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Book Review: Harvey the Hippo meets Mickey Mandarin

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What a radical and riveting way to present an extremely relevant yet sensitive issue to its targeted audience! I ndeed, Abby Pete’s book, Harvey the Hippo meets Mickey Mandarin thoughtfully rules out exclusivity to embrace inclusivity with a tenderness that is apt for young minds. Acceptance of the fluidity of gender and a non-binary approach towards others are the fresh perspectives that this engaging read offers. Click HERE to buy the book You can also by the book in Barnes and Noble and L.H. Press The story is about Harvey, the hippo , who being a “he” and a “him”, lives in the zoo with his family and friends. They are Zo, the Zebra, who likes to be called “they” and “them”, Ginger, the giraffe, whose preferred pronouns are “she” and “her” and other animals too. However, their differences in identities do not affect their friendship but rather strengthen their bonds. In fact, the animals accept their friends as they are and engage in pl

Book Review : Up Bow Down Bow

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I am a string mom of a 5th grader who invariably looks forward to her son improving his listening skills and identifying the upbows. R eading the book "Up Bow Down Bow" by Nancy M. Schwartz and April E. Beard made me sense that same excitement in Nancy, a mother, who saw her youngest son Alex's desire to learn and love music. She felt the pure bliss and emotions of music seep into Alex and positively impact every facet of his development. The love for music is reflected even in the words of April, Alex's music teacher, who narrates every other chapter in the book. She is a core believer in Alex's abilities! The writing style is elegant and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the story of Alex. The vivid descriptions of Nancy, April, and Alex's teamwork are also deftly woven into the narrative. It is a powerful reminder of staying true to one's passion. Every section of the book recounts a mighty beam of hope, a learning

Book Review : Beachcombers

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Who doesn’t long for an amazing adventure and that too on a beach with friends and fun? And how effectively can a book entertain and empower at the same time? A Answers to such questions lie embedded in the interesting story, lucid language, evocative illustrations, and engaging exchange of Beachcombers: A Clementine the Rescue Dog story. In this book, Kyle Torke, the man who believes in the power of imagination and the possibility of exploration, narrates the story of three adolescents, Taliss, Conrad, and Coover, and their fantastic canine friend, Clementine. As the story progresses, the beach comes alive to the reader with its beauty and bounty. Any little enthusiast gets to meet sandpipers, starfish, purple crabs, grey snakes, seagulls, and pelicans along with cliffs, surf, flowers, and waves. Simultaneously, conscious activities that need to be undertaken to preserve the beach and its ecosystem are categorically mentioned. For instance, the removal of plastic for r

Book Review : I am Mixed and I am Me

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To be proud of one's identity! A cceptance of the self and others through appreciation and empathy lies at the heart of Sarah Porter’s book I’m Mixed and I’m Me . And while the subject seems one that needs to be pondered on, the presentation is just the contrary. A delightful read, it can aptly address tender minds and enable them to imbibe the message, which is crucial and compelling. The book begins with Snacks introducing himself and his sister, Wiggles, and promising to tell the reader "our own story," which he admits is rather unique. The first thing that we get to know is that their parents are from "different places," an aspect that gets starkly noted due to their obvious difference in skin color. Nonetheless, black lips kiss as softly as white ones and both parents are similar in showering love and shaping lives. Click HERE to buy the book Snacks assert that they are lucky to have dissimilar parents as that allows them to go on

Book Review : Grateful to be Grace

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A compelling story for teaching a child to say "I choose to do" and develop the practice of Positive Thinking… D on't we all have a difficult time getting our kids do simple chores? Don't we feel upset when they refuse to listen to our instructions and be productive? Don't we wonder what we could tell them to help them take right decisions and develop the right attitude towards life? Then this book by the versatile author, Maggy Williams , has the perfect solution to our complications and concerns. Click HERE to buy the book Through lively illustrations and a conversational presentation, we come across the daily dilemmas of a girl called Grace and how she usually responds to them. Till one day, her Dad explains to her that "…most times, we do have a choice." The word "choice" acts as a trigger and she feels "an inner shift" and from that moment, every activity that she accomplishes is her decision and not a co

Book Review : Harvey The Hippo

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The tale of an adorable floating Hippo who eventually make good food choices. T his book , its illustrations, and the story are a sheer joy to young readers! Have you not had this conversation with your kids and asked them to make good food habits? That whole conversation becomes easy when they read about Harvey, their hippo friend, touring the entire world and finally deciding to pick healthy food options. Crisp rhythm, friendly tone, and valor reside throughout the tale of Harvey. The floating part of the story bring kids into a pleasant aura where they can feel free and light while connecting to their little friend. Read other books of Harvey the Hippo Moreover, how author Abby Pete tours Harvey through the different cities around the world instills curiosity in a kid's mind about cultures and food habits in various parts of the world. We cannot disagree that it harvests awareness about food and health in diverse setups. Click HERE to buy the book

