April 2019 #BooksForYourNook Roundup

In order to share all of the books we post on social media, I’ve decided to start doing monthly #BooksForYourNook roundup posts. Below you’ll find abbreviated versions of each book review, as well as purchase information.

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When I Pray for You by Matthew Paul Turner – This was the perfect book to include in Maya’s Easter basket. From infancy into later childhood, the rhythmic text provides prayers, hopes, and dreams parents have for their little ones. The whimsical illustrations by Kimberley Barnes feature diverse families celebrating the highlights of childhood.

She’s Got This by Laurie Hernandez – Zoe is a young girl who is fascinated with flying. After seeing a gymnast on tv, she realizes gymnastics would be her own opportunity to learn to fly. Disappoint and pain are ahead though after Zoe has her first fall at practice. Her family motivates her to get back up again and the rest is history!⁣

VoxBooks – It appears that VoxBooks are only available through public or school libraries. Our local librarian pointed them out to us a few weeks ago and we are hooked! If regular, print books and e-books had a baby, you’d get VoxBooks. You get the best of both worlds: physical page turning with accompanying audio.

Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library by Julie Gassman – Ever wonder why a dragon shouldn’t be in the library? Through rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, you learn about all of the trouble a dragon could get into when looking for books, participating in story time, or reading books aloud. The librarian has a solution to all of the boy’s pleas; he can check out as many books as he wants to read to his dragon at home!

Hip Hop Speaks to Children by Nikki Giovanni – With classic poems from Giovanni, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou and Eloise Greenfield, and lyrics from A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Queen Latifah and Tupac, this book is the perfect way to transition a child who is not a fan of poetry into the art form. There are over 50 poems in the book and even better, there’s a companion CD featuring Giovanni and some of the original writers narrating their work!

The Children’s Garden by Carole Lexa Schaefer – A group of multicultural children learn all about the benefits of growing their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers in a sustainable community garden. In the end, they get to reap the benefits of their hard work by harvesting goods to take home.

When the Cousins Came by Kata Yamasaki – This is the story of a multiracial little girl who is excited about the arrival of her cousins, Rosie and Takeo. Lila has lots planned for them, but it seems like her cousins are better than her at each activity and prefer to do their own thing at times. Lila’s spirits are lifted at the end though when she realizes that she was overreacting and that her cousins had an amazing visit.

The Library Book by Tom Chapin – This story is about a little girl who heads to the library for big fun on a rainy day. She sits in her favorite chair, while classic characters like Sleeping Beauty, Winnie the Pooh, and Pinnochio all join in on the fun. This book celebrates how reading can take you to other worlds, with characters so real, you feel like they are your friends.

Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora – Omu has prepared a tasty red stew for her dinner and the scent is wafting out into the streets. One by one, neighbors and other people from Omu’s community come by for a taste of the delicious-smelling stew. By the end of the day, Omu realizes she’s given all of her stew away without saving any for herself. In the end, Omu’s neighbors come back bearing gifts to thank her for her kindness.

Have you read any of these or want to add any to your reading list? Head over to our Instagram or Facebook pages for full reviews!