An Unlikely Book Full of Learning Opportunities for Kids

Title: The Frogs Buy a New House
Subtitle: an economics story for children
Author: Carolyn Wilhelm
Illustrated by Oxanna Cerra's Teacher's Clip Art
ISBN: 0999776630
Available on Amazon 
Also available at an e-book

It is my guess that most parents don't have an inkling that a teaching aid like this available and that they are most unlikely to think about it when they are in the throes of moving.  But here it is straight from a teacher experienced in helping little humans to adjust to new experiences.

It helps understand the process, what to expect from buying a new house and moving from familiar surroundings to new ones. And it does it with imagination. Imagine water as money. Imagine a book that gives a parent (or teacher) a chance to explain the word "equity!" I believe that words like this are age appropriate at whatever age a child might hear them in conversation around the house or at school.

Though a slim book--a picture book--this book is intended for guided reading, for spending special time with adults to read and discuss its contents, laugh, and start feeling comfortable with a subject loaded with learning opportunities!  As a parent and former teacher myself, I wish I this book had been available for me to read to my daughter when we moved high into the hills around Los Angeles where there just happened to be seasonal ponds full of tadpoles in spring and lots of frogs year round!

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Christmas Shopping Time with a Round the World Theme

Title: Sophia
The Christmas Eve Snow bunny and the Real Gift
Author: Wanda Luthman
Illustrated by Mara Reitsma
Genre: Children's Picture Book / Inspirational
Theme: Christmas Round the World
ISBN: 9 780998195889
Paperback: $6.99
Available on Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2B7dZwT

I am fast becoming a Wanda Luthman and Mara Reitsma fan.  I love their imaginations expressed in their poetry and art. I love the rhyme (lots of rhythm but rhyme that doesn't feel forced nor cliche).

I love that children are often introduced to a new word in Luthman's books. Words like "hemisphere" in this 'round-the-world story, a theme that is often seen in Christmas books but is especially needed these days as we work to include and understand other peoples and their cultures.

Is it too early to shop for Christmas? Heavens no! Children 'round the world will enjoy cuddling up before bed to partake of this bunny story from right now through the holidays. Bunny story? Of course! No point in labeling. She even wears a Santa hat.

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Franky the Flamingo Must Find Water in Florida's Environment

Title: Franky The Thirsty Flamingo
Author: Wanda Luthman
Illustrator: Mara Reitsma
Available on Amazon
Genre: Fiction: Children's/Biology/Environment


The environment! A passion of mine. How could I not love this story of a young flamingo who must learn the ways of the world, including what to drink. This slender book tells about his difficulty in finding proper water to drink. Encouraging and positive, his story is told in perfectly metered rhyme that will appeal to any child. It would make a wonderful addition to the gift shops at libraries and national monuments and parks where flamingoes abound.

I also appreciate how the illustrator let her topic influence her color choices. She helps make the book sing Florida and Sunshine.


More About the Author

Wanda Luthman has her Masters of Arts in both dental Health Counseling and Guidance Counseling from Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. She is an award-winning author who with five books to her credit and a member of Florida's Writers' Association.

More About this Blog

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

The Olivia Lauren Series Increases Knowledge of STEAM

Title: Things We Wear

Series: Olivia Lauren

Author: Melissa-Sue John, Ph.D. 

Paperback: 32 pages

Price: $11.99 Now $6.28

Publisher: Lauren Simone Publishing House

Website: www.laurensimonepubs.com

Language: English

ISBN-10: 9780997952018

ISBN-13: 978-0997952018

ASIN: 0997952016

Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.1 x 8.5 inches

Purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0997952016/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4

Synopsis: 

Olivia Lauren’s "Things We Wear" is a story about a child model and her friends exploring the different things people wear. Olivia Lauren and her friends tell us about the when, where, and why regarding the things we wear. Children will increase their vocabulary and curiosity about fashion, tradition, and the significance of clothing.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa-Sue John, Ph.D. is a psychology professor, mom of two girls, wife, and author of children’s literature. She is on a mission to increase literacy and Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) appreciation. Her goal is to create children’s literature with diverse characters with the aim of increasing knowledge of and representation in STEAM.

The protagonist of the series, Olivia Lauren,  is a energized and focused child who enjoys writing stories and drawing. She also models, acts, and loves science and engineering. Learn on these social networks:

Instagram: @laurensimonepubs @olivialaurenj

Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurensimonepubs

Twitter: laurensimonepub

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG AND GETTING REVIEWS AND ANOTHER FREEBIE

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everithing from Amazon vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too! 

Carolyn Wilhelm's Early Learning Interracial Adoption Story

Title: Alex Asks About Auntie's Airplane Day
Subtitle: An Adoption Day Story
Author: Carolyn Wilhelm
Illustrated by: Pieter Els
An Easy Reader Book (2017)
ISBN: 9780999776612
Reviewed from a paperback copy.

Forever the teacher, Carolyn Wilhelm writes not only for the story but also to build vocabulary. Interest builds as children ask, "What is an airplane day?"  Ever the teacher, Wilhelm also introduces a child to terms they may not have yet learned like "lug wrench."  This story will help any young reader or listener know more about adoption, understand it better, and helps prepare them for accepting diversity no matter what their color, too.

The illustrations are reminiscent of color paper cutouts, colorful and graphics.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The idea for this book occurred to Carolyn Wilhelm when she saw her two-year-old grandson watch his Auntie Betsy from South Korea and seemed to wonder how she fit into the otherwise white family. Wilhelm says, "who knows shat he was thinking, but it appeared he was noticing Auntie
s eyes and skin color.  Wilhelm decided a book could help her grandson and other young children with older, adopted relatives understand a little about adoption. The author runs Wise Owl Factory, LLC, Minnesota. Readers, teachers, and parents will find her Wise Owl teaching materials, many of them absolutely free on Pinterest. Learn more about the author at www.thewiseowlfactory.com

MORE ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Pieter Els also illustrated "Surfer Kids Clip Art." "Jeffreys Bay," and "South Africa." Learn more at www.surferkiddies.com

In the time-honored tradition of the publishing industry, the reviewer of this book received a copy of the book at no charge..

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG AND GETTING REVIEWS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everithing from Amazon vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.