Fly, Fly Again ~ STEAM Learning Book Tour ~ January 10, 2020

I really enjoyed reading Fly, Fly Again with my son, yesterday.  They have a STEAM class, at school, so this was perfect for us to read.  He’s 8, so he would read a page, then I would read a page.  It’s such a cute book, about trying again.  Jenny really dreams of flying, and she meets others along her journey, that help her out. Fly, Fly Again is clever little story, perfect for children of all ages.  The Daughter, and Mom, duo, wrote this book together.   Fly, Fly Again introduces young readers to the concepts of flight – lift, gravity, thrust, and drag, along with pitch, roll, and yaw.  Jenny and Jude accompanied by their pets, Kitty and Hawk, work together to build a flying machine. It is a fun story of adventure, teamwork, and perseverance that begins to lay a foundation for aerodynamics in an adorable picture book format. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Katie Jaffe: With a passion for children’s causes, Katie has committed herself to several charities, helping children around the world.  As Creative Director and Design Consultant of Aviation for Spectre Air Capital, Katie has aided in the design of several high profile aircraft.  Currently, she is leading…

I Don’t Like To Eat Ants is a Great Book
2019 Fall Gift Guide / October 22, 2019

My 22 year old, daughter, read I Don’t Like To Eat Ants to her class just the other day.  The second graders loved it.  They had a discussion about the book, and really enjoyed hearing Sarah read it.  With just 29 pages, the lesson was a great one.  She said the kids were still talking about it today. My 8 year old, son, loved the book too.  He has read it 3 times, over the last few weeks.  He says he can’t get enough of the Anteaters.  “Too cute!” he says. “I don’t like to eat ants,” said Anteater One. “They don’t taste very good, and they tickle my tongue…” Anteater One is one adventurous eater. He’ll try anything – a grilled cheese sandwich, a nice salad, or a chocolate cake – but he’s eaten his last ant. Anteater Two only wants ants to eat. Anteater Three has the perfect solution: a reservation at his world-famous Peanut Butter & Jelly Deli, where the anteaters can discuss the very important question of what to eat for lunch. Sabine Mielke’s beautiful, stylized illustrations accompany JTK Belle’s rhyming, laugh-out-loud text, in this charming, relatable, story with a timeless message about the importance of trying…

Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Home By Susan Marie & Miss Olive
2019 Fall Gift Guide / September 11, 2019

Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Home is a true story, and a great book.  We enjoyed reading it together, my son, age 8, and I.  My daughter, age 22, then took it to school, for her class to read.  The class just loved the book. ” Miss Olive is so special,” one child exclaimed to my daughter.  And, she said, “Yes, Miss Olive is special!” Miss Olive was a rescue pup, that Susan Marie took in.  Miss Olive is a great dog, and host of The Doggy Diva Show.  She’s also the author of “Diva Delights”, and “Miss Olive’s Favorite Things”. Miss Olive is a tiny, rescued Italian Greyhound who was adopted from the Italian Greyhound Rescue Gulf Coast into her loving “forever” home in 2015. Miss Olive Finds Her “forever” Home is the first book in the heartwarming and inspirational seris “The Doggy Diva Diaries”.  When we first meet Miss Olive, she is a sad and lonely little pup hoping to find a loving family and her “forever” home.  Wit the help of her magical fairy dog-mother “Sophia the Doggy Diva,” Miss Olive learns a valuable life lesson.  It doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside.  It’s the…

Book Tour: Pirates Don’t Go To Kindergarten! By Lisa Robinson
2019 Book Tours / August 7, 2019

Pirates Don’t Go To Kindergarten! is a supreme book.  If you have a child who is afraid to go to the next level in school, this book is for you.  See Emma was in Preschool, and was afraid to move up to Kindergarten, but her Preschool teacher reassured her, and she went ahead.  It’s a fantastic book to read to your little ones, especially right before school starts. My little one is going to 3rd grade, but we read this together, and he loved it.  My daughter is going into her last year of college, to be a teacher, and she can’t wait to add it to her books, for when she starts teaching.  She said, Pirates Don’t Go To Kindergarten! is a special book that I think the kids I get will love”.  I think she’s right. Jacob is afraid of moving up, every year, because there’s change.  This book has helped him see that change can be good.  And, I really enjoyed reading it, with Jacob. Pirates Don’t Go To Kindergarten! is very inexpensive, at only $6.99, and is a great asset for the new school year.  You will love it, and so will your little ones. I can’t…

There’s A Monkey In My Backpack!
2019 Summer Gift Guide / July 18, 2019

My 22 year old, daughter, who is a student, becoming a teacher, just finished reading There’s A Monkey In My Backpack! by Don M. Winn, and loved it.  She says she can’t wait to implement it, in the classroom, this Spring.  She’ll be student teaching her final semester, and she says it’ll be good for the kids she is teaching. I love the book, and read it to my son, who is going into the Third Grade, just like in the book.  He really enjoyed reading it, as well. I really can’t wait for Sarah to take it into the classroom, so the kids can hear this amazing story.  See, Anna has a friend, that’s a Monkey; or does she?  You will have to read the book to find out, I don’t want to give too much away.  It’s a very interesting story, and I understood it, as well as my kids did.  I get it, and I remember school, and having the same issues as Anna. Anna has a problem! There’s a monkey who goes everywhere with her–even to school! He never leaves Anna alone. He makes so much trouble for her that she wonders if she will ever…

