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
Stella and the Berry Bay
Stella is excited about getting to start school this year. She has spent all summer getting ready and making plans with her friends. Nothing can deter her excitement, that is, until her parents give her some heartbreaking news. Stella’s family is moving to Berry Bay. As a result, she will not get to start school with her preschool friends and will have to move to a new house. She is devastated and worried about what will happen when they move.
Stella and the Berry Bay by Tuula Pere is a beautifully written childrens book about moving and change. This story reminded me of what I felt when I moved right before starting school. A book like this would have been wonderful to help ease my fears about going to a strange new place and having to make new friends. Tuula has captured the complex emotions that children can feel when moving and explained in a way that young children can understand and help them understand what they are feeling is normal.
I loved how Stella’s new teacher tried to help her; she validated her feelings and concerns and helped her when struggling. She did not just give in and give Stella what she wanted; instead, she worked with her to find a solution that would work for everyone. This is a beautiful example of problem-solving and teaching these skills to young readers.
Stella and the Berry Bay is a captivating childrens book that kindergarten and young elementary students can relate to and feel seen with. Parents and teachers can use this story to help children struggling with new situations, particularly moving, and help them realize that while they may be afraid, it is normal and ok to feel that way. It also is a story that offers hope that things will turn out alright, even when it doesn’t feel like it will at first. This is a beautiful book to share with all children.
Pages: 48 | ISBN : 9527107970
No Cyberbullies
No Cyberbullies is a tremendously informative book for parents, educators, and adults who care about children’s well-being. The author, at length, writes about child bullying, discussing issues like the types of bullying, conditions that lead to bullying, and aspects like culture, religion, social conditioning, and appearance, among other central topics. In his book, author Brian Parkin brings to light the menace of bullying and gives a practical guide on handling bullied kids and their bullies.
One key point in this book is that we need more awareness about bullying to not just children but adults responsible for their care. Not every child that bullies others does it because they enjoy it; instead, it is a way of dealing with past or current traumas. The author does not in any way condone bullying, nor does he side with the vice. Instead, Brian Parkin educates and encourages parents, teachers, and guardians to investigate the root source of the problem.
How does bullying start? Even before writing about what makes bullies get into that behavior, the author started the book by writing about the history of bullying. He writes about how bullying has existed for centuries and how bullied children have endured the issue. The author mentioned the book Tom Brown’s Schooldays by Thomas Hughes as a good reference material with examples of school bullying, a book everyone should read.
This book is short, but the knowledge is immense. One of my favorite chapters is chapter 15. Parkin has notes to help you with what to do about cyberbullying in school. The author has well-written notes for victims of cyberbullying, the parents, school teachers, headmasters or principals, and cyber bullies themselves. Every message is well-packaged, and the text is concise and easy to follow. Chapter 16 was another great chapter, as the author brought a legal angle. There is plenty of advice on one’s legal rights if they are being bullied, and the author used simple language to cater to readers of all levels. Chapter 16 will be helpful to victims and their families as not many people are aware that one can take a legal approach when it comes to bullying.
No Cyberbullies is an eye-opening book that I recommend to all readers. Everyone needs to lend a hand to put a stop to this behavior. The anonymous effect of bullies online is a problem that needs to be dealt with, and this is why lawmakers should be among the first to stop cyberbullying witnessed in various parts of the world. This book can be a great starting point for policymakers and enforcers.
Pages: 90 | ASIN : B00I9FKOZE
Dread in the Dark
It is incredibly difficult to go from being an only child to having a new baby sister. With a new sibling, sometimes the older one has to move into a new room; this can be an exciting and scary time, especially when there is a dark monster hiding under the bed. In Dread in the Dark by Tuula Pere, Elliot finds himself in his brand-new room, which he absolutely adores playing in while it’s daytime, but when night falls, and it’s time to head to bed, the growls coming from under his bed causes the allure of a new room to be frightened right out of him.
The author takes us on an emotional journey of going through the jealousy of having to share the limelight with a new baby in the family to growing older and having a new bedroom further away from the safety of your parents’ room. With the baby needing lots of attention and care, Elliot worries that now being so far from his parent’s room, his pleas for help at night will go ignored. When his dad comes in to put an end to the mystery of this dark monster under Elliot’s bed, Elliot expresses his fears and concerns, and his dad solves the puzzle leaving Elliot feeling heard and cared for.
It is critical for children to know their worries and fears are heeded and understood, and even more imperative when a new baby is taking away any extra attention the child would have had before the baby. I love how the author was able to display the significance of that fact by using a very relatable situation of being a small child afraid of a new room with new sensory things happening.
Dread in the Dark is a wonderful picture book that helps children identify their feelings and shows them that their feelings are valid. It also teaches children how to work through the emotions they have in a productive and safe way that will help them build social skills and self-confidence.
Pages: 34 | ISBN : 9523254464
Kindness Has the Power to Change Lives
Marty and Lenny follows a friendly monkey who decides to befriend the school bully in hopes of helping him change. When you set out to write this book, was it your intention to write a story filled with kindness and morality?
Yes, it was definitely my intention. My aim was to create an entertaining children’s book designed to teach and inspire children to be kind to others, even when at first it may seem difficult.
I was inspired by research on the positive effects of oxytocin (the love hormone) on the mind and body. Showing and receiving kindness are ways we can boost oxytocin levels. Every act of kindness counts and repeated acts of kindness, have the power to change lives and make the world a better place.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art creation process like?
