Book Review - The Brilliant World of Tom Gates

About the Book
Meet Tom Gates. When his teachers don’t have their beady eyes on him, he likes to draw pictures and write about stuff, like last summer’s worst camping vacation ever (five merits!), or how much he hates sitting next to nosy Marcus Meldrew, the most annoying boy at school. All Tom really wants is to score tickets to see the best band ever, Dude3, when they come to town, and to impress Amy Porter, who is very nice and smart (but is currently ignoring him). Tom’s teachers think he is easily distracted and "lacks focus," but that’s a bit harsh — can he help it if his grumpy big sister, Delia, made him late for school (again), or that last night’s homework had to be sacrificed to stave off a vicious dog attack? Master of excuses, creative storyteller, and middle-school comedian extraordinaire, Tom Gates is guaranteed to get kids turning the pages — and keep them laughing.





My Take on the Book
This is very funny book. The text is written in such a way that the reader will feel like he/she is talking/listening to Tom Gates. Included are illustrations with hilarious speech bubbles. The character Tom Gates has a very vivid imagination. The reader will see that throughout the pages as they read the story.

The reader will feel like they are in Tom Gates' mind. He makes positive and negative comments about his home life and school life, his family and his friends. Everything that is happening in his life you will "hear" about through his writings.

At the end of the book is a step by step drawing guide for the reader to produce a drawing of his sister Delia.

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for an older child who loves humor. It may encourage the child to write a journal and illustrate it too.

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Book Review - You Choose Stories: Scooby-Doo: The Ghost of the Bermuda Triangle

About the Book
In this You Choose mystery, Scooby Doo and the gang are on a cruise, right through the Bermuda Triangle! Suddenly, a ghost interrupts a costume contest, sending everyone running. Readers choose which characters to follow. Will your path lead to dangerous criminals, confused passengers, or a real ghost? Solve the mystery again and again!


My Take on the Book
Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang are on a special magical mystery cruise. If you know Scooby -Doo and his friends they always get involved in a mystery and some type of a ghost appears..

The story includes suspense, laughter, and adventure. The author included many colorful illustrations to accompany the text.

As you read the story, there is often written at the bottom of a page two choices. The reader chooses which page to turn to next and keeps reading. Each choice brings the reader to a new part of the story which means if the reader chose the other choice , a different adventure would occur. Because of this feature, the reader will be able to reread this book often and always end up with a new version of the story.

The book was fun to read . If your child enjoys Scooby-Doo, I believe this book will bring hours of enjoyable reading.


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Book Review - Food, Football, and Fun!: Sports Illustrated Kids' Football Recipes

About the Book
Whether you're throwing a football party, tailgating at the stadium, or playing in the game, these recipes have you covered. Hand off a pizza pocket football at home, grill up some Thai peanut chicken kabobs at the game, or celebrate with a chocolate-banana smoothie after a big win. With more than 60 recipes, Sports Illustrated Kids' Food, Football, and Fun will keep your hunger in check this football season!



My Take on the Book
The table of contents of this cookbook is quite large and will give the reader many choices in food for a sport party. There are major sections in the table of contents: football party, tailgating party, and football fuel. Each major section has appetizers, dips, entrees, desserts and drinks.


As I looked through the book I noticed each recipe page had a color photograph of the finished product. All the ingredients, tools, and instructions were well written. The author included how long it would take to prepare the food item. On many pages was some kind of a tip for the reader which I found quite helpful. For example: if the food item was prepared with meat, the tip included how to make it vegetarian.


I believe you will find this book to be a good resource for party foods that are easy to prepare.
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Book Review - DC Super Heroes Origami

About the Book
What happens when you combine Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League with the art of origami? You get the most incredible collection of paper-folding projects ever assembled. These 46 models, meticulously designed by internationally renowned origami master John Montroll, are guaranteed to amaze. With clear, step-by-step diagrams and instructions, simple squares of paper transform into Batarangs, S-Shields, Invisible Jets, Green Lanterns, and so much more. Also included in the back of the book are 96 sheets of specially illustrated folding papers to make your DC creations truly come to life. When you fold these models, your friends will believe youre the one with super powers.




