Review: Marco Polo Brave Explorer by Cynthia Lord

It's Saturday! Today, in our household, it's time for a little 'egg drop' experiment fun for our science and gravity chapter. Yep, I'm a homeschooling parent (started with my youngest child during the COVID chaos), and we're both loving it! So, what does that have to do with today's read? Well, this one caught my attention because it appeared to be the perfect book to add to a homeschooling program. 

Ready to see if it fits the bill? 

MARCO POLO BRAVE EXPLORER

Book Buddies #2

by Cynthia Lord

Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

Candlewick Press

Children's Fiction

80 pages

ages 6 to 9

COMING...

MARCH 8th!!!

Can an intrepid toy mouse help a child venture out of his comfort zone? Book Two of an endearing illustrated series about friendly library toys and the children who borrow them.

Marco Polo is a retired Christmas ornament, but in his mind he is a great mouse explorer. Because he’s tiny and likely to be lost, he is the least-borrowed of the Book Buddies—toys that children can check out of the library just like a book—and he almost never leaves the library. But the little mouse finally meets the right match in Seth, a boy who is about to attend his first sleepover. If Seth were to bring the stuffed bunny he usually sleeps with, he’d risk being teased, but Marco Polo is the perfect size to hide away in his sleeping bag. Are both boy and mouse in for an unexpected adventure? Charmingly illustrated and offering a window into the secret life of toys (including a suspenseful glimpse at where all the household’s lost toys go), Marco Polo Brave Explorer explores common fears and quiet bravery and will leave readers eager for the next episode in the Book Buddies series.

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MY TIDBITS

This is a clever idea for a book series, one that promises so much more than a cute read...so much more.

Marco Polo started his life as a Christmas tree ornament, but he didn't like the idea of disappearing into a box with the other ornaments for the year. Luckily, his 'owner' reads his mind and decides to add him to the Book Buddies at the local library where she works. He's a bit on the small side, but she hopes he'll be loaned out like the other animals and receive lots of stories in his journal. Unfortunately, his small size makes him often overlooked or parents fear he might easily be lost. One day, though, a boy sees him and decides Marco Polo might be perfect for a certain experieince.

I did not read the first book in the series, nor is that necessary since these stories can easily be read on their own and in any desired order. Each one centers around one animal, who is a member of the Book Buddies. Marco Polo is adorable right away, not only because he's so small, but he has tons of spirit and a super-sweet personality. The adventure he experiences has a bit of tension, a dash of action, and a tiny bit of danger, making it exciting from start to finish...but definitely nothing more than even sensitive readers of the age group can handle. It's a grabbing tale from start to finish.

The writing flows very well and is perfect for those, who are sure of their words but not ready to tackle larger reads. The vocabulary fits the age group and still throws in a word, every now and then, to help expand the vocabulary. The font is larger and well-spaced for easy reading. Add the wonderful illustrations, and it's a read which visually draws in and doesn't scare even more reluctant readers away.

While all of these things already make this a lovely read, my favorite aspect of this series is the idea behind it. Libraries with this series can develop a new program just like these buddies. I get that the entire COVID scare of the last years does, perhaps, add a little hesitation to the loaning of toys (which I'm sure will change quickly soon), but this is extra special in that the story also promotes the idea of each toy having a journal, where kids write down the adventures they had with the animal while they were loaning them out. It's a great way to incorporate reading with writing and make in inviting for the age group.

My only criticism is that the next book isn't expected to come out until 2023...so, we're in for a bit of a wait.

And here they are...

Cynthia Lord is the author of award-winning middle-grade fiction. Her titles include Book Buddies: Ivy Lost and Found, the Newbery Honor Book Rules, Touch Blue, Half a Chance, A Handful of Stars, Because of the Rabbit, and other books for young readers. Cynthia Lord lives in Maine.

Stephanie Graegin is the author-illustrator of Little Fox in the Forest and the illustrator of many other books, including Book Buddies: Ivy Lost and Found by Cynthia Lord, You Were the First by Patricia MacLachlan, and Water in the Park by Emily Jenkins. Stephanie Graegin lives in Brooklyn.

