Mr. Howard the Rescued Cat by Erin Hayburn #spotlight #excerpts #childrensbooks #rescuedanimals #activitysheets

Synopsis:

An abandoned young cat must fend for himself and avoid the nasty bully cats patrolling the

streets, until he is rescued by new people, given the name; Mr Howard, and brought into a

home with good food, soft beds, and a very old dog! But to pass the test in the new home, Mr

Howard must follow The Rules. After an unexpected escape, he is faced with a choice: Will he

choose No Rules and a life on the streets? Or The Rules and a new family? What will Mr

Howard choose?

Excerpts:

Activity sheets:

Would you like to color a picture of Mr. Howard or fun activities involving him?  The author has included for me to share but you can find many on the website below.

Author Bio (courtesy of Mr. Howard):

My human, the author, Erin Hayburn, is a bit shy (and not as interesting as me), so I'll take over

from here - My name is Mr. Howard McGregor, thank you. Mr Howard The Rescued Cat is

based on my true rescue story as a young, and ever so handsome kitty cat.

I may be black and white on the outside, but I'm most certainly colorful on the inside!

After a spell of homelessness and trying to survive on my own (not too successfully, I might

add), a new family rescued me and welcomed me into their home - which already had an old

dog living in it! I won't bore you with the details of my hilarious antics in said new home (you'll

have to read my book for that!), let's just say there were a lot of new Rules I wasn't necessarily

keen to follow...

With my dashing good looks, charming personality, and riveting origin story, I always believed

someone should write a book about me. Although I look far more dapper in real-life than the

illustrations depict, the narrative is indeed accurate of my early escapades.

Website: https://www.mrhowardtherescuedcat.com.au/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/3KVKRN6

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61423293-mr-howard-the-rescued-cat

When Penny Met POTUS by Rachel Ruiz #POTUS #glassceilingbroken #dreaming #ReadYourWorld #review

Synopsis:

From debut author Rachel Ruiz, When Penny Met POTUS is a unique and clever picture book about a young girl whose mother works for the president of the United States. Penny has heard the term POTUS over and over but doesn't know what it means―and her imagination runs wild! When she spends a day at the office with her mother, she asks a few questions, looks around, and tries to discover just who―or what― POTUS is.

My review:

Women and girls rule! 

The main character, Penny is a curious and intelligent girl who wonders what a POTUS is. (spoiler) She pictures him as a friendly monster who even invites her to tea. It turns out that POTUS s anything but. However, if I gave this away then the book would be ruined.

I will tell you this though, the twist at the end is surprising and fun. It shows how imagination can run while but It also gives hope!

I loved the bold images illustrated by Melissa Mamwill, that without, would not bring this book to life. The best one that I loved was the one with POTUS and his Secret Service which are aliens! *chuckles*

Disclosure/Notes: This book was given to me by the publisher. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. 5 stars!

This book was also part of the Multicultural Children's book Day/Read Your World which I received late two years ago. I subsequently TBR'd it until a later time. However, even though I am not part of the festivities this year, I am including it. As part of the festivities, the MCBD/Read Your world group asks reviewers to add activities.  The activities I am adding are below.  ~Michelle

Activities:

1. Read other books on what a POTUS does. Write what you would do if you were the POTUS.

2. Draw pictures of what you think the White House looks like

3.If you were the POTUS, what items would you add to the White House to leave for future presidents? Draw them or write about them. Why would you leave them?

4. In the book, it talks about the POTUS eating 'POTUS sandwiches." Get in the kitchen and make what you think that might look like. Ask permission to use the kitchen though.

Swing by Kwame Alexander Part 2 Activities #BLINK Summer Reading Tour

From the Urban dictionary: "HUG LIFE-

A way of life in which rather than let someone push you around, you hug anyone who stands in your way..."

Recently, I wrote a REVIEW about the book, Swing. I will wait while you check it out. *play elevator music*  I suggest you get you a copy if you would like to. This is marketed as a YA book but I think an older preteen would understand the concepts here too.

Today I want to follow up with the book by giving you some ideas/activities you could do to go along with the book.

1. Start a petition about something that is unjust. Get signatures for it and send it to your local congressperson.

2. Visit your grandparents or visit a nursing home. Video a conversation with them asking about events in their life that you might not know about. Make sure to ask how they might have met their spouse or significant person in their life. Revisit as you can.

3. Research love letters back from the 19th century or before. Make some art based on those letters.

4. In the book, "Swing" embraces the "HUG LIFE" and has it tattooed on his arm. Write some positive  messages on some sticky notes along with #HUGLIFE and post them around your town.

5. Start a conversation on social media simply by posting the poster below. Remind people that this is a positive only post.

6. Volunteer to work with veterans. Talk with them what is important to them.

7.. Start a club...even with just two people. Read the book Swing and discuss how you can make a difference in your school. Or how you can be a friend to someone who needs it. Invite others to join.

8. Learn about different cultures and religions different from your own.  Plan a bbq at a local park, ask your neighbors to come, Ask local police departments if they will host the bbq and promote it around town. Have information via posters about what you learned around the park.

