What Would YOU Do with Three Wishes? -- See What Rabbit Does with His Wishes in the New Children's Picture Book, "Wish" by Chris Saunders, Available Now! (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

Buy now in hardcover from Amazon for only $12.29

If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for?  Well, this is the predicament Rabbit is in.  He is granted, not just one, but three wishes, and turns to his forest friends, Bear, Fox and Mouse, to help him decide what to wish for.  

What is so charming and magical about this cute new picture book by Chris Saunders is that Rabbit ends up using his wishes to grant wishes for his friends.  This shows how selfless and kind Rabbit is, and how much is friendships mean to him. 

My girls and I really enjoyed this book, especially the illustrations which are playful and really do a great job at bringing this story to life.  They had no idea that Rabbit would use his three wishes on his friends, and not think of himself, as he has never had  a wish before.  But, once they saw Rabbit using granting his friends their wishes, they found themselves thinking to themselves what they would do if they were given three wishes.  Like Rabbit, they found themselves having a hard time thinking about what to wish for, and then they started to think about wishes that would benefit others.  My oldest daughter said she would wish for a few of my close friends who are battling cancer to be healthy again, my youngest who knows I had cancer wanted to wish that I would never get sick again, and then the third wish they said, they would give to someone else who really needed it.  

I really loved hearing the girls talk about wishes and what they would do if they were granted three wishes.  Books like this not only spark a child's imagination, but also have them think about their life, the people they have in their lives, and how very special they are.  They are also reminded of just how wonderful their life is, and how they can't take things for granted.  If you were given three wishes, would you use them for yourself, or do something special for your family and friends?

Wondering what wishes Rabbit granted his friends?  You will just have to pick up the new children's picture book, "Wish" to find out for yourself. This is one of those books your will enjoy reading time and again with your kids, and that will become a staple at bedtime.  We can't get enough of this book, and know you will love it, too!

More about this book:

"Rabbit has never had a wish before; but one day he gets not just one, but three! Wish is a touching story about the power of kindness and the magic of friendship, with beautiful and emotive illustrations from Chris Saunders.

Once every year wishes take flight,
filled with hope and twinkling light.
They dance in the air, with a swirl and a swish,
you have to be lucky to be chosen by a wish.

Rabbit cannot decide what to wish for, so he asks his friends Mouse, Fox and Bear what they would do if they had a wish. Being selfless and kind, Rabbit grants all three wishes to his friends. They are so grateful for his kindness and generosity, they share their wishes with him."

Format: Hardback, 32 Pages

ISBN: 9781786033468

Illustrations: color illustrations

Size: 9.3 in x 11.4 in / 236.22 mm x 289.56 mm

Published: March 14, 2019

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About the Author:

Chris Saunders is a freelance illustrator who received an Illustration BA Honours Degree (First Class) from the University of Northampton. He was awarded the 2010 e-Creative nomination for new talent in the field of illustration. Chris lives in Bishop Auckland, in the northeast.


Disclosure:  I was sent a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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Kids Will Love These Two Interactive Sound Books That Introduce Them to Brass Bands and Orchestras (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent review copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

I homeschool my girls and are always looking for fun books to share with them, that will introduce them to something they are not familiar with, or to compliment what we are learning or have learned during our studies.  So, when I saw the "Poppy" sound book series on the Quatro Knows website a couple months back, I had to reach out to the publisher and see about getting my hands on copies of these sound books to share with my girls, and you all.  

A couple weeks ago, these books arrived at our door, and were an instant hit with my girls.  Even before we sat down to read these small hardcover books, they went to town pushing the 16 buttons to hear the different instrument sounds.  They both thought this was the coolest thing, and were really getting in to the music.  But, it got even better when I sat down to read these cute books to them, and we all learned about the different musical instruments that make up an orchestra or a brass band, and how each instrument sounds.  It is one thing to say this is a clarinet or sousaphone, but to be able to hear how they each sound, really does help to understand different instruments and their sounds, and how when you put them all together you can make beautiful music.

