Charity Book Drive- 2023

In January 2023, I started a Charity Book Drive to honor my son, Finn to celebrate that it has been 18 months since his last surgery. Finn is 9 years old and one of the strongest kids I know. He is a “heart” warrior and has had 2 heart surgeries, and been through lots tons of doctors appointments, medical procedures and hospital stays.

An amazing group of indie authors have generously donated their books to children with medical issues. Books will be given to Ronald McDonald Houses, local children’s Hospital, and other CHD charities. THANK YOU SO MUCH to all these amazing authors and their wonderful donations!

If you would like to pay to donate a book to a child with medical issues please click the link below! Thank you for your generosity!

Donate a book!

I especially want to thank another author/illustrator who donated 2600 copies of his book, "Hammy the Hammerhead (almost) Big Adventure to two of the nonprofits mentioned above. He approached me after he saw me post about the Charity Book Drive in an author group and asked me if I could coordinate the large donation. The donated book had a small misprint and had been sitting in storage. I was so amazed by his kind generosity! Since then the books have been delivered and have already made it into the hands of some children experiencing difficult medical situations! To find out more about Mike Crowder and his wonderful books or order a signed copy please visit him here www.graysheepgraphics.com

I would also like to thank an amazing Nonprofit, Hindi's Libraries, who also reached out to me after hearing about my book drive. Hindi's Libraries generously sent me around 400 books to add to my donation list! Find out more about their nonprofit here hindislibraries.org

I have grouped all the books I have received that were donated by indie authors below into categories with their reviews. Please support these amazing authors and consider purchasing and leaving a review on their books!

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Our NICU Journey by Sarah Immonen Ward

Highly recommend this book! It is such a beautiful book and would make a wonderful gift for families with a NICU baby. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and story is written very beautifully as well! I loved the details including the beads of courage on each page! Simply Perfect!

Road to Rainbow by Kristy Davide

This is such a beautifully written book.

I can feel that there is so much love behind the story as it was written. It is wonderfully told in rhyme with gorgeous illustrations. Such a sweet book about 2 people who embark on a hard, long journey full of surprises and hurdles to finally get their amazing baby! I had chills while I was reading it! Such a very special book that would give Hope parents on the journey of hoping for a child! Wonderful!

The Adventure of Asher and Rocket by Shawna Keyes

Darling tale of NICU adventures told in rhyme. i adore these illustrations. They are so captivating! Love the way the author explains everything that one comes across in The NICU in terms of space exploration/ and astronaut gear! Very creative and fun! Great book to calm sibling worries about their brother or sister being in the NICU!

All About Our Baby and the NICU by Laura Cameron’s, CCLS

This book is very helpful to families to explain the NICU to children. It helps walk them through what the NICU is and what will occur there. It is very informative and will help kids work through big emotions and answer questions they may have. It will also be great to relieve some of the anxiety and worry too!

Our New Baby in the NICU by Laura Cameron’s, CCLS

Sweet book that is wonderful at explaining how things will go to a big sibling while their new brother or sister is in the NICU. I liked how they are able to write their names in and draw pictures at the end. This will be a comfort for kids to receive.

By the Time You Came Home: A keepsake for your premature baby

This is a wonderful book for families that have experienced the NICU and having a premature baby or sibling. Very sweet story told in rhyme and charming illustrations too.

Whose New at Lou’s Zoo by JoAnn Dickinson

This book is adorable! Love the inclusiveness to the new neighbor! The illustrations are super gorgeous! Too! Very fun read!

Dino Deegan and the Unpleasant Class by Heather E Robyn

Loved the illustrations in this. Such a great book teaching kindness and helping out friends when they need it most. Sometimes it’s hard to fit in, especially when we feel different. It’s so nice to be accepted and this story teaches exactly that!

Hammy Hammerhead’s (almost) BIG ADVENTURE! By Mike Crowder

Crowder REALLY Hit the Nail on the “Hammer”Head with this one!

Hilarious Creative Read with a wonderful lesson!

This book is seriously just FUN! I loved the humor in this book and the unique way that the story is told. Very creative! Really enjoyed the illustrations too! I can’t wait to read more from the author. His books are very unique and fun and my kids and I appreciate that VERY MUCH!

Along Came Oliver by Kelle Lima

This book is such an amazing book for kids navigating emotions! It’s also incredibly helpful for teaching them about friendship! Such a relatable story about a little girl who gets jealous when her best friend starts playing with someone new! She feels very sad, jealous and left out! Not long after, she loses her kitty and the two boys help her find it! In the end, she learns that it’s GOOD to have more then one friend! The illustrations of this book are so gorgeous and both my kids (ages 4 and 9) really enjoyed this book. As did I!

The Pirate Doctor by Lindsey Gizicki

We loved the illustrations! Such a fun book about a little pirate doctor, named Rue, who fixes the ailments of a pirate while at sea. Very fun and engaging read! My 4 year old loved it!

Theo’s Heart by Amy Kwong

Such a sweet book teaching empathy!

This is a great book to read with your child about having empathy for others. We don’t always know what difficult situations others might be in. I love the creative way the author approached this subject. Adorable illustrations too!!

Ligers, and Tigons, and Bears-- Oh My!

Wonderful Inclusive book!

I love how this book celebrates differences! It shows the beauty of all of us and our families. A great book to open conversations about differences with kids!

Ellie Mae Finds Her Own Way by Alyssa Altamirano

Great book for kids that are naturally shy and nervous around new people! Loved the tips that the author gives to help someone step out of their shell and make friends and talk to people. Darling illustrations! Great read!

Gilly the Ghost Loves Scaring the Most by Dr. Heather E. Robyn

My 4 year old really enjoys this book! He wants to read it over and over even outside of Halloween! Great book year round! He loved the illustrations! The story is told very well in rhyme! It teaches kids that there can be TOO much of a good thing! Gilly loves scaring his friends but eventually he goes overboard and scares them too much! His friends chat with him and he decides to pull back a bit and only scare them sometimes.

