Early learning books with STEM vibe: Candlewick books for little ones [Review & Giveaway]

Maisy Loves Birds: A Maisy's Planet Book by Lucy Cousins

ISBN: 9781536236620
$9.99 US | Board Book

My thoughts:  Maisy books are so cute. Bold line drawings in bright colors on sturdy board all prove to be winners when combined with Lucy Cousins' ideas that entertain and, yes, educate our wee little ones.

The Maisy Planet books introduce our little ones to the world around them beyond typical counting, ABC, and identity story lines. In Maisy Loves Birds: A Maisy Planet Book a slow and careful introduction to birds of the world are introduced. All designed to educate and make children aware of the variety and scope of those flitting, flying, singing creatures and how they fit into this world of ours. Set to engender an appreciation  birds and their variety and purpose. A delightful little book.

About the book: Curiosity takes wing as the littlest nature lovers explore birds of all feathers in this bright and cheerful board book in the Maisy’s Planet series.

Investigate the world of birds with Maisy! Introduce the youngest listeners to their avian friends, from familiar garden species to swooping birds of prey, from soaring seabirds to birds that don’t fly at all. Toddlers can learn about nesting, feeding, and migrating through colorful illustrations and a simple text pitched for the youngest explorers and budding bird-watchers. In the Maisy’s Planet series, each sturdy board book celebrates a different feature of the natural world, with bold colors, clear language, and a fun spread to open out at the end. Kids love to love our planet with Maisy! (Check out the giveaway opportunity below!)

Maisy Loves Butterflies: A Maisy's Planet Book by Lucy Cousins & 

Available May 2025
Boardbook $9.99

Who doesn’t love a butterfly? Set a little one’s heart aflutter with this exploration of the beautiful creatures, led by everyone’s favorite mouse.

Join Maisy as she learns all about gorgeous butterflies! This fifth book in the Maisy’s Planet series introduces children to both butterflies and moths, as it investigates everything from caterpillars to cocoons to the insects in flight. Find out about patterns, color, and camouflage, and open out the final scene to marvel at Maisy’s butterfly- and moth-friendly garden! Secret word: nature (Watch for Chat With Vera's review soon!)

One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman & illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby 

ISBN: 9781536201796
$17.99 US | Hardcover

My thoughts:  This is a delightful, rollicking counting book that has colorful, rip-roaring dinosaurs playing a game. Usually my preference is to introduce dinosaurs when the child is older, perhaps five-plus; but this cute book simply has imaginative "osaurs" playing. So no harm in that.

It is imaginatively cute with a bit of rhyme as the count goes from one to ten. 

About the book: Part counting game, part dinosaur celebration, this energetic romp is a numbers concept book for the ages.

"One-osaurus, two-osaurus, three-osaurus, four!"

Look there, in a child’s bedroom, where some prehistoric pals are gathered in a counting game. Nine dinosaurs are playing a sing-song rendition of hide-and-seek—but something isn’t adding up. Where is number ten? Stomp, stomp, stomp! CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMP! Ready or not, here he comes, and he sounds . . . big! With big, bold numerals, an array of dinosaurs in comical poses, and a humorous twist at the end, this tribute to a child’s imagination makes learning numbers a gigantic 

GIVEAWAY

1 Copy: Maisy Loves Birds

Begins March 4

Ends April 2 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize book is provided and mailed or shipped directly to the winner by Candlewick Publishing or its publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Bizzy Bear has adventures that wee ones will enjoy with lots of fun tabs to pull and push in sturdy board books

Bizzy Bear: Chinese New Year by Benji Davies 

My thoughts:  Stay-at-home little ones and those who attend multi-cultural toddler preschools and activities will learn from this cute board book about the Chinese New Year and it's different (to some) celebrations. What a great introduction into a different culture this would be. Lots of fun and so very cute. Love the rhymes, too.

Summery picture books from Candlewick wrap up the lazy-hazy-days-of-summer [Review & Giveaway]

Frog vs. Toad by Ben Mantle

My thoughts:  This is such a funny, delightful book that involves name-calling, mud-slinging doings down in the woods. The audience grows as frog and toad begin their fitful challenge of ownership over a fly caught by both of them at the same time with their tongues. 

The author uses this verbal and real life mudslinging to teach differences in frogs and toads - their ability to hop high or low, the movement of their eyes, etc. The teaching is achieved in an immensely entertaining way utilizing the mode of storytelling. The lesson is actually hidden in the story.

The main discoverable lesson is that of differences between members of the amphibian reptile group. But the hidden discoverable lesson is that of a society that needs to learn that though there are differences there are also similarities that make us much the same. This provides a good opportunity to gently touch on the differences in races and cultures and how our differences shouldn't drive us apart but how we can appreciate each for their own strengths.

I love the cute illustrations and they help immensely to tell this story. I like particularly how the audience of observers grows with each page turn teaching us that our own actions and performances are observed by a growing audience.

About the book: Two amphibians vie for superiority—before banding together against a toothy foe—in a humorous, light-hearted fable about seeing past differences.

