Hey Now, Little Man by Dori Elys

I was so tempted to hold off a few days on today's read, but my schedule just wouldn't allow it...because...it's almost time to shout 'Happy Book Birthday'. But it's still a little early. *pfff*

Anyway, my husband smiled when he saw this cover. The artwork is right down his line, and I find it original and wonderful, too. Plus the boy on the front radiates assuredness. This one should be about boy empowerment, something I don't think is hit often enough anymore in kidlit. So, I'm excited to dive in and take a peek. Oh, and this one is for the youngest readers out there—a board book.

HEY NOW, LITTLE MAN

by Dori Elys

Illustrated by Chris Park

Little Simon

Board Book

ages 0 to 4

COMING APRIL 9th!!!

Young boys can read all about the dozen, hundred, thousand ways to be themselves in this sweet and colorful board book. Hey now, Little Man, what’re you all about? Let’s break it down for the crowd. Let’s figure it out. What does it take to be a Little Man? From lending a hand to expressing creativity to enjoying silence, young boys learn that the right way to be is your way.

GOODREADS     /      SIMON & SCHUSTER

MY TIDBITS

Little man power shines and empowers in this inspiring book for small hands.

The boy on the cover starts this one off in exactly the right train of thought—colorful, assured, and that with unique aspects, which may be 'off' to some but can be (and should be) owned by him. This read is all about boy empowerment. Each page is bright, bold and colorful as a very diverse bunch of boys are shown in all sorts of situations, being themselves. Sometimes. this means helping others or letting someone else take the spotlight.. Other times, it means being as loud or quiet as a boy needs to be. It's about letting personalities shine and knowing that everyone is different.

The board book is constructed for younger readers' hands and can take a little abuse. Rhyme flows the entire way through, smooth and not forced. The word choice includes modern slang terms, making it time appropriate, while keeping the vocabulary at a level many readers will understand. The illustrations are colorful to mirror the diversity, and very positive to flip through. These are probably my favorite part of this read.

This isn't a true story but rather dances through various situations to show how different people are, while empowering them to embrace these differences and see them as strengths. The ideas are more vague than concrete, although the scenes are familiar. I especially enjoyed the addition of the fathers, who accompany their sons in several scenes. It gives a solid message and a sense of foundation and security, which adds to the goodness of this read. 

And here they are...

Dori Elys both writes and edits children’s books. She lives in New York City with her furry best friend. 

Chris Park has been a professional illustrator for over twelve years. His work focuses on color and vibrant scenes striving to elicit an emotional connection. Chris lives in Minnesota with his wife and two sons.

 

The Minor Miracle by Meredith Davis

Due to some scheduling problems, I had to slide today's read up a couple days earlier than planned...which is a good thing since a superhero adventure is exactly the right thing to fuel excitement after the last days of storms and colder days. The blurb is what caught my attention on this one, and I love the sense of friendship on the cover...makes me want to grab up a couple friends of my own and save the world. With a trumpet and whiffle ball? Anything is possible! 

THE MINOR MIRACLE

The Amazing Adventures of Noah Minor

by Meredith Davis

Illustrated by Billy Young

WaterBrook

Middle Grade Fantasy  /   Superhero

272 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

MAY 7th!!!

What happens when an average kid finds out he has not-so-average powers? And what if the bad guy the CIA expects him to catch is none other than his long-lost great-uncle? Noah Minor must figure out the answers to these questions and more in this action-packed adventure for young readers.

Noah Minor is a pretty average kid. Nothing major has happened in his life except for the time he survived falling sixteen stories as a baby—and he doesn’t even remember it. As he enters seventh grade, Noah is hoping to be less average and more extraordinary like his best friends, trombone prodigy Rodney and the practically perfect Haley. But during a standard vision test, Noah learns that he can manipulate gravity and a special section of the CIA called Gravitas wants to train him. He also learns that his fall twelve years ago wasn’t an accident. It turns out his family's beloved great-uncle Saul dropped Noah as part of an illegal experiment, and is a wanted fugitive.

