Book Review: I Could Be, You Could Be

I Could Be, You Could Be

Join a young boy and girl on thrilling adventures as they imagine themselves as space-traveling astronauts, ferocious dragons, jungle-dwelling monkeys and more. The fine line between children's make-believe and the fantastic worlds they create is cleverly portrayed through Barroux’s bright landscapes.

Ages 2 to 6 years

About The Book

Illustrations and rhyming text encourage readers to picture themselves becoming a variety of people and things, from an astronaut to an elephant to an alien. Includes instructions for making masks.

I Could Be, You Could Be

The story begins...

"I could be the king or queen making all the rules, You could be a dragon guarding all the jewels."

The story ends... Oh, I'm not telling! You'll love it!


What a delightful book that sparks the imagination, exploring so many areas of creativity, that fuels the conversation with endless possibilities! The storyline helps the child discover self-acceptance and purpose while dressing up and make believing. Great rhyming text. The illustrations are breathtaking with colorful blues and greens. The last page fosters an engaging craft of mask making. This is a fun book for young children.

4/5 stars!

I Could Be, You Could Be


Happy Reading!

-- LadyD

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

© copyright 2008-2019– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Book Review: Starlight Sailor

For ages 2-6

Star light, star bright

Gold Dragon

 Review:

Starlight Sailor is a wonderful children's story that I found through Barefoot Books Publishing Company. The story line is about a little boy (and his dog) who takes an adventurous journey across the water in his paper boat to a far away land.

Jackie Morris, the author lives by the sea in a little house and has illustrated The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems, one of my favorite collections. James Mayhew, the other author, works in a garden studio and has illustrated The Barefoot Book of Stories from the Opera and can be found in my piano studio library collection.

My three grandsons love to engage in pirate stories, fishing, sailing and everything about the sea. So, this story is a delight, especially when the children on the island pretend to be knights and kings and explore a cave.

I found this beautiful hardcover children's book to be the perfect bedtime book. I would rate this book ***** stars. The soft rhyming tells a lovely, dreamy tale and opens with:

"Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight."

The pros of the book is that it is easy to read and if you love fantasy and ethereal illustrations, you will find a dreamy tale within these colorful pages. This beautiful children's book is a real page-turner for ages 2 to 6. You'll find instructions for making your own paper boat at the back of the book.

The only downside that I can find with the book is that it is a large hardcover one. It would be nice to have a different format available like a paperback book for boys and girls to read and take to bed with.

Also, the action builds when the reader is introduced to a large red and gold dragon but it's a nice dragon (not too scary) that takes the children on a ride through the night. For most kids, it will be a sweet dragon.

The illustrations are magical - a timeless classic! You'll see blue whales, blue birds, knights and kings along this journey of fantasy and pretend. Even the red and gold dragon is a nice gentle dragon, flying here and there, taking children everywhere!

The starfish and mermaids singing their lullaby is sure to put any young child fast to sleep. So dream on little ones of magical play with flying fish dancing in the sky! 

November is Picture Book Month and today, tomorrow highlights children's books about seas and pirates. Barefoot Books publishes lots of these. Visit Dena's Book Nook

Do you have your own paper boat story or activity?





“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Books About Bears

A Bear Wagon: Marilyn Scott Waters

 It seems everyone of my grandchildren have held these delightful books about bears at one time or another. They love to see the bears in different professions as they head off to work. My grand kids from ages 5 on down play with bear puzzles and games, and coloring activities. How about your family?

I could go on and on about the other bear books published by Barefoot Books but here are 5 for today that come from a winning team of Blackstone and Harter.

My Marketplace

Head off to work with Bear as he delivers mail and learns about other professions. Rhythm and rhyme drive the clever text, and a full-spread illustration of the professions at the end reinforces the learning and invites readers to go back through the story to spot the different working bears.

Board Book-Paperback for $6.99

 Discover lots of different shapes with Bear — there are triangles on the waves, diamonds on the crown and stars in the sky. Rhyme, repetition and counting establish this book of shapes, and a two-page spread recapping the shapes and colors reinforces the educational building blocks.

