Review: Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull

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If you have a young daughter, this book is a great way to enlighten them to some of history’s most powerful women. Spanning various parts of history, this book illuminates twenty women who have left their mark past, present and for the future. Their obstacles, achievements, and triumphs are individually featured with historical background and personal insight to give us a glimpse of who they were. Kudos to the illustrator for gorgeous pictures of these women because they really stand out and not only do we read about them but see how naturally beautiful they were as well. This would be such a great resource not only for kids but for educators who want to get young kids to learn about women in history. Loved the book and would recommend this to help young girls learn about women in history.

Review: Ellie's Best Beach Vacation Ever (The Amazing Adventures of Ellie The Elephant #4) by Marci Fair

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Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

What a fun book for the young reader to escape the cold for the summer! Ellie’s Best Beach Ever chronicles best friends, Ellie and Pudgy, as they go on their beach vacation. This is such a cute read as we get to experience another adventure with this cute duo. We tag along as they do everything from playing in the sand, having fun in the water, build sand castles, riding their bikes and so much more. This is such a great introduction to the kids for heading out on those family vacations and making memories with each other. In an age where all the young kids are connected to the ipads and tablets, I loved how the story showed how much fun it could be not connected and just having a great time. I loved how beyond the fun, it taught a valuable lesson on friendship and the joy spending time together with your best friend. Two highlights for me are the fact that these characters are stuffed animals which I know they will instantaneously fall in love and unlike other children’s books, this collection uses real photographs which makes you feel like you are right there. Overall, this was a good read and if you haven’t read the preceding ones in the collection, go back and experiences the adventures.

#BabyLove: My Toddler Life by Corine Dehghanpisheh

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If you haven't got a chance to check out Corine's other #BabyLove book, than I'd recommend grabbing a copy. What I love about #BabyLove is how her beautiful illustrations compliment the story being told. She does such a great job using teachable moments and bringing them to a level that is comprehensive to your child. 

What I loved about My Toddler Life is how it brought to light a topic that many people forget is so important. The story centered around a child who does all these fun things with his mom that gets posted to social media for their friends. It wasn't until the child was left unattended, when he discovers her phone, she reacted with a takeaway that provided life lessons for both.

With cell phones dominating the lives of so many moms, you tend to forget it's not about capturing every moment to post to social media. It's the time you spend in the actual moments that you absorb and enjoy. Kids see your phone and automatically are curious because that's what they see you doing all the time. We get lost in trying to capture it rather than just enjoying the moment as it is happening naturally. Sometimes you just have to power off so that your child can enjoy the best moments with you as well.

It was a cute, fun book that was enjoyable and had a nice lesson to takeaway. You'll love the beautiful illustrations and it has a sweet story to accompany. It was just the right length with a good pace. So, if you are one of those parents that post every moment, just remember it might be rewarding to power of sometimes. 

Review: Meditation Is an Open Sky: Mindfulness for Kids by Whitney Stewart and Sally Rippin

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So many kids go through so many emotions and have a hard time decompressing. For those of you who are open to meditation, this is a great introduction and lesson in meditation for kids that help them manage their emotions, stress and deal with obstacles that come their way. This is such an insightful book that explains different techniques to use in different situations whether emotionally or physically. The back of the book has a nice Q&A about meditation and what to do when you feel certain emotions. The illustrations were wonderful and complement the different states of emotions that will connect the reader to lesson. The author does a great job with articulating a peaceful, calming experience in the book that can be a useful tool in helping kids learn a tangible way to cope with life's challenges.

Review: Stevie Tenderheart My Favorite Place to Be... by Steve William Laible

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Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Who doesn't love a fun bedtime story? My Favorite Place to Be is a fun, engaging story that centers around a kid whose favorite place to be is in his bed. We follow along on this adventure that takes him everywhere in his bed. The book features colorful illustrations along with an engaging story that is easy to follow along. My only issue is with the rhyming pattern at times. I know that it meant to make things fun and light but at times it seems the rhythm was a little off. Overall, that doesn't take away from the story the book sets out to showcase. This surely shows how fun going to bed can be. 

Review: I'll Never Let You Go by Marianne Richmond

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This book is so adorable! How many kids grow up attached to a blankie or a stuffed animal? The story follows Edward from his birth being introduced to Blankie. They are completely inseparable. His journey is told through a cute story about the relationship they have. When it's time for Edward to go to school, he learns a great lesson about having to let go. For so many small kids who grow attached, they have to let go to grow as person. This may be hard for some kids because their attachments are their best friends. The author introduces a beautiful lesson no matter where you are the love you have will never change despite being apart.

Even though this book is for kids, the message in the book will grab the heart of anyone. This is such a great lesson for kids in this age to help them make that transition from letting go to make room in their heart for the possibilities of making new friends. That “Blankie” or stuffed animal is their everything but sometimes we have to venture beyond our comfort zones to explore new adventures and meet new people to grow.