Category Archives: children’s Reading

book review, Children's Literature, Children's, children's Reading, childrens, Free to read Fiction, Free to read Friday Fiction, Free To Read Friday nonfiction, Free to read nonfiction

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CHILDREN’S BOOKS

The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, Book 1)

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9+ years

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus bound for the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids.” When a strange creature attacks, he and his friends discover that they are demigods and the adventure begins.

Children’s Greek & Roman Myths / Children’s Fantasy

A Picture Book for Kids About Orca Whales

Reading age ‏ : ‎ Baby – 3 years

Oscar, the Orca Whale takes kids on a journey through pictures to discover Orca’s habits, characteristics, strength and speed to their communication skills, family bonds, and unique traits.

Children’s Mammal Books / Children’s Marine Life Stories

Eco-Explorers: The Nature Adventure

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 – 11 years

“Eco-Explorers” is a captivating journey through diverse ecosystems. This book is ideal for inspiring a love for nature.

Animal Antics: A Rhyming Book of Creatures Big and Small

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 – 7 years

Humorous and charming with vibrant illustrations of animals in preposterous settings. It captivates the mind with its interactive storytelling and delightful blend of humor .

Children’s Almanacs / Children’s Joke & Riddle Books

Interesting Facts For Curious Kids

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 – 11 years

An impressively diverse range of topics and illustrations in a multiple-choice format that will engage the whole family. Presented in a simple and clear style that will ensure younger family members can easily participate and enjoy.

Children’s Puzzle Book / Children’s General Social Science Books / Children’s Cultural Studies Books

Howl’s Moving Castle

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 – 11 years

After being cursed by the Witch of the Waste, Sophie Hatter sets out to find her destiny. She comes upon the Wizard Howl and his moving castle. To break her curse, she has to help the Fire Demon, Calcifer, break his contract with Howl. Sophie has to unravel the puzzles around the contract in order to help Calcifer break it, thus saving herself.

Education & Reference / Children’s Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Books

book review, Children's Fantasy, Children's Bedtime Stories, Children's Dragon Mythical Stories, Children's Fiction, children's Reading, Children's Self-Esteem Book, fantasy

A Dragon Named Egg – REVIEW

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TitleA Dragon Named Egg
AuthorHeidi Howarth
IllustratorDaniel Howarth
PublisherWindmill Books (December 15, 2020)
FormatLibrary Binding, Paperback
Pages32 pages
GenreChildren’s Dragon, Unicorn & Mythical Stories,
Children’s Self-Esteem Books,
Children’s Family Life Books
LanguageEnglish
ISBN 10/131499486448 / 978-1499486445

AUTHOR

Heidi Howarth lives in Devon in the UK with her husband and two children. She writes picture books for children and my husband illustrates them. They have in excess of 100 titles available and enjoy a worldwide readership.

ILLUSTRATOR

Daniel Howarth started drawing from a very early age and went on to study Art at college and then university. He graduated with a degree in illustration in 1994 and started creating his own range of greetings cards with his wife, whom he met at university.

Daniel works from his studio in Exeter and enjoys the wealth of inspiration and imagination that comes from living deep in the Devon countryside with his wife and two children.

Excerpt taken from Little Tiger.

SYNOPSIS

Egg is different from all other dragons. The only dragon ever born from a cracked egg; he is the runt of the litter. He doesn’t possess any of the special abilities of other dragons. He feels like an outcast. He is self-conscious and a little depressed. He just wants to fit in and be like everyone else.

Will Egg ever fit in with the other dragons? Will he ever find his niche in life? Read the story to find out.

CONCLUSION

Written for children 4 to 7 years old, A Dragon Named Egg is a moral and ethical tale. Egg not only entertains but also delivers a life lesson. Age appropriate, picturesque and short, this book is perfect for a quick bedtime story.

Daniel is a wonderful illustrator and his art brings this tale to life. Egg is just the cutest little dragon! I immensely enjoyed looking at the artwork and how it synergizes with the story. I found myself going back through the book time and time again just to enjoy the pictures. The illustrations are breathtaking!

