This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Riverlet Press. All opinions are my own.

My Old Friend, Then
Written by Katherine Davis-Gibbon
Illustrated by Allie Daigle
Ages 4 and up | 40 Pages
Publisher: Riverlet Press LLC
​ISBN-13: 9781737957607
Publisher’s Synopsis: A child ponders … who is her best, most loyal friend? Is it her constant companion, Then, who regales her with extravagant stories of their shared past and imagined future? Or is it precious, patient Now, with whom she sensitively explores each new moment that unfolds?

My Old Friend, Then explores mindfulness the same way that kids approach life: with curiosity, humor, and unspoiled sincerity. Pairing accessible and relatable language with vivid, quirky illustrations, this book invites readers to share in a young girl’s journey as she grapples with the trappings—and delights in the boundless potential—of her own brilliant mind.

Katherine Davis-Gibbon is a yoga teacher, a longtime practitioner of Vipassana meditation, and most importantly a mother of two. She is also the founder of Riverlet Press, a children’s book company for conscious parents raising mindful kids.
For more information, visit www.riverletpress.com
​​
Allie Daigle is an illustrator who strives to create immersive and expressive images that stimulate the imagination. Whether for a children’s book, a product label, or her original pieces, Daigle’s works implore the viewer to linger and explore the details within. Allie primarily works with traditional watercolor & ink as well as digital mediums.
For more information, visit www.alliedaigle.com.

No matter where a child’s mind might go—and goodness knows they go a lot of places—their body is always here. It physically exists in this space at this moment. Fortunately (if they’re enjoying some ice cream) or unfortunately (if they’re having a cavity filled), it cannot be anyplace else.

The body continuously informs us about the present through the portals of our five senses. If our thoughts tip us off balance—propelling us towards an uncertain future or dragging us back to the ruminative past—we can rely on the anchors of our senses to moor us safely in the here and now.

Each of our senses is a miraculous tool, but we are so accustomed to using them for mundane purposes that we all too easily take them for granted. It takes effort to dial the volume down on our thoughts, and up on our senses, but doing so builds a strong foundation for mindfulness.

A great way to hone one sense is through the deprivation of another. This is part of the reason why meditators often close their eyes: because removing sight heightens our awareness of smell, taste, touch, and hearing (hearing not only the birds outside our window, but also the thoughts that flow through our minds).

ACTIVITY: Isolating and exploring individual senses can be an extremely luxurious experience. Fortunately, it is also something that kids find fun! I can think of no better place to play with this than the sumptuous environment of a warm, silky bath, which naturally engenders relaxed attention (and is also very useful for getting kids clean).

Invite your child to lay back in the tub. You can support the weight of their head with one hand, if that helps (this tender act will instantly tune you into each other and highlight the collaborative nature of this exercise). As warm water fills your child’s ears, it will muffle their hearing, therefore heightening their four other senses. There are so many directions you can go from here, so follow your child’s lead.

Which sense do they seem most interested in?
If your child comments on how things sound underwater, then give them something interesting to listen to! Try tapping, scratching, or rubbing your fingers against the tub. Waft the surface of the water to make waves, or drip water into the tub from the tips of your fingers. Lower your mouth into the water to speak, sing, or blow bubbles. Be creative, spontaneous, and collaborative, but don’t rush. Allow your child plenty of time to experience and comment on one sound, before trying another.

If your child is staring upwards with a bemused expression, they might be enjoying the way that their sight seemed to sharpen when their hearing went dull. Offer something to look at—a sponge or toy up close, or a finger, hand, or elbow. They may find that their own familiar body parts look funny from this perspective or observe how the water alters or magnifies the texture of their skin. Encourage them to close one eye at a time or squint with both--or to turn their head, watching the play of the water’s surface from a zoomed in perspective.

If your child is comfortable closing both eyes, then focus on how things feel. Encourage them to notice every single spot where the water contacts or leaves their skin, and what happens when you create gentle waves with your free hand. You can dip your fingers into the water and release a single drop on different parts of their body. Or invite them to take some deep, belly breaths, so the water floods onto their abdomen and then flows away.