Even though my girls don't play a musical instrument at this time, these two books really did spark their interest and wanting to learn.  They have even asked me to play classical music pieces or songs from these books to listen to in their entirety.  It is nice to see how fun interactive books like these musical sound books can spark an interest in young children and introduce them to things like brass bands and an orchestra...things you don't usually see or learn about in children's books.

Here is more information about these two great books featuring Poppy and his friends as they make music together, while also having fun.  I know your kids will love these books, and will be eager for additional titles in this series to become available, so that they can add to their growing "Poppy" library.  My girls can't get enough of these two books and are hoping more books are released soon, so they can learn about more instruments and how they sound. :-)

Buy now for only $14.93 from Amazon

"This colorfully illustrated book features the sounds of 16 musical instruments so kids can learn what each band instrument sounds like as they go on a musical adventure with Poppy the dog."

Poppy and the Brass Band is a children's book which features the sounds of 16 different brass instruments. Join Poppy the dog as she learns them all! Go on a musical adventure to the circus with an adorable pup named Poppy. Poppy and the Brass Band takes kids on an adventure with Poppy she meets new friends who introduce her to the sounds of the musical instruments of a brass band. With 16 buttons to push and hear, children will be whisked to a different world while listening to the sounds of the different instruments and follow along with the story. With colorful illustrations and a new sound to discover on each page, both kids and parents will be entertained and engaged from cover to cover. Poppy and the Brass Band offers an opportunity to teach kids about classical music and the instruments in a brass band, so don't wait any longer, grab a horn and join Poppy!

Illustrated by: Magali Le Huche

Format: Hardback, 24 Pages

ISBN: 9781633224025

Publisher: Walter Foster Jr.

Buy now from Amazon for only $14.53

"Children can hear and learn what musical instruments sound like in this interactive, musical adventure featuring an adorable, curious dog named Poppy. As Poppy meets new friends, they each introduce her to the sound of a new musical instrument. Kids will love pushing the buttons to hear the sounds of 16 different instruments as they follow along with the story. Each page features colorful, engaging illustrations and a new sound to discover."

"In Poppy and the Orchestra, children will travel along with Poppy the dog as she discovers the sounds of orchestral instruments. Perfect for young music lovers and musicians! Go on a musical adventure to the symphony with Poppy, the most adorable and friendliest dog you'd ever meet! On this adventure Poppy will meet new friends who introduce her to the sounds of orchestral instruments. With 16 buttons to push and hear, kids will love listening to the sounds of the different instruments as they follow along with the story. Poppy and the Orchestra is filled with colorful illustrations by Magali Le Huche, and features a new sound to discover on each page, making it a book that both kids and parents will be entertained by and engaged with from one reading to the next. Poppy and the Orchestra offers an opportunity to teach kids about classical music and the instruments of the orchestra. Now that is truly unique! "

Illustrated by: Magali Le Huche

Format: Hardback, 24 Pages

ISBN: 9781633224018

Publisher: Walter Foster Jr.

Disclosure: I was sent review copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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Polly and Her Duck Costume -- A Cute, True Story About a Rescue Goat That Will Delight Kids and Adults (Book Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent a review copy from the publisher in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

Buy now in hardcover from Amazon for only $14.30

We read this book at bedtime this evening, and it was a hit with the girls.  Not only was this a true story, but the last few pages of the book included actual pictures of Polly and her other goat friends.  My oldest daughter, Savannah, who loves all animals and wants to be a vet when she grows up, kept saying, "Ah, look how cute Polly is in her duck costume."  And, both girls wished we could rescue goats like Leanne Lauricella does, and have the goats live in the house like Polly and Pippa did.  I reminded them that we already had two rescue dogs and 2 rescue birds, and had no more room for animals, including goats, which I have never cared for.