I whole-heartedly recommend A Dragon Named Egg. It is a wonderful, short bedtime book for all children.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Heidi and Daniel Howarth, NetGalley and Windmill Books for affording me the opportunity to review A Dragon Named Egg.

OTHER WORK BY THIS AUTHOR

book review, Children's, children's Reading, childrens, Ecology, Natural History, Nature, Non-Fiction, Reference Works, Zoology

OCEAN PLANET – REVIEW

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Ocean Planet by Ben Rothery
TitleOcean Planet: Animals of the Sea and Shore
(Part of The Rothery’s Animal Planet Series)
AuthorBen Rothery
Publisher Tilbury House Publishers (October 5, 2021)
FormatHardcover
Pages80
GenreChildren’s Environment & Ecology,
Children’s Zoology, Children’s Marine Life
Language English
ISBN# 10/130884489167 / 978-0884489160

AUTHOR

BEN ROTHERY

Author and Illustrator of Ocean Planet – A Marine Life Book for children aged 9-12 years. Ben lives in London and works from his small studio in the capital . See more here.

SYNOPSIS

Ocean Planet, by Ben Rothery, is an exceptional work for children. Rothery’s stupendously executed illustrations bring nature to life. Although Rothery’s exquisite masterpiece is meant for children aged 9-12 years, I believe that the book has a much broader appeal.

Ocean Planet covers a diverse range of wildlife as varied as the marine birds-of-the-air to the bacteria living in hydrothermal vents in the depths of the oceans. The book covers everything from the tiniest of microscopic organisms, also known as plankton, to the largest underwater species – the Blue Whale. Although Rothery primarily focuses on the marine environment, he also includes land animals and their environments and habitats. Polar Bears, Leopard Seals, and Penguins are not neglected; nor are the Wolves of British Columbia or the Bengal Tigers of the mangroves of north-west India.

Rothery shares his enthusiasm for his subjects with large, full color, high definition plates. All the plates are accompanied by comprehensive introductions to the relevant facts, figures, and details about the individual subjects. Rothery’s unbridled enthusiasm for nature and his undeniable skill coalesce into a joyful, engaging, and edifying experience. Ocean Planet is a true work of art in every sense of the word.

CONCLUSION

Ocean Planet is a banquet for the eyes, a stimulant for the mind, and a tonic for the soul. A thing of beauty is a joy forever, and so it is with Ben Rothery’s magnificently illustrated work. It is not an over-statement to say that this book is truly epic.

The illustrations are bordering on hyperrealistic and are so well executed that they move ones soul and strain credulity. That one man could create with his primitive tools such a magnificent panoply of life like, natural subjects is truly an impressive feat.

Do you have a favorite book from your childhood? Does the thought of it even now stir your memory and take you back to more innocent, happy days? Well Ocean Planet, by Ben Rothery could be that legacy for your child. Please do not take my word for it, I encourage you to get a copy and decide for yourself.

This book makes a great gift; but take care, it is such a valuable jewel that you may well claim it for yourself. I have to admit Ocean Planet is on the top of my gift list this year, and I cannot wait to own a stunning copy.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Ben Rothery, Tilbury House Publishers (October 5, 2021), and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to review Ocean Planet: Animals of the Sea and Shore.

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

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Aviation History, Biography, book review, Children's, Children's Historical Biographies, children's Reading, Children’s Girls and Women’s Books, Non-Fiction, Women in History

Soaring in Style – Review

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Litercurious Book Review

Soaring In Style: How Amelia Earhart Became
a Fashion Icon by Jennifer Lane Wilson
TitleSoaring In Style: How Amelia Earhart Became
a Fashion Icon
AuthorJennifer Lane Wilson
IllustratorLissy Marlin
PublisherCapstone Editions (February 1, 2022)
FormatHardcover
Pages32
GenreChildren’s Literature, Historical Non-Fiction
LanguageEnglish
ISBN 10/131684464285 / 978-1684464289

AUTHOR

Author Jennifer Wilson Image and bio.

If you would like to learn more about Jennifer Wilson, check out her website here.

ILLUSTRATOR

Illustrator Image and bio.

