Hug? by Charlene Chua

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing Hug? by Charlene Chua.  It is a cute children’s picture book which can help children learn about boundaries.

How many hugs is too many? This girl's had enough! This humorous picture book explores compassion and the importance of setting boundaries.

After coughing up a hairball, a girl's cat doesn't feel well. So the girl offers to give her cat a hug, which makes the cat --- and the girl --- feel better. A dog notices and asks for a hug, too. Then some ducks come along asking for hugs. And a skunk . . . and a bear --- and a porcupine! One animal after another comes asking the girl for a hug until she's simply had enough. How much more of this can she take?

With spare text and wonderfully expressive illustrations, Charlene Chua has created a playful, funny picture book with an original premise. The story shows how important hugs can be to our happiness --- even the most unlikely of creatures sometimes need one! --- but that doesn't mean they're always welcome. 

The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments, most of which are found in illustrations that vividly portray the girl's emotions as she grows more worn out with every encounter, encouraging visual literacy. Each spread also shows a hint of the animal that will appear next, building anticipation for what's to come. There are character education connections here to compassion, tolerance and empathy, and a terrific opportunity for discussions about boundaries.

I am a hugger but their are times people don’t want to be hugged or even I don’t want to be. I thought it was great idea to discuss with little ones.I loved the illustrations they are cute, bright and engaging.

Overall I thought this was a fantastic book for young children .

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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And then I Turned into a Mermaid by Laura Kirkpatrick

And Then I Turned Into a Mermaid by Laura Kirkpatrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The title is what made me want to read this, I’m essentially a landlocked mermaid!
Even though I am in my 50’s I totally enjoyed this story!

Molly Seabrook’s dull seaside life is turned upside down when she turns 13 and is let in on the family secret: she’s PART-MERMAID! While this does explain why her bonkers Mum is always skinny-dipping, Molly isn’t exactly thrilled. She already has to dress as a haddock to promote the family fish ’n’ chip shop, and now this? Growing up is hard enough without sprouting a fish tail in Double Maths, or disguising your gills from the cute boy at the ice cream kiosk.

Join Molly as she navigates the stormy sea of social awkwardness, best friend fallouts and the World's Most Embarrassing Family – all while attempting to hide her (Very Weird) new double identity. Will she sink or swim? You’ll have to wait and SEA . . .

It was humorous, full of friendship struggles we all go through at any age, touched on LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 and just the love between a mum and Daughters.

This is an amazing book and I can't wait for more of the series and Seabrook sisters adventures! If there is a sequel I will definitely purchase

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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Bears Make the Best Writing Buddies

Bears Make the Best Writing Buddies by Carmen Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bears Make Best Writing Buddies by Oliver, Carmen

Adelaide loves writing. Bear loves writing. But Theo does NOT love writing. Thankfully, Adelaide and Bear are ready to team up and persuade the entire class, including Mrs. Fitz-Pea, that Bears make the best writing buddies. After all, who better to teach you how to fish and forage for new ideas than a bear? This third picture book in Carmen Oliver's Bears Make the Best...series is sure to encourage even the most reluctant writer to write a story.

As a young child I often struggled when it came to creative writing, for school or even in my diary! This is a great story for elementary students who are just beginning to read and write. I found it full of inspiration and encouragement to keep on writing even when you are stumped for ideas to put on the paper.

The illustrations are beautiful and really help bring the whole story together.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the Publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Do Animals Believe In God? by Carl Solomon Sr.

Hello friends,

Do Animals Believe In God? by Carl Solomon Sr.

Is a wonderful book that poses a question a lot of us ask ourselves and if animal lovers such as myself like to think they do too.

I read this book with my young niece and nephew in mind, and I think they would love the illustrations along with the message that animals love God and that God loves them in return.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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Review: The Monster Who Didn't Know Halloween

The Monster Who Didn't Know Halloween by Edymar Ablan Pacheco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Monster Who Didn't Know Halloween by Edymar Ablan Pacheco was such a cute and fun book. My niece and nephew would love this book. Just loved this story!

There was once a monster who thought himself brave
For he lived all alone, in a big mountain cave.
He feared not the dark. Nor a bug. Nor thirteen!
But our dear monster did not know Halloween.

