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Recommend this book:
Modern Farms
Jackie Nix , Karen Light (Illustrator)
2022 Bronze Medal
34 Pages
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Modern Farms is a short educational picture book meant to teach children the importance of farming and how modern farms produce the food we need to sustain ourselves. Written by Jackie Nix and complemented with some delightful illustrations by Karen Light, Modern Farms is a must-read for kids. The engaging picture book showcases how, nowadays, we use chemistry to grow our crops instead of using a rake or a hoe. The milk that we drink comes from the dairy cows living on farms. Vegetables like tomatoes, spinach, beans, broccoli, and many more all come from farms, as do the chickens that lay the eggs for us to eat. Combines harvest corn that feeds both animals and humans. The strawberries in your salad or shake come from farms, as do the potatoes in your French fries!
With growing advancements in technology and the increasing obsession with social media amongst kids, it's vital that we teach the next generation the fundamentals of farming and encourage those who show any interest in it. Modern Farms does that and much more. Author Jackie Nix writes in an easily accessible style that is bound to reach kids and teach them valuable lessons on how farming provides us with all the nourishment we need to survive and how modern farms function in general. The illustrations by Karen Light bring a bit of color to the proceedings and make the story all the more fun to read. Modern Farms is a delightful read meant to encourage future potential farmers to take up farming.
Modern Farms is a short educational picture book meant to teach children the importance of farming and how modern farms produce the food we need to sustain ourselves. Written by Jackie Nix and complemented with some delightful illustrations by Karen Light, Modern Farms is a must-read for kids. The engaging picture book showcases how, nowadays, we use chemistry to grow our crops instead of using a rake or a hoe. The milk that we drink comes from the dairy cows living on farms. Vegetables like tomatoes, spinach, beans, broccoli, and many more all come from farms, as do the chickens that lay the eggs for us to eat. Combines harvest corn that feeds both animals and humans. The strawberries in your salad or shake come from farms, as do the potatoes in your French fries!
With growing advancements in technology and the increasing obsession with social media amongst kids, it's vital that we teach the next generation the fundamentals of farming and encourage those who show any interest in it. Modern Farms does that and much more. Author Jackie Nix writes in an easily accessible style that is bound to reach kids and teach them valuable lessons on how farming provides us with all the nourishment we need to survive and how modern farms function in general. The illustrations by Karen Light bring a bit of color to the proceedings and make the story all the more fun to read. Modern Farms is a delightful read meant to encourage future potential farmers to take up farming.
Recommend this book:
Let's Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali!
Ajanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar
2022 Silver Medal
38 Pages
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite
Learning about other cultures allows us to broaden our perspective and fosters our empathy and curiosity. It also helps us to understand different viewpoints around the world. Let's Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali! will give children useful information in the form of a story. Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India. The young characters are Maya and Neel, who go to India to visit their Aunt Eesha. Diwali is a celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, characterized by sweets, fireworks, and family gatherings. Their aunt tells them the history and practice of Diwali and together they enjoy each of the five days, learning something new every day. At the end of the book, authors Ajanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar include an activity that will allow children to demonstrate what they have discovered.
Learning about other cultures helps children foster their creativity and stimulates their learning process. Let's Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali! follows that approach because it describes the history and activities of each of the days of Diwali in an easy-to-understand manner. I enjoyed seeing the family union and respect for traditions, which are concepts that must always be valued. Ajanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar emphasize these principles and the characters are respectful and willing to learn new things. The children will learn about empathy and tolerance as well as learning respect for other cultures.
Learning about other cultures allows us to broaden our perspective and fosters our empathy and curiosity. It also helps us to understand different viewpoints around the world. Let's Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali! will give children useful information in the form of a story. Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India. The young characters are Maya and Neel, who go to India to visit their Aunt Eesha. Diwali is a celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, characterized by sweets, fireworks, and family gatherings. Their aunt tells them the history and practice of Diwali and together they enjoy each of the five days, learning something new every day. At the end of the book, authors Ajanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar include an activity that will allow children to demonstrate what they have discovered.
