Tag: picture books

Children’s Book Review: The Fire Cat by Esther Averill

The Fire Cat
Series: The Cat Club

Author:
Esther Averill

Illustrator: Esther Averill
First Published: 1960
64 Pages

Reviewed By: Cristina

Book Description:

Pickles the fire cat to the rescue!  Pickles is a young cat with big paws who wishes to do big things with them! When he’s adopted by the local firehouse, Pickles works hard to be a good fire cat. He learns to jump on a fire truck. He learns to help put out a fire, and he even helps out in a rescue. Beginning readers will cheer as Pickles gets his wish and finds something big to do with his paws. With sweet illustrations from author-illustrator Esther Averill, this Level One I Can Read book is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts of Level One books support success for children eager to start reading on their own. 

Cristina’s Review:

Pickles is a stray cat who has big paws and no idea what to do with them. His favorite pastime is bullying kittens smaller than himself. But when he finds himself stuck up a tree in a storm, a new friend helps him find a better way to live. Will Pickles do great things with those big paws like his friend hopes he will?

The Fire Cat is a classic beginning reader book. As in, it was Ms. Cristina’s favorite book in first grade! This is a nice book for chapter introduction as well. There is an illustration on each page to encourage readers. Pickles learning to use a fireman’s pole is one of the best! While the story is about a cat becoming a fire cat and working with the fire department, it is also a story with some great Social Emotional Learning opportunities. Homelessness, bullying, kindness and giving someone a chance to prove themselves, self-esteem, community–it’s all there for discussion if you want to use the book in that manner. Otherwise, it’s just a great story for first-third graders. Who am I kidding? I’m an adult and the story still makes me smile!

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Children’s Picture Book Review: Baby Loves: Earth

Baby Loves: Earth: An ABC of Our Planet
Series: Book 2 of Baby Loves
Author:  Jennifer Eckford
Illustrator: Teresa Bellon
Published:  August 4, 2020

30 Pages

Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: November 28, 2020
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars     

Book Description:

An ABC book designed to teach very young children about the earth and how it is changing. 

Baby Loves is a new range of giftable preschool ABC books that taps into the trends that matter. Stunningly illustrated with a cut-to-white aesthetic, each pocket-sized book is a perfect introduction to a key topic for babies

Jessica’s Review:

Baby Loves: Earth is a pocket size picture children’s book made of thick cardboard which will make it easy for a little one to hold and turn the pages.  The illustrations are colorful and yet simple to help enhance the meaning of the word that corresponds with the presented letter of the alphabet. 

Baby Loves: Earth introduces little ones to the world of conservation and environmental issues. I would not recommend this for a baby of even a very young toddler as some of the words are larger and this will cause mom or dad to explain the word and meaning to the child,  (Such a T for Toxin Free, Q for Equilibrium, and X for coexist. There was even a word I did not know: K for Kapok. What is that? Google helped to give me the knowledge on this word.  I did like that Y stood for You and this could lead to a conversation about how you (the child) can help to save the world.

Overall, I say look at this book first and decide if it will be appropriate for your young child.

I received a copy from the publisher via Amazon Vine to review. 

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

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Children’s Picture Book Review: ABC: What Can I Be? You Can Be Anything You Want to Be, From A to Z

ABC What Can I Be?
You Can Be Anything You Want to Be, From A to Z
Series:
ABC For Me
Author/Illustrator: Jessie Ford

Published: September 1, 2020
32 Pages

Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: November 28, 2020
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars

Book Description:

ABC What Can I Be? presents a wonderful world full of career possibilities—from Astronomer to Zoo Keeper and everything in between. Representing kids of all kinds, this book shows that there are no limits to what a kid can pursue.

Whether they are fascinated by animals, trains, flowers, teaching, or any other thing, kids can grow up to be whatever they want! ABC What Can I Be? presents a whole alphabet full of exciting, thoughtful, and wonderful things children can do.

Pairing a career with each letter of the alphabet, ABC What Can I Be? features colorful illustrations and fascinating careers to get kids thinking about all the possibilities for their future. Each page introduces a letter of the alphabet with bright artwork and highlights a career that is fun, challenging, and makes a big impact in its own way. These 26 careers—which include Dentist, Floral Designer, Meteorologist, Robotics Engineer, Train Conductor, and Wildlife Conservationist—are just some of the things a kid can become! A fun read for the whole family,ABC What Can I Be? is not only perfect for teaching toddlers their ABCs, but also for encouraging them to consider all the careers available to them when they grow up.

With endearing illustrations and mindful concepts, the ABC for Me series pairs each letter of the alphabet with words that promote big dreams and healthy living. Other books in this series include:

  • ABC What Can She Be? (2018)
  • ABC What Can He Be? (2019)
  • ABC Let’s Celebrate You & Me (2021)
  • ABC Everyday Heroes Like Me (2021)

Jessica’s Review:

This is a 5 star children’s picture book that helps children learn their ABCs and also shows them that they can grow up to be anything they want! 

The illustrations are very colorful and bright and also showcase the diversity in people. This includes diversity in disability and religion which does show young children that anyone can become anything they want to be. They just have to reach for it and go! 

There is one letter per page which showcases an occupation with an illustration. There is also one sentence that explains the selected occupation. There are a variety of occupations showcased (some with bigger words that might need some explanation from mom or dad): Emergency Medical Technician, Paleontologist (is this an occupation that still exists???) to more advanced occupations as our technology continuously expands: Game Developer/ Quantitative Analyst, and Robotic Engineer).

This is an alphabet book I highly recommend for children.

I received a copy from the publisher via Amazon Vine to review. 

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

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