My Take on the Book
John Montroll has written a book that combines the popular superheroes with an art project using origami.Each superhero is colorfully illustrated with a paragraph describing their powers or talents. Next to the superhero is an origami project that pertains to the superhero. For example, after reading about Wonder Woman, your child will use the provided origami paper to construct her symbol.


The directions for the projects are well written and illustrated. The author provides both visuals and written directions along with arrows to show what direction to fold the paper.
Another nice feature of each project is the difficulty labeling the author provided.


I believe this book will provide hours of fun and some challenges too.
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Book Review - Twisters Numbers & Shapes

About the Books
Numbers
Little ones will love learning their numbers with this fun board book that's perfect for pint-sized hands. Each page has a twisty picture to turn and match. They'll love counting their numbers from 1 to 10 twisting the page to find out: How many spots on the lady bug? How many splashes on the piggy? Bright, colorful illustrations, lots of new things to learn, and bendy pictures make this book an all-time favorite.

Shapes 
Little ones will love learning their shapes with this fun board book that's perfect for pint-sized hands. Each page has a twisty picture to turn and match. Tiny tots can match up the diamonds on the dinosaur's back, circles on the little boy's glasses, and more. Bright, colorful illustrations, lots of new things to learn, and bendy pictures make these books all-time favorites that they'll want to come back to over and over again.




My Take on the Book
These two books are perfect for a young child beginning to learn their numbers and shapes. The books are colorfully illustrated with large shapes. The child has opportunities to manipulate the shapes to find the "correct answer". For example in the numbers book on a set of pages is a lady bug in the middle that is attached and can be twisted . On one side of the lady bug is one dot and on the other side is two dots. The child moves the lady bug so the correct lady bug picture matches the number. An example in the shapes book is learning the shape of circle and half circle. There is a face of a child wearing glasses.On one side the child wears glasses in the shape of a circle and the other side the child wears semicircle glasses. The child manipulates the face to match it with the words circle and semicircle.

These are books that your young child will "grow into". I can see a parent helping the child in the beginning stages of learning. Once the child learns to count or understand the shapes concepts, I can see the child use the book independently.



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Book Review - Heather Has Two Mommies

About the Book
Heather’s favorite number is two. She has two arms, two legs, and two pets. And she also has two mommies. When Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy, but Heather doesn’t have a daddy. Then something interesting happens. When Heather and her classmates all draw pictures of their families, not one drawing is the same. It doesn’t matter who makes up a family, the teacher says, because "the most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love one another." This delightful edition for a new generation of young readers features fresh illustrations by Laura Cornell and an updated story by Lesléa Newman.



My Take on the Book
"The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other."

This is a quote directly from this must read book. To say that it is the theme is accurate. So is the fact that the author does an excellent job in showing through her text and the excellent illustrations by Laura Cornell, that families come in all sizes, shapes, colors, and genders.

Our families today are divergent. We have a mother and father, single parents, grandparents raising their grandchildren, and two mommies or two daddies. Of course we also have children in foster care to consider. I believe the teacher in the story does such a great job helping all the children to see how important their families are. In the story you will see how each child's family is different too.

I was surprised to find out this story was written 25 years ago. It is wonderful it is still available. I so hope parents and teachers will buy a copy to read to their children.


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Book Review - Felix Stands Tall

About the Book
From the creator of Max and Ruby comes a quiet, sweet-natured guinea pig who stands up to teasing with a tip from his bold new friend.

Felix has a new best friend! With take-charge Fiona, anything seems possible, and before Felix knows it, she sweeps him into singing and dancing with her as pixies in the Guinea Pig Jubilee talent show. But right after Felix’s first-prize triumph, trouble waits in the wings. "Twinkletoes!" someone taunts, and Felix crumbles. Can he pull himself together and face down the bullies? With a little help from Fiona, can Felix find a magic key that unlocks the secret to standing up—to anyone?



My Take on the Book
Rosemany Wells has written so many books for children that are loved and read repeatedly.She seems to understand children, their feelings and the situations they encounter.

The author's concept in this story is not only one of friendship but how to stop someone from being a bully. We know bullying is a challenging issue for many children today. Fiona helps Felix to stand tall and to end the boys teasing.

I also liked the fact that Felix not only learned to stand tall in the face of the teasing, but also gained confidence to voice his opinions to his best friend, Fiona. You can see a cooperative relationship blooming.

The illustrations are perfect for the text and for a young child to enjoy.

