Early Book Review: Gardening with Emma; Grow and Have Fun A Kid to Kid Guide by Emma Biggs, Steven Biggs

Gardening with Emma; Grow and Have Fun A Kid to Kid Guide is a non fiction guide written by thirteen year old by Emma Biggs, with some help from her father Steven Biggs. It is currently scheduled for release on February 5 2019. This book offers instruction and insight into growing healthy food and raising the coolest, most awesome plants, while making sure there’s plenty of fun. With plants that tickle and make noise, tips for how to grow a flower stand garden, and suggestions for veggies from tiny to colossal, Emma offers a range of original, practical, and entertaining advice and inspiration. She provides lots of useful know-how about soil, sowing, and caring for a garden throughout the seasons, along with ways to make play spaces among the plants. Lively photography and Emma’s own writing (with some help from her gardening dad, Steve) capture the authentic creativity of a kid who loves to be outdoors, digging in the dirt.

Gardening with Emma is a well organized, helpful, and engaging guide to gardening. I think children and their parents could benefit from the read. I like that Emma lays out why adults and children garden differently, and what might cause conflict between them. I liked her suggestion of fun plants to grow, and having a designated garden or part of a garden. Emma also gave good information about different plants and their needs, as well as the tools and tasks that are necessary.  I think that Emma's photographs and illustrations add an extra connection and sometime humorous touch that help readers connect to her and the information. My family gardened heavily when I was a kid, and I do not remember having the kind of interest and fun Emma does in the process. Hopefully this book will help inspire some young gardeners, and their parents, to kick it up a notch.

Gardening with Emma is a delightful guide, and I enjoyed the take on gardening advice. I think this is a wonder way for children to get more excited and involved in gardening, and help adults remember that excitement and why they love gardening as well.

Book Review: Dive In: Exploring our Connection with the Ocean by Ann Eriksson

Dive In: Exploring our Connection with the Ocean by Ann Eriksson is a nonfiction book for children and adults. It starts with the idea that we are all connected to the ocean, and the ocean to us. The ocean provides half the oxygen we breathe; it feeds us, creates our weather and provides us with water. But people have not been as kind to the ocean in return. The problems are many: pollution, overfishing, rising seas and acid waters. What can be done? Don't despair; take action. 

Dive In explores the connection between mankind, our actions, and the oceans. We get a great deal from the ocean, and treat it like our private playground, drilling field, and dumping ground. Thankfully there are scientists and activists that spend their time studying the ocean and working to protect it, and everything that lives in, on, or near it. The book is text heavy, with some great information and photographs to engage readers. I liked that there were big and small things suggested for readers and their families to do in order to help the environment. The glossary and additional resources at the end of the book can help readers understand more, and hopefully encourage them to further explore the topic on their own. Some of the informational text boxes were hard to read because of the color choices, I was reading a pre publication galley, so that might have been fixed by the final printing. I think this is a great book for older children, or reading together as a family. Some of the text is more difficult than I think new or struggling readers might be happy tackling on their own.  I do think that parts came off as a little too preachy, and just how big the changes could or should be might be overwhelming to readers, even though the little changes are mentioned as well. I know that I was a little taken aback and felt a little preached at rather than encouraged to make bigger changes.

Dive In is an information and interesting read. I was fascinated by some of the statistics and details about the ocean itself and think it can help readers see how interconnected the environment is, and how even the smallest choices can have an impact. 

Book Review: Outside: Discovering Animals by Maria Ana Peixe Dias, Ines Teixeira do Rosario, Bernardo P. Carvalho

Outside: Discovering Animals is a nonfiction book for middle grade and older readers written by Maria Ana Peixe Dias and Inês Teixeira do Rosário, with illustrations by Bernardo P. Carvalho. Whether you live in the country or the city, nature is still all around you, so what are we waiting for? It's time to jump off the couch and discover the animals that live on your doorstep. Created in collaboration with a team of experts, this comprehensive guide includes suggestions for activities and many illustrations to help the whole family get started, leave the house, and go out to discover – or simply admire – the amazing world that exists outside.

