Book Review for National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals by Catherine D. Hughes

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals by Catherine D. Hughes

(National Geographic Children’s Books, October 12, 2010)
ISBN 10: 1426307047
ISBN 13: 978-1426307041
128 Pages       Ages 4-8        Nonfiction/Children’s Books/Animals/Reference


National Geographic Little Kids’ First Big Book of Animals is a wonderful animal reference that will delight children and will entertain them for years to come.

Inspired by the National Geographic Little Kids magazine comes an exhilarating new reference book for children between the ages of 4–8. It is a 128-page book filled with various types of information about some well-known animals of the world and some more obscure ones as well.

The table of contents is broken down by habitat plus a few of the animals that live in that particular habitat. It is an easy guide to help readers find their way through the pages. Each spread is filled with wonderful up-close photographs of animals and their babies in their natural habitat.

What was an excellent addition to this book was the Facts section on each page. Each Facts section includes: kind of animal, where it lives, the size of the animal, the types of food it eats, the sounds it makes, and how many babies the animal typically has. Children will find this information really interesting, as well as the facts about some of the various species of certain animals. The added pictures help compare the different species so the reader can see the differences or similarities. The text is simple enough not to be intimidating.

Children and parents will love the section in the back of the book that includes parent tips for extending the reader’s experience beyond the pages of the book. The activities relate to majority of the animals, helping children picture themselves in that animal’s world. An animal map in the back of the book color codes each continent, showing the reader where each animal discussed can be found. There is also a glossary and an index.

The only quibble was that not all babies of the animals were shown, or all the names of what they were called. With majority of the animals in the book shown taking care of their young, and how the baby animals grow and change, this felt like a misstep in the text.

Overall, this book was well developed, bringing many unique features to the younger age group, keeping them fascinated with animals and the world around them. Children of all ages will enjoy this hardcover book and will learn a ton.

Reviewer Renee Hand is the award-winning author of The Crypto-Capers series for children. Look for her new release in the Crypto-Capers Series: Book 4: The Chest of Mystery.

Book Review for G.W. Frog and the Circus Lion by George W. Everett

G.W. Frog and the Circus Lion by George W. Everett

(West Bow Press, August 2010)

G.W. Frog and the Circus Lion is a cute story about friendship and helping others.

G.W. Frog and the Circus Lion begins with G.W. Frog being woken from his sleep by loud noises coming from the town of Frog Holler. G.W. and several of the other animals of the wood, soon come to realize that a circus has come to town. Curiosity, getting the better of them, caused the animals of the woods to walk around and look at all of the amazing animals of the circus. There was one animal, however, that caught their attention the most—a sobbing lion. A lion, who was usually the king of all beasts, brave and strong, was sad about something. G.W. Frog wanted to know why.

So, he asked him. The lion replied that he was sad because he was old and had lost all of his teeth. He felt he was more of a laughing stock to children instead of the proud lion he was before. It is because of this that the circus boss won’t let the lion travel with them during the parade in town. G.W. Frog, along with his friend, Gerald the Grasshopper, feels sorry for the lion. Naturally they also feel compelled to help him by finding him some new teeth. But can it be done before the parade starts at 2pm? What will they try to use for teeth?

The bright and colorful illustrations, really accentuates the words of the story. The book is bigger than most children books and is paperback, but works well with children’s hands, the pictures large enough for children to analyze and admire.

Children between the ages of 4–8 will especially enjoy the simple and cute story that speaks of how strangers can help someone in need, bringing them happiness, in this 32-page picture book.

Reviewer Renee Hand is the award-winning author of The Crypto-Capers series for children. Look for her new release in the Crypto-Capers Series: Book 4: The Chest of Mystery.

Book Signing for Kapnicks Orchard

Hello Everyone,


I am going to be at Kapnicks Orchard for their fall festival this weekend on the 9th and 10th of October. I will be signing all copies of my books and discussing them. It should be a great time with hay rides, picking pumpkins and buying apples. Hope to see everyone there.

