Awesome Picture Books from Candlewick Press -- Mother's Day Roundup!

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Take a look at some of our favorite picture books from Candlewick Press that are available just in time for Mother's Day:

Mama Baby
By Chris Raschka


Ages 3-7

Mama and Baby clap and play hide-and-seek and pat-a-cake. Mama and Baby . . . Mama? Where did Mama go? In a series of spreads, simple, bold illustrations show a mother on one side and a baby on the other, interacting in universally familiar ways — until Mama dips out briefly, then returns to her crying child to offer comfort again. With his usual flair, the redoubtable Chris Raschka offers a reassuring moment that will resonate with mamas and babies everywhere.


Welcome to Your World
By Smriti Prasadam-halls and illustrated by Jaime Kim


Ages 2-5

With lyrical language and stunning illustrations, Welcome to Your World takes readers from ice-capped mountains to the depths of the sea. Tender scenes between animals and their babies encourage families to join in the loving bond that connects them to one another and to the wonders of our planet. This beautiful book is ideal for sharing with new babies, new parents, and children just venturing out in the world, as best-selling author Smriti Prasadam-Halls and acclaimed illustrator Jaime Kim provide both a celebration of nature and a gentle reminder to protect it.


Baby Clown
By Kara LaReau and illustrated by Matthew Cordell


When Frieda and Boffo Clown have a baby, everyone in the circus is over the moon. But there is just one problem: Baby Clown won’t stop crying! Frieda and Boffo try everything: putting on their silliest faces, driving him around in their tiny car. They even try taking off his red nose and big shoes. But that just makes Baby Clown cry more. Can Frieda and Boffo turn his little clown frown upside down in time for the sold-out show? Kara LaReau deftly juggles wit and warmth in this hilarious nod to parental persistence, while Matthew Cordell’s big-top-bright illustrations bring Baby Clown and his circus family to humorously frazzled life. Older siblings, in particular, will step right up to this applause-worthy picture book, joining Baby Clown in many a heartfelt “WAAAAH!”


Don’t Worry, Little Crab
By Chris Haughton


Ages 2-5

Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a tiny rock pool near the sea. Today they’re going for a dip in the big ocean. “This is going to be so great,” says Little Crab, splish-splashing and squelch-squelching along, all the way to the very edge. Then comes a first glance down at the waves. WHOOSH! Maybe it’s better if they don’t go in? With vivid colors, bold shapes, and his trademark visual humor, Chris Haughton shows that sometimes a gentle “don’t worry, I’m here” can keep tentative little crabs sidestepping ahead — and help them discover the brilliant worlds that await when they take the plunge.

These books are so fun for young readers!  These stories of a parent's love are great for Mother's (or Father's) Day.  Get your kiddos reading with these beautifully written and illustrated picture books from Candlewick Press!

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Awesome Picture Books from Candlewick Press -- Biography Roundup!

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Take a look at some of our favorite biographical picture books from Candlewick Press this spring:

A Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin
By Michael J. Rosen and illustrated by Matt Tavares


Ages 5-9

Young Benjamin Franklin wants to be a sailor, but his father won’t hear of it. The other trades he tries — candle maker, joiner, boot closer, turner — bore him through and through. Curious and inventive, Ben prefers to read, swim, fly his kite, and fly his kite while swimming. But each time he fails to find a profession, he takes some important bit of knowledge with him. That tendency is exactly what leads him to become the astonishingly versatile genius we remember today. Inspired by The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Michael J. Rosen’s wry tale captures Ben’s spirit in evocative yet playful language, while illustrations by Matt Tavares follow Ben from the workbench to the water in vivid detail. A love story to the value of variety, A Ben of All Trades sheds light on an unconventional path to greatness and humanizes a towering figure in American history.


Darwin's Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution
By Christiane Dorion and illustrated by Harry Tennant


Ages 10 and up

Everyone knows Charles Darwin, the famous naturalist who proposed a theory of evolution. But not everyone knows the story of Alfred Russel Wallace, Darwin’s friend and rival who simultaneously discovered the process of natural selection. This sumptuously illustrated book tells Wallace’s story, from his humble beginnings to his adventures in the Amazon rain forest and Malay Archipelago, and demonstrates the great contribution he made to one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time.


BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom
By Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Michele Wood


Ages 10 and up

Henry Brown wrote that long before he came to be known as Box, he “entered the world a slave.” He was put to work as a child and passed down from one generation to the next — as property. When he was an adult, his wife and children were sold away from him out of spite. Henry Brown watched as his family left bound in chains, headed to the deeper South. What more could be taken from him? But then hope — and help — came in the form of the Underground Railroad. Escape!

In stanzas of six lines each, each line representing one side of a box, celebrated poet Carole Boston Weatherford powerfully narrates Henry Brown’s story of how he came to send himself in a box from slavery to freedom. Strikingly illustrated in rich hues and patterns by artist Michele Wood, Box is augmented with historical records and an introductory excerpt from Henry’s own writing as well as a time line, notes from the author and illustrator, and a bibliography.


The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity: A Tale of the Genius Ramanujan
By Amy Alznauer and illustrated by Daniel Miyares


Ages 5-9

In 1887 in India, a boy named Ramanujan is born with a passion for numbers. He sees numbers in the squares of light pricking his thatched roof and in the beasts dancing on the temple tower. He writes mathematics with his finger in the sand, across the pages of his notebooks, and with chalk on the temple floor. “What is small?” he wonders. “What is big?” Head in the clouds, Ramanujan struggles in school — but his mother knows that her son and his ideas have a purpose. As he grows up, Ramanujan reinvents much of modern mathematics, but where in the world could he find someone to understand what he has conceived?

These books are so fun for young readers!  They are a great way to introduce awesome historical figures or build upon the knowledge students may already have about these inspiring people. Get your kiddos reading this spring with these beautifully written and illustrated picture books from Candlewick Press!

Explore Candlewick Press

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

LaLa Horse Subscription Box for Horse-Loving Girls! April 2020

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to LaLa Horse for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Do you have a horse-loving daughter or granddaughter?  Check out LaLa Horse, the monthly subscription box for horse-lovers!

 LaLa Horse creates a box full of fun, inspiring, educational gifts and products for kids who love horses. For just $39.95 monthly, your horse-lover will receive a box that includes various horse-themed items. Items vary each month and could include jewelry, socks, books, puzzles, bags, pillow cases, wall art, keychains, and more!  LaLa Horse also has a monthly subscription option that's just $12.95/month...The Equine Fashionista Surprise!  With this subscription, your horse-loving young lady will receive a special package each month containing one or two sweet horse-themed items, such as a bracelet, necklace, ring, keyring, earrings, and more.

Check out the items in our April 2020 LaLa Horse box:

Stained Glass Horses Coloring Book

Puffy Pony Hand Towel

Tinker Horse from Safari Toys

Little Miss Equestrian Shirt

Thoroughbred in Pasture Bookmark

Glitter Glam Charm Bracelet

Horse Shoe, Cowgirl Hat and Horses-n-Hearts Wristbands

Horsey Sticker Pack

Horse Breeds Savings Bank

Softy the Unicorn Friend

 Plus, LaLa Horse is offering a new online course for free!  Check it out at udemy.com/course/horses-101-colors-breeds-disciplines

A really enjoyed her LaLa Horse box!  The figurines are great for collectors or kiddos who like to play with horses.  She was a huge fan of the stained glass coloring book, the bracelet and the bank. All around, we think LaLa Horse would make an excellent subscription box for young horse lovers!

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Loved + Blessed: A Christian Faith-Based Subscription Box April 2020

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Loved+Blessed for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own.

We recently had the chance to review the April box from Loved + Blessed:

Loved+Blessed is a monthly membership and subscription care package for women who want to live life encouraged.

Each month subscribers receive:

-a box of encouragement

-a blog article

-a 4 week life application workbook

-4 video lessons

-online fellowship in our private community

-access to our membership library of past videos and workbooks

Let's take a look at this month's box:

Each box revolves around a central theme and comes with a mini poster, a sticker, a purse-sized scripture card and a gift.

