Lenny The Little Explorer - A Day of Adventure by Milo Rivers - [Book Review]

 Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Details:

Title: Lenny The Little Explorer - A Day of Adventure

Author: Milo Rivers

Genre: Children's Picture Book, Children's Fiction

Publisher: Independently published

Print Length: 27 pages

Recommended Age: Baby to 4 yrs

Source: A copy from the author for review

Blurb:

Join Lenny, the lovable little fox, on his exciting journey through the forest in this heartwarming adventure! Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, "Lenny the Little Explorer" is a beautifully illustrated story that sparks imagination, curiosity, and a sense of wonder.

This gentle, feel-good story, with its soft pastel illustrations and friendly characters, encourages young readers to be brave, kind, and adventurous, just like Lenny. Ideal for bedtime reading or quiet afternoons, "Lenny the Little Explorer" is sure to become a family favorite.

Key Features:

Engaging story perfect for ages 1-4
Interactive moments that invite children to participate in the adventure
Gentle life lessons about friendship, curiosity, and courage
Soft pastel illustrations with a warm, childlike fantasy feel

Whether you’re introducing your child to the joy of reading or looking for a magical new story for your collection, "Lenny the Little Explorer" is a charming tale that kids will want to read again and again!

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

This is about the little fox Lenny. She ventures out beyond the meadow to explore for a day-long adventure. She meets a wise Owl, a squirrel, and a bunny.

There are some good life lessons and skills to learn from her new friends for Lenny.  

What do I like about the book?

The cute and lively pictures—wow, the expressions on faces are so clear—the innocent but brave Lenny, the silly squirrel, and the cute bunny. The illustrations and the pastel colors are a big plus for this book.

I love that the story imbues the importance of making new relationships and helping strangers.

Lenny is not only a curious fox but also transparent and helpful to others. This book is perfect for bedtime reading and is good for little kids up to 4 years age.  

The title is apt, and the book cover is very nice. 

My Rating: 5/5

PS: I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Until next time,

Diwali in my new home by Shachi Kaushik - [Book Review]

 Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Details:

Title: Diwali in my new home

Author: Shachi Kaushik

Illustrator: Aishwarya Tandon

Genre: children's fiction

Publisher: Beaming books

Print Length: 32 pages

Source: A review copy from the author

Blurb:

Priya loves being with family and friends to watch fireworks and celebrate Diwali. But this year Priya and her parents are living in the United States, and no one seems to know about the holiday. Priya misses the traditions in India. But as she strings lights outside and creates rangoli art, Priya introduces the festival of lights to her neighbors. And even though the celebration is different this year, it's still Diwali.

A heartwarming story of celebrating in a new place and sharing the Hindu festival of lights with those unfamiliar with the holiday.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

This is the story many immigrant kids from India can relate to. When Priya moves to USA, she misses her culture and the celebration of Diwali in US. But, a festival is just not the place, decor etc., The celebration might be different, but it keeps us connected to our culture. 

There are some cultural activities as part of celebration that we do on Diwali. Rangolis, lights, sweets, traditional dresses and fireworks - there is a lot to Diwali. 

How could she share her joy with Americans? Can she find her way to share Diwali in her new home? That's for us to read and know.

I liked that this story represented Diwali very well. I also liked that Priya's family invites neighbors and celebrate with them. It is not easy for immigrant kids to adjust to new place and new culture. This story helps such kids. 

I agree that recommended age is 4 to 8 yrs. The illustrations are good and inclusive of different cultures. Overall, I recommend this to all curious kids who love to know more about the Indian festival, Diwali.

My Rating: 5/5

PS: I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Until next time,

Playing in the Mud by Jordan Lukrich - [Book Review]

 Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Details:

Title: Playing in the Mud

Author: Jordan Lukrich

Illustrator: Jordan Lukrich

Genre: Children's book, Picture book, Poetry

Publisher : True Tall tales

Print length: 94 pages

Source: A free review copy from the author

Blurb:

A collection of poems and drawings to feed the imagination. Have an adventure with a pirate, build a fort or journey to an alien planet for a handball tournament. These poems speak to the kid inside all of us whether child, adult or in between. In this book you will find adventure, humor and an all around good time.