Renee

Book Review for Me, Frida by Amy Novesky

Me, Frida by Amy Novesky

(Abrams Books for Young Readers, October 1, 2010)

Me, Frida is an exhilarating true story about an amazing artist who changed the way people saw her and inspired many others to not forget their own dreams.

Me, Frida is about Frida Kahlo. She married a great Mexican painter named Diego Rivera. To Diego, his wife was as bright as the stars in the sky, but Frida felt small and unimportant in comparison to him. It was how she saw herself—and the way others had also seen her.

Frida and Diego were both artists, Diego more well-known. Frida was still trying to find herself as an artist and a woman when they moved from Mexico to San Francisco during the 1930s. And though Frida was at first intimidated by the big city, it was there that she found her muse.

Frida discovered the beauty, diversity, and exuberance of America. She found her hidden talents as an artist and was soon working diligently to become better. At parties, Frida would cling to Diego’s arm and it was there, in the public eye, that no one ever saw her. People would ignore her existence. It was at one such party, after Frida found her inner strength, that she was tired of being silent. She began to sing the most inspiring song, and it was her husband who cheered the loudest, believing all along in her abilities, but just waiting for her to express them.

She created a painting called Frieda and Diego Rivera. It was this painting that expressed how the world saw them as a couple. Her husband was painted big while she was painted smaller. But it was not how Frida felt anymore. She knew she was more than this, and she began to put herself first.

This is an inspiring story for young children encouraging them to believe in themselves and never settle for something less than what they truly deserve. Frida found herself in San Francisco, and she will forever be remembered as a woman who changed the art world. She is now one of the most celebrated artists of all time.

Children between the ages of 4–8 will especially enjoy the colorful artwork throughout this 32-page picture book, as well as the meaningful message.

Reviewer Renee Hand is the award-winning author of The Crypto-Capers series for children. Look for her new release in the Crypto-Capers Series: Book 4: The Chest of Mystery.

Book Review for The Legend of the Golden Snail by Graeme Base

The Legend of the Golden Snail by Graeme Base

(Abrams Books for Young Readers, October 1, 2010)


The Legend of the Golden Snail is an amazing adventure that will sail into reader’s hearts.

In Wilbur’s favorite picture book, there is a legend about a Golden Snail sailing through a magical realm to its home in the Spiral Isles. A Grand Enchanter banished it there to the Ends of the Earth until a new master came to claim it, reciting a spell that will awaken it from its slumber.

Wilbur feels he is destined to be the next Grand Enchanter, so he sets off for the Ends of the Earth where he tells his mother that he will be gone for a hundred years. Her only request? To make sure he wears his captain’s hat.

On his adventure he runs across a bush of blossoming butterflies that are wilting—so he waters them. He then comes across a monstrous sea creature and begins to fight him, until he realizes that the monster is ensnared in a net and is just upset. He then comes across a motley crew of earwig pirates who are catching lantern fish and stealing their light bulbs—so he frees them.

Not feeling much like a Grand Enchanter, he becomes sad as his sails begin to lose the wind—until the butterflies he had helped whisk by and generate a tremendous wind. He then became ensnared in the Slithering Sea, until the sea monster comes to free him. A storm blows him into the Maze of Madness where he thinks he would be lost forever, until he sees the avenue of lights from the lantern fish to guide him safely along his way.

As Wilbur reaches the Ends of the Earth, saying the magic spell that will awaken the Golden Snail, he soon finds that his desire to be the Grand Enchanter wanes. It’s not what he wants anymore. He then commands the Golden Snail to take him to the Spiral Isles where he does something unexpected. It is there that he begins his next journey. What will Wilbur be in search of next? And what miraculous treasure will he find?

The author, Graeme Base, is well known for his vibrant and bold images that make the reader feel a part of the adventure. He has authored and illustrated many books that are equally as charming, such as Uno’s Garden, Jungle Drums, and Enigma: A Magical Mystery. Base’s fanciful locations create a smile as they draw the reader into Wilbur’s adventure, watching him unknowingly be the best captain that ever was.

