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lightbulbheart's reviews
1216 reviews
Abuela's Fideo: A Story of a Grandma's Love by Ma. Alma González Pérez
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
NetGalley ARC
Read-Aloud? No (topic)
Tags: grandparents, death of grandparent, grief, food, Mexican food, memories
From Laredo, TX born and raised Gabriela Tijerina comes a tale of grief and remembrance that is as funny as it is sad. Great for helping children dealing with the grief of a grandparent by remembering and recreating the foods they used to make. Includes a recipe for Fideo (noodle soup). I'll definitely be adding this one to the Lightbulb Heart Lending Library!
Available September 2022
Read-Aloud? No (topic)
Tags: grandparents, death of grandparent, grief, food, Mexican food, memories
From Laredo, TX born and raised Gabriela Tijerina comes a tale of grief and remembrance that is as funny as it is sad. Great for helping children dealing with the grief of a grandparent by remembering and recreating the foods they used to make. Includes a recipe for Fideo (noodle soup). I'll definitely be adding this one to the Lightbulb Heart Lending Library!
Available September 2022
Bruno – Short Stories for Long Nights by Serena Romanelli, Hans de Beer
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
NetGalley ARC
Read-Aloud: No (best for one-on-one)
Tags: animals, bedtime, hibernation, rhymes
Although I found the rhyme scheme awkward at time and therefore not great for storytime read-aloud, this title would be good for one-on-one bedtimes. I humbly suggest "Adrian, the Vegetarian Crocodile" from its offerings.
Available October 2022
Read-Aloud: No (best for one-on-one)
Tags: animals, bedtime, hibernation, rhymes
Although I found the rhyme scheme awkward at time and therefore not great for storytime read-aloud, this title would be good for one-on-one bedtimes. I humbly suggest "Adrian, the Vegetarian Crocodile" from its offerings.
Available October 2022
Backpack Explorer: Rock Hunt: What Will You Find? by Editors of Storey Publishing
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
4.0
NetGalley ARC
Read-Aloud? No
Tags: nature, rocks, minerals, exploration
Backpack Explorer: Rock Hunt is an informative, activity-filled book that would be great for kids who are interested in rocks, minerals, volcanoes, fossils...Every page is packed with facts and invitations for further natural study. The physical and art activities would be great for individuals or classes.
Available February 2023
Read-Aloud? No
Tags: nature, rocks, minerals, exploration
Backpack Explorer: Rock Hunt is an informative, activity-filled book that would be great for kids who are interested in rocks, minerals, volcanoes, fossils...Every page is packed with facts and invitations for further natural study. The physical and art activities would be great for individuals or classes.
Available February 2023
Keys by Sacha Cotter
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
NetGalley ARC of coming 2023 publication: "When Daddy Tucks Me In"
Read-Aloud: one-on-one
Tags: bedtime, fathers, paramedics, keys
The author of CANNONBALL (2020) brings readers another wonderful story. WHEN DADDY TUCKS ME IN (formerly published in New Zealand as KEYS) is great for bedtime reading. This tale of a paramedic father who returns late at night after his child has gone to bed invites readers into wonderful new worlds corresponding to each key on the parent's keyring; the most important being saved for last.
Available March 2023. Recommended.
Read-Aloud: one-on-one
Tags: bedtime, fathers, paramedics, keys
The author of CANNONBALL (2020) brings readers another wonderful story. WHEN DADDY TUCKS ME IN (formerly published in New Zealand as KEYS) is great for bedtime reading. This tale of a paramedic father who returns late at night after his child has gone to bed invites readers into wonderful new worlds corresponding to each key on the parent's keyring; the most important being saved for last.
Available March 2023. Recommended.
The You Kind of Kind by Nina West
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
NetGalley ARC
Read-Aloud: No (length and word count)
Tags: Kindness
Nina West's new tale of kindness includes a lot of wunderfuzzle new words (the main character, Nina, likes to make up words to express herself). Hayden Evans's illustrations are fun and evoke an earlier age of illustration. The text is a bit wordy and lengthy for reading aloud with groups, but would be good for starting conversations about kindness with 5-8 year olds.
Read-Aloud: No (length and word count)
Tags: Kindness
Nina West's new tale of kindness includes a lot of wunderfuzzle new words (the main character, Nina, likes to make up words to express herself). Hayden Evans's illustrations are fun and evoke an earlier age of illustration. The text is a bit wordy and lengthy for reading aloud with groups, but would be good for starting conversations about kindness with 5-8 year olds.
