Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality Blog Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

What does individuality mean to you? How do you feel about being different? Follow Jane's unique journey in Jennifer Nestor's newly released picture book Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality and enter to win a fun back-to-school prize pack!

My Review:

With lovely characters painted in vibrant colors, Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality is an inspiring and enjoyable book about self-discovery, self-acceptance and self-empowerment. Jane is reluctant to go to school one morning. Not only does she find it hard to fit in at school, but her shyness also makes her an easy target for bullies. After a rough start on the school bus, Jane stumbles upon the Jungle of Individuality in her daydream, where she discovers the beauty of being different through three big animals with very unique features. With the encouragement of her new friends, Jane takes a dip in the Waterfall of Strength and wakes up to reality feeling confident and strong.

Using kid-friendly language and vivid descriptions, the story addresses a challenge that many children may experience at some point in life - how to balance self-awareness with their sense of belonging. It helps them understand the concept of individuality and learn to embrace their distinctiveness with courage and confidence. The conversations between Jane and her mom, along with the interactions between Jane and her adorable jungle pals, suggest the positive roles parents and friends can play in promoting self-love and translating differences into strength. Jane's enlightening daydream adventure wouldn't be possible if not for her mom's wise words. Tim the Tiger makes a good point about why some people are so intolerant of differences and what can be done about their unfriendly gestures.

Besides its whimsical storyline and relatable characters, the book also attracts young readers with its colorful and expressive illustrations. The depiction of the jungle and its inhabitants is particularly impressive and adds a great deal to the overall appeal of the book.

Uplifting and entertaining, Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality makes a timely read that helps ease kids' anxiety about "fitting in" and boost their confidence as they get ready for the new school year.

About the Book:

Ages 4-9 | 40 Pages
Publisher: BookBaby | ISBN-13: 979-8350953602

This heartfelt adventure follows a young girl named Jane as she tries to navigate the challenge of feeling different in her own skin while experiencing bullying at school. Though she is soft-spoken and quirky on the outside, she struggles on the inside—desperately wanting to belong. Escaping from an uncomfortable moment on the school bus, Jane has a vivid daydream where she enters the Jungle of Individuality: a place filled with animals who all have unique characteristics, just like herself. As she embarks on an incredible journey of self-discovery with some new friends, she quickly realizes her individuality is something she should embrace while also learning self-compassion and being brave when things get tough.

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org

Play Outside with Me Blog Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Ready for another playdate with an agreeable book character? Meet Sam and Squirrel from Play Outside with Me, the second book in the Playdate board book series by Kat Chen. Enter to win a signed copy of this new release and a $25 Amazon gift card!

My Review:

Interactive and invigorating, Play Outside with Me invites young readers to an outdoor playdate with Sam and her plush pal Squirrel. From blowing bubbles to playing tag, Sam suggests a variety of activities that playmates can enjoy together. She not only shares what she and Squirrel like, but also shows how much she cares about what the reader thinks by asking questions and making positive remarks.

Using short sentences, simple questions, and a friendly first-person narrator, the book keeps young children engaged while encouraging them to be creative, courteous and communicative. It teaches about important social skills like self-introduction, expressing one's interest, making a suggestion, and being flexible, considerate and responsive. Besides, it provides a good number of fun and executable ideas for outdoor play, including those that prompt the little ones to get close to nature, and to observe and preserve the environment.

The cheerful and lively illustrations add to the charm of the story and well correspond to its theme by demonstrating the joy and excitement of playing outside.

As a delightful extension of the Playdate series, Play Outside with Me may help cultivate the love for outdoor play as well as practical conversation skills from an early age.

About the Book:

Ages 1-3 | 24 Pages
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop | ISBN-13: 978-0593659731

This board book series invites young readers to take part in a playdate activity of their choice, thereby empowering them with autonomy and validation. In this second book, the outdoor playdate models balanced and shared play, creating a positive reference for what caring and considered friendship looks like. Many toddlers and preschoolers consistently ask for someone to play with them, and this book provides just that for the quieter moments of the day. Simple language and gentle questions will help children develop their social skills by practicing conversations, all while engaging them in fun and familiar topics.

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org

Flying Circus Through Thick and Thin Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway (10 Winners)

Looking for a fun summer read for your budding aviation enthusiast? Check out Flying Circus Through Thick and Thin, the sequel to Leona Cobham's well acclaimed middle grade fiction Flying Circus Takes to the Sky. Get more details about the book and enter to win a copy! Ten are up for grabs!

My Review:

I was given the opportunity to read both books in the Flying Circus Airplane Adventures series and found them to be exciting and informative. With a squad of four different airplanes as the leading characters, each book consists of three independent short stories about the missions they get to accomplish and the daunting challenges they have to confront, from an intercontinental race to fire rescue in the forest. The growth of the characters is evident in book two, as they get involved in more complex and trickier situations. The difficulty level of its vocabulary and the intricacy of its plots make the new book better suited for more advanced readers.

