#BookReview: Rock, Scissors, Paperbag by @elizbethgodley

Synopsis: Rock, Scissors, and Paperbag are the bestest of friends! Paperbag is afraid of everything, Rock is a talented musician, and Scissors is an excellent Orange Ball player. After the school bullies, The Bucket Kids, steal Scissors’ fake orange-ball, the kids decide to get back at the bullies. What if they could get a real orange-ball from The Great Orange Tree? That would show The Bucket Kids! 

Recalling the local legend, they embark on a fantastic adventure to find The Great Orange Tree. However, while solving the riddle within the ancient map, they encounter a cave monster, a tornado of rapping cooties, and the horrid Land of Smells. How will they face each challenge? Will they end up back home with a real orange-ball? And if they do, will they share it? 

Throughout their adventure, Rock gains confidence, Paperbag conquers his fears, and Scissors makes peace with being imperfect. Best Buds! 

Winner of the 2023 International Firebird Book Award, Rock, Scissors, Paperbag is a spellbinding tale of friendship, fantasy, and adventure. A perfect book to be shared and treasured.

#BookReview: Batcat by @MeggietheRamm @abramskids

Synopsis: A new graphic novel series for emerging readers about accepting yourself and others from up-and-coming author-illustrator Meggie Ramm

Batcat loves being all alone in their home on Spooky Island. Up in their tree house, they pass the time playing video games and watching TV. But when Batcat suddenly finds themself haunted by an annoying, ice cream–stealing ghost, they visit the local Island Witch for a spell to remove their ghastly guest permanently! 

With their Ghost-B-Gone spell in hand, Batcat travels across Spooky Island to gather ingredients—to the Cavernous Caves where the bats tell them they’re too round to be a bat, and to the Whispering Cemetery where the cats will help only if they commit to being a true cat. But Batcat is neither and that's what makes them special, right?  

From up-and-coming author Meggie Ramm comes a sweet and fun story about accepting yourself when you're perfectly in-between here and there.

#BookReview: Euphonia Klank and the Aether Beast: A Steampunk Picture Book for Kids by Tamara Alba

Synopsis: Share your love of the steampunk aesthetic with your child!

Euphonia Klank and the Aether Beast is a fun, playful children's book that takes you and your child on a steampunk adventure.

Join Euphonia as she chases down the Aether Beast, a creature made of colorful light, who she accidentally released to rampage through her steampunk world.

By the end of the story, Euphonia Klank learns to make friends with the skittish Aether Beast. But what will happen when her parents come home?

With beautiful pictures, playful language, and a main character full of moxie, this book is perfect for kids five to seven years old.

#BookReview: The Forgettery by @RachelCIp, @Laura_A_Hughes (Illustrations)

Synopsis: Amelia’s granny forgets lots of things. Little things, like where she put her glasses, and big things like people and places. But everything anyone has ever forgotten is stored in The Forgettery, and there Amelia and her granny learn the power of making memories.



Chosen by The Guardian for Book of the Month!



Filled with warmth and gentle humour, The Forgettery is a beautifully written, sensitive look at dementia and memory loss. Over 850,000 people live with dementia in the UK, which will soar to 2 million by 2051. Globally, around 50 million people live with dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. Opening up discussions surrounding this challenging topic with little ones has never been more important.


Without ever explicitly mentioning dementia, The Forgettery can be enjoyed as an adventure story where children explore a fantastical world where memories can be re-discovered and revisited as well as newly made. Rachel Ip’s tender words capture the wonderful bond between grandmother and granddaughter and Laura Hughes conjures up an exciting, wonderous space where our most precious memories are stored, and the challenge of dementia can be gently explored and understood.

#BookReview: A Flying Visit by Nick Butterworth

Synopsis: An exciting new picture book about much-loved Percy the Park Keeper and his animal friends from the bestselling creator of One Snowy Night.


Percy’s friend, the hedgehog, has always longed to fly but, without wings, it’s an impossible dream. But then, one day, a stranger arrives in the park, needing his help. Will the hedgehog’s wish come true at last?


A funny, heart-warming story about kindness, friendship and teamwork, introducing the phenomenally popular Percy the Park Keeper to a new generation of readers.


Percy and his animal friends have delighted readers around the world for over thirty years!

#BookReview: Black Boy, Black Boy by Ali Kamanda, Jorge Redmond, Ken Daley (Illustrator) @SourcebooksKids

Synopsis: Inspire Black boys to imagine all the great things they can do while celebrating remarkable moments from Black history!

Dear boy, Black boy, I believe in you so.

Let's start your story—ready, set, go.

From athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick to musician Sam Cooke, inventor Elijah McCoy and writer Chinua Achebe, there are so many inspirational men in Black history. This lyrical, rhythmic text encourages boys to imagine everything they can be and the great things they can do, drawing on the strength of people throughout history that paved the way for Black boys today.

Black Boy, Black Boy tells today's boys: you have the courage, you are the light. It's a new day! Be inspired and motivated by drawing on the history of the role models that came before you.

Black Boy, Black Boy is perfect for those looking for:

-inspirational books for kids

-joyful Black childrens' books

-Black history books for kids

#BookReview: You Are Not Alone by Alphabet Rockers, Ashley Evans (Illustrator), Kaitlin McGaw, Tommy Shepherd @SourcebooksKids

Synopsis: From the Grammy award-nominated hip-hop group Alphabet Rockers comes an empowering picture book that invites kids to to love themselves, stand up to hate, and foster inclusivity among their peers!

When I say something is unfair to me, but it's fair for you, what does that make it?
When I meditate, it all gets clear.
And if you listen, you will really hear.
I am not alone. I am enough.

It can be scary to feel like you're all on your own, especially in the face of prejudice. But always remember: you are not alone. Inspired by the Alphabet Rockers' empowering song "Not Alone," this uplifting picture book reassures kids that they belong and encourages them to love their beautiful selves and their identities, use their voices against hate, and step up for one another and have one another's backs no matter what.

#BookReview: 100 African Americans Who Shaped American History @duopressbooks and @sourcebookskids

Synopsis: Amazing stories of 100 Black Americans who everyone should know—for kids eight and up

Discover artists, activists, icons, and legends throughout American history! 100 African Americans Who Shaped American History introduces kids of all ages to some of the most influential Black Americans from the very beginning of the country all the way up to present day. Learn all about the incredible lives and lasting legacies of figures like Harriet Tubman, Duke Ellington, Malcolm X, Mae Jemison, and many more!

This biography book for kids features

• 100 easy-to-read one-page biographies: Find out how these Black Americans changed the course of history!
• Illustrated portraits: Each biography includes an illustration to help bring history to life!
• A timeline, trivia questions, project ideas and more: Boost your learning and test your knowledge with fun activities and resources!

Engaging and packed with facts, 100 African Americans Who Shaped American History is the perfect history gift for curious kids!

#BookReview: The Young Activist’s Dictionary of Social Justice @SourcebooksKids

Synopsis: A Is for Ally, Advocate, Anti-Racist, Ancestors, and Assembly 

Using simple explanations and appealing illustrations in a familiar A-to-Z format, The Young Activist's Dictionary of Social Justice will teach kids the new vocabulary of change. 

Vetted by an anti-bias, anti-racism educator, this essential new resource is packed with easily understandable definitions of timely concepts. Each beautifully designed spread represents a letter and provides concise, age-appropriate definitions for 10 or more terms, with subject matter spanning issues like racial justice, climate change, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, income disparity, voter engagement, and immigration. In addition to information, the pages are also full of inspiration: Bite-sized bios accompany key terms, illuminating the stories of justice advocates who got involved with a cause at a young age. Infographics and sidebars bring complementary concepts to life. And with the rich resource section in the back, kids can read more about how to take action on the cause that’s meaningful to them.

Read on, and let’s work together for a more equal world for all.

Featuring:
Audrey Faye Hendricks (arrest)
Claudette Colvin (boycott)
Iqbal Masih (child labor) 
Greta Thunberg (climate justice)
Malala Yousafzai (education)
Mari Copeny (environmental racism)
Parkland Survivors (gun control)
Ruby Bridges (integration)
Frederick Douglass (literacy)
John Lewis (nonviolence)
Clara Lemlich (organize)
Marley Dias (representation)
Dolores Huerta (strike)
Jazz Jennings (transition) 
Autumn Peltier (water protector)

#BookReview: I’m Different You're Different We’re All Different by Stelanie Marshall

Synopsis: Do you wear glasses? Are you an amputee? Are you someone who has a friend who is remarkable or even exceptional, but they are sometimes put down for it? This book is for all the above and more. This story is perfect for K-3rd graders or as a gift to those who need a reminder of just how special they are.

#BookReview: Love Is Love by Michael Genhart @MGenhart

Synopsis: A boy confides in a friend that he doesn’t know what to say when he’s teased for having two dads, and when kids say that they’re not a real family. In their conversation, his friend helps him see how her family (with a mom and a dad) isn’t all that different from his: they both have parents who love them, and they both love their parents. And it’s love that makes a family. In Yes We Are!, Michael Genhart, Ph.D., shows that gay families are simply another kind of normal, and that all children value the love of family. This heartfelt dialogue provides a gentle way to discuss discrimination.

