amessageinablog

We Care: A First Conversation About Justice

2024-05-09T07:23:36-04:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 13.99

Based on the research that race, gender, justice, and other important topics should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud series offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way.

Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism, this topic-driven picture book offers clear, concrete language and compelling imagery to introduce the concept of justice. This book aims to ground the idea of justice within the responsibilities and benefits of being part of a healthy community.

While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about tough issues from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.

These books offer a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.

A Happy Place

2024-01-30T13:51:49-05:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 24.99

The Good Luck Book

2023-11-15T12:48:14-05:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 29.99

Ever wondered why we knock on wood, cross our fingers, or say “white rabbits” on the first day of the month? Dive in and learn about fascinating traditions and superstitions from all over the world!

The Good Luck Book explores the surprising - and sometimes scary - history of the world’s most practiced traditions and superstitions (and plenty more that you probably won’t have heard of!). Discover superstitions old and new from China to Chile, the USA to the Ukraine. Learn how and why they started, and why people still participate in them today.

Featuring fascinating topics, including animals, nature, sport, life events, the human body, and lucky locations, The Good Luck Book is packed with bold original illustrations, fun facts, and the origin stories behind rituals and superstitions. Ideal for young readers curious about world culture and why we do the things we do, this colorful and charming book will amaze and entertain.

My Family, Your Family

2023-11-15T12:43:04-05:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 26.95

There is no one way to have a family and no right way to be a family.

My Family, Your Family is a powerful non-fiction book that focuses on what makes a family, explores how different families come together and celebrates the idea that every family is unique.

Specifically written by producer, educator and consultant, Laura Henry-Allain, My Family, Your Family aims to help children and adults have meaningful discussions on family and belonging in an accessible and approachable way.

Goodbye: A First Conversation About Grief

2023-11-02T11:16:17-04:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 13.99

Out of the Blue

2023-09-26T20:56:22-04:00

Vendor: Raincoast Books
Type: Book
Price: 24.99

This picture book about a boy who overcomes his fear of being different is a celebration of diversity, acceptance, and pride, perfect for fans of Julian is a Mermaid.

In a very blue house, on a very blue street, in his very blue bedroom, sits a little boy who's feeling very blue. He has a secret: he loves the color yellow. And in a world where only blue is allowed, he knows in his heart that loving a different color must be bad.

Can the boy find the courage to share his true self with his dad? Can the world see the benefits of letting everyone love any color they want to?

A stunning celebration of being yourself and living in ALL the colors of the rainbow, from debut author Robert Tregoning and rising star illustrator Stef Murphy.

Robert Tregoning studied at the Glasgow School of Art before leaping in to a career on the West End stage. He has appeared in stage shows including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Academy Award Winner Sam Mendes, and the Royal Shakespeare Company's Matilda the Musical. As an LGBTQ+ writer, Robert hopes to help children and adults alike to accept and celebrate all that makes us uniquely ourselves. The stories Robert writes are stories he wishes he could have read as a child. He hopes they provide a voice of recognition, validation and kindness to those who need it.

Stef Murphyis a freelance illustrator and storyteller living in London. She loves drawing animals and making up stories, and she has illustrated books including The Fire Fox by Alexandra Page. Out of the Blue is her first book for Bloomsbury.

Team Brain

2023-07-17T10:31:31-04:00

Vendor: Nimbus Publishing
Type: Book
Price: 16.95

Meet Team Brain! Have you or someone you know ever had such big feelings that you lose all control? Team Brain is here to explain some of the inner workings of your mind and give you some tools to handle the stress storms of daily life.

A playful take on introducing children to the stress cycle and the 3 F's: flight, fight, freeze and how important it is to build tools and skills for emotional regulation.

Identifying our feelings and knowing what to do when we have those feelings (emotional regulation) is one of those things in life that takes a bit of consistency and practice to work well. Kids tell me that practicing social emotional tools like breathing is 'boring' 'pointless' 'a waste of time'....

The goal of this book is to show children why learning tools is important BUT also how it can be super fun!! I also discovered when you teach kids a little bit about brain science they are more willing to give practicing tools a whirl.

The Adventures of Team Brain is a playful take on brain science and how emotional regulation works. It encourages children to become superheroes in their own emotional regulation story!