Noah is simply ecstatic to learn that he has “super powers” (even though Gravitas refuses to call them that), but he quickly learns that unlocking and harnessing his power isn’t so easy. Plus, it seems Gravitas only wants Noah as bait to capture his great-uncle. But is Uncle Saul really the bad guy—or just the right person to help Noah reach his full potential?

GOODREADS    /    WATERBROOK

MY TIDBITS

The elusive world of spies meets superhero adventure with excitement, heart, and the difficult question of who can really be trusted.

Noah's only had one amazing moment in his life; he survived falling sixteen stories and hitting the ground as a baby. Since then, his life has been more than average. His two best friends add the only excitement to his life, one being a talented trombone player and the other almost perfect in everything. When a usual vision test suddenly has him pulled into a secret room and told he has the power to manipulate gravity, everything changes. Not only is he sucked into the CIA group, Gravitas, for training, but he's immediately given a tiny mission. His great-uncle is a wanted fugitive with superpowers, too, and Noah needs to inform the CIA when his uncle reaches out to him. But things aren't that black and white, especially when Noah learns that his uncle is the only one who knows how powerful Noah really is and is the only one who can help him reach his full potential.

Noah is an easy character to connect with. He starts as an average kid with average problems, nothing over-the-top but normal, day-to-day issues middle graders often face. The relationship to his family is good but not perfect, and his friends have his back, although even that isn't without its ups and downs. When his superpowers hit, his attitude is understandable, for the most part, and makes him easy to root for. He might be over-powered, but this brings its own set of problems...many of which add humorous moments. 

Action mixes with humor, while the hurdles offer depth and add heart. Noah has a lot to learn, especially in the superpower realm. This comes with errors and frustration, especially since it rubs against a bit of jealousy he's been harboring. The area of friend and family relations holds the center of the read as these are tested and prodded in unexpected ways. But then, saving the world, no matter how small the part in the mission might first seem, tends to be an adventurous undertaking with difficult and dangerous surprises. 

It's an easy, quick read, which flows well. There are a few hiccups in the logic, but nothing which bothers the stories fun and messages. It's a fun adventure for superhero fans or those, who just enjoy an action-packed adventure.

And here she is...

Meredith Davis is the author of THE MINOR MIRACLE, and a second untitled middle grade book (Waterbrook, 2024/25) and co-author of HER OWN TWO FEET: A RWANDAN GIRL’S BRAVE FIGHT TO WALK (Scholastic, 2019). She once worked at an independent children’s bookstore, started the Austin Chapter of SCBWI, and earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults at VCFA. Her superpowers include reading, grandmothering, and finding ways to fit more books in her Austin, Texas home.

IWSG and Jerk Chicken Magic by Noel-Andrew Bennett and Roxanne Bennett

Happy IWSG day! This group is definitely worth celebrating. Starting as the brainchild of the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh, this support group for writers has transformed from a monthly blog hop to a true platform, where many just as amazing writers gather and exchange thoughts, worries, ideas, support, encouragement, and more. We still meet the first Wednesday of every month, though, the group can be now found in many other settings. 

Special thanks goes to this month's co-hosts: Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia!

And yes, I'm a bit late in posting this. I put today's read post together, went to bed, and realized....oh my! It's IWSG again!

Anyway, I don't have a whole lot to say on the writing front, so I'm going to peek at the monthly question instead.

How long have you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed?

Hmmm....honestly, I'm not sure. Fifteen years? Has it been twenty already? I switched site locations somewhere during the time, so I really have no idea. I've been on Twitter since 2011, but I was blogging before that. 

As to the changes...hmmm...Twitter is an obvious change thanks to X. Blogging has changed on many fronts too. For one, it's not as popular as it was when I first started. At that time, everyone blogged. Now, not as much. My own blog has gone from a all-over-the-place review, writer types, writer reach-out, I-had-no-clue-what-I-was-doing to Bookworm for Kids. And even that has changed from a post of some sort on kidlit a few times a week to a daily review. Every day. 

