SHRED GIRLS : LINDSAY’S JOYRIDE BLOG TOUR STOP

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

An empowering new series from the cyclist who runs Shred-Girls.com!

Buy now in paperback from Amazon for only $9.33

When I first heard of this chapter book for ages 8-12 year olds, I knew it would be perfect for my two girls to read, and then talk about together.  I loved how the main character in the book was a girl, and that she liked things that my girls liked including riding their bikes, reading comic books and watching superhero movies.  And, when I showed the girls the book, they were quick to grab it.  I ended up buying a second copy of the book, which is only $9.33 on Amazon, so that they could read together, and not have to worry about waiting for the other one to read it first.

The girls finished the book within two days times, and had a lot to say about the book.  Not only was it a quick read and easy to to understand story, but they really loved Lindsay, the main character in the book.  They also loved how the book was set up with a chapter and then a training log which had a superhero tip.  As they read the book, they both wished they could have been in Lindsay's squad, as they wanted to race against the boys to show them that girls can compete right alongside them. 

I found myself strapping on their helmets and grabbing their bikes to act out parts of the book they read, as they rode around our long driveway.  They took turns being Lindsay, as well as working together to show their "girl power" and the power of friendship, to tackle the impossible.  I loved seeing my girls really get into this book, and getting the idea and themes of the book.  They both shared their favorite parts (which were most of the book) with each other, and both agreed that they hope for more books like this one.  I told them that this was the first in this new "Shred Girls" series, and they were both over the moon excited.  They asked when the next book would release.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find another book releasing soon, but I told them I would be watching the Shred Girls website and would pick up any subsequent releases for them to enjoy.

This is a truly a great book for young girls who are reading chapter books, who love sports and are looking to read a book with a girl as the main character.  Girls will not only enjoy this book, but will gain confidence from participating in sports, like BMX racing.  This book reminds girls they can do anything they put their minds to.  This book exudes "Girl Power" all the way, and is a great read, especially for upcoming summer reading.

More about the book:

"An empowering new series from the cyclist who runs Shred-Girls.com is guaranteed to give readers an adrenaline rush!

Lindsay can't wait to spend her summer break reading comics and watching superhero movies--until she finds out she'll be moving in with her weird older cousin Phoebe instead. And Phoebe has big plans for her: a BMX class at her bike park with cool-girl Jen and perfectionist Ali. Lindsay's summer of learning awesome BMX tricks with new friends and a new bike turns out to be more epic than any comic book--and it's all leading up to a jumping competition. But some of the biker boys don't think girls should be allowed to compete in BMX. Now it's up to Lindsay, Jen, and Ali to win the competition and prove that anyone can be great at BMX.

Booklist raves that SHRED GIRLS is “a feel-good sports book all about girl power emphasizes strong friendship, not making assumptions, and putting yourself out there.”

By Molly Hurford, illustrated by Violet Lemay / Rodale Kids / Ages 8–12

HC: 978-1-63565-277-2 / $13.99/ $18.99 Can.

ebook: 978-1-63565-278-9 / $8.99 / $10.99 Can.

About the Author:

MOLLY HURFORD (@mollyjhurford) is the author of four books on cycling, and a writer for Bicycling Magazine as well as many other fitness and outdoor publications. She’s the co-host of The Consummate Athlete Podcast, creator of TheOutdoorEdit.com, and a lover of all things bike-related. She spends her time traveling the world to find the best places to ride, race, and explore. Her mission is “to get girls and women to embrace wellness and adventure!” Lindsay’s Joyride is her middle-grade debut. 

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

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Google Engineers Turn Kids on to STEM with the New Children's Book, "Ara the Star Engineer" (Review) #AratheStarEngineer

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

Komal, a Program Manager in Engineering and a mother of two, was inspired to launch this project when her four-year old daughter proclaimed, "Engineers are boys!” 

Buy now from Amazon for only $11.10

Last month I was sent an email about a new book that was being released, especially for girls of color, called "Ara the Star Engineer."  If you follow my blog, then you know that my two girls are part Latina, as their Daddy is from El Salvador.  After checking out the quick video about the book, and also looking over the free learning resourcing and activities, which you can find here: https://www.arastarengineer.com/learn-and-play, I jumped at the opportunity to review and share this book with my girls.  