Written by Tara Gratto and Illustrated by Jerome Cabantan

Serge the Snail Without a Shell

2023-07-17T10:28:56-04:00

Vendor: Nimbus Publishing
Type: Book
Price: 14.95

The whimsical debut picture book by two celebrated novelists about a slug, desperate to fit in at all costs, and the adventure he embarks upon to learn that maybe being yourself is best of all!

Serge was a snail without a shell.
His mum and his dad were shell-less as well.
“You’re no more than a SLUG!” the snails at school taunted.
I wish I had a shell. It was all that Serge wanted.

Serge is not like the snails at school. They call him a horrible name—slug—and even though that’s entirely what he is, he wishes for a shell of his own.

Feeling like an outcast, Serge sets off on a solo adventure in search of the elusive shell that will make a perfect home—and make him just like everybody else. After some much-needed advice from his friend Fish, he finds himself at the ocean, where many options await: “Big shells and teeny shells/ All the in-betweeny shells/ Pyramid and swirly shells/Altogether curly shells!”

But can Serge find the perfect shell, or is he destined to be different forever?

A charming, lyrical story with bouncy text, whimsically illustrated by artist Andrea Blinick, Serge the Snail Without A Shell puts a modern twist on a tale as old as time: trying to fit in at all costs, before realizing that maybe being yourself is best of all.

Any Body - A Comic Compendium of Important Facts & Feelings About Our Bodies

2023-06-27T12:24:07-04:00

Vendor: Firefly Books
Type: Book
Price: 21.99

An honest, humorous and factual book for children and early teens who want to understand and feel at home with their own bodies.

Sometimes we feel uncomfortable in our own skin, sometimes invincible. Expert Katharina von der Gathen's many years of experience working with children as a sex educator are the basis for this witty encyclopedia covering interesting facts about skin, hair and body functions alongside the questions that may affect us through puberty and beyond-gender identity, beauty, consent, self-confidence, how other people react and relate to us, and how they make us feel.

With accessible and warm text, Any Body gently acknowledges common feelings of ambivalence about our bodies. Through showing body diversity and positivity, it encourages acceptance of self and others. The illustrations are relatably funny and include charts, cartoons and more-even a handy page of visual compliments.

This compendium is an encouraging starting point for conversations with children navigating puberty and laying the foundations for body acceptance in a straightforward and highly entertaining way.

Translated from the German edition by Shelley Tanaka.

We Share this School - a Community Book

2023-06-13T13:00:17-04:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 12.49

A rhyming, heartfelt celebration of school communities and the vital role they play in young children’s lives.

This formative board book is an appreciation of school communities and the many ways in which they help develop empathy, compassion, and collective responsibility. Through a handful of specific yet universal school scenarios, young readers will understand what it means to be a part of a school community and celebrate how to share with and care for one another.

My Brain is Magic - a Sensory Seeking Celebration

2023-05-16T13:51:23-04:00

Vendor: Firefly Books
Type: Book
Price: 24.99

Is your brain magic? Whether your brain buzzes around the room like a bee or tells you to be loud and roar like a lion, celebrate the many things that it can be!

This sensory-seeking celebration shines a light on neurodiversity and sensory processing in a fun and action-packed way for all children to enjoy.

by Prasha Sooful (Author), Geeta Ladi (Illustrator)

The Mystery of the Golden Feather A Mindful Journey Through Birdsong

2023-05-16T10:51:37-04:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 24.49

The One Who Loves You the Most

2023-04-20T16:10:43-04:00

Vendor: Raincoast Books
Type: Book
Price: 26.99

I have never felt like I belonged to my body. Never in the way rhythm belongs to a song or waves belong to an ocean.
It seems like most people figure out where they belong by knowing where they came from. When they look in the mirror, they see their family in their eyes, in their sharp jawlines, in the texture of their hair. When they look at family photos, they see faces of people who look like them. They see faces of people who they'll look like in the future.
For me, I only have my imagination.
But I'm always trying.

Twelve-year-old Gabriela is trying to find their place in the world. In their body, which feels less and less right with each passing day. As an adoptee, in their all-white family. With their mom, whom they love fiercely and do anything they can to help with her depression. And at school, where they search for friends.

A new year will bring a school project, trans and queer friends, and a YouTube channel that help Gabriela find purpose in their journey. From debut author medina comes a beautifully told story of finding oneself and one's community, at last.

