Today's read... Just Try It! by Phil and Lily Rosenthal

JUST TRY IT!

by Phil and Lily Rosenthal

Illustrated by Luke Flowers

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING MARCH 5th!!!

From Netflix star and New York Times bestselling author Phil Rosenthal and his daughter Lily comes a hilarious picture book about a food-loving dad encouraging his picky eater daughter to just try something new.

Phil has one rule about try everything at least once. Otherwise, how will you know what you like? His daughter Lil disagrees. She already knows what she likes—just bread and pasta with no sauce—and that’s all there is to it!

When the two go to a food truck festival, Phil tries introducing Lil to all kinds of delicious cuisine, but she doesn’t budge. Just when it looks like it’s going to be a very long day, an unexpected mustard accident changes everything.

GOODREADS     /      SIMON & SCHUSTER

    MY TIDBITS

A father's enthusiasm slams against the picky eating habits of a daughter in a way, which leaves a smile.

There's a rule in Phil's family: try everything at least once. Lil, his daughter isn't convinced that it's a good rule, though. When they head to a festival to find food trucks offering all sorts of treats, Phil can't wait to try everything. Lil won't touch a thing until a strange accident changes everything.

This is an energetic read, which hits upon the simple idea that everything should be given, at least, a try...well, when it comes to food. The father, Phil, is a food enthusiast, and his excitement beams from the page. Lil's attitude clashes hard, creating a wonderful contrast. While her behavior could slide into a negative direction, the author has cleverly made sure to use slightly odd food choices to keep readers sympathetic and understanding her attitude. After all, who wants clams on their noodles? 

The illustrations and text work well together and build the words around various scenes. It adds to the active atmosphere of the colorful food trucks and smiley Phil.

The message also hits with a bit of humor and seals off in the expected, positive direction. This does make a nice read-aloud for various settings.

And here they are...

Phil Rosenthal is the creator and host of the Emmy-nominated Somebody Feed Phil. He also created the hit CBS comedy, Everybody Loves Raymond, which was nominated for over seventy Emmy awards, and won fifteen awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2003 and 2005. He is also the bestselling author of the book Somebody Feed Phil the Book. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Monica Horan (who played Amy on Everybody Loves Raymond), and their two children. Visit him at PhilRosenthalWorld.com.

Lily Rosenthal is an actor, writer, and producer known for her love of food across platforms. After graduating from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Lily ventured into the world of acting and influencing, working with restaurants and brands to establish herself in the LA food scene. In her free time, Lily developed the concept for Liv a Lil, a nonprofit that brings restaurants across Los Angeles together for cultural collaborations, giving all proceeds to an organization of the chef’s choice. She credits her father, Phil, for giving her a love of travel and genuine excitement towards food due to the family rule instilled in Lily at a young age: just try it.

Luke Flowers is the illustrator of more than fifty children’s books. He illustrated the New York Times bestselling A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers and Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Holiday Classic. He is also both author and illustrator of the Moby Shinobi series which has sold more than one million copies. When Luke isn’t in his creative cave he enjoys puppetry, playing banjo, basketball, and outdoor adventures with his family. He lives with his wife and three children in Colorado Springs.

Today's read... You Stole My Name Too by Dennis McGregor

I'm heading into the realm of poetry with today's read. It was released a couple of weeks ago and is the companion to the author's first book, You Stole My Name .  I didn't read this first one, but it appears it pointed out shared names between animals with subtle humor (bull — bullfrog). In today's read, the author now shows how some plants share the names with animals. I'm expecting amazing illustrations and enjoyable poetry to go with it. And I'm curious to see how all of this fits together.

So, off we go!

YOU STOLE MY NAME TOO

by Dennis McGregor

Blue Star Press

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

The second addition to Dennis McGregor's fun picture book series features vibrant, hand-painted illustrations and curious questions like "why does the crab apple share its name with the crab?"

You Stole My Name Too features another amazing collection of illustrations that takes you and your child on a colorful journey through nature's most fascinating plants and animals and their namesakes.

The fun pairs of flora and fauna that are featured in this sequel
• Chick and Chickpea
• Cat and Catnip
• Dog and Dogwood
• Hedgehog and Hedgehog Cactus
• And many more!

A beautiful "children's coffee-table-art book" for all ages, You Stole My Name Too is a clever, creative follow-up to You Stole My Name , a perfect book series for parents and children to read and enjoy together.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON     /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

Subtle humor melds with poetry, animals, and botanic goodness in this beautifully illustrated book.

These pages take a peek at names shared between animals and plants. It's a large book, allowing for viewing space, and with these gorgeous illustrations, that's a plus. One side of the two-page spread holds a poem, written in large font. These are whimsical, most flow well, and each introduces an animal as well as a plant, which holds a similar name. The text is age appropriate and does work well for a read-aloud. The illustrations are on the other side. The animal and a section of the plant are depicted. That's it. The background stays white, which works extremely well since it allows the animals and plants to remain at the focus of attention. And these are beautifully done.

