Are your children familiar with the Peanuts gang? If not, it is your right and proper duty to introduce them to the humorous world of Charles M. Schulz. 

Andrews McMeel Publishing is taking on the mission of introducing a new generation to this classic comic strip. 

Woodstock: Master of Disguise shines the spotlight on Snoopy's faithful friend, Woodstock. 

In 224 pages packed with laughs, Woodstock: Master of Disguise revives one of American's iconic birds and provides children 8-12 with an age appropriate comic strip depicting friendship, frustration, and the backyard adventures of Snoopy's favorite little bird. 

​You can order your copy on Amazon for under $9.99 in paperback. This would be a great book for down time during the homeschool day. I can just picture my son curled up reading this during one of our "brain breaks" through the day. Use it during transition time from one activity to another. Each comic strip is brief enough to engage, and not overwhelm, struggling readers. It's a fun pleasure read.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Woodstock: Master of Disguise from Andrews McMeel Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
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I give this book five stars. It's Woodstock, folks!

Ashley Spires has written and illustrated an adorable, simple book with big impact and a message that matters. 

Who doesn't experience feelings of failure, frustration and insurmountable obstacles? 

The author knows this is a universal feeling and she does something amazing by not naming her main character but instead introduces her as "a regular girl". She could be any of us. We can all relate. This simple detail makes us root for her and (in rooting for her) we root for ourselves and subtly learn a life lesson in innovation. 

The main character just wants to build the most Magnificent thing. She makes plans. Her dog assists. However, when her plans go awry she has a decision to make. Will she quit her goal or succeed against all  odds? 

This is an excellent book for children and sets an exceptional example especially for young girls. 

Take a minute to watch the book trailer:

Aren't the characters just precious? I love her spunk. I have classified this book under both character and life skills categories because I believe it teaches the importance of perseverance, a crucial character trait that is very valuable in life. Perseverance and flexibility are life skills worth teaching at a young age and The Most Magnificent Thing is a sweet way of doing it. 

Order your copy on Amazon ($4.49 Kindle/ $15.18 Hardcover) and then be sure to check out the free Teaching Guide that uses the book to teach students (grades 1-12) how to identify and organize their goals, observe social barriers and push through, apply perseverance strategies, think creatively and operate like engineers. Assignments are created at different age levels and vary in difficulty. It's a very good resource for expanding the learning opportunity of this book.

The author also encourages children to create something of their own and invites them to use #makesomething to show off their creations.  

Disclosure: I received a free copy of The Most Magnificent Thing from Kids Can Press via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
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I give this book five stars

 Publishing has changed so much since we were kids. It’s no longer just about the reading experience, but how the experience can expand into your reality.
This is Sadie is a simple story written by Sara O’Leary and Illustrated by Julie Morstad. The quiet pace and the gentle whimsy of the illustrations lend themselves beautifully to a cuddle session on Mom’s lap.

As a mom of a Sadie, you need to know that the name is very common with animals (especially dogs) and so, finding a human character with this name in a children’s book was extra special.

This is Sadie tells the story of a little girl who has a very active imagination. Sadie is very creative and the books she reads become inspiration in her playtime.

The stories she reads and the worlds they represent provide a fun escape for Sadie as she pretends her day away.

It’s a quiet lesson in the value of story, imagination and the ability to self-entertain.

Beautiful illustrations move the story along and bring humor and depth to the text. It has the potential to be just a relaxing book that is fun to look at, but like I said at the beginning, publishing has taken a turn.

Push the story right on into reality and allow your children to become Sadie and play out all of her adventures themselves. Print out the free Activity Kit for This is Sadie which includes a fox mask, alphabet bunting activity, paper dolls and paper flowers.

If you have a child 3-7 years old, they will most likely relate to Sadie’s playful nature and her ability to turn the simplest things into pure adventure.

This book will be released May 12th, 2015. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon,Barnes&Noble, Indie Bound, McNally Robinson, Indigo, Powell’s.

Visit the Author’s Website at http://thisissadiebook.tumblr.com/ . There is a lot to see there.

Also, hop by Julie Morstad’s site at http://www.juliemorstad.com/

Disclosure: I received a free copy of This is Sadie from Tundra Books via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I give this book four stars, not because of quality, but because it’s a book I’d probably borrow from the library rather than purchasing. My youngest is 7 though, so perhaps younger children would be more likely to read it again and again.

In any case, it is an adorable story with fun extras that could keep little ones busy and teach them the value of using their imagination.

 When I was about four, I decided my name was no longer cool enough and I refused to answer to anything other than Snow White.She’s been my favorite princess ever since, but I never really saw any true similarities between her and myself . . . until I read Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs.
I’m a big fan of books that rework famous or well known stories. In homeschooling, books like these can be a great tool for talking about plot or perspective. Comparing the new version with an older telling demonstrates in a clear and fun way that the slightest changes can makes dramatic differences to the story overall. Comparing and contrasting two versions of one story can be an instant lesson, not to mention a fun game.

Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs by Davide Cali is a quirky and fun reimagining of the classic fairy tale story, Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs.

Instead of 7 hardworking dwarfs, this Snow White lands herself with 77 practically helpless dwarfs who need her to do everything for them from laundry to beard combing. Snow White’s daily task list becomes a mountain of demands that leave her in a state of panic and dread. Worn out and unappreciated, her downward spiral becomes especially familiar to mothers.

My children caught on right away saying “Mom, she sounds like you.”

What Snow White does next will have mothers and children laughing in their seats.

​I mean, this illustration says it all doesn’t it?

What mom alive hasn’t been there?

The vibrant, colorful illustrations of the dwarf’s environment play in sharp contrast to the simple black, white, and red of Snow White.

Don’t miss this funny retelling. You’ll adore the ending.

I give this story 5 stars.

This book releases on April 14th, 2015 but you can pre-order your copy of Snow White and The 77 Dwarfs on Amazon or Barnes&Noble.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs from Random House of Canada Limited via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.