THIS FROM

AMAZON  or 

BOOK DEPOSITORY

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

e-ARC Review : F Is for Feelings by Goldie Millar, Lisa Berger, Hazel Mitchell

F Is for Feelings

by Goldie Millar, Lisa Berger, Hazel Mitchell

Paperback, 40 pages

Free Spirit Publishing

Young children often need help learning and practicing their “feelings words” so they can express themselves well. When children learn from an early age to share their feelings in clear and healthy ways, they are more likely to grow into adults who feel capable of handling life’s challenges. Friendly and positive, this picture book uses an alphabet-book format to share and reinforce emotional language and the ideas that while some feelings are more comfortable than others, all emotions are natural and important. Charming, colorful illustrations accompany the sweet and simple text. A section in the back provides tips and activities for parents and caregivers to reinforce the themes and lessons of the book.

What I think:

I liked this book. A lot. 

At first glance of the cover, well, I didn't really care at all and almost skipped it. But then I think, hey, I could learn something from this, and teach or share something to my nieces and nephews. 

And I'm so glad I decided to read the book.

I didn't think that feelings can be listed in alphabet. I learned psychology and I should've known that there are lots of emotions. But since there are some basic, so sometimes I just paid attention on that. My bad!

Anyway, so I started reading the book, stopped in every alphabet and emotion, trying to understand and to translate it in bahasa. I also imagined it what to explain to my nieces and nephews once I get the chance to read this book with them. Although it might need some effort, the illustration and the example in every alphabet and emotion was very helpful. It helps the reader to differentiate between one emotion to the other.

Yes, this book is great for children. But for a grown up who would deal with kids, this book gives the activity guide for adults so that they can increasing the value of the book for the young readers. For example: how to explore, share and discuss the content of the book, the feeling. We can start from any emotion that interest us most.

There are lots of people out there (kids and adults) who have difficulties in expressing their emotions. Sometimes they put the wrong label for what they actually feel because they don't really understand the feeling and themselves. I do, too, sometimes. So this book would be a great start to understand about feeling better.

I really really think this is a great book and I can't wait to read and share it with my nieces and nephews.

I received the e-ARC via Net Galley. Thank you so much!

Book Review: Hello, Bali by Giselle Shardlow

About the Book

Title: Hello Bali  |  Author: Giselle Shardlow  |  Illustrator:  Emily Gedkyz  |   Publication Date: April 23, 2014  |   Publisher: Kids Yoga Stories  |  Number of pages: 52   |   Recommended age: 2.5 to 6 years

Summary: Energize your body and mind with this yoga island adventure book for young children!

Say good day to the magical island of Bali! Join Anamika, one of the Yoga Kids, as she travels with her family to Bali, Indonesia. Surf like a surfer, dance like a Balinese dancer, and sit like a monkey.

The book includes a list of Kids Yoga Poses, Map of Bali, Basic Indonesian Phrases, and a Parent-Teacher Guide with tips on creating a successful yoga experience. This yoga book for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 2 to 5) is more than a storybook, but it’s also a unique experience for children.

My Opinion:

As an Indonesian who has never been to Bali, a beginner in yoga thing, and an illustrated-children-book lover, I found this book was totally fun and helpful.

The poses were simple and easy to follow, and by giving the illustration and information about the pose, which was based on things Anamika found while she's on the adventure, I can help myself to imagine the actual pose. Those simple poses were helpful and applicable, especially for me who often sit in front of computer all day (and night, too).

When my niece and nephew came over, we read it, practiced the poses together and had fun with it. They laughed when they have to pose just like the mountain, swimmers, animals, etc. So I guess even for older children (they're 9 and 7 years old), this book can give so much fun, too. The English was pretty simple that my niece, who's already learn a bit of English, understood it pretty well. Even my nephew grasped the idea based on the informative and easy to understand illustration, though its style was not pretty special for me.
Also, by following the adventure of Anamika in every page, I can also explain them a little to my niece and nephew about Bali, and what you can find there, so that next time they (we) get a chance to go there, we know what it's going to be like.

I enjoyed the information about basic language in the back of the book. And the Parent-Teacher Guide part, I loved it! It helps me to remember what I should do to help young readers like my niece and nephew to gain more info based on what they're reading. It also help me trigger them with more knowledge.

