A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Books for Children

Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy is a fun read.  It is somewhat about Doggo and Pupper but more about one of their household companions.  Child friendly prose and short chapters make this an appealing book for young elementary students.   I laughed because everything was so on point and children (especially those with cats) would totally get it.  

doggo and pupper search for cozy

The basic details for Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy

Title: Doggo and Pupper
Author: Katherine Applegate
Illustrator: Charlie Alder
Series: Doggo and Pupper, Book Three
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 96
Intended Audience: 6-9 years, grade 2-3
Genre: dog books, children’s friendship, chapter books
Available formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audio
Received: Hardcover
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

About the Book and Author

Katherine Applegate also wrote Willodeen which I adored.  She lives with her husband and family in California.  She has written a lot of children’s books.   Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy is the third in the Doggo and Pupper series.   This one (I don’t know about the first two) brings Cat into the story.  Cat has a new situation in his life that leaves him searching for cozy and his friends step in to help. 

doggo and pupper search for cozy

Looking more closely

This is such a cute story.   Starting off with Cat telling his pals that something new has occurred in their lives, and a guessing game commences.  Oh, the things that Doggo and Pupper come up with!   Wouldn’t it be fun to ask children what they think might be new?  To think from the viewpoint of a cat or pup?

The facial expressions on all the characters really help to tell the story.  Can’t you just see Cat’s distress in the picture above?  And Pupper, in the picture below, looks so interested in what Cat has to say. 

The graphics and text work well together.  Easy to see details (including dastardly squirrels) and to read with a child at your side or as part of a group. 

Pupper and Doggo go all out (after a nap) to help out their friend Cat.  I love the community feel.  There is no Cat vs Dog vibe.   It’s just a very sweet story about friendship and caring about each other.  And working hard to see a need met.  Don’t we all need those kinds of stories?

I encourage you to check out the story of Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy.  Your youngsters will be glad you did! 

Butterfly on the Wind

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product Butterfly on the Wind through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

Imagine growing up deaf and choosing to be part of your hearing school’s talent show.  Now imagine being young and unsure of yourself and needing to be bolstered by your family.  A father’s statement encourages the heart of a young girl to sending butterflies around the world.  This is the heart of Butterfly on the Wind by Adam Pottle. 

Butterfly on the wind

Basic Details for Butterfly on the Wind

Title: Butterfly on the Wind.
Author: Adam Pottle
Illustrator: Ziyue Chen
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 40
Intended Audience: 3-6 years, grade preschool to one
Genre: children, picture book, deaf, children friendship, children disability
Available formats: Kindle, Hardcover
Received: Hardcover
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

About the Book and Author

Adam Pottle grew up deaf in a hearing family, so learning sign language didn’t happen until he was older.  He has loved butterflies since he was young (including Mothra from the Godzilla movies).  Butterflies are a symbol of the death culture with their fluttering wings creating small winds of their own, just as the fluttering sign language hands create small winds.  Sign languages from around the world have their own way of saying butterfly. 

Ziyue as a deaf illustrator was perfect for helping to bring this story to life.  Showcasing butterflies and their wind circling the world. 

In Butterfly on the Wind Aurora takes hope from her father’s words and upon seeing a butterfly in her garden decides to send the wind of her butterfly sign around the world. 

Butterfly on the wind

Looking More Closely

I love the bright colours that fill the pages of this delightful story.  And oh, how I love that the words of her papa made such an impact on her.  🙂  AND then on people all over the world.  Did people know the impact they were passing along?  But nevertheless… aren’t the colours marvellous?  And the details, don’t they provide lots of little talking points? Can you spot the butterfly?

The text is a good size for reading to a child sitting at your side or to a group gathered round.  The words easy enough for young ones to understand, and yet rounded out enough to broaden vocabulary. 

At the close of the book, Adam Pottle includes an American Sign Language alphabet and tells a bit of his story.  He includes the why of how this story came about.  I thoroughly enjoyed the glimpse into his life. 

Would I recommend?

