Blog Archives
Clover Finds Her Calm
Clover Finds Her Calm delves into the bedtime routine of Clover, a spirited puppy grappling with restlessness. Author Paula Jackson skillfully transports readers into Clover’s vivid, dreamlike world, where she navigates her journey to relaxation and sleep. This children’s narrative stands out for its enchanting illustrations, where soft colors and a beautifully rendered night sky captivate the eye and play a crucial role in mirroring Clover’s quest for calmness.
The artwork is particularly noteworthy for its dreamy quality, making it an ideal choice for young readers who might find comfort in its soothing visuals, especially if they share Clover’s initial apprehension of the dark or struggle with restlessness. An admirable aspect of Clover’s character is her self-awareness and proactive approach to managing her sleep difficulties without succumbing to frustration. She instead finds solace in focusing on her breathing and the tranquil night sky. Jackson’s rhyming scheme adds a lyrical dimension to the story, enhancing its appeal. This element not only aids in engaging young readers but also contributes to the overall soothing rhythm of the narrative, in line with the theme of finding calmness. This story emerges as a thoughtful, visually stimulating book that gently guides young readers through the process of self-soothing and finding peace at bedtime.
Clover Finds Her Calm is a treasure trove of gentle wisdom, artistry, and narrative charm. It stands out as an essential addition to any child’s bookshelf, especially for those in need of a peaceful transition to sleep. This book is not only a story but an experience, one that beautifully encapsulates the journey from restlessness to restful peace.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B0CL3BBRHQ
The Love Knot: An Empowering Children’s Book to Work Through Thoughts And Feelings
Step into the enchanting world of Ollie the otter with The Love Knot. This heartwarming tale introduces readers to Ollie, who’s about to make a big splash by joining the boys’ raft. But even with the excitement, Ollie finds himself tangled in a net of anxiety, fearing he might just drift away into the night. Luckily, his family dives into the rescue, filling his days with joyful activities to untangle those worries. And when Ollie’s mom shares a precious love knot, suddenly, he’s armed with the confidence to set sail with the boys.
The Love Knot is not just a story; it’s a beautifully illustrated journey that gently reassures young readers about the normality of anxiety. Through the lovable character Ollie, author Vassi Rombis becomes the guide, helping kids navigate their emotions and showing them how to navigate the waves. This book is a gem to read to toddlers who surf through various emotions daily, assuring them that it’s all part of the ride. The illustrations are vibrant and lively, reminiscent of a favorite cartoon, making the story even more engaging. And don’t miss the cool otter fun facts at the end – a clever touch that adds an extra layer of enjoyment.
The Love Knot comes with my enthusiastic recommendation for parents aiming to create an atmosphere of open dialogue about feelings. This book isn’t just a story; it’s a stepping stone to building emotional intelligence in young hearts.
Pages: 39 | ASIN : B0CCYYXTHP
Failure Is Part Of Learning
CJ Silvers and the Long Ride follows a young girl as she attends her first wakeboard lesson who is afraid and wants to quit when things get hard. What was the inspiration for your story?
I was inspired by my daughter attending a girls’ ride wakeboard event. While there, I saw many girls being scared to get hurt and the negative emotions around not succeeding. I also saw many families supporting their daughters. As the event progressed, I saw falling/failing become less emotional, and small successes drive the girls to succeed. This was important to me as my daughter was one of the girls.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your book?
The main character CJ Silvers is based on my daughter, Cassidy. She is now nine, and I am very proud that she has the confidence to try new things. I also tried to capture my wife Rebecca’s spirit and how she talks to Cassidy to help her grow up.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I think it was important to show that failure is part of learning and getting better. Also, failure itself is not fun, but with practice and guidance, everyone can achieve great things.
Where does the next book in the series take the characters?
CJ Silvers and her family will be having a Christmas adventure. New characters will be introduced, and a clear message that presents are not the most important part of the holiday season will be delivered.
Author Links: Amazon
Her parents will watch her while she tries to learn.
CJ Silvers and the Long Ride
CJ Silvers has a big day ahead of her–she is going to learn to wakeboard! Her day begins like any other, with one exception. She is very nervous. Learning something new that could be dangerous is a big deal for a little girl. With her parents supporting her, CJ starts her lesson with many reservations and doubts about her ability to learn this new skill so quickly. CJ’s parents are with her from the beginning of the lesson to the end, and that makes all the difference for a young girl like CJ.
CJ Silvers and the Long Ride, written by William Gray and illustrated by Rebecca Gray, traces the events in CJ Silvers’s incredibly exciting day as she attends her first wakeboarding lesson. This author/illustrator team has crafted a unique book both in writing style and illustrations. Written in verse and more the length of a short chapter book, Gray’s book is a treasure in more ways than one.
CJ’s story is a gift to both young readers and parents alike. CJ is understandably anxious about her new experience and tries several times to quit. Her parents, determined to help her understand the importance of persevering and solving her own problems, encourage her throughout the entire lesson. The author communicates an incredibly valuable lesson to readers via CJ and her reservations.