Spiky has it right!
2019 Book Tours / June 28, 2019

I love the story, “Spiky“.  It’s so true, in today’s world.  Some people can be so ugly, on the inside, but you can turn beautiful.  My daughter, age 22, can’t wait to take Spiky to work, to read to the kids that she teaches.  She is studying to become a teacher, and in her last year of college, she is already teaching.  She loves this story, almost as much as I do.  Anyone can change, and this book is a perfect example.  It’s great to teach your child that ugly souls can become beautiful ones.  I used to have an ugly soul, but now my soul has turned beautiful, in my opinion. Ilaria Guarducci  is a magnificent writer, who got this book, “Spiky”, 100% on track for today’s world.  I really love the story line, and you will have a chance to win this book, coming up.  But, you can also purchase it, at the link above or below, if you want to make sure to get a copy.  She has written 7 children’s books, and I hope to be able to purchase each and every one, for my daughter’s classroom.  That would be a great addition. Laura Watkinson is an…

100 Things To Do In Pittsburgh Before You Die By Rossilynne Culgan
2019 Summer Gift Guide / May 29, 2019

100 Things To Do In Pittsburgh Before You Die is a great Second Edition book.  We enjoyed reading through it, and seeing all the great things to do, in a great city.  We’ve actually already done quite a few.  We’ve been to several tourist spots, etc.  There are a few things I’d definitely like to do, still, though. 100 Things To Do In Pittsburgh Before You Die details some great things in Pittsburgh, including Kennywood.  Who hasn’t been to Kennywood?  It’s a great place, with great food, and lots of fun to be sought there.  There’s also some other great places like Mount Washington listed.  The Incline is a huge thing in Pittsburgh, and yes, I’ve been there too. Rossilynne Culgan is director of The Incline, which is a Pittsburgh news website devoted to helping curious locals make the most of the city.  Rossilynne has a large background of work history.  She’s worked at Cargnegie Science Center, Tribune-Review, About.com, and more. 100 Things To Do In Pittsburgh Before You Die is very informative, and gets down to the best things to do in Pittsburgh.  Including:  PNC Park, and Primanti Bros. this book is a huge asset, if you are in Pittsburgh, or plan on…

Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves

Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves is a wonderful children’s book.  My 8 year old can’t get enough of Rosie.  He loves reading it before bed, and early in the morning.  He’s such a fabulous reader, thanks to this book.  All he does is read it.  Might be because they go to the pool, and he loves the pool.  I love that my son is reading more and more.  I just hope I can keep him reading over the summer.  Especially if Rosie the Dragon and Charlie have anything to do with it. Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves is a great book to pass on, as well.  My 22 year old, daughter, is studying to be a teacher.  She loves reading to her brother, as well.  The two of them read for hours.  Once Jacob has had his feel with this book, I’ll pass it on to Sarah, who can use it in the classroom where she’s teaching this Summer, and Fall. Your family will love this book, and bookmark this page, because soon there will be a GIVEAWAY to enter to win a copy of the book, Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves.  GIVEAWAY will…

Gilly The Grateful Superhero By Ruth King
2019 Summer Gift Guide / April 29, 2019

My son is 7, and Gilly The Grateful Superohero has taught him to be grateful for what he has.  Love, etc. are great things to receive.  He reads this book every night now, before bed.  It’s a great book for teaching kids of all ages the power of gratitude.  Ruth King dedicated this book to her dad.  I can understand why. Bobbie doesn’t realize all that he has, until Gilly shows him.  Jacob, my 7 year old, can really relate to this book.  And now he has so much more respect, and gratitude.  I can’t get over the fact that he reads it, again and again.  I’m proud of all Jacob is becoming.  When Jacob outgrows Gilly; I will save the book, for the future. Gilly the Grateful Superhero Teaching kids of all ages the power of gratitude! Bobbie is a little boy who isn’t very appreciative for the good things he has. One day, a special superhero named Gilly comes to visit. Gilly has a unique superpower to teach kids of all ages the importance of practicing gratitude and being thankful for everyone and everything. Throughout the day, Gilly teaches Bobbie how to be thankful for all the blessings he has in his…

Duck and Hippo Give Thanks Book Tour Stop
2018 Holiday Gift Guide / November 21, 2018

Duck and Hippo Give Thanks is a great book, and my 7 year old loves it.  With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought this would be the perfect book for bedtime, last night.  Jacob listened to the tale, and really got it.  I was so excited when he started asking me questions, about what I had just read.  Jonathan London is an excellent writer, and he got this book perfectly right! Duck and Hippo Give Thanks has a lot of illustrations by Andrew Joyner, and they are so colorful, and made Jacob really look twice, we discussed the pictures, as well.  He really enjoyed the book, and asked if we could read it again tonight.  I told him, “Of course, but this time you will read it to Mommy”, and he agreed.  I’m trying to help him read, so what better way, than to have him read this wonderful book to me?  I can’t wait, to be honest! Duck and Hippo are thankful for good friends! It’s the day before Thanksgiving, and Hippo has his heart set on having a good old-fashioned feast with Duck and their friends. Together, Duck and Hippo go shopping for food and invite Turtle,…