For the artwork in Marty and Lenny, I contracted Stefanie, an amazing, talented illustrator through Tellwell Publishing. I had a clear vision of the style of artwork I wanted based on the many picture books I had enjoyed reading in the past. I asked for bright, colourful and dynamic illustrations which effectively portrayed the emotions experienced by the characters in the story. I then created a storyboard and detailed descriptions for each illustration. Based on these descriptions, the illustrator created draft sketches for each illustration and then submitted them to me for review and feedback. Adjustments were made based on feedback and then colour was added to complete the illustrations. When I saw the finished products, I was thrilled and excited to see the story coming to life!
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
The power of kindness and the importance of good manners, were two of the main educational aspects I wanted to include in this book. My desire was to teach children that sometimes, the people who find it challenging to show kindness, can be the ones who need it the most. Everyone longs to belong and feel valued.
In addition to this, the story is a narrative poem designed for young readers. I chose this form of storytelling because poetry motivates children to read and builds early literacy skills. It helps children learn about rhyme, rhythm and sound. I was also intentional about the vocabulary I included in the story to help young children build their vocabulary.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am in the process of writing some draft manuscripts, which all have a special message for young readers. However, there is no current set release date for these yet.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Marty is a sweet, helpful monkey with lovely manners. Lenny is the complete opposite! He is a mean and selfish lion with bad manners and disgusting habits. After a memorable encounter with Lenny, Marty decides that things need to change. Join Marty as he makes a brave choice that changes EVERYTHING!
The ‘Tail’ of a Trio
Three dogs have had a very different life up until this point. One dog, Addie, has a loving home with an owner she adores. She became her human’s assistant and works in their therapy practice with her. Addie is a therapy dog. Next is Rue. Rue had a loving home to start, but then one day, her humans disappeared, leaving her behind. She was rescued and brought to a new home, but she was always worried about being replaced and left again. The third dog, Bee, grew up in the pound; she never knew love, only stress and anxiety, and loud noises scared her. This well-written children’s book tells the story of how the three meet and become friends.
The ‘Tail’ of a Trio is written by Katherine Scott, a licensed therapist. She uses the dogs in this story to explain how therapy dogs help people and some situations in that they can be of service. Told from the dogs’ perspective, this heartwarming book can help children suffering from anxiety to see their feelings are normal and valid. I love that Scott explains different therapy terms and practices in the story. This is a friendly and gentle way to introduce the concept to children, especially kids who are unsure about therapy or feel something is wrong with them attending therapy.
The story is conversational and moves comfortably, giving readers time to talk about concepts and situations. I feel this book would help children that have anxiety understand that they are not alone and it is ok. In addition, the three dogs make the story approachable and less scary than if it were humans doing the same thing.
The ‘Tail’ of a Trio is an extraordinary tale of friendship, compassion, and understanding. Children will learn much from this short story and enjoy its artwork. Each dog has their own unique personality, and children will be able to find one to identify with. This is a beautiful book for therapists to have and recommend to help normalize therapy.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B0B8334M45
Marty and Lenny
Marty is a well-behaved and polite monkey; he has excellent manners. One of Marty’s traits is he tries to be a good friend to all around him. That also includes Lenny the Lion. Lenny is rude, crude, and has a terrible attitude. He has no manners and does not care who he upsets as long as he gets his way. One day at lunch, he let off a fart that was loud and stinky, and Marty knew something had to change. So that night, Marty came up with a plan. He was going to be nice to Lenny. Marty was going to see if being friends with Lenny would help him be a better Lion that people actually liked and wanted to be around. Would his plan work?
Marty and Lenny by Tania Woznicki is a heartwarming picture book about friendship. The school bully really just wants to be noticed, and when Marty approaches him with kindness, he is thrown off and takes him up on his offer to play. Marty teaches Lenny how to have good manners and be a good friend, not by lecturing or telling him everything he does wrong, but instead by showing him how a good person and friend acts.
The artwork in this children’s book is fantastic, there are layers of details, and everything is so vibrant. The characters come to life and will draw children in as they read the story and see Lenny learning how to have good manners.
Marty and Lenny is a delightful way to introduce good manners to children and teach them how to be a good friend to others. Children and adults will find this book well-written and inspirational. This would be an excellent book for preschool and kindergarten classrooms to help kids understand how to make new friends.
Pages: 24 | ASIN : B09VD63H9V
Bubbles
Anibabs is a little girl who, when she turns four, discovers she has a unique and amazing talent. She can blow bubbles! Now, these are not your ordinary soap bubbles or bubble gum bubbles; no Anibabs can blow bubbles in all shapes, colors, and sizes. What was even more impressive is that she didn’t just blow bubbles with her mouth. Instead, they came out of her nose and ears and even her bum! So what fun will Anibabs have now that she has discovered her special talent?
Bubbles, written by Sarah Vizzard and illustrated by Lynsey Hilton, is an entertaining picture book with children and adults laughing page after page. While enjoying the fun story and beautiful color illustrations, children will be able to learn shapes, colors, animals, fruits, and different vehicles as Anibabs makes bubbles in all kinds of shapes. The animal bubbles were my favorite. Children will love looking at these pictures.
The author points out to readers that everyone has extraordinary and unique talents. This message is essential for children to hear and see. Presented in a silly and fun rhyming manner, this children’s book will be delightful to read out loud in a classroom or as a bedtime story.
Seeing all the different ways that Anibabs can blow bubbles is unexpected and defiantly not something I have seen before in a children’s book. I love the originality that Sarah Vizzard has displayed with this story, and I know kids will love it too. Lynsey Hilton’s illustrations bring the tale to life; each page has so much to see and enjoy. This is a beautiful picture book for preschoolers to young elementary grade kids to enjoy reading.
Bubbles is a whimsical picture book that children, teachers, and families can all enjoy reading. Each page gives readers a chance to learn new shapes, animals, colors, or numbers and an all-around superb educational book.
Pages: 35 | ASIN : B0B2VTP3BG
LITERARY TITAN 