Learning about other cultures helps children foster their creativity and stimulates their learning process. Let's Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali! follows that approach because it describes the history and activities of each of the days of Diwali in an easy-to-understand manner. I enjoyed seeing the family union and respect for traditions, which are concepts that must always be valued. Ajanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar emphasize these principles and the characters are respectful and willing to learn new things. The children will learn about empathy and tolerance as well as learning respect for other cultures.
Recommend this book:
Sammy the Seahorse
Is He a Horse or Is He a Fish?
Martha Driscoll & Ann Driscoll
2022 Gold Medal
32 Pages
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Kristine Zimmerman for Readers' Favorite
Sammy the Seahorse: Is He a Horse or Is He a Fish? by Martha and Ann Driscoll is a colorful informational picture book. The Syngnathidae family of fish includes leafy sea dragons, pipefish, and sea horses. Sammy is a common seahorse who lives in a coral reef. Along with Sammy, we are introduced to multiple residents of his warm-water coral reef. Sammy is not your typical fish; he has several unique features like instead of swimming horizontally he swims vertically. Many other unusual aspects of seahorses are discussed, from their tails to the fact that males incubate the eggs. Included at the end of the book are things kids can do to help protect endangered seahorses.
Martha and Ann Driscoll have written a fascinating book chock full of interesting facts about seahorses. Even as an adult I learned some things such as every seahorse's coronet (the spines on top of their heads) is unique like a snowflake. I was immediately immersed in Sammy's undersea world and loved learning about all the many kinds of fish included in the Syngnathidae family. Sammy the Seahorse is a perfect introduction for kids just starting to write reports. The illustrations by Susan Andra Lion are outstanding and detailed. Kids will spend hours looking at all the different sea creatures and seahorses. As a bonus, there are hidden pictures on several pages. Sammy the Seahorse is an outstanding educational book that will delight all lovers of the ocean.
Sammy the Seahorse: Is He a Horse or Is He a Fish? by Martha and Ann Driscoll is a colorful informational picture book. The Syngnathidae family of fish includes leafy sea dragons, pipefish, and sea horses. Sammy is a common seahorse who lives in a coral reef. Along with Sammy, we are introduced to multiple residents of his warm-water coral reef. Sammy is not your typical fish; he has several unique features like instead of swimming horizontally he swims vertically. Many other unusual aspects of seahorses are discussed, from their tails to the fact that males incubate the eggs. Included at the end of the book are things kids can do to help protect endangered seahorses.
Martha and Ann Driscoll have written a fascinating book chock full of interesting facts about seahorses. Even as an adult I learned some things such as every seahorse's coronet (the spines on top of their heads) is unique like a snowflake. I was immediately immersed in Sammy's undersea world and loved learning about all the many kinds of fish included in the Syngnathidae family. Sammy the Seahorse is a perfect introduction for kids just starting to write reports. The illustrations by Susan Andra Lion are outstanding and detailed. Kids will spend hours looking at all the different sea creatures and seahorses. As a bonus, there are hidden pictures on several pages. Sammy the Seahorse is an outstanding educational book that will delight all lovers of the ocean.
Recommend this book:
This Is Me! I Am Who I’m Meant to Be!
Autism book for children, kids, boys, girls, toddlers, parents, teachers and caregivers
Amy Pflueger
2022 Gold Medal
30 Pages
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers' Favorite
Meet Able, a young boy who approaches life from a different angle. He has autism. I refuse to use “disabled” for children and adults who have disorders that limit their abilities. Because they can do much, I prefer using the term “differently-abled.” For example, my 42-year-old son has Asperger’s. This is considered to be on the autism spectrum. Amy Pflueger in This Is Me: I Am Who I’m Meant to Be! has hit the nail on the head by explaining autism. Amy is the mother of two sons who are differently abled because of autism. Children with autism are genuinely a joy to be around. I love watching my son work on figuring out social situations. When he is interested in a topic, he learns all he can and, in many ways, becomes an expert in that field.
