Blog Archives
The Fox’s Tower
The Fox’s Tower tells the story of one sly fox who thinks he knows better than everyone else. Francis, despite prior trouble, still wants to be the best at something. His latest plan is to build the tallest building in the city. His plan starts out well, following all the rules and listening to the experts, but quickly his desire for fame takes over, and his smart decision-making falls to the side. Instead of making his dreams come true, he returns to his sneaky ways and ends up with a pile of regrets.
Tuula Pere has written an entertaining cautionary story for children. This children’s book helps children understand that having big dreams is ok, but you must still follow the rules and do the right thing to achieve them. It also helps children understand that some dreams are unrealistic and cannot be done physically. For example, Fox’s tower was a big dream but could not be built safely or structurally. It is a hard lesson for children to learn that being told something can not be done is not an attack on them but just a fact of life. Francis learns this the hard way so that children can learn from his mistakes.
Another lesson in this beautiful picture book is that of forgiveness and second chances. The town council was worried about Francis and his past misdeeds, but they were willing to give him another opportunity to do the right thing. Of course, they were all cautious about helping Francis, but in the end, they did give him a chance and show that bad decisions do not mean someone is unworthy.
The Fox’s Tower is a beautifully written children’s book sharing life lessons with children and making them laugh along the way. This is a wonderful book for younger elementary children to learn about cause and effect and about how everyone deserves a second chance.
Pages: 44 | ISBN : 9523578375
Christmas Switcheroo
Christmas is a fun and exciting time of the year, filled with great food, fun crafts, and making memories with family. Sometimes though, this time of year gets stressful, and things don’t always go as planned. In this heartwarming story, one family does their best to make the holidays magical, but somehow things go astray. After carefully picking out gifts for four difficult-to-shop for family members, the package shipping labels get mixed up, and the gifts go to the wrong homes! So now the question is, will this ruin Christmas, or will it be a joyful surprise?
Christmas Switcheroo by children’s author Tuula Pere and illustrated by Outi Rautkallio is a heartwarming story that children and adults will be able to relate to. Adults often try to make the holidays perfect for their children, from crafts to cookies, to outside decorations. Then there is the process of picking out the perfect gift for everyone. Tuula has captured the feelings of an overwhelmed mom with accuracy. The children in the story are able to pick up on the emotions and offer to help out, showing compassion and kindness. While things do not go as planned, everyone is more than happy with the results, and a lesson is learned that just because things don’t go as planned doesn’t mean it is ruined.
Christmas Switcheroo is a beautifully written children’s book that will entertain readers, young and old, with the mishaps that this family finds themself in the middle of. Children will learn about empathy and helping out, while adults will find relatable situations and, perhaps, be reminded that there is joy even when things do not go as planned. This is a wonderful book to read during the holiday season to remind families of what is really important about the season.
Pages: 54 | ISBN : 9523573284
Dead Squirrels Everywhere
Not all children are inspired by princesses and puppies. Sometimes children (or even adults) like unusual, strange, and even morbid at times topics. Considering this, children’s author Gabrielle Ferrara has written a unique counting picture book that will appeal to children who like things that are a bit different.
Dead Squirrels Everywhere starts off with, “One dead squirrel was poked with a stick.” The illustrations done by Natalia Nova are beautiful and even whimsical despite the topic being dead animals. The squirrels are never shown in a gorry or scary way; most look like they are sleeping, or in the case of the squirrels shocked by a wire, in funny images that will leave you laughing. The story flows well and is a joy to read out loud. The lyrical and rhyming lines will have kids laughing and following along, wondering what disasters will strike the poor squirrels next.
Learning to count to ten has never been so shocking and entertaining. This picture book also highlights many of the dangers that impact wildlife and can open up discussions with children leading to lessons in science as well. I could see this as a beautiful book for classes around Halloween with its slightly spooky but not scary images.
Dead Squirrels Everywhere is a highly original and unforgettable children’s book focused on counting to ten. This is the perfect addition to a classroom or home library for children that like things a bit dark and out of the ordinary. Preschoolers through early elementary students will be captivated by this unconventional tale. This is sure to become a favorite story for many children.
Pages: 28 | ASIN : B0B24DCWSF
Adventures on the Can Do Trail
Adventures on the Can Do Trail is a heartwarming and inspiring book by author Jothy Rosenberg. The story follows Alex, a young boy who fulfills his dream of hiking the Can Do Trail, where he encounters animals with disabilities that prevent them from participating in activities with their friends. With his determination, Alex finds ways to include these animals and help them enjoy life to the fullest despite their limitations.
Rosenberg’s story is a testament to the power of determination and inclusion, delivering an empowering message to young readers that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. The story’s unique twist ending is unexpected and adds an extra layer of depth to the already powerful message.
One of the most notable aspects of this book is the character of Alex, who is kind, thoughtful, and empowering. He teaches young readers the importance of being inclusive of everyone, regardless of their abilities. The illustrations are also detailed and colorful, transporting the reader into Alex’s world and enhancing the overall reading experience.
In addition to the story itself, the author includes a powerful message at the beginning of the book to encourage readers to approach challenges with a “can-do” attitude. This message is reinforced throughout the story, giving young readers the confidence to believe in themselves and their abilities. The inclusion of a fun scavenger hunt at the end of the book is an added bonus, encouraging young readers to explore and engage with the story on a deeper level.
Adventures on the Can Do Trail is an inspiring and empowering book that instills confidence, compassion, and a “can-do” attitude in young readers. It is a highly recommended read for parents, teachers, and anyone looking to teach young readers the importance of having self-confidence and compassion toward others.
