Author: TCBR Contributor

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 10, 2009 My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life by Kate Feiffer (Author), Diane Goode (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (March 24, 2009) What to expect: Mother and daughter relationships, Father and daughter relationships, Humor Oh, the humor! My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life essentially defines the quintessential spirit of parent-child relationships. It’s a picture book that even adults will appreciate reading to themselves — giving it to your own mother would certainly be a way to show her…

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 8, 2009 Little Skink’s Tail by Janet Halfmann (Author), Laurie Allen Klein (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages (Also available in English and Spanish eBooks) Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (August 10, 2007) Mom’s Choice Award, Teacher’s Choice Award, and the President’s Book Award, are three notable achievements to have plastered on the cover of a book. Little Skink’s Tail did not dissapoint. It’s an endearing tale of animal physiology that is perfect for science and nature lovers — Sylvan Dell Publishing pride themselves on the fact that all of…

By Jake Manning Published: May 6, 2009 Author Showcase: A place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works.* UGH…You Again! by Alexis Marcionette (Author), BigIQkids.com (Illustrator) Reading Level: Ages 7 – 8 eBook: Chapter book Publisher: www.BigIQkids.com, 2009 Third grade is a breeze for Alexis. She is confident, happy and is now taking school seriously. Even her demanding mom is pleased with her progress and grades. All is right in the world until the unexpected return of Alexis’ WFE (Worst Friend Ever) – Vanessa. Vanessa’s family has moved back to town and Alexis is now faced with the uncomfortable…

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 5, 2009 Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by re-visiting these links (oh, and maybe with a margarita once the kids are in bed you too can become El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo): Cinco de Mayo book picks, 2009 Cinco de Mayo suggested reading, 2008 Book Review: The Best Mariachi in the World / El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo How to celebrate Cinco de Mayo (lesson 101):

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 4, 2009 An excerpt from J.K. Rowling’s Harvard commencement address, 2008: “On this wonderful day when we are gathered together to celebrate your academic success, I have decided to talk to you about the benefits of failure. And as you stand on the threshold of what is sometimes called ‘real life’, I want to extol the crucial importance of imagination. … … You might think that I chose my second theme, the importance of imagination, because of the part it played in rebuilding my life, but that is not wholly so.…

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 3, 2009 With Mother’s Day on the way, I want to share with you some fab books that moms and grandmothers will enjoy reading with their kids and grand-kids. The moments shared with children while cuddling on the couch or snuggled in bed reading are always cherished by mommies. Combine one of these fab books with a trip to the spa and you should have a pretty happy mommy. And we all know a happy mommy equals a happy home! (Honey, you can put my mother’s day book inside a new…

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review Published: April 29, 2009 Poppleton in Spring by Cynthia Rylant (Author), Mark Teague (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8, Scholastic Level 3: 700-1500 words Paperback: 48 pages Publisher: Cartwheel Books (February 1, 2009) What to expect: Animals, Pigs, Camping This series came highly recommended to me by many parents. Before even reading a book from the well-liked Poppleton series I knew it was going to be good based on it’s influential author and illustrator team: Cynthia Rylant is the winner of a Newbery Medal for her novel Missing May (1993), Mark Teauge is a…

By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review Published: April 28, 2009 Doug E. Richards with his two kids, Ryan and Regan Douglas E. Richards, a biotechnology executive who has degrees in both genetic engineering and business, is the author of the science-fiction mystery series titled The Prometheus Project. We reviewed the first two books in the series earlier this year and had this to say, “The Prometheus Project books are simple, intelligent, fast reads that even a reluctant reader should have no problems getting into.” You can read the reviews here. We are very happy to share the following interview…

By Jan Hunt Published: April 27, 2009 Author Showcase: A place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works.*  A Gift for Baby by Jan Hunt (Author), Sunny Rosanbalm (Illustrator) Reading Level: Ages 0 – 4 Hardcover: 7″ x 7″, 32 pages Language: Dual Language English/Spanish Edition My new picture book, A Gift for Baby, celebrates the many joys of attachment parenting. It was written to inspire parents to look at life through their baby’s eyes, and to meet their needs with love and compassion. Artist Sunny Rosanbalm created the beautiful illustrations, which perfectly suit the story’s message.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review Published: April 26, 2009 A Cuddle for Little Duck by Claire Freedman (Author), Caroline Pedlar (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 20 pages Publisher: Scholastic; Board-book edition (February 1, 2009) What to expect: Ducks, Rhyme, Bedtime story Darling and precious are just two of the words that come to mind after reading A Cuddle for Little Duck. This is a book so easy to love. The illustrations are rich, vibrant, and sweet, and the text rhymes so gently and sincerely. Little Duck has such a busy day and is need of a good…