"Bringing a smile and laugh to someone through art and imaginative poems is something that fuels my creative side. I have created a collection of poems and drawings for anyone and everyone to lose themselves in. Have an adventure with a pirate, build a fort or journey to an alien planet for a handball tournament. These poems speak to the kid inside all of us. In this book you will find adventure, humor and an all around good time." - Jordan

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

My Review:

I am not a fan of poetry books usually. But these poems are so good. I could relate to them, laugh about the silliness, and enjoy reading them.

This book is full of hilarious poems and beautiful pictures. I love the art. The pictures of the boy are very real and the boy looks as naughty as the poems sound. 

The poems are about everything in daily life - experiences of children, nature, daily tasks etc., They rhyme and are simple to follow. They are easy to read and fun both for kids and adults. My younger one who is in 3rd grade thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

I suggest, you read these poems with your kids a few in a day to enjoy the meaning. It becomes a good bed time read.

Every poem has a great illustration, which helps with imagination. I love that the illustrations are simple, but they show emotions well. 

I would rate this book all the stars it can have and I recommend it as a fun vacation read or bed time read with kids.

My Rating: 5/5

PS: I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

About the Author:

Jordan - "Making people smile and getting a laugh from my book or animation is the drive to keep making new material. I love creating stories of adventure and silliness and whisking people away on a journey for even a few minutes. I have been in love with animation and storytelling my entire life, and who knew you could make a career out of it? Well, here I am, creating and sharing my wild little thought with you all. Welcome to my stories, I hope you enjoy."

Until next time,

A Trail of Honesty by J A Angelo - Book Spot Light

Children's Book, Children's Social Issues

Published: October 2018

Summertime is vacation time for the Angelino family, and the two Angelino boys are excited about their upcoming camping trip. They’re going to the local state park, where they can swim, go fishing, and look for wildlife!

Being on vacation doesn’t mean the boys have to be careful. An encounter with a sneezing deer provides their father with an opportunity to teach the boys about respecting wildlife and staying alert for danger. Knowing more about the park’s wildlife helps the boys have more fun while staying safe. They discover staying quiet and moving slowly makes it easier to see the animals and birds that call the park home.

At the camp, the boys have responsibilities like the rest of the family. When they neglect one of these responsibilities and lie about it, they wind up in trouble—and learn an important lesson.

Beautifully illustrated, A Trail of Honestyteaches children about honesty while explaining actions have consequences. J. A. Angelo’s delightful story is an ideal way for parents to use consequences to teach children how to be better people—not simply to punish them.

About the Author

United States Army veteran J.A. Angelo believes strong family values build strong families. J.A. and his wife enjoy volunteering in their local school district and are leaders in various non-profit organizations catering towards children. They also donate to various national and local charities to include the Apraxia Kids, Wounded Warrior Project, and the Coalition to Support America’s Heroes. A portion of the book proceeds will go to these great organizations to help children and support veterans and their families.

J.A. Angelo is originally from Zanesville, Ohio and currently resides in northern Virginia. He is a dad to three wonderful children – two daughters (16) and (10), and a son (7). He is also a devoted husband to his loving wife of 17 years. He is also the oldest of eight children – three brothers and four sisters. 

Some of our hobbies include spending time with our family, writing, donating time and materials to charities, and going to the beach.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Promo Link

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

iTunes

IndieBound

Until next time,

My Prince Wears Blue Jeans by Kayla Davidson - [Book Review]

Children’s Book / Picture Story Book

Date Published: February 13, 2018

Many girls dream of a prince from a land far away and long ago. But what about dreaming about an everyday prince? In My Prince Wears Blue Jeans author Kayla Davidson celebrates ranching life and the love between a father and daughter as she compares a traditional cowboy to a young girl’s prince. Yes, this prince really does wear blue jeans.