Gray’s illustrations are exceptional. Each one reveals an aspect of CJ’s day, and readers can see her hesitation, nervousness, and especially her elation when she discovers how wonderful she feels after powering through the day’s challenges. The rollercoaster of emotions is delivered through vibrant pictures with beautifully textured details.
CJ’s story is a wonderful way to teach children that working through their problems on their own is more than worth the frustration and fear. CJ Silvers and the Long Ride is an excellent book for counselors, parents, and teachers alike.
Pages: 81 | ASIN : B0C9B9W8XX
Digger the Colony Worker Ant
Digger is not living his best life. In fact, he is being treated like a servant in his own home. Digger spends day and night waiting on his stepbrothers and their hateful mother. He’s a worker ant, but this doesn’t mean he should be doing all of the work. He lives with their threats, snide remarks, and insults day in and day out. Nothing he does is ever good enough for anyone. Soon, it’s time for the Queen’s Gala and the queen to choose a husband for Princess Antilles. Will Digger be among those lucky enough to attend, or will he be at home buried under the usual mountain of chores?
Digger: The Colony Worker Ant, written by Christian Kueng and illustrated by Nana Melkadze, is an amusing version of Cinderella centered around the members of an ant colony. Digger, the story’s main character, will draw young readers into the tale with his many woes and his determination to make it to the gala alongside the others. Readers familiar with Cinderella’s story will easily recognize elements from the classic fairy tale and enjoy comparing and contrasting the two stories.
I especially enjoyed the bits of humor peppered throughout Kueng’s writing. Kueng has taken the well-known narrative and given it new life and a new look. From the fantastic illustrations of Digger decked out in leather and sunglasses to the hilarious side-eye doled out by his cranky stepbrothers, this book is a hit for young readers from cover to cover.
Digger: The Colony Worker Ant is an entertaining and engaging children’s book that children and adults will enjoy. I highly recommend this Cinderella tale to any teacher putting together a fairy tale unit for the upcoming school year. Elementary readers will thoroughly enjoy drawing comparisons between Digger’s life and Cinderella’s as they point out the more modern elements.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0BZT59GJ6
Empathy, Cooperation, and Problem-Solving
Huckleberry Academy: The School of Imagination, Volume I The Majestic Feather follows a shy young monkey with anxiety who has to attend a new and strange school. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
COVID was a terrible experience for us all, and it really affected my children when they had to attend school from home. After moving to a new city, my kids had to meet new friends and experience school in a whole different way. I saw the struggle that my kids went through, and I used that experience as my initial motivation to write the book.
What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The main characters were derived from my childhood. I used to be an introvert like Bongo and afraid of everything. I was scared to experience new things and always tried to stay in my comfort zone. Mo is who I became when I grew into a man. Spontaneous, extroverted, and ready for the world. I wanted to put these two versions of myself together and create a bond between the two. The stories that I write are actual events that I went through as a kid.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes that I wanted to explore in this book were:
1. How to overcome fears and inner conflicts
2. I wanted to teach empathy, cooperation, and problem-solving skills to young readers
3. I also wanted to build children’s confidence in knowing they are not the only one who finds it difficult to make friends and through communication and cooperation they can be accepted as part of a group regardless of individual background or differences.
Where does the next book in the series take the characters? And when can readers expect the next volume?
The next book in the series will show how the main characters develop their friendship and explore new characters that were introduced in the first book. The next book will also explore the mysticism surrounding the school and the city of Huckleberry.
The next book can be expected around Fall 2023
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Huckleberry Academy, The School of Imagination Volume 1 The Majestic Feather
Bongo is heading out for his first day at a new school. For most students, this is a big deal, but for Bongo it’s incredibly challenging. You see, he is afraid of literally everything. There is no situation that doesn’t put poor Bongo into a state of pure panic. Heading in for his first day, Bongo meets super-confident and extroverted Mo. As Bongo and Mo begin their day, Bongo points out Maurice, a mouse from Bongo’s old school. He is quick to fill Mo in on the many shenanigans for which Maurice has been responsible. It looks like this new school has come with old problems for Bongo.
Huckleberry Academy: The School of Imagination, Volume I The Majestic Feather, by J.L. Willis, is a children’s chapter book featuring Bongo the monkey as the shy and anxiety-ridden main character. His fears are many and his day-to-day battle will resonate with many a young reader. As a teacher, I really like the build up to the first day of school, especially the first day in a new school. This is definitely something many children face, and having a book like Willis’s to quell fears is certainly an asset.
One of the most appealing aspects of Willis’s storyline is the fantasy surrounding the magic feather. Readers in grades 2-4 will immediately find themselves swept up into the adventure when that prankster Maurice steals the feather and chaos ensues. Seeing the class clown brought down a notch is another satisfying plot point for young readers.
It is always wonderful to be able to offer books to young readers high-interest books that teach valuable lessons. That is exactly what J.L. Willis is handing readers with Volume I of Huckleberry Academy. I highly recommend Willis’s work to anyone looking to provide a new and engaging series to elementary students.
Pages: 60 | ASIN : B0C5QSRPMW
LITERARY TITAN 