I have to clarify a bit though, about the English-Indonesian translation in the back of the book. In a digital copy I received (maybe some of you got the same copy), "Welcome" is translated as "Selamat Dating"
The correct one would be: "Welcome" = "Selamat Datang".
I guess you can blame the mistake on the auto-correct mode. :D

For me, it'd be great if there's a simple introduction for kids about what is yoga before the adventure starts. Also, an information about how long you should do the pose? Probably count to 5, or 8, or 10?
Overall, I enjoy this book and got curious about the other series from the author.

***I was given a digital copy for an honest review.

About the Author

Giselle Shardlow draws from her experiences as a teacher, traveler, mother, and yogi to write her yoga-inspired children’s books. This story was inspired by her unforgettable travels to Bali and her desire to share these experiences with her daughter. She lives in Boston with her husband and daughter.

Website - Facebook - Twitter

About the Illustrator

Emily Gedzyk is a world traveler who draws her artistic inspiration from the places she’s visited and the people in her life. She hopes to continue her journeys to new, exciting places and to teach everyone she meets that it’s never too early or too late to go out into the world on their own adventures. Her work can be found in our kids yoga books, Sophia’s Jungle Adventure, Luke’s Beach Day, and The ABC’s of Australian Animals.

My Friend Suhana Book Blast

About the Book

Title: My Friend Suhana: A Story of Friendship and Cerebral Palsy |
Authors: Shaila Abdullah & Aanyah Abdullah |
Publication Date: December 16, 2013 | 
Publisher: Loving Healing Press | 
Pages: 17 | 
Recommended Ages: 3+ 
Summary: A simple tale of love and friendship to warm your heart. Award-winning author and designer Shaila Abdullah teams up with her 10-year-old daughter Aanyah to bring you this heartwarming tale of a little girl who forms a close bond with a child with cerebral palsy.    

Purchase : Amazon

 

The Buzz

“Children with cerebral palsy, like Suhana, the special 7-year-old child in this book, might never take a first step, say their first words or even do the same things other kids can do. But, they can understand kindness, love and true friendship. This is a story about two young 7-year-old girls whose friendship will span a lifetime and whose love will never die … There are so many themes that are brought to light in this wonderfully illustrated book. Friendship, understanding, love, kindness and trust…This mother and daughter have presented a well written, special, colorfully illustrated book that is definitely a must read for children in the lower grades, read aloud in every classroom, hospital groups, book store book signings and even at centers with children who have CP who can learn that they can do anything––all they need to do is try.” ~ Fran Lewis, former Reading and Writing Staff Developer at NYC Public Schools

“Promoting friendship, respect, and support, this children’s book aides in teaching others that art can help overcome and accept the differences of physical characteristics in others. It shows the bond that a mother and daughter share caring and loving those who have physical or mental disabilities as they convey how to be a true friend.” ~ Conny Crisalli, Book Pleasures

“This heartfelt story shares what it would be like to have a friend with cerebral palsy. Parents, teachers and young readers will appreciate the stories purpose and enjoy the colorful illustrations depicting the moods of Suhana and the love and caring she receives from her friend…Both authors have done an excellent job of educating us on how to be role models by opening our minds and hearts to the possibilities.” ~ Kristi’s Book Nook

“My Friend Suhana, for which Kindle and ePub editions are also available, was inspired by the experiences of the authors. While helping her mother with a special needs class at a local community center, a seven year old girl befriends another seven year old girl named Suhana who has cerebral palsy. It is a simple tale of love and friendship that will warm everyone’s heart.” ~ Wayne Walker, Home School Book Reviews

“My Friend Suhana is a delightful read for a children’s book. Very well illustrated with respect, friendship, and advocacy all in mind at the same time.” ~ Dawn Cruzan, President, Camp Craig Allen for all abilities

“This is the story of a seven-year-old’s first attempt at unconditional love. Tough but tender, inspirational yet utterly real, this is a small gem of a tale. Highly recommended for anyone in the position of mentoring a beloved child through the hard places of life.” ~ Paula Huston, author of A Season of Mystery and A Land Without Sin

More reviews at http://myfriendsuhana.com/reviews/

 

About the Authors: Shaila Abdullah & Aanyah Abdullah

Shaila Abdullah is an author and designer based in Austin, Texas. She is the author of two award-winning books: Saffron Dreams and Beyond the Cayenne Wall. The author has received several awards for her work including the Golden Quill Award, Norumbega Jury Prize for Outstanding Fiction, Patras Bukhari Award for English Language, Reader Views Award, Written Art Award, and a grant from Hobson Foundation. My Friend Suhana is Shaila’s first children’s book. In her free time, Shaila loves to run around with her children–Aanyah and Aaliyana.  

