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Books For Benjamin
Once, a little purple worm wanted more out of life than to eat rotting trash. This worm’s name is Benjamin, and his only desire in life is to read as many books as he can. So one day, he comes up with a plan to sneak away from the grocery store where he lives and go home with someone to read their books. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned, and Benjamin almost ends up as a tasty treat for a cat and bird. Thankfully he escapes and, with the help of some new friends, makes his way to a library where his life is forever changed. Benjamin starts a new page in his life and soon has all the books his heart could ever desire to read.
Children’s author R.G. de Rouen has written an entertaining and educational picture book called Books for Benjamin. The loveable worm Benjamin has a passion for reading that is contagious. It shows as he introduces stories to his new friends, and children reading this story will feel the excitement of finding new things to read and learn. Illustrator Uliana Barabash brings the story to life with fun drawings that will entice children to follow along in the story.
I love that there is an explanation of the Library of Congress and a simple overview of copyright included in this children’s book. The characters show the importance of libraries and the job of librarians to children in an approachable way. Children learn that libraries are so much more than just a building with books in them. This would make a great book to read to kindergarteners as they prepare to visit the school library.
Books for Benjamin is a whimsical picture book about a bookworm and his journey to find more things to read. It is light-hearted and funny but provides an important message on the importance of libraries and the services they provide to people. This amazing children’s book is perfect for preschool and lower elementary kids to help instill a love of reading at an early age.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B0BK4VW73G
You Can Have Your Cake and Grandparents Too!
You Can Have Your Cake and Grandparents Too! by C.L. Holliday-Firmin is truly a heartwarming story of a young boy that has a big misunderstanding. He thinks he must choose to invite only one of his six grandparents to his birthday party. How on earth could he possibly choose only one? Having to choose causes quite an upset for the young child because he has such a unique and special bond with each of them.
Those who are lucky enough to have had that special relationship with a grandparent can understand, if this was the case, the struggle this boy is going through. I connected with the story emotionally and felt, on a visceral level, the pain of having to make that difficult choice.
I feel this is such a great book for young readers to see the importance of family bonds. To show how the connections and relationships we build with our relatives are vital to our growth and overall happiness. This would be a great gift to a grandparent to show one’s love and affection and would undoubtedly leave a grandparent with a teary eye or two. The illustrations by Gull Zareen display the sweet nature of the moments the young child is reminiscing on about his grandparents. As the reader, I could feel the warmth of love radiating off each page and recalling my own cherished memories.
You Can Have Your Cake and Grandparents Too! is a creative picture book that shares a child’s fears and concerns and shows them working through things. It is a great lesson for children that many will be able to relate to.
Pages: 42 | ASIN : B0BB5L294C
This Has Been A Mind-blowing Journey
Christmas Begins with Christ is a beautiful picture book explaining the meaning of Christmas and the role that Christ plays in the season. What was the inspiration for your story?
It’s a wild backstory. I wrote this book last year when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I was determined to write an adult fantasy trilogy that I’d plotted, but life got in the way. I was moving out of state, juggling a toddler, pregnant, and knew I had many sleepless nights ahead of me. I had to shelve the series in my head that I desperately wanted to put on a bookshelf. It crushed my soul a little bit.
So one night I said a prayer to Jesus asking for help with my writing aspirations. Apparently He heard me, because out of nowhere an idea for a picture book fell into my head upon waking up from a pregnant-woman nap. The story was about Him.
I asked, and He definitely answered. I didn’t have time to write an adult novel, but I could write a poem for kids.
I never set out to become a children’s book author, so this has been a mind-blowing journey for me. I’m incredibly grateful that my prayer was answered in the most unexpected way.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
There were three key points I wanted to teach kids. The first is that even though you can’t see Jesus, He’s always with us. I’ve seen a lot of children’s books insert Jesus physically alongside kids into a modern-day scene. I wanted to have a more realistic depiction. I emphasized that Jesus is invisible, but we can still feel Him, talk to Him, and see His guidance.
The second educational aspect was to teach that Jesus’s love lives in us. When we share our love through acts of kindness, it creates a ripple effect of joy.
That segues into my third teaching point, which was incorporating counting to ten. Using numbers was a simple way to demonstrate how love grows.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Marissa Napolitano?
We talked in-depth on the phone about my vision for the book before she started illustrating. It was important for me to represent Jesus’s presence through the usage of light. It’s one of the main reasons why I chose her to be my illustrator. I thought she was incredibly gifted at drawing light that looked divine and otherworldly.
I sent her a document in the beginning of the project with art notes for each page to communicate what I envisioned. If I didn’t have a specific idea, I gave her a generalized concept and let her run with it. Often I would draw detailed, ugly sketches of what I wanted and emailed them to her. She always turned it into something magical.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently writing another rhyming book about Jesus for children that I’m extremely excited about. It’s not a holiday book, so you can read it any time of the year. Without giving too much away, the theme is to “let go, let God” and trust in His plan. What excites me the most is that it hasn’t been done before and has the potential to impact both children and adults.