Pirate Doctor by Lindsey Gizicki

Adorable story told in rhyme! We loved the illustrations! Such a fun book about a little pirate doctor, named Rue, who fixes the ailments of a pirate while at sea. Very fun and engaging read! My 4 year old loved it!

Effie’s Friendsgiving by Jennifer Morhaime

This is such a wonderful inclusive book. It teaches kids understanding about various holidays that can be celebrated and also celebrates that they can come together in unity and learn about the one another’s differences.

Effie Goes on a Field Trip by Jennifer Morhaime

This is a great book for kids to prep them for an upcoming field trip! Loved the bright colored illustrations and fun characters in the book! This would be great for a child that feels anxious about an upcoming class field trip! Fun book.

Effie Goes to School by Jennifer Morhaime

Great book to prep kids for the first day of school!

This is a great story to prep kids for the first day of school. Effie wants to make friends and finds one that isn’t very receptive. During the story she finds out, that the reason Billy wasn’t friendly is he felt nervous because he forgot his lunch. this helps kids learn a good lesson that we don’t always know what others are dealing with. I loved how Effie stepped up to be kind even though Billy didn’t return the favor. Sometimes good friends are worth trying for!

Everybody Loves Bakon by Janine Masi Landreth and Leigh Ann Thompson

Three Cheers for Bakon!

You too can be a hero like Bakon! This is such a fun book! Both my kids enjoy and relate to it! Teaching kindness and the art of being a good friend is VERY IMPORTANT! Love all the fun, relatable reasons given for everyone to LOVE Bakon! Love the little added elements of humor too to help keep kids laughing and engaged! Such a cute book!

What’s Shakin Bakon? by Janine Masi Landreth and Leigh Ann Thompson

Another amazing Bakon book with a cherry on top!

Loved this adorable book! Such a great story with amazingly done illustrations! I loved all the dance competition illustrations and how it showed them all making little errors! This book was super fun to read with both my 4 year old and my 8 year old! Always love books that showcase kindness too! Very well done!

Dinosaur Friends Saving Conifer’s Eggs and Dinosaur Friends A Present for the Volcano by Lois Wickstrom

This flip book is perfect for a dinosaur lover! So fun that you get 2 books in 1. I loved reading this with my 4 year old and discussing the meaning of friendship and teamwork after.

DragonFriend by Mireille van Yperen

Don’t fear someone’s differences! Embrace them!

This is such a fun, darling book. My 4 year old had so much fun reading it! We both fell in love with the little bearded dragon in the book! It’s just the cutest little thing ever! Such adorable illustrations! Love that it teaches us not to fear those that are different! Sometimes the people that we may have noticed to be different, end up making the very best of friends!

Matt, Sam and the Swimming Unicorn by Elizabeth Harlan

This is a fun book that teaches kids to have fun with new friends and accept their differences! It was cute that the unicorn and sloth showed the narwhal ways to play ball! My 4 year old enjoyed it.

Colorless by Jessi Hersey

Great book that teaches kids love and acceptance with no boundaries! Such an important concept for all ages. Bright colorful illustrations are sure to capture children’s attention.

Semeli and the Magic Cookie Land by Despina Mavridou

Lovely story highlighting the treasures in sharing!

This is a cute story that highlights the true treasures in sharing with friends. Very good lessons in the this book

The Adventures of Oliver the Clownfish: Acting Cool by Stephanie Guzman-

What is Popular isn't always right!

This is a great book showing kids that being kind and accepting people (or dolphins) for who they are is more important that being "cool." Loved it! Read it with my 4 year old and he really enjoyed the bright colorful illustrations and agreed that he would love to have Dolly the Dolphin as a friend!

It’s Great to be Me by Melissa Ahonen

Such a wonderful self esteem booster for kids!

Love this book! The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and it’s such a fun positive read for kids. Teaches them to be proud of everything they are and helps them see the good in themselves! My 4 year old is always beaming when I have him repeat the affirmations in the book!

B Is For Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings by Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd.

This book is amazing! I love all the ways and examples the author gives that will lead to positive mindful changes for child mental health. The illustrations are adorable and I had a lot of fun reading this book with my kids! Highly recommend adding it to your library!!

ABCs of All That I Can Be by Alyssa Altamirano

Such an uplifting read for kids! So many positive affirmations for each letter of the alphabet! Loved this book! Had a great message and beautiful vibrant illustrations!! Very fun!

Quick Affirmations for Super Busy Teens by Kayla Yap

Everyone can use a boost!

Simple affirmations that can really help change a negative thought pattern! These would be great to read either all at once, when needing a boost or one a day. Wonderful for teens and adults alike!!

Snow in Vietnam by Amy M. Le

REVIEW IN PROGRESS

Snow in Seattle by Amy M. Le

REVIEW IN PROGRESS

Snow's Kitchen by Amy M. Le

REVIEW IN PROGRESS

Turtle Tube by Kathy Arnold Cherry

Very enjoyable read!

Brandon Goes to Beijing by Eugenia Chu

REVIEW IN PROGRESS

Brandon Goes to Hong Kong by Eugenia Chu

Fun Multicultural Read!

I loved reading this book! Loved that the Mandarin Chines language is introduced throughout and that the pronunciation is given in the preface also! Such a fun book about a boy who while in Hong Kong, sees (or thinks he sees) a magical Red Dragon. Love when education can be combined with entertainment! So we’ll done!