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Book Review - I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson's Blackboard

About the Book
Rose’s teacher gives stars for spelling and neatness and giving the right answer, but Rose can’t manage to do any of those things right. Will she ever get a star from Mrs. Benson?

Rose is a distracted and creative soul. She does her best at school, but sometimes her mind wanders, and she answers the wrong question. Her reading voice is quiet, not strong and loud. And her desk?—?well, keeping her desk neat is a challenge. When it’s time to make thank-you cards for a class visitor, Rose’s art supplies turn her workspace?—and her?—?into a colorful mess. But her artistic skills shine through in the gorgeous oversize card she creates. Could she possibly get a star after all? A cheerful and empowering picture book for the child whose talents lie in unconventional areas, and those still searching for their strengths.

My Take on the Book
Jennifer K. Mann uses some of her personal experiences in the classroom as a child to write and illustrate this book which you and your child will enjoy reading. 

Sometimes in a classroom, there are children who have talents different from other children. In our story, Rose was a day dreamer. Rose was creative and artistic. She felt there were so many things she could not do well, until one day, the teacher gave her the praise she deserved for being artistic and creative. 

The ending could not have been any better with Rose receiving a special star. You will enjoy seeing how Rose praises her teacher too. The reader can sense that the classroom setting may become a more friendly place for Rose.

This book has a great message for all of us: adults and children.
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Book Review - Mouse's First Night at Moonlight School

About the Book
It's Mouse's first night at Miss Moon's Moonlight School but she is shy, too shy to even say hello. Luckily, with help from Miss Moon and her new friends Bat, Cat, and Owl, a game of hide-and-seek makes Mouse feel right at home.




My Take on the Book
Miss Moon teaches the animals that are awake in the evening at her Moonlight School. Shy little Mouse is entering school for the first time and she is frightened and hides. As you read the story ,you will see how the teacher is able to help Mouse feel comfortable in the classroom and make new friends.

It is such a delightful story for young children. If your child is going to enter school for the first time and is shy, like Mouse, this might be a nice story to share. Discuss school and their fears. It might help to visit the school and classroom prior to the first day of school too.

The illustrations by Ali Pye are perfect for this gentle sweet story.
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Book Review - Peg + Cat: The Race Car Proble

About the Book
Peg and Cat, stars of their own Emmy Award–winning animated TV series, zoom into a picture book and put math skills to the test in a lively racing adventure.

Peg and Cat have built an amazing car out of things they found lying around. They’ve named her Hot Buttered Lightning (since she’s built for speed), and they plan to win the Tallapegga Twenty. If they can make it out of the junkyard, that is. It’s a good thing Peg knows the best shape to use to make wheels and how to count laps to see who is ahead. And it’s lucky that Cat reminds Peg to keep calm when she’stotally freaking out!Will Peg and Cat be the first to complete twenty laps and win the Golden Cup? Or will it be one of their quirky competitors? Count on Peg and Cat to rev up young problem-solvers for an exciting race to the finish.


My Take on the Book

PEG AND CAT is a PBS children's television show. The characters are involved in problem solving and there are math problems within the text of the story. Peg is a positive little girl. She reacts to problems with an attitude of "we can do this". Peg searches for solutions. 

There are so many lessons to be learned from this story. I mentioned problems solving, but also perseverance. Other characters remind Peg to "not give up". 

In the story is appears Peg and Cat do not have the best race car to win the race. However as the race begins , the reader will see that the other race cars and their participants have challenges too. Peg and Cat do not let a broken wheel or the pipe that connects their junkyard made car defeat them. It is the perseverance and problem solving that wins the race.

I think you find this story one that is important to read and discuss.

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Get A Great Quality Chess Set From #YellowMountainImports

About the Chess Set
This Tournament chess from Yellow Mountain Imports set is crafted for professional play. The weighted No. 4 chess pieces made from hornbeam wood. The lovely folding chess board has been inlaid with mahogany and sycamore wood. It includes an insert trays for storage of chess pieces inside.

• King: 3.46" (8.8cm). Queen: 3.03" (7.7cm). Pawn: 1.65" (4.2cm).
• Board measures 16.14"W x 1.06"H x 15.94"D (41cm x 2.7cm x 40.5cm). Squares measures 1.57" x 1.57" (4cm x 4cm).
• Board is made from beech, birch, mahogany and sycamore. Felt bottom chessmen are made from hornbeam.
• Hand crafted in Poland.