My Review:
This is the story of a girl living on a ranch with her cowboy father. For every girl, her dad is a Kin who treats her like a princess. In this story, the girl talks about her father and she considers him as a Prince who wears blue jeans. The story depicts the father who loves her daughter and takes care of all the animals and land. 

I enjoyed reading the story and I felt, it is good to read for children ages from 5 years old. The illustrations are simple and relevant to the story. There is a lot to learn from the story from treating animals well, taking care of animals, taking care of land and nature etc., There is also a mention of seasons and activities done on the ranch during the specific time. 

The story is not lengthy which is apt for bed time story. The narration is from the perspective of a little girl which makes it a good children's story. Overall, a good read for kids with some morals to teach. 
My Rating: 4.5/5

PS: I have received this book from RABT book tours in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book. 

About the Author

Kayla Davidson is wife to Travis, mother to two daughters, and author of children’s books, My Prince Wears Blue Jeans, The Ride, and Daddy’s Little Squirrel. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Angelo State University.   Together, Travis and Kayla ranch in west Texas on land which has been in their families for many generations.  In My Prince Wears Blue Jeans, Davidson celebrates ranching life and the love between a father and daughter.

Contact Links

Goodreads

Web

Facebook

Purchase Link

Amazon

Until next time,

Toddler Tootsies take on the day by Marsha - Guest post and GiveAway

Book Details:



Book Title: Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day! by Marsha Nowakowski

Illustrator: Joan Coleman

Category: Children's NonFiction, 34 pages

Genre: Education

Publisher: Lanier Press

Release date: January 23, 2018

Tour dates: Jan 29 to Feb 9, 2018

Content Rating: G



Book Description:



Welcome to the wonderful world of Matt and Mattie, where every day is a learning adventure! Just as our ten toes help our bodies balance, Matt and Mattie’s ten daily habits help toddlers learn balanced behaviors that will guide them in leading happy, healthy childhoods.

Buy the Book:

Amazon

From the Author:

What did you enjoy about the process of writing Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day?

Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day! is my inaugural book, and I savored every aspect of its creation. I liken the process of writing to preparing a special dinner, lovingly choosing all the ingredients for my dinner guests: the young listeners. We are joyfully celebrating the needs of their early childhood development. What type of “food” and how many “courses” will this celebration require to satiate those needs? For six months, I contemplated this question. If I had only one chance, I wanted to make the message meaningful and diverse for all toddlers.

My planning began:

During a long road trip with my husband as I tapped my feet cheerfully to a song on the radio, I realized Matt and Mattie could be feet characters. These feet, these “tootsies,” could take the audience on fun adventures, just as our own feet do! Developmentally, toddlers are fully aware of their body parts, especially their feet. Those adorable chubby feet would be the first ingredient in our celebratory recipe, Matt and Mattie’s Adventures! After all, who wouldn’t enjoy a book about themselves? I tried many different scenarios for a story, but as the creative process churned, “Always do your best and embrace the toddler experience” rose to the top like rich cream.

As a healthcare worker, I am keenly aware of the importance of a foundation of healthy daily habits. Quality choices define the outcome of our health, much like quality ingredients define a gourmet meal. “Always do your best” by putting your best foot, or tootsie, forward is not a onetime choice made in the moment. It’s a behavior, a recipe, cultivated over many attempts, many days during formative years through practicing healthy habits. Toddlers have a lot of learning to do: walking, feeding, toileting, dressing. I wanted to write a book of encouragement that makes all the difficult lessons seem easier with rhymes and fun activities such as searching for hidden toe icons.

It was challenging for me to have each page turned in Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day! reflect fun, adventures, and good attitudes so the habits practiced daily would become routine, natural, and second nature.

