Dad and Daddy's Big, Big Family

Dad and Daddy's Big Big Family

By Seamus Kirst
Illustrated by Karen Bunting
Release date: May 9, 2023
Length: 32 pages
Reading age: 4-8 years

Follow along as Harper learns how all these families are unique...and still part of Harper's big big family!

Harper is going to her first family reunion! She meets so many people. There's her second cousin Noah. And her cousin Lisa, who lives with her husband and step-kids. The there's Great Aunt Trudy who is raising her grandkids. And so many more! Dad and Daddy tell her they're all part of the same family, but they're all so different! And do families need to live together? Will she and Noah have to share a room?

Although I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you NetGalley and American Psychological Association, Magination Press for the opportunity to read this story. 

I love stories for children that involve other kinds of families. It is important for them to know that not all families have mom, dad and 2.5 children. In this family, there are Dad, Daddy and Harper. In this book they are going to Harper's first family reunion where she is going to meet all kinds of her extended family. I love the assumption that Harper makes that the family will all be coming to live with her. The only family she's known is her and her daddies, so it is reasonable for her to assume that the rest of the family will come to live with them too. Her daddy explains that families are like spider's webs that branch out and just keep growing. I love that picture! He also explained that what connects all families together is the love that binds us all. It is just a beautiful story about family. Perfect to share with your child and teach them about other kinds of families. 

The Rules of Magic

The Rules of Magic 

By Alice Hoffman

Ready by Marin Ireland 

Listening length: 11 hours, 58 minutes

My review 4.5 out of 5 stars 

Release date: October 10, 2017

Find your magic.

For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people's thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Yet, the children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the memorable aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy.

Alice Hoffman delivers "fairy-tale promise with real-life struggle" (The New York Times Book Review) in a story how the only remedy for being human is to be true to yourself. Thrilling and exquisite, real and fantastical, The Rules of Magic is "irresistible...the kind of book you race through, then pause at the last forty pages, savoring your final moments with the characters"

As someone who has never read (or seen) Practical magic, I came into this book with a completely fresh mind. I didn't know any of the characters or the premise of this story. I had only read the synopsis on the library website and thought it sounded interesting, so I borrowed it. This story was so much more than I expected. The beauty of Hoffman's writing, you feel what her characters are feeling. The pain of loss, the comfort and joy the siblings are able to find in each other. Even the squabbles that they have are all so very real. I love the touches of magic this book has without being a "magic" book. It feels like something that could actually happen, unlike other books with witches in it. The beauty of this family trying to figure out how to break this generational curse or figure out if that's even possible. It is something, that even if we can't directly relate to, we can understand. We might not all have literal curses, but we all carry around baggage from our families, generations of it. This book shows how we can slowly let it go... I just found that to profoundly beautiful. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright Creatures

By: Shelby Van Pelt

362 pages

Published May 3, 2022 

My review: 5 stars out of 5 stars!

“Remarkably Bright Creatures is a beautiful examination of how loneliness can be transformed, cracked open, with the slightest touch from another living thing.” -- Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

Love, love, love this book. My book-hangover this morning was well worth it. I stayed up hours past my bedtime finishing this amazing story. I also couldn't stop telling people about it, every time I had the chance. The idea of a book with part of the story from the octopus' point of view, just brilliant. Every word added to the tale and I was just living for these characters, wondering how they were going to get together, how their stories would become one tale. Now this book is sitting on my "to buy" list because I am going to want to read this again. When can I have an octopus friend?!

The Word Game

For overprotective parent Alyson Ward, any time her daughter, Lyla, is out of sight is reason to panic. So it’s a big step for her when she lets Lyla attend a sleepover at her cousin’s house. Comforted by the knowledge that her sister, Tricia, is the chaperone, Alyson does the one thing she never thought possible: she lets go and trusts that her daughter will be safe.

But Alyson’s sense of peace is short lived. When Lyla comes home the next morning, she reveals something that could tear apart not only their family but also the entire community. Now, Alyson and Tricia must confront their painful shared past as they come together to help a little girl who they fear might be harboring terrible secrets similar to their own. Will the sisters be strong enough to face their demons in order to protect the child, even if it means telling their most private truths?