Hello, World! Birds

2023-04-20T12:31:33-04:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 12.99

Hello, World! Backyard Bugs

2023-04-20T12:31:33-04:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 12.99

Hello, World! My Body

2023-04-20T12:31:32-04:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 10.99

Emoji Eco-Cutter Collection

2023-04-12T12:12:07-04:00

Vendor: CJ Eco-Play
Type: Toys
Price: 35.00

This collection consists of 10 different emotion cutters.

Made from: All cutters are ethically made from starch raw materials which are eco-friendly and 100% biodegradable. All cutters are made with non-toxic materials and are food safe.

Size: 8-10 cm

How to clean: Store out of direct sunlight, or high temperature areas. DO NOT put in dishwasher. Wash with cold water

Durability: To prolong the life of your biodegradable ECO-Cutters avoid leaving them in direct sunlight or moisture.

These cutters can be used with clay, playdough, as a cookie cutter or even in sand.

Recommended age: 3 years +

Made in Canada

MODERN RASCALS AGE RECOMMENDATION

(Manufacturer Safety Rating of 3+)

Every Body - a Celebration of Diverse Abilities

2023-04-01T16:33:08-04:00

Vendor: Penguin Random House
Type: Book
Price: 24.99

Join this photographic celebration of differing physical and neurological abilities from a National Geographic photographer.

We have different ways to move around.

Celebrating children of different abilities, this photographic book presents large, clear images of children moving around their community, using scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, and more. The text presents their experiences navigating the world, from the park to the beach, in simple relatable language. Every Body celebrates children with varying abilities, covering neurological differences, physical differences, and health challenges.

The book includes contributions from internationally-known disabilities activist Judith Heumann whose work is profiled in the oscar-nominated Netflix documentary Crip Camp.

Shelley Rotner, a National Geographic photographer and prolific children's author, applies her trained eye for crisp details in this latest book for young readers.

Poppik Discovery Poster - Human Body

2023-04-01T09:44:17-04:00

Vendor: Poppik
Type: Book
Price: 25.00

An exciting fun activity! With this poster, children are fascinated by the human body and its functioning: organs, vitals, the particularities of the body... Contains 1 poster (100 x 68 cm) and 48 repositionable stickers. The poster is printed in French on the front and English on the back. Made with mixed paper from PEFC responsible sources. Recommended age 4+.

Illustrations by Woo Joo Jang. Designed in France and made in the EU

Poster printed on both sides (1 side in French, 1 side in English). With this game, the children are passionate about the human body and how it works: the organs, the vital functions, the particularities of the body... The children stick the stickers on the giant poster, and thus reconstitute a very beautiful poster for the bedroom. Contains: 1 educational poster (1 mx 68 cm) and 48 repositionable stickers.

Designed in France and made in the E.U.

The Tray of Togetherness - a Lunar New Year Celebration

2022-12-21T17:43:23-05:00

Vendor: Owl Kids
Type: Book
Price: 19.95

A delicious ode to food, family, and togetherness that celebrates Lunar New Year

A little girl and her family are hosting a New Year party, an event marking the Lunar New Year. There’s a lot to do before the guests arrive! First, a trip to the market to fill up the Tray of Togetherness, a special candy box for the partygoers. Each of the eight lucky snacks in the Tray has an auspicious meaning: peanuts for a long life, pistachios for happiness, candied coconut for strong family ties…As the family returns home, they pass out delicious good wishes to the friends and neighbors they meet along the way.

After the tray has been prepared and the decorations set up, it’s time for the party! A diverse group of relatives and friends gathers, ready to celebrate the New Year with the Tray of Togetherness.

This sensory, food-focused story is brought to life with eye-catching illustrations and a little girl’s cheerful narration. Debut author/illustrator Flo Leung encourages readers to explore culturally specific Lunar New Year practices, while offering a universal message about carrying on traditions and creating community.

Beautiful You, Beautiful Me

2022-12-21T17:41:30-05:00

Vendor: Owl Kids
Type: Book
Price: 19.95

A child who looks different from her mother finds beauty and belonging in this new book from the creator of the New York Times bestseller I Sang You Down from the Stars

Izzy’s favorite place to be is in Mama’s arms—skin to skin, safe and warm. One night, cuddled up on Mama’s lap, Izzy notices something she’s never noticed before: her skin is the color of chocolate, but Mama’s skin is the color of sand.

When Izzy realizes she’s different from Mama in other ways, too, she feels sad and confused. She wants to be beautiful like Mama! But Mama addresses Izzy’s disappointment with a gentle, loving refrain: You’re part of me, and I’m part of you. I’m beautiful like me, and you’re beautiful like you. Finding lessons from nature and repeating her affirming message, Mama encourages Izzy to see her own unique beauty.

