What better way to welcome back-to-school time then reading to your grandchildren. These four books will spark their imagination and inspire dreams of princesses, dinosaurs, stardom and adventure on the high seas!
My Little Princess
By JR Berry
Many little girls dream of being a princess. But what if it is hard to believe you really are one, even if your grandmothers insists it is true? In this book, a little girl finds encouragement and self-esteem through the mail from a loving grandmother. Each month brings a new package for the little girl from her Nana. The contents vary from a book and bubble bath to a complete princess outfit. Each gift is designed to show the little girl how much her Nana loves her and that she truly is a princess. The book’s underlying message of building self esteem in a young girl is very relevant in today’s world. This book would be a great gift for any young girl or a grandmother who has her own princess. Buy it here!
About the author : J R Berry, retired from physical therapy but still passionate to help others, spends her time using her talents to create and donate crafts and artwork to non profits. As a new author, she aspires to write books to encourage and inspire children and foster a healthy self esteem. She enjoys reading, drawing, bicycling, hiking, and kayaking and is currently pursuing a goal to bicycle in all 50 states. She is the proud mother of three grown children and a golden retriever. She currently resides in Bonita Springs, FL.
Tigers & Tea With Toppy
By Barbara Kerley with Rhoda Knight Kalt and illustrations by Matte Stephens
This is a delightful tale of Rhoda, who loves spending time with Toppy. He is not only her beloved grandpa, but also the world-famous wildlife artist Charles R. Knight! Every outing with Toppy — from visits to the American Museum of Natural History and the Central Park Zoo to tea parties at The Plaza Hotel with Toppy and Nonnie — is filled with fun and adventure.
Lovers of animals, art, natural history, and New York City will enjoy this loving and lively true story. Presented through Rhoda’s eyes, it celebrates the enchantment of scientific inquiry, a tender grandparent-grandchild bond, and the vision of a pioneering artist who opened our eyes to the wonders of the ancient world through his paintings of prehistoric animals. His illustrations will allow your grand to take a step into the past!
Included in this book are more than a dozen of Charles R. Knight’s original paintings and drawings, interspersed with Matte Stephens’s winsome illustrations. Your grand will love them!
Buy this book here! (Available September 25, 2018)
About the authors:
Barbara Kerley is a two-time Sibert Honoree whose award-winning biographies include What to Do About Alice?, The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy), Those Rebels, John & Tom, and A Home for Mr. Emerson, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham, and The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins and Walt Whitman: Words for America, illustrated by Brian Selznick. Kerley’s books have all been distinguished for their lively prose, meticulous research, and artistic presentation style. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
Rhoda Knight Kalt is the granddaughter of world-famous wildlife artist Charles R. Knight. She has devoted her life to promoting her grandfather’s work, and preserving his legacy. She lives in New York City.
About the illustrator : Matte Stephens is an illustrator and a fine artist, whose work can be seen in the picture book Mr. Flux, by Kyo Maclear, and on his well-trafficked Etsy site. He lives with his wife, their two cats, and two dogs in Peterborough, New Hampshire. You can see more of his work at matteart.blogspot.com.
The Greatest Adventure
Written and Illustrated By: Tony Piedra
Eliot imagines sailing wild rivers and discovering giant beasts, right there on his block! But he wishes his adventures were real. Eliot’s grandpa, El Capitán, once steered his own ship through dangerous seas, to far-off lands. But he can’t do that anymore. Can Eliot and El Capitán discover a real adventure together? Find out by following Eliot and El Capitán on their quest through the city.
The illustrations in this book are bright and appealing. The narrative is short and simple so a young child would stay engaged, especially with the fun pictures on each page. Viva the power of imagination!
About the author : For nine years, Tony Piedra collaborated with some of the most talented artists and storytellers in the world to help on films such as, Up, Cars 2, The Good Dinosaur, Inside Out, and Coco, as well as several of Pixar’s short films, including The Blue Umbrella. Now, he is taking those skills and experiences and putting them to use as an author and illustrator of children’s books. This is Piedra’s debut picture book. It will be released September 11, 2018. Order it here!
Lights, Camera, Carmen!
Carmen is a little girl with a BIG personality. She loves the spotlight and fame that comes with being an actress, and she only grudgingly shares attention with her adoring little brother, Eduardo – especially when the prize is a starring role in a cereal commercial.
Carmen and her family speak a mix of English and Spanish, inspired by the author’s loving exchanges with her father as a little girl. Carmen is encouraged to pursue her dreams, even as her attempts at fame sometimes end up with a big mess to clean up. The interaction between Carmen and her little brother Eduardo is realistic and endearing.
The illustrations throughout are bright and engaging and expertly capture moments in the family’s life – the way they stand, dance, and move. I especially loved Carmen and her mom’s purple hair. To buy this book click here!
About the author : Anika Denise is the celebrated author of four picture books, including Monster Trucks, Baking Day at Grandma’s, and Bella and Stella Come Home. A former one-girl sencación, these days, she enjoys sharing the spotlight with her husband, Christopher, and three daughters. Denise and her family live in Rhode Island.
About the illustrator : Lorena Alvarez Gómez is a freelance illustrator from Bogotá, Colombia. Her work reflects her interest in color language and her willingness to experiment with diverse techniques and concepts.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER – JEANETTE PERKINS
Jeanette Perkins is the grandmother of two adorable grandsons. She lives in beautiful St Pete Beach, FL. Jeanette is a new product reviewer for GRAND and is looking forward to reviewing lots of new and useful products for all us grandparents.