My husband is an automation test engineer, and received his degree in computer science.  We met in college, and I can think back to our time in school and how the computer science dept, in the late 90's and early 2000's was male dominated.  I think there were only a few girls who were on the computer science track, taking classes alongside my husband and his male friends.  Makes me wonder how they girls felt sitting in the classroom filled with all male students and male teachers?  Maybe that is why it is hard to get girls to pursue careers in computer science and other engineering fields, as it is considered and has been for years, a male-driven profession.

But, thanks to this book, and the women from Google who are also engineers, that worked to put this book out, young girls will see that they see and be reminded that they can do and be anything they want to be, including being an engineer.  With my husband in the computer science field, and having a love of computers and programming, he uses his expertise with computers to teach both of my girls coding, as part of our homeschooling.  I handle all the other topics, and he works with them on computers and Spanish.  I love seeing the girls' eyes light up and big smiles appear on their faces when they create a game using coding, or solve an algorithm.  While they may not be excited at first to sit down and do coding with Daddy, once they start, within a matter of minutes, they are both hooked, and don't want to stop.

I continually look for books that are written with young girls in mind, and haven't seen a book like Ara the Star Engineer available.  This book wasn't written to make money and for the author to gain notoriety.  Instead, it was a "passion project" by female engineers (all of color) from Google, to help inspire young girls, especially of color, "to develop an enthusiasm for STEM subjects." Being a "passion project," all proceeds from book sales will be donated to charities encouraging girls and underrepresented groups' participation in STEM fields.  How great is this?  You can't say that about most children's books released.

I received a copy of this book a couple weeks ago, and couldn't wait to read it to my girls.  The first thing they noticed was the girl on the front cover.  My youngest said she looked a Latina, with her golden skin.  And, then as we read through the pages of this book, the girls couldn't help to point out all the women in the book, and how they were women of color -- again, something you usually don't see in children's books...female diversity.

The story itself is easy to follow along and for young girls to understand.  It is about a young girl named Ara, who wants to count all the stars in the sky.   With the help of her droid DeeDee she develops and algorithm to do just that.  This book talks about coding, collaboration and being courageous, all while inspiring young girls to follow their dreams and passions.  It can also be enjoyed by boys, but I like how the main character is a girl and she is following her dream, and she gets help by other women working at the Innovation Plex.  

I ended up using the activity sheets mentioned above, with my girls after reading this book, and they loved them. They were a little challenging, but like Ara, my girls didn't want to give up, and worked together to find solutions and solve the problems.

I am so happy I had the opportunity to share this book with my girls, and have an open discussion with them about all the possibilities when it comes to pursuing a career down they road. They could follow in their Daddy's footsteps if they find they love computers and programming like him, or maybe find another STEM-inspired career that is sparked with school we do, and classes they take.  They are going to make a mark on the world, and it is up to them as to what they want to do.  And, this book is just a reminder that girls can be engineers, too!

More about this book:

"The troubling lack of women and people of color in STEM is big problem, and it begins in childhood.

• Girls start doubting their STEM intelligence by age six.

• Women make up only 25% of the STEM workforce.

• Black men and black women only make up to 3% and 2% of scientists, respectively.

So Komal Singh and fellow female Google engineers decided to volunteer their spare time to do something about it. They wrote Ara the Star Engineer (Page Two Books, October 16th 2018), a first-of-its-kind picture book designed to inspire girls and children of color to explore STEM. 

All profits from the book sales will be donated to charities encouraging girls’ and underrepresented groups’ participation in STEM fields. This book is not an official Google product; but a grassroots, passion project of Google employees in their personal capacity striving for an equitable future for all."

About the Author: 

Komal Singh works at Google as a Program Manager in Engineering. As a techie, a mother, and an immigrant, she’s passionate about using technology as an enabler and an equalizer for all. She takes part in kids’ coding clubs, sits on hackathon judge panels, and volunteers with nonprofits on technology development.

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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Growing Up Doesn't Have to be so Awkward Thanks to Bunk 9's Guide to Growing Up -- Just for Girls! (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.