The Ghost of Morgan Gulch by Vickie L. Gardner

A Donkey Named Dave:Rescuing Not Stealing by Kate Patten The FRIENDSHIP Adventure by Carole G. Barton- Fun book full of adventure- great messages! This was a wonderful chapter book for kids! Finn enjoyed the lessons of perseverance and friendship and seeing Bruno overcome many obstacles. This is a fun read-a-loud family book. It teaches kids how to use various tools to overcome obstacles and fulfil their goals! We really liked it! The Heath Cousins and the Moonstone Cave by Eileen Hobbs This is such a fun read full of family, adventure and lots of excitement! Addie B. Visits her cousins shortly after their Grandmothers passing and while visiting they discover a magical cave. The adventure brings them all together on the journey of a lifetime! One they will never forget! This is a perfect book for kids ages 8 and up! Even as an adult I thoroughly enjoyed it! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series! The Secret of Dunhaven Castle by Nellie H. Steele This book was sooooo good! i finished it in 2 days which is no easy feat with my 2 crazy boys keeping me busy! It is about a woman, Dr. Cate Kensie, who is willed a massive castle and overnight becomes a Scottish Heiress. She also is given a timepiece, but shortly after finds out that this is no ordinary clock!!! Ghosts? Adventure! Excitement! A page turner that you will finish not long after starting! Highly recommend!

Ghosts, Lore & a House by the Shore by Nellie Steele Snuggle up with your favorite snacks and drink and enjoy this entertaining read! Love reading everything by Nellie Steele so far! This book definitely didn’t disappoint! It is about a mother daughter duo who lose their husbands in a devastating plane crash. They decide to start over in a new place and purchase a new home together. After moving in, they find out it’s a very famous house in the new town and appears in numerous paranormal ghost stories by various townspeople. Filled with a mystery that needs to be solved, treasure and maybe even ghosts… how could you NOT want to read this!! Loved it and will continue to purchase more by the author. On My Way Home by Joseph Trencher Wonderful book full of adventure! I really enjoyed this book! It is full of fun, adventure and suspense. It really kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what would happen next. A book that will capture young readers and turn them into people who love books their entire lives! Well done! Susanna’s Midnight Ride: The Girl Who Won the Revolutionary War by Libby Carty McNamee Usually, historical fiction is not my genre of choice. However, this book did not disappoint! I was pleasantly surprised! I enjoyed reading about the Revolutionary War and think this is an awesome book for young adults as well as adults! I felt like I was back in history experiencing everything as it was happening! Well done! Brave Kids: Short Stories to Inspire Our Future World Changers by K.J. Kaschula

Frog and His Pearl by Boyana Atwood This book is very cute! Wholesome Christian story with adorable illustrations and cute engaging story line . My 4 year old enjoyed it! Punk the Skunk Learns to Say Sorry by Misty Black Limits and apologies! It is so important for kids to know when to draw the line when joking around. This book is such a great way to teach this. I love that Punk decides he needs to let his friends know that he is sorry and he does it in such a fun/creative way. Love all of the stories in the season. The little animals are adorable and my boys always pick these books for bedtime reads. I Can … Calm Down by Becca This is such a great book for kids learning how to handle their emotions. I love all the real inclusive pictures the book shows and all the coping skills given to help a child calm down. My 4 year old really enjoyed it! Very helpful book for kids! Maya’s Big Feelings by Boyana Atwood Adorable illustrations! The tantrums Maya throws are very realistic. Unlike that Maya figures out a way to handle her feelings! This is a great book to help younger kids name emotions and will open up conversations about how to deal with these big emotions too! Teaches kids it’s ok to feel mad and frustrated but that feelings need to be handled appropriately A.B.C. Worry Free by Noel Foy Fear and anxiety can be so consuming! This book is a wonderful tool to help walk kids through handling those feelings! In the story, a boy named Max is stung by a hive full of bees. It is so traumatic for him that he avoids things he would normally love to do! With the help of a few good friends and the A.B.C.s Max conquers his fears head on! A- acceptance B- Breathe and C- change. Very helpful and relatable book!