Book Review : Explain Alzheimer's

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Yet another enlightening book by Dr. Laurie Zelinger ! L ittle do we comprehend Alzheimer's disease or its victims. It is still newly found for many with very complex, challenging, and changing behaviors. A comprehensive book that explains Alzheimer's The book "Please Explain 'Alzheimer's Disease' to Me" by Dr. Laurie Zelinger serves as a consolidated guide for every parent and caregiver. The illustrations in the book weave a beautiful story of Seth, a little boy, and his grandma. We, in turn, get a vivid picture of the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Later in the book, the readers also find answers to several questions they might have in mind about the illness. In 2020, 6 million adults in the United States alone were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, which is a large number by itself and that we further expect to increase. This book will help families proficiently manage - when they have to engage with kids a

Book Review : Can You Explain Anxiety?

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With Simple Biology and Solutions for Children and Parents. M ost of us grown-ups rarely take notice of anxiety or would rather say never acknowledge the state of stress in our kids. We often consider it a daily occurrence that invariably concludes with an adult reassuring the kid that there is no need to worry or stress out. Or sometimes even labeling it as a dramatic outpour! Please explain "Anxiety" to me! - is a one-of-its-kind of book that reveals the behind-the-scenes of when a kid is anxious. After reading this book, a grown-up realizes the need to sit down with his kid and listen to why he is anxious? One understands the spectacle behind such an event - and forge a deep understanding of the mechanisms at work, like the nifty explanation of an on-off switch. The sympathetic nervous system in our body switches on when we think we're in danger. A small part of our brain makes that happen. It's called the amygdala (a-mig'-da-la). It

Book Review : I Hate Shots

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Please Explain Vaccines to Me Because I HATE SHOTS! is the perfect book to read to your child, engage her thoughts, and prepare her for one of the most fundamental tasks in her life. I ndeed vaccines and shots are an indispensable part of every individual growing up. To address such a fundamental yet binding concern in such a remarkable way is possible only by someone who has firsthand experience and expertise. Our author, Dr. Laurie Zelinger , is a seasoned child psychologist. She is commendable in her presentation of this general medical procedure. The facts related to it, the fears associated with it, and the means of manipulating it to ease a child's interaction with needles, be it shots, blood tests, or vaccines. Now, by the year-end of 2021, we can, with one accord, acknowledge how vaccines have become a strong shield for the human community. We now understand that Epidemics and Pandemics can prevail and mutilate a large portion of society within months, let alone

A Magical Summer Camp

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Looking for a summer camp to keep your kids learning? J oin a special one-week online summer camp with award-winning magician Nathaniel Segal! Learn super fun and easy magic with everyday objects. Register at: virtualcamp.eventbrite.com ONE WEEK ONLY! June 21st - 25th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM (PT) In this special one-week magic camp, you will learn incredible magic with everyday objects! Each class teaches simple and fun tricks that you can actually do! The $125 registration includes the classes and a special mailed package of materials! Register now! The class is limited to just 30 participants. Use code QT10 for an additional $10 off Here are some of the exciting things you will get to experience in each class: Learn incredible magic that can be done easily, and each trick we will go more in-depth and discuss some of the ways that you can make the performances even better with basic theater and magic theory See some of the most inc

Who Smarted?

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The Super-Fun Educational Podcast For Elementary School Kids D oes it seem like your kids are glued to screens all day, round the clock? And being mindful about it makes you miserable. The perfect getaway for you and your kid is - Who Smarted? From the Emmy-nominated producers of Brain Games and Brainchild comes Who Smarted . It's the podcast that uses humour, storytelling, and interactive games to help answer cool questions and teaches kids amazing fun facts almost about any topic. It delivers the infallible means to engage your child. And now, how does all of this work? Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday a joyful and funfilled episode of Who Smarted airs on. It teaches more than just fun and facts, but also critical thinking skills. Each bite-sized episode is only 12 minutes long, perfect for kid-sized attention spans. But just enough time for them to learn and give Mom & Dad a little break. Even a piece of better news for Mom and Dad! It's

May-craft with my son

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Making a craft with your child is a meaningful way to engage him...and much more... I t is always difficult to spend quality time with your kid. I make sure, I never miss one such possibility. I usually take up a tiny project with my son every month. I plan it so as to distribute the activity almost through each day of the month. This allotted task gives us a new topic to discuss and work on, together. My takeaway. The happiness and enthusiasm that fills the tender one during the conversations that go along with the creation. My son was actively involved at every step… his ardent love for this simple craft (that) filled me with a sense of accomplishment. Our May project was to fill a glass jar (a long-forgotten gift from an old friend). How should we fill it was the main challenge the two of us faced. A two-day long rigorous discussion followed. It looked like a professional team doing a much-needed requirements analysis prior to a project. Of course, it was mellowed dow