Written with humor and style, both books exhibit the author's passion for aviation and in-depth knowledge of the field. A considerable number of technical terms are employed in the stories. The author takes care to highlight them in bold print and to explain them in the illustrated glossary that concludes each book. The drawings that accompany the text help readers, especially those who are unfamiliar with aircraft, to visualize and understand specific scenarios in the stories. While the stories are fictional, the aviation knowledge they deliver is real and very useful.

The books draw readers in instantly not only through the Flying Circus' captivating and suspenseful adventures, but also through its charming members marked with distinctive characteristics, who complement one another to form a remarkable team. Together, they inspire young readers to take up new challenges, to persevere, to stay positive, to learn from their mistakes and to solve problems creatively. Their stories also demonstrate the power of leadership, friendship and teamwork.

Highly entertaining and educational, the Flying Circus Airplane Adventures series would make a valuable addition to any avid airplane lover's book collection. My sons and I can hardly wait to read book three.

About the Book:

Ages 7+ | 144 Pages
Publisher: Cobham Wings | ISBN-13: 9781739407032

A group of anthropomorphized airplanes encounter extreme weather while training at a mountain base. The Spitfire and the biplane, Woody, discover a suspicious mining operation. Tom, the F-14, accidentally gives their radio frequency to the antagonists at the mine. A snowstorm causes more problems. Tom makes amends by rescuing an F-117 Nighthawk.

The second story is a comic tale of mistaken identity. Spif feels responsible for the smooth running of a historical commemoration, but his plans are hampered by a series of hilarious errors involving statues of Wellington and Napoleon.

In the final story, when the friends are invited to an air show in the height of summer they become impatient with a Chinook who is garnering attention. They take to the sky, and the Tomcat lights his afterburners. When a fire starts, he assumes it was his fault. He overcomes his shame to help with the firefight. Spif must put his pride aside and accept assistance from the popular Chinook. Each aircraft contributes to the effort with its own unique skill set. When they save some scouts who have been camping, it turns out it was the scouts who started the fire. They realize through making mistakes, we learn.

Purchase links: Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Magic Sea Turtle Blog Tour: Review and Prize Packs Giveaway

If you could turn into any creature you like, which one would you choose? How about a cute sea turtle like Myrtle from The Magic Sea Turtle? Check out this rhyming picture book written by award-winning author Kathleen Welton and enter to win one of the lovely sea turtle themed prize packs!

My Review:

Full of imagination and positivity, The Magic Sea Turtle tells a charming tale about a dream coming true with delight and surprise. Myrtle is a little girl who dares to dream and wishes to be queen. On a beautiful sunny day, her accidental fall off the cloud leads her to Max the magic sea turtle and his friends, who collectively save Myrtle's life and welcome her to an entrancing world makred with freedom and friendliness. Could this be where Myrtle truly belongs?

Told through short, lyrical sentences, Myrtle's fascinating sea adventure motivates young readers to dream big and be open to new experiences that might transform their lives. Meanwhile, it gets them aquainted with a good variety of adorable, hospitable sea animals like sea turtle, sea otter, seagulls and dolphins, who serve as role models to demonstrate the power of kindness, friendship, and teamwork. It may also provide parents and educators with an opportunity to teach about sea life conservation and environmental protection.

The book excels in its dreamy and dynamic illustrations, which artfully combine vibrant colors, vivid expressions, and elements of nature and magic. The paintings and narrative weave neatly together to create an ideal world full of harmony and vitality.

Poetically written and playfully illustrated, The Magic Sea Turtle is sure to capture the heart of little dreamers, adventurers, and animal lovers.

About the Book:

Ages 3+ | 32 Pages
Publisher: Bookfox Press | ISBN-13: 978-1960157515

Once upon a time, Myrtle chased her dreams–dreams of being a queen with a crown that sparkled like the moon. One day, she tumbles down, down, down into the sea. Max helps rescue her and a magic carpet flies her to a place even more amazing than her sandcastle dreams and she discovers an entire ocean of possibilities! There are dolphins who welcome her and a friendly otter with the biggest smile. They can teach her to swim and enjoy the day. Another magical glow surrounds Myrtle when she decides to stay and wishes to be a sea turtle like Max.

And guess what? Myrtle’s fall may have been unexpected, but thanks to a touch of magic, it leads her to a place where her wishes come true. Myrtle becomes a queen AND a magic sea turtle too, ready for incredible adventures! Myrtle the Turtle learns that being a queen means having the best friends ever. And with her sparkly crown and a heart full of joy, she is the happiest queen the whole ocean has ever seen!

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org