Children between the ages of 4–8 will especially enjoy trying to find the hidden snail and crossbones that are hidden throughout this 48-page picture book.

Reviewer Renee Hand is the award-winning author of The Crypto-Capers series for children. Look for her new release in the Crypto-Capers Series: Book 4: The Chest of Mystery.

Book Review for The Golden Pathway by Donna McDine

The Golden Pathway by Donna McDine

(Guardian Angel Publishing, August 12, 2010)

The Golden Pathway is a historical fiction book that talks about slavery and the Underground Railroad.

People who were alive during the time of slavery, believed in two things in the south. They either believed in slavery or did not. David is the boy in this story, who did not believe in slavery. He did not agree that another person should be owned, and he certainly did not believe in the abuse and bad treatment that a slave sometimes had to endure. David’s Pa is a man with little qualm about beating slaves. He, on occasion, especially when he had a little too much to drink, would take his frustrations out on the family's slave, Jenkins. After hearing Pa whip Jenkins for the umpteenth time—he had enough. David was tired of his father’s drunken outbursts of insanity, and he often had prayed that Pa wouldn’t find another target for his temper.

So, he waited. David waited until the chaos was over to try and comfort his friend. It made him sick to see the whip lashes on Jenkins back. Wanting to do something to save Jenkins, and yet also fearing what would happen to him, David decides that Jenkins must be set free. The only way to do that was to take him to a Quaker, who was someone who did not believe in slavery. A Quaker would help slaves escape to the north to freedom via the Underground Railroad. It was considered the golden pathway to freedom.

The Quaker tells David where to meet him with Jenkins. Do they get caught? Will David be punished for aiding a slave? On the other hand, will Jenkins finally be free?

The Golden Pathway is a story about courage and friendship. Children will be able to learn a little more about this time period. Mrs. McDine adds a bibliography page to the back of her book where readers can learn more about slavery. She also adds an Author’s Note page that provides further information for the reader.

Children who like historical fiction between the ages of 8–12 will enjoy this 26-page picture book, which is available in hardcover, paperback and e-book.

This book was reviewed for Pump Up Your Books Blog Tour for Donna McDine. For more info on the other places, she will be visiting, please check out her website at www.donnamcdine.com

Book Review for Nat Geo Wild Animal Atlas: Earth's Astonishing Animals and Where They Live by National Geographic

Nat Geo Wild Animal Atlas: Earth's Astonishing Animals and Where They Live by National Geographic

(National Geographic Children's Books, September 28, 2010)

Nat Geo Wild Animal Atlas: Earth’s Astonishing Animals and Where They Live is a perfect tool for introducing young readers to amazing animals across the globe.

Readers learn about various continents and regions where certain animals live. The book incorporates fact-filled essays that encourage children to read on and discover more. The maps are big, bright, and easy to read, and are custom designed for young readers, introducing them to the physical features of each continent. Animal icons show where animals live on land, also providing information about their habitats, diets, survival skills, and much more.

This atlas is truly unique in design, using maps and photographs to complement each other, creating images that will capture kids’ natural curiosity. It creates a fun-filled learning experience.

The book is 13.7 inches tall, which is perfect to be read and used in a classroom. The Table of Contents breaks information up by continents as well as where animals live, a look at their ecosystems, and spotlights on specific animals for discussion.

Pictures of each ecosystem are also provided. This book is great for learning about geography, endangered species, habitats, continents, map reading, and how these all connect.

Fans of other National Geographic books will soon add this to their list. Nat Geo Wild Animal Atlas: Earth’s Astonishing Animals and Where They Live is a step above the rest, combining a plethora of information and beautiful pictures that will ignite a passion in children for animals and the world they live in, making them want to be a part of this confluence, which has always been National Geographic’s goal.

Children ages 4–8 will enjoy this 64-page, hardcover, nonfiction picture book.

Reviewer Renee Hand is the award-winning author of The Crypto-Capers series for children. Look for her new release in the Crypto-Capers Series: Book 4: The Chest of Mystery.