Saved by the Boats by Julie Gassman is a picture book about September 11, 2001 and the ways the boats in New York Harbor came to the rescue of thousands of stranded New Yorkers. For me the most striking aspect of this book is the illustrations, as they so nicely capture the sense of togetherness that occurred during the tragedy.Continue Reading
The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frères by Marie Letourneau
The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frères by Marie Letourneau is a fun picture book about a restaurant in Paris run by seven brothers. However, it is the one sister who ends up saving the day! The Bistrot is a special place for mice and all the illustrations in it feature anthropomorphic mice.
“Anyone who is anyone eats there.” We are told right from the start. Continue Reading
Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies by Carmen Oliver
Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies by Carmen Oliver is a book about a girl and her unusual friend that helps her to enjoy her reading time. The pictures depict this reading buddy as a bear, and Adelaide describes how her bear is such a good buddy. Yet the book as a whole seems to be about much more. It’s about how to find a comfortable way to sit and read. It’s about how to get the most out of reading time. And although it seems to be a story about a girl and a bear, it is really a great introduction for kids in how a “buddy” can help you enjoy reading practice. Continue Reading
Good Morning Yoga by Miriam Gates
Good Morning Yoga by Miriam Gates is a basic picture book to introduce young readers to yoga. Each page has a simple rhyme about a yoga pose mixed into an imaginary situation, thus making the stretch friendly to the young reader. Further, bright illustrations show children doing the yoga pose. A text box explains how to do the given stretch.
I am not very familiar with yoga at all, so I don’t know what the proper terms for each of the poses are. But that didn’t matter. With Good Morning Yoga, I knew how to do the yoga stretches. With the calming rhymes on each page and the fun illustrations, my kids were eager to join in. My daughter’s favorite page is that in which she is an explorer: one hand makes a “spyglass” at her eye while the opposite leg stretches out behind her!
Although it has been a few weeks since we read it, my daughter still likes to remember her favorite pages. This is a nice gentle way to wake up in the morning, and I am delighted to see that there is also a Good Night Yoga book by the same author/illustrator team!
Note: I received a digital copy of this book for review consideration. I also referred to a physical copy at the library because I like it so much!