Board Book Series: Our World, Mexico, Brazil, India, Italy

Our World Mexico by Cynthia Harmony

Our World Mexico
by Cynthia Harmony (Goodreads Author), Claudia Navarro (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

A young boy tells us all about a normal day in Mexico, from the delicious breakfast all the way to bedtime when they say, “Buenas Noches!” The boy gets a besito (kiss) from his mother and hops on a bus to school. He plays with his amigos and then has a snack of pan dulce (pastry) with his abuela (grandmother). After a bath and brushing his teeth, it is time to snuggle up for some dulces sueños (sweet dreams).

I grew up in Mexico as a child, and I can indeed verify that this is exactly like a normal day in Mexico! What a sweet trip down memory lane! And now I’m craving some pan dulce. haha!

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Book Review: Birds Everywhere

There Are Birds Everywhere by Britta Teckentrup

Birds Everywhere
by Britta Teckentrup (Goodreads Author)

4 out of 5 stars

This book talks about different types of birds around the world and the habitats they live in. We get to learn about how the birds migrate, how they behave when attracting a mate, and what type of nests they build.

It really gets on my nerves when science books talk about scientific theories as if they were fact, and they don’t tell the reader that it’s just a theory. It’s so unethical, and it’s misleading. It makes me not trust anything else they say, because who knows what else they could be lying to the reader about. If you don’t have the evidence to prove something, then you shouldn’t be pretending like it’s a fact. That’s dishonest. It would be so easy to clear up these misunderstandings if they would just admit that it’s a theory!

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Picture Book Review: The Amazing World of Video Game Development

The Amazing World of Video Game Development by Denis Galanin

The Amazing World of Video Game Development
by Denis Galanin

5 out of 5 stars

This picture book gives a concise explanation of the basics of video games and how they are created. Each page has two or three paragraphs explaining the different components of a game, and the roles of different people who design the concept, music, sounds, art, and coding of the game.

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Picture Book Review: Marcel’s Mouse Museum

Marcel's Mouse Museum by Hannah Abbo

Marcel’s Mouse Museum
by Hannah Abbo

4 out of 5 stars

An adorable mouse guides us through a tiny modern art museum where we learn about famous artists like “Parmesan Picasso” and “Gouda Kahlo”. We get a short biography of the famous mice, their art style, their heritage and influences, and their favorite cheese. There is a special section of the museum featuring “Furrealist” art. As we learn about the different art styles, there are activities for creating your own art and imitating the great masters.

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Picture Book Review: Hear Them Roar!

Hear Them Roar by Becky Thorns

Hear Them Roar: 14 Endangered Animals from Around the World
by Becky Thorns (Illustrator), June Smalls ( Author)

4 out of 5 stars

This book has buttons that play audio of the roars, chirps, and calls of fourteen endangered animals. Each page gives information about the animal, their habitat, why they are endangered, and what humans are doing to conserve the species. There is even a little world map that shows where their natural habitat is.

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Picture Book Review: Want a Hug?

Want a Hug? by Christine Babinec MA  LPC  NCC

Want a Hug?: Consent and Boundaries for Kids
by Christine Babinec MA LPC NCC, Vivian Mineker (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

This book talks about consent and boundaries in a simple way that is easy for young children to understand. Sometimes we don’t want to hold hands or hug, and that is okay. Sometimes we are happy to say yes to a hug, and then might change our mind later. That is okay too. Maybe we don’t want to be pushed higher on the swings, or maybe we don’t want to be tickled. It’s good to say “No” politely. We need to respect when other people say “No” as well.

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Our World Board Book Series Review

Our World by Aya Khalil

Our World: Egypt (Board book)
by Aya Khalil ( Author), Magda Azab (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

In this colorful board book, a little girl begins her morning with hugs from her mother and father (Mama and Baba) and has a hearty breakfast of bread and ful (a breakfast dish of beans). She visits her grandparents (Geddo and Teita) and sings and dances with them. She watches the boats, buys fruit at the market, and finally goes to bed after a wonderful day in Egypt.

Our World by Aunyarat Watanabe

Our World: Japan
by Aunyarat Watanabe (Illustrator), Emily Satoko Seo

5 out of 5 stars

In this board book, two siblings wake up for an energetic morning in Japan. They greet the morning by saying “Ohayo!” They exercise under the cherry blossoms, have a delicious breakfast of rice with pickled plum, and visit the market to do some shopping. They bow politely to each person they meet. A visit to the garden shows us beautiful bamboo water fountains. In the evening, it’s time for a relaxing bath and a peaceful night on their traditional Japanese floor mattress.

Our World by Evelyne Holingue

Our World: France
by Evelyne Holingue (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator), Margaux Carpentier (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

Children in France take their “dou-dou” stuffed animal toys with them for all types of activities. They eat breakfast together and say “miam miam” (yum). They count all the dogs at the park “un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq.” They listen to street musicians, eat at a fancy restaurant, play coucou (peekaboo), and finally settle down for a peaceful night of sleep.

I love all these beautiful board books that teach children about different cultures around the world! At the back of the books, there are explanations about the words that are in a different language, along with guides to learn how to pronounce them correctly.

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Picture Book Review: Upside Down

Upside Down by Katarína Macurová

Upside Down
by Katarína Macurová

5 out of 5 stars

A gardener sees a little green plant growing in his rose garden. No matter how he waters it or tends to it, the plant does not bloom. Little does he know that underground a massive carrot is growing down into a rabbit hole. The rabbits have a grand feast, eating most of the carrot. What will the gardener say when he finds out the truth?

This is such a cute book! I actually laughed out loud when I read the ending. It’s so clever and fun!

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Non Fiction Book Review: Professor Wooford McPaw’s History of Astronomy

Professor Wooford McPaw's History of Astronomy by Elliot Krusynski

Professor Wooford McPaw’s History of Astronomy
by Elliot Krusynski

4 out of 5 stars

Professor McPaw teaches all about astronomy in this comic-style book. We learn the history of how man began discovering more and more about the planets and stars. Following the Ancient Greeks, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and Albert Einstein, we learn how mankind has always asked questions about what lies beyond our horizon.

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Picture Book Review: Little Hearts

Little Hearts by Charles Ghigna

Little Hearts: Finding Hearts in Nature
by Charles Ghigna (Goodreads Author), Jacqueline East (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

The animals wander through the country, looking for things in nature that look like a heart. Flower petals look like little hearts. Strawberries, the inside of an apple, a spider web, or a bird’s wings can look like a heart. Some clouds look like a heart shape. Each one is a treasure that the friends discover together.

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