While gazing at the illustrations already makes this an enjoyable read, the unique plants offer a bit of educational goodness. Some are recognizable, but most are more unfamiliar. There's something to be learned for both young readers and older ones. The poetry holds cute twists and fun, but its the name sharing which makes it fun. While some poems explain a bit about the name or plants, others don't...which is to bad, since a little bit more information would have been nice. It's a lovely poetic read, which can be visited and enjoyed time and time again.

Today's read... The Backyard Kids: Snowed In by Regina Oakes

The kids headed north (road trip!) this last weekend to discover the slopes, and for all but one of them, the first time snowboarding down the hills. While there isn't any sign of snow here on the farm, their pictures had me snow dreaming. That made today's read a great grab for the week.

This is part of a series about a group of friends and should be written in a somewhat journal form (?) I'm excited to see how it's put together and meet this smiley bunch. So, grab those gloves and scarves because we're heading into a wintery adventure.

THE BACKYARD KIDS

Snowed-In

by Regina Oakes

Illustrated by Danielle Devine

Middle Grade Contemporary

203 pages

ages 8 to 12

The Backyard Kids are at it again with another thrilling adventure. This time they find themselves on an unforgettable and snowy quest. The kids stumble upon a mysterious time capsule that takes them on a scavenger hunt through the City of Somerville. Who buried the time capsule? Where is the scavenger hunt leading them? Is there really a reward at the end? AND why does one clue lead them to a place no person has ever gone before? Find all the answers (and more) in their TOP secret journal.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

With this group of friends, life is guaranteed to be tons of fun.

A 120-question math test marks the next torture arranged by the school, but then, the Backyard Kids don't expect anything else, thanks to the evil principal waiting to drag them to the dungeon...umm office. Luckily, a huge snowstorm hits and shuts down the school for an entire week. Determined to see each other, they shovel snow paths between their houses (tons of work) but discover a strange box along the way. Inside is a surprise, which sends them on a scavenger hunt...which might mean the best snow closure ever.

This is written in a journal format, in which each character writes their perspective and thoughts. It makes for a fun read with personality galore, since each personality is so different from the other. Add the illustrations, and it's a read that even reluctant readers won't shy away from. It's quick, fun, and invites in.

The predicament is one that many readers would enjoy finding themselves in...well, outside of the massive amount of shoveling the kids do and the evil principal. Snow-dreams hit with the huge storm and set a great scene for the following adventure. The secrets of the box and the hunt, which ensues, might be a classic plot direction, but it works well and adds some unexpected twists along the way. 

While friendship, obviously, rings true in these pages, the journal style with the different voices brings each character to life. It's fun to root for them every step of the way and wish to jump right into the fun, too. It will be exciting to see what this gang has planned next.

Today's read... Shells... and what they hide inside by Helen Scales

We've had some warmer days lately, which has me garden dreaming. Actually, I'm heading out to buy some seeds today and get the first seedlings started. It also has my kids vacation-dreaming, which usually includes water and shell hunting. No, we don't always go to the beach, but they manage to discover shells (and rocks) everywhere.

Today's read heads right down these lines and opens up to the world of shells. It's a board book with...and this always makes me excited...flaps! It promises tons and tons of flaps, which, I'm guessing, means the shells can be opened up. (Yay!)

Anyway, let's take a peek and see what treasures we can find.

SHELLS

...and what they hide inside

by Helen Scales

Illustrated by Sonia Pulido

Phaidon Press

Board Book Nonfiction

16 pages

ages 2 to 4

COMING APRIL 17th!!!

A richly illustrated, informative, and interactive introduction to shells for children aged 2-4 with over 40 interactive flaps In this board book companion to  What a Shell Can Tell , award-winning marine biologist and documentary maker, Helen Scales, introduces children ages 2-4 to the wonders of shells. With over 40 flaps to lift creating interactive opportunities on every page, stunningly lifelike illustrations, children are encouraged to observe, engage with, and understand a range of shells and environments. 

From where shells are found and who lives in them, to what a shell’s look and feel can reveal about its inhabitant and environment. The book expands on a child’s natural instinct for collecting things, nurturing their interest and curiosity in nature by giving them simple observation skills that will help them to explore the connections between objects found in nature and the wider ecosystem, as well as building their vocabulary. With a timely message of environmental stewardship combined with stunning illustrations, this book encourages children to explore and care about the world around them. 

GOODREADS    /    PHAIDON PRESS

MY TIDBITS

Grab those buckets and bags because this one inspires to head outside and discover the world of shells.

This book is like going on a shell hunt with tons of surprises to find. From beaches to gardens, a variety of shells are explained and portrayed. Young readers learn that shells come in many colors and shapes, and can be found in more places than just along the ocean beach. To add to the fun, each shell can be opened (a flap) with more to discover inside. And there are quite a few flaps.