This story about a multiracial child navigating identity and belonging draws from author Tasha Spillett-Sumner’s own experience growing up as an Afro-Indigenous girl. Lyrical text and warm, lively illustrations show Izzy’s journey as she learns to celebrate the differences that make her uniquely beautiful, and the connection to her mother that transcends physical traits.

While We Wait

2022-12-21T17:40:34-05:00

Vendor: Owl Kids
Type: Book
Price: 19.95

A gentle play on patience while a boy and his grandma knit the perfect gift

A boy and his grandmother are waiting for … something. While they wait, they sit and knit, they stretch, they rock, they dance, they snack, and they talk. But still, time passes slowly.

As the hours go by, they fill the day together. They sit and knit and wait. Until—it’s finally time! The long wait is over when the boy’s parents come home with a special arrival. We see what the boy and his grandma have been creating together: a handmade gift for the newest member of their family, created with love.

With a soft color palette and simple, lyrical text lending a rhythmic beat, While We Wait is a sweet lesson in patience that shows some things are well worth the wait.

Usha and the Stolen Sun

2022-12-21T14:59:04-05:00

Vendor: Owl Kids
Type: Book
Price: 19.95

Usha lives in a town where the sun hasn’t shone for as long as anyone can remember. Only her grandfather remembers its brilliance and tells Usha stories about the time before other people took the sun away, building a wall to keep it all to themselves. So Usha decides to do something and sets off in search of the sun.

When at last Usha reaches the wall, she tries to kick it down, climb it, yell her way through it—but the bricks don’t budge. It’s only after remembering her grandfather’s words and hearing voices on the other side of the wall that cunning Usha changes her plan to make sure her voice is heard. She shares her grandfather’s stories, even the ones that rightfully make her angry, and piques the curiosity of the people on the other side until they are inspired to remove the bricks, one by one to better hear what Usha has to say.

Because Usha didn’t give up, they bring the wall down.

Inspired by the idea of civil discourse, this book offers a timely message of communication and compassion.

I Sang You Down From the Stars

2022-12-21T14:56:57-05:00

Vendor: Owl Kids
Type: Book
Price: 19.95

A New York Times and CBC Books bestselling #OwnVoices love letter from an Indigenous mother to her new baby, new from celebrated author Tasha Spillett-Sumner and 2021 Caldecott winning illustrator Michaela Goade, that honors the beauty of a little one's arrival

Drawing from Indigenous creation stories and traditional teachings and illustrated in dazzling watercolors, I Sang You Down from the Stars is a tribute to the bond between mother and child.

The narrator gathers gifts for a medicine bundle in anticipation of her baby’s birth; a fluffy white eagle plume, bunches of cedar and sage, a quilted star blanket, and a small stone from the river. When the baby arrives, the mother shares the bundle with her child and reveals the importance of each item inside. But when her family comes to meet the new arrival, she realizes the baby arrived with gifts of its own and that the baby is also a sacred bundle: a baby bundle.

Writing in simple, lyrical text, author Tasha Spillett-Sumner draws from her cultural heritage in order to celebrate Indigenous traditions and the universal nature of a mother’s love, with stunning art by the 2021 Caldecott medal winner for We Are Water Protectors, Michela Goade.

The Sour Cherry Tree

2022-12-21T14:55:15-05:00

Vendor: Owl Kids
Type: Book
Price: 19.95

A heartwarming look at love, loss, and memorable objects through the eyes of a child by critically-acclaimed creators Naseem Hrab and Nahid Kazemi

"Deeply evocative ... A beautifully poignant celebration of memories of a loved one that live on in those that remain." — Kirkus Reviews – STARRED REVIEW

After her grandfather’s death, a young girl wanders through his house. As she tours each room, the objects she discovers stir memories of her grandfather—her baba bozorg. His closet full of clothes reminds her of the mints he kept in his pockets. His favorite teacup conjures thoughts of the fig cookies he would offer her. The curtains in the living room bring up memories of hide-and-seek games and the special relationship that she and her baba bozorg shared, even though they spoke different languages.

The Sour Cherry Tree is an authentic look at death and loss centred on the experiences of a child, both strikingly whimsical and matter-of-fact. Drawing on the Iranian-Canadian author’s childhood memories, this tender meditation on grief, love, and memory is at once culturally specific and universally relatable.