Otto and Pio Book Review

Otto and Pio

Marianne Dubuc

(Author & Illustrator)

Princeton Architectural Press

Children’s Fiction, Picture Book, Friendship 

Publication Date: March 19, 2019

Otto the squirrel is quite happy with his life, but one day an odd, green ball is outside his door. The green, spiny ball soon hatches and out pops a small, round, furry creature looking for his mother. With no mother in sight, Otto eventually brings the creature into his house. Each night the creature, Pio, grows larger, and each day Otto looks for Pio’s mother.

Pio grows into a gentle, but clumsy giant and with no sign of Pio’s mother, Otto has enough. He is beyond frustrated that his peaceful life has been intruded upon. As he storms out of his house and onto a branch, an eagle swoops down to catch him. But just as Otto realizes that he cares for Pio and that he maybe just needs a bigger house, the eagle’s talons come near, and Pio rushes to the rescue, scaring the bird away. While they never do find Pio’s mother, Otto and Pio are quite happy together.

If you’re interested in reading Otto and Pio, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon.

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Your Mind is Like the Sky A First Book of Mindfullness Book Review

Your Mind is Like the Sky

A First Book of Mindfullness

Bronwen Ballard (Author)

Laura Carlin (Illustrator)

Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Children’s Fiction, Picture Book, Mindfulness

Publication Date: February 5, 2019

Children can struggle with understanding negative thoughts, but Your Mind Is Like the Sky offers kids a concrete connection for them to understand how our thoughts ebb and flow and what we can do about them. Comparing our thoughts to clouds, the book shows how some thoughts are light, fluffy, and nice, but some thoughts are dark, mean raincloud thoughts. It goes on to show ways people deal with those raincloud thoughts and offers a trick: see the whole sky, not just the raincloud. It also reminds us that we can choose which thoughts we pay attention to.

Though categorized as a children's book, the message of the text and the calm illustrations would be relevant for many adults as well. This book can help open up conversations for children about negative thoughts, worries, and anxiety while also providing realistic and useful ways to deal with those ideas.

If you’re interested in reading Your Mind is Like the Sky, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon.

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Quote of the Week

Bruno's Hat Book Review

Bruno's Hat

Canizales

(Author & Illustrator)

Flyaway Books

Children’s Fiction, Picture Book, Social Story

Publication Date: January 22, 2019

Bruno wears a weird hat, and when Sergio makes fun of him, his best friend Peter stands up for Bruno. But then Sergio calls Peter a weirdo too. Avoiding conflict and trying to fit in, Peter decides to be friends with Sergio even though Sergio continues to be mean to Bruno. Peter misses his friendship with Bruno and finally realizes that his friendship with Bruno is more important.

Told from Peter’s perspective, Bruno’s Hat offers kids a realistic view of how friends act when someone is being teased. Friends don’t always make the best choices. Friends can sometimes hurt someone’s feelings too. But friends can apologize and make the situation better.

Children can relate to Peter’s struggle to be a good friend and learn that even if they’ve made mistakes in the past, you can always make better choices and repair broken friendships now.

If you’re interested in reading Bruno's Hat, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon.

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Who Is My Neighbor? Book Review

Who Is My Neighbor?

Amy-Jill Levine (Author)

Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (Author)

Denise Turu (Illustrator)

Children’s Fiction, Picture Book

Flyaway Books

Publication Date: January 22, 2019

Blues know there is no such thing as a good Yellow, and Yellows know there is no such thing as a good Blue. They are just too different!

When Midnight Blue takes a tumble on his bike, he’s sure another blue will help him. After Navy and Powder Blue pass by like they don’t even see him, Midnight is shocked. But Midnight is more shocked when lemon--a yellow-- does stop. Through Lemon’s kind act, Midnight and Yellow come to realize that even though Blues and Yellows are different, that doesn’t mean they can’t be friends. They spread their message of acceptance to others, and Blues and Yellows find that they can make new friends and help one another.

Who Is My Neighbor? is a child-accessible retelling of the “Good Samaritan” parable. Kids will quickly pick up on the main messages of the book about helping those in need and accepting others even if they are different than you.

If you’re interested in reading Who Is My Neighbor?, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon.

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

The Not-So-Brave Penguin Book Review

The Not-So-Brave Penguin

Steve Smallman

(author & illustrator)

QEB Publishing

Children’s Fiction, Picture Book

Publication Date: November 13, 2018

Percy the penguin isn’t scared of anything. He’ll slide down slopes on his belly, and he’ll jump from great heights and splash into the water. Posy, on the other hand, is scared of many things: snowstorms, heights, loud noises, the dark.

When a huge iceberg floats near their island, Percy goes to explore, but Posy stays back. When Percy doesn’t return, Posy springs into action. Even though Posy is scared, she goes to save her friend.

The Not-So-Brave Penguin has a message that kids can relate to. Being brave doesn’t mean not being scared. Being brave means acting even when you are scared.

If you’re interested in reading The Not-So-Brave Penguin, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon.

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

The Cave Book Review

The Cave

 

Rob Hodgson

(Author & Illustrator)

Lincoln Children's Books

Children's Fiction, Picture Book

Publication Date: May 18, 2017

A hungry wolf stands guard by a cave trying to lure a little creature out. Day after day the wolf attempts to persuade the little creature to leave, but the little creature stays put. In a twist that adults may see coming (but the kids who I read it to didn’t), the wolf is finally successful, much to his surprise.

When I read The Cave by myself, I enjoyed it but thought the twist was obvious. I’m so glad I also read it with kids, because they were literally on the edge of their seat, worried about the little creature and then laughing with delight at the wolf’s surprise ending. Even after knowing how the book ends, kids request it again and again. It’s a fun read!

If you’re interested in reading The Cave, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon.

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.