👶👶👶👶👶: Awkward Avocado and the Interrupting Raptor, by CJ Zachary

It was such a joy to receive this gifted copy of the awkward avocado sequel from C.J. Zachary! My little one absolutely loves this series and we really enjoyed the addition of The Awkward Avocado's little brother!

Our favorite part of Ms. Zachary's books are the wonderful messages they impart! The first one in the series relayed the importance of just being yourself and this second one is all about sibling rivalry that never supersedes their love for one another. It's all about patience and understanding, and don't we all need a little of that in our lives🥰?

This sweet book is perfect for a new big brother or sister or even the instigating little brother or sister (as in our case)😂! And I must say, the drawings are just adorable😍😍😍!

Read 2/14/23

👶👶👶👶👶: Thank You, Mama, by Linda Meeker

I don't generally do a whole lot of children's book tours, but I absolutely couldn't pass this one up! If you've ever seen these adorable TikTok videos with Grey and his Mama, then you can easily imagine my little 3-year-old who always says it just the same, "Thank you Mama," for just about everything, in his adorable little toddler speak. And if I don't reply immediately with, "You're welcome!" he will hound me until I do😂. Ever had those moments you think, "Man, I wish I'd thought of that!" Who'd have known something so basic could go so viral🤷‍♀️?!

My little man absolutely loves this book and always asks me to reread it to him! The photos are bright and cheerful, and I love that it promotes healthy and diverse eating habits AND manners! Yes, please!

This children's book is great for early readers, ages 3-7, as it includes words for each item. It also encourages familial bonding which is a great benefit! Perfect for Mother's Day as well, of course!

Many thanks to @tlcbooktours , @thomasnelson , and @greyandmama for including me on this tour and gifting us with this adorable hardcover gem!

Read 5/7/22

👶👶👶👶: My Life Beyond Autism: A Mayo Clinic patient story, by C. Ano

😊I'm delighted to present a book to you that is all about clarifying what autism is and is not. It is a short graphic novel written by a young autistic Mayo Clinic patient, C. Ano (in collaboration with author/illustrator Hey Gee).

❤️I appreciated sharing this with my kiddos because it's a first-hand account of what it is like to live with autism. It really answered many of my children's questions about the condition and is the perfect book to teach empathy on the subject. With very simple explanations and bright, colorful drawings, this is a great addition to your child's inclusive library!

I think it's wonderful that The Mayo Clinic is presenting this series of books to provide more clarity on afflictions that so many children have questions about. There is also one written by a child with Leukemia and another by a child who is bullied.

For more of my reviews, please follow me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mamasgottaread !

Many thanks to @tlcbooktours and @mayoclinicpress for including me on this book tour to promote awareness!

Read 3/22/22

👶👶👶👶👶: Dude Perfect 101 Tricks, Tips, and Cool Stuff, by Dude Perfect

Get ready for some serious family fun with this 𝑭𝑨𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑪 hardcover, full-color, photo-filled edition of Dude Perfect. It is truly a 𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨 book.

Aside from its aesthetic qualities, it has some great content too! My 11-year-old just can't get enough - he's been reading it daily since we got it a couple weeks ago!

The book is filled with games, how-tos, fun facts, science info., and behind-the-scenes insight! And there's plenty of fun family-friendly things to try as well! I was excited to learn that they're fellow Texans to boot!

"𝐴𝑡 𝐷𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡, 𝑤𝑒 𝑑𝑜 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑤𝑒’𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 

𝐸𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝐷𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡 101 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑠, 𝑇𝑖𝑝𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑓𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑜𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓𝑓-𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠."

Truly, this is the perfect Christmas gift for your tweens!

Many thanks to TLC Book Tours and Tommy Nelson Books for including me on this book tour and gifting me with this amazing hardcover!

Read 11/20/2021

👶👶👶👶: Awkward, by Gurpreet Kaur

Awkward is a sweet novel with a lot of heart. Gurpreet Kaur has written a book that will appeal to the junior high school age group and will have them giggling and commiserating right along with the protagonist. Though, I must admit, even as an adult, I thought it was cute! I will definitely share this one with my sons!

👍I'm always so impressed by young authors - more power to you Gurpreet!

Read: 2/9/20

👶👶👶👶 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling

My opinion of the first and second book of the Harry Potter series still applies for the third as well:

So, after being begged by each of my children in succession as they read this series, I finally caved and decided to begin, what is arguably the most popular children's series of all time... and what a well-earned label indeed. Not only have I never been a fan of fantasy, but I also avoid committing to such a long series. However, I must admit, J.K. Rowling may have reversed my aversion. Rowling is absolutely brilliant; her imagination, unmatched. She has the ability to deliver a visual feast for her readers. I was all-at-once transported and transfixed, engrossed and intrigued. It was a fun-filled joyride, and I truly look forward to the next installments of the adventures of Harry and his friends.

Read 12/7/19

👶👶👶👶 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling

My review of the first book of the Harry Potter series rings true for the second as well:

So, after being begged by each of my children in succession as they read this series, I finally caved and decided to begin, what is arguably the most popular children's series of all time... and what a well-earned label indeed. Not only have I never been a fan of fantasy, but I also avoid committing to such a long series. However, I must admit, J.K. Rowling may have reversed my aversion. Rowling is absolutely brilliant; her imagination, unmatched. She has the ability to deliver a visual feast for her readers. I was all-at-once transported and transfixed, engrossed and intrigued. It was a fun-filled joyride, and I truly look forward to the next installments of the adventures of Harry and his friends.

