Kitty’s Cuddles by Jane Cabrera

July 5, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Kitty’s Cuddles by Jane Cabrera
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Childrens (1+ years – Toddlers), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Bear has a cozy, fluffy cuddle; Elephant, a big, strong cuddle; even Porcupine has a careful, prickly cuddle. But Kitty’s brother hugs the best! Follow along Kitty’s journey and learn that there are many different ways to show affection, and all of them matter most when shared with others.

Kitty just wants to cuddle.

I loved this book because it showed how many different ways you can cuddle. It’s a good illustration for children learning different animals and aspects of those animals in a very simplistic way. I also liked that the story showed variety. Not one cuddle is better than another. They’re all equal. It’s a sweet little story and good for young readers or those being read to. The ending was the best for me.

If you’re looking for a cute book to read to your child or for your child to practice with when starting reading, this is the one you want.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

A Mouthful of Minnows by John Hare

July 5, 2023 By Leave a Comment


A Mouthful of Minnows by John Hare
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Genre: Contemporary, Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

At the bottom of the pond, Alphonso the snapping turtle opens his mouth wide, wiggles his worm-like tongue, and waits patiently for breakfast. He barely notices a measly minnow, but he’s thrilled when the entire school shows up. Alphonso’s perseverance has paid off! But when a whole family of minnows arrives to celebrate together, Alphonso’s true character emerges, and he has second thoughts about the breakfast he’s been waiting for.

Acclaimed author-artist John Hare’s artwork is textured, playful, educational, and energetic, bringing the depths of the underwater setting to life. A Mouthful of Minnows is a surprising and heartwarming picture book that is a great choice for story time and bedtime.

Each summer the State of Florida releases a list of approved books for students to read while on summer break. I am a nanny of a six-year-old girl going into first grade. The first book we chose to read was A Mouthful of Minnows because we love of fishing in the inter coastal waterway.

We didn’t read the synopsis, so we assumed the story was about fishing based on the title and the book cover. We were surprised that the main character was Alphonso, an alligator snapping turtle. The plot was about Alphonso waiting for his breakfast to come.

Our attention was caught immediately when we read that he sits on the bottom of the pond with his mouth wide open, wiggling his worm-like tongue. He stays like that waiting for a fish to swim by so he can capture it. We paused reading the story because we were both questioning if this was true. So we Googled “turtle with worm-like tongue”. Sure enough, this was true! I appreciated learning a new fun fact.

We resumed reading the heartwarming story about Alphonso patiently waiting for his breakfast when a school of minnows swam near his mouth. Alphonso overhears what the minnows were saying, and this is where the reader learns about generosity, empathy and friendship.

The illustrator for A Mouthful of Minnows is also the author, John Hare. I found each page to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I enjoyed perusing each page as I read the story out loud.

If the little girl that I nanny for asks for me to read a book a second time, then I know it is a good book. We read this book multiple times before we had to return it to the library. That testimony speaks volumes.

Our Summer 2023 reading log started with a great book. We easily recommend reading A Mouthful of Minnows.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Chubbs: A Blind Cat Learns to Trust by Sandra Sorenson-Kindt

July 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Chubbs: A Blind Cat Learns to Trust by Sandra Sorenson-Kindt
Publisher: Lean In Books
Genre: Contemporary, Childrens (8+ yrs), Inspirational
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A mangy alley cat isn’t at the top of anybody’s adoption list.

Nevertheless, when Grandma Sandy scoops it up into her arms, her heart nudges her to take it home, and she listens. Grandma always trusts her feelings.

Lots of tender care soon transforms the mangy cat into beautiful, round Chubbs. But when she loses her sight, will she listen to her feelings like Grandma and learn to trust the one who loves her most?

Chubbs: A Blind Cat Learns to Trust is a faith-based, inspirational story about a cat who learns to trust her rescuer. The relationship between Chubbs and Grandma Sandy is a comparison to the relationship we can have with God.

Literally blind, Chubbs must learn how to navigate her world just like how we must learn to depend on God’s Spirit to help us navigate our lives.