Frog is a frog and Toad is a toad. They are clearly totally different from each other. So when an unlucky fly mistakes Frog and Toad for two frogs, the two are determined to set the record straight. After all, Toad is obviously stronger, while Frog is unmistakably the superior hopper . . . and before long, things start to get a bit heated among the amphibian population in the swamp. But when the two rivals have a close encounter with a snappy alligator, both Frog and Toad see the benefit of joining forces. Perhaps they’re not so different after all? In his authorial debut, author-illustrator Ben Mantle offers a laugh-out-loud look at putting aside differences and celebrating the fact that friends come in all shapes and sizes. (Be sure to enter the giveaway below for a copy of Frog vs. Toad.)

A Day for Sandcastles by JonArno Lawson & illustrated by Qin Leng 

My thoughts:  Wordless books are great for developing the child's imagination and having them verbalize what they see happening in the story. It does not teach or introduce new words into the vocabulary or develop sentence structure capability. Nor does it allow for introduction of a sense of rhyme and rhythm. What it allows is the blossoming of imagination and individual expression.

 So many personal memories of my own childhood were brought forth with the "reading" of this wordless book. Family visits to the beach are treasured occasions and the family in A Day for Sandcastles is no exception. They have a delightful day of fun, sun, wind, sand, and water. I love the saga of the sandcastle and its literal "ups 'n downs." 

Children will love this book.

About the book: A dazzling wordless picture book celebrates creative problem-solving, teamwork, and the sun-splashed wonder of a day at the beach.
The creators of the acclaimed Over the Shop evoke a perfect summer beach day—and themes of creativity, cooperation, flexibility, and persistence—all without a word in this sun-warmed, salt-stained delight of a story. A busload of beachgoers spills out onto the sand for a day of fun and frolic. Three siblings begin work on a castle, patting and shaping the sand as the sun arcs over the sky. Time and again, their progress is halted: a windswept hat topples their creation; a toddler ambles through it; the tide creeps close, and then too close. Meeting each demolition with fresh determination, the builders outdo themselves time and again, until the moment arrives to pile back into the bus for home. An authentic portrait of sibling cooperation—and glorious inspiration for creative people of all ages—A Day for Sandcastles channels the thrill of surrendering expectations on the path to infinite possibility. 

GIVEAWAY - 2 Winners

"Frog vs. Toad"

Begins August 7

Ends August 30 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA & CANADA addresses only.

Canadian winners must also provide phone number

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' prizes are provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity & Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom - Candlewick Press [Review & Giveaway USA/CANADA]

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

My thoughts:  Conveying to young readers (or listeners) math conceptions and understanding in the least how a genius mind works visualizing unknown theoretical thinking is beyond my own comprehension. The story of Ramanujan reads like one of a boy who thinks in ways he does not understand nor do those adults in his environ. 

As it is today, so was it then...... often the highly intellectual are perceived as non-thinking non-conformists and who don't really fit into the scheme of things.

Ramanujan went through regular school and high school and entered university from which he left because he didn't get it right. But he continued to record his thoughts and these were pages and journals of numerical scribbling that no one understood. He sought to understand what small was and what large or biggest  is. He wondered about infinity though I am not sure he even was aware of this concept.

Some children will enjoy having this book read to them, but parents or teachers will need to lay some ground work and be ready to come up with an "infinity" of answers.

About the book: A young mathematical genius from India searches for the secrets hidden inside numbers -- and for someone who understands him -- in this gorgeous picture-book biography.

A mango . . . is just one thing. But if I chop it in two, then chop the half in two, and keep on chopping, I get more and more bits, on and on, endlessly, to an infinity I could never ever reach.

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?

Author Amy Alznauer gently introduces young readers to math concepts while Daniel Miyares's illustrations bring the wonder of Ramanujan's world to life in the inspiring real-life story of a boy who changed mathematics and science forever. Back matter includes a bibliography and an author's note recounting more of Ramanujan's life and accomplishments, as well as the author's father's remarkable discovery of Ramanujan's Lost Notebook.

Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford & illustrated by  Michele Wood  

My thoughts:  I found it interesting that the author uses the number "6" in an interesting manner throughout the story and stanzas. The book opens with a six-word poem titled "Geometry." The poem is printed as a large numerical 6.

A box has six sides and is a cubic structure. The stanzas have six lines (these are non-rhyming lines of text). The author has also positioned a clear-cut timeline of slavery from 1815, the year in which Henry Brown was born, to 1897, the year in which he died though these are not the inclusive years of slavery - just the years that the slave, Henry Brown, lived.

This is a true story of a real person and his life.

Illustrated in a style that utilizes lots of squares and boxes in various sizes. This is, I feel certain, to subconsciously direct the mind to the fact that to escape slavery Henry Brown built a box and shipped himself away from slavery to a free state.

The story is deeply moving and brings to the reader's attention the desperate and dire circumstances of slaves. 

About the Book: In a moving, lyrical tale about the cost and fragility of freedom, a New York Times best-selling author and an acclaimed artist follow the life of a man who courageously shipped himself out of slavery.

