Book Recommendations (April 2021)

I am so excited to start April! It's one of my favourite months of the year, because my birthday falls in April! Last year, my birthday was the same day as Easter Sunday so it was extra special :) I still don't know what I'm going to do for my birthday. I will probably be buying some more new books to add to my overflowing collection of books! Birthday treat for myself! Here are some books that I highly recommend for you to add to your collection too:

Moving: Teddy's Journey by Zara Johnston (Author), Dana Neuman (Illustrator)

Book Description:

Ages: 3 to 9

Message from the author:

April is the international month of the Military Child but did you know?...

The DANDELION is the official flower of the Military Child because... They are both resilient and can put down roots almost anywhere CHANGE can be so difficult for children...

Moving: Teddy's Journey, follows a little boy on his journey of moving house and schools. This heart-warming, rhyming story resonates with many, particularly Military Children who move around a lot, providing a positive, uplifting perspective on situations that many can find challenging.

Why I like this book:

This is a very heartwarming and beautiful book about a boy who is worried about moving to a new place and starting a new school. Because his dad is in the military, their family has to move around a lot, which can be a little scary. This story will be perfect for military families and will help kids overcome the challenges and uncertainties of moving and new adventures. The illustrations are so bright and beautiful too and makes this a wonderful book to read and enjoy. Highly recommended!

Get Up, Lil Peter. Get Up! by by Tasche Laine (Author), Peter Valdez III (Author)

Book Description:

Ages: 4 to 8

An inspiring story about getting back up when life knocks us down. Lil Peter has trouble expressing his feelings and doesn’t know how to handle life’s ups and downs. Failure frustrates him! When Grandpa stays with his family for the summer, Lil Peter discovers there’s more to life than whether he wins or loses the games they play. Just when he’s about to give up, Grandpa teaches him a lesson he’ll never forget.

Why I like this book:

This book is so beautiful and heartfelt. A touching tribute to a loving grandpa who kept encouraging Lil Peter to never give up and to do his very best every time. Each time Lil Peter fails, cannot win or do something, his grandpa tells him to get up and try again, even when Peter falls down and gets hurt. Grandpa teaches Peter in a firm but encouraging manner, rather than coddling him, and helps to build up his confidence, courage and strength. There are so many important life lessons in this short but wonderful children's story, that will surely bring tears to your eyes in the end. I absolutely adore and love this book! You won't regret getting it!

The Remember Balloons by Jessie Oliveros (Author), Dana Wulfekotte (Illustrator)

Book Description:

Ages: 5 to 9

James’s Grandpa has the best balloons because he has the best memories. He has balloons showing Dad when he was young and Grandma when they were married. Grandpa has balloons about camping and Aunt Nelle’s poor cow. Grandpa also has a silver balloon filled with the memory of a fishing trip he and James took together.

But when Grandpa’s balloons begin to float away, James is heartbroken. No matter how hard he runs, James can’t catch them. One day, Grandpa lets go of the silver balloon—and he doesn’t even notice!

Grandpa no longer has balloons of his own. But James has many more than before. It’s up to him to share those balloons, one by one.

Why I like this book:

What a beautiful and touching story told in a simple manner for any child to understand what it's like to lose our memory and how to help grandparents who may experience it. I love the concept of memories stored inside the balloons delivered in this simple storyline. It has an encouraging and uplifting message for readers as well. This is an important topic to discuss with children as they may observe their grandparents going through this stage in their lives. This book is a great and gentle way to introduce it to them. The illustrations are lovely and inviting. Not too bright or distracting.

A Through Z of What If by Rebecca Porter (Author), Mina Basic Stankovic (Illustrator)

Book Description:

Ages: Baby to 10

What if the Alphabet was an alliteration in a tongue twisting rhyme…

That helped you remember the letter sounds every time.

Enjoy identifying the sounds of each, and every letter…

The more words you read; your vocabulary will get better.

A Through Z Of What If is not your typical alphabet book. Each letter has its own fun what if story rhyme, that helps your child identify each letter sound. The sentences have alliterations, or multiple similar beginning letter sounds, for each specific letter. They will be able to learn many NEW words with every letter, with a funny story and picture to go along.

Why I like this book:

This alphabet book is one of the best I've seen! It is so cleverly written using alliteration and the illustrations are so much fun to look at as well! The what ifs are rather silly but that's what makes it so much fun! It encourages creativity and imagination. I think any child would enjoy this book, not just the young ones. The author also challenges the readers to create their own alliteration with a letter. Before reading the book, I wondered what could the author possibly write for X? I was stuck after xylophone but wow - she delivered and it's so good! I won't ruin the fun by telling you... Just get a copy yourself and check it out! You won't be disappointed!

Brandon Goes to Hong Kong by Eugenia Chu (Author), Eliza Hsu Chen (Illustrator)

Book Description:

Brandon is on a trip to Hong Kong where he meets up with his grandparents and is introduced to his cousin, Kelsey! While touring the city and feasting on local dishes, Brandon thinks he sees a great red dragon – but is it real or imagined? Does anyone else see the dragon? Will Brandon find out before he flies back home? This multicultural, multigenerational chapter book includes some Mandarin Chinese (Simplified) with Pinyin pronunciation, adding layers for those learning or interested in the Chinese language and culture.

Why I like this book:

This is a short chapter book so it's a bit longer but it's a fun and quick read and you'll be turning the pages wanting to find out what happens next! I really enjoyed reading about Brandon's travels to Hong Kong. I actually live in Hong Kong but haven't been able to do much in the last two years due to the pandemic, so reading this book made me feel like I was taking a tour around my city and experiencing all the wonderful things Hong Kong has to offer. I also enjoyed the mystery about the red dragon that Brandon sees and his quest to find out if dragons are real or mythical. He is a very inquisitive and curious boy and ends up doing a lot of research to find out all about dragons from different cultures. The ending surprised me! I won't spoil it but it was a perfect way to end such a wonderful and educational story.

I like that it includes Chinese characters and pinyin alongside the English to introduce Chinese to young readers. It has an introduction about the pronunciation and a glossary for the words used throughout the book. I think this book would make a great addition to any child's library and can teach them about cultural diversity, traditions, language, history, and even opening up your mind and imagination to believe the impossible.

Away: A Children's Book of Loss by WP Osborne (Author), Ayan Saha (Illustrator)

Book Description:

In the world of racism and innocent deaths, our children’s feelings are often left forgotten. Away is the story of a girl who loses her father and how, through her pain and fear, a mother sets aside her feelings to provide comfort and lasting memories for her child.

Why I like this book:

This book is so heartbreaking but so important. It is sad to see so many lives lost due to race and skin colour, and it's extremely difficult to explain to a child why their beloved had to suffer and go through such tragedies.

This book is ultimately hopeful and uplifting, reminding us of God's love and faithfulness and that we will soon be reunited with our lost loved ones. These stories may be hard to read to children, but they really need to have more access to such books to understand the process of loss and grief, which is inevitable in life. I was filled with tears reading this book, so you may need to have some tissues ready before you read this...

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Well, that wraps up this month's book recommendations! I hope you enjoyed reading about these awesome books and find something you like to check out! If you have a good book to recommend, submit it to the Kids' Corner page to be considered in next month's list of recommendations. They can be books you have written, or books you have enjoyed. Happy reading!

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