I can’t wait to get it illustrated! Hopefully I’ll publish it in the fall of 2023 or early 2024. I also plan to write my adult fantasy series. It’s alive and breathing in my head, so I have to write it. That will definitely take me longer, but I’m determined to do it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Website
This rhyming concept book introduces how Jesus is always in our lives. Beautiful illustrations show Christ’s supportive spiritual light around us. When we share God’s light through acts of love and joy, it creates a ripple effect. Children will learn their numbers by counting how happiness grows from the true spirit of Christmas.
Both children and adults are reminded through lyrical prose to pause and connect with Jesus. Christmas Begins With Christ is the perfect gift for the holiday season that’s sure to inspire families for years to come.
What Happens When We Can’t Let Go
Snowlands follows a banished wolf on a dangerous quest to help a snow leopard find her missing cub. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The initial spark for the idea came while watching an episode of Planet Earth and learning about the life cycle of the snow leopard. I found them fascinating and saw a lot of story potential there. I also loved the setting of the snowy mountains of the Himalayas. After many iterations, that spark evolved into the story of the white wolf cub Feba, and her adventure with Usha, the snow leopard.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Collin Fogel and colorist Davi Comodo?
The collaboration with the art team was smooth and enjoyable. The artist received a detailed script to work from, but he certainly added his own angle to the direction of the piece and made it so much better than anything I could have thought of. I constantly encourage him to do what he feels worked best and trusted his skill. Not trying to micromanage the art was I think, the best thing I could have done since it make things move faster, but also let him express himself in the best way possible.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The theme that guided me through the writing was what happens when we can’t let go. That theme manifested in many of the characters, both the good ones and the bad ones. But I think the theme that might stand out the most for readers is the one of finding your own family, and what it means to belong. That is what Feba’s journey is all about.
What is the next book in the Snowlands series that you are working on about, and when will it be available?
There will be 2 more books in that particular series (with more different series in the Snowlands world to come after). The second book is currently in the writing stage and we have no date set for release, but I would estimate it will be ready sometime around 2024.
Author Links: Website | Facebook
An orphaned white wolf cub exiled from her pack.
A lone snow leopard searching for her missing cub.
A bumbling wild cat who can’t hold a tune.
In the midst of a brutal winter in the unforgiving Snowlands, famine plague the wolf pack. As the pack goes hungry, blame falls on Feba, an orphaned wolf cub whose white fur many elders believe is a bad omen. When the wolf pack’s cubs vanish into thin air, the pack leaders vote to banish Feba, and perhaps worse. She escapes her fate and runs off into the icy wilderness of the Snowlands.
Lost in the treacherous mountains, Feba stumbles upon Usha, a cold and unfriendly snow leopard mother on a personal quest. While Usha wants nothing more than to continue her journey alone, she grudgingly allows Feba and a skittish young mountain cat, Batu, to follow her.
With a snowy trail full of deadly obstacles ahead, the unlikely trio sets out to find the Seeress, a magical being Usha hopes can find her missing son. Each step takes Usha, Feba, and Batu deeper into danger where they encounter other creatures-some helpful, some deceitful-and uncover a widespread peril in the mountains, the fate of the missing cubs, and what having a family truly means.
Snowlands is an epic tale of survival and friendship full of wild creatures, magical mysteries, and dangerous terrain perfect for middle-grade fans of Erin Hunter’s Braveland and Warriors series.
Colin the Crab’s Friends
What is the purpose of life if there is no one to enjoy it with? In Colin the Crab’s Friends by Tuula Pere Colin knows that working hard and savoring the beautiful moments in life is a well-balanced diet. Colin is a hardworking builder that keeps himself fully busy.
He helps Ms. Catfish with a loose roof beam on her home but then spends time listening to her stories and enriching their friendship. The Next family needs help washing their windows which Colin is more than willing to help, knowing Mrs. Newt has so many children to look after and would much prefer her spending time looking after them than worrying about her silly windows that need cleaning. Sally the Starfish is incredibly sad about how glum her fence is looking, and Colin knows his friend well enough to do just the right thing to cheer her up. He embellishes her fence with decorative ornaments, which instantly brightens her mood but reminds her to be thankful that she has a strong-standing home keeping her perspective of what is important in check as a good friend should do. After working hard all week, Colin decides to throw his friends a party in the blue pavilion he built for just such occasions. He knows life is about working hard and taking the time to enjoy life’s splendors with friends.
I loved how simple the story is, but it permeated with such significance. I feel everyone is told to always work hard to get the things they want in life. But this story does an exquisite job of clarifying exactly how to do so and then, in the same breath showing you how to have meaningful relationships and enjoy life. This is exactly the kind of story young readers should have at their disposal to become what I think are well-rounded individuals.
The illustrations by Roksolana Panchyshyn give life to the characters and convey the sweetness and charm the story possesses. I enjoyed how the author has given Colin the crab such humanity-like quality to him. He empathizes and sympathizes with his friends and their situations. He knows just what everyone needs to feel loved and appreciated, and this is also a shining mark shown countless times throughout the story by the author’s remarkable writing skills.