Do you know someone who is differently abled? If so, you know what true love and acceptance mean. Unfortunately, many people misunderstand children or adults with autism. They think those with autism are anti-social or self-absorbed. This Is Me: I Am Who I’m Meant to Be! opens the door to understanding those with autism. Amy Pflueger shares the story of Able - a young boy on the autism spectrum - and his understanding of what autism is. Autism allows deep thinking and the development of knowledge on a subject of interest. My son, who has Asperger’s, proves that children with autism can grow up and be a delight. Autism does not make you disabled and useless, but it makes you differently abled and unique. While people with autism struggle, understanding them helps them become all they can be. Read this book and learn how to relate to someone different than you.
Meet Able, a young boy who approaches life from a different angle. He has autism. I refuse to use “disabled” for children and adults who have disorders that limit their abilities. Because they can do much, I prefer using the term “differently-abled.” For example, my 42-year-old son has Asperger’s. This is considered to be on the autism spectrum. Amy Pflueger in This Is Me: I Am Who I’m Meant to Be! has hit the nail on the head by explaining autism. Amy is the mother of two sons who are differently abled because of autism. Children with autism are genuinely a joy to be around. I love watching my son work on figuring out social situations. When he is interested in a topic, he learns all he can and, in many ways, becomes an expert in that field.
Do you know someone who is differently abled? If so, you know what true love and acceptance mean. Unfortunately, many people misunderstand children or adults with autism. They think those with autism are anti-social or self-absorbed. This Is Me: I Am Who I’m Meant to Be! opens the door to understanding those with autism. Amy Pflueger shares the story of Able - a young boy on the autism spectrum - and his understanding of what autism is. Autism allows deep thinking and the development of knowledge on a subject of interest. My son, who has Asperger’s, proves that children with autism can grow up and be a delight. Autism does not make you disabled and useless, but it makes you differently abled and unique. While people with autism struggle, understanding them helps them become all they can be. Read this book and learn how to relate to someone different than you.
Recommend this book:
Moment
Inspiring Our Youth to be Active Global Citizens
Robert Abad
2021 Finalist
140 Pages
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
“When you look at the images of protests going on in a number of countries, you see young people leading the way. They’re demanding not just change, but attention and action.” Those are the well-formulated thoughts of Ariella Abad, age 12. She and her sister have annotated and assisted their father, Robert Abad, in his testament to youth, his photo collage of children in third-world countries. His book, Moment, is a compelling insight into the world out there, all of it, good and the not-so-good. The purpose of this photo collage is to introduce young people to a world beyond their perimeters, to make them “think outside the box.”
Too often young people are trapped in a stereotypical view of the world. We’re all guilty of that, actually seeing what is closest and dearest to us, but not venturing further beyond. Robert Abad’s photographs take the reader/viewer deeper into the esthetics and reality of the world as a whole. Photographs of children playing games we take for granted using only what they can find as equipment, using space littered with debris and who-knows-what-else. The author has accompanied these photos with quotes from famous thinkers from around the world. l like Salman Rushdie’s quote, “The only people who see the whole picture are the ones who step out of the frame.” And, Jorge Luis Borges’ quote, which certainly defines this book’s title, “Any life is made up of a single moment; the moment in which a man finds out, once and for all, who he is.” He also included some anonymous well-known sayings, like “Never lose your sense of wonder.” The result is a powerful, very thorough, thought-provoking book to study and appreciate, something to hopefully inspire young people to reach out, explore, be adventurous, to understand what is out there. And, yes, with photographs and quotations like this, the book can still be a fascinating coffee table book, one to open up multiple avenues of discussion amongst family and friends.
“When you look at the images of protests going on in a number of countries, you see young people leading the way. They’re demanding not just change, but attention and action.” Those are the well-formulated thoughts of Ariella Abad, age 12. She and her sister have annotated and assisted their father, Robert Abad, in his testament to youth, his photo collage of children in third-world countries. His book, Moment, is a compelling insight into the world out there, all of it, good and the not-so-good. The purpose of this photo collage is to introduce young people to a world beyond their perimeters, to make them “think outside the box.”
