Blog Archives
Nurse Florence®, What is Atrial Fibrillation?
What is Atrial Fibrillation? This question is asked by students in this edition of the Nurse Florence series. A group of students see the school nurse at lunch and ask if they can sit with her; once they are all settled, Nurse Florence asks what they want to learn about today. One girl says that a family friend has just been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation and wants to know what that means. This leads to an in-depth discussion about what one is, how it can be caused, what this means for the person with it and things that can be done to prevent getting one. The girls learn a lot of science and medical terminology and have a great discussion on things to do to keep one’s body healthy.
Nurse Florence®, What is Atrial Fibrillation? written by Michael Dow, is written about a fictional nurse, but all the information in the story is based on facts. Dow uses correct medical terminology to explain things, and while this may be daunting at first, there is a glossary to look up the term. As an adult, I learned a great deal from this book, so I am positive that this would benefit children interested in science and medicine. The illustrations done by Lorie Brooker are done in colored pencil drawings. This allows younger children to look at things like blood pumping through the heart without being too graphic for sensitive readers. It is a great way to introduce these concepts in an approachable manner.
For children with an interest in medicine or teachers wanting to expand students’ interest in STEM, Nurse Florence®, What is Atrial Fibrillation? is a fantastic book to introduce to kids. This easy-to-follow children’s book teaches readers about A-fib and helps them understand how it is diagnosed, how it occurs, and what can be done to treat and prevent it.
Pages: 119 | ISBN : 1329376684
Wild Thing and The Bagel
Who really adopts who when a family brings home a new dog? According to the author, Erin L. Neal, it is, in fact, the dog that adopts the family. In the nonfiction children’s book Wild Thing and The Bagel, Erin shares her family’s story about adopting two amazing dogs.
Wild Thing is an energetic chocolate lab that instantly falls in love with his family, especially Brady. They were best friends and loved playing together. However, one day it was time for Brady to go off to school. Wild Thing tried to keep busy protecting Dad while he worked, but he was lonely. So Mom and Dad brought home a new dog that had rescued them. This sweet dog was named The Bagel because she was a basset hound and beagle mix. It took a while, but soon both dogs adjusted to having the other around and learned to play together. They learned to share the family they both love and became best friends.
Wild Thing and The Bagel is a wonderful picture book highlighting some crucial situations families face when adopting an animal. From the seemingly never-ending energy, training them to be good citizens, and dealing with separation anxiety, many things must be considered. Adding a new animal to the family can cause jealousy, and there will be a period of adjustment. This book teaches children about these phases and explains how it is normal. This is a great children’s book to read to kids when families want to get a new pet to help the whole family know what to expect.
Pages: 41 | ASIN : B0BP514VVK
The Adventures of the Soul Sistas: or How the Sisters Changed the World
The Adventures of the Soul Sistas: or How the Sisters Changed the World, is a wonderfully written story that teaches children about the beauty of adoption and multicultural families. In this heartwarming children’s book, two people, Alexandra and Nathan Spirit, find themselves living on a farm in the country, way out of their comfort zone. They want to have a family but are unable, and through some extraordinary circumstances, they wind up with the chance to adopt not one but two little girls. So in this small rural town, this unique family with two Black parents, one white child, and one Black child face constant looks and were not included in many events. How will the sisters handle heading off to school when it is time?
Author Newton Vanriel has written a fantastic book about adoption and the challenges that raising a multicultural family can face. In addition, while not biologically twins, the girls are so close in age that they act like twins. This story covers many topics parents sometimes find hard to explain to young children. This book is written in a way that is perfect for reading together and opening up discussions. It is broken up so that it is easy to stop and talk about the different situations that come up. I love the little poems that are included as well. They are like a summary and motivational lesson, all in a couple of lines summarizing the topic on the page before it. The artwork by Monique Ra Brent is bright and colorful; it will appeal to children and bring a smile to those reading this captivating story.
The Adventures of the Soul Sistas: or How the Sisters Changed the World, is an inspiring story for children struggling with fitting in, that are adopted, or who come from mixed families. The world is full of exciting and different people, and family comprises the people you love and support you. Sisters do not have to look alike, and diversity is a beautiful thing.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B0BJP3JKT4
Flexibility, Service, and Gratitude.
