Disclosure: Mama Smith’s Review Blog received these items in exchange for her honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% hers.
Look Cookers
Purchase Here
By Jim Malloy
Synopsis:
Matthew is a normal boy in every way but one. He’s a secret agent. But not just any kind of secret agent. Matthew is an eye spy! The enemy: The Look Cookers! The mission: The first day of school! The goal: Make it to school without being ‘cooked’! In fact, Matthew is shy. He does not like eye contact. In his lively imagination, he envisions that anyone who looks at him has special powers – they are the Look Cookers. And he has a name for each type of Look Cooker: Peek Seekers, Glance Dancers, Blink Drinkers, Stare Darers, Gawk Stalkers, Gape Scrapers and Sight Biters (the worst of the bunch!). Join Matthew on his mission, experience the Look Cookers first hand and discover how he overcomes his fear of eye contact and succeeds in the end. This is the first in a series of adventures penned by this new team of Jim Malloy and Hannah Stephey. It will inspire children ages 6-10 to overcome their fears – and delight children of all ages with its message and imaginative style.
Thoughts:
This book really helped my 4 year old before her first day of Preschool. I was so happy to have it because she was really nervous and after reading this book, she had fun with her first day of school. She even told me about the different kinds of lookers she saw on her first day!
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast
Purchase Here
By Josh Funk / Illustrated by Brendan Kearney
Synopsis:
A thoroughly delicious picture book about the funniest “food fight” ever! Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have a beautiful friendship—until they discover that there’s ONLY ONE DROP of maple syrup left. Off they go, racing past the Orange Juice Fountain, skiing through Sauerkraut Peak, and reeling down the linguini. But who will enjoy the sweet taste of victory? And could working together be better than tearing each other apart? The action-packed rhyme makes for an adrenaline-filled breakfast . . . even without a drop of coffee!
Thoughts:
My girls love to eat pancakes and waffles for breakfast so this was a really fun book for them. They are always fighting over the last drop of syrup so we could all really relate to this fun book.
Imagine
Purchase Here
By Karen Kilpatrick
Synopsis:
Being silly and generating giggles is what Karen Kilpatrick loves to do in her books. Children will immediately be captivated by Imagine’s colorful and dynamic illustrations.The book offers a great jumping-off place for them to share some of their ideas, no matter how wild. Encourage your child to play the “imagine” game with you while with you—in the car, helping you in the kitchen, or anytime or anyplace. Will they choose to fly or swing from stars? Will lunch become tiger butter and tulip jelly? The book includes some suggestions to spark children’s imaginations along with a subtle yet important message about appreciating differences in outward appearances.
Thoughts:
My girls have really been letting their imaginations run wild since reading this book! I love seeing their creative outfits that they pick out for school and their drawings that they do. What a great book!
Peanut’s Mistake
Purchase Here
By Karen Kilpatrick
Synopsis:
Children ages 3 – 6 know how easy it is to accidentally cause a mess—spilling milk, leaving a trail of cookie crumbs, seeing someone stumble over toys not put away. So they will relate to puppy Peanut’s mistake when he makes a mess while dashing through the house. Parents, grandparents, even babysitters might be tempted to shout or put the dog outside and reprimand the child. But in Peanut’s Mistake, Kilpatrick shows Carmin handling the situation in a suitable, not scary way. Rather than punishing the dog, the child and dog promptly clean up the mess and remember to follow the rule about no running in the house. Carmin focuses on teaching Peanut to learn from his mistakes, and encourages him to come to her for help in the future. Again, Kilpatrick offers additional suggestions on how to handle mistakes and more.
Thoughts:
This book was great for helping teach my girls that there are reasons we make rules and that there are consequences when you break them. This has become a favorite bedtime story.
And Then It Rained on Malcom
Purchase Here
By Paige Feurer
Synopsis:
Even when it’s pouring rain, Malcolm can’t bring himself to stay inside. He puts on his red boots and his red coat, pulls on his goggles, and heads out for an adventure. He splashes around the yard, jumps in puddles, and gets tickled by worms. But when Malcolm’s done playing he runs right through the mud and right through the sand—and right through the house! Mom’s not impressed. How is this silly boy going to fix his mess?
Thoughts:
I think this is a great book to help teach children to look on the bright side of things. It is perfect for younger kids, ages 3 to 7.