Noticing is the first step in mindfulness practice, and naming is the second. You can model this by naming body parts (“forehead,” “tummy,” “foot”) or qualities (“rough,” “warm,” “squeaky”), but keep your contributions sparse and simple. Alternatively, you can embrace the silence. If your child seems captivated and content, they are already observing deeply and well. Let them bask in their own rich awareness, trusting that they will comment when they’re ready.

Listen with interest to whatever your child shares. If a more extensive, fantastical narrative arises, then name it--as accurately as you can. For example: a toddler who dislikes the sights and sounds of water whirling down the drain will benefit from sharing the fantasy this sparks in their mind. Listen and empathize first, before framing this experience as “a scary story:” so you validate emotions, while clicking the details into clearer perspective. Afterwards, key them back into the present by making eye contact and appealing to their senses (“warm towel,” “slippery feet”).
    
If at any point your child wants to switch roles, by all means welcome this. Close your eyes while they guide your hand through the water or tickle your nose with the rough fibers of a washcloth. When your child takes the lead, it means they are eager to assimilate what they’ve learned.

Final Thoughts: Take these suggestions as loosely and liberally as you can: they are not offered as steps to replicate, but ideas to inspire your own creativity. Be in the moment and embrace what comes up! Remember: mindfulness is not an activity, but a mindset to bring to whatever you’re doing. Eating can be a mindful activity. Waiting in line at the store can be a mindful activity. Having a disagreement can be a mindful activity, if approached with good will and careful attention (yes, this one’s trickier). Any time your child accurately notices something that is happening inside or outside of themselves in real time rather than hindsight, they are already doing it. And every time you attune to your little one—whether in play, conversation, or in simple, sweet silence—you are doing it with them.   

This post is in partnership with The Children's Book Review and Kelly Tills. All opinions are my own. 

~ Ali Dunn, Me Two Books

Meow Is Not a Cat
Written by Kelly Tills
Illustrated by Max Saladrigas
Ages 4+ | 44 Pages
Publisher: FDI Publishing LLC
​ISBN-13: 9781736700488
Publisher’s Synopsis: Meow is definitely not a cat. Cats lick their butts. Follow along as this wild child’s unique way of following instructions ends up going a little bananas.
Meow Is Not Cat is a completely goofy story, guaranteed to make kids laugh. With a cynical cat, wild monkeys, butt jokes, and a banana cannon, even pre-readers will love shouting out their favorite parts as you read aloud. Nestled among the laughs is a lesson about how embracing a person’s different way of interpreting the world can lead to surprisingly good results —and bananas, lots of bananas.

Kelly Tills is the creator of her own uniquely shaped family. Kindness, neurodiversity, and potty humor are her jam. She writes silly stories for kids and believes even the smallest hat-tip, in the simplest of books, can teach our kids how to approach the world. Kelly’s children’s stories are perfect to read aloud to your little humans or to have your older kids read to you (hey, let them flex those new reading skills!). Either way, you’ll enjoy the giggles.

Themes: humor, neurodiversity, embracing differences

Meow is a child who sees the world differently. Sometimes those differences cause her teacher to lose patience. But during a trip to the zoo, Meow's unique ideas save the day. 
This book is a wonderful introduction to neurodiversity and reminds us all that being different should be celebrated. The humor in the story is just right for kids, and it's sure to make your littles laugh while they learn important lessons about acceptance.

Enter for a chance to win a copy of Meow Is Not a Cat!
Five (5) winners receive:

• A copy of Meow Is Not a Cat

Giveaway ends May 13, 2022 11:59pm MT.