The beauty and magic of this read make it so worth while reading through.  🙂   The illustrations fit the story so well.  The heart-warming nature of Butterfly on the Wind is fantastic.  We need more of this empathy and compassion in the world you know? Spreading the butterflies from one point to the next, and not letting them die from lack of wind.  

I adore that she took her inspiration from her father, it shows a closeness in her family you know?  And throughout the butterflies being passed along you see communities in action.   Just a lovely book. 

The Book That Can Read Your Mind

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product The Book That Can Read Your Mind through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

You know those books that give you a choice in what you do?  If you choose this, then go to page ____, but if you choose that, then go to page _____.  The Book That Can Read Your Mind is one such book. You make a choice and simply follow the instructions.  Before you know it, this book will prove that it can read your mind.  Just a little touch of magic. 

the book that can read your mind

The Basic Details for The Book that can read your mind

Title: The Book that can Read your Mind
Author: Marianna Coppo
Illustrator: Marianna Coppo
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Pages: 48
Intended Audience: 5-8 years
Genre: picturebook, activity book, fantasy & magic, interactive book
Available formats: Kindle, Hardcover
Received: Hardcover
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

About the author and book

Author and illustrator Marianna Coppo hails from Rome.  She studied in Milan and Bologna and has written several pieces of children’s literature. In-between writing picture books she enjoys eating bruschetta and searching out cheap flights! 

The Book that Can read Your Mind takes the idea of an interactive book where your decisions influence how the story goes, and turns it into a magic trick.  Can you make a choice, and through options presented, discover that this book can indeed read your mind?

Digging in Deeper

You will find clearly written text with a sense of humour.  We are not told the name of the magician, but does one really need to know who is playing the trick on you?  

Can you believe that this speaker, this magician can actually read your mind?   Could it be possible that a book can reveal your very own secret? 

Discover a wide variety of characters.  Make some choices and behold…. watch your secret be revealed!

This is a book that can be tried and tried again.  Can you ever fool the magician? 

My Thoughts

You will find “the book that can read your mind” to be a deceptively simple book with what appears to be pages and pages that look the same.  BUT if you give it a chance, you might find yourself amazed at how you will feel as if your mind has been read.  

And it’s all done in the choices you make!

Can choices really reveal that much about your decision-making? 

I urge you to find a copy and let your children play with the delight of a book knowing what their decisions are.  Delight in the magic.  Smile along and try again, maybe this time…..  🙂  

If you are a person of faith who doesn’t believe in magic, show them the trick of it, and how their decisions matter.  Paying attention to those little decisions makes a difference for you and others. 

If I were a Fish

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product If I Were A Fish through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

Looking for a fun picture book to enjoy with your littles? This book is the result of some bullying received on a Tiktok video.  Some people are weird (but aren’t we all to some degree or another?) and this is a book that celebrates that it’s okay to be a bit weird. I love that it has no overt agenda, it’s just a happy book the celebrates the uniquenesses of people.   And isn’t that something to be joyful about? 

If I were a fish

Basic Details for “If I Were a Fish”

Title: If I were a fish
Author: Corook and Olivia Barton
Illustrator: Mike Curato
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 26
Intended Audience: Kindergarten to Elementary
Genre:  friendship, music book, bullies, bullying, picture book
Available formats: Kindle, Audio, Hardcover
Received: Hardcover
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

About the Author and Book

corook also known as Corinne Savage is a singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and a huge dork. Corook’s music is filled with vulnerability and sprinkled with humor. Corook currently resides in Tennessee.   Her companion is Olivia with whom a mutual love of music is shared. 

Olivia Barton a singer/songwriter who writes songs stream from who she is. Barton tours regularly and has release multiple albums. She received her bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music. She lives is Tennessee with her partner and her dog Cubby. 

If I Were a Fish takes us into the uniquenesses of who we are showing the reader that we all have someone who can celebrate with us. We don’t have to be stuck with the mean comments from bullies.

if I were a fish

Looking Deeper

If the catchy lyrics don’t immediately capture your attention, the bright colours the flow across the page, depicting under water scenes will!   Enjoy the vibrancy and joy is brilliant tones from across the rainbow.   Balloons, fish, socks, rocks, beats of rhythm, and unique fish dot the pages.  White space is used well and some pages of completely full of colour.