Too often young people are trapped in a stereotypical view of the world. We’re all guilty of that, actually seeing what is closest and dearest to us, but not venturing further beyond. Robert Abad’s photographs take the reader/viewer deeper into the esthetics and reality of the world as a whole. Photographs of children playing games we take for granted using only what they can find as equipment, using space littered with debris and who-knows-what-else. The author has accompanied these photos with quotes from famous thinkers from around the world. l like Salman Rushdie’s quote, “The only people who see the whole picture are the ones who step out of the frame.” And, Jorge Luis Borges’ quote, which certainly defines this book’s title, “Any life is made up of a single moment; the moment in which a man finds out, once and for all, who he is.” He also included some anonymous well-known sayings, like “Never lose your sense of wonder.” The result is a powerful, very thorough, thought-provoking book to study and appreciate, something to hopefully inspire young people to reach out, explore, be adventurous, to understand what is out there. And, yes, with photographs and quotations like this, the book can still be a fascinating coffee table book, one to open up multiple avenues of discussion amongst family and friends.
Recommend this book:
Wayne Gerard Trotman's Rhyming Stories
An Anthology of Seven Illustrated Children's Poems
Wayne Gerard Trotman
2021 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Trisha Dawn for Readers' Favorite
Wayne Gerard Trotman's Rhyming Stories: An Anthology of Seven Illustrated Children's Poems is a collection of different, witty poems focused on different modern concerns. The book starts off with a poem about honey bees, followed by a poem about the animals from the forests and seas, and a poem about a pure-hearted girl and her struggles in her new life in the city. Each page is filled with amazing and vibrant illustrations that children would surely adore. Join the characters of each poem as they tell the story of a whole different world from their perspective!
Wayne Gerard Trotman's Rhyming Stories, introduced by Benjamin Zephaniah, is a fascinating and lovely series of poems that parents will surely enjoy reading with their children. It is filled with lessons mostly about the environment and animals, which is exactly what children need. The different poems truly helped me see the problems we are currently facing in our environment. Each poem has eye-catching illustrations, illustrated by Nhat Hao Nguyen, which added to the beauty of the stories and helped me clearly visualize the message each poem was trying to impart. I felt the sadness in each poem as they struggled to get through the problems they were facing and even sadder knowing that these problems are really happening around us. This book not only teaches us the consequences of the irresponsibility of mankind’s actions but also presents us with solutions to help make the world a better place. Overall, this was truly an eye-opening and awe-inspiring book. Well done!
Wayne Gerard Trotman's Rhyming Stories: An Anthology of Seven Illustrated Children's Poems is a collection of different, witty poems focused on different modern concerns. The book starts off with a poem about honey bees, followed by a poem about the animals from the forests and seas, and a poem about a pure-hearted girl and her struggles in her new life in the city. Each page is filled with amazing and vibrant illustrations that children would surely adore. Join the characters of each poem as they tell the story of a whole different world from their perspective!
Wayne Gerard Trotman's Rhyming Stories, introduced by Benjamin Zephaniah, is a fascinating and lovely series of poems that parents will surely enjoy reading with their children. It is filled with lessons mostly about the environment and animals, which is exactly what children need. The different poems truly helped me see the problems we are currently facing in our environment. Each poem has eye-catching illustrations, illustrated by Nhat Hao Nguyen, which added to the beauty of the stories and helped me clearly visualize the message each poem was trying to impart. I felt the sadness in each poem as they struggled to get through the problems they were facing and even sadder knowing that these problems are really happening around us. This book not only teaches us the consequences of the irresponsibility of mankind’s actions but also presents us with solutions to help make the world a better place. Overall, this was truly an eye-opening and awe-inspiring book. Well done!
Recommend this book:
 and covers the full gamut of emotions that any child might experience from happy, sur...){kind=link}
Dear Me, Letters to Myself For All of My Emotions
Donna Tetreault
2021 Honorable Mention
36 Pages
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Dear Me, Letters to Myself For All of My Emotions by Donna Tetreault is a delightful illustrated children’s book that teaches children positive ways of dealing with their emotions, be they good or bad. The story focuses on one happy little boy (most of the time) and covers the full gamut of emotions that any child might experience from happy, surprised, joyful, scared, mad, embarrassed, and a few others besides. When the young boy’s mother tells him it will help him understand and deal with his emotions by writing them down, he begins writing short notes to himself about what he is feeling on any particular day. What he discovers is that by writing these down, he has not only understood why he felt the emotion but also that it wasn’t permanent and that he discovered a new emotion in himself – pride in his achievement.
