Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Say Goodnight written by Lauren H. Kerstein, Illustrated by Nate Wragg

About the Book

Rosie the dragon and Charlie are ready to tackle bedtime—dragon-style

Rosie the dragon’s bedtime routine has been a little bumpy lately. But not to worry! Charlie is prepared with his lists, rules, and fire extinguisher—everything a boy needs to help guide his pet dragon (and best friend) to a peaceful night’s sleep. But with bath-time bubble trouble, fiery-hot pajamas, and stuffed animal search-and-rescues, tucking this dragon into bed is not an easy task. And what happens when thunder strikes? Snuggle up with this adorable duo as they conquer bedtime the best way: together!

Charlie and Rosie, Charlie’s pet dragon, are best friends and superheroes. However, Rosie does not like bedtime!

Enchanting, vivid pictures illustrate all the mischief Rosie gets into to avoid bedtime. Poor Charlie has his hands full!

The antics are laugh-out-loud funny, but also, in some cases, a little scary. (I don’t want to give any spoilers.)

Rosie’s creative and sometimes unintentional consequences while trying to avoid bedtime may cause some parents to feel the story sets a bad example. Yet the story is not written to teach as much as to entertain. Little children may recognize themselves and Rosie’s antics in the story. Even though some of the shenanigans could hardly be duplicated, Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Say Goodnight does offer an opportunity to teach the importance of bedtime.

Overall, the story is cute and enjoyable. The illustrations are bright and are true to the adventures. Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Say Goodnight is a picture book. The story should be easy for a beginning reader with a little help from a parent or sibling. It’s a cute story to read to children from Pre-K up.     

About the Author

Lauren Kerstein is an author and psychotherapist. She is a Jersey girl at heart who currently lives in Colorado with her husband, their two dragons…er, daughters, and their rescue dog. Lauren is the author of the Rosie the Dragon and Charlie picture book series (Illustrated by Nate Wragg/Two Lions). Her latest picture book, HOME FOR A WHILE (Illustrated by Natalia Moore/Magination Press) moves into shelves February 2, 2021. Lauren also writes books in her field. Lauren is one of the founders of #ReVISIONweek, a judge with Rate Your Story, runs a critique business, and is a long-time member of 12×12 and SCBWI. Her writing goals are simple. Read voraciously. Embrace feedback. Grow each day. Work hard. Be passionate. Write courageously. Touch children’s hearts. You can visit her at www.LaurenKerstein.net and follow her on Twitter and Instragram (@LaurenKerstein) and FB (https://www.facebook.com/laurenkersteinauthor).

The Adventures of Bentley Hippo: Inspiring Children to Never Give Up by Argyro Graphy with Giveaway

About the Book

Ever feel like quitting? It is a choice we make every day; go on or give in! Bentley hippo meets children facing daily struggles and challenges that are both visible and not so visible. His biggest and most important lesson is convincing Julia, a patient in a hospital room to Never Give Up. This heart-warming, inspirational story is perfect to teach children that a bad day is not a bad life. Dreams do come true. Things will get better. So, pick yourself up, shake yourself off and believe that if Bentley can do it You Can Do It. Bentleythehippo.com

MY THOUGHTS

The Adventures of Bentley Hippo: Inspiring Children to Never Give Up, by Argyro Graphy, is a good book to use to encourage children if they have a disability or are going through a tough time medically. The animals and children share about their own disabilities, including those that aren’t seen, in order to show not everyone, (indeed no one) is perfect!

The pictures are appealing, vibrant and cute. They do a good job of illustrating each animal or child’s disability or illness, while at the same time the characters explain the same. As they are reading, or being read to, children will be able to better understand compassion and friendship towards others. I feel one of the greatest lessons to learn is optimism and that every day is not a bad day. These are among the many valuable lessons to be learned from Bentley Hippo and his friends!

The book is recommended for ages 3-8. However, I feel it is better suited to ages six and above as the subject matter may be a little “heavy” and scary for younger children.