9. Make a poster that says, "Free Hugs" on it. Stand out on the street somewhere and give them out.

10. Be a friend. Simply remember that everyone is different and that you can learn something from everyone.

Happy reading and living the #HugLife,
Michelle

It's here! #MCBD #ReadYourWorld Review & Activities: The Rock Maiden by Natasha Yim

ISBN: 978-1-937786-65-6

Publication: March 2017

Publisher: Wisdom Tales

Page Count: 36, hardcover

Ages: 4+

Summary:
When her fisherman husband fails to come home after a storm at sea, the beautiful maiden Ling Yee is heartbroken. Every morning, she puts her baby on her back and clambers to the top of a cliff looking for any signs of his return. But day after day, she is disappointed. The villagers try to convince her to give up her vigil. “No,” she would say, “He will come home soon.” Tin Hau, the Goddess of the Heavens, takes pity on her grief and turns Ling Yee and her child into stone so that they would mourn no more. The fisherman eventually finds his way home―only to discover that his wife has been transformed into the Rock Maiden.

My review:
This book is a retelling of an old Chinese tale based upon a real rock called the Amah Rock in Sha Tin, Hong Kong. In the real legend, the story is not as happily ended. This telling is much sweeter and gives hope, but it also shares love and loyalty.

The tale also introduces a Goddess of the Heavens called Tin Hau, this is nice to illustrate that children around the world do not necessarily worship the same God. At the very least, it can bring the conversation about others and their beliefs that may not be the same as their own.

The illustrations were beautifully done by Pirkko Vainio in muted watercolors. Yellow, grays, and blues are main staples throughout the book which lends themselves to the overall feel of the book.

I recommend this book and give it 5 stars.

About the author:

Northern California children's author, freelance writer, and playwright. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong. Came to California in 1979 to attend Dominican College (now University) where she graduated with a B.A. in English Literature with a Writing Emphasis and an M.S. in Counseling Psychology. As a Social Worker, she worked primarily with emotionally disadvantaged children in group home and foster home settings, and with Child Protective Services. Currently, she works part-time at the Mendocino County Office of Education, but works on writing every chance can get.

She has written stories since she was 11 years old, and even though interested in writing in a wide-range of genres and topics from picture books to plays, from travel and food writing to profiles, her heart has always been in writing for children.

Activities:

1. Set up a "village" around a baby swimming pool that acts as the sea. Make "sampans" from larger sitting toys and have children "fish" in the sea. Use wooden poles with magnets on the end to catch fish made out of paper and paper clips. The "fish" could have Chinese words on them or words from the book. Younger kids the "fish" could have words they are learning or alphabet.
2. (For older children)Talk about different stories the children have heard. Discuss what a legend is and maybe share and contrast other legends. Have them write their own retelling of a legend.
3. Go on a walk with children and climb different "mountains" or set up a "mountain" on a slide. Discuss the mountain of Amah Rock and what it might look like. Discuss other mountains maybe the children have seen.
4. Have the children paint rocks based on the different colors in the book. Have them write their names on one side and the people they love on the other side.

Happy reading! M.M. Hudson aka Naila Moon

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Thank you Wisdom Tales Publishing for providing me this book for Multicultural Book Day Celebration. 

Wisdom Tales is the name of the children’s book imprint of the award-winning publishing house, World Wisdom, which was founded in 1980. Wisdom Tales publishes both children’s and teen titles and was created for the purpose of sharing the wisdom, beauty, and values of traditional cultures and peoples from around the world with young readers and their families. The content, illustrations, and production quality of these books is intended to assure them a lasting value for children, parents, teachers, and librarians.

Review: Dear Molly, Dear Olive:Molly Meets Trouble (Whose Real Name Is Jenna) by Megan Atwood #Multicultural # D #AtoZblogchallenge

Summary: 
There's a new girl in the third-grade, and for some reason, she brings out the worst in Molly. If only Molly's cross-country pen pal, Olive, were there. But Olive's got her OWN set of troubles with her new gymnastics team. As both girls struggle to make new friends, their dishonest emails and letters to each other threaten their relationship. First-person narratives that alternate point-of-view from chapter to chapter bring the main characters to life.

My Review:
This is wonderful little chapter book, tells the tale of two best-friend pen pals lives. Each girl encounters trouble. Friendship is on the edge as each learns to deal with their own issues but trust each others advice.

The issue of bullying is addressed head-on throughout this entire book. It is well written and can be easily understood by young readers. Bullying is such a tough subject to write because there are all types but the author did a nice job of highlighting the issue. She also managed to show how often the bullies themselves have also been subject to bullying. Overall, she makes it clear to be true to self.

The author ties up the book with a nice tidy bow but unfortunately, it is often not that way. I think I would have liked to have seen some safe websites at the end that kids (or adults) could access if they had questions or concerns. I will say that the author had discussion questions at the end and that was a good thing for further discussion.

Illustrations for the book were extremely girly. The illustrator used black pen illustraions of the girls and their new friends. These were few as again, the book is a chapter book. However, cute doodles were throughout.  The only disappointment I had here was that the book was not in color. The book is meant to be multicultural which is well illustrated on the pink cover; then, the illustrations inside are in black and white. That caused a bit of confusion for me and may for children reading the book.

Overall, I liked the book but do recommend the above. 4 stars.
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Find below some activities that I created that could be used with this book.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for free. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. Hudson

Activities for the book:
1. Have your children sign up for a pen pal near or far. Google for a variety of kid-friendly sites. Then get to writing.
2. In the book, Molly and Olive have a special friendship necklace. Get out your art supplies and make a special necklace for new pen pals.
3. Discuss the questions in the back.
4. Have a talent show in your back yard. Invite your children's friends and new kids at school.
5. Learn the game 4 square.
6. Help your child create welcome packs for new kids at school.