Blog Archives
Axel and Ava as Cat Sitters
Axel and Ava are so excited to find out their friend Becca just adopted a new cat. They rush over to Becca’s house to meet the new cat. When they arrive, Becca tells them they need to be patient and let the cat come to them when it is ready. She explains how rescue animals are very afraid of people to start till they know they can trust them. Axel and Ava however are impatient. When Becca runs out, they try and force the cat to play and interact with them. Axel ends up getting scratched and the cat runs out the door.
This interesting picture book by Tuula Pere and illustrated by Nyamdorj Lkhaasuren tells not only the story of Axel and Ave with the new cat but gives children a good lesson on how to act and not act around new animals. It highlights the importance first off of adopting an animal from a shelter, and then how to introduce that animal to your friends. The language used is age-appropriate for early elementary and kindergarten children. The concepts are presented in a manner they can relate to, most kids want to play with new animals and often don’t understand that what they do with their own pets is not always okay with a new one. Explaining the consequences of not listening to pet owners and following directions is done in a kind and gentle way as well. Children will follow the antics of Axel and Ave while learning a valuable lesson.
Axel and Ava as Cat Sitters is an educational picture book on the do’s and don’ts of meeting a new animal. The creative artwork adds to the charm of this insightful story. This would be an excellent book to give to a child when getting ready to add a new animal to the family or for a school library.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B09K4CXW3Z
Circus Cannelloni Invades Britain
The Cannellonis are among the most unique of families. From the clowns and the strong man to the elephants and the snake woman, Cleopatra, they are as close as close can be. When the opportunity presents itself, the entire Circus Cannelloni decides to pack up and take a vacation in England. Though it is quite the undertaking, Madame Rosita is determined to make the trip happen as she has set her sights on including her grandchildren in the fun. Theirs is a somewhat dismal existence in their boarding school, and Rosita feels it is past time to break them free for a bit.
Circus Cannelloni Invades Britain, by Tuula Pere, is the sweet story of a circus family who takes time out of their daily lives to travel for pleasure together while spreading their own kind of cheer. Virtually everywhere this group lands, they brighten someone’s day. Throughout their journey, they make a positive impact on everyone they encounter.
Pere has masterfully created a cast of characters that will pique readers’ interest. The idea of a circus family is foreign to many readers, but it has the perfect amount of appeal to capture readers from the first pages. Younger readers will find themselves lost in the parallel storylines involving the Cannellonis’s grandchildren, the birth of the new elephant calf, and Kasimir’s race of a lifetime.
Circus Cannelloni Invades Britain is written for upper elementary readers, and they will find this to be a unique and engaging journey. In addition, Pere’s work is short enough to not feel overwhelming which makes it a great choice for those looking to break into chapter books in the realistic fiction genre. Pere’s precious cast of characters is memorable and, in their own special way, relatable. This captivating story would be a great addition for teachers looking for fiction components to include in a unit on Great Britain.
Pages: 146 | ISBN : 9523570765
Mr. Cannelloni’s Circus
Ernesto Cannelloni’s family has owned a circus for generations, going on one hundred years. Now the circus is falling on hard times and Ernesto cannot see a way to save the circus. His wife Rosita discovers the circus is out of money and confronts Ernesto. Together they agree to find a way to save the circus and all the entertainers that have become their family. Rosita puts aside her fancy clothes and gets to work developing a five-step plan that will revive the circus. The plan is named Operation Hannibal and it will take the help of the entire circus family to pull this off.
Author Tuula Pere has created a fascinating world in this entertaining children’s book. Each of the characters has a distinct personality and everyone’s job is important. Tuule Pere is also the illustrator of this book, and her drawings bring the characters to life. Readers will get to know the characters through their roles as circus performers and from their part in Operation Hannibal. There is a lot of depth to the characters that you do not always find in children’s books. The character of Madame Rosita is especially dynamic.