 April 30, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT. Enter for a chance to win a Pega Sisters Goes to Camp or The Littlest Airplane prize pack!
One (1) winner receives:
The Pega Sisters Prize Pack!
Includes a signed copy of Pega Sisters Go to Camp by Brooke Hartman and MacKenzie Haley, your own pegasus plushy, Pega Sisters activities, stickers, and accessories to “glam up” just like Lilly and Filly!
One (1) winner receives:
The Littlest Airplane Prize Pack!
Includes a signed copy of The  Littlest Airplane by Brooke Hartman and John Joseph, a “build your own wings” craft activity, Littlest Airplane word search and maze, Littlest  Airplane stickers, a set of markers, and your own fox plush to take with you on all your flights!
One (1) winner receives:
A copy of Pega Sisters Go to Camp and The Littlest Airplane
Giveaway ends April 30, 2022, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

​ 

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and David Horn. All opinions are my own.

~David Horn, author of Eudora Space Kid

Eudora Space Kid: The Lobster Tale
Written by David Horn
Illustrated by Deven Hoover
Ages 6-10 | 88 Pages

Publisher: David Horn
ISBN-13: 9781736677421
Publisher’s Synopsis: Freedom for lobsters! The second in the Eudora Space Kid series: a hilariously funny, early reader sci-fi chapter book perfect for elementary-aged kids. Can Eudora and her best friend, Arnold, rescue her favorite lobsters from becoming the next meal at the spaceship’s New Year’s buffet?
Eudora is a normal third-grader who just happens to live on a 36 deck AstroLiner. In SPACE! As a math and science whiz who’s been adopted by what you might call . . . aliens, she has normal ambitions—like being the chief engineer on an AstroLiner. But when her favorite lobsters on board appear on the menu at Chef Franklin’s dinner buffet, Eudora and her best friend, Arnold, hatch a plan to break them out. Will they save their crustacean friends? Or will they end up locked in the ship’s brig? Again . . .​

 I'm excited to share my interview with David Horn. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, and a funny dog named Trixie. He is a huge science fiction fan and loves reading science fiction books from both the old and new greats. His daughters inherited his love of science fiction and love watching sci-fi shows like Star Trek, Babylon 5, Stargate, and Star Wars. The Eudora Space Kid early reader chapter book series started as funny stories he told his daughters at dinner to get milk to come out of their noses. He hopes your children love Eudora’s silly antics in space too and milk comes out of their noses too! For more information, visit https://www.eudoraspacekid.com/

​Where did you get the inspiration for the Eudora series?
It all started because one day at dinner, for some unknown reason, my kids asked me to tell them a story. They love books and reading, so maybe they thought they could get stories from me too? I’m not really sure. I’ve always been a science fiction fan, so I just started telling them a story about a girl their age living on this weird, but fun, spaceship with alien parents. I wanted the girl to be a positive role model, so the girl loved learning, but I also had to make them laugh. So… Eudora and her cunning plans!
​
What was your writing process like for this book?
The writing process for The Lobster Tale started during a subsequent dinner time. My kids asked me to tell a Eudora story again, but by then they would suggest things to me to include in the stories (kind of like writing prompts). And that night they suggested lobster.  So… The Lobster Tale.  Both Eudora books so far started out as storytelling improv comedy.

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
I like the optimistic feel of children’s books. And I like making my kids laugh. I hope I can make lots of kids laugh and interested in reading.

What are you working on now?
I’m actually getting the art started for Book 3.  That will be exciting!  We’ll get to meet some new shipmates in that one.

What is your favorite book?
The most fun and exciting book I have ever read is a Star Trek: The Next Generation young adult novel called Capture the Flag by John Vornholt. I thought that book was so exciting and the characters were so real, emotional, and colorful. My kids loved it too.

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Eudora Space Kid: The Lobster Tale and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!
One (1) grand prize winner receives

• A signed copy of  Eudora Space Kid: The Lobster Tale and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card.

Two (2) winners receive:

• A signed copy of Eudora Space Kid: The Lobster Tale

Giveaway ends May 11, 2022, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Bright Lights Books. All opinions are my own.