Aanyah Abdullah is a creative and compassionate 10-year-old, who is drawn to children born with physical and mental disabilities. When she was in second grade, Aanyah along with her mother Shaila, started volunteering out at a local community center where they helped assist special needs children. Later Aanyah wrote an essay about her friendship with a girl in the class who had cerebral palsy. That essay is the inspiration behind My Friend Suhana. Aanyah dreams of establishing a special school for children with disabilities one day. She is known to always stand up for what is right and is-–in her parents’ and teachers’ eyes––a perfect role model for her baby sister.

Book Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) 

Contest runs: February 12 to March 12, 11:59 pm, 2014 

Open: Internationally 

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Shaila Abdullah & Loving Healing Press and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

Be sure to check out the My Friend Suhana Blog Tour

(coming Mar 4 to 11, 2014)

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Little Red Writing by Joan Holub Book Blast

Little Red Writing by Joan Holub 

Acclaimed writer Joan Holub and Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet team up in this hilarious and exuberant retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, in which a brave, little red pencil finds her way through the many perils of writing a story, faces a ravenous pencil sharpener (the Wolf 3000)... and saves the day. Joan Holub has hundreds of pencils. Some are red. Others are glittery, sporty, or full of holiday cheer. They are all super sharp and good at writing books. They’ve helped Joan write more than 130 books, including Zero the Hero and Knuckleheads. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Melissa Sweet has illustrated nearly 100 children’s books, including the Caldecott Honor–winning River of Words and the Sibert Medal–winning Balloons Over Broadway. When not in her studio, Melissa loves to ride her bicycle and hike with her two dogs, Rufus and Nellie. She lives in Rockport, Maine.   

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Praise "A very funny picture book that, I guarantee you, lots of savvy teachers will be eagerly sharing with students as part of the process of teaching creative writing." -- Richie Partington MLIS, Richie's Picks "What a CLEVER, CLEVER story!" -- I Love to Read and Write Reviews "This clever adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood has so many levels of creativity and learning... Every elementary teacher should have this book to begin their writing units." -- Play on Words "Style, humor, and solid writing advice." --Publishers Weekly, starred review "So rich in words and wry humor-written and visual-that one reading just isn't enough." --School Library Journal, starred review "Every writers' group should start with this story." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Every elementary teacher should have this book to begin their writing units." -- Play on Words "An easy, winning prompt for beginning writers to abandon their fears and take up pencils of their own." --Booklist    

Author Joan Holub

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children’s books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job. I illustrated my first published children’s book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts — Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee! Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children’s books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.

Twitter * Website * Blog

 

 

BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/15/13   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

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Book Blast + Giveaway: The Emerald Ring

 

The Emerald Ring

Sara Bogus's life turns upside down when she discovers an emerald ring that once belonged to Cleopatra. The fun of discovering the ring's unique abilities turns to fear when she finds out a dangerous cult bent on restoring Rome to power is after the ring. Forced to choose between keeping the ring and saving her friends, Sara learns the price of bravery in this electrifying read! The Emerald Ring is a middle grade fantasy novel.  

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Praise

"Filled with fun, magic, mystery, and history, The Emerald Ring and spunky sleuth Sara will have you racing on a pulse-pounding trail that reaches all the way to Ancient Egypt."- Kevin Emerson, author of The Oliver Nocturne series, and The Fellowship for Alien Detection.   "The Emerald Ring is a whirlwind adventure that transports the reader into the mysterious world of Ancient Egypt. A great choice for those who love mythology and magic. " - Suzanne Selfors, author of The Sweetest Spell, Smells Like Dog series, and many more.   "The Emerald Ring is an exciting and mysterious fantasy featuring fast-paced action, a scary villain, and a spunky young heroine." - Suzanne Williams co-author of The Goddess Girls Series.   "The Emerald Ring is a not-so-run-of-the-mill middle grade fantasy novel laced with mystery and intrigue. It has just enough surprises to keep kids turning the page to see what happens next. The author has a real knack with "kid lingo" and has used diverse cultures to her advantage. Definitely a book I can recommend with confidence."- Laurisa White Reyes author of The Rock of Ivanore & The Last Enchanter  

Author Dorine White

I graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in Humanitites. I am a member of the SCBWI and the PNWA. I write middle grade and YA fantasy. My first book, The Emerald Ring, will be published in 2013 by Cedar Fort Books.  

Blog * Facebook * Twitter

   

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/15/13   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway