Book Review - Twas the Night Before Christmas: Or Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas

About the Book

In Twas the Night Before Christmas you get an exquisitely detailed drawings by Matt Tavares embody the spirit of a magical night now in a lavish, full-size gift edition marking the two-hundredth anniversary of the classic poem.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Once upon a time, children imagined St. Nicholas as a stern, skinny bishop who was as likely to dole out discipline as Christmas presents. But thanks to the poem “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas”—written by Clement C. Moore in 1822 and published the next year in the Troy Sentinel—a plumper, merrier St. Nick was born, transformed into the sleigh-riding, chimney-diving jolly old elf we now call Santa Claus. With gorgeous monochrome illustrations by Matt Tavares that are meticulously true to pre-Victorian times, this reissue of the holiday favorite ’Twas the Night Before Christmas Or Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas honors the poem’s original language in a definitive keepsake volume.

My Take on the Book
This was a beautiful retelling of a tale that you know and love. The book itself has amazing images that truly draw you in from the beginning of the book to the very end. I definitely will be including this in my Christmas plans and reading it to my family too! 


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Book Review - Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara: The Stories. The Influence. The Legacy

About the Book
Featuring concept art, memorabilia, and original interviews, Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara explores the legacies of the princesses and what they represent today.

Everyone knows the Disney Princess characters, but how did they become the cultural icons we know today? From the Princesses Walt Disney and his artists brought to the screen in the twentieth century, such as Snow White and Aurora, to the recent additions such as Moana, Tiana, and Rapunzel, each Disney Princess character’s influence has expanded beyond their original film. Each of their unique, individual stories create a fabric with the power to inspire our imaginations, spark social conversations, and empower us.

Featured Disney Princesses include:

• Moana
• Merida, Brave
• Rapunzel, Tangled
• Tiana, The Princess and the Frog
• Mulan
• Pocahontas
• Jasmine, Aladdin
• Belle
• Ariel, The Little Mermaid
• Aurora, Sleeping Beauty
• Cinderella
• Snow White

Organized by themes of origins and inspirations, re-imaginings, toys and collectibles, fashion, music, parks, fandom, and more, Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara features memorabilia and interviews with Disney historians, directors, voice talent, and fans. Explore the different eras, influences, and legacies of the Princesses with Disney Legends such as Jodi Benson (voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid and author of the book’s foreword), Lea Salonga (the singing voice behind two Princesses, Jasmine and Mulan) and composer Alan Menken.

What is it that has made these characters resonate through so many generations and cultures? How have they become a reflection of pop culture as we know it? Delve into these indelible characters and find the Disney Princess within you!


My Take on the Book
This was a wonderful book that any fan of the Disney processes will love. Bringing together amazing concept art as well as interviews that really bring you into the creation of the movies themselves, you will be transported into the films, but also leave feeling like much more of an expert on the Disney princesses as well. The book is well organized and you will love learning more about the princesses in all aspects, form the pre-conception, to the movie, to even toys and more. All-in-all, any fan of Disney and Disney Princesses will want to add this to their collection!

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Book Review - Doña Esmeralda, Who Ate Everything

About the Book

In Doña Esmeralda, Who Ate Everything you get a silly, laugh-out-loud read-aloud picture book debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz!

Once upon a time, in the middle of a group of seven thousand happy islands named after King Philip of Spain, there lived a lady named Doña Esmeralda.

She had a big bouffant hairdo and was much smaller than you.

And she was always hungry...

And so begins the wickedly hilarious tale of one very old, but very stylish little lady who loves to eat, but can only find the ooey, gooey, mushy, smelly leftovers of naughty children to nosh on. But what happens when Doña Esmeralda finds out about all the tasty treats that children do eat? Hold on to your hairdos as Esmeralda eats everything in sight in a cumulative read-aloud inspired by stories from author Melissa de la Cruz's childhood in the Philippines


My Take on the Book
This is a character that simply jumps off the page. It is a great book that my daughters completely loved. On top of the character though the story itself is so memorable! It is a crazy, off the wall story that every kid will love! Get ready for a read-aloud experience you will not forget!

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Book Review - John's Turn

About the Book
In John's Turn E. B. White Read-Aloud winner Mac Barnett celebrates individuality in a story told with tenderness and subtlety. It’s John’s big day at school today—a performance for Sharing Gifts time. His bag is carefully packed and prepared, his classmates are ready, and the curtain is waiting to open. John is nervous, looking out at all the other children staring back at him. But he takes a big breath and begins. Mac Barnett’s compassionate text and Kate Berube’s understated and expressive art tell the story of a kid who finds the courage to show others his talent for dancing.

My Take on the Book
This is a wonderful book that allows you to see the importance if sharing your gifts no matter what, but also shares a story of courage that will inspire other children too. The book also opens up dialogue for kids to be able to see the importance of acceptance, kindness and more. Get ready for an emotional ride as you read this amazing book!

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Book Review - Little Sherlock Books!

About the Books

Solve puzzles with Little Sherlock!

Could there really be a ghost haunting the amusement park? Little Sherlock and his friends are on the case!

• 
  Read & Solve to uncover the mystery!
• Easy-to-read story for ages 6 and up.
• Includes fun, engaging puzzles that encourage active reading.
• Young readers will practice language, logic, and reasoning skills as they solve the mystery.
• Sturdy hardcover binding.
• Read & Solve Storybook measures 6'' wide x 9'' high.
• 48 full-color pages.

Books in the Series

• Little Sherlock A Ghost at the Carnival
• Little Sherlock The Case of the Mysterious Goldfish
• Little Sherlock The Mystery of the Vanishing Potatoes
• Little Sherlock The Secret of the Treasure Chest

My Take on the Books
These were such fun books. If you have a child that loves mysteries, you will want to share these books with them. In each of the books your child will be challenged to deduce what is happening in each of the stories. Your child will love the characters and the illustrations are fun and invite you in to learn even more. All-in-all these were very fun books for parents and children to share together!

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Book Review - Sometimes, All I Need Is Me

About the Book
In Sometimes All I Need Is Me you get gentle themes of resiliency, mindfulness, and self-care are brought home in this sweet and soulful picture book with charmingly graphic illustrations and a poetic text.

I love listening to music, especially samba!

It feels like my heart follows the beat.

Meet a young girl who loves her cozy home. It smells like cinnamon tea and feels like warm pajamas. But even when she’s away from home, and everything is different, she finds a way to become her own home, where she feels calm. At night, when it’s too dark and her feet are cold, her room can be a little scary. But she creates her own light when she closes her eyes and thinks of the sun. With friendliness and charm, Juliana Perdomo, in her debut as author-illustrator, shows young readers how to find comfort and confidence within. Her heartwarming picture book reassures children that sometimes, everything we need—courage, joy, peace, and love—is already inside us.


My Take on the Book
I loved this story and how well it allows a parent and child to connect and learn about things that are so important. The book introduces you to concepts of mindfulness and more as you get to talk through these issues and opens up lines of communication with young readers about how they can care for themselves and advocate for themselves too!

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Book Review - Tisha and the Blossoms

About the Book
In Tisha and the Blossoms, Tisha and Mommy are always having to hurry up. What would happen if they slowed down? A gentle, gorgeously illustrated story of mindfulness—and sharing the small moments.

Tisha was catching a blossom in her backyard.

“Hurry up,” cried Mommy. “You’ll be late for school.”

Tisha has spent the entire day rushing. She has to hustle for the bus in the morning, though she wants to stop and listen to the sounds around her. She has to quickly put her crayons away at school, though she’s not finished with her drawing. She even has to speed through recess so she doesn’t miss lunch. So when Mommy picks her up, Tisha asks if they can please “have a little slowdown.” What if they walked instead of taking the bus? What if they counted cars and seagulls, umbrellas and hats? What if they simply sat on a bench in the sunshine and gave names to the pigeons in the park? From the creators of Grandpa’s Top Threes comes a beautifully illustrated, tenderly told story about taking the time to experience the world around us, listen to one another, and enjoy the little things in life.

My Take on the Book
To often kids are going 100 miles a minute and fail to learn to slow down and be mindful of the world around them This book takes on mindfulness in a fun way and allows kids to understand mindfulness in a whole new way. This was a fun book for parents and children to enjoy together!

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