The process of writing led me to a love of the whimsical characters Matt and Mattie. Even though they are friends in the book, my husband and I call them our twins! My illustrator, Joan Coleman, and I had tremendous fun developing the look not only of Matt and Mattie, but also of their band of diverse friends!

Finally bringing this writing project to life with the publishing process, which included editing, title determination, and layout, was an educational and wonderful experience. I now savor the entire process of writing Toddler Tootsies Take on the Day! and look forward to watching them grow in future adventures!

Meet the Author:

Marsha K. Nowakowski is a loving wife, dedicated mother to three children, and a “grammie” to her grandchildren.



This is Marsha’s debut book for toddlers. She has spent forty years in the healthcare industry, primarily as a cardiac nurse. Her inspiration for writing Matt and Mattie’s Adventures developed from her own observations that patients who recovered more quickly exhibited healthy habits and good attitudes toward life. As a mother and grammie, Marsha recognized the need for books teaching healthy habits to help young ones develop into successful people who always do their best.



Matt and Mattie’s Adventures makes everyday habits fun, balanced, and adventuresome for toddlers. Marsha’s own adventures include travel, horseback riding, and reading. She also enjoys golf, baseball games, and sailing with her husband. According to Marsha, every day is an adventure!



Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Feb 17, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time,

The Adventures of Popcorn and Jellybean by Robert Gillespie - [Book Review]

Book Details:



Book Title: The Adventures of Popcorn and Jellybean by Robert Gillespie

Category: Children's Fiction, 48 pages

Genre: Fantasy / Nature

Publisher: Page Publishing

Release date: July 2017

Tour dates: Jan 22 to Feb 2, 2018

Content Rating: G



Book Description:



Popcorn and Jellybean had never ventured down the path beyond the big tree. But since they never really did anything exciting, and even though it made them a little nervous at first, they decided it would be a fun adventure for a couple of days. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty, as it turned out, if the explorers were not prepared! Join them as they take on new challenges each day, learn how to survive by following the behaviors of the animals they encounter, and go where Mother Nature leads them. And who knows, maybe we could learn as well!

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Google Play

Add to Goodreads

My Review

This is the story of 2 young explorers Popcorn and jelly bean, who venture into the forest for a 2-day adventure. The story is about how they get lost, how they survive in the forest with common sense and cleverness and how they could return home safely.

This story is different from any other children's book in 2 ways.
a) This is not a short story but an adventure of these little munchkins covered in 5 days.
b) Unlike other stories where there is a moral at the end, this has some lessons learned by Popcorn and Jellybean on some important life skills throughout the journey like surviving a bee sting, plans to avoid wild animals, making a tent and searching for food in a forest etc.,

Even though the story is very good, it is lengthy. So, my 3-year-old couldn't concentrate much while listening to it. But, he enjoyed understanding the story from illustrations. More illustrations/ pictures would have been good for below 3-year-olds. For my 6-year-old, it's just perfect. He enjoyed listening to the adventures in the forest.

The plot is perfect and interesting. The cover and the title of the book are apt. The narration is in a friendly tone for kids. Overall, I recommend this to kids and parents who like stories about adventures in the forest narrated in a kid's perspective. I love the way Popcorn and Jellybean use their common sense to find the way to their home or solve the other problems they face. This makes the book more practical.

My Rating: 4.5/5

PS: I have received this book from iread book tours in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.

Meet the Author:

Bob has spent more than 13 years as a wildlife conservation educator sharing information and animal encounters with audiences of all ages. He has a passion for teaching about a wide range of topics nature related and loves passing it along to his two sons. His youngest son, Colton, was the inspiration behind The Adventures of Popcorn and Jellybean, where it all started as a simple bedtime story. Bob currently resides in Carlsbad, California, and works as a professional interpreter guide at a world-renowned conservation organization.



Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Feb 10, 2018

​

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time,