Reading Authors: #Holidays

Showing posts with label #Holidays. Show all posts

Monday, December 12, 2022

In the Nick of Time by DeeDee Cummings #Childrensbooks #holiday #bookseries

Book Details:
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 28 pages
Genre:  Children/ Holiday
Publisher:  Make A Way Media
Release date: November 2019
Content Rating: G. Children's Holiday Book.

Book Description:

A Timely Tale about a Little Brown Boy who Saves Christmas. Nick Saint never really put a lot of thought into his name until one snowy day in December when he accidentally receives a letter meant for Saint Nick. Realizing there is not much time left until Christmas, Nick opens the letter. The unexpected message inside ultimately leads him on a journey of understanding poverty, gratitude, and service to others while discovering the real meaning of the holiday spirit.

Amazon
Goodreads

My review:

When Nick is caught up in his things, he is unaware that others may not live or have the things he has. In a twist of fate, he gets a chance to not only have his eyes awakened but to do something about it.

This book is heartwarming and a lesson for young and old alike to learn. The overall lesson in this book is for all of us to take care of one another. We should all be aware that not everyone has privilege and we should be grateful for what we do have.

I loved the story line and the larger than life illustrations that only enhanced an already great book. The book is multicultural which is a plus, a timeless book and perfect for the holidays.

I give it 5 holiday stars.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book from the author to review. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network

Meet the Author:

Deedee is a professional dreamer. She is also an author, therapist, attorney, and mom from Louisville, Kentucky. The books she writes focus on hope, diversity, social justice, and therapeutic skills for children and adults. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Forbes, NPR, USA Today, Essence Magazine, Psych Central, Well+Good, and The EveryGirl, among other media outlets. Deedee is also the founder of Make A Way Media and The Louisville Book Festival. She believes literacy is a fundamental human right. Her work highlights inspiring messages that remind us all it is never too late to begin again. Cummings founded Make A Way Media in 2014 after struggling to find books with characters who looked like her own children and an extreme lack of stories that reflected their life experiences. Follow Deedee on Instagram for fun and informative updates as she continues to chase her dreams and bring them to life.

website

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Gaston Goes to Mardi Gras by James Rice #review #childrensbooks #holidays

Summary:

Gaston the green-nosed alligator has returned from the swamp and is taking adventurous readers on a tour of Mardi Gras.

My review:

This book is simply what it is, a review of what Mardi Gras is and is not. It seems odd to me to have a book on Mardi Gras to begin with as it is really an adult ideal. However, children do live in New Orleans and experience the many parades and balls as do the adults, thus the reason I wanted to read a children's version.

I thought when I started reading that this (again children's book) would be a dumb-downed book explaining the holiday. The cover version I read has a cartoonish alligator on it. In the book, it makes him to look like any other revelers. What really happened was a larger detailed version, complete with a list of the krews, what they do, and the parades they host.

Overall, though, it is the illustrations that make this book. The story itself is so-so. It is also why I can only throw out a 3-star review to the crowd.

~Michelle
Disclosure: I picked up a copy of this book from my local library. My review here is 100% my own opinion and may differ from yours.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

#Review: Warm Chocolate by Eve Coberly aka Flitzy Books #kidsbooks

Summary:
It's creamy. It's smooth. It's chocolate. Everything about this classic winter drink is SO right-except for one little thing...its name. Join funny boy Marvin Peters as he explains to his classmates before winter break why he thinks it's time for the WARM CHOCOLATE revolution....are you ready?

My review:
This was a cute little rhyming book for children. The author set the book during the Christmas season but it could be read at any time during winter. I liked the story line of why sharing "warm" chocolate is fun.

Although the rhyming was cute and worked well for the book, I was not overly impressed with the illustrations. They were simple line drawings but colorful too. The illustrations were underneath the written parts on what looked like torn sheets of paper. This was different from books I have read before but seemed cheesy to me and not too professional.

One thing I did like about the illustrations was the fact that some of them were drawings of real things from the author. In the back of the book, she included a seek and find which was kind of fun to go back through and look for. I almost wished though, they would have been the real photos!

The other thing she includes in the back of the book was the recipe to make "warm" chocolate. Great!

I am giving this book a 3 as I did like the story and was glad to see she included the recipe.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Naila Moon

Where to find the author:
Amazon
Website
Goodreads

Thursday, February 19, 2015

#Review: Dragon Dance A Chinese New Year by Joan Holub / Illustrated by Benrei Huang #Multicultural, #Kidsbooks, #Holidays

Summary:
It's Chinese New Year and there are so many fun things to do! Shopping at the outdoor market for fresh flowers, eating New Year's dinner with the whole family, receiving red envelopes from Grandma and Grandpa, and best of all-watching the spectacular Chinese New Year's parade! Introduce the customs of Chinese New Year to even the youngest readers with this festive new lift-the-flap book.

My review:
Happy Chinese New Year!

I absolutely adored this cute lift-the-flap book. The book drew me in from the very first page. Joy and laughter is throughout the pages as the characters celebrate the Chinese New Year Holiday. The kids in the book express enchantment as they discover items given by family and friends. That same excitement is revealed to the reader as each pages flap shows another hidden discovery.

The illustrations were done beautifully in bold pictures and colors. Traditional colors are discussed in the book and is evident in the illustrators pictures.

Finally, if that was not enough, the poetry by the author is simple as you would expect from a mostly picture book but it is also done well as I would expect from this author.

Go get a copy of this book for your own collections and celebrate the Chinese New Year together. 5 stars!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Naila Moon

Where to find the author:

Amazon
Facebook
Goodreads

Monday, November 24, 2014

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge Nov. 24- Jan. 6 #ChristmasSpirit #Christmas #Holidays

I have decided I am going to take up this reading challenge to coincide with the other reading challenge. This one just last longer and has other things to do besides reading. Gasp!

Anyway, to kick off this challenge I am listing some of the books I will be for reviewing throughout the month of December. This list could grow depending on my whim and time.