Lissy Marlin is an award winning illustrator and character designe from the Dominican Republic. She has worked on many projects and has illustrated on a plethora of titles. Learn more about this fantastic artist here.

SYNOPSIS

Soaring in Style is the little known side story of Amelia Earhart. This story not only tells the tale of her becoming a woman pioneer of aviation, but also a pioneer of women’s fashion. It details the motivation behind the aviation icon and what drove her into fashion design.

CONCLUSION

Soaring in Style is a simple story for young girls 8-10 years old. It describes the hardships that women endured in the early 1900’s in a man’s world. Although the story is uncomplicated, it is inspiring for young girls who want to chase their dreams. Amelia Earhart not only breaks down barriers in the aviation industry, but she bucks the system in women’s clothing design as well.

Although I knew quit-a-bit about Amelia the aviator, I had no knowledge of Amelia, the designer. This book introduces a whole new dimension to the aviation icon.

Soaring in Style is brilliantly illustrated. Lissy Marlin’s use of color and design is breathtaking. The images may be simplistic in nature, but they are provocative, they describe the story well and they are just the right type for young audiences.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Jennifer Lane Wilson, Capstone Editions, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to review Soaring In Style: How Amelia Earhart Became a Fashion Icon.

FREE TO READ NOW ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

Let’s Go On A Hike, by Katrina Liu is currently free-to-read on KindleUnlimited. Discover all the wonders of nature with this beautifully illustrated book all about a little boy on a hike with his dad, mom, and Archie, the corgi. Great for children ages 2 to 8.

book review, Children's Historical Biographies, children's Reading, Non-Fiction

Charles Dickens – Review

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Litercurious Book Review

Little People, BIG DREAMS Charles Dickens by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Little People, BIG DREAMS Charles Dickens by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
TitleLittle People, BIG DREAMS Charles Dickens
AuthorMaria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
IllustratorIsobel Ross
PublisherFrances Lincoln Children’s Books
FormatHardcover, Kindle
Pages32
GenreChildren’s Non-Fiction, Children’s European
Books, Children’s Historical Biographies
LanguageEnglish
ISBN 10/130711258961 / 978-0711258969

AUTHOR

Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, born in Barcelona, Spain, is a writer and creative director in constant search of new concepts for children’s books. Working for more than fifteen years for clients in top advertising agencies, her books combine creativity with learning, aiming to establish a new and fresh relationship between children and pop culture.

ILLUSTRATOR

Isobel Ross is originally from Bath, UK.

Studied at the Arts University Bournemouth, graduating with a BA (hons) in Fine Art.

SYNOPSIS

Charles Dickens is a micro biography staring the eponymous man himself. Charles Dickens is part of the hugely popular Little People BIG DREAMS Series. Vegara has focused on one of Englands favorite authors. Only one other author ever came close in popularity, that being Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the writer of Sherlock Holmes.

In this monograph Vegara writes to her audience of 4-7 year olds. Simple sentence structures and short paragraphs make up the concise history of Dickens.

The book begins well, however the end comes too quickly and lacks detail of the latter part of his life. Vegara did include a more formal chronology at the close. This short chronology is accompanied by plates of Charles Dickens as he aged.

CONCLUSION

Charles Dickens by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and illustrated by Isobel Ross is a brief partial history of the great man.

It is age appropriate and the illustrations enhance the readers overall experience. The illustrations were both informative and fully supported the written narrative. They are fun and add color to the story.

Overall, Charles Dickens is a good read for younger children. It is brief enough to be read at bedtime.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to review Little People, BIG DREAMS Charles Dickens.

OTHER WORK BY THIS AUTHOR

book review, Children's, Children's Fiction, children's Reading, Children’s Girls and Women’s Books, Children’s Space Exploration, Fiction

SADIE SPROCKET BUILDS A ROCKET

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Litercurious Book Review

Sadie Sprocket Builds A Rocket by Sue Fliess Illustrated by Annabel Tempest

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FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED SEE MORE LIKE THIS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

TitleSadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket
AuthorSue Fliess
IllustratorAnnabel Tempest
PublisherTwo Lions (February 1, 2021)
Pages40
GenreChildren’s Space Exploration, Young Childrens
Fantasy and Adventure, Children’s Technology,
Fiction, Girls and Women’s Books
LanguageEnglish
ISBN 10/13/ASIN‎ 154201803X/978-1542018036/B088FFR2D7

AUTHOR

Sue Fliess

Sue Fliess, pronounced “fleece,” is an award winning author. She lives in Northern Virginia with her family and English Labradors. Find out all about her, her books and upcoming books here.