Bricksy
Purchase Here
By Jeff Friesen (photographer)
Synopsis:
In Bricksy, Friesen gives new meaning to Banksy’s gritty street art by using clean, modernist bricks. Bricksy goes beyond transforming the medium by expanding the scenes it plays on and adding a humorous twist to each one. Each of the eighty-four photographs is wittily captioned, delightful to look at, and appropriate for a wide range of ages. You’ve never seen Banksy like this before! This is the perfect gift for Banksy and LEGO lovers of all ages!
Thoughts:
This book is fun for the whole family! We all had a blast flipping through it and looking at the different photos. There were several that my husband mentioned he would like to rip out and hang up in the office. Very cool photography.
Barney the Farm Dog
Purchase Here
By Mary Lynn Swiderski
Synopsis:
Barney the Farm Dog is a true story about a Saint Bernard. Read about this dog’s life on the Brewer farm with Farmer Vic. Barney’s funny antics and protective nature are heartwarming and humorous. All the illustrations are true pictures of life on the farm.
Thoughts:
This book is a ton of fun and both of my daughters love it. It has become a favorite bedtime story for us!
Over the River & Through the Wood
Purchase Here
By Linda Ashman & Kim Smith
Synopsis:
tells the story of an architect that must design and build a magnificent structure at the center of the city to bring the city back to its original splendor. However, Rick learns that the billionaire who hired him had an ulterior motive— The last brick to be used to finish the building is The Onyx Brick, older than the universe and holding all evil, and once the structure is finished, it will destroy the universe. It’s up to Rick to find The Golden Brick, which holds all good, before The Onyx Brick is put into place. This is the perfect book for reluctant readers who love LEGO bricks. Get kids excited to read with this fast-paced LEGO adventure! Pack up the pooches and load the van.We need to leave by eight!There’s so much to bring.Do we have everything?Come on, we can’t be late! The classic song gets a fresh new twist! The fun begins when Grandma and Grandpa send invitations to their far-flung, modern, and multiracial family: Come to our house for the holidays—and bring your favorite pie! Off everyone goes, driving down snowy roads, riding the train, boarding a plane . . . even sailing along in a hot-air balloon. As each family faces an obstacle that delays their trip, they learn that sometimes the most old-fashioned form of transportation works best . . . NEIGH!
Thoughts:
This book is perfect as we hit the holiday season. My daughters love reading it – it really does put the family in the mood for Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Rick Brick and the Quest to Save Brickport
Purchase Here
By Tamony Hall
Synopsis:
This book tells the story of an architect that must design and build a magnificent structure at the center of the city to bring the city back to its original splendor. However, Rick learns that the billionaire who hired him had an ulterior motive— The last brick to be used to finish the building is The Onyx Brick, older than the universe and holding all evil, and once the structure is finished, it will destroy the universe. It’s up to Rick to find The Golden Brick, which holds all good, before The Onyx Brick is put into place. This is the perfect book for reluctant readers who love LEGO bricks. Get kids excited to read with this fast-paced LEGO adventure!
Thoughts:
This book was so much fun to read! I love Legos and it kept me entertained – and was unique. I passed it along to my young nephew and he can’t get enough of it. He has already read it through twice!
Daring Prince Dashing
Purchase Here
By Marilou Reeder
Synopsis:
Prince Dashing is daring and will stop at nothing to find a new friend! Prince Dashing bathes with crocodiles, eats while dangling upside down from the tallest trees, and toasts s’mores by dragon’s breath. The night of the royal ice cream social, he meets a girl as adventurous as he is. But at the stroke of bedtime, the girl hurries off, leaving behind her mysterious stick. In his usual daring way, Dashing ventures out to search for the stick’s owner. He gallops by groups of thugs, tromps past toothy crocodiles, and eventually stumbles into the zoo. Will he ever find his friend?
Follow Dashing and one equally daring girl in this humorous tale of fearless fun and friendship.
Thoughts:
My girls love this book – and so do I! I think it teaches a great lesson about friendship and bravery in a fun way that kids will enjoy.
Piglet Bo Is Not Scared!
Purchase Here
By Geert De Kockere
Synopsis:
Piglet Bo insists that he is not scared. Not scared of anything and not scared of anyone. And if you think he seems scared, well, you’re misunderstanding the situation. Really, Piglet Bo can’t go into the dark cave because he doesn’t want to disturb the bats. And he can’t go into the deep pit because he’s pretty sure the termites are having a birthday party and it would be rude to show up without a gift. But what are those shadows lurking on each page? How long can Piglet Bo’s excuses last?