Margo the Moose: Summertime Sensations by Sarah Ventura-Wright This book is wonderful because it really helps bring awareness to people who might have sensory processing disorder. Margo the Moose has a difficult time enjoying herself because the sand is too hot, waves are too loud etc., but it’s the help and a few supportive good friends she is still able to have a blast at the beach! Such a sweet book! Cute illustrations too! Nurse Bear Does First Aid by Marta Almansa Esteva- This book is so wonderful for young kids! Such a great book to be able to teach them about first aid! My 4 year old loved it so much! He learned so many valuable things: how to call 911 if there is an emergency, various medical tools, what to do if someone gets a burn, cut, bangs their head and how to wash his hands! Great addition to any household, school or doctors office! Little Panda and her Super Heart by Marta Almansa Esteva This is such a great book! I wish it was available when my son was younger before he had his 2 heart surgeries. All these procedures and machines terrified him. He had a great fear of the unknown and it was Soooo hard to find a book to explain everything to him and help ease his worries. This book does just that! Well done! Grandpa & Lewy: A story of hope and empowerment for children touched by Lewy Body Dementia by Jennifer Randazzo Beautiful Helpful Story! Grandparents are so special and this book does a great job highlighting how amazing they are. Having a grandparent with dementia can be extremely hard for kids to understand. This book hits home for my family. My elderly father in law lives with us and he has dementia. It can be very confusing for the kids and this book is such a very needed tool to help explain what is going on with grandpa. Love the helpful tips at the end for how to help a child cope also!! Grandma, It’s Me! A Children’s Book about Dementia by Y. Y. Chan This book brought me to tears because it hits so close to home for my family!Such a wonderful resource for kids with grandparents that have dementia. We take care of my elderly father in law with dementia and this really hit home for my family. Loved the illustrations and the kind, loving manner that everything is explained! Well done! Rainbows and Storms by Dr. Jennifer Jackson and Nisha Jaime My family absolutely loved this beautiful story! Absolutely wonderful journey where 2 heart warriors come together to love and support each other and create the most beautiful bond and friendship. They endure so many difficult obstacles together but come through stronger then ever with their beautiful friend by their side! Highly recommend! Meeting Exceptional Friends by Lindsey Larsen Normalizing Differences! Love this book that teaches kids so many important concepts. We are all created different and unique. Sometimes at first it may feel overwhelming or confusing for kids to understand why someone doesn’t communicate the same, act the same, or look the same. That is why this book is so important. It teaches kids that it’s ok to be curious and ask questions and also that sometimes the most amazing friends can be those that were born differently! Such a great book! Little Panda and her Super Heart by Marta Almansa Esteban This is such a great book! I wish it was available when my son was younger before he had his 2 heart surgeries. All these procedures and machines terrified him. He had a great fear of the unknown and it was Soooo hard to find a book to explain everything to him and help ease his worries. This book does just that! Well done! My Brain is Powerful by Lauren E. Munroe- This is such a powerful book for kids! It’s easy for kids to compare themselves to others and feeling DIFFERENT can sometimes make them feel uncomfortable. I liked that this book explained that we are all different and that makes us special. Loved the ideas included to help kids to calm down when they start to feel out of control. It is a great resource for all kids but especially those that are neurodivergent (adhd, autistic, etc). Grooty Fledermays Series Grooty Fledermaus Finds a Friend by D.L. Kruse This is such a sweet book of friendship and love! I adore the bond between Grooty and Katie! Such a fun series told in rhyme! Would be especially sweet for someone to read that has been diagnosed with cancer or another similar illness! Grooty Fledermaus and the Troll’s Tears Give everyone a chance! Very sweet story about "not judging a book by its cover." Grooty and Katie come across a troll along their adventures and despite his appearance they decide to give him a chance and make friends with him! Fun read! Grooty Fledermaus And the Dragon’s Dream Teaches kids to believe in themselves. My 4 year old enjoyed it. Great early reader! Grooty Fledermaus And the Unicorn’s Horn Spread kindness and love! Loved the idea behind receiving the unicorn horn for helping others! So magical and fun with great purpose behind it! Grooty Fledermaus and the Mermaid’s This book had a great lesson about being selfless and helping others. Grooty saves the mermaid's seahorse and the mermaid repaid them by giving a magic necklace to speed up Katie's healing! Love the Hope and escape that this book can give to children going through rough things! Very nice! Grooty Fledermaus and the White Whisker A little girl named Katie us to go in the hospital and can’t bring her friend (a cat) because animals aren’t aloud. She is very sad about that so Grooty decides to visit Santa and asked him to make her a kitty that looks just like him with one of his very own white whiskers. He embarks on a journey to Make this happen and it warms Katie’s heart to receive his thoughtful gift! Very cute, entertaining story with a good message of helping others when they are in need! Grooty Fledermaus And Grandpa’s Gift Lovely ending to a fantastic series! LLove how uplifting and empowering these books are for kids going through tough times! I think its such a wonderful ending too that Katie is able to help her grandpa just like Grooty has helped her! Very cute! Adalene Plays Many Ways by Erika Joy Sneath Great explanation of chronic pain for children that is easy to understand! Children often fear what they don’t understand, just as Adalene does in the book. As soon as her grandma explains what is happening with her uncle and his chronic pain it really helps Adalene see that her uncle loves her and wants to play with her more on the playground but has some struggles medically he is going through. Also a great book to teach how you can support others with chronic pain as well. We Find Joy: Cancer messed with the wrong family by Charissa Bates Love this book! Charissa Bates did an amazing job guiding children through a very difficult situation. This book will help give families HOPE! It will help them find the love and goodness that is all around them even though a family member has cancer. Beautifully illustrated! The author did an amazing job using her trials to help others Around her! This will be a wonderful resource for families!

Super Scar by Melanie Dana

I’m Basically A Unicorn by Melanie Hawkins Wonderful Inclusive read celebrating disabilities! I LOVE this book! I think its hard for kids to feel that they are different sometimes and its so easy for them to compare themselves to what they think is “normal.” This book is so amazing because it really shows kids how wonderful it is to be different and unique and relates that to them being rare unicorns! I adore how the illustrations show the child on one side and them represented as a unicorn version of themselves on the other. Wonderful booK! My Big Brother is the Best Brother by E.C. Creed Cute book celebrating differences between siblings. Even though her big brother is different, she accepts him and loves him just the way he is! Very sweet. Great for families, especially those with a neurodivergent child. This Llama Can Write by Patty DeDurr wonderful inclusive read! I adore this book! As a mom with ADHD that has a child with ADHD, these books are so appreciated! Loved the story and the illustrations are darling too!! So happy to have this book as a tool! You are Powerful by Rachel Catchings Very inclusive! This book is great to help children see that everyone is different! We all have things that set us apart. It will help kids to be proud of all that they are and also accept others and be empathetic! Bright colorful illustrations that capture attention. Ocular Octopus by Hanna Yeager & Hillary Yeager-David BCO This is such a sweet, inclusive book that teaches kids understanding in differences. This book would be especially empowering for kids with prosthetic eyes. Loved the illustrations! This Kid Can Hyperfocus by Patty DeDurr absolutely adored this book! Such a wonderful read. As a parent to a child with adhd and myself having it as well, I completely relate. The author did an amazing job conveying this! Hyper focus can be a super power! Love the pictures and story line! Well done Super Special Magic Shoes by Megan Marie Higgins Such an uplifting book that celebrates differences! Truly showcases how unique we all are. Such a comforting book to kids that need leg braces for improving their muscle tone, balance and strength! Also, a great addition to any library to teach inclusion and empathy! Darling illustrations! Adventures with Darian: A Pirate at SEE by J.L. Rames “The Bravest,Boldest, most Daring Pirate of all: one who helps others!” Such a wonderful book! Love so much about it! Love that it promotes disability awareness for kids with vision/eye problems! Also love how the true treasure that is highlighted is kindness and teamwork! Such fun illustrations! Great read! God’s Special Gift: A Special Needs Child by Colleen Keefe Faul- This book had me in tears. As parents, we often have certain images in our heads about our kids, and how they will be, even before they are born. We expect them to be born “heathy” and “normal” (whatever that even means). When I had my son Finn, who has a heart defect, it was very scary for my family. I have never been more scared, worried and challenged before in my life. Fast forward a bit… now I see him as the blessing he truly is. Just as this author says, these kids are born special and amazing just as God intended. This is such a beautiful book and will help a new parent celebrate their child calm their heart too! Such a lovely book!