Dear Me, Letters to Myself For All of My Emotions is an excellent illustration for children of a correct and appropriate way for young kids to express their emotions and especially not to be afraid of what they are feeling. By sharing these emotions with a parent, it also allows a greater understanding by the child that what they are experiencing is not unique to them and that others also experience the same emotions and learn to deal with them. Author Donna Tetreault has produced an incredibly useful tool for parents when discussing emotions, especially negative ones, with their youngsters. The book is beautifully illustrated by Elisena Bonadio and the bright colors and expressive faces of the artist’s work just add to the wonderful message. I would be extremely happy to share this book with or read it to any young child struggling with their emotions and I am sure it would prove useful to them. I can highly recommend this parenting tool.
Dear Me, Letters to Myself For All of My Emotions by Donna Tetreault is a delightful illustrated children’s book that teaches children positive ways of dealing with their emotions, be they good or bad. The story focuses on one happy little boy (most of the time) and covers the full gamut of emotions that any child might experience from happy, surprised, joyful, scared, mad, embarrassed, and a few others besides. When the young boy’s mother tells him it will help him understand and deal with his emotions by writing them down, he begins writing short notes to himself about what he is feeling on any particular day. What he discovers is that by writing these down, he has not only understood why he felt the emotion but also that it wasn’t permanent and that he discovered a new emotion in himself – pride in his achievement.
Dear Me, Letters to Myself For All of My Emotions is an excellent illustration for children of a correct and appropriate way for young kids to express their emotions and especially not to be afraid of what they are feeling. By sharing these emotions with a parent, it also allows a greater understanding by the child that what they are experiencing is not unique to them and that others also experience the same emotions and learn to deal with them. Author Donna Tetreault has produced an incredibly useful tool for parents when discussing emotions, especially negative ones, with their youngsters. The book is beautifully illustrated by Elisena Bonadio and the bright colors and expressive faces of the artist’s work just add to the wonderful message. I would be extremely happy to share this book with or read it to any young child struggling with their emotions and I am sure it would prove useful to them. I can highly recommend this parenting tool.
Recommend this book:
Cleo-cat-tra’s World of Bugs
Lucy T. Geringer and Savanna G. Kollock
2021 Honorable Mention
48 Pages
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Cleo-cat-tra the cat and her friend Mario the mouse were outside exploring the world of bugs. They followed a dragonfly that was fluttering above the water and watched a stink bug trudging through a hedge. Mario saw a spider in the barn and Cleocat was having fun with the grasshoppers. Then they both tried to catch the butterflies that were flying above their heads. They watched the beetles crawling on a log and spotted a praying mantis. Then in the afternoon the two friends listened to a cricket and stared at some ladybugs. They also saw some ants marching up a hill and Cleocat climbed a branch to see a swarm of honeybees buzzing around their hive. Cleocat and Mario listened to the cicadas singing and they also saw a caterpillar. As they sat on their porch in the evening they listened to the katydids and they both realized it was a lot of fun exploring together.
Cleo-cat-tra's Wonderful World of Bugs: A Cleocat First Concept Book by Lucy T. Geringer and Savanna G. Kollock is an adorable story of two friends who go out and explore the world of bugs. The authors introduce readers to the world of bugs in an entertaining and interesting way, making it informative and educational. Thomas Rodriguez adds color and appeal to the book with his wonderful illustrations and makes the characters of the two friends, Cleo-cat-tra and Mario, palpable to readers. It is a good way to introduce readers to different types of bugs and that makes it a good story to use in classrooms for storytelling and read-aloud sessions. The book will also help children appreciate nature and enjoy it with wonder and awe along with enhancing their vocabulary. The book makes a perfect gift this Christmas season for parents and grandparents to give their kids and grandkids.
