Go on a wild adventure with Gugulu, the sloth bear, as he takes on a journey deep inside the western ghats of India.
Gugulu’s parents won’t allow him to go to school alone. But he can’t wait to explore the forest on his own. So one day, he runs ahead of his parents. And before he knows it, he ends up in a river filled with danger – first a roaring leopard, then a gang of gaurs, but soon he shrinks in fear. Will naughty Gugulu be able to reunite with his parents?
Gugulu, The Little Bear Dares, is a quirky, funny, beautifully illustrated story about new experiences and courageously facing challenges when encountered.
Gugulu, The Little Bear Dares is a story about a little sloth bear who decides on the way to school that he does not want to stay with his parents. He is able to flee and encounters a variety of other species. He also has quite an adventure-but no spoilers here!
Sloth Bear
The author, Srividhya Lakshmanan, introduces readers to a wide range of different species endemic to the Western Ghats, popularly known as India’s Sahyadri Mountain region. At the end of the story, Lakshmanan identifies 16 of the animals, noting if they are endangered and/or indigenous to the region. A maze is also included at the end of the story to assist children in guiding Gugulu to school.
The illustrator, Akansha Krishnan, employs original interpretational illustrations of the various animals, which will assist young children in connecting with the story.
The recommended reading age is 4 – 8-year-olds. However, I believe that reading the story to younger children would be enjoyable for them, too. Older readers may also be interested in learning more about the varied wildlife of the Western Ghats.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Book Title: Cindi’s Chocolate Valentine by Beverley Reichman Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 36 pages Genre: Children’s Book Publisher: Book Baby Release date: January, 2022 Tour dates: February 1 to February 14, 2022 Content Rating: Rated G. Suitable for everyone
Book Description:
Cindi isn’t sure about this holiday called Valentine’s Day, but after her people pair dress her up like a flamingo and take her for a walk in front of her friends, and her handsome new neighbor dog, Chip, she doesn’t like it at all! She and her BFF, Pitty Pat, have been watching Chip ever since he moved next door. She wants to meet him, but not like this! Have you ever changed your mind about something? In this outrageously funny story, meet some of Cindi’s fur-friends and find out if she changes her mind about Valentine’s Day.
Cindi’s Chocolate Valentine is an especially SPECIAL book because it features 17 pets that were chosen as winners in the Cindi Features a New Friend contest last summer. As you can imagine, their ‘people families’ are beyond excited about their pets being part of the story. They had over 750 pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, hedgehogs, and even a chicken, goat, donkey and monkey enter the contest!
18% of the Cindi series book sale proceeds is donated to animal rescue and shelter organizations.
Cindi’s Chocolate Valentine was a hit with my almost 2-year-old granddaughter and me. She was particularly taken with it because she had been learning about Valentine’s Day and ” helping” decorate the house.
The story centers around Cindi, a dog, and her friend Pitty Pat, a cat. They are quite outraged when they are dressed up for Valentine’s Day, especially since they might run into Chip, Cindi’s new neighbor. Oh, the embarrassment!
Beverley Reichman did an excellent job of mixing a variety of animals into the story. The part I really appreciated was the illustrator’s depiction of the different dogs. Dogs of all kinds, shapes and sizes were there, including those in doggie wheelchairs and one with two distinctly different colored eyes. What a lovely method to illustrate and introduce physical differences and impairments to children.
Cindi’s Chocolate Valentine is a pleasant, sweet story with appealing, innovative pictures that will be pleasing to both children and adults.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Meet the Author:
Beverley Reichman is a devoted mom, retired elementary school teacher and author. She co-authored her first book, Justice and Honor for My Sister: The Story of Margie Grey in 2018 and published her first children’s book, Kevin Can, in 2019. The second book in her Kevin series, Kevin is a Smart Cookie, and the first book in her popular Cindi the Teenie Chiweenie series were published in 2020. Her delightful and beautifully illustrated Cindi book series include: Cindi’s Chocolate Valentine, Cindi and Sparkles Howl-oween Ghoulfriends and Cindi’s Christmas Kitten Surprise, which earned a 5-Star Readers’ Favorite review.