What have I to fear?

My master broke every promise to me.

I lost my beloved wife and our dear children.

All, sold South. Neither my time nor my body is mine.

The breath of life is all I have to lose.

And bondage is suffocating me.

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.

GIVEAWAY

Begins August 1

Ends August 29 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA & CANADA addresses.

No P.O. Boxes & Canadian winners must provide phone number.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

Book bonanza brings excitement and joy to young readers (from Candlewick Press - Giveaway USA/CANADA 5-winners)

Who doesn't love to receive packages? And who doesn't love to have a brand new stack of books arrive as a prize? Well, here is an opportunity for five Chat With Vera readers to receive a stack of children's books from Candlewick Press. 

I know you get stacks at a time from your local library but these are days when we are at risk of  COVID infection. So these are a way to build your own library and they are "keepers." Read on...... and don't forget to enter the giveaway....

Ollie and Augustus (Find on Candlewick) 

Ollie and his dog, Augustus, do almost everything together: painting, riding bikes, digging (Ollie’s favorite), and collecting sticks (Augustus’s favorite). So as Ollie is getting ready to start school, he’s a little worried. Won’t Augustus be lonely during the day? Ollie has just the idea: a sign that reads Wanted: Friend for Augustus. But good friends, as it turns out, are hard to find. Luckily, Ollie and Augustus aren’t just any kind of friends — they’re best friends, and nothing will ever change that. Endearingly illustrated with scratch-scratchy appeal, this is a tale for animal lovers and new school-goers alike.

In a sweet story full of visual humor, first-day-of-school worries take on a new weight when Ollie’s best (and furriest) friend must stay at home.

This or That? (Find on Candlewick) 

Illustrated by The Trustees of the British Museum - Series name: Early Learning at the Museum

What will you choose: a horn or a harp? Perhaps you’re more interested in different forms of transportation: would you prefer a boat or a hot-air balloon? The possibilities are endless and the choice is yours. Featuring hundreds of artifacts from the British Museum, this is a book readers will pore over time and time again.

The Same But Different Too (Find on Candlewick) 

I am me, you are you.

We’re the same, but different too.

There’s something about each of us that makes us special. But while everyone is unique, we all have many things in common as well. Explore the ways that we are all the same but different, too, in this joyful and simple celebration of individuality and camaraderie. Filled with children and their animal friends, this rhyming text illuminates the wonderfully different and similar things that make us who we are.

Some Dinosaurs are Small (Find on Candlewick) 

Some dinosaurs are small and slow. They take their time in the prehistoric jungle, collecting fruits and leaves and using their tiny teeth to munch them. Some dinosaurs are big and fast. With huge teeth and claws, they steal food from small dinosaurs, and they’re always hungry for more. So when three big dinosaurs come across one small one, what — or who — can save the little plant-eater? Beautifully drawn and brightly colored, Charlotte Voake’s imaginative introduction to the concept of size brims with visual humor and culminates in a sweet surprise ending.

The concept of size is relative — and takes on prehistoric proportions — in a funny and reassuring tale from a maven of children’s books.

Choo-Choo School (Find on Candlewick) 

All aboard the train-car pool! A new lineup of students is off and rolling to Choo-Choo School. After reciting their classroom rules — Work hard, play fair, be kind — it’s time for some math to get the wheels turning. Then everyone’s ready to climb a hill in gym (it’s good to blow off steam), sing songs in music (Flat Car is a bit off-key), and learn the whole alphabet, especially the letter R. In one of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s last books, lighthearted verse portrays a world where train stations are classrooms, the conductor doubles as the teacher, and Boxcar is happy to hand out tissues to anyone who ah-choo-choos. Bright, energetic illustrations by animation artist Mike Yamada bring the whole clickety crew to rollicking life.

No racing in the haul-ways! From the late, beloved author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, a look at seven adorable train cars on their first day of school.

GIVEAWAY

5 Winners each win all 5 books

Begins July 27

Ends August 24 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA & CANADA addresses only.

(Canadian winners must provide phone number and No P.O. Boxes)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary set of books to facilitate a review/post. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Prize pack is provided and shipped to winners by publisher or publicist.

The Camping Trip & Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures [Review & Giveaway - USA/CANADA]

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

ISBN: 9781536207361
Ages 3-7 ~ Hardcover
Candlewick Press

My thoughts: This is a precious book about two young girls on a camping trip. One is hostess (with her mother) and the other has never camped out before.

The reactions to everything encountered are adorable and so appropriate to city kids going camping for the first time. There is much to be learned in this enjoyable book and much realization of the adaptable nature of kids and the fun to be had in experiencing activities outside our normal scope.

I recommend this gem of a book.

About the book: Ernestine is beyond excited to go camping. She follows the packing list carefully (new sleeping bag! new flashlight! special trail mix made with Dad!) so she knows she is ready when the weekend arrives. But she quickly realizes that nothing could have prepared her for how hard it is to set up a tent, never mind fall asleep in it, or that swimming in a lake means that there will be fish — eep! Will Ernestine be able to enjoy the wilderness, or will it prove to be a bit too far out of her comfort zone? In an energetic illustrated story about a first sleepover under the stars, acclaimed author-illustrator Jennifer K. Mann reminds us that opening your mind to new experiences, no matter how challenging, can lead to great memories (and a newfound taste for s’mores).

Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures by Tricia Springstubb and illustrated by Elaheh Taherian

ISBN: 9781536203066
Ages 5-8 ~ Hardcover
Candlewick Press

My thoughts: This is a sweet generational story of a young child and an older person. They live in the same building and share a backyard. Mr. Hagerty gardens. Khalil plays and digs for treasure. Mr. Hagerty is disappointed his garden produces such insignificant vegetables and Khalil is disappointed that he finds no treasure.

They develop a friendship and soon find a way to ease each other's disappointment. Also, while not verbally indicated as such, young Kahlil eases Mr. Hagerty through his forgetfulness of vocabulary. Perhaps, early dementia. Sweet.

A subtle yet sweet message of caring.  

About the book: Khalil lives in the upstairs apartment with his family, which is big and busy and noisy. Downstairs lives Mr. Hagerty, who is quiet. Khalil and Mr. Hagerty don’t appear to have a lot in common, but hot summer days have a way of bringing people together. As Khalil looks for buried treasure in the yard, Mr. Hagerty tends to his garden. Both help each other navigate language — whether it be learning new words or remembering those seemingly forgotten. Before long, an unlikely friendship is born, full of treasure, thoughtfulness, and chocolate cake. Through well-cultivated details and vibrant cut-paper collage, author Tricia Springstubb and illustrator Elaheh Taherian nurture a heart-tugging tribute to the love of good neighbors and to the strength of intergenerational and intercultural bonds.

GIVEAWAY ~ 2 WINNERS

Begins June 13

Ends July 10 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA and CANADA addresses

(No P.O. Boxes & NO business addresses)

Canadian winners must provide phone number

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies from the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copies are provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist.

Biographical picture books from Candlewick Press: Ben Franklin & Alfred Russel Wallace [Review/Spotlight & Giveaway US/CANADA]

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

ISBN: 9781536201215
Hardcover | $16.99
Candlewick Press
Ages 5-9

My thoughts:  Another superb early reader's biography that will promote interest in reading non-fiction books. A Ben of All Trades recounts in prose the young reader will find easy enough to read, well constructed, and informative enough that it will capture their attention providing entertaining education.

This is a retelling of information gleaned from Ben Franklin's own memoirs. While history aptly records the famous and varied life of Mr. Franklin, A Ben of All Trades provides a look at the activities and likes and dislikes that shaped the young Ben. It also, subtly, provides a look at life in general for a young boy of that time in history.

The artistry of Matt Tavares is beautifully done capturing the period and joy and disappointments of young Ben. I love the entire layout of the book and the pleasant, classic sense of illustration.

I highly recommend this book.

About the book: 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

ISBN: 9781536209327
Hardcover | $24.99
Ages 10 & Up
Candlewick Press

My thoughts:  Fully recognizing that this picture book biography is about a man's search and endorsement of Darwin's evolution, I still believe that I, who does not embrace the evolutionary concept, can benefit from reading about early scientists and their discoveries. I also think that in non-evolution households that children should be able to learn from books such as this.

The travels and experiences of Alfred Russel Wallace were daunting when he pursued his search for beetles and they are daunting to read about today causing one to marvel and, yes, appreciate the obstacles  encountered and his tenacious spirit to forge ahead through various wildernesses throughout the world and make discoveries and comparisons of his findings.

Not only were his travels fraught with discomfort, hardship, and dangers he did not have a wealth of scientific tools with which to work or much scientific basis and discoveries on which to build. It was new. It was hard. It was astounding. He marveled at his findings. 

The illustrations are nicely done and representative of Wallace's discoveries.

About the book: 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.

GIVEAWAY ~ 2 WINNERS

Begins June 2

Ends July 1 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA and CANADA addresses

(No P.O. Boxes & NO business addresses)

Canadian winners must provide phone number
a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies from the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copies are provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist.

A Big Surprise for Little Card (Candlewick Press Picture Book) by Charise Mericle Harper and illustrated by Anna Raff

40 pages, Ages 4-8

Hardcover ISBN: 9780763674854

About the book: Fall in love with a disarming picture-book hero in this quirky ode to spirit, identity, and the joy of having (or being) a library card.

In the world of cards, each one has a special job to do. Big Card keeps important papers in order. Tiny Card can be exchanged for a prize in an arcade. Round Card hangs out in a glamorous boutique. But is any card as lucky as Little Card? He’s going to school to become a birthday card — in other words, to sing, play games, eat cake, and be happy all day long. But wait! On the day he’s supposed to take his talents into the world, Long Card tells him there’s been a mix-up and they need to trade jobs. How can Little Card bring his exuberance into a library, a quiet place of books and rules and hushing? Offbeat and utterly endearing, this tale of a little guy who gives it all he’s got is complete with a sweet twist and a surprise ending.

My thoughts: As a child growing up, I only used the school library as directed and required by my teachers. I don't recall the delightful world of children's picture books, and yet surely there were delightful picture books during that time. However, as my own children came along, I discovered and came to love this special world that engages, educates, and entertains the young child - from the time when my own children just looked at pictures and identified objects and people to where there are lots of words and even a "chapter" story within the colorful pages. My children and their children grew to have a great love and fondness for books and for the treat of "going to the library."

In A Big Surprise for Little Card the author and artist help the reader enter a world of whimsy and, yes, fantasy as they discover a variety of cards being manufactured and put to use through "training." As it turns out, "long card" and "little card" are trained as birthday cards. But little card is not needed and is sent instead to work as a "library card."

Once in the library, little card discovers that a library doesn't use the skills he learned as a birthday card. Birthday cards engage in loud games, excitement, and singing. Library cards don't do any of this. They work with the librarian to keep the library quiet and check out books.

The illustrations are quite cute and there are lots of fun details to look at. The illustrations are multicolored and yet soft. The drawings and "characters" bring a lot of vibrancy and excitement to the story.

This is a fun book and will help children learn a bit about their library and the library card though I see it mainly as a book to entertain the child.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Candlewick Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own, alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Goodnight Selfie by Scott Menchin, illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts: Phones that take pictures is not so new but it isn’t an old technology, either. The advent of the smartphone and its ability to take fantastic pictures ushered in an entirely new fascination that has captivated the minds and attention and consuming addiction of smart phone holders worldwide. So when a young girl (elementary age) inherits her brother’s castoff smart phone, she embarks on her own addition of taking her “selfie” pictures. 

She takes one hither and yonder, from up and from down, from sideways and backwards. She is fascinated. Addictively fascinated! And then it is bedtime. But she still wants to continue to take selfies. But sleep must come – for her and her phone. They both need to recharge their batteries.

The consummate addiction of the majority of today’s society with smartphone “selfies” is no respecter of age. You don’t have to be a grown up to pursue this addiction. As long as you have your “source” – the smartphone – you can become an addict. Of course, addition is not openly addressed in the picture book, but the subtle message is certainly there. We can become so consumed with this urge to click a “selfie” that reality takes a back seat.

So with the click of one final “selfie” our little friend puts it away and recharges her own battery with a bit of sleep. Perhaps another look at recharging batteries on a deeper level than a night’s sleep is called for. 

This is a cute book and children will love it. Hopefully, it won’t encourage more to become engrossed in the taking of “selfie” pictures.

About the book: Smile! Here comes one of the most memorable (and share-able) selfies of a generation.

“There I am! My first selfie!”

After the star of this story gets her brother’s hand-me-down camera-phone and a quick lesson in the “selfie,” there is no stopping her! Anything can be turned into a selfie, and a host of adventures and misadventures caught on camera prove her point. Turning the camera-phone on herself becomes a part of her every day, all day long. Until, that is, it’s time to call it a day. Turns out, camera-phones and kids alike need to recharge their batteries!

GIVEAWAY

Begins November 10 ENDS November 30 @ 12:00 a.m. ET
Open to USA & CANADA addresses only.
No P.O. boxes, please!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Candlewick Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for the review. Giveaway copy is provided by the publisher and will be mailed by the publisher directly to the winner.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, Jon Klassen illustrator [Review & Givaway]

ISBN: 9780763662295
Candlewick Press $16.99 Hardcover

With perfect pacing, the multi-award-winning, New York Times best-selling team of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen dig down for a deadpan tale full of visual humor.

Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging. And they find . . . nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all. Attentive readers will be rewarded with a rare treasure in this witty story of looking for the extraordinary —  and finding it in a manner you’d never expect.

My thoughts: Knowing little boys, they do "stuff" and one of the "stuff" things they like to do is adventure into the unknown and what is more unknown than what lies underneath their feet. So Sam and Dave decide they are going to dig a hole. They are going to dig a hole looking for something spectacular. No, they're not looking for the typical fishing worms so many boys (and men) are wont to do, they are just going for the big, the spectacular, the unknown good stuff.

So with shovels in hand (and illustrator Jon Klassen with pen and water colors in hand) they venture forth in the backyard. Their trusty dog is with them all the way. And the cat is observing on the sidelines.

What is so neat and nifty about this dirt-encrusted (or so it appears from the colors) picture book is that they are going first down, then changing directions, then changing again. They stop and drink their chocolate milk and eat their animal crackers (while sitting deep in the hole and fully encrusted with dirt). They get tired. They keep digging. And finally they go to sleep. And dream.....

There are just a few words to this delightful adventure of two little boys (I had boys of my own!) and there are illustrations that are stark, replete with droll humour and eye rolls. And there is the spectacular - there in the dirt - there to be seen or to be missed. But alas I won't give away the ending.

I just wonder how many little boys have been inclined to go forth and dig a hole or to dig more holes since lingering on the pages of Sam and Dave Dig a Hole.