Read 11/4/19

👶👶👶👶 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling

So, after being begged by each of my children in succession as they read this series, I finally caved and decided to begin, what is arguably the most popular children's series of all time... and what a well-earned label indeed. Not only have I never been a fan of fantasy, but I also avoid committing to such a long series. However, I must admit, J.K. Rowling may have reversed my aversion. Rowling is absolutely brilliant; her imagination, unmatched. She has the ability to deliver a visual feast for her readers. I was all-at-once transported and transfixed, engrossed and intrigued. It was a fun-filled joyride, and I truly look forward to the next installments of the adventures of Harry and his friends.

Read 10/24/19

👶👶👶👶 Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan

This story has rightfully earned its reputation as a children’s literary classic and Newbury award winner. It’s simplicity is timeless and thought-provoking and its characters are endearing. Considering the time period in which this story takes place, I appreciated the depiction of Sarah as a strong-willed, obstinate woman, rather than the demure, timid type that women were expected to be back then. The language the author uses is beautiful and descriptive, and my early middle-school class appreciated its historical relevance.

Read 10/17

👶👶👶👶 Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper

This powerful young adult novel was incredibly moving and thought-provoking, and the author did a phenomenal job of mixing solemnity with wit. Melody is a gem of a character, as is Mrs. V., and the reader can’t help rooting for both throughout the novel. Ms. Draper is skilled at demonstrating the reality of someone with severe physical disabilities, coupled with tremendous mental acuity. It certainly made me consider my actions around the severely disabled, as I have sometimes assumed that they are incapable of thought. This is a truly important read for everyone.

Read 9/17

👶👶👶 The Water Horse, by Dick King-Smith

Set in the 1930’s, this tale was a charming interpretation of the origins of the Loch Ness monster. The novel was perfect for my students to compare and contrast with the movie, which had significant differences. It certainly allows children’s imagination to soar, and is the perfect introduction to begin dissecting other legends and myths. It is quite a magical story, and has no content that parents need be concerned about.

As far as the backbone of the story, it offered little in the way of literary elements. I’ve certainly read children’s books with stronger character development than this one. Nonetheless, it is a sweet story that children seem to greatly enjoy.

Read 4/2/17

👶👶👶 The Whipping Boy, by Sid Fleischman

This was an amusing and engaging Newberry Award Winner. The story certainly keeps young readers interested. Mr. Fleischman does a good job of setting the scene and immersing the children in the language of the time. The novel also evoked excellent discussion on several moral issues.

Read 3/14/17

👶👶👶 Trumpet of the Swan, by E.B. White

While this story pales in comparison to Charlotte's Web, E.B. White still manages to bring a world of imagination to life in this narrative where humans and animals interact. Though my 6th grade students found the anthropomorphism silly at their age, they still enjoyed the imaginative aspect of the story. They were able to dissect the story further than younger children may have been able to, and discovered moral conflict and ethical dilemmas that could extend to the human world. Not only that, but his book is an excellent way to introduce anthropomorphism and onomatopoeia as literary techniques. The characters were endearing, and set the tone for an adventure in morality.

Read 10/10/17

👶👶👶👶 The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster

What a wondrous journey into a whimsical world of puns, idioms, and hyperbole! Though marketed as a children’s novel, it is certainly worth a read by any adult who enjoys the intricacies of the English language. I had tremendous fun in teaching this novel, and the children enjoyed it just as much. It goes without saying that this book is a classic, and one that can be read and reread, with various nuances being discovered each time. Norton Juster is brilliant, and I was interested to learn that he is just as colorful a character in real life, as the characters he’s created in this primo novel.

Read 11/17/16

👶👶👶👶 The Borrowers, by Mary Norton

What a delightful novel for young readers. The concept is charming: a unique explanation for the frustration of random missing items around the house. The characters were so likeable, and the situations in which they found themselves were quite amusing. I always appreciate the classics, and love to share them with my children, especially when they are as entertaining as this one.

Read 10/17/16

👶👶👶👶 My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George

This was a wonderful, classic, children’s novel. The imagery was lovely; the characters were interesting, and there was enough suspense for tweens to remain enthralled. As a parent, I struggled with the suspension of disbelief that his parents wouldn’t have done more to find their runaway child. Of course, that was not the objective of the story, so I let it go, and enjoyed the novel for its simplicity. The author relayed a powerful message: that material things are unnecessary for a fulfilling life, and that hard work can be extraordinarily rewarding.

Read 7/9/16

👶👶👶 Chasing Vermeer, by Blue Balliett

I come at this review from the angle of a Reading & Writing teacher who was looking for a fun book that can still teach basic concepts of the written word. This book is not what I would consider “rich in literary content”. It does, however, succeed in the “fun” aspect. Students will enjoy solving the puzzles and attempting to find the culprit, but as for true substance, there is little. I believe that it will be a good book to contrast with classics to demonstrate the significant change in literary strategies over the decades, and to affirm the fact that books can provide a fun diversion from reality.

Read 7/6/16