The plan to save the circus does not go off as easily as planned, the inspector shows up ready to put them out of business and through a twist of fate ends up being part of their merry band. This imaginative book has many unexpected twists such as this throughout. Readers will be turning the pages to find out what calamity will happen next that Rosita must guide them out of.
Mr. Cannelloni’s Circus is written for older elementary and middle school readers. This captivating tale will enchant readers with the life of the circus and endear them with the compassion and the fellowship of the entertainers.
Pages: 72 | ASIN : B07J3LHR86
The Polar Bears’ Journey
Nanu’s home on the glacier is melting more each day. Food is becoming harder to find, and other polar bear families have moved away. Nanu and his mom try waiting for Father bear to return from hunting, but eventually, the lack of food makes it so they must move on as well. With the help of a tern pathfinder, they set up across the sea to find a new home. It is a dangerous and uncertain quest and Nanu is afraid of leaving the only home he has known. Will Mom bear and Nanu find a new home, will Dad bear ever return from his hunting quest?
The Polar Bears’ Journey by Tuula Pere and illustrated by Roksolana Panchyshyn is a heartwarming story about survival and not giving up hope. This captivating picture book is written in a way that children will be able to relate to Nanu’s fears and concerns. Mom bear is strong and calm, acknowledging Nanu’s fears and helping him work through them. The overall feel of this meaningful story is one of hope and perseverance. The parallel between the polar bears and refugee families is easy to connect. This is a great way to introduce the topic to young children. Children will love the fascinating artwork in this engaging story. The colors and detail work will draw them in and help make the story memorable.
The Polar Bears’ Journey is a thought-provoking story about leaving your home and heading off for lands unknown. Immigration and the plight of refugees is a hard topic to explain to small children and this brilliant story explains it in a way that they will understand. Parents and teachers will find this exceptional picture book a useful tool when covering current events and in teaching empathy. The themes of survival and hope will stay with those that read this encouraging story.
Pages: 29 | ASIN : B07HY9L8BB
Lullaby of the Valley
Kaina is a grandmother from the valley, she has lived in the village of the valley all her life. Upon the mountain is another small village, and the people all use to be friends. Over time small disagreements broke out, and eventually, all the men decided to go to war with the other village. Families were separated as the men went off, and women and children could no longer shop in the markets or see friends they had from the other village. Everyone was sad or angry in these two villages.
Kaina is saddened at the direction her world has taken. One night she wanders down to the spring that rests between the two villages alone, where her dear friend Siran also arrives. Together they sing a lullaby each in their own language, but the melody and meaning are the same. Their voices reach out across the valley and mountain, and reach all the angry men and change starts to set in.
Lullaby of the Valley is an emotional and heartwarming picture book. The message of hate and distrust is presented in a gentle manner that children will be able to understand. Author Tuula Pere has written about this difficult topic eloquently and illustrator Andrea Alemanno has provided the haunting images to coincide with the topic. The lullaby is a beautiful message of peace and comfort. The two old women use the only tool they have, their voice, to calm the hate and anger in their world. Though from opposing villages, they work together to heal the wounds. The message of helping, loving, and friendship will teach children how even being small they can make a difference in their world.
Lullaby of the Valley will give children a chance to see how small things in life can make a big difference. I would recommend this picture book for all kids and their families, and as a useful story for teachers to show children that kindness can win over anger.
Pages: 30 | ASIN : B07HXGL58C
The Only Blue Crow
A lone blue crow wants nothing more than to have friends. He tries to make friends with a flock of black crows and they do nothing but make fun of him. Discouraged, the blue crow sets off to find things that make him happy. When bluebells fail to lighten his mood, a wise owl calls him over. The owl tells him he should set out on a journey, that the world is large and perhaps he will find another blue crow on his search. So off the crow flies, hoping to find a reason to be happy and even some new friends.