Pages: 41 | ASIN : B0BHTX4YGX
Scamper And The Magic Of Appreciation
In Scamper and the Magic of Appreciation by Michal Y. Noah and Loren Noah, we are taken on a journey by Scamper, the squirrel who allows us to see the beauty in everyday little moments and to appreciate all we have around us.
The poetic prose of the story from start to finish is impressive. Just like the author’s note at the beginning of the story, we read impactful words of empowerment and feel motivated by every word throughout. The illustrations by Favreau are enchanting and sweet, literally beaming joy from every page.
I agree with the author about the importance of empowering young children and knowing their happiness and self-worth are in their own minds. I believe we sometimes forget as parents or caretakers how critical it is for an adolescent mind to learn the value of self-esteem and tend to only teach our children to just be ‘good kids.’ This book helps me remember that although, yes, we want our kids to behave nicely, especially around other people, to be good to themselves and enjoy life is just as equally relevant.
I would recommend this book to anyone with children or even someone who is looking for a confidence boost or great motivational quotes. The story has loads of them strewn about its length. This quote in particular, “Above me a blank canvas, a sky that’s clear and blue; On it I can paint my dreams, each day I will start anew.”, fills me with such hope and rapture that I will very likely repeat that as a morning mantra from now on.
Scamper and the Magic of Appreciation is a beautifully written picture book that encourages children, and adults, to look for the beauty within themselves. This children’s book is empowering as well as entertaining and will be a book that the whole family will want to read more than once.
Pages: 36 | ISBN : 0996775757
All Things Are Possible
Mickey on the Move Farming follows a young boy with Cochlear Implants that gets Aqua Cochlear so that he can now enjoy activities without fear of them getting wet. What was the inspiration for your story?
That all things are possible. It took Cochlear over 20 years to develop the Aqua device. When my son was first implanted he could not hear me or other children while swimming. He always feared getting his “computer ears wet in the rain and it took the fun out of a lot of summer activities.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Jenny Phelps?
After first writing the book I reviewed dozens of artists’ drawings of our characters. Jenny Phelps was great right off the bat. She not only is an amazing artist she has a gift of portraying our emotions as well.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
Everyone has a lot of gratitude. So many people out there (still today ) have never heard of the cochlear implant. It is educating not only for children, but adults as well. For people that do know what they are, typically do not know what an intense surgery is or how long it takes to activate and recover.
Will there be more Mickey on the Move books, and if so when will they be available?
Yes, absolutely. Mickey is a super passionate and curious 14 year old. He is always exploring, eager for a new adventure and loves sports. I think it will be a very long series following him into his adult years.
Author Links: Instagram | Facebook | Website
Mickey, who was born with deafness in both ears, has overcome obstacles to fully enjoy the great outdoors.
His Aqua Cochlear implants allow him to hear and appreciate the beautiful sounds in nature without the worry of weather dampening his day!
Join Mickey for another adventure!
The Perfect Dot
The Perfect Dot by author and illustrator T.C. Bartlett tells the story of how the universe is formed. This magnificent picture starts with one perfect dot that flies around and doesn’t know what its purpose is. Eventually, that tiny dot decides to stop and spin. When it starts spinning, extraordinary things begin to happen, and soon there are millions of perfect dots. Soon, millions upon millions of planets were floating around each of the shining dots. Finally, the one perfect dot had found its purpose.
The Perfect Dot is a picture book telling the story of how the universe was formed. With one big bang, a single light became millions. This intellectual story is illustrated with detailed black and white pictures. It teaches the theory of the Big Bang in a way children can understand and comprehend. T.C. Bartlett brings the universe to life with his drawings showing the vast darkness and the beauty and delicate nature of the single dot. Once the universe is created, the illustrations of the planets and stars are detailed and eye-catching. I also liked how the text is not in organized, clean lines; instead, they are scattered around the pages and fit into the chaotic nature of the story.
I loved this simple and straightforward portrayal of this secular theory on how the universe was formed. It provides young children an explanation in words they can comprehend and uses clear and direct images. With some added humor, this fascinating story introduces the science of the universe’s creation to children in an age-appropriate manner.
The Perfect Dot is a creative picture book for preschool and kindergarten-age children on how the universe was created. Teachers will love having this book in their classroom library to explain this complex topic in a simple and entertaining way.
Pages: 50 | ISBN: 1957422998
The Fox’s Palace
Francis the Fox is living in the city near the sea. He wants his family to be proud of him, and he sends them photos and letters saying how wonderful he is doing. The problem is, it is all a lie, so he doesn’t want his family to come to visit him. Francis, however, comes up with a plan to make all his lies the truth and build his dream of Fox’s Palace. He makes some poor choices and tricks people into trying and making his dream a reality, but in the end, he discovers it doesn’t pay to lie and cheat people.
Children’s author Tuula Pere has written yet another fantastic and meaningful children’s book. This story teaches kids about the value of being honest and how being untruthful will only cause more considerable trouble in the end. Francis learns this by ending up in jail. While the message is important, it is told gently so that kindergarten children and young elementary students can comprehend it.
I loved the artwork done by Andrea Alemanno, the seaside was beautiful, and the characters really came to life. The colorful images will draw in children and the detailed work will keep them engaged throughout the story. Despite Francis being a sneaky fox, he does not come across as scary or evil. This helps to show that even when people make bad choices, they are not bad people. Mayor William Wolf allows Francis to see what he did was wrong and forgives him while ensuring that the fox knows he can not treat people so poorly.
Tuula Pere has taken some challenging topics and presented them so that children can follow along and understand actions have consequences. This beautiful children’s book would make a great addition to a classroom or library with an important message on how people should treat one another and the value of honesty.
Pages: 44 | ISBN : 9523572865
LITERARY TITAN 