I don't have nearly the same closeness I did to other writers anymore, which is too bad. I'm not sure if that's due to the blogging changes or my own life changes. Probably a bit of both.

So how long have you been doing this? What have your experiences been?

************

JERK CHICKEN MAGIC

by Noel-Andrew Bennett &

Roxanne Bennett

Coconut Milk

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

A love letter to immigrant families everywhere!

Jerk Chicken Magic is a heartwarming story of a multi-generational immigrant family (The Higgins), through the eyes of a charming 6-year-old girl named, Lizzy — as she explores the culinary magic of Jamaica's most famous cultural export, jerk chicken. In awe of her Mom, Lizzy learns about the history of jerk chicken, how to make it, and the magic the dish brings to her whole family. This book celebrates themes of resilience, adaptability, and the importance of preserving generational recipes and cultural traditions.

Jerk Chicken Magic is the debut children’s picture book from husband and wife duo Noel-Andrew and Roxanne Bennett. This tasty story redefines immigrant storytelling and is the perfect gift for kids on any occasion.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Every page shines with energy and good feelings, and will have readers wanting to try jerk chicken themselves.

This is a brightly illustrated picture book, which lets the fun flow the entire way through. It centers around a young girl, whose mother has not only continued to treasure their Jamaican heritage but makes the most amazing jerk chicken. While the food's history and creation are touched upon, this book goes beyond that. It's the wholesome goodness behind the family, which sticks together, and makes this book shine.

The scenes have a realistic touch, which invites in with familiar details and tons of emotions. The text flows right along, guiding each scene and adding to the atmosphere. It makes a lovely read-aloud even for more impatient listeners. The culture comes through, while still staying very set in a daily life readers will recognize. The excitement from each and every character adds positivity and makes it clear how much they care for one another. 

To round everything off, the authors have included a jerk chicken recipe at the end. I haven't given this a go, yet, but am looking forward to trying it out because after reading this, it's hard not to want to dive in and enjoy the dish, too.

Happy Book Birthday, Kids in the Kitchen by Rossini Perez!

We're going to celebrate another book birthday today! This one hits a direction my kids have always loved— cookbooks! Whenever we go to the library, I'm not surprised when they pick up a book about baking or cooking or food in general. Not always but probably 25% of the time. How often do they actually cook one of the recipes? Hmm...I'll just say 25% to that, too, because it's amazing how often the cookbooks hold recipes which require hard-to-get products (the selection at the grocery store is pretty traditional and limited in a small town) or have 'healthy' food, which I'm sure some people love but even after living in several countries, we tend to steer clear of it due to the not-so-us flavors. 

Anyway, let's just dive in and see how this book is.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

70+ Fun Recipes for Young Chefs to Stir Up!

by Rossini Perez

Rock Point

Middle Grade Cookbook

192 pages

ages 8 to 12

Get kids in the kitchen with Kids in the Kitchen , for a crafty and enjoyable activity for all ages.

Do you have kids who always want to help out in the kitchen? Want to find a new way to keep them busy in a way that benefits everyone? Tired of having meals refused by picky eaters? Kids in the Kitchen  to the rescue!

The recipes will teach your mini chefs the basic skills needed to thrive in the kitchen. With minimal ingredients (both good for the stomach and eyes), easy instructions, and requiring only standard equipment, find recipes that get them involved and satisfy their palates.

The scrumptious recipes
 
Come together in the kitchen with this kid-friendly cookbook. Teach children the world of the kitchen, give them confidence when cooking, all while letting them play.

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON   /     BOOKS-A-MILLION

MY TIDBITS

Kitchen tips, cooking hints, and much more food goodness accompany a variety of recipes for snacks, meals, and more.