The Only Blue Crow by Tuula Pere is a picture book that tackles the topics of loneliness, depression, and self-worth through the life of a blue crow. This crow is different from all the other birds he encounters and struggles with the reality that it seems no one will accept him for who he is. In the world today, this message is important as depression and fear of being different are impacting children at younger ages than ever. This thought-provoking story will guide young readers in realizing that different is not wrong or bad. The message of going out and finding those that appreciate you and not staying where you are unwanted is a powerful one.
Illustrator Catty Flores does an amazing job showing the emotions of the blue crow in her artwork. Children will be engaged with the whimsical watercolor style. The illustrations add depth to the story as young readers will be able to see the emotions on the blue crow even if they do not understand the words being used to describe his loneliness.
The Only Blue Crow is an inspirational read for young children. Teachers and parents will find this picture book is a great resource for introducing the tough topics of loneliness and inclusion.
Pages: 48 | ISBN : 9523573101
Know Your Hairitage: Zara’s Wash Day
Zara is frustrated by her weekly ritual of having her hair styled in traditional afro puffs, twists, and braids. She wants to have silky smooth hair instead. Zara’s mom then tells Zara the history of all the different hairstyles she puts her hair in, explaining the significance of each one and why Zara should be proud to have kinky curvy hair.
Author Zenda M. Walker is a licensed cosmetologist who turns her own memories of growing up and having wash day every Saturday with her own mom into this magnificent book. She recalls her father explaining how their hair is their connection to the Maroons of Jamaica that are descendants of their ancestors from West Africa. This history is brought to life in Know Your Hairitage: Zara’s Wash Day.
Walker gives readers a fascinating look at the different hairstyles and the meaning behind each of them. The historical relevance is a great topic of discussion for cultural diversity and teaching children of African descent to appreciate their unique hair. The stunning illustrations provided by Princess Karibo give this awe-inspiring picture book an edge to become an extraordinary experience for children. It is one thing to learn about hairstyles, but to learn the value and importance of your past and see it represented in literature is paramount for children of color.
Know Your Hairitage: Zara’s Wash Day is a must-read picture book for all children. The representation of culture, heritage, and diversity make this phenomenal book an excellent choice for teachers, parents, and anyone that has or works with young elementary-age children. This cultural journey will entertain and educate children of all diversities and show that just because someone’s hair is different, it does not make it strange or weird, rather it is rich in history and tells a story of its own. It will also help children struggling with their own kinky curvy hair understand that their hair has value and is part of who they are and where they came from.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0984H77V4
Life Lessons For Children
Solitary Toes and Brown-Headed Cowbirds follows a pack of hunting dogs and how they react when a horse is brought to their farm. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for Solitary Toes and Brown-Headed Cowbirds began when we lived in Catoosa, Oklahoma. We had horses and many hunting dogs. The memories of all our animals are what I want to record for the next generation of young readers.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Mike Minick?
Mike Minick is a wonderful illustrator. He is an illustrator and a graphic designer in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mike and I are very compatible. I send Mike my manuscript which he reads and then we talk about his ideas for the illustrations. He makes many sketches, we discuss, and then he lines them up with the text. He will send me colored-in sketches during this process. Then he completes the illustrations with the text and sets it up in book form according to Archway Publishing’s guide lines. Then we send to the publisher. We spend around one hour each week talking with each other until the process is complete.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
- Life lessons for children shown through animals—team effort, helping friends, being nice to others, and learning from family members.
- Relationships between different kinds of animals.
- Learning about nature.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Chatty the Hen Pheasant (Travels With The Pack) – It became available 11/11/2021.
Desert Friends (Travels With The Pack) – I’m sending it to Archway Publishing in a couple of weeks.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Solitary Toes and Brown-Headed Cowbirds shares a humorous story depicting the relationships between horses, cowbirds, and hunting dogs. Geared toward first through third grade readers, this young reader’s book helps children improve their reading skills while providing knowledge about animals, nature, and life lessons.
LITERARY TITAN 