I can see why this book has won so many awards including the cherished Caldecott Honor Book, the E.B. White Read-aloud Award, New York Times Best-Seller and Notable Book, etc.  I recommend this book for libraries and home libraries as well.

GIVEAWAY

Candlewick Press is providing a giveaway copy

Begins November 10 

ENDS December 1 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to US & Canada addresses only!

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Candlewick Press to facilitate this review. I was not compensated for this review nor was I required to render a positive review. Giveaway copy is provided directly to winner by publisher.

Goodnight Selfie by Scott Menchin, illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby [Giveaway]

Smile! Here comes one of the most memorable (and share-able) selfies of a generation.

“There I am! My first selfie!”

After the star of this story gets her brother’s hand-me-down camera-phone and a quick lesson in the “selfie,” there is no stopping her! Anything can be turned into a selfie, and a host of adventures and misadventures caught on camera prove her point. Turning the camera-phone on herself becomes a part of her every day, all day long. Until, that is, it’s time to call it a day. Turns out, camera-phones and kids alike need to recharge their batteries!

GIVEAWAY

Begins November 10 ENDS November 30 @ 12:00 a.m. ET
Open to USA & CANADA addresses only.
No P.O. boxes, please!
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Read Chat With Vera's - CLICK HERE!

The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower or John Howland's Good Fortune by P.J. Lynch

ISBN: 9780763665845
Hardcover $17.99

About the book: In the first book he has both written and illustrated, master artist P.J. Lynch brings a Mayflower voyager’s story to vivid life.

At a young age, John Howland learned what it meant to take advantage of an opportunity. Leaving the docks of London on the Mayflower as an indentured servant to Pilgrim John Carver, John Howland little knew that he was embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. By his great good fortune, John survived falling overboard on the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, and he earned his keep ashore by helping to scout a safe harbor and landing site for his bedraggled and ill shipmates. Would his luck continue to hold amid the dangers and adversity of the Pilgrims’ lives in New England? John Howland’s tale is masterfully told in his own voice, bringing an immediacy and young perspective to the oft-told Pilgrims’ story. P.J. Lynch captures this pivotal moment in American history in precise and exquisite detail, from the light on the froth of a breaking wave to the questioning voice of a teen in a new world.

My thoughts: This stunningly beautiful children's picture book brings a fresh voice to the usual Pilgrim, Mayflower, and Thanksgiving story. Based a real-life John Howland who as a young man-servant indentured to Pilgrim John Carver, tells his story in an easy-to-read and easy-to-listen to voice from the past.

During the harrowing journey across the Atlantic, the real John Howland actually fell off the ship, The Mayflower. It was a difficult crossing from the old world to the new world and that was only the beginning of the dangers and problems that would beset the Pilgrims once they landed in the new world.

Winter conditions were harsh and bitter cold with little food and much sickness

The author and illustrator, P.J.Lynch has painstakingly represented each scene with meticulous detail, colors that invoke the darkness and troubles endured, and individual passions of the characters. Pictures that are to be treasured.

Wonderful minute detail in the London scene prior to sailing.

This will be a wonderful addition to any library - home, public, school, or classroom. I envision the story being read aloud to young children and older readers reading it themselves. I can see children pouring over the pictures for hours. I can hear and see a teacher reading it aloud to a room full of students - perhaps a different section each day, and the children waiting expectantly for the next page to turn.

Yes, John Howland was a real person. One who signed the Mayflower Compact. One who lived, married, and died here in America where he helped in the early days of America's founding. A super book.

GIVEAWAY

Begins September 10 & ENDS October 1 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. 

Open to USA & CANADA.
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The Author's Comments - Click Here to Read

Author & illustrator, P.J. Lynch, one of the most accomplished children’s book creators working today, has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice and the Christopher Medal three times. His meticulous research brings impeccable detail to the twenty books he has illustrated, including The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski, When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and Mysterious Traveler by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham. P.J. Lynch lives in Dublin.

DISCLOSURE: I receive a complimentary copy from Candlewick Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for the review. Giveaway copy is provided by Candlewick and will be sent directly to the winner.

Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff & illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

About the book: Discover how Benjamin Franklin’s scientific method challenged a certain Dr. Mesmer’s mysterious powers in a whimsical look at a true moment in history.

The day Ben Franklin first set foot in Paris, France, he found the city all abuzz. Everyone was talking about something new. Remarkable. Thrilling. Strange. Something called Science!

But soon the straightforward American inventor Benjamin Franklin is upstaged by a compelling and enigmatic figure: Dr. Mesmer. In elaborately staged shows, Mesmer, wearing a fancy coat of purple silk and carrying an iron wand, convinces the people of Paris that he controls a magic force that can make water taste like a hundred different things, cure illness, and control thoughts! But Ben Franklin is not convinced. Will his practical approach of observing, hypothesizing, and testing get to the bottom of the mysterious Mesmer’s tricks? A rip-roaring, lavishly illustrated peek into a fascinating moment in history shows the development and practice of the scientific method—and reveals the amazing power of the human mind.