#BookBlitz @RABTBookTours: Wild at Heart by Cindy Rogers @mkwebsiteandseo

 

Children's Book

Ros Webb (Illustrator)

Date Published: March 10, 2022

Publisher: BookBaby

 

When Maybel, the country hound, wanders into Cindy's kitchen, she may just have been looking for food, but instead finds a lifelong friend. The duo finds adventures in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Alongside fellow goats and horses, they munch on crusts of avocado toast by the beach in Santa Monica. It is a story of rescue, friendship, love and learning to stay wild at heart.

#ReleaseBlitz @RABTBookTours: Snowball the Sherlock Rabbit and the Carrot Garden Mystery by @meccarellogerson

Snowball the Sherlock Rabbit Book 2

Children's Book

Date Published: 05-10-2022

 

 

Snowball the Sherlock Rabbit in search of the villain crunching his way through Grimly the Bear's Carrot Garden.

#BookReview: The Wacky Animal Alphabet Amy Koze

Synopsis: During your journey through the world of the alphabet - narrated using funny rhymes - you will meet some wacky animals, like a bear who can ride a bike, a juggling giraffe, a penguin pirate and many more!

This picture book will make learning the alphabet super fun! Each alphabet is depicted by beautiful illustrations and fun rhymes, which are sure to make kids and grown-ups smile!

- Cute rhymes for some extra fun reading time!
The rhyming text makes reading the book even more exciting for little ones.

- Beautiful illustrations of funny characters
The illustrations and detail added to each character are sure to get children talking while they look at each of them.

- An A to Z page at the back of the book
At the back of the book is a page with all the letters of the alphabet along with their corresponding animal. Have fun finding out if you can remember all their names! 

#BookReview: A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

Synopsis: First published in 1956, this much sought-after autobiographical recollection of Truman Capote's rural Alabama boyhood has become a modern-day classic. We are proud to be reprinting this warm and delicately illustrated edition of A Christmas Memory--"a tiny gem of a holiday story" (School Library Journal, starred review). Seven-year-old Buddy inaugurates the Christmas season by crying out to his cousin, Miss Sook Falk: "It's fruitcake weather!" Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship between two innocent souls--one young and one old--and the memories they share of beloved holiday rituals.

#BookBlitz: I Am Me by @mkwebsiteandseo @RABTBookTours

 

A Journal of Positive Affirmations for Kids Hardcover

Children's Book

Publication date: April 6, 2021

Publisher: Mindful Impressions

"I Am Me" is a journal of positive affirmations with the intent to encourage children to look within and find their own power, confidence, and to unapologetically accept and become their true authentic self.

Presenting five mindfulness exercises alongside 20 positive affirmations, I Am Me supports self-worth and positive mindset skills by introducing therapeutic practice for handling life obstacles in a gently way.

#BookBlitz: The Adventures of Amber: Walk in the Woods by Isabell Hayden @RABTBookTours @mkwebsiteandseo

 

Walk in the Woods

Children's Book

Date Published: June 10, 2021

Publisher: Mindstir Media

Amber, a nature-loving girl who enjoys afternoon walks in the woods with her grandma and puppy, has an adventurous spirit and a heart that belongs to Mother Nature. She takes you on a magical journey in the woods near her grandparents' mountain cottage. Immerse yourself in the magnificent beauty of nature with the experiences from Amber's perspective. This book will inspire readers to go outdoors and appreciate the wonders of Mother Nature.

#Interview with Evelyn Rainey Author of Daisy and the Three Shoes

Synopsis: For Daisy, there are three kinds of shoes. The good kind – because her girl wears them when they go for walks. The bad kind – because her girl wears them when she leaves Daisy. And the very best kind – the ones with wheels! This wonderfully illustrated book for second, third and fourth grade readers also has a discussion guide and is listed with the Accelerated Readers program.

#Interview with Evelyn Rainey author of Caleb's Crop

Synopsis: Giles thinks his big brother Caleb can do anything. He knows how to say just the right things to make their mother smile. He knows how to milk cows and build chicken coops. Most importantly, Caleb knows how to read, and taught Giles how to read, too. Now Giles and Caleb have immigrated with their mother to a farming planet where no one else knows how to read!

#BookReview: Caleb's Crop by Evelyn Rainey

Synopsis: Giles thinks his big brother Caleb can do anything. He knows how to say just the right things to make their mother smile. He knows how to milk cows and build chicken coops. Most importantly, Caleb knows how to read, and taught Giles how to read, too. Now Giles and Caleb have immigrated with their mother to a farming planet where no one else knows how to read!