I received  The Adventures of Bentley Hippo: Inspiring Children to Never Give Up from Book Sirens. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

Giveaway

dl.bookfunnel.com/ljjahi7b5y

Do You See the Giant?: A Children’s Picture Book by Srividhya Lakshmanan

Publisher’s Summary

Which giant are you TODAY? An ant, a frog, an elephant, how about a dinosaur?

Can anyone become a giant? YOU BET!

Everyone is a giant in their own little world.

A colorful picture book that can teach your toddler to compare sizes through animals. And, learn thirteen animal names and their favorite foods.

What’s included in this book:

1) FUN and EYE-POPPING illustrations.

2) LARGE BOOK for an easy flip through.

3) BIGGER Fonts.

4) LIMITED text keeping in mind toddler’s attention span.

The book can help subtly communicate that no one is big or small, and everyone has got a unique place in our world.

GRAB it NOW and watch your little munchkin’s eyes pop and jump with those adorable animals.

Suitable from age 1+ onwards. Available in e-book and paperback formats.

Do You See the Giant?: A Children’s Picture Book, by Srividhya Lakshmanan, is a charming little book written for toddlers and children learning to read.

The story compares sizes of insects and animals from ants to dinosaurs, asking each time, “Do you see a giant?” which gives children an opportunity to compare sizes and see that there are different sizes all around. It also gives them a chance to learn through repetition, too!

Do You See the Giant? Is an entertaining picture book for younger ages. The adorable drawings add to the appeal of the story and aid in educating children.

I received Do You see The Giant? from Book Sirens. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

Darling Hedgehog: Goes Down a Foxhole By Auralee Arkinsly On Tour with Prism Book Tours #DHFPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Darling Hedgehog: Goes Down a Foxhole
By Auralee Arkinsly
Children’s Chapter Book
Paperback & ebook, 44 Pages
August 8, 2019, by Capture Books

( Tour’s Affiliate links included.)
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Darling Hedgehog becomes nervous and begins to hunt for her parents when they haven’t returned home from a walk of the night before, and she falls down a hole into Miss Fox’s lair. Thus begins an unusual escapade for little Dumpling, er…Darling!

Darling Hedgehog: Goes Down a Foxhole, by Auralee Arkinsly, is an interesting, attractively illustrated book intended to teach children about stranger danger.

Darling’s adventures with Miss Fox will create many laugh-out-loud moments for children. Imaginations will soar when they see Darling dangling from a leather strap in Miss Fox’s convertible, especially when Darling almost loses her tutu! However, they will also be concerned about Darling being hurt as she hurtles down the street anchored only by the strap.

I wondered about Darling accepting gifts from Miss Fox and going places with her without knowing Miss Fox or having her parents’ permission. As the story progresses, we see a much more sinister side to Miss Fox. I realize that some aspects of the story couldn’t, in the interest of the age group, be more thoroughly explored. However, I felt it may leave a more precocious child with more questions than answers, and maybe even some fear, too-not necessarily a bad thing, but not easy to explain, either.

Darling Hedgehog is an engaging book intended to teach children about stranger danger. I found the pictures to be irresistibly cute and aptly illustrated the story. Overall, a good book for children.

I received Darling Hedgehog: Goes Down a Foxhole from Prism Book Tours. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

Summary From Publisher

Darling Hedgehog goes on an adventure to look for her parents who dropped out of sight. 

Darling Hedgehog learns about the animal nature of things in high humor and carefree, cute, and winning episodes. Learn about opposites, homophones, and similes as two animals in nature roll into fantasy land. For children 4-8 or preschool and kindergarten, as a read-to-me picture book, and first grade and second grade as a chapter book.

Darling and Miss Fox come to life as Darling introduces herself to the strange animal who is Miss Fox. Miss Fox gives her gifts so that Darling is distracted from her mission. The two animals look for things to do together in fantastical attempts to be friendly. When Darling enters Miss Fox’s kitchen, she realizes that by nature, not all strangers are good for you. Will Darling save the day when it’s already dinner time?