~Ali Dunn, Me Two Books

Oi Gets Lost
Written by Lorna Likiza
Illustrated by Yevheniia Melnyk
Ages 6+ | 124 Pages
Publisher: Bright Lights Books 
ISBN-13: 9781739985318
Publisher’s Synopsis: Set in Kenya, Oi is a naughty kitten who lives with his Mummy and siblings in an outdoor shed. Despite Mummy’s warnings, Oi has a tendency of wandering off and exploring. But one day, after nearly being attacked by a dog, Oi ends up in an unfamiliar neighborhood. And this time, he’s not sure he’ll be able to find his way back home…

Lorna Likiza is a Kenyan writer, tutor of French, and Founder of the Heroe Book Fair. Oi Gets Lost is her first published book. She considers literature as one of her passions and lives in Mombasa.

Themes: travel, adventure, friendship, celebrating differences

Get ready to set out on an African adventure with an adorable little kitten named Oi, who gets lost but finds friendship!

Even though Oi's mother cautions him about leaving the safety of the shed where he and his brothers and sisters live, the draw of the food at the local market is too strong. But one day, an angry dog turns his usual market trip into an exciting and sometimes scary adventure. During this time he learns how to hunt for himself, gains a better understanding of humans and even makes a new friend.

It's an excellent early chapter book with an interesting but gentle story perfect for the budding reader. Oi Gets Lost teaches that you can be friends with someone who is different than you, which is a wonderful lesson for all. It also gives a glimpse into the culture and daily life in Kenya. 

Enter for a chance to win a copy of Oi Gets Lost!
Ten (10) winners receive:

• A copy of Oi Gets Lost

Giveaway ends April 30, 2022, at 11:59 P.M. MT

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Purple Butterfly Press . All opinions are my own.

Enter for a chance to win!
One (1) winner receives:
A classroom set (30 copies) of The Kindness Machine will be sent directly to the winners' school of choice, along with autographed bookplates personalized for each student and the teacher.
Five (5) winners receive:
A copy of The Kindness Machine, with bookplates autographed by author Christina Dankert
The giveaway ends April 22, 2022, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Bruce Nemovitz. All opinions are my own.

Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Leaf & The Tree, autographed by Bruce Nemovitz!
Three (3) winners receive:
An autographed copy of The Leaf & The Tree.
​The giveaway ends March 7, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT
​

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review, K. I. Knight, and Jane R. Wood. All opinions are my own.

~Ali Dunn, Me Two Books​

Finding Family Treasure
​Written by K. I. Knight and Jane R. Wood
Ages 7 and Up | 142 Pages
Publisher: Melting Pot Press LLC
ISBN-13: 9781737337102
Publisher’s Synopsis: “Who are we?” Ms. Johansson asks her class of fifth graders. Her perplexed students soon discover the lesson she wants them to learn. While studying the founding of their country, the class is challenged to understand the melting pot that makes up the American people-both past and present.
With the help of a genealogist, students learn to navigate websites that introduce them to written records that have documented their families’ histories.  One by one, the young people hear family stories connecting them to America’s earliest immigrants and settlers. 
As the story unfolds, some personal conflicts occur among the students, long-standing family tensions surface, and intergenerational relationships evolve. Complex issues such as privacy, adoption, diversity, immigration, slavery, and antisemitism are addressed in an age-appropriate manner.
As a result of their research project, the students not only discover personal connections to the past but also, in some cases, to each other.

Kathryn Knight, who uses the pen name K I Knight, is an international award-winning Author, Genetic Genealogist, American Historian, Keynote Speaker, and Cemetery Preservationist. Over the last thirteen years, Knight has documented more than 20,000 hours researching the first recorded Africans to arrive in the English settlement of Virginia in 1619. Her passion is unrivaled and strongly evident in her published writings.
Her literary work includes Fate & Freedom, a five star – Gold medal historical trilogy detailing the lives of the 1619 Africans, as well as her nonfiction work, Unveiled – The Twenty and Odd, for which she was awarded the Phillis Wheatley Literary Award by the Sons and Daughters of the US Middle Passage. The mother of three adult children, Knight, lives in North Florida with her husband, Tom.
​
Jane R. Wood is the author of five award-winning juvenile fiction books where she weaves history and science into stories filled with mystery, adventure, and humor for young readers ages 8-14. Students like her books because they’re fun. Teachers like them for their educational value. Wood is a former teacher, newspaper reporter, and television producer. She has a BA from the University of Florida and an MEd from the University of North Florida. Wood lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and is the mother of two grown sons and five grandchildren.