Chubbs, the cat who gets a second chance…again.

I picked this book up because the main character was a cat called…Chubbs. I mean, how could I pass that up? I couldn’t. I’m glad I didn’t. This was a cute story with a faith-based slant. It’s a good story.

I did have some issues with the situation with Grandma’s first cat. It seemed like she could’ve looked a bit more for the cat and that rubbed me the wrong way that she didn’t. Yes, cats run away, but you never stop looking and it felt like she did. It could be me and the time in which I read the book, but that rankled me.

I did like that Grandma adopted (Not shopped!) Chubbs from the animal shelter. That was great. I also liked how the relationship between the woman and the cat resembled the faith relationship between followers and God. Sometimes you need a helping hand. It’s a good lesson for readers.

This was a cute story and I’m glad I read it. I couldn’t pass up Chubbs—in the book and probably not at the shelter, either.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

National Geographic Kids Everything Mythology: Begin Your Quest for Facts, Photos, and Fun Fit for Gods and Goddesses by Blake Hoena

June 27, 2023 By Leave a Comment


National Geographic Kids Everything Mythology: Begin Your Quest for Facts, Photos, and Fun Fit for Gods and Goddesses by Blake Hoena
Publisher: National Geographic
Genre: Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Childrens (10+ yrs), Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

National Geographic Everything Mythology is jam packed with fascinating facts and awe-inspiring imagery that brings your favorite fierce mythological heroes to life, introducing kids to gods of ancient worlds, including Greek, Norse, Chinese, American Indian, African cultures, and more. Packed with facts, colorful illustrations, and infused with humor, this fun journey through ancient lore will keep kids fascinated with every turn of the page.

Want to know something about mythology in bites and bits? Then this is the book for you!

I picked up this book because of the impressive art on the front. Who doesn’t like Poseidon? He drew me in, but the text and the storytelling kept me riveted. I blew right through the book and couldn’t get enough. The author doesn’t hit the high points mythology, but also includes more inclusive myths and characters, which I loved. It wasn’t the usual, so every reader will find something new in these pages.

The illustrations and art are fantastic. The factoids are as well. There is a lot to learn in this book. If you’re simply researching mythology, want to start learning about a particular myth or want a point of discussion for you and your reader, then this is the book for you. Check it out!

Filed Under: Other, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Devin Drake and the Family Secret by R. M. Clark

June 27, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Devin Drake and the Family Secret by R. M. Clark
Publisher: Pen It! Publications
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Another day, another birthday, right? Not quite for Devin Drake. A few days after his twelfth birthday, he loses his new drone in the creepiest place on earth, a cemetery. While retrieving it, he realizes he cannot only hear, but see ghosts. Devin soon finds out that necromancy runs in the Drake family. However, before he can learn everything about his new-found power, a classmate begs him to find out why her deceased grandfather keeps contacting her through cryptic texts, random pennies, and birds of all things. Thinking it’ll be a quick case; Devin agrees to help her. However, he soon learns that spirits don’t always make things easy and just when he thinks he’s solved one clue, another one pops up creating at least ten more questions than the last. Will Devin get the hang of his new-found gift before time runs out? Or will Eva’s grandfather continue to lead Devin on what could be considered a wild goose chase?

Food brings everyone together.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that described all sorts of delicious Greek dishes. While I’ll leave it up to other readers to discover for themselves why it was important to include these passages, there were clues about that to be found fairly early on in the plot. They simultaneously made me hungry and made me wonder how they were connected to everything else that was going on. Figuring that all out was one of several reasons why I gave this a perfect five-star rating.

The mystery storyline was well written and exciting. I enjoyed coming up with various theories about why Dmitri’s spirit was trying to communicate with his granddaughter and what he might have wanted her to know or do. There were exactly the right number of clues to keep me guessing while still leaving plenty of room for plot twists later on.

Mr. Clark put a lot of effort into character development in this book, and it showed. Devin was such a quintessential twelve-year-old who was happy to play with his drone one moment and deeply irritated with his talkative and sometimes hyper eight-year-old sister the next. He felt like a real person to me, and I loved seeing him slowly mature as a result of his experiences. This was a pattern that was subtly repeated with a few of the people closest to Devin, too, in ways that were perfect for its tween audience, and it reminded me why middle grade fiction can be so rewarding.

