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Water Land: Land and Water Forms Around the World
Written by Christy Hale
I love this book for the classroom or at home! Christy Hale based this book on our land and water forms from the cultural area of Montessori classrooms. She not only wrote the text (of which there are just the names of each land or water form on that page) but also, she is an artist and did a wonderful job with the colors and illustrations. The way she designed the book is so clear and crisp. Children will not be distracted by too many words as they discover this part of our natural world. It’s so much fun, like magic, when the reader carefully turns the page and sees how each water form has an opposite landform.
To top it all off, Ms. Hale has included a fold-out chart at the back of the book with more information about the land and water forms and a map to see where the large ones are located around the world. Children ages 4-8 years will love this book!
The Six Stages of Parenthood
Written by Ellen Galinsky
Have you ever wondered if there are stages to parenthood like there are for childhood? The answer is, “Yes. There are.” Ellen Galinsky did an in-depth study of parents during different times from when their children were “imagined” to when their children were grown and leaving home.
My children are in their 30s and I now have a grandson who is seven years old. It was interesting to me to think about him when my daughter-in-law was pregnant, then in the first months after he was born, and on into the elementary years. As a grandparent I can see him differently than when my own children were growing and changing but there are many similarities to the parent stages. You are probably in the midst of a parenting stage or stages, depending on whether you have one or more children. This book may help you sort out and better understand your own feelings and thoughts as well as your parenting partner’s.
Once in a Full Moon
Written by Carolinda Goodman
Illustrated by Mariia Luzina
Carolinda Goodman’s book is written as a poem. She describes in a rhythmic way all the full moons around the year. She gives the name of the moon and why it got that name. Mariia Luzina beautifully illustrates each moon and the earthly surroundings according to the name and season. The illustrations really enhance the poetry from the author. Wonderful for at home or school for children ages 4-8 years.
All the Colors We Are: The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color
Todos los colores de nuestra piel: La historia de por qué tenemos diferentes colores de piel
Written by Katie Kissinger
Photographed by Chris Bohnhoff
On every page of this book the text is in English and Spanish. What a joy! This book was written in a way that 4-year-olds to 8-year-olds will get something age-appropriate from it. For the 4-year-olds, they’ll learn something they may not have known about each other and for the 8-year-olds it may spark some interest in further research about biology or maybe genealogy. Oh… and the photographs are magnificent! The author has also included activities for children at the back of the book. Again, I think this book would be good for home or school.
Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon
Written by Kat Zhang
Illustrated by Charlene Chua
This would be a great book for four- to 7-year-olds, especially when studying Asia. The story begins in an Early Childhood or Lower Elementary classroom when their teacher reads them a story about dragons and then asks them to make dragons of their own. Amy became frustrated because the dragons were not turning out as she wished they would. After school she and her friends went to her house and her grandmother read them a story about dragons. Gramma’s story triggered a memory of something up in the attic. Teachers will love this story for cultural studies, art projects, and developing reading skills. Parents will like it, too.
Be You!
Written by Peter H. Reynolds
Peter H. Reynolds is a favorite children’s book writer who has started a social change agency called FableVision with his brother, Paul. Their idea was to help “create stories that matter, stories that move.” This book is full of words that describe different characteristics that lead humans to their own uniqueness. They are phrases that always start with “be.” What a wonderful verb. He uses phrases such as be ready, be kind, be okay with reaching out, be persistent, and many more. This is an enjoyable and inspiring book for people of all ages.