The Elephant That Wanted to Dance by Despina Mavridou

Wonderful book about a little elephant that has a dream of dancing on stage but everyone doubt him. Mrs. Wildebeest believes he can do it though and tells him to follow his heart and go take some dance lessons. After working hard he gets on stage and falls in front of everyone. He still gets back up and keeps going though and in the end does a wonderful performance everyone is impressed by! Fun book, with great illustrations!

My hands are CLEAN, or are they? By Brenda Akwar Great to teach reasons behind hand-washing! This is a helpful book that will serve as a great reminder for why we wash our hands! It is explained very simply in the book so that young children can understand! My 4 year old found it interesting and liked reading it! I ask love that it is a bilingual book!! I Can… Calm Down by Becca This is such a great book for toddler/preschool age. It is perfect because it’s so easy to understand! So many great ways to calm down and help kids through hard emotions! Love that REAL pictures of kids from all different backgrounds are shown. Wonderful resource!

Eka and the Elephants by Once Upon a Dance Highly entertaining read! This book is so wonderful for kids that have a hard time sitting still! I love how interactive it is! My kids had a ton of fun reading this together and acting out the scenes! It also wonderful to practice listening skills and enhance body awareness! Such a fun, unique book!! Love it! Are You A Bird Like Me? By Noel Foy & Nicholas Roberto “The sky’s the limit!!” It’s an easy and natural to fear the unknown. But if we only stick to things we feel comfortable with we miss out on so much!! This book was a perfect to share with my kids and open up conversations about exactly that! Let’s Go Goose Goose by Vanessa Ireson This was such a wonderful read! It was created by a talented author that also did the illustrations. It is written in rhyme and was a pleasure to read to my kids ages 3 and 9. They learned about how the geese fly South for the Winter. The illustrations are so fun with bright, captivating colors. Rylee The Young Rocketeer by JoAnn M. Dickinson I adore the illustrations in this book! So eye catching. This book was so fun! Love that it’s entertaining and also teaches kids about different planets too! Great book to empower kids to find what they love to do career wise! Ninja School Rules by Kim Ann Such a great book to teach kids about mindfulness and the necessary skills needed to be a great ninja! Lessons in respect, focus, confidence and kindness are highlight in ed in this fun book! Buckle up: A Children’s Imaginary Journey about Self-Control by Stephanie Scott Wow! This is such a unique and helpful book! Really walks a child through handling various things that will come their way! The entire book is set up like we are driving in a car! I love all the clever analogies that the author made to help navigate the journeys they may face. While reading this to my 9 year old with ADHD it seemed to really calm him down and help him relax! Highly recommend if!

The Adventures of Bentley Hippo: Inspiring Children to Never Give Up by Argyro Graphy

Sweet book with the message of kindness and acceptance. This book teaches kids to love themself even if they are different. It was sweet how all the kids came together to cheer up a new friend that was in the hospital. Very kind!

Who You Are (Book I) by Jessi Hersey This is a wonderfully inspiring book for kids about following your heart to find your true passions in life. Bright, vibrant illustrations make it a wonderful eye-catching read for kids. Love that it teaches kids to find what makes them truly happy! Crosby The Not-So-Snappy Crocodile This wonderful story has a great message of being proud of who you are! I love that the story shows crosby’s internal thought process of considering to change himself like everyone else just to fit in. Those are normal feelings to have! However, it’s such a wonderful lesson that Crosby ultimately decides he is happy with himself and once he accepts that finds all sorts of special things he jcan do and talents that he has to share with the community! He eventually finds amazing animals to be friends with that accept him for who he is. I adored this book and thought the illustrations were absolutely darling as well! Highly recommend! Molly Morningstar: Molly on Ice by Andrea Coke Lovely book about the power of YET Love the meaning behind this book! Sometimes a goal we have might take hard work and practice! We might fall down and fail along the way but if we keep trying we can do amazing things! Such adorable illustrations! Very fun book! Listening Ears by Rachel A Walmsley This book is amazing! Sometimes, as a parent it’s easy to forget that kids need more then just commands. They need direction and help accomplishing things that are naturally difficult to achieve. I loved the creative illustrations in this book. It kept me “listening” and engaged! It was wonderful because it reminded me to look at things through a children’s perspective. This is truly such an adorable story and every parent and child could benefit from reading it!

Darby and the Dollberry Dare by Vickie L. Gardner A fun, imaginative story for kids that like adventure. A great transition book for kids before they get into chapter books! Entertaining book! Darby’s Polka Dots and Pretties by Vickie L. Gardner- this is a wonderful story teaching self confidence. Love the imagery the author creates in the book! Very fun and imaginative read! Darby Meets Tall Town by Vickie L. Gardner This is a great beginner style chapter book in a picture book format with lots of illustrations to keep kids interest. This book helps teach kids the importance of helping others. Ade’s Special Outfit by Monisola Komolafe This is a fun read. We all come different backgrounds, cultures, religions, etc. This book celebrates a little boy’s special birthday clothes, brought back from his nana in Nigeria. I like that it explains each piece of clothing he puts on and it’s also an added bonus that it shows the correct pronunciations too! There’s No One Just Like Me! By Krishana Johnson-James Wonderful story about how we are all unique in every way! We come from different places, like different hobbies and end up in different professions. This book is fun because it teaches kids that they too can write their own stories! Very inspiring and empowering I Am Remarkable: A Journey of Self Discovery by Ruth Nielson Wonderful introductory yoga book This book is lovey to introduce kids to mindfulness and yoga! All the messages are uplifting and empowering and I loved reading through the book and doing all the different yoga poses with my kids.

A Gift from Little Raccoon: A Pandemic Tale by Carolyn Watson Dubisch

Such a Heartwarming lovely story!

I love this story! Read it with my 8 y.o. And he related to it and adored it! The author seems to illustrate this as well and the illustrations are fantastic! What a great read!