Devin Drake and the Family Secret was one of the best mysteries I’ve read so far this summer. I highly recommend it to kids and adults alike.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson by Carole Boston Weatherford

June 23, 2023 By Leave a Comment


All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson by Carole Boston Weatherford
Publisher: Random House Kids
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Recent Historical, Childrens (6+ yrs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, is an inspiration and role model to children of all ages. Award-winning author Carole Boston Weatherford tells her story of perseverance, dignity, and honor in this uplifting picture book biography filled with colorful and dynamic illustrations from Ashley Evans.

Whatever she did, wherever she was, Ketanji Brown Jackson rose to the top.

From the time their daughter was born, Ketanji Brown’s parents taught her that if she worked hard and believed in herself, she could do anything. As a child, Ketanji focused on her studies and excelled, eventually graduating from Harvard Law School.

Years later, in 2016, when she was a federal judge, a seat opened on the United States Supreme Court. In a letter to then-President Barack Obama, Leila Jackson made a case for her mother—Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Although the timing didn’t work out then, it did in 2022, when President Joe Biden nominated her. At her confirmation, Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black female Supreme Court justice in the United States.

Lyrical text by renowned author Carole Boston Weatherford and evocative illustrations by Ashley Evans combine to make this an inspirational and timely read.

What a great person and what a wonderful biography for kids.

I picked up this book because I wanted to know more about Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and this book was wonderful for letting me learn about her. There is a lot of information about Brown Jackson, but it’s not overwhelming. It’s told in a bit of a sing-song manner that’s good for early readers to pick up on. There’s a nice cadence to it. The illustrations add to the story and show how Brown Jackson was able to rise to the highest court in the United States. I liked learning about her and how she managed to overcome the obstacles in her life.

If you’re looking for a book that’s informative and uplifting, then this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Glowy’s Great Escape by A.K. Smith

June 23, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Glowy’s Great Escape by A.K. Smith
Publisher: Books With Soul
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Grab your goggles, hitch a ride on a dolphin, and join the enchanting world of Glowy the Fish and her delightful friends in this unforgettable series that is sure to leave a glow in your heart! Even a small fish named Glowy can help you find your inner glow!

The Sparkling Adventures of Glowy The Fish. Kids book.

Embark on the magical journey with Glowy, a shy but curious, luminescent fish, as this captivating narrative unfolds over ten adventure tales. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but as the adventure continues, the brightest treasure the series offers doesn’t lie buried in the sand; it’s found in the glowing hearts of Glowy and her friends!

– Fun Facts about the Sea of Cortez – learn cool facts about the sea, fish and many other marine life at the back of each book.
– A kaleidoscope of colorful under-the-sea illustrations are on every page!
– Recommended age – 3-7 years
– Length of story – 36 pages
Bonus with each purchase receive a free downloadable activity book, “Under the Waves of The Sea of Cortez” – a coloring, connect the dots and fun facts book.

At the back of each inspiring sea story, discover a treasure chest of educational fun facts about the sea! Little ocean lovers can expand their knowledge, while parents can join in on the journey.

Getting lost is easier than it looks!

The descriptions of Glowy’s home and family life made me want to read more. She was part of such a friendly little corner of the ocean that I didn’t want to leave it. I was glad to see a note at the end that mentioned this is the first instalment of a series as there sure seemed to be lots of room left for further adventures for her. It will be fun to hopefully check in on her again in the future whenever the sequel or sequels are released.

I would have liked to see more attention paid to the plot development as it reminded me of a lot of other fish adventures written for this age group, from picture books to feature-length films. It would have been helpful to have some sort of twist to Glowy’s adventures to make them stand out from the crowd as I was really hoping to have a good reason to give it a higher rating. The core storyline was pretty solid, I simply needed a flourish or a plot twist somewhere to push it to a higher level.