ILLUSTRATOR

Annabel Tempest

Annabel Tempest is a freelance illustrator living in Somerset, England. She received her fashion/textiles degree in Bristol in the 90’s. You can learn more about her or contact her here.

SYNOPSIS

Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket is an adventure in imagination for children aged 3-7 years. Sadie, a very young girl, wants to be an astronaut some day. So she decides to become the first person on Mars. In her imagination she builds her own rocket and crews it with her stuffed animal friends. Once the rocket is built, she blasts off to explore Mars.

Once on Mars, Sadie and her crew conduct all sorts of scientific experiments. But when the weather starts to turn bad, they have to leave in a hurry. However, all does not go well with the take-off! The rocket gets stuck! Sadie and her friends have to think fast if they want to get back to earth safely.

CONCLUSION

Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket written by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Annabel Tempest is a little jewel of a book. The story flows well with a lot of rhyming and the illustrations are splendid. The combination of the story and the pictures make this a great read for young children.

The story itself is cute and shows the power of imagination. The story and the depictions are age appropriate. The rhythm of the tale is perfect for this type of book. It is easy to read and understand.

The illustrations are fabulous! Annabel did a great job bringing this story to life. Her depictions are bright and colorful. They fit the story and the tempo. I especially like the drawing of Sadie and her crew trying to play cards in zero gravity.

Sadie’s Notebook at the end was a very nice touch. It has information on Mars and some women who were pioneers in space.

Overall, I must say this is a fabulous little book. This is a great book for a bedtime story.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Sue Fliess, Two Lions Publishing, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to review Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket.

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

CHILDREN’S BOOKS FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

Have You Ever Wondered What You Will Be? By Junia Wonders Chiapas Nassi - Kindle Unlimited
Have You Ever Wondered What You Will Be? By Junia Wonders Chiapas Nassi
National Geographic Kids First Big Book Of Why by Amy Shields - Kindle Unlimited
National Geographic Kids First Big Book Of Why by Amy Shields
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Scooper and Dumper by Lindsay Ward

book review, children's Reading, Children's Reading & Writing, Educational, Non-Fiction, Preschool

DOES YOUR DOG SPEAK HEBREW? – review

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Litercurious Book Review

Does Your Dog Speak Hebrew by Ellen Bari
TitleDoes Your Dog Speak Hebrew: A Book of Animal sounds Series: Very First Board Books
AuthorEllen Bari
IllustratorHolly Clifton-Brown
PublisherKar-Ben Publishing ® (September 1, 2020)
FormatUnabridged Audiobook also available on Board
Book, Kindle
TimeOne minute and twenty-six minutes (Board book
& Kindle versions 14 Pages)
GenreChildren’s Animal book, Children’s Language Book
Language English and Hebrew
ISBN#10/131541560892 / 978-1541560895

AUTHOR

Ellen Bari has created award-winning museum exhibits and programs for clients including The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Sesame Workshop, PBS, Nickelodeon and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Ellen, a fluent Hebrew speaker, lived in Israel and enjoys writing about a variety of Jewish topics. She lives in New York.

ILLUSTRATOR

Holly Clifton-Brown was born in London and attended Chelsea School of Art, Media, and Design and Bristol UWE Faculty of Art, Media and Design, where she attained a B.A. in Illustration. Her work has been exhibited at The London Transport Museum. She is the author and illustrator of Annie Hoot and the Knitting Extravaganza and has illustrated other picture books including Big Bouffant and Big Birthday.