Pictures similar to Charlotte’s Web and the Mercy Watson series are characterized and painted in full-color, though the pages are set up like a chapter book.

This book helps to train children in natural wisdom, analysis, and discernment. It helps to balance the teachings of acceptance of everyone and friendliness to all. There may be good purposes for everyone to exist under heaven, yet all purposes may not be good for a child. So, beware, and flee from crafty foxes especially when they are holding your parents in the pantry.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

About the Author

Auralee Arkinsly writes in good humor about serious subjects because kids of all ages can learn a lot from laughing. Since opposites exist, she believes children can learn to identify the nature of things and get out of a risky situation. “Good Laughter sparks the mind.” She reckons if she can save some from the bumps and bruises, then she has done a good day’s work.

Goodreads | Amazon

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally to those who can receive the gift card through one of Amazon’s branches.
Ends September 2, 2020

ENTER HERE

#DHFPrism

Sunshine by Morrene Hauser

Sunshine, by Morrene Hauser, is an enchanting children’s book about a little girl’s wish for her own pony coming true! She is so excited! There’s only one small dilemma. Sunshine will only walk in a straight line.

The book is delightfully and beautifully illustrated and sure to capture a child’s imagination. I loved the artist’s rendering of Sunshine. The pictures make me want a horse, too!

I have one caution, however. Some sensitive children may be upset when the mother slaps the pony’s backside to get it to move in a direction other than a straight line. Even though this is normal teaching behavior, the mother did not warn the daughter first and the horse runs and bucks, scaring the little girl. (This happens twice in the story.)

Sunshine, recommended for ages 0 to 8, can easily be read by beginning and more advanced readers.

I received this book from LibraryThing. However, I was under no obligation to write a review

Publisher’s Summary

Sunshine is a charming story of a little girl and her new pony, Sunshine. Sunshine is sweet, sassy, and oh, so stubborn! It doesn’t take long before her owner finds out her little pony has a problem – she only likes to walk in a straight line! Over and over throughout the book, Sunshine gets herself and her little owner in some pretty harrowing situations due to her “handicap”; but blinded by love, her owner refuses to see her cherished pony’s flaws and forgives her each time she gets them in a pickle. In her young owner’s loving eyes, Sunshine can do no wrong. Despite Sunshine’s handicap, she somehow teaches her owner right from left, even though she only likes to walk in a straight line!

Oliver’s Moving Day by Vicky Sluiter on Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Oliver’s Moving Day

Author: Vicky Sluiter

Genre: Children’s book

Release Date: December 3, 2019

It’s moving day, and five-year-old Oliver is excited for the adventure ahead. He is full of questions as, along with big sister Edith, Mommy, and Daddy, Oliver moves from The Big City to The Country.

He has never been to The Country and has only seen pictures in his books. What will it be like? Where will they live? Will there be lots of people and tall buildings? Join Oliver and his family as they wave goodbye to The Big City and journey through the suburbs and into The Country. Will Oliver have his questions answered? Read along and find out!

Click here for your copy!

Oliver’s Moving Day is a cute book, designed to help a small child understand moving.

I liked how the author, Vicky Sluiter, told of the changes from the city to the country and from a multi-rise home to a single-family large home. Oliver’s wonder at the country home being all theirs was so cute.

The story is short. The book consists of 24 pages. Half of the pages are pictures and half of the pages are text. There’s nothing to indicate the ages it will appeal to; however, I feel young children would enjoy having it read to them. Because there are a lot of words, older children would enjoy reading it aloud or to themselves.

I received Oliver’s Moving Day from Celebrate Lit. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

About the Author

Vicky Sluiter has had a passion for reading since she was four years old. She started with the back of cereal boxes and moved on to everything else, including books, magazines, and t-shirts. As a wife and mom, gramma to five boys, and the proud owner of a bearded dragon named Elliott, she has learned what boys like Oliver want to read. You can follow Vicky’s blog and book reviews at vickysluiter.com.