Monster is a happy fellow who takes pride in being brave. But even the bravest ones can get a chill when facing the unknown… and Monster has never experienced Halloween before! Find out what happens when he sees for the first time in his life funny pumpkins and people going around dressed as ghosts and other spooky costumes.

Highly recommend!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Fairy Science by Ashley Spires

Hello friends,

Today I am reviewing a great children's book "Fairy Science" by Ashley Spires is a a hilarious new picture book series, that introduces a charming, determined heroine as she learns about the world and celebrates the joys of curiosity and exploring science.

Fairy Science by Ashley Spires
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Esther is a fairy who does not believe in magic. She believes in Science. In fact she thinks fairy dust is just dandruff. She knows that she can convince the other fairies that science is real, it will just take the right experiment and test subjects.

I really loved this book and I will be buying a copy for my god-daughter. I liked how it showed, not everyone believes in science or scientific principle, but some do. (which is how it is in real life). I also loved it's adorable illustrations.

I requested and received an Advanced readers Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

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Feel Better, Mommy by Risa Kirschner

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing “Feel Better, Mommy” by Risa Kirschner is a beautiful book with a simple and loving message that hopefully makes a situation like illness or hospital visits a little bit easier.

Feel Better, Mommy by Risa Kirschner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Abby’s mom has a boo boo, so her Nana takes her to the hospital to visit. Follow Abby’s adventures as she finds a magical bed that moves, takes her teddy on a wheelchair ride, and learns that spending time with her mom can make a hospital feel like home. Based on the real experiences of the author’s then two-year-old daughter, this sweet story teaches that hospitals are safe places for healing and that parents always love their children, even if they have to spend time away from home.

This is a great subject to address for young children who have someone they love in the hospital, as it helps them to cope and understand that the hospital is not a scary place to visit. (My dad worked in a hospital so it was familiar to me but to other kids I knew they were afraid) I think it would be great to have to prepare a young child for their first visit to a hospital. The mother’s illness is general in description, as it only mentions an IV and an x-ray, but you do visit some of the other patient’s rooms to give an idea of some of the reasons people are in the hospital.

This would be a wonderful book to be placed in the Children’s hospital, doctor’s offices, anywhere where a child may be dealing with the subject. My friend takes in emergency foster babies and they are in and out of the hospital , I am definitely going to get for her to read to the kids. I would definitely recommend this book!

I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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Review: Little Bear Wants to Grow

Little Bear Wants to Grow by Judith Koppens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am sure my 2 year old niece and even my 7 year old nephew will love this book. It is an adorable book for toddlers! It is about a little bear who wants to grow big, and then learns he will grow only a little each day. Who wouldnt want a hug a day and grow too! I think little ones would really enjoy this book, and the illustrations are fabulous. I highly recommend for all toddlers and have in fact purchased for my niece.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Clavis Publishing and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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The Quest for Kindness: A Fun and Interactive Path to Mindfulness by Patricia Leitch

Hello friends,

Today I am reviewing a book I am buying for my niece and nephew.  But in fact I found it was even a good learning tool for me.


The Quest for Kindness: A Fun and Interactive Path to Mindfulness by Patricia Leitch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found the story really fun, and have now purchased the paperback for my niece and nephew. What a magnificent tool to help children learn MINDFULNESS and that being kind to others can help them in life. The adorable animal characters who exemplify open-heartedness, calmness, and self-love and easy-to-understand ideas are what make this such a special book. The illustrations for learning yoga poses are so useful and kids will find fun, energizing, and relaxing. We all need to learn lessons about how to be our best selves. As an adult I found it helped me as well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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Good News! It's Easter!

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing Good News! It's Easter! by Glenys Nellist a board book I bought for my 2yr old niece Sofia.


  Good News! It's Easter! by Glenys Nellist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I bought this for my niece who is 2 and she loved it!
Wonderful words and illustrations that speak to the “new beginnings” around us each spring—flowers, bunnies, trees and the best “beginning” of all—Jesus’s resurrection. Beautiful way to explain the wonder of Easter to a young child. This would be a perfect Easter basket book!

I received an electronic ARC of the book from Net Galley and ordered a Board Book version. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow book lovers.

Hugs,

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