Bear On A Bike-Board Book and Paperback

 There are so many wonderful things to point out on each page when you ride about with this adorable, cuddly Bear with a repetition and poetic flow of the story. This is a favorite of preshoolers.

Bear In Sunshine available in Board Book and Paperback

 Enjoy the seasons with Bear, as he partakes in a different activity for each kind of weather. The rhyme and humor of the text help to introduce the concepts, and a two-page spread of the four seasons offers a recap at the end.

The newest addition to the Barefoot Books series is:

Bears Birthday-Paperback-Written By: Stella Blackstone and Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

This book is about joining Bear as he celebrates his birthday.  Children can help Bear count backwards from 10 to 0 and find out who is making his balloons disappear. The text and colorful pages are best for ages 2 to 6 years. 

The cool thing is that if you want to look at (preview) more of these book illustrations, visit http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com 

LadyD with Barefoot Books is participating in two book memes on Monday:
5 A Day Books and Book Sharing Monday.





“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Related articles

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• Book Review: The Secrets of Kelmar by Laura Sepesi (ladyd-books.blogspot.com)

5 A Day Books: The Animal Boogie

The joy of early reading, playing with new toys and discovering the beauty of nature in the great outdoors... Awh, to be young and free. Curious to explore, grow and learn. Here's what's on our bookshelf this week:
 

Was $9.99 Now $4.99 Paperback w/ Music CD

The Animal Boogie

Can you boogie? Down in the Indian jungle, the children and animals are learning about actions like leaping, stomping, shaking and flapping while meeting different jungle creatures.

Book with enhanced CD edition includes an animated video with audio singalong sung by acclaimed children's performer Fred Penner .

Ages 3 to 7 years
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter
Sung By: Fred Penner

Available in Spanish!

Cha-cha-cha en la selva

The Animal Boogie

Can you boogie? Down in the Indian jungle, the children and animals are learning about actions like leaping, stomping, shaking and flapping while meeting different jungle creatures. This Spanish book with CD edition includes song sung by the Children's Museum of Los Angeles.

Ages 2 to 6 years
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter
Sung By: Children’s Museum of Los Angeles

Now $3.99

The Animal Boogie Fun Activities

Swing into the jungle fun! The puzzles, games, coloring pages and word scrambles are supplemented by a full-spread sticker sheet, with reusable stickers. The pages are printed on 100% recycled paper.

Ages 4 to 8 years
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

One of my delightful grandsons enjoys puzzle making. He started with a few pieces
and stayed with it for long hours during his play time. He has graduated on to the 100 piece puzzle and enjoys it so. He is 3 years old and one of our favorite puzzles, of course, goes
along with the paperback book and activity book are the puzzles.

Animal Boogie Mini Cube Puzzle

Piece together this bright Indian jungle scene with all the animals from The Animal Boogie. The 36-piece puzzle is packed in a sturdy, reusable box.

Ages 3 to 8 years
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

Now $3.99

Dotty Spotty Doodles

22 Arty Activities for Creative Kids

Draw, doodle, paint and color! The simple activities encourage creativity, and help small children to master drawing skills, shape recognition, line drawing and color combining, while also preparing them to learn to read.

Ages 3 to 7 years
Written By: Madeleine Deny
Illustrated By: Barroux

$9.99

Creepy Crawly Calypso

Jump and jive from one to ten with a boisterous band of bugs in this selection that introduces creepy crawlies and calypso instruments. After the rhyming story, there are fascinating facts about the insects and calypso bands, as well as a simple music score. Book with CD edition includes song sung by Richard Love, Panache and Alex Hutchings.

Ages 3 to 7 years
Written By: Tony Langham
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter
Sung By: Richard Love

 Care to join in the fun? Stop by our hostess (http://www.theimaginationtree.com) to share in this wonderful book scheme.

As a kindergarten music teacher, I highly recommend Animal Boogie! Take a peek but I must say in advance, this song is highly contagious. You will find yourself singing along, too!