The lyrics are easy to read, written in a nice font, with a decent size.  Sitting with a group of children gathered around to listen (and possibly sing) would be easy to do.  And all the talking points within which makes it just lovely! 

I love it when a fun book with a good message doesn’t include overt messages about gender, sexuality, colour, race, or anything divisive.  It’s all about people being who are they, getting to be who they are, without having to deal with bullying.  Regardless of who you are, you are encouraged to live your life with meanness.  Find your people!  Celebrate living with each other and leaving the garbage of the world behind. 

It’s a good thing NO?  Find your own copy of If I Were a Fish and be glad you have your own uniqueness. 

How to Catch a Mamasaurus

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product How to Catch A Mamasaurus through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

I don’t know if you remember the fun of How to Catch a Daddysaurus, but today I have another in the series: How to Catch a Mamasaurus.   Just as the first was a quick spin on the attributes of being a dad, this fun romp delights in the joy of being a mom!  Come along for a rhyming good time about the loveliness that is mom! 

how to catch a mamasaurus

The Basic Details for How to Catch A Mamasaurus

Title: How to Catch a Mamasaurus
Author: Alice Walstead
Illustrator: Andy Elkerton
Series: How to Catch
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Pages: 40
Intended Audience: 4-10 Years
Genre:  children’s books, picturebooks, mother’s day, activity book, children parenting
Available formats: Kindle, Hardcover, Audio
Received: Hardcover
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

About the Author and The Book

Author and Illustrator

Alice Walstead (author) and Andy Elkerton (illustrator) have put together several how to catch books.  Children’s book author, Alice Walstead, loves to make kids smile with her stories.
Andy Elkerton, who is based out of the UK, is a children’s book illustrator who loves to create creatures that are impossible to catch! 

How to Catch a Mamasaurus

Filled with brightly coloured illustrations and busy active children, all things mom are celebrated.  Who is mom to you?  It’ll be covered in this fast-paced children’s book.  

how to catch a mamasaurus

Looking More Closely

First thing you’ll discover an any “how to catch” books is the mission.  Today’s mission… catch a mamasaurus.  They’ve tried for many creatures but this one… it’s a special one!!!!  

Colourful images filled with action flood the pages.  

Rhyming text to tell the story and make for ease of reading. 

Most pages are full-colour.  I love the emotion throughout.  Smiles, alarm, dissatisfaction, glee, concern, and determination.  Tons of great adjectives are used bringing home the importance of mom and all the different roles she plays.  Words that could generate great conversations with the children you are reading with.  Questions like how is mom a doctor?  Can mom be a referee? Is Mommy really an alarm clock?  How can mama be a teacher? 

The pages are so full of action they provide lots of talking points?  What kind of trap would you lay to catch a mamasaurus?  What type of meal would you make?  Does your mom like PB and J sandwiches, or would she rather have cheese and crackers?  Do you have a pet?  What kind?  So many ways to engage a child in this fun read. 

Find How to Catch A Mamasaurus before mother’s day this year.  Have fun reading with your children, and maybe they might find their OWN ways to trap their mom! (or their mom-like figure)!!  

Tomfoolery

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product Tomfoolery! through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

I don’t know about you, but part of fun of a good picture book are the illustrations contained therein.  They either help tell the story, stimulate the imagination, or both.  🙂   Did you know that children’s books didn’t always have illustrations that did that?  Books contained pictures with posed figures, that were static.   Along came Randolph Caldecott.  A boy, turned into a man, who developed his artistic flair filled with action.  Action that flows off the pages and across the edges.  Action that helps bring stories for children into abundant life.  Come along, learn Caldecott’s story in Tomfoolery!

Tomfoolery! story of Randolph Caldecott

The Basic Details for Tomfoolery

Title: Tomfoolery!  Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children’s Books.
Author: Michelle Markel
Illustrator: Barbara McClintock
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Pages: 37
Intended Audience: kindergarten to grade 3
Genre:  biography, historical biography, libraries and reading, children’s books
Available formats: Kindle, Hardcover
Received: Hardcover with fly
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

About the Author and Book

Written by Michelle Markel who hails from California with her hubby and cat!   She’s loved writing since she was young, and has loved reading biographies.   She started writing for children when her children were young. 