More from Vicky

I love writing children’s fiction because children are so much fun. So lively and expressive. You never really know what will happen when a child is involved but usually it will involve laughter. I have five grandsons so have experienced this many times over the years. The boys are ages 5 yrs to 14 yrs. Being at different stages the house is full of fun when they are all together. The youngest adores the oldest, and it’s reciprocated even if he won’t admit it. The middle three enjoy hanging together and getting into mischief. This Gramma loves every second of it!

The idea for a little guy on a farm was birthed when I was taking classes in writing fiction for children 30 years ago. I grew up on a hobby farm in farm country so the setting was pretty natural for me. And all the neighbors were boys so that’s what I’m used to. I could drive a tractor and bale hay right along with them. Having Oliver move from The Big City to The Country was inspired by my three youngest grandsons. That’s what they did and when they come to visit me they get excited to see the tall buildings in The Big City. And yes, they actually use that phrase. They are thoroughly convinced that Oliver’s Moving Day was written about them. In a way it was!

I’m so glad I didn’t give up on my dream. It was temporarily set aside, but in the right season it bubbled to the top again. Never let go of your dreams!

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 16

Book of Ruth Ann, May 17

Captive Dreams Window, May 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 19

Inklings and notions, May 20

Older & Smarter?, May 21

Live. Love. Read., May 21

A Reader’s Brain, May 22

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 23

deb’s Book Review, May 24

For Him and My Family, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 26

The Becca Files, May 27

Splashes of Joy , May 28

Stories By Gina, May 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Vicky is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of the book and toy truck!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/fa66/oliver-s-moving-day-celebration-tour-giveaway

Bird Hugs by Ged Adamson

My first thought upon beginning to read Bird Hugs was how wonderful to read a book that focused on how a perceived disability could become a welcome ability. I didn’t change my mind upon finishing the book.

Many members of my family work, or have worked/volunteered, for a residential facility for physically and mentally handicapped adults. Reading this book gave me a warm feeling at how sweetly this story was written and illustrated.

The illustrations are so cute, from Bernard the bird, to the sad orangutan and all their friends. Children will learn about a lot of different kinds of animals by reading Bird Hugs.

I was disappointed with the formatting, however. Perhaps it’s only a problem for the Kindle edition, but you must constantly turn the book from portrait to landscape and back again.

I received this e-book as an Amazon First Reads selection. However, I was not required to write a review.

Publisher’s Summary

Bernard isn’t like other birds. His wings are impossibly long, and try as he might, he just can’t seem to fly. He’s left wondering what his wings are good for…if they’re even good for anything at all. But a chance encounter with a dejected orangutan leads Bernard to a surprising discovery: that maybe what makes him different is actually something to be embraced.

About Author

Ged Adamson is a children’s author and illustrator. He lives in London with his partner Helen and son Rex.

Adorable Story-Penguin and Moose By Hannah C. Hall

Penguin and Moose, by Hannah C. Hall, is an adorable book and is charmingly and delightfully illustrated by Anna Chernyshova. 

Penguin discovers he has a problem most birds don’t have. His best friend, Moose, is more than willing to help him remedy the situation. After all, what are friends for? Thus, begins one of the cutest children’s books I have read. Penguin and Moose is geared toward the preschool to 3rd-grade level (approximately 4 to 8 years of age). However, it will definitely delight readers of all ages.

Friends are precious and wonderful. The story of Penguin and Moose not only clarifies but also spotlights their importance in a delightful and enchanting way.

Hannah Hall helps children learn more by using a Bible verse to further the point, but she does it in a non-preachy way.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Worthy Kids. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

Penguin and Moose by Hannah C. Hall

This is one of the CUTEST stories, with a Fantastic message for children. If you have a child, know a child or work with children-check it out. I’ll have a review Monday. In the meantime, enjoy this cute “teaser”  film!!