Over 70 recipes fill these pages, ranging from ideas for the daily meals to snacks and more. Each one is presented with a colored photo of the completed dish, has a list of ingredients, and holds easy to follow steps for baking, cooking, or mixing. But there's more. At the beginning of the book, more than a few pages carry information about cooking, and at the back of the book, more information surrounding a healthy diet can be found. To add even more knowledge goodness, information about various foods are sprinkled in between the recipes, offering insights into the history, purpose or other tidbits surrounding certain food items. It's a book packed with more than recipes to give a rounded introduction to food, cooking and the kitchen.

There are quite a bit of facts in this book outside of the recipes. When I opened up the first page, I was surprised to find that the first 20 pages give insights into safety, pantry ideas, measuring points, term definitions, technique explanations, and more. It offers more than most cookbooks for kids that I've run across and goes into explanations, which are important but often overlooked. While not all readers will carefully go through this section, it does offer a nice resource to flip back to when questions arise. The information found in the last five pages heads into a health direction and offers suggestions to parents as well. So, it's well-rounded on that end. The wealth on text and knowledge slides this one into a solid middle grade read...although younger ones can find recipes to work with in the pages with assistance as well.

The recipes cover a large span of directions, making sure there are fun things that will catch younger cooks' eyes as well as healthy treats. The directions are easy to follow and hit a variety of cooking levels. From simply mixing a non-bake snack to brownies or steak strips, these pages offer something for most young cooks. The ingredients are, for the most part, not hard to find, and the few recipes, which do call for more special ones (depending on the household), offer a chance to cook something different. While there are recipes, which call for box cakes and the such, these are kept to a minimum, allowing kids to cook from scratch. 

It's a well thought out cookbook for more than just cooking fans.

 

Happy Book Birthday, Would You Dare Put a Diaper on a Bear? by Lillias Kinsman-Chauvet!

What better way to start the month than with a book birthday? Today's read steers towards humor, animals, and the difficult task of toilet training. I have a feeling this will be for animal fans and bring tons of smiles along the way...but let's just take a look and see.

WOULD YOU DARE PUT A DIAPER ON A BEAR?

by Lillias Kinsman-Chauvet

Boxer Books

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

This lighthearted tale highlights the absurdity of diapers as seen through the eyes of a child. Would you dare put a diaper on a bear? Or a flamingo or a rhinocerous! No that would simply be preposterous.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON    /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

Toilet training takes a silly twist, which inspires while bringing giggles with every page.

This is a read for those who are entering the challenge of toilet training. While this book probably won't bring overnight miracles, it adds a bit of fun and might inspire young listeners to work a little harder toward the end goal. 

Various animals are displayed, each donning a fuzzy, white diaper. Not only is it silly to see the animals running around with this accessory, but the words encourage humorous thoughts to ensure a smile each time. From giraffes to crocodiles, the illustrations cover a wide variety of creatures, who would be difficult to get a diaper on. I would have loved to see the rhino with its diaper, too.

The illustrations carry a comical twist and portray the animals in natural but active postures, with and without diapers. Each one is easy to recognize and adds a hint of humor while making the oddness clear. The text is kept very short and plays along with each situation to make the scene hit with humor and understanding.

There's a little surprise toward the end as it then steers in the direction of humans and brings in the question of whether or not they should wear diapers. It's age appropriate but ensures wide-eyes and giggles. The last steer toward the tiny toilet seals the deal and makes this a pointed read, which steers without ever feeling preachy. It's a fun book and meets the message nicely.

And here she is...

Lillias Kinsman-Chauvet is an author, an artist, and a musician. This is Lillias’s first book for children. She manages to balance art, music, unschooling with two young children, and the building of a nature-directed, consent-based learning community. Lillias has a degree in music, and a postgrad in graphic design from London School of Arts. In 2012, Lillias cycled through Cuba researching screen-printing techniques. Lillias works and lives with her family in Glasgow, Scotland.