While this is a board book sold for ages 2 to 4, I'd recommend it more for ages 3 to 8. The board book style makes it robust, which works especially great for the flaps. The text is a little heavy for the youngest readers, but the slightly older audience will have no trouble understanding it. The facts aren't heavy, but rather, are more intuned to introduce readers to the variety and purpose of shells. The fun of discovering shells stays front and center throughout the read, and this is especially true with the flaps. Inside aren't just surprises on the illustration side but also hints, tips, and words of encouragement. 

The illustrations project energy, joy and life on every page.  The portrayed individuals are playful and full of smiles. The shells are large and detailed as their environment, habits, and more are shown. While many young readers will connect shells with the beach, this pushes beyond that and shows where they can, sometimes, even be found in the backyard. All of this is done in a gentle flow without heavy facts.

Shells, their variety, and the fun in discovering them come across on every page, making this a great read to inspire shell hunting or simply to get readers to discover more about the world outside. It works well for individual as well as group settings and can be used to inspire a project or used with a group theme.

Sneak Peek.. Daughter of Isis by Kelsey Ketch

 Today, I'm changing  things up a bit and offering a sneak peek instead of a review. Oh, I am reviewing this one...it does sound interesting...but I need a couple more days to get through it. So, enjoy the excerpt below until I catch up!

DAUGHTER OF ISIS

Descendants of Isis #1

by Kelsey Ketch

YA Fantasy

300 pages

“You can’t keep resisting my irresistibleness, Natara Stone.”

Their worlds collide in California’s high desert.

The last thing Natara “Natti” Stone wants to do is to start anew at Setemple High School. She wished she had never left London. Yet the brutal murder of her maternal grandmother has made her life very complicated. The only clue related to her murder is an ancient, encrypted necklace Natti discovered after her grandmother’s death. And if trying to adjust to American life is not enough, Natti is being stalked by a mysterious, charming high school senior, Seth O’Keefe, who is annoyingly persistent in his attempts at seduction.

Seth O’Keefe is secretly a member of the Sons of Set, an order that worships the Egyptian god of chaos. Seth’s blessing from Set, his “charm,” never failed, except with one person: Natti Stone. Her ability to elude him infatuates and infuriates him, and he becomes obsessed with the chase. But the closer he gets to her, the more his emotions take a dangerous turn, and he risks breaking one of the most valued covenants of his order. The punishment for which is a fate worse than death.

The adventure this unlikely couple becomes engulfed in could cost them their lives and their souls.

*Note: Content for Upper YA*

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SNEAK PEEK

“Natti, you need to relax,” Seth finally said.

“‘Relax’? Are you mental? My best friend was drugged.”

Seth stood up from the long, ratty sofa, peeled apart her hands, and took them into his. “You

don’t know that for sure.” He brushed his thumbs over her skin in soft, smooth strokes.

“Let the doctors worry about it.”

The soft tingling of his touch coursed lightly through her muscles and released their tension.

Slowly, layer upon layer, her fear and stress eased until she felt nothing at all. Her mind and

body were calm. She looked up at Seth’s eyes, drawn to their warmth and comfort.

“Okay . . .” Natti spoke, almost breathless. “How do you do that?”

“Do what?” Seth’s voice was seductive as he leaned his forehead against hers. His scent of

spice cologne, myrrh, and sandalwood consumed her senses.

“This,” she pressed. “The sensations of your touch. I’ve been feeling it all night and even

before. Ever since we met. And don’t try to lie. I know you’re doing it, but how?”

Seth smirked, his eyes fixating on her hands. “It’s nothing.”

Natti couldn’t help but smile as more of the tingling sensation slipped under her skin.

“Oh, this is definitely something. What is it?”

His beautiful full lips tempted her to lean in and kiss him. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“I might, if you give me the chance.”

Silence fell between them while Seth thought over his answer. He massaged her hands with his

thumbs and fingers. The pressure and the release of each movement gently pulled her thoughts

to the feel of his smooth skin. “Touch is a magical thing,” he explained. “It can comfort.” He

raised his hand and stroked her cheek, gently. “It can entice.” His thumb moved along

her jaw and applied pressure as it traveled down her neck, causing her to shiver with delight. “

And it can hurt. Whatever the intensions, it brings two people together. It creates a certain

connection.”

Though there was no heaviness of a lie, Natti chuckled at his response. “You’re right. I

don’t believe you. Touch is just a sense. A tool the human body uses.”

“Yes, and it’s a powerful tool when used the right way.” His honey-sweet voice teased,

tempting her. “Now come sit with me and relax. Wanda will be all right.”

***Praise for Daughter of Isis***

“Daughter of Isis is an addicting and enthralling read brimming with Egyptian mythology. Readers will be pulled into the story after simply reading a page!” —Emily, Reader Rising

“I always enjoy a good book about Mythology and Daughter of Isis brings a thrilling modern day spin to one of the tales. Kelsey Ketch wove the story perfectly and sucked me right into her magnificent world.” —Naomi, Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

And here she is...

Kelsey Ketch is a young-adult/new-adult author, who works as a Wildlife Biologist and Data Analyst. During her free time, she can often be found working on her latest work in progress. She also enjoys history, mythology, traveling, and reading.

For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.

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