My thoughts: As an introduction to non-fiction, this picture book captures the essence of many things. The illustrations are humorously droll. The artist uses reds, browns, and burnt sienna to give richness to the compartmentalized illustrations.  The typesetting lends emphasis and French eloquence, Merci beaucoup.

Young readers will learn....

• That Ben Franklin was an American Statesman, an inventor, and a scientist.
• That a method of healing in France was debunked by Ben Franklin using the scientific method.
• The origin of the word MESMERIZED.

Young readers will enjoy this delightfully informative and educational story as Ben Franklin goes about the eloquently fashionable French Court debunking with the scientific method. This foray into the realm of non-fiction will leave young readers asking for more. Desiring to learn more. Looking to their librarians, teachers, and parents for more opportunities to learn about words, history, science.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by the publisher, Candlewick Press, to facilitate this review. Opinions are just mine. I was not compensated for this review.

Daisy Saves the Day by Shirley Hughes

About the book: Daisy Dobbs has a mother and little twin brothers, but she lives far from them, serving as a maid in a big house owned by two refined old ladies. Daisy scrubs floors and sweeps stairs, washes dishes and peels potatoes. And sometimes she makes mistakes—like hanging the ladies’ red bloomers out the window for all to see. But in the evenings, Daisy sometimes has a moment to herself, which she uses for her favorite thing: borrowing books from the big house’s parlor. When disaster strikes in the form of a kitchen fire, and Daisy’s quick thinking saves the day, the ladies reward her in the best possible way. With atmospheric text and engaging illustrations, Shirley Hughes gently reminds us that reading is a gift to be treasured.

My thoughts: The treasured illustrations of Shirley Hughes grace the pages of Daisy Saves the Day bringing this sweet character to life for young readers. In the early 1900s two elderly spinster sisters live in London and Daisy is taken in as the young scullery maid. Up to this point, Daisy had lived at home with her "Mum" and twin brothers, caring for the twins while Mum worked. Daisy went to school and loved to read. But the time has come for Daisy to help with earnings.

She works very hard for the elderly sisters under the watchful eye of cook and maid who are ill-tempered sorts. The weariness of Daisy is shown in the charming art of Shirley Hughes. And the dreaded lost feeling of homesickness that overwhelms young Daisy when evening draws upon her.

If you don't purchase your own copy of Daisy Saves the Day, be sure you find one in a library and enjoy it. The stories and art of Shirley Hughes are not to be missed!

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Candlewick Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

"Out and About: A First Book of Poems" by Shirley Hughes [Review & Giveaway]

About the book: In this joyous collection of poems, Katie and her little brother, Olly, are ready for whatever each day offers—sunshine, wind, rain, mist, or snow. From the happy sights and sounds of the beach to the quiet beauty of leaves in a rain puddle, this exuberant volume captures to perfection the everyday wonder of being out and about.

My thoughts: From time to time, I come across books written and illustrated in such a way that my heart is warmed and blessed. They might not necessarily be religious in content or from a Christian publisher. Yet, they are a blessing to look at and to absorb the words. Such is the case in my experience with Out and About: A First Book of Poems by Shirley Hughes.

Let’s just say I am charmed. I am delighted. The sheer sweetness of the pictures and sweet poetic thoughts draws and captures my attention and will that of the child as well. The watercolor and pen illustrations are detailed with facial expressions and scenes of the most pleasant of atmospheres. The colors soft yet vibrant. There is a wealth of experiences on the pages inhabited by these visual delights.

The poems are short, expressive and capture each of the seasons and experiences as the child is “Out and About” the neighborhood or down at the seaside. It has been said by Philip Pullman, “Shirley Hughes is a national treasure.” How true. Families will treasure this delightful book and probably pass it along to future generations.

“Waves pouring in

To a sand-castle moat.

Mend the defenses!

Now we’re afloat!

Water’s for splashing,

Sand is for play.

A day by the sea

Is the best kind of day.”

Wet

Dark clouds,

Rain again,

Rivers on the

Misted pane.

Wet umbrellas

In the street.

Running noises,

Damp feet.

GIVEAWAY 

1 Copy of "Out and About: A First Book of Poems"
Begins July 5 & ENDS July 23 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. 
Open to USA & Canada addresses only.

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About the author: Shirley Hughes has illustrated more than two hundred children’s books and is one of the world’s best-loved writers for children. She has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice and has been awarded an OBE for her distinguished service to children’s literature. In 2007, her book Dogger was voted the U.K.’s favorite Kate Greenaway Medal–winning book of all time. Shirley Hughes lives in London.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy  by Candlewick Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone. I received no compensation for this review.

Maps Activity Book by Aleksandra & Daniel Mizielinska

ISBN: 9780763677718
Grades 2-5 ~ $14.99/US, $17.00/CA

About the book: The Mizielinskis return with a compendium of 36 activities for you to design, decorate and draw. Bursting with fascinating facts and puzzles from around the world, this book offers hours of entertainment to young adventurers.