Review: At Night by Margaret Peot

Weekend is just a day away, and I have the perfect read for a bedtime read to help the younger readers drift into dreams. Plus, it teaches about animals, too! I was drawn by the cover and illustrations because, in my opinion, illustrations make or break a picture book. But I was definitely right about grabbing up this one because I did enjoy gazing through each one.

Wow. I think I just gave a review, didn't I? Well, there's more to come. So, read on!

AT NIGHT

by Margaret Peot

Muddy Boots

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

What animals forage by night and sleep by day? This children’s picture book describes the nocturnal lives of nine common animals: foxes, porcupines, racoons, skunks, opossums, bobcats, owls, mouse, and rabbits. Join the adult animals guiding their children through the forest during the dark of night. The book includes information on the common names of the animal’s offspring (i.e. fox:kit).

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MY TIDBITS

Beautiful illustrations lead to the world of animals and dreams.

The title says it all as this book takes a peek at what happens in the forest at night. The text is kept very short, usually just two or so words or a short phrase for each spread. They are just enough to name the animal and what it does at night: for example, owls hoot. Then, the illustrations take over the rest and let the scenes come to life.

The text is easy to read (making a great read-aloud) as the white, large font doesn't meld with the darker, night illustrations. And these are so well done! Each scene holds the dim atmosphere, while still allowing details to stay distinguished and easy to notice. The animals are very well portrayed and give off a natural atmosphere...as if a person were watching them go about their nightly activities.

At the end of the book, the animals do go to sleep, and this gives just a short glimpse at the habitat each one uses to nestle down. Then, there's another section, which depicts each animal and gives a fact or two about them. This isn't only a lovely bedtime read, but does introduce information about various animals, too.

Follow the tour!

Monday, January 17th: @celiamcmahonreads

Wednesday, January 19th: @littlelilacpreschool

Thursday, January 20th: @storytimewithshelbs on TikTok

Friday, January 21st: @silver.lining.reader

Friday, January 21st: Bookworm for Kids

Monday, January 24th: She Just Loves Books and @shejustlovesbooks

Tuesday, January 25th: @girlsinbooks

Wednesday, January 26th: @wonderousreads

Thursday, January 27th: @lyon.brit.andthebookshelf

Friday, January 28th: View from the Birdhouse

Monday, January 31st: @rachellelovesbooks

Wednesday, February 2nd: @literannie

Friday, February 4th: @megsbookclub

Monday, February 7th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Wednesday, February 9th: @wereadlikethat

Review: Simone Joins the Soccer Team by Dr. Kelsi Bracmort with Giveaway!

 Today's review is a double-winner. Not only does it hit upon sports (yes, kids love books about sports) but also is available in English and Spanish! This is the 2nd book in a series and holds tons of goodness. But just read further and discover more yourself!

SIMONE JOINS THE SOCCER TEAM

by Dr. Kelsi Bracmort

Illustrated by Takeia Marie

Mayhew

Picture Book

46 pages

ages 5 to 8

"Inspiration and practical advice wrapped up in an appealing story with a relatable young hero." - Kirkus Reviews
Simone Joins the Soccer Team is a beautifully illustrated children's book that will show young readers the importance of making decisions. Join Simone as she thinks about playing soccer at school.
Simone is an inquisitive and thoughtful young, black girl who lives in Washington D.C. Her mission is to discover who she is, what makes her unique, and to be proud of herself. Together with Shiloh, her cousin, they have lots of fun.
In this second book, Simone has to decide if she will try out for her school's soccer team. As she considers the possibility of playing soccer, she receives advice from family and friends. In the end, Simone learns to listen to her heart and discovers what it means to know what you want and to make up your own mind.
Thoughtful and genuine, Simone Joins the Soccer Team showcases the importance of listening, making decisions, and following your heart. In the award-winning first book, Simone Visits the Museum, she and her mom take the day to explore DC and go to the Smithsonian NMAAHC. Check it out!
Available also in Spanish, Simone se une al equipo de fútbol, it is the perfect book for bilingual children who can practice reading the series in both languages. The series also supports the authentic cultural representation movement.
Order your copy TODAY and enjoy the second book in the series that is sure to become a bedtime favorite!

