Category: children

Author: Tim J. Myers
Illustrator: Macky Pamintuan
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4027-7798-1
Pages: 40
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

How do you handle the dirty dinosaurs in the city? You send them to the Dino Wash Deluxe. They’ll be scrubbed and polished until they’re squeaky clean. Working there is a dream job, unless you’re a bit scared of Tyrannosaurus Rex.

As the dinosaurs come in, each is handled in his own special way. Even T. Rex! And if the employees play their cards right, they might even get taken for a ride.

Down at the Dino Wash Deluxe introduces kids to several dinosaurs, and even includes a glossary at the end of the story. As they each bathe, various unique characteristics are described, bring these prehistoric creatures to life. Science and story rolled into one book, this is a fun read for kids.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Howard Binkow
Illustrator: Susan F. Cornelison
Publisher: Thunderbolt Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9826165-5-0
Pages: 32
Price: $15.00

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

When Joey joins Howard’s class, the peaceful atmosphere is suddenly disrupted. Joey does things differently, not sitting still, sharing, or waiting his turn. And when Joey brings chameleons to school and they get loose, Howard feels bad for Joey and tries to help him.

Joey doesn’t know how to fit in, since he doesn’t have good social skills. Howard is patient with him, as they both decide that it would be good if Joey learned from the chameleons to blend in with others. By the end of the school year, Joey is no longer a social outcast.

Howard B. Wigglebottom Blends in Like Chameleons teaches kids the importance of following social cues, in an effort to fit into groups. However, as the last picture suggests, maintaining one’s unique personality is still encouraged, and kids aren’t told to conform to the point they lose themselves in the group. A discussion guide is also provided for further classroom conversation.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Saviour Pirotta
Illustrator: Mark Robertson
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4549-0414-4
Pages: 24
Price: $19.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Ahoy, mates, and welcome to The Buccanneering Book of Pirates! In this children’s book, six illustrated pirate stories are accompanied by a sturdy, life-size 3-D pirate poster, suitable for hanging in a landlubber’s bedroom. [Warning: Open at your peril.] Important pirate facts are also included on the poster.

Kids who are interested in pirate lore will love this fun and unique package.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Mar Pavón
Illustrator: Mónica Carretero
Publisher: Cuento de Luz
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9788415619444
Pages: 30
Price: $15.95

Buy it at Amazon

Clucky, the mother hen, takes her three chicks to school every day. But, while learning to read and write, the chicks hear ugly things about themselves and others. As they bring these words home to repeat to Clucky, she reminds them to get that nonsense out of their heads.

After a while, Clucky uses a bit of her magic to create a bubbling brew full of the mean and nasty things others have said. Then she recycles it, turning it into love, support and gratitude instead.

Kids face harsh criticism and gossip every day at school, and it’s important for them to realize they don’t have to believe everything they hear or participate in those conversations. Clucky and the Magic Kettle shows kids that they can transform the ugly into the beautiful, making life more enjoyable for everyone.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Title: Bitopia
Author: Ari Magnusson
Publisher: Olivander Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9848610-5-7
Pages: 240
Price: $9.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Stewart is on the run from a gang of bullies when he discovers an open manhole. Scrambling inside, he’s safe, for the moment. But when he finally escapes out the other side, he finds himself in a whole new world – a world of children hiding in a walled city to keep themselves safe from the Venators.

One child – the Princeps – holds the key to the city in a book called the Comlat. Inside, she claims, is a prophecy about the city’s Forebears who were defeated after three battles with the Venators. But Stewart doesn’t believe in prophecies, and he thinks the Forebears went home after defeating the Venators. A daring attempt to discover the truth leads to his expulsion from the city, and an unexpected chance to prove his theory correct.

What Stewart discovers is the key to understanding and defeating the powers these bullies have over the children. Once he knows what they need to do, the Venators have no power over the city, and everyone is finally free.

Title: Understanding Bullying and Ways to Make It Stop!
Author: Ari Magnusson
Publisher: Olivander Press
Genre: Teacher guide
ISBN: 978-0984861095
Pages: 126
Price: $14.99

Buy it at Amazon

This accompanying discussion guide is meant to be used with Bitopia in schools. They are designed to empower children to understand what bullies are doing to them, and how to handle bullying situations by themselves, without relying on adult interference. While the guide suggests kids may want to ask an adult for help, it discourages adults from stepping in without being asked.

Bullying occurs at all ages, not just in childhood, and teaching kids to rely solely on adult intervention makes them powerless to deal with bullying later in life. By providing them with the tools to deal with the problem on their own, they will be able to handle it any time it happens, without waiting to be rescued.

I highly recommend Bitopia and Understanding Bullying and Ways to Make It Stop! for classroom use.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: London Lake Pickett
Illustrator: Lynda Farrington Wilson
Publisher: Self
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-615-70668-9
Pages: 35
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Buster is a service dog who helps guide the author, who is nearly blind. In Adventures with Buster, kids learn about how service dogs are trained and how they help the people they serve.

We meet Buster in Florida, where Pickett and he spend several weeks getting used to each other. Then it’s time for him to come home to North Carolina and an unexpected snowfall. And soon after, they take a trip to Arizona together. Travel by plane doesn’t upset Buster one bit, and he takes good care of Pickett. But along the way, she is surprised by some of Buster’s adventures.

In Adventures with Buster kids will be treated to a glimpse of life with a service dog and join in the fun of his adventures. This is a nice read for all ages.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author & Illustrator: Charley Harper
Publisher: AMMO Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-162326003-3
Pages: 62
Price: $16.95

Buy it at Amazon

Charley Harper is known for seeing nature in a different way, drawing animals with geometric shapes and lines to create fanciful images. In ABC’s, kids will see these unique and unusual pictures representing each of the letters of the alphabet.

Author & Illustrator: Patrick Hruby
Publisher: AMMO Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-162326006-4
Pages: 56
Price: $16.95

Buy it at Amazon

The circus is colorful, and so are these ABC’s. Geometric shapes in vibrant hues contrast with black and white, representing many of the things kids would see at the circus, as they spell out the alphabet.

Reviewer: Alice Berger