About Tomfoolery!

Get ready to meet Randolph Caldecott, the man who redefined illustrations for children’s books.  He transformed the reading experience with fun, active images bringing stories to life! 

tomfoolery

Talking about Tomfoolery!

Tomfoolery is a children’s picture book that teaches about the life of Randolph Caldecott and his journey to becoming a children’s book illustrator. I happen to adore children’s literature that tells the story of a person’s life in an engaging manner, and Tomfoolery fits the bill.  Follow his journey starting with doodles in grade school through to adventures with a variety of art forms until he discovers his calling in children’s literature.  All those steps built a path to his eventual success. 

Bright images flood the pages, helping children (and their adults) see the life the Caldecott lives.  Teaching not only the history of children’s books, but the joy in the present and curiousity about the future. Gone are the days of stiff and/or pretty poses. 

Caldecott needed to explore art in many different ways, and not always in ways that some would expect.  He, as any artist would, wanted to do art in a way that pleased him.  Showing active life brings delight! 

It’s rather funny.  I’m seeing some of the pics in this biography of Caldecott and it brings back memories.  Memories of brilliant images flashing across the page, sparking my imagination, and setting up me to chatter away at my mom.  I still love books with lots of pictures and talking points, and Caldecott helped to inspire generations to tell stories better! 

Final Thoughts

Tomfoolery!: Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children’s Books is a wonderful book. Showing determination to do art the way he wants to even if he takes a round-about way getting there, he’s a source of inspiration for young artists.   Read this book to remember for yourself, read this book to inspire your children on in their determination to be what they need to be.  Enjoy the pictures and learn Caldecott’s story.  You won’t regret doing so.  🙂 

More Than Words

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product More Than Words: So Many Ways to Say What we Mean through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog.  It costs you nothing to do so, and is a huge encouragement to me.  As such it is deeply appreciated. 

Do you know what augmentative and alternative communication is? Do your children have any ideas about all the different ways that people can communicate?  More Than Words brought me back to my time with with differently abled children.  And honestly, I thought I knew a lot but there are even more ways to communicate than I had thought of!  Come along, learn the different ways people communicate! 

More than words

The Basic Details for More than Words

Title: More Than Words: So many ways to say what we mean
Author: Roz Maclean
Illustrator: Roz Maclean
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 
Pages: 48
Intended Audience: 4-8 years
Genre: Picture Book, Children’s disabilities, Augmentative Communication, Communication, Children,  
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books
Received: Hardcover with fly

more than words

A Closer Look

Having worked with people who need to be creative in how they communicate I love how More Than Words expresses more variety than you can imagine.  

Can play be a form of expression?  What about choosing between one thing and another?  How about facial expressions or written language?  Everyone has ways to communicate, and sometimes a preference or need to shown for one method over another!  

I suppose it’s no different than a mom saying to her child, I’m so disappointed… or just showing disappointment in her body language.  Both convey the same thing but are spoken differently.  So does it matter how a person communicates as long as they are trying? 

Good use of colour and facial expression fill the pages.  And I love Maclean adding a personal touch to each communication method.   Perhaps you might know a Jaya, Mateo, or Nathan who has preferred method of communicating different than you too? 

The font changes were fantastic.  The informative text appears as you see below.  A simple, easy-to-read font, but occasionally large colourful words will jump off the page.  Can you play, choose, dig, or cry?  In what manner will you express yourself today?  Who might you run into who talks differently? 

My Thoughts

Did you know that the Roz Maclean so wants people to understand alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) that section is included at the close of the book to teach more.  These forms of AAC might not be well-known to everyone.  Learning how others find ways to talk is ever so helpful don’t you think?   More Than Words is an easy read that I think children would enjoy reading.  Perhaps they can guess how people will communicate!  I love how even though we learned how a whole variety of people communicate, we needed to really think about how Nathan communicates.   So as you read, give it some thought.  What might Nathan be trying to say and how does he do it?