I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

You get this story from four different viewpoints: Alyson, Tricia (her sister), Ida (Tricia and Alyson's mom) and Tricia's best friend Myah. I found the transitions between each of their stories smooth enough to understand. There are some books were it's very jarring going from one person to the next, this isn't one of those books.

This book was a little difficult for me to read. It deals with a helicopter mom who just wants to make sure her child is safe. When something happens at a sleepover (her daughter's first one!) she wants to make sure the girls are all safe. What Alyson's daughter tells her is something that could tear her family apart. I don't want to get into it much, but it was a good book.

What happens at the sleepover affects all the girls. The writer seems to have some kind of insight into the way that girls handle secrets. It resonated with me because I have three girls of my own. It was a serious book and quite deep for my night-time reading.

I can't really say much more without giving something away, but this was a great book. Not one I would ever read again, but it was one that I am glad to have read. This book is for adults only, it deals with issues that are beyond that of even a high school reader (in my opinion).

Caillou

All the Caillou books are copies were given to me in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Though the Caillou Books have different authors, they are all published by: Chouette Publishing. I recieved them in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley

Caillou and the Big Bully

by: Christine L'Heureux and Pierre Brignaud
Illustrated by: Francine Nadeau

Caillou is bullied at day care by a much bigger and stronger boy named Theo. Sometimes Theo uses his strength to get what he wants. Caillou is afraid of him. In this story, Caillou learns to stand up for himself and say no to bullying.

Bullying can start at a very young age and early interventions will help victimized children to feel supported and to stand up.

In this series, children will go hand in hand with Caillou to navigate their way successfully through various key developmental experiences of childhood. All books are written in consultation with early childhood specialist to ensure content accuracy.

I thought this book did an excellent job dealing with the bully issue. It's important that kids know how to react when there is a person doing things you don't want them to do, bullying you. It's also important to teach them to it early so they remember it. This is a great book for pre-school age children. It takes a difficult concept and makes it easy for kids to relate to.

Caillou: The School Bus

By: Marion Johnson, CINAR Animation
Illustrated by: Eric Sevigny

Caillou's friend, Sarah, gets on the big, yellow school bus every morning, but Caillou has to wait a little longer before he goes to school. He just can't wait to ride the school bus.

This is an adorable story about Caillou and how excited he is to be able to ride the bus. He is lucky enough to have an awesome driver who gets him a ride on the bus. I feel like this might be a disappointment for kids who might not have such an opportunity. Overall this would be a fun book to read to a younger kid though.

Caillou: Lights Out

By Chouette Publishing
Illustrations by: Eric Sevigny

A winter storm knocks the power out at Caillou's house. Caillou is confused when the lights don’t work. But soon the evening turns into an indoor camping adventure, complete with marshmallows roasted in the fireplace. Caillou is especially delighted when he gets to sleep by the hearth in his sleeping bag. 

I enjoyed the way this family dealt with a power outage. It can be such a scary time for little kids and I think this gives them more details on what to expect. Caillou was scared and his dad helped him.

Caillou: Emma's Extra Snacks

By: Ann Paradis  
Illustrated by: Eric Sevigny

In collaboration with the American Diabetes Association.

Caillou is confused when Emma is allowed to have extra snacks at preschool. He's even more confused when Miss Martin explains that Emma has type 1 diabetes. Caillou is worried about his friend and becomes very protective of her. But when Emma outruns Caillou in a race, he soon realizes Emma's diabetes isn't like a cold or flu. It's something Emma has to live with every day, and she's doing a pretty good job of it.

This one was wonderful. I love that they are taking on a tough issue like diabetes. It can happen to anyone and chances are someone in your child's life will have this illness. This book was real and answered questions in a way a kiddo could understand. I also really loved how worried Caillou was about his friend and how his fears were reassured when he was able to talk to her about it.

Caillou: Waits for Santa

By: Ann Paradis  
Illustrated by: Eric Sevigny
Release date: October 27

It’s finally Christmas Eve, and Caillou just can’t wait for night time. He’s planning to stay up all night to see Santa, but he finds this a lot harder than he thought it would be. And in the morning his stocking is full of gifts!

Yet another cute story about something kids are excited about. This story about Caillou waiting for Santa and telling his sister about him is pretty darn cute. I love that he imagines himself as Santa's helper. Adorable.

Overall rating: ☆☆☆
They were all good, but not great.