Little Rabbit Discovers Spring by Cheryl L Jordan This is such a lovely book exploring all the joys that come during Spring! I love the sweet, wholesome illustrations and the way each animal describes what Spring means to them. Very cute book! Trumpet The Miracle Wolf Pup by Leocadia George This is such a gorgeous book! A tale of two wolves that fall in love and make a baby wolf. It is quite the miracle for the Wolf Conservation Center that they live at, because the wolf is an endangered species. Loved hearing Trumpet’s story and the reason behind his name! The illustrations are beautifully done and really engaging! Loved this book! Trumpet The Miracle Wolf Pup: Trumpet Grows Up by Leocadia George Loved this book! So relatable for kids. Told from a newly born wolf perspective. Everything is so new to Trumpet and its a blast reading along as Trumpet explores the exciting new world around him. The author describes all the new sites the young wolf takes in perfectly. I adore the illustrations too! Such a fun book! Tails from the Bush by Denise Lawson- Fun and interesting read with creative illustrations! It was wonderful to learn more about the life of a sled dog and what they experience in the Bush. Very entertaining for many ages! Maya’s Big Adventure by Boyana Atwood My family loved this book! I definitely approve! Great message to get out and experience the beauty of nature! When you stop and listen to the sounds, take in the sights and immerse yourself in the earth, it is so wonderful and healing to the soul! Darling illustrations and well written story! Summer! Time to Search for Food by Barbara Renner Wonderful book about Trumpeter Swans! Loved the illustrations in this book! They were gorgeous! Contains a wonderful lesson of overcoming fear and not giving up when trying something new! Cygie is nervous to put his face underwater to look for food but he figures out a way he can do it without getting water up his nose and doesn’t give up! Love the facts about trumpeter swans and bonus coloring pages in the back too!

Spring! Time To Build a Nest by Barbara Renner Interesting and Gorgeous book! This is such a fun book! Loved the gorgeous illustrations! Educational and fun to read! My 3 year old enjoyed it! Loved the use of descriptive words and onomatopoeia! We loved learning about how trumpeter swans create their nests!

Homes and Habitats: A Wild Wonders Book by Mary Sivertsen & Sarah Jacobsen Wonderful nonfiction book for kids! Such a fun, interesting read to teach kids about habitats. Loved looking at all the photos of the animals. So many interesting facts and I love the comprehension questions and activities at the back of the book! Birds: A Wild Wonders Book by Mary Siversten and Sarah Jacobsen I enjoyed reading through this book with my kids and learning all different facts about birds. Love the comprehension questions, and activities listed in the back too, what a great bonus!!

The Lollipop Fairy: A Sweet Birthday Tradition by Jana Anderson

This is such a fun book centered around a fun birthday tradition I had never even heard of! This sounds like something I will have fun starting with my kids. Bright colorful illustrations! Entertaining

read!

A Phone for Christmas by Talia Zales Wonderful, heartfelt book! I enjoyed this book so much! We all could use some time away from our phones in this era especially! Sometimes when we glued looking down at our screens we miss all the beauty around us and this book showcases just that! Sir Steve and the Christmas Dragon by Vanessa Ireson Fun and Unique Christmas Story told in rhyme!! Loved this Christmas book! The textures in the illustrations are so creative! Such a funny storyline to the book! I love that the bravest person in the book is a young boy! Such a funny story too! Highly entertaining! Bonus recipe in the back sounds fun to try too!!

The Dragon in the Closet: Book 1 by Carolyn Watson Dubisch Illustrations galore!! Engaging graphic novel! Loved this graphic novel! Comic illustration capture my ADHD brain and keep my interest! Easy to read and simple to focus on! Fun and adventurous story! Dubisch doesn’t disappoint with this one! Very fun read! Too Many Things to Tie Up by H.A. Harper This is such a fun book full of poems written by a child author! Loved reading through each of these! I’m so impressed by how well each of them is written! “Sideways Lily” was my favorite but each poem is adorably creative and fun to read! Magic and Memories: A Collection of Short Stories by Ann Parker This book is full of fun short stories! It’s also great for kids that are starting to get into chapter books! Would be a great book to pick from for a bedtime story or to have your child read while you are on a car ride. How I saved the Ants by Jyothsna Raju This is a good book to each kids about never giving up and not being lazy. Just like the ants taught Cheeku! When the Moon Came to My Room by Nancy Giangrasse Nancy Giangrasse The illustrations in this book are darling! Such a sweet book! It is about a little girl that realizes she was taking her mom for granted until she drifts off to sleep and has a visit with the moon. After the moon visits her and she realizes that the moon doesn’t get a break EVER, she decides that she wants to be more helpful to her mom! Very creative story. Such a sweet way to help kids realize how important it is to step up and help others!

Aspen’s Magical Mermaid Necklace by Melissa Ahonen Mer-mazing!! Fun read. I enjoyed the magic in this book. A little girl finds a necklace at sea and it’s gorgeous, magical even! Eventually the true owner comes forward and she is rewarded with a new necklace for returning it to the owner and keeping it safe. Lovely illustrations. Gingerbread Twins by Renee Hayes This is a definite favorite in my house! My kids love it and I don’t mind reading it either! It is super cute! Such a fun read! Wonderful vibrant illustrations! We also loved the adorable layout and illustrations throughout! It’s such a nicely put together book! My 3 year old and 8 year old both really enjoyed it! Definitely recommend! Oliver and the Wishing Star by Jen Decker

Love The lesson that this book give to kids. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side! Gratitude is so important and this book conveyed it very well! The story was well organized and illustrations were adorable! Highly recommend!

Queen Alora & the Springtime Dove by P.D. Brogden This was a gorgeously illustrated book told in rhyme. It has great examples of patience and also the importance of “grass is not always greener.” Sometimes we find what we are looking for right in front of our very eyes! Playing Neverland by Simona Nara Great imaginative tale! Love how the kids use their imagination in this book to make themselves characters from Peter Pan and Captain Hook. It was fun to read with my 4 year old. He enjoyed it! Andy! And the Pharaoh’s Cat by Carolyn Watson Dubisch Filled with wonderful illustrations and SO MUCH FUN! This book was so fun! Enjoyed reading it and the gorgeous illustrations by the author. A cat runs off with an Egyptian necklace and while chasing the cat to get it back, everything transforms into the magical world of Egypt. LOVED the ending of the story too!