Secrets, Tips, and Expert Advice on the Good, the Bad, and the Awkward

Buy now from Amazon in Paperback for only $9.06

(also available in hard cover and Kindle format)

Are your kids ready to head back to school?  Did you get all their new school clothes and supplies?  Hopefully you didn't break the bank getting your kids ready to head back to learn and conquer another year in school.  Completing a year in school is milestone for kids, but so are some of the changes and events along the way that they experience as they complete their school years.  

I am hearing more and more parents talking about how they are having the birds and the bees talk with their elementary aged children, in addition to protecting themselves from gun violence in schools.  Kids these days are growing up so fast and experiencing and dealing with things that we never had to deal with growing up.  We never had school shootings, and bullying is not like it is now.  It is so much worse especially with the age of the Internet.  While the birds and the bees talk can be a difficult one, talking about puberty and the changes your tween/teen will experience doesn't have to be, thanks to Bunk 9's Guide to Growing Up from Workman Publishing.  

My oldest daughter just celebrated her 8th birthday over the summer, and is already noticing changes to her and her sister's body.  They are starting to notice the hair on their legs and upper lips, as well as taking note of their breasts and differing sizes.  My youngest is taller and heavier than my oldest, so her features are more pronounced.  She asked me the other day when she would be able to wear a bra, in between talking to her sister about a boy she thought was crushing on her at camp.  When I told my husband this he was surprised that they are talking about things at such a young age.  He thought he wouldn't have to deal with this stuff until they were 12-14 years old.  But, thanks to this book, which is geared towards girls in grades 4-7 (ages 8-12) you can share all the rites of passages they will go through, and help answer questions they may have about going through puberty.  

I remember growing up, my Mom gave me a book about puberty for me to read and then told me if I had any questions I could ask her.  I felt a little awkward talking to her about breast development and periods, and I could see that she didn't have experience with these topics as I had two older brothers who got the birds and the bees talk from my Dad.  When my girls started to show interest in topics relating to puberty, I tried to think back to the book I was given to read.  Then, I took to the Internet and stumbled across Bunk 9's, and was so happy I found it.  This is the ultimate guide for young girls, as it is filled with facts, tips, advice and illustrations, to help get your through puberty and what is to come with your changing body. 

This book is written and structured in such a way it makes this how-to-survive puberty a book girls will actually want to read.  I read through the book and loved how it empowers girls, and makes them feel comfortable with their changing bodies.  Girls will love how this book is written in a "girl talk" style.  You feel like an older sister or best friend is sitting down and talking to you about girl stuff.  Topics covered in this book include your period, bras, sleep, crushes, hormonal changes, nutrition and even exercise.  There is even a chapter about the changes a boy experiences, so that you know you are not the only one dealing with body changes.

Even though my oldest is only 8 years old, I plan to use this book as part of our health portion of our homeschooling this year.  Both of my girls have already started asking questions, and hearing friends talk about periods that their older sisters are having and wondering when this will happen to them.  So, I am happy to have a book that is written for young girls to relate to, and easy for them to understand, while feeling comfortable enough to talk and ask me questions about these changes they will eventually experience as they embark on their tween/teen years and the womanhood.

If you a girl in your life who is between the ages of 8-12 years old, and is starting to go through puberty, or is on the cusp of it, then I highly recommend Bunk 9's Guide to Growing Up.  This is one book that will answer all their questions, and can be passed down to younger sisters, too.

To learn more about this book, head over to https://www.workman.com/products/bunk-9s-guide-to-growing-up.

More about this book:

"Filled with facts, tips, advice, and illustrations, BUNK 9’S GUIDE TO GROWING UP is the girl-powered puberty book you’ll actually want to read. Written in the voice of the counselors in training at the fictional Camp Silver Moon, it’s like having your best friend or older sister share everything there is to know about being comfortable in your changing body. From periods, bras, and hormones to nutrition, exercise, and sleep—to crushes, that first kiss, and ALL the feels—it’s the head-to-toe guide to not only surviving puberty but totally, 100% owning it!"

GUARD THIS BOOK WITH YOUR LIFE AND USE ITS SECRETS WISELY.

• The Top Three Tips for the Best Puberty Ever
• A Field Guide to Breasts
• Acne: Self-Care and Skin Care
• The ‘No-Smell’ Basics
• Rocking Your First Period
• Why Sleep?
• Boys: They’re Changing, Too
• Crushing I

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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