My Take on the Chess Set
My daughter and I love to play chess together! We play this on a daily basis so having a well built set is essential. This was a very well built set. Handmade and well crafted out of wood (beech, birch, mahogany and sycamore wood). The pieces were lightweight yet sturdy and felt and looked professional grade. I have had numerous people say how impressed they were by the quality of the pieces and the board thus far! This is a great set for the price!

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Book Review - Secrets of Healthy Cooking: A Guide to Simplifying the Art of Heart Healthy and Diabetic Cooking

About the Book
Mastering the kitchen basics of healthy cooking can be a challenge, even for the most experienced cook. For those just learning to cook as a means to a healthier diet, it can be even more daunting. Author and TV host Barbara Seelig-Brown (The Stress Free Diabetes Kitchen and Stress Free Cooking) teaches you to prepare heart-healthy meals in a flash, giving you more time to enjoy your meal with family and friends.

SECRETS OF HEALTHY COOKING [American Diabetes Association, July 2015, $19.95 US/$24.99 CAN] is the perfect companion for any home chef. It includes everything a healthy cook needs to know about how to pick out the best ingredients, how to stick to a budget while making high quality, healthy choices, and how to optimize your time in the kitchen. This beautifully photographed book includes complete step-by-step instructions that take the guesswork out of learning how to make your kitchen the healthiest room in the house.

The book features more than 80 diabetes-friendly recipes, which are easy and quick to prepare, including:

• Salad Pizza
• Spicy Garlic Ginger Chicken
• Key Lime Swordfish with Apple Radish Salad
• Olive Oil Cake with Raspberries and Cream
• Farro Soup with Mushrooms and Kale
• One Dish Veal Chop in Savory Gravy
• Black Bean and Peach Salsa
• Lemon Garlic Shrimp on a Cucumber Flower

With chapters on cooking fundamentals like understanding kitchen terms and making sure you have a properly stocked pantry to tutorials on freezing, baking, and making fresh pasta and pizza dough, SECRETS OF HEALTHY COOKING will help you get comfortable in the kitchen in no time.

About the Author

Barbara Seelig-Brown is the host of the TV cooking show, Stress Free Cooking and author of the companion cookbook. She is also the official food blogger for the Italian Trade Commission. Her career in food began when she was inspired in the kitchen by her mother and grandmother. Since then, she has been teaching healthy cooking classes and has been writing about food and wine so that others can share in her love of cooking. Her extensive culinary knowledge comes from a long career as a cookbook author, food columnist, radio personality, food blogger, and television host.


My Take on the Book
I am adding this cookbook to my cooking library today. Barbara Seelig-Brown has done an excellent job taking the reader/chef step by step through the process of thinking healthy cooking starting with building your pantry, secrets of healthy cooking, freezing food, and basic information about food choices. 

The table of contents takes you through so many delicious choices. Yes there is pizza and pasta . You will be able to prepare some fabulous homemade vinaigrettes too. She shows the reader how to cut various fruits and vegetables which is helpful to the new cook.There are soups,omelets, sauces, meats, fish, and even recipes using Splenda.

So many delicious choices with accompanying color photographs.

Whether you just want to eat healthy and acquire some new recipes or you are a diabetic looking for some recipes to try, I think you will find this cookbook a great resource. Oh and she also includes the exchanges and nutrition information for each recipe. Check this cookbook out today.
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Book Review - Ready To Go! Manners: A Guide to Raising Good Kids

About the Book
Raising great kids in today's world can be incredibly challenging--and teaching good manners can feel like an uphill battle! That's where Ready To Go! Manners can really help. This kit contains everything parents need to encourage their children to be polite, well-mannered, and considerate individuals. It features:

• Advice and tips from an expert child psychologist
• An easy-to-follow, 16-page instructional parent guide with helpful ideas and proven methods for teaching manners to young children
• A delightfully illustrated, 16-page board book that will encourage and support children as they learn to be kind and thoughtful
• A fun two-sided reward chart that includes illustrations of engaging characters and spaces for stickers
• 48 reward stickers to motivate children and positively reinforce each new success

With help from Ready to Go! Manners, your child will successfully navigate this important developmental stage while learning to be a compassionate, courteous, and respectful person. Teaching good manners has never been so positive or rewarding--for kids or their parents!