Billy’s Magical Day at the Zoo by Karen Bailey- A trip to the zoo can be so much fun! This book would be perfect to read right before going on a zoo adventure! It would get kids excited about the trip and talk about some of the animals they can look forward to see together. Cute read. My 4 year old enjoyed it.

Butterfly Love from Above by Melissa Stuart

A little girl loses a special friend, a butterfly. For a while she feels very sad. One day she realizes that even though her friend is gone, she is always with her in her heart. She decides to find joy again and meets a new friend- a horse! This is such a gorgeous book for someone who is grieving. It approaches grief in a very gentle and understandable way for kids. I loved reading about the authors personal connection to the book in the back also!

The Cardinal’s Gift by Carole Heaney

Grief is a process and this book is a wonderful way to guide kids through it!

Grief after death is such an incredibly hard thing to go through. So many confusing emotions! This book is very necessary!! It shows all the various states of grief in normal every day situations that kids can understand and normalizes all the feelings they may feel. I loved how the author used a cardinal that kept visiting to get the girl up and going to school each day. It gave her hope and reminded her to keep on living. Absolutely gorgeous book!! Love it!

What Do You Do? By Everly Cade Loved ones may be lost, but they are not forgotten! I loved this book! Such an important book to help kids through the grieving process. I loved that it approached such a hard topic in a very gentle and loving way. There are many things we can do to remember and celebrate our loved ones-“planting flowers and trees” and “trinkets carried and hid.” Wonderful book to own to help families recover from any type of loss! Highly recommend it!

You Taught Me Love by Misty Black

Such a beautiful story told with so much heart. Wonderful conversation between mother and child about how much they love each other. I love all the comparisons that they use. They are so sweet and child-like and special. This would make a lovely gift. Loved the illustrations too!

When You Feel Better by Misty Black

Sweet, uplifting book for someone that needs a boost!

This book is such a heartwarming gift to show someone not feeling their best that you care! The illustrations are absolutely adorable! I love all the creative ways given in the book that can give the person receiving this book HOPE after recovery. Love it! And So Do I by Kristin Oakley

Sweet, endearing book celebrating all the joys of watching a child go through all life’s adventures! Such an a sortable book for a parent,grandparent, family member, etc. to read to a young child

Operation Nana by Kelle Lima & Operación Abuela: Un Plan Lleno de Amor (Spanish Edition) Family is so much more than genetics! This is the cutest book! I enjoyed reading it to my 3 year old so much. I loved the adorable illustrations in this book! The author is also the illustrator and EXTRA talented! Loved the vibrant colors and how each page is set up in an amazing amount of detail. Adorable characters that make up this wonderful story that showcases how sometimes the people we love the most may not be family through genetics but are definitely family in our hearts! The Mess by Alicia Smith Great tool for families Having to clean up can be frustrating! It’s hard for kids to understand why it needs to be done. This book discusses cleaning up in a simple, gentle way. Loved the watercolor illustrations! Love… is Everywhere: A story about seeing everyday love by Alyssa Londono This is such a sweet book that shows us how we can find love always! It is all around us! In simples things that make us happy- laughing with a friend, a warm bubble bath, spl no ashing with puddles, embrace from a grandparent! Love how the author challenges people at the end to find what love is to them! Perfect Valentines Day book but also great for year round reading! Oh, How Loved You Are by Melanie Hawkins Darling book celebrating mother and child! Very sweet and heartfelt story. Perfect Mother’s Day read. Beautiful illustrations showing the motherly bond between animal moms and babies. You Can Have your Cake and Grandparents Too by C.L. Holliday-Firmin Such a sweet book about a little boy that wants more treats but his mom says it’s “too sweet.” He hears his mom say the same thing about his grandparents and worries he can only have one of them as well! This book shares Al the true joys with spending time with grandparents. So much fun to be had and memories to be made! Very cute! Sharing Daddy by Roberta Borg Quality Time over Quantity of Time! This is such a wonderful book. It’s hard to be away from a parent when they work. Especially when they are a first responder rushed away to help someone in a time of need. I love how powerful this books explanation is for kids! As a mom to a child that has had 2 heart surgeries I know how very important doctors can be! They sacrifice A LOT so they can save our precious family members! Love the illustrations too! Highly recommend this sweet book! Super Max’s Hero Surprise by Heather E Robyn Great book for military families especially! Loved this book! It was so heartwarming to see her use her super strength from the mask her dad gave her to overcoming anxious feelings. I loved watching her dad (who got deployed) come back and surprise her! So sweet! Great book to open up conversations about our military and how much sacrifice they have to make!!

Pitter Patter the Pirate Hamster by Nikki Olsen This is a fun read with a cute ending. My 4 year old enjoyed it! He loved hearing about the adventure the cute pirate hamster went on and also really enjoyed the hamster’s photo at the end! Nana’s Precious Kittens by Diana Delrusso Cute stories for cat and animal lovers. It’s so hard to lose a pet, though it does happen whether we want it to or not. This book helps us see a silver lining even after the difficult transition of pet loss. Darling illustrations and engaging read! My Tiny Pet Elephant by Jessica Dailey Oh my goodness!! so fun! We had so much fun reading this darling book! The illustrations are cute as the button and we made big plans to have fun with our tiny pet elephant! Maria Wants a Dog: Maria veut un Chien by Brenda Akwar. Wonderful for families to read while deciding on getting a dog! I love that it’s a bilingual book and told in French and English! My kids liked trying to learn the story in French! The bonus page at the end with “Pet Ownership Rules” was a great addition also! Noah’s Wild Birthday by Christina Champion Fun book about a little boy that is obsessed with lizards and as a surprise he receives one for his birthday. After proving he is responsible, he finally get his very own leopard gecko. Loved all the fun facts throughout the book! My 4 year old really enjoyed it! My Very First Friend by Kristina Sheldon- This is such a sweat endearing book told in rhyme. Absolutely loved it! Pets make such great friend and share so many life experiences with us and the author captured this wonderfully! The author shred all Really enjoyed reading it! Very sweet! Growing Up With Love by Kate Moore Purvis I adore this book told in rhyme! Such a sweet story about how a little girl learns to be a good friend from her beloved pet. It was absolutely adorable how the author and illustrator portrayed the loyalty of the dog. Her dog was ALWAYS there for her- when days were good, days were bad, when she was sad, even when she was “bad.” I loved the way the author started and ended the story and how she tied everything together! Highly recommend! Marcus and the Milk Snatcher by Kaye Patten This was a fun read! Would be great for kids transitioning into short chapter books because its a bit longer then a lot of picture books! It’s a fun little mystery with a cute ending! Enjoyed reading it to my 4 year old.