Colin the Crab’s Friends is a heartwarming picture book that children and adults will be able to find meaning within its pages. This children’s book is perfect for classrooms and libraries to help young children understand what friendship is and how to be a good friend to those around them.
Pages: 34 | ISBN : 9523573225
The Magical Bag for a Plastic-Free Earth
Have you ever noticed how much waste we create? How much just one person can create in a single day? The Magical Bag for a Plastic Free Earth, written and illustrated by Pranamee Nath, follows a young girl named Ollie who loves animals and comes to realize the answers to those questions. Ollie goes for a visit at her Uncle John’s house where the main attraction is the beach. When the beach is closed her cousin Tanya takes her to enjoy the day at a fair where there is a variety of delicious foods and treats to indulge in. Tanya has a magic bag that lets her carry alternative containers that allow her to live waste and single-use plastic free. Ollie doesn’t see the importance of these items until she is confronted with why the beach was closed in the first place.
The message of doing our part in keeping our planet free of single-use plastic was done in such an impactful way by the author’s emotionally evocative writing skills. I enjoyed that the author also gives readers examples along the way that show how to make small changes when we are going about our everyday lives. These changes can make a huge difference and are easy to implement. I felt like I was being educated on every page rather than preached to or being shamed for my lack of action. This enlightening children’s book is a gentle guide that illuminates the steps that are necessary and easy to take. Ollie realizes how her actions throughout the day have contributed to a destructive situation for us, the world we live in, and the animals she loves. I felt her shame and sadness all at once and again that speaks to the author’s fantastic writing.
The Magical Bag for a Plastic-free Earth is an educational picture book that is a wonderful resource parents can use to introduce environmental issues and sustainability to young readers. This informative book will help parents and teachers start a conversation about the environment in a way that young kids will easily understand.
Pages: 40 | ASIN: B0BCSMD4ZF
Colin the Crab Feels Tired
It is difficult to say no to friends when they ask for your help. In Colin the Crab Feels Tired by Tuula Pere we get to see the struggle Colin feels when he is asked by numerous friends’ for his help with many different tasks. He simply cannot say no to his friends and does his best to prioritize his jobs but is too tired from working hard all day to move another muscle.
The fish family’s home was destroyed by waves, and has asked Colin for his help in building them a new home. This being an emergency, he gets to work on it straight away. He then receives a call from Eddie the eel to get his help in making him a new and bigger garage for his new moto copter, which Colin knows is nothing urgent and can wait but begins to feel the slightest pressure building within him. Still working hard at the construction site for the fish family, Sally, the starfish, calls him, needing his help in putting up her new mirror on the wall of her home. Colin cannot decline her request but decides to put her next on his fast-growing list of friends to help. At the end of the day, Colin feels exhausted and needs a good night’s rest that seems to last long into the morning. In the morning, his friends are all looking for him needing his help, and realize they he is overworked and must be desperately tired if he is still asleep. They decide to take on his task of building the fish family’s new home so he can rest up.
I love that this story shows young children not only the significance of helping others but also the weight it can bear on us if we take on too much. We must look after ourselves in order to help others in the end, and that also having good friends who are more than willing to bare the weight is what true friendships are made of.
Colin the Crab Feels Tired is a well-written picture book that teaches children the value of self-care and looking out for your friends. Teachers and parents will love the important message this book shares, while children will be drawn to the beautiful illustrations and entertaining characters.
Pages: 32 | ISBN: 9523573160
A Bluebird’s Memories
Life can be an exquisite or boring journey depending on your perspective. In A Bluebird’s Memories by Tuula Pere, a grandmother bluebird exemplifies to her grandchildren how even being a small bird, they can live impactful, meaningful, and beautiful lives.
Near a summer cottage, the owner built a nesting box in which the grandmother bluebird lives. She is cleaning and readying her home for her grandchildren’s visit. She reminisces of the days when she was with her mate and all the beautiful memories she cherishes. She isn’t lonely, though, and has many friends and events keeping her busy. She has lived a long full life, and the little curious chicks want to hear stories from her past. She tells them of moments when she helped others without receiving praise or recognition and moments of overcoming terror.
The lovely illustrations by Outi Rautkallio fully encompass the wholesome naturalness of the characters and the environment with a waterlike soft look that brings the reader into the world. The stories the grandmother bluebird told were so heartfelt and perfectly encased with symbolization that it is easy for young readers to understand. She sheds light on how significant everyone’s life is and to be a good person. To live life fully and appreciate every moment, even when they are scary or hard. To find what truly matters in life which is the people we keep around us and that we love to no end. To see life as an opportunity and all its possibilities. I loved the story and how sweet the relationship she had with her grandchildren was.
A Bluebird’s Memories is a heartwarming children’s book that teaches children the value of kindness and how even small things can make a big impact on someone. This story is inspiring and will help kids realize that they do have an important role in life, even though they are small.
Pages: 18 | ASIN : B07HY9JNH6
LITERARY TITAN 