Themes: adoption, diversity, immigration, slavery, and antisemitism

This educational chapter book begins with a class assignment to learn about American History and ends with a 5th grade class that are bonded by their collective stories. Through genealogical research, the students discover their families' pasts and how the past affects the present.  Interwoven into the narrative are historical facts about the founding of America. This book doesn't shy away from issues like slavery, racism, and antisemitism, but instead serves as a jumping off point for conversations with your child. The students in this story learn they are more alike than they are different, and the reader will learn this as well. 

Enter for a chance to win a copy of Finding Family Treasure, along with a 1-hour genealogy consultation!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• An autographed copy of Finding Family Treasure
• A 1-hour genealogy consultation with Kathryn Knight, a genetic genealogist, and co-author of this book. Knight will provide guidance to establish a genealogy line for the recipient’s family, tailoring it to their needs.

Four (4) winners receive:

• An autographed copy of Finding Family Treasure

Giveaway ends February 25, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Jeanne Walker Harvey. All opinions are my own.

~Ali Dunn, Me Two Books

Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas
Written by Jeanne Walker Harvey
Illustrated by Loveis Wise
Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 9780063021891
Publisher’s Synopsis: Celebrate the life-changing power of art in this inspiring and stunningly illustrated picture book biography of American artist Alma Thomas.
Meet an incredible woman who broke down barriers throughout her whole life and is now known as one of the most preeminent painters of the 20th century. Told from the point of view of young Alma Thomas, readers can follow along as she grows into her discovery of the life-changing power of art.
Ablaze with Color includes extensive backmatter with photos, an author’s and illustrator’s note, a timeline, and a list of sources and resources, which will be a great tool for parents, educators, and librarians. Perfect for Women’s History Month and Black History Month units.

Jeanne Walker Harvey has been a longtime docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Just like Alma Thomas, Jeanne believes that art brings us joy. Her other picture books include Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines and My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden’s Childhood Journey. Jeanne studied literature and psychology at Stanford University. She lives in Northern California.

Loveis Wise is an illustrator and designer from Washington, DC. They are currently based in Los Angeles and their work often speaks to themes of joy and liberation. Their work can be found through the New Yorker, Google, Adobe, and the New York Times.

Themes: breaking down barriers, art, real-life story, female empowerment                           

How does a young nature-loving girl born in the segregated South become the first African- American woman to have a painting displayed in the White House? Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas is a biographical picture book that beautifully answers this question.  Alma learned early in life that helping others is important as her family and community provided the education and support that she was denied outside of her home.  After her family moved to the North, she studied art and devoted her life to helping children through art education programs and opportunities. It wasn't until she was 70 years old that she switched her focus to her own work. Work that was inspiring, uplifting, and ablaze with color.  Whether you already knew of painter Alma Thomas or are learning of her work for the first time, this inspiring true story is a celebration of art, joy and determination.

This book was a joy to read and a joy to look at. The illustrations by Loveis Wise  capture the colors and happiness that are a hallmark of Alma's work beautifully.

Enter for a chance to win a classroom set of the picture book Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas!
Three (3) winners receive:
A classroom set of Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas, autographed and personalized for each student and the teacher by Jeanne Walker Harvey (no more than 30 books per set).

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Blossom Children's Media Group, LLC . All opinions are my own.

Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Friendly Bookshelf!
(7) Seven winners receive:

• A copy of The Friendly Bookshelf
• A copy of The Friendly Bookshelf donated to a library of your choice

The giveaway ends December 16, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.