Outside: Discovering Animals is an in depth look at the world around us, with detailed explanations and illustrations to ensure that an engaged reader can take in the information. This is not a casual reading volume, rather a targeted resource tolead young readers and families to better understand nature, and be able to recognize the signs of wildlife in both city and country settings. This is a perfect book for those that camp often and interested in understanding and tracking the wildlife around them. The book is well organized with suggestions and activities to try, and well as tidbits of extra information that might not be crucial but is certainly interesting. I would have liked to see some real photographs rather than just the illustrations, even though some of them were very detailed and well labeled. It could have also used an index or glossary, to help readers focus in on information that might need to help identify a specific animals, insect, or print. 

Outside: Discovering Animals is a good, but not perfect, resource for young naturalists and their families. It has much useful information but I was expecting a little more from the read.

Book Review: Rusty the Squeaky Robot by Neil Clark

Rusty the Squeaky Robot is a picturebook written and illustrated by Neil Clark. Rusty is a friendly robot, but he’s feeling down about the way that he sounds. The other robots on Planet Robotone – show Rusty that being a little bit different is the best way to be, and together make a  song and dance together that celebrates their differences.

Rusty the Squeaky Robot has bright and bold illustrations. The story is all about being yourself and friendship. Rusty does not like that he is different, however he quickly discovers that everyone is different and when we accept each other, and work together, those differences make things beautiful and a lot more fun. I think children are much better at this that adults, and will quickly understand the lesson and enjoy finding ways to pool talents and differences in their own classrooms, families, or other groups. I like that the story is fun, and while the lesson is clear it does not feel like it is being spoon fed or forced on the reader, which always bothers me. I enjoy the fact that stories like this can help encourage empathy, acceptance, and further discussion. 

Early Book Review: Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail from the editors of Storey Publishing

Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail, from the editors of Storey Publishing, is currently scheduled for release on March 6 2018.  Jumpstart curiosity with this take-along field guide for children ages 4 and up. From worms, birds, and spiders to trees, flowers, and clouds, young explorers learn what to look and listen for wherever they are — whether in a nature preserve, an urban park, or a suburban backyard. Seek-and-find lists, on-the-trail art projects, and discovery games get kids engaged in hands-on learning about nature, and a real pull-out magnifying glass helps them get a close-up glimpse of leaf veins, seed pods, and tiny insects. Filled with activities, checklists, and stickers, this interactive nature guide belongs in every kid’s backpack.

Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail is a well organized and accessible guide to take with you for any family outdoor outing. While it would be fantastic to take on a camping trip or long hike, but I think even short walks to the park or an afternoon in the yard could be made more interesting by using the activities and guide. I can see take the book in sections and spending a day talking about trees and plants and trying the creature creation or nature painting ideas with my own children. I think the amount of information and activities make this a book that will get much use from the family. I really liked that the activities are things that can be done as a family, but also by an older child taking the imitative to do them on their own in the back yard or as the family camps. I would suggest previewing the book before hitting the great outdoors, just to see what you might want to focus on or try while you are out there. 

Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail is  a wonderful field guide to take out on a family hike, camping trip, or even for short walks or trips to the park. The information and activities are interesting and adaptable for all ages. 

Book Review: In My World by Jillian Ma

In My World by Jillian Ma is a simple, heartfelt story that follows the life of a child with autism through his imaginative journey as he seeks to be accepted, loved and celebrated for his strengths and abilities. Despite the qualities that make children on the autism spectrum exceptional, they all have hopes, dreams and feelings of belonging that all children desire. This beautifully illustrated picture book is a powerful reminder that with a little help from each of us, children with autism can fulfill their dreams.

In My World is a sweet and simple story that describes a day in the life of a child with autism. I think it shows the things that we all have in common well; the joys and desires surrounding love and acceptance among them. The illustrations and words do a wonderful job of showing the joy and imagination that fill the child's world, and explaining some of the struggles they have in dealing with other people and their expectations. I think this would be a great conversation starter in classrooms, families, or public settings like library story times to help children understand and care for each other and themselves.