Where Do Pirates Go on Vacation? By Kim Ann

A Pirates Life for Me!!

Love this book! It’s a joy to read to my kids. Makes the perfect fun story when there’s not a lot of time to read. Love the gorgeous illustrations and that it’s told in rhyme. Very cute!

Where Do Ninjas Go on Vacation by Kim Ann

This is such a fun book to read to kids before bed! It’s very fun and uplifting and my 4 year old is obsessed with the cute ninja characters! It’s great to get kids pondering and helps them explore their imaginations!

John’s Camping Adventures at Crab Run Beach by JoAnn M. Dickinson

cute book! Such a fun book with bright,

vibrant illustrations! My 3 year old can’t wait for our next vacation at Crab Run Beach he says!

Where Do Dinosaurs Go on Vacation by Kim Ann

This book is such a fun and easy read! Love the bright, vibrant illustrations. Always keeps my 4 year old engaged. He loves using his imagination and talking about all the possibilities of what dinos might do on vacation.

John’s Camping Adventures by JoAnn M. Dickinson

A Camping We Must Go!!

Love this fun book about camping!! So many family adventures to be had on an enjoyable camping trip! Loved the illustrations and the sweet story told in rhyme!

Winston the Traveling Dog goes to Egypt and Jordan by Cynthia Anne Finefrock

Traveling with Winston was a BLAST!

Had so much fun reading this book with my kids. They loved Winston and thought he was the cutest! I have to agree! So many wonderful, interesting facts in this book to learn about geography!

The Bakery Shop by Patricia Dunfrey Hoyt

This book is a great counting book for kids s! And who doesn’t love a bakery shop? So many yummy treats to look at! The perfect way to get kids that don’t love math to give it a try! Such a cute ending too, with the kids sharing their treats! Very fun!

Dilly Duck Plays All Day by Holly DiBella-McCarthy

This is such an adorable counting book told in rhyme! Love the bright colors and the illustrations really captivated my 3 year old! There is also a very sweet message of “things are better when we are together” that I love! Such a fun read! We recommend it!

Wild About the Alphabet by Mike Crowder

Absolutely hilarious ABC book!! Fun for all ages! My 9 year old had a blast reading it! I did too! We loved the unique animals picked and fun facts included for each. Wonderful vibrant illustrations make this book such a joy to read!

Ten Little Sand Pipers by Kim Ann

thought this counting book was ADORABLE and usually counting books drive me crazy to read. Love the cute little sandpipers and adorable story told in rhyme.

A to Z Animal Picnic by Kim Marie

I Can Use The Potty By Becca

This is an awesome tool for parents starting to potty train their kids! The real pictures of kids learning to use the potty along with the steps broken down simply and with easy terms is just perfect! Wish I had it when I potty trained my boys!

Princess Piper of Poopville by Jana Chesley.

Absolutely hilarious potty training book for little girls afraid to poop and flush the toilet! Simply genius way to get them excited to help Poopville out and not be afraid anymore! Love the call to action at the end of the book for kids to go potty on the toilet and help the princess and become a “Royal Pooper!” Such a riot!

Color, cut, & create kitchen scissor activity book by A&J Books

Activity book on steroids!

Combat boredom, spark imagination! This was so much fun to use with my kids! We loved doing all the activities inside. Perfect for a rainy day activity! Can’t wait to buy more from A&J books!

Effie’s Coloring and Activity Book by Jennifer Morhaime

This is a super fun activity book that would keep kids busy for a long time! Really enjoyed the variety of activities included!!

My Reading Journal by Y.Y. Chan

I absolutely love this reading journal! The layout and design of it is so incredibly fun! It include so many different worksheets/ways to reinforce and retain what has just been read! Highly recommend it!

Bilingual Alphabet: Portuguese-English by Kelle Lima

Tracing Numbers: ASL Handwriting Book by Kelle Lima. Absolutely wonderful! This creator makes brilliant workbooks! So much thought goes into each! My kids love them and learn while having lots of fun!

Punny Jokes To Tell Your Peeps! Book 9 by Lisa Ayotte

Lisa Ayotte has once again created a book that my kids can’t wait to go through and laugh at! So much silliness! Love her little peeps and the layouts she creates with each joke! So much fun!

Punny Jokes To Tell Your Peeps! Book 8 by Lisa Ayotte

Had so much fun reading through these as a family! Family favorite-“How do flamingos meet new friends? They Fla-mingle!” Punny Jokes To Tell Your Peeps! Book 5 by Lisa Ayotte My family can’t get enough of these fun filled books! They are such a blast to look through together! We pull them out when we start to feel a bit down from time to time and they truly lighten the mood! Laughter is the best medicine! Pray With Me: A Book of Prayers for Small Children by Boyana Atwood Absolutely adorable prayer book! This is such a sweet little prayer book for kids. i love that it gives Bible verses that are linked to each prayer too! Great way to introduce prayer to children so that they know they can talk to God at anytime or with any issue!