Alphabreaths Too: More ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
NetGalley ARC
Read-Aloud? YES
Tags: mindfulness, breathing, breathing exercises, somatic connections
Christopher Willard and Daniel Rechtschaffen bring us an alphabetic invitation to mindfulness and breathing for littles. Holly Clifton-Brown's charming illustrations bring each letter to life. This title would work well for littles who need some one-on-one coaching, and great for read-aloud with accompanying modeling of these breaths. Highly recommended.
Available Sep. 2022
Read-Aloud? YES
Tags: mindfulness, breathing, breathing exercises, somatic connections
Christopher Willard and Daniel Rechtschaffen bring us an alphabetic invitation to mindfulness and breathing for littles. Holly Clifton-Brown's charming illustrations bring each letter to life. This title would work well for littles who need some one-on-one coaching, and great for read-aloud with accompanying modeling of these breaths. Highly recommended.
Available Sep. 2022
Dinos Driving by Lynn Leitch
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
ARC provided by NetGalley
Read-Aloud? Yes
Tags: dinosaurs, cars
This book is perfect for fans of dinosaurs and/or cars. What car would a particular dinosaur drive? Read this book to find out! Dinos Driving includes dinosaur facts and several questions/tips for caregivers to develop young readers' critical thinking skills, including an encouragement for children to draw their own dinosaurs and cars.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book for reading aloud with 2-5 year olds.
Read-Aloud? Yes
Tags: dinosaurs, cars
This book is perfect for fans of dinosaurs and/or cars. What car would a particular dinosaur drive? Read this book to find out! Dinos Driving includes dinosaur facts and several questions/tips for caregivers to develop young readers' critical thinking skills, including an encouragement for children to draw their own dinosaurs and cars.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book for reading aloud with 2-5 year olds.
Just To See by Morgane de Cadier
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
This charming tale from Morgan de Cadier and illustrator Florian Pigé is both informative about male deer antler growth and draws the reader into a whole world of curiosities. "Just to See" is full of opportunities for laughter for kids and caregivers.
The amount of text bubbles and details on each page would make for a challenging read-aloud with a group, but I think it's great for one-on-ones.
The book is printed on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council with vegetable-based inks! I'll definitely be adding this one to the Lightbulb Heart Library in the future.
Topics: curiosity, nature, animals, deer, mice
ARC provided by NetGalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
A Perfect Wonderful Day with Friends by Philip Waechter
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
NetGalley ARC
Read Aloud? Yes - great for multiple voices
Tags: friendship, helpfulness, animals, resourcefulness, boredom
This charming book by Philip Waechter is a great choice for storytime. Animal characters join together to cure Raccoon's boredom and a host of other problems they encounter. The readers are left to solve the one problem not addressed in the wrap-up: Badger's crossword answer! Great fun.
Read Aloud? Yes - great for multiple voices
Tags: friendship, helpfulness, animals, resourcefulness, boredom
This charming book by Philip Waechter is a great choice for storytime. Animal characters join together to cure Raccoon's boredom and a host of other problems they encounter. The readers are left to solve the one problem not addressed in the wrap-up: Badger's crossword answer! Great fun.
Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, June Jo Lee, Julie Wilson
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
4.0
NetGalley ARC
Read-Aloud? No. Good for one-on-one reading (length).
Tags: food, food fermentation, pickles, kimchi, Queer central character
Sandor Katz, food fermenter and educator, is the subject of this engaging Readers to Eaters book about the "Tiny Wild" of microbiology. Great for foodie kids and caregivers, "Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild" also provides a good starting point for conversations with kids about AIDS and healthy eating.
The illustrations are fun and interesting, accompanying a lengthy text with inviting sounds like "zingy-tangy" and "kraut-chi-licious." Definitions of some terms are included for clarity and understanding.
Read-Aloud? No. Good for one-on-one reading (length).
Tags: food, food fermentation, pickles, kimchi, Queer central character
Sandor Katz, food fermenter and educator, is the subject of this engaging Readers to Eaters book about the "Tiny Wild" of microbiology. Great for foodie kids and caregivers, "Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild" also provides a good starting point for conversations with kids about AIDS and healthy eating.
The illustrations are fun and interesting, accompanying a lengthy text with inviting sounds like "zingy-tangy" and "kraut-chi-licious." Definitions of some terms are included for clarity and understanding.