Countries featured include:

Europe – Poland, Czech Republic, Iceland, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Romania, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland
Asia – Russia, Mongolia, China, Nepal, India, Thailand, Japan, Jordan
Africa – Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Tanzania, Namibia, Madagascar
North America – Canada, United States of America, Mexico
South America – Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Chile
Australia and Oceania – Australia, New Zealand, Fiji
the Arctic, Antarctica

My thoughts: I previously reviewed "Maps"   conceived and illustrated by extremely the talented Mizielinskis duo. That was a real treat. (Be sure you go back and read it.) Now there is a Maps Activity Book by these same artists.

Young students and budding artists have at their fingertips a book of creative coloring and drawing activities. This will help them discover their world and have fun while doing it stimulating them mentally and artistically.

Throughout the activity book, they can visit a variety of countries and learn tidbits about that country. They then have an activity that incorporates that information. Example: On the map of Africa, they can draw and color several animals indigenous to Africa. Or for Japan they can design and color a kimono.
In the United Kingdom map outline, they can draw castles all over the place and of their own design because, you know, there once were many castles there.

This is not your standard geography project where the student draws a map of a country and fills in places. No, this is a fun way to learn about our World. This would be a great activity book for children in the home or to be used in a classroom setting. Not dependent on the predecessor, Maps, it is independent though it wouldn't hurt at all to have both available.

Another great product from Big Picture Press an imprint of Candlewick Press. I was provided a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are just mine alone. No compensation was received for this review.

INFORMATION GRAPHICS: SPACE author: Simon Rogers illustrator: Jennifer Daniel

ISBN13: 9780763677695
Ages 8-12 ~ Softcover $17.99

 About the book:  The third in a visually stunning series of information graphics that shows just how interesting and humorous scientific information can be. Complex facts about space are reinterpreted as stylish infographics that astonish, amuse, and inform.

Researched by the Guardian’s Datablog expert and illustrated by New York Times designer Jennifer Daniel, this is a book of the highest pedigree.

My thoughts: The presentation of this book is bold, bright, and striking. Designed to appeal to children ages 8-12, it is sure to grab their attention as they look through the sections that are specially color coordinated with tabs for easy search. There is no index or glossary, but kids will find their way through this book that is filled with amazing bits of information about "space" - that is our Earth, the planets, the Sun, the Moon, and beyond to the galaxies and stars to the Universe itself.

The book begins with an understatement.... "Space is so mind-bogglingly vast...." and yet that statement says it all in a nutshell. It simply amazes the mind with the vastness that is Space!

And the information this little book presents is pretty vast, too. Each tabbed section begins with an "essay" about that section's topic and then the fun, facts, and fabulous graphics begin to unload lots of information on the reader. I find this book amazing, humorous, informative, bright, fun. The book is written with the premise that our solar system is billions of years old, so readers will have to sort that out to their own particular belief system and how it affects the beginning. Personally, I believe God created it all.

This is a secular publication and very well done. It is published by Big Picture Press an imprint of Candlewick Press. I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. No compensation was received and opinions are strictly my own.

Cody and the Fountain of Happiness (Middle-Grade) by Tricia Springstubb illustrated by Eliza Wheeler

On Sale 4/14/2015

Middle-grade readers drawn to Judy Moody or Clementine will find a funny and charismatic companion in Cody, star of this delightful new series.

160 pages

ISBN: 9780763658571 
Hardcover $14.99

For whimsical Cody, many things are beautiful, especially ants who say hello by rubbing feelers. But nothing is as beautiful as the first day of summer vacation, and Cody doesn’t want to waste one minute of it. Meanwhile, teenage brother Wyatt is moping over a girl, Mom is stressed about her new job as Head of Shoes, Dad is off hauling chairs in his long-distance truck, and even camp has been closed for the summer. What to do? Just when all seems lost, Cody bumps into a neighborhood boy named Spencer who is looking for a runaway cat. With a new friend and a soon-to-be-found cat, Cody is on her way to the fountain of happiness.

 SAMPLE CHAPTER

My thoughts: Cody and the Fountain of Happiness is billed as a fun book for middle-grade readers. However, as I read through it I found that in my opinion the only middle-grade readers for whom the book would have appeal would be slow readers.

I did find that there were a couple of items in the story that I found inappropriate for 7 to 10 year olds and they involve the crush Cody’s teen brother has on a teen girl. While this was not handled inappropriately, the subject was just not a desirable one. Also, the mother-drama involving her stress over work is hardly the subject for 7 to 10 year olds, or even middle-graders, in my opinion. 

The story has much potential. Cody is sparkly and filled with personality. She cares for others and she cares for the ants and Mew Mew the cat. So this aspect of the story is fun and instructional. I also like the way Cody relates to the neighbors - Spencer who is staying with his Grandmother. There is the potential for a lot of joy and happiness in this story. It just needs less teen-drama and mother-drama. The illustrations are very nicely done and lend interest which would be helpful for either an early-reader or a reluctant-reader book

So I can’t truly recommend this book since I was somewhat disappointed. It isn’t a total loss. Just not one I can heartily  recommend. 

DISCLOSURE: I received an Advance Reading Copy from Candlewick Press to facilitate review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. I received no compensation for the review.