My Take on the Book
I was impressed with this parent guide which would assist parents in helping their children grow up with manners. There is a young child's book with the topic of saying please and thank you and sharing. Even though the book is for a young child, the parent guide that Dr. Hall included , I feel, is appropriate for any age child. The guide is full of excellent information for parents.

 
Dr. Hall emphasizes the importance of parents modeling for their children appropriate behavior. 

There is information on manners, influences on your child's behavior, how to use rewards and consequences, talking to your child, and more. I feel this is a very good and complete guide for any parent wishing to read a sequential plan for teaching good manners.

Included in the book pack is a page of reward stickers and two reward charts you can use with your child.
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Book Review - Barron's Totally Wild Fact-Packed, Fold-Out Animal Atlas

About the Book
Get ready to let them hold the whole world in their hands when you give them this big, bright, beautiful atlas! All of the weird and wonderful animals that inhabit our extraordinary earth are here to delight and enchant young readers (Mom and Dad, too!). Created in rich, glorious detail, illustrated maps give curious kids something to pore over and discover every time, including:

• Regional maps that clearly show where animals live, plus country names, capitals, and boundaries
• Large gatefold maps that feature whole continents and highlight the diversity of the world's terrains and natural wonders
• Special feature boxes on habitats and ecosystems, such as rainforests and rivers
• An incredible, comprehensive pop-up map of the world that showcases wildlife around the globe--and at a glance
• Accessible text that's packed with intriguing statistics and dramatic, full-color photography "Record Breakers," "Fact Files," "Wildlife Watch," and "Weird But True" boxes that demonstrate all the wonders of the animal kingdom

Youngsters love learning about animals, natural history and world geography, and this book teaches them all about each topic in fun, engaging ways. Kids also learn about sustainability, habitat destruction, and climate issues, so they can become more aware of the world they share with our amazing animal kingdom.

My Take on the Book
Jen Green has written the text and Christiane Engel has illustrated this book to produce a learning resource for children and parents about animals around the world . You will not only learn about interesting animals , but their specific characteristics that make them unique. There are beautiful photographs to accompany the text. I definitely learned about animals I had not seen or heard of prior to reading this book.One such animal is the solenodon which is a long nosed animal that eats insects and lives on the islands around Cuba. Another interesting fact concerns a reticulated python which is the world's largest snake reaching a length of 23 feet.

There are fold out pages to help your child see an entire continent . There are pages that illustrate a smaller specific region too. Each page has a section known as "record breakers" where you will find important information about animals of that region. 

I believe this will become a favorite book for you and your child to just pick up and read together. It certainly would have a place in a home resource library or a classroom.

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Book Review - Goodnight Santa

About the Book
Goodnight Santa is a fabulously festive bedtime story from Michelle Robinson and Nick East It's Christmas Eve, and time to go to sleep. But while children all over the world snuggle up and close their eyes Santa is getting everything ready for his busiest night of the year. With a lyrical rhyme and adorable illustrations, this festive book is the perfect bedtime story. Michelle Robinson has always wanted to be an author like her hero Roald Dahl, but all they had in common was the same birthday and a love of chocolate. Now at last, Michelle is a real author too. She lives in Frome, Somerset with her husband, son and daughter. Visit her at www.michellerobinson.co.uk. Nick East has been working as a museum designer for the past 16 years but has always been a storyteller, whether as a child, filling sketchbooks with quirky characters, or as a designer displaying a collection of ancient artifacts. Nick lives near York with his wife and two children and, when he isn't drawing, he is out riding bikes and spending time with his family. Look out for the other Goodnight books: Goodnight Digger, Goodnight Tractor, Goodnight Princess, Goodnight Pirate.



My Take on the Book
Here is a new Christmas story for your young child. The story is written in rhyme. The main characters are two children who are getting ready for Christmas Eve and Santa's arrival. 

Nick East's illustrations are detailed and show beautifully the excitement that the children are feeling for this special night. There is delight as the children venture to see Santa and ride in his sleigh but of course return home just in time to hop in bed before Santa fills their stockings.

The story was fun to read and I believe your child will enjoy hearing this new Christmas story often.
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