The theme for the April box was Love Letter:

  The scripture card this month featured 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

 The special gift for April was awesome!  

This Love J.O.Y. Set is full of goodies to create gifts of inspiration and support.

This box also included two copies of the Father's Love Letter, one to keep and one to use as your encouragement kit to pass along to a friend:

I definitely think there is room for Loved + Blessed in the subscription box market and I love that their mission is to deliver encouraging products that support a fantastic message!

If that wasn't enough, Loved + Blessed gives a portion of the proceeds of each box sold to Union Rescue Mission, a charity that offers hope and healing to the homeless.  What an amazing cause!

They offer two subscription options.

-Month-to-Month for $25

-3 Month Prepaid $60 (this is a $15 savings)

Get your Loved+Blessed box and membership or gift someone else with this monthly dose of encouragement today!

Click to buy Loved + Blessed

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Awesome Picture Books from Candlewick Press -- Earth Day Roundup!

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Take a look at some of our favorite picture books from Candlewick Press in celebration of Earth Day:

Hike
By Pete Oswald


Ages 4-8

In the cool and quiet early light of morning, a father and child wake up. Today they’re going on a hike. Follow the duo into the mountains as they witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest. By the time they return home, they feel alive — and closer than ever — as they document their hike and take their place in family history. In detail-rich panels and textured panoramas, Pete Oswald perfectly paces this nearly wordless adventure, allowing readers to pause for subtle wonders and marvel at the views. A touching tribute to the bond between father and child, with resonant themes for Earth Day, Hike is a breath of fresh air.


Kaia and the Bees
By Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by Angela Dominguez


Ages 4-8

Kaia is the brave type. Like hottest-hot-pepper brave. But there is one thing that scares her: BEES! And right now, thousands of bees live on her roof because Kaia’s dad is a beekeeper. Her dad says that the world needs bees and that’s why they are beekeepers. But only he goes on the roof, not Kaia — unless she can find a way to be the brave girl she always says she is. Against a sunny city setting, author Maribeth Boelts and illustrator Angela Dominguez depict Kaia’s small courageous steps — and her tiny insect neighbors — with great empathy and charm. Buzzing with storytime potential, Kaia and the Bees is an honest and relatable tale about bravery and compassion, as well as the importance of bees to our world.


Alba and the Ocean Cleanup
By Lara Hawthorne


Ages 3-7

Alba the fish has spent her entire life collecting precious objects that drift down to the ocean floor. From delicate shells to brightly colored coral, each year on her birthday she gathers one more precious item. But over the years, Alba notices her collection is losing its sparkle and that the world is changing. There is trash everywhere! When, on her birthday hunt, something unthinkable happens, it seems like the plastic may have changed her ocean home forever. Is it too late?


Creature Features
By Nathasha Durley


Ages 3-7

Vibrantly illustrated by new talent Natasha Durley, this is an animal book with a difference. Each page is bursting with unusual creatures united by a common characteristic. From enormous ears to humongous horns, from elephants to earwigs, this eclectic collection celebrates the diversity and the commonality of the animal kingdom. And with something to look for on every page, it's guaranteed to fascinate young animal lovers.



My Green Day: 10 Green Things I Can Do Today
By Melanie Walsh


Ages 3-7

Did you remember to put your eggshell in the compost bin after breakfast? Help hang the laundry out to dry? Bring your own cloth bags for shopping? Put on a sweater instead of asking to turn on the heat? Discover ten ways that every child can make the day greener and help the environment. With bold, bright pictures and a simple explanation to back up every activity, this is the perfect picture book for teaching very young children the importance of looking after the world around them.