AMAZON  /   B&N

MY TIDBITS

With a natural flow and characters to love, this tale glides through the difficulties of making decisions.

Simone noticed that tryouts are coming up for the soccer team. She's never played soccer but believes she'd really like to give it a try. Not sure if it's a good idea or not, she talks to her cousin, her parents, a friend, and even a teacher. Each one offers slightly different advice until she's not sure what she wants.

The tale flows along extremely naturally and brings across a situation readers will easily identify with. Sometimes decisions are hard, and while advice is golden, it doesn't take the final choice away. Simone's desire to do the right thing makes her easy to like. She doesn't grow dramatic or press the topic, but rather, is simply trying to figure things out. The support she gets from all sides is inspiring and wholesome, and at the same time, it shows that everyone has different opinions—not always right or wrong. It encourages young readers to compare and, still, decide for themselves.

The illustrations are calm and well done. Each scene is easy to recognize and allows Simone to come across in a very positive light. The text is on the heavier end. So, this one is for the slightly, older picture book range. Those who are sure of their words can read it on their own. The vocabulary fits the age group well as does the situation. It's a fun tale, which holds a lot of goodness to read to groups or even one-to-one. 

Also available in Spanish!

AMAZON

GIVEAWAY!

(U.S. Addresses Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(This giveaway is hosted by the author. Bookworm for Kids holds no responsibility for any aspect of the giveaway or the prizes. U.S. addresses only. )

And here they are...

Dr. Kelsi Bracmort is a native Washingtonian who adores DC and the rich history offered to children and young people of all ages. She was inspired to write this book series with the hope that a character like Simone will inspire all children to be proud of who they are, to go out and explore, and to follow their dreams. She earned a B.S. in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University, and both a M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Purdue University.

Takeia Marie is an illustrator from New York, comic book nerd, lover of food, and self-proclaimed hip-hop enthusiast. She enjoys working with small businesses and individuals with big ideas, having worked with clients such as The Mill, Goode Stuff Publishing, Action Lab, Brooklyn College Community Partnership, and more. Her work has been published in the Glyph Pioneer Award-winning anthology, Artists Against Police Brutality, and has been featured in Black Comix Returns: African-American Comic Art & Culture. When she is not drawing she likes to write and has contributed pieces to The Hip Hop Speakeasy and BlackSciFi.com.

Review: My Idol Sits the Next Desk Over! by Tetsu Tsutsui

 And here's today's 2nd review circling around the theme of friendship! Due to requests from my younger readers, I've been trying to squeeze in more Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, and such. This one sounded great, and the cover is cute! It deals with forming new friendships and promises humor and sweetness as well.

Ready to take a peek with me?

MY IDOL SITS THE NEXT DESK OVER!

Book One

by Tetsu Tsutsui

Illustrated by Koyubi Sugawara

Kodansha Comics

Young Adult Humor / Contemporary

192 pages

Chiro-chan is a world-class idol... at least, to Sakiko Manaka, your run-of-the-mill hard-core idol fan. So when Chiro -- real name Chihiro -- ends up sitting next to her in school, Sakiko's world is turned upside-down, and all her brain cells vanish. After all, how can she concentrate when her absolute fav is just inches away?! But she needs to be on her A-game, because she may not be the only one who is totally gaga for Chihiro...

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MY TIDBITS

All sorts of surprises hit in this cute tale of a girl, who encounters her biggest idol and even gets the chance to become true friends.

Sakiko Manaka is a normal girl, who superly adores a talented star, Chiro-chan. When a new girl arrives at school and sits only a desk away, Sakiko can't believe her idol now sits right next to her. Concentrating on school is out of the question, and instead, Sakiko's determined to become friends with Chiro-chan...an amazing mission! But when another girl in class proves to be a super-fan-girl, too, with similar intentions but not so great means, the battle is on.