With that being said, I adored the kindness woven into this picture book. Glowy had a few sad moments, but there was always someone nearby who was willing to help her when she wasn’t sure what to do next on her adventure. That’s the sort of warm storytelling that makes me feel comfortable reading this to little ones of all ages.

Glowy’s Great Escape was a cute read.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dandylion Summer by Frann Preston-Gannon

June 22, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Dandylion Summer by Frann Preston-Gannon
Publisher: Godwin Books/Henry Holt and Co.
Genre: Childrens (6+ yrs), Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Frann Preston-Gannon’s Dandylion Summer is a sweet, character-driven picture book.

When two sisters make a wish upon a dandelion, the seeds scatter and bring them Dandylion, a friend to play with all summer long. Together, they go on lots of adventures.

As the seasons change, Dandylion must say goodbye―but fall is on the way, with new friends to meet and wonders to explore!

Two sisters, one summer and a big ‘ole lion.

This is a whimsical story that’s just right for this time of year–early summer. This book flows well and the characters are fun. The little girls and Dandylion are great. I liked how the lion is part of summer and shows the fun of the season. I love how the girls explore with the lion and don’t keep him to themselves but share him. Just like summer, he should be shared. I loved that this is a good story for young readers or someone wanting to be read to.

If you’re looking for a good summer book that’s entertaining and sweet, then this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

If Not for the Cat – Haiku by Jack Prelutsky and paintings by Ted Rand

June 21, 2023 By Leave a Comment


If Not for the Cat – Haiku by Jack Prelutsky and paintings by Ted Rand
Publisher: Greenwillow Books/Harper Collins
Genre: Childrens (6+ yrs), Contemporary, Poetry, Animals
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Seventeen haiku composed by master poet Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by renowned artist Ted Rand ask you to think about seventeen favorite residents of the animal kingdom in a new way.

On these glorious and colorful pages you will meet a mouse, a skunk, a beaver, a hummingbird, ants, bald eagles, jellyfish, and many others. Who is who? The answer is right in front of you. But how can you tell? Think and wonder and look and puzzle it out!

A creature whispers:

If not for the cat,
And the scarcity of cheese,
I could be content.

Who is this creature?
What does it like to eat?
Can you solve the riddle?

How would life be if there wasn’t a cat?

This book doesn’t delve deeply on that subject, but what it does is show haiku about animals and makes the reader think. If not for the cat chasing him and the lack of cheese, the mouse would be happy. This book encourages discussion and has some beautiful paintings within.

I picked up this book thinking it might be a humorous book, but it was thought-provoking instead and I liked it. I liked how each haiku discusses the animal pictured and does it in a way that opens up discussion. What does the reader think?

The paintings are fantastic, and this book is good for younger readers or those being read to. It’s great for asking questions and wondering.

If you’re looking for something different, then this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Poetry, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Llama or Alpaca? by Jamie Rice

June 20, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Llama or Alpaca? (Bullfrog Books: Spot the Differences) by Jamie Rice
Publisher: Bullfrog Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Animals, Childrens (6+ yrs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In Llama or Alpaca?, beginning readers will learn to spot the differences between these mammals. Carefully leveled text relays what the mammals look like and how they behave. Each page then asks readers to name which one is shown in the photo. Answers appear upside down on the bottom of each page, making reading for learning interactive and fun. A See and Compare spread shows and labels each insect side by side, while a Quick Facts feature lists even more information about their similarities and differences. Children can learn more about llamas and alpacas online using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Llama or Alpaca? also features reading tips for teachers and parents, photo labels, a picture glossary, a table of contents, and an index. Llama or Alpaca? is part of Jump!’s Spot the Differences series.

Llama? Alpaca? With this book, you’ll know the difference.

I’ll admit it. I had no idea that there was a difference between llamas and alpacas. Why? Because I’d never read about them. I’ve done that now and I feel a lot stronger about telling them apart. This book not only explains the differences but shows them on the pages. It’s written in an easy manner that will be good for emerging readers or those being read to. There’s even a fun test at the back to reinforce what’s been learned.

If you’re even a little interested in llamas and alpacas, then this is the book to check out.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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