The Nest That Wren Built
By Randi Sonenshine and illustrated by Anne Hunter


Ages 4-8

In the rhyming style of “The House That Jack Built,” this poem about the care and specificity that Carolina wrens put into building a nest is at once tender and true to life. Papa and Mama Wren gather treasures of the forest, from soft moss for a lining to snakeskin for warding off predators. Randi Sonenshine’s lilting stanzas, woven with accurate and unexpected details about Carolina wrens, and Anne Hunter’s gentle, inviting illustrations reveal the mysterious lives of these birds and impart an appreciation for the wonder of the life cycles around us. Back matter includes a glossary and additional interesting facts about wrens.


Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree
By Mary Murphy


Ages 3-7

Trees have leaves that turn sunshine into food. Amazing! Birds build nests, sing songs, hatch eggs, and fly. Dogs are our friends and can move their ears to tell us how they feel, while fish live in water, flashing like jewels. As for people, every person on Earth is different, each with their own thoughts and feelings. With a simple narrative and joyful, welcoming illustrations celebrating a world full of remarkable creatures, Mary Murphy reminds little ones that we are all unique, and that we are the only ones who know how to be us.


Seeds
By Carme Lemniscates


Ages 2-5

Some seeds are whisked away by the wind, while others are carried by creatures to their destinations. Once seeds find their spot, they go through breathtaking transformations, multiplying in number and size and thriving in even the most unseemly places. We humans plant seeds, too, and with care we can cultivate and nurture something wonderful, whether by sowing a seed in the earth or by choosing our own seeds of kindness to spread around. With gorgeous, welcoming illustrations, the creator of Trees and Birds presents another ode to the beauty around and within us.


The Stars Just Up the Street
By Sue Soltis and illustrated by Christine Davenier


Ages 4-8 

Mabel loves stars. She counts five from her window and thirty-seven from her backyard. But her grandfather tells her that, as a child, he could see thousands. Could it be true? Mabel climbs a hill looking for more stars — only to discover that the glow from the nearby town makes them hard to see. What would it take for her neighbors to turn off their lights, just for one night, so that everyone could see the starlit sky? Sue Soltis’s tale of a young activist and Christine Davenier’s luminous illustrations will leave readers curious about the dark-sky movement — and the wonder that is waiting for them just up the street.


What’s That Noise?
By Naomi Howarth


Ages 3-7

Magnus the Arctic seal wakes up from a very deep sleep one morning, puzzled by a strange rumbling sound. What's that noise? Could it be the creaking of the trees? The whistling of the wind? The cracking of the ice? The roaring of the sea? Hare, Owl, and Polar Bear don’t have any idea, but Walrus has a good suggestion: it could be Magnus's rumbling tummy! After a yummy feast of plump, pink shrimp, the friends all settle down to sleep — but suddenly there’s another rumbling sound. What’s that noise? Readers curious about the creatures can learn more about them and their environment in an informative final spread.

These books are so fun, educational and inspirational for young readers and the future caregivers for our planet!  Get your kiddos reading this spring with these beautifully written and illustrated picture books from Candlewick Press!

Explore Candlewick Press

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Turn Any Room Into an Arcade with ProjeX!

DISCLOSURE* Thank you to ProjeX for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

The kiddos are really missing going to the arcade, but we recently got to try out ProjeX and it's totally helping to ease their quarantine pain! 

ProjeX is a battery operated projecting gaming system.  You point the console at a wall, choose from one of three game slides, pick your difficulty level and have a blast! 

You can play solo or two player games with three different targets: Bullseye, UFO or Duck.  Each is an increasingly trickier target to hit.  The blasters provide fairly accurate results with a laser-type target.  

   

ProjeX is interactive fun for the whole family!  Really...all ages will love this game!  All of us have been enjoying blasting moving targets that are projected right onto our wall.  

Projex is a great screen-free game that works best in a dark room, when you project on a light-colored wall with no artwork, wallpaper or painted patterns.

The portable, battery-operated projector can go wherever you go.  ProjeX works great on the outside wall of the house or garage door for outdoor play.

What a great way to make your quarantine more fun for the whole family!  ProjeX retails for $49.99 at Target and Walmart in the US and $69.99 at Toys R Us in Canada.

Explore ProjeX

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.