I do enjoy the art in this one. Sakiko and Chiro-chan come across wonderfully as, especially Sakiko's emotions radiate from every page in the same over-the-top manner that a true fan girl needs to have. They simply draw a smile and make it hard not to root for Sakiko no matter how overly strong this idolizing is. Plus, the text mixed well with each scene and really creates a nice balance, which flies by easily and draws in, at the same time.

This is a humorous book about forming friendship with two girls, who are very different, and yet, face struggles which the other one can balance out. The situations are funny but do strike a familiar chord and reflect some of the same issues readers face every day...just not quite like in this story. It's not a problem to root for both girls as they struggle past their own problems and near friendship more and more.

While there is tons to enjoy, I did have a problem with the 'other' character. This one is not mentioned in the blurb and added a direction I'm not sure how to see. The other fan girl in the class, who also tries to develop a type of friendship with Chiro-chan, is much more ill-intentioned. Bullying and mean plots twists problems in, which if fine if it'd be seen as such. But in this book, it seems to be an attempt at a comic relief, which doesn't quite work. Instead, I was left wondering about the girl's background and wished she would get help of some sort. 

As to the future reads, I'm not sure where this series will go. this first book was a fun read, for the most part, but it's not clear how things will advance or heighten from this point. But I guess I'll have to wait and see. And I do think book 2 will be worth a read to find out.

Review: The Big Bad Lies by Leslie Patricelli

Today, I'm hitting another double review and both books swing around the theme of friendship and silly problems. The first one is the highlight of the day and introduces what promises to be a wonderful series. After reading the blurb, I was excited to get my hands on this one as it centers around a pair of friends and all the silly problems they encounter in middle grade. I was hoping these two would be a blast, and they are. Oh, and this one is for lower middle graders or those slightly younger ones, who are very sure of their words.

Ready to dive into a ton of fun?

THE BIG BAD LIES

The Rizzlerunk Club

by Leslie Patricelli

Candlewick Press

Middle Grade Fiction

256 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

JANUARY 25th!!!

When a little lie turns into a more serious one, will Lily and Darby's friendship survive--or is it the end of the Rizzlerunk Club?

Lily Lattuga finally feels settled after moving to a new town and starting the fourth grade at a new school. She gets to live right across the lake from her best friend, Darby, who loves frogs and drawing

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MY TIDBITS

Humor, friendship, and all the craziness of middle school weave in important lessons to make a fun and rich book for early readers, who aren't quite ready for a full-fledged novel quite yet.

Lily finally has a best friend, Darby, and together, they form the Rizzlerunk Club. Everything runs smoothly...well, as smoothly as anything can in middle school...when an new kid hits the classroom. His lies are driving Lily crazy, although Darby only has googly-eyes for him. But as his lies catch up with him, so does trouble for Darby and Lily. The situations not only threaten to run out of control, but a whole lot of silliness comes with it.

Lily is a energetic girl, whose mind wanders as she rattles along. But then, this story goes from one nonsense right into the next without a second's pause. All of it rotates around daily life in middle school, where drama runs high, logic is a little off, and good intentions seem to turn out with not so good results. There are a lot of life lessons, and it's no problem to feel at home with Lily and wish you could jump into her crazy life for a few minutes.

Friendship is golden, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. Darby and Lily make quite the pair as they both let their imaginations fly, make bad judgements, try to support the other, and all the while, manage to try to work things out  Their predicaments did make me smile because for all the silliness, so much hits reality, too.

The added illustrations offer a wonderful break between words, help clarify situations, and do pump the humor, too. These were sprinkled in at just the right times and well done

In other words, this is a fun book and I bet this is an even better series

And here she is...

Leslie Patricelli is the author-illustrator of Potty, Huggy Kissy, and many more best-selling board books for young children starring a beloved bald baby. She is also the author-illustrator of Higher! Higher!, a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book, as well as the first novel in the Rizzlerunk series, The Rizzlerunk Club: Best Buds Under Frogs. Leslie Patricelli lives in Idaho.