SYNOPSIS

Does Your Dog Speak Hebrew? Is the most recent offering from the acclaimed Children’s literature author Ellen Bari. This book is meant for parents of very young children who wish to ensure they begin learning Hebrew linguistically as soon as possible. Research supports the proposition that in order to increase the success of learning multiple languages is best started as early in a child’s life as possible. As you would anticipate from a book directed towards 1-4 years of age, pre-school and up, the content is purposefully short, simple and repetitive. This is no accident but is done purposefully in order to hold the child’s attention and through repetition improve their retention of the story and thus the nuances of the language.

The narration delivered by Holly Clifton-Brown provides a concise and clear delivered in an accurate manner and accent free.

I am reviewing the audiobook version and so I am unable to comment on the illustrations beyond stating that if the front page is anything to go by the images will be every bit as exciting and interesting as the narration and the dialogue.

CONCLUSION

Does Your Dog Speak Hebrew? Is fun for the child and the parent. What better gift to give your child than a better understanding of the world through the languages we speak. I enjoyed it and I am completely confident that you and your children will to.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank Ellen Bari, NetGalley and Kar-Ben Publishing ® & Lerner Audiobooks for affording me the opportunity to review: Does Your Dog Speak Hebrew?

OTHER WORK BY THIS AUTHOR

Jenny loves to jump. But when jumping gets her in trouble, she decides to retire her pogo stick. Then her school decides to hold a fundraising fair, and she discovers that her skill can be used for a good cause.

The Tattered Prayer Book, winner of The Mom’s Choice Award, is a gentle introduction to the Holocaust for children ages 6-10. Ruthie discovers a secret about her father while looking through a box of mementos from “the old country.” As her father tells his surprising story, Ruthie learns a slice of Jewish history and the circumstances under which the family fled Nazi Germany. A burnt prayer book taken in secret from a destroyed synagogue after Kristallnacht offers solace to a young boy at the most difficult time in his life.

SIMILAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS

book review, Children's, children's Reading, Children's Reading & Writing, childrens, Educational, Language, Non-Fiction, Preschool

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: A Book of Idioms and Silly Pictures – Review

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleBirds Of A Feather: A book of Idioms and Silly Pictures
Author/IllustratorVanita Oelschlager / Robin Hegan
PublisherVanita Books; Reprint edition (May 1, 2011)
FormatPaperback, Library Binding, Hardcover
Pages32
LanguageEnglish
ISBN10/130980016282 / 978-0980016284

IDIOM Noun – The language peculiar to a people or to a district, community, or class.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 30 February, 2021. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idioms

AUTHOR

Meet Vanita Oelschlager.

SYNOPSIS

Birds of a Feather is eminently engaging, informative, entertaining, and educational for children young and old. It’s fun, whilst learning about idioms and improving a child’s linguistic understanding and technical use of language concepts. Oelschlager’s book also promotes an understanding of the cultural basis of language through the form of idioms.

Given that this work is only 32 pages in length, it feels much larger due to the numerous beautiful full page color illustrations.

Birds of a Feather‘s greatest strength is its simplicity.

CONCLUSION

No doubt, Birds of a Feather will be well received and loved by children and adults. Many years after a child has grown out of this book, they will still hold fond memories of the enjoyment of reading and learning about idioms. I struggle to remember a better tool for demystifying and teaching a child the complexities of language.

Despite being no spring chicken, I was totally taken with Oelschlager’s fabulously fun trek into the world of idioms. Birds of a Feather is the perfect synergy of concept and illustration which combine to excite the eye and engage the mind. Vibrantly colorful, beautifully drawn, and entertaining throughout, this book is a joy to any young child and the perfect edition to their growing library. Reading this book is like having your cake and eating it too; educational and entertaining.

Our team has decided to award Birds of a Feather our highest rating so far this year for a children’s book.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

SPECIAL MENTION – ILLUSTRATOR

Robin Hegan, The illustrator of Birds of a Feather has produced a large range of humorous sketches that both amuse and educate the reader. Hegan has a particularly definitive artistic style that I very much enjoyed. I will be looking for his work in other literature.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank Vanita Oelschlager, NetGalley, and Vanita Books for affording me the opportunity to review Birds of a Feather: A Book of Idioms and Silly Pictures.