I love when people share children's books about their rescue animals, as it is just a reminder about how people still have big hearts and will do anything to help an animal in need out.  I felt so sad reading the first few pages of this book and learning about Polly being blind and scared.  Even though I knew the back story of this book, it still pulls at your heartstrings if you are an animal lover.  I looked over at my daughters and they had a tear in their eye, as they too felt bad for Polly and hoped that someone would come and give her a forever home.  And, by the end of the story, we were all smiling and happy for Polly.  She not only had a home and owner that made her feel safe and loved, but she was surrounded by other goats including her new best friend Pippa, who helped make her days on The Goats of Anarchy farm more enjoyable and memorable.

If you love heartwarming animals stories geared towards children, especially true stories, then you will want to pick up the new book, "Polly and her Duck Costume" and start your collection of this wonderful new series written by Leanne Lauricella.  My girls can't wait for the next book arriving in November.  In the meantime, this cute story is definitely going to become a staple at bedtime and one book the girls will pull from the bookshelf to read and admire the illustrations of Polly in her cute duck costume, as well as the scrapbook photos at the end.  This truly is a wonderful story that kids of all ages, especially animal lovers, will love, and want to read or have read to them time and time again.

More about this book:

"Community, overcoming anxiety, helping friends, and understanding disabilities are a few of the themes at the heart of Polly and Her Duck Costume, the story of a blind baby goat and how a duck costume helped her blossom into a happy, healthy goat. With illustrations by Jill Howarth, this sweet picture book encourages kids to be brave, try new things, and be a good friend.

Author Leanne Lauricella, goat mama and curator of the wildly popular @GoatsOfAnarchy Instagram account, left her corporate life in New York City to open a sanctuary in New Jersey for goats with disabilities. With more than half a million followers, Polly and her duck costume became a fan favorite, as people rooted for little Polly to get stronger, learn to rely on her senses of hearing and smelling to navigate her way around the farmhouse, and eventually become confident and comfortable enough to interact with the other goats on the farm. The second story in the GOA Kids series arrives in November! 

The Goat with Many Coats: The True Story of a Little Goat Who Found a New Home follows the story of tiny Prospect the goat, who needed sweaters and coats to keep his little body warm. "

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Polly's Story

A little over a year ago, Polly was born to a mother who rejected her due to her blindness (mother goats sometimes reject babies who do not seem like they will survive). Leanne Lauricella at Goats of Anarchy rescued Polly, at just a few days old, when she heard that sweet little baby goat was not getting the care that she needed. Polly was underweight from malnourishment, suffered anxiety whenever left alone, and did not interact with the other goats. Polly would often follow Leanne’s voice around the farmhouse, bleating to be held and cuddled. Laurciella found that wrapping Polly in blankets would help the anxiety, but the blankets would fall off whenever Polly got up for food or water. And that's when Leanne thought to try putting a cuddly duck costume on Polly...and Polly loved it! It’s Lauricella’s goat mama attentiveness and personal care that has allowed Polly to flourish to the point of overcoming the anxiety and struggles of her disability and become an active and social part of the Goats of Anarchy family. Polly now lives happily outside in the baby barn and eats, plays, and explores with her goat friends.

The Goats of Anarchy Story

In 2014 Leanne Lauricella fell in love with goats and her life was changed forever. She walked away from a lucrative corporate career in NYC, ditched the Mercedes, and built a goat sanctuary in rural New Jersey where goats with special needs could find a home. Lauricella began documenting herunconventional new life on Instagram, amassing over half a million followers on @GoatsOfAnarchy. The goats and other animals, typically rescued from abandonment or mistreatment, find a home on one of Lauricella’s two farms where each animal gets care for their special needs. Prosthetics and carts are provided for goats with missing or deformed legs, and indoor care for new baby goats, goats requiring intensive medical care or terminal illness. The goats’ stories have created a passionate and fast-growing following that serves to help financially support the upkeep of the farm and vet bills for Lauricella’s special needs brood.

Lauricella encourages a vegan lifestyle and is vocal about animal rights issues. www.goatsofanarchy.com

Disclosure:  I was sent a review copy from the publisher in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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