Geert De Kockere’s whimsical story will capture the hearts of children and adults alike. This playful tale of a pig who just can’t admit he’s afraid is sure to get kids laughing out loud. Tineke Van Hemeldonck’s uniquely evocative mixed-media illustrations bring Piglet Bo Is Not Scared! to life and give it an imaginative, quirky feel. This charming story is for ages three and up.
Thoughts:
My girls love this book – and so do I! I think it teaches a great lesson about friendship and bravery in a fun way that kids will enjoy.
Good Dogs, Great Listeners
Purchase Here
By Renata Bowers with Joel and JoAnn Bacon
Synopsis:
Charlotte loves dogs, especially her loving and loyal dog, Lily. And she loves adventure, especially with Lily and her Litter of six stuffed dogs in tow. But, she doesn’t love to read.
Charlotte has a pesky habit of abandoning a book in favor of a distraction. Paired with her dogs and her bold imagination, that distraction has a way of turning into a grand adventure. But when Lily gets hurt on one of their adventures, Charlotte relies on her imagination and her heart to find a way to love Lily back to health…and discovers a love for reading along the way – along with her beloved companions. Join Charlotte, Lily and The Litter on their adventures in GOOD DOGS, GREAT LISTENERS. And may Charlotte and Lily’s story of boldness, imagination and kindness inspire the story in us all.
Thoughts:
This is a great read! Our entire family – even our little pug Khalessi – loves reading this book. It has become a bedtime favorite and think most children will enjoy it!
Rudy’s New Human
Purchase Here
By Roxanna Elden and Ginger Seehafer
Synopsis:
Rudy loves being top dog in his family of three. When Rudy’s human parents tell him that they are having a baby, Rudy thinks the newest member of the family will be interested in the same games he likes—chewing bones, chasing cats, and playing fetch. But Rudy’s new human is not what he expected! The baby cuts into Rudy’s naptime, gets him in trouble, and, worst of all, steals the spotlight! Will Rudy ever find his place again in his family now that he’s sharing it with the new human?
Rudy’s New Human is a sweet and humorous story that helps older siblings to learn to share parents’ attention—and maybe even become friends with a new family member.
Thoughts:
I am a huge fan of this book! It is a great way to help kids understand and prep for the arrival of a younger sibling (or new addition to the household!). I know that this would have really helped my oldest when I was pregnant with my youngest – or even when we preparing to pick up our new puppy and bring her home! I highly recommend this fun book!
The McAdventures of Me, Morgan McFactoid
Purchase Here
By Mark S Waxman
Synopsis:
Morgan (McFactoid) McCracken spews random (but fascinating) facts whenever he gets flustered. As if that’s not enough to warrant getting picked on, Morgan actually has to shave! And that’s too much for Brad Buckholtz, a witless bully, who constantly beats up Morgan. As an aspiring inventor, Morgan figures if he can just come up with a product that will stop his facial hair from growing, then Buckholtz will no longer have a reason to pummel him. Besides, eliminating the need to shave will save people time, energy, and money, as well as making Morgan wealthy enough to pay off his family’s debts and save them from losing their house.
With the help of Robin, the beautiful girl who lives next door, as well as an extremely inventive talking parrot, Morgan stumbles upon something potentially much more lucrative—a hair growing formula. And the bald world literally beats a path to his door. Overnight, Morgan becomes an international celebrity, entertaining absurdly lavish offers from cosmetics companies. Suddenly everyone wants to be his friend, including Brad Buckholtz. Everyone except the one person he cares about—Robin. She doesn’t think there is anything wrong with either having whiskers or being bald. In fact, she has always wondered whether people liked her for who she was on the inside, or what she looked like on theoutside. She would never respect, and she will definitely not support, someone who sells his soul to superficiality.
After escaping formula snatchers and kidnappers, with the insights gained from some well-timed bird poop and one very smart girl, Morgan makes his choice between fame and fortune and his heart’s desire.
Thoughts:
This is a great book for a child in 2nd or 3rd grade. My niece and nephew are 9 and 10 and they loved this book! They said they could not put it down and thought it was a lot of fun to read.