Cleo-cat-tra the cat and her friend Mario the mouse were outside exploring the world of bugs. They followed a dragonfly that was fluttering above the water and watched a stink bug trudging through a hedge. Mario saw a spider in the barn and Cleocat was having fun with the grasshoppers. Then they both tried to catch the butterflies that were flying above their heads. They watched the beetles crawling on a log and spotted a praying mantis. Then in the afternoon the two friends listened to a cricket and stared at some ladybugs. They also saw some ants marching up a hill and Cleocat climbed a branch to see a swarm of honeybees buzzing around their hive. Cleocat and Mario listened to the cicadas singing and they also saw a caterpillar. As they sat on their porch in the evening they listened to the katydids and they both realized it was a lot of fun exploring together.
Cleo-cat-tra's Wonderful World of Bugs: A Cleocat First Concept Book by Lucy T. Geringer and Savanna G. Kollock is an adorable story of two friends who go out and explore the world of bugs. The authors introduce readers to the world of bugs in an entertaining and interesting way, making it informative and educational. Thomas Rodriguez adds color and appeal to the book with his wonderful illustrations and makes the characters of the two friends, Cleo-cat-tra and Mario, palpable to readers. It is a good way to introduce readers to different types of bugs and that makes it a good story to use in classrooms for storytelling and read-aloud sessions. The book will also help children appreciate nature and enjoy it with wonder and awe along with enhancing their vocabulary. The book makes a perfect gift this Christmas season for parents and grandparents to give their kids and grandkids.
Recommend this book:
To Be or Knot To Be
Melanie Burgess
2021 Bronze Medal
34 Pages
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
To Be or Knot To Be is a children’s educational animal picture book written and illustrated by Melanie Burgess. The Florida Everglades are home to colonies of flamingos. Two flamingos from one of those colonies loved to dance and swirl about each other on the mudflats. Suddenly, as they spun, they fell in a tangled mass of flamingo necks, bodies, and long legs. When they got up, they realized their necks had gotten knotted together. No matter what they did, they just couldn’t untangle themselves. The panicky flamingos shouted out for help, but the other flamingos in the colony only laughed at the ridiculous predicament the two had gotten themselves into. Since the colony was no help, the knotted flamingos decided to find someone else to help them. No one seemed to have the answers that the tired and knotted-up flamingos needed, but still, they persevered in their hunt for assistance.
Melanie Burgess’ To Be or Knot To Be is an extraordinary selection for young readers that takes them into the heart of the Florida Everglades and introduces them to the native flora and fauna. Burgess' illustrations are masterful and make this virtual visit to the Everglades an unforgettable one. Each panel reveals aspects of the Everglades and its inhabitants in full detail and accuracy. I found myself delightedly lingering as I turned each page -- so much to look at! Would the two flamingos ever discover the key to unknotting their necks? While the answer proved so elusive throughout the story, the visit to the Everglades and its different habitats made the search a sheer pleasure. Burgess includes in her appendix an informative page entitled Knowledge Nibblers that further educates young readers about the Everglades environments. A section called Habitat Hunt calls upon readers to match plants and animals to the correct Everglades habitat. To Be or Knot To Be will, no doubt, excite imaginations and even inspire some young readers to become ecologists or environmentalists. It’s most highly recommended.
To Be or Knot To Be is a children’s educational animal picture book written and illustrated by Melanie Burgess. The Florida Everglades are home to colonies of flamingos. Two flamingos from one of those colonies loved to dance and swirl about each other on the mudflats. Suddenly, as they spun, they fell in a tangled mass of flamingo necks, bodies, and long legs. When they got up, they realized their necks had gotten knotted together. No matter what they did, they just couldn’t untangle themselves. The panicky flamingos shouted out for help, but the other flamingos in the colony only laughed at the ridiculous predicament the two had gotten themselves into. Since the colony was no help, the knotted flamingos decided to find someone else to help them. No one seemed to have the answers that the tired and knotted-up flamingos needed, but still, they persevered in their hunt for assistance.