Ready… Set… Frog! follows a helpful young frog who wants to train for the big obstacle course race but keeps getting sidetracked helping his friends. What was the inspiration for your story?
In addition to my role at Set Sail Press, I also run my family’s small woodworking business, CycleFrog Products, which specializes in creating accessories for Peloton bikes. While brainstorming new products to add to our collection, we considered rebranding the business name. Ready Set Frog was one of the ideas that emerged, and it sparked my imagination. I immediately thought of a story about a young frog who faces constant interruptions while trying to accomplish something.
From that initial idea, the book Ready… Set… Frog! took shape. I dove into writing and crafting the story, enlisting the editing expertise of Brooke Vitale. And now, here we are! I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share this story with children and families everywhere.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Laura Watson?
Collaborating with Laura Watson was a true highlight of bringing Ready… Set… Frog! to life. After completing the manuscript, I brought my art notes to Laura, and we worked closely together to develop character concepts, color palettes, and scene layouts. We were able to bounce ideas off one another, and through our collaboration, we created a book that we’re both incredibly proud of. The positive reception from readers has been especially rewarding, and we’re both grateful for the opportunity to work together on this project.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Ready… Set… Frog! is a story with three core themes: flexibility, service, and gratitude.
Flexibility — Frog is repeatedly interrupted when he’s trying to practice. He learns how to be patient and adapt to a changing situation rather than getting stuck in frustration.
Service — Frog needs to choose between helping his friends and completing his own tasks. Frog learns that he feels good inside when he lends a hand to someone in need—and that sometimes things work out on their own.
Gratitude — When it’s time for Frog’s big race, he tries his best and earns second place. Instead of feeling disappointed, Frog is proud of himself and excited to try again next year.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently in the early stages of drafting ideas for my next picture book about Frog and his friends. I’m excited to share more details with you in the coming months, so stay tuned! Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement!
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Frog needs to practice if he wants to win the town obstacle race. But every time he tries, he gets interrupted!
Frog can’t help his friends and still make time to practice… or can he?
Join Frog as he navigates the balancing act of making time for yourself when others need your attention. With the support of Frog’s family and friends, he works through three tricky situations and learns that sometimes, through helping others, you end up helping yourself.
When You Are Curious
Children are naturally curious, as evidenced by the “why” phase most toddler and preschool-age children go through. While this can be a challenging time, it is also a critical time to foster that curiosity and help children shape it into a lifelong pursuit of learning. Veronika Darwell’s picture book, When You Are Curious, teaches children how their ever-growing curiosity can be put to good use.
This engaging picture book will instantly draw in young readers with the bright and colorful images by Johnny Plasil. The rhyming prose stirs the imagination in readers and gets them thinking of all the different things they can be curious about. Anything is possible with a curious mind, from music to travel to inventing and space exploration. No question or task is too small or too large to want to explore more of.
Teachers will love this children’s book for the simple language allowing it to be accessible to even the preschool level, but still a valuable message for kindergarten and early elementary students. Even as an adult, this fantastic picture book had me thinking about different things I was curious about as a child and am still curious about now as an adult. It is never too late to learn something new, and you are never too young to explore the world around you.
When You Are Curious is a well-written picture book that will inspire young and old readers to open their minds and explore their world. This would make an excellent addition to a home or classroom library and one that will be sure to encourage children to broaden their interests and explore the world they live in with enthusiasm.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0B3KND81B
The Sloth Who Didn’t Want to Be King
Lazy, the Prince of All Sloths, is the main character of The Sloth Who Didn’t Want to Be King, a charming and whimsical adventure by Guy Finkelstein. This delightful story takes us on a journey of self-discovery with Prince Lazy, who is not so lazy after all. In a kingdom where a relaxed pace and minimal effort are encouraged, Prince Lazy finds himself a royal misfit, an overachiever in a land where apathy reigns supreme. However, when he befriends Digdigdig, an adorable hedgehog, he decides to explore the world and discovers that true friendship may be the key to finding what truly matters.