Beverley teaches, tutors, and mentors children and shares with them her passion for learning, literature, living in faith, and experiencing life to its fullest. Beverley currently resides outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
Book: Bandana Acres: Kit’s New Home & My Bandana Acres Journal
Author: Kathy J. Perry
Genre: Early Reader Chapter Book
Release date: November 1, 2018
Wait! That’s not a coyote. Is he here to help me?
FIRE! Kit must find a new home in the woods. She is surrounded by wild coyotes. A bandana buddy comes to her rescue. Did she earn his friendship?
My Bandana Acres Journal
Explore your dreams, write, doodle and discover, with this guided journal!
Use the prompts and you will learn how to:
Be thankful and optimistic
Recognize the good things and learn from mistakes
Make positive decisions
Understand promise-keeping and secrets
Break down worries and reflect
How to ask for help
You don’t have to use the writing prompts or work in any particular order. So, if you want to start in the middle of the book, or at the end, go ahead!
Have fun!
Click here to get your copy of Bandana Acers: Kit's New Home!
Click here to get your copy of My Bandana Acres Journal!
About the Author
A former classroom teacher and homeschool mom, I’ve always had a heart for educating kids.
I set my mission and started my own publishing company, Chickadee Words, LLC. I do my best to affect our youth through wonderful stories full of timeless character struggles.
More from Kathy
The inspiration for Kit’s New Home surrounds us everyday: people who say they’ll do something and then don’t; those who promise and then fail to deliver; people without reliability, honesty, or punctuality. This all boils down to the issue of TRUST. Trust is easily lost and so hard to get back.
Trustworthy people are successful, valuable, and popular in every area of life.
Make your yes, “yes” and your no “no”.
Mean what you say and say what you mean.
Keep promises.
Hurt no one. Help others.
Kit’s lonely and makes new friends in the farmyard. Ollie, the farm dog, explains the “rules” to him with which Kit agrees. He’s a good friend, until one day when he fails Zartie, the red-eared slider turtle.
Later, when he’s in trouble, Ollie proves to be a faithful, trustworthy dog and saves Kit from a coyote attack.
Here’s one question in the “What If” part at the end of the book:
What if you promise to play with a classmate at recess, but then you have a chance to play a fun game with someone else instead? What will you do?
Special things about this book (and series) include:
Proven easy-to-read font for early readers (Sassoon Primary)
In full-color with original watercolor artwork.
Leveled by Lexile and Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) for dialing in to your child’s reading level.
Purple words are the character’s inside thoughts (rather than italics, which I thought would be harder to read). Kids enjoy the color. In fact, struggling readers love to read just the colored parts to start – and then want to continue reading! (Each book has its own color for this.)
A glossary of newer words with definitions.
A “What If” section for discussion with five questions about the story, and five questions of how the theme plays out in real life. (Parents and teachers love these books!)
Kit’s New Home is available in hardcover and softcover.
Help your kids learn to read with this fun story and cute watercolor illustrations. This early reader chapter book is perfect for ages 5-8 and can usually be read alone by 2nd or 3rd grades.
Don’t miss the companion guided journal: My Bandana Acres Journal. Perfect for readers learning to write about their thoughts, dreams, or just doodle. Use for a deeper dive into the themes from the Bandana Acres series. Currently available only from my website shop. Ages 8-12
To celebrate her tour, Kathy is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card, a softcover copy of the book, digital artwork with motivational phrase, and a custom Hoo-Rag with artwork from the Bandana Acres series!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Love, Singlehood, Relationship, Marriage..........Gists&Facts✔✔✔. Love is such a powerful force yet so beautiful. This site is here so we can discuss matters of the heart and how to deal with them.
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