Melanie Burgess’ To Be or Knot To Be is an extraordinary selection for young readers that takes them into the heart of the Florida Everglades and introduces them to the native flora and fauna. Burgess' illustrations are masterful and make this virtual visit to the Everglades an unforgettable one. Each panel reveals aspects of the Everglades and its inhabitants in full detail and accuracy. I found myself delightedly lingering as I turned each page -- so much to look at! Would the two flamingos ever discover the key to unknotting their necks? While the answer proved so elusive throughout the story, the visit to the Everglades and its different habitats made the search a sheer pleasure. Burgess includes in her appendix an informative page entitled Knowledge Nibblers that further educates young readers about the Everglades environments. A section called Habitat Hunt calls upon readers to match plants and animals to the correct Everglades habitat. To Be or Knot To Be will, no doubt, excite imaginations and even inspire some young readers to become ecologists or environmentalists. It’s most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
 is a children’s animal picture book written and illustrated by Cazzy Zahursky. Barnabee loved spelling; it was so much fun to figure out which letters made up each word. Every time he heard or read a new word, he couldn’t help but want to learn how it was spelled. His secret dream was to become a spelling bee cham...){kind=link}
Barnabee Believes (in Himself)
Cazzy Zahursky
2021 Silver Medal
39 Pages
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Children - Educational
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Barnabee Believes (in Himself) is a children’s animal picture book written and illustrated by Cazzy Zahursky. Barnabee loved spelling; it was so much fun to figure out which letters made up each word. Every time he heard or read a new word, he couldn’t help but want to learn how it was spelled. His secret dream was to become a spelling bee champion. Then, one day, he couldn’t believe his ears -- his teacher announced that he and Buster Bee had qualified for the big spelling bee. The two young bees were besides themselves with excitement. The teacher then explained that they would be running through practice spelling sessions for the following three days. In the first session, Barnabee went first. He got his word -- and suddenly the ground seemed to drop from underneath him. His head pounded, and his hands were damp and cold. It was a simple word, but he couldn’t do it, he just couldn't do it.
In her inspirational picture book about young bees experiencing stage fright, Barnabee Believes (in Himself), author and illustrator, Cazzy Zahursky, addresses the fears that everyone has felt at some point or other, and will no doubt feel again. As Barnabee’s mom so eloquently explains, one has to feel fear before one can be brave. Young readers will find much in common with Barnabee as even being called to answer a question in class can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you notice fellow classmates giggling and making fun of you. Through her character’s conflict and his efforts to resolve it, Zahursky gives kids great ideas on how to calm themselves before a public speaking situation, and she shows how Barnabee’s alliance with Buster Bee gives both of them strength. Zahursky’s illustrations are colorful and clever, and the message underlying her story is an important one -- there’s also lots of fun bee-centric word play to appreciate along the way. Barnabee Believes (in Himself) is highly recommended.
Barnabee Believes (in Himself) is a children’s animal picture book written and illustrated by Cazzy Zahursky. Barnabee loved spelling; it was so much fun to figure out which letters made up each word. Every time he heard or read a new word, he couldn’t help but want to learn how it was spelled. His secret dream was to become a spelling bee champion. Then, one day, he couldn’t believe his ears -- his teacher announced that he and Buster Bee had qualified for the big spelling bee. The two young bees were besides themselves with excitement. The teacher then explained that they would be running through practice spelling sessions for the following three days. In the first session, Barnabee went first. He got his word -- and suddenly the ground seemed to drop from underneath him. His head pounded, and his hands were damp and cold. It was a simple word, but he couldn’t do it, he just couldn't do it.
In her inspirational picture book about young bees experiencing stage fright, Barnabee Believes (in Himself), author and illustrator, Cazzy Zahursky, addresses the fears that everyone has felt at some point or other, and will no doubt feel again. As Barnabee’s mom so eloquently explains, one has to feel fear before one can be brave. Young readers will find much in common with Barnabee as even being called to answer a question in class can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you notice fellow classmates giggling and making fun of you. Through her character’s conflict and his efforts to resolve it, Zahursky gives kids great ideas on how to calm themselves before a public speaking situation, and she shows how Barnabee’s alliance with Buster Bee gives both of them strength. Zahursky’s illustrations are colorful and clever, and the message underlying her story is an important one -- there’s also lots of fun bee-centric word play to appreciate along the way. Barnabee Believes (in Himself) is highly recommended.
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