As a reader, I appreciated the reversal of the traditional hero’s journey in this book, where the protagonist must overcome their inner slothfulness to save the day. In contrast, Prince Lazy’s desire to work and create new things is the main challenge in a realm where apathy is everything. This is a refreshing and unique take on the genre, which I found captivating.
The characters in this book are endearing, and I particularly enjoyed the charming and lovable Digdigdig, who adds a charismatic touch to the story. Prince Lazy and Digdigdig’s adventures are nothing short of enchanting. They traverse many lands, each as unique and exciting as the last. The world-building in this book is top-notch, and I found myself transported to the magical lands along with the protagonists.
What makes this book truly special is Finkelstein’s storytelling. She has masterfully woven the story, creating a heartwarming and inspirational tale that is both magical and captivating. The book’s penultimate chapter is especially poignant, bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion. I was left with a sense of wonder and fulfillment upon finishing the book. The book is a testament to Finkelstein’s ability to pack so much adventure and excitement into mere hundred-or-so pages. The story will surely capture the hearts of readers who enjoy exploring far-off magical worlds and experiencing fantastic adventures.
Overall, The Sloth Who Didn’t Want to Be King is a beautiful and engaging read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves magical fairy-tale settings and classical storytelling at its finest.
Pages: 90 | ISBN : 1602804923
The Little, Big Rescue
Brenda is a beautiful blue whale, one of the biggest in her part of the ocean. She has a unique color that makes her stand out from all the other whales too. Everyone in the ocean wants to be friends with Brenda, especially a little crab named Rimmy. Rimmy is a sand crab, compared to Brenda, plain and small. She insults him when he tries to make friends with her, saying he has nothing to offer her. However, one day Brenda gets caught in a fishing net and is trapped; none of her friends can help her escape. Can the little sand crab she insulted and brushed off be the one to save the day?
The Little, Big Rescue by Ashley Marie is a heartwarming picture book that teaches children about kindness and diversity. Written in simple language that toddlers can understand and illustrated with beautiful color images, this story will grab the attention of young readers and help them understand the concepts in an age-appropriate manner. Teaching the value of diversity can be challenging, but the author has shown how a whale and a crab, two creatures that look incredibly different, can help one another. Children learn that what you look like does not dictate who you are inside, and your physical size or appearance has no bearing on how big your heart and compassion are. Another important message this book highlights is the one of self-appreciation. Learning to love yourself no matter what others think of you is important, and Rimmy illustrates this by not letting himself believe he has nothing to offer Brenda and ends up being a big help in the end.
Teaching children to value themselves and diversity, among others, begins early in life. The Little, Big Rescue is a well-written picture book that shares these ideas in a child-friendly manner and is entertaining and engaging. Children will love following along under the sea with Brenda and Rimmy as they learn about friendship.
Pages: 19 | ASIN : B0872XJVTL
The Dirt Bike Detective
In The Dirt Bike Detective by Douglas L. Hoover, readers are taken on a thrilling journey through a world of mystery, fantasy, and true crime. The story follows a group of young detectives as they embark on a mission to reclaim Oliver’s grandfather’s watch, which ultimately leads to investigating a series of paranormal mysteries.
The author’s captivating style keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end, with a prologue that sets the tone for the entire book. While facing everyday school experiences such as bullies, family life, friendships, and relationships, the young detectives are tasked with solving a series of intriguing paranormal mysteries. The author masterfully combines mystery and fantasy elements, creating a world that will appeal to readers of all ages.
This is a family-friendly book that is sure to entertain both young and old. No matter your age, you will find yourself invested in the story and trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters. The author’s use of a simple yet lyrical style brings the atmosphere to life through the eyes of 12-year-olds, making it easy to imagine yourself right alongside the young detectives. While readers of the book do not get to know all of the characters as well as they would like (aside from Chase and Oliver), the ending is well-written and leaves room for a possible sequel or continuation of the saga. The book’s conclusion provides a satisfying end to the story while still leaving readers hungry for more.
Overall, The Dirt Bike Detective is an interesting and engaging middle-grade novel that is sure to make you laugh and keep readers invested. If you’re looking for a fun and exciting book that combines mystery, fantasy, and true crime, this is the perfect choice for you!
Pages: 494 | ASIN : B0BS3DBC3V
LITERARY TITAN 