“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

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• Book Review: The Secrets of Kelmar by Laura Sepesi (ladyd-books.blogspot.com)
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Surrey Bikes

Surrey Bikes

I came across these brightly colored surrey bikes for pedaling around the beach. This is a fun way to soak up beautiful surroundings. It's always a refreshing time and a memorable one to head towards the beach, take a walk on the pier along the harbor and see the bikes pass us by. 

A single surrey costs $20.00 in rental fees.

Double surrey will be $30.00 for rental fee.  

Have you ever been on one? I have not had this experience yet.

One of the best sites I have found online for personal safety and bike riding tips for kids is Tips For Tourists

Perhaps you are familiar with Barefoot Books "Bears"series.

About Bear on a Bike

Join Bear as he tries out different forms of transport and has an adventure with each one. Rhyme and repetition support the learning layers of travel and transportation, as Bear travels in a raft, a rocket ship, a boat, a bike, a steam train, and a carriage.

Ages 2 to 6 years

Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

Board book and paperback for $6.99
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Photo Credit: The Graphic Fairy

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis



My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Children's French Bilingual Books and Fancy Nancy

Cover via Amazon
Fancy Nancy and the Boy from Paris by Jane O'Connor is an I Can Read! book. Level is simple sentences for eager new readers.

 "Paris, France, is the fanciest city in the world. When Ms. Glass tells the class that the new student is from Paris, Nancy cannot believe her luck. Nancy brushes up on her fanciest French words. She is ready to make a new ami. (In French that means friend.) But Robert would rather talk about horses than the Eiffel Tower. Robert may not be as fancy as Nancy, but that doesn't mean they can't have fun!"

What I love about the author's children's book series, is that in the back of each book you will find, Fancy Nancy's Fancy Words.
 In this particular book, kids will learn the meaning of French words, such as Belle and Bonjour. Plus, young children will discover big words, like gorgeous and perplexed. It's a fun book and I'm a fan of Fancy Nancy.

Barefoot Books has published several books in French, too.

Paperback $6.99

Paperback $6.99

Paperback $6.99

Paperback $6.99

Bear about Town/L’Ours dans la ville

From Monday to Sunday, Bear is busy round and about town: buying bread, running errands, going to the gym and meeting his friends. This bilingual edition includes vocabulary words in French and English and is perfect for classroom or home learning.

Ages 2 to 6 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

Bear in Sunshine/L'ours au soleil

Take your first steps to speaking French with Bear! This bilingual edition teaches first French words for weather, phrases about different pastimes, simple sentence structure and key vocabulary. The story is supplemented by an easy vocabulary list at the end.

Ages 2 to 6 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

Bear in a Square/L'ours dans un carré

Take your first steps to speaking French with Bear! This bilingual edition teaches first French words for shapes, how to count in French, simple sentence structure and key vocabulary. The story is supplemented by an easy vocabulary list at the end.

Ages 2 to 6 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

Bear at Home/L’ Ours à la maison

Come along with Bear and learn about the different rooms of his house. Rhyme and repetition builds vocabulary and a full spread “blueprint” of Bear's house reinforces the learning layers. This bilingual edition includes vocabulary words in French and English and is perfect for classroom or home learning.

Ages 2 to 6 years
Written By: Debbie Harter, Stella Blackstone

For more information regarding these books and other Barefoot Books, stop by and browse!
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

 What a fun way to learn. So, keep reading!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Barefoot Books: Children's Board Book Sale

Barefoot books publishers are offering their very cool Winter sale now through Feb. 8th.

Many board books are available at a very good price. What is a board book?

A board book is a type of book printed on thick paperboard. The paperboard is printed and used for the both the cover and the interior pages. Each page panel is a minimum of 2 plies of paperboard thickness. Unlike a typical paper book that is bound with saddle stitching (staples) or perfect binding, a board book's pages are specially folded and bound together. Board books are very durable and consequently intended for small children (who are liable to damage ordinary books) so that they can start to develop an interest in books at an early age. Many best-selling titles that were originally published in hardcover or paperboard formats have been converted to board books. Most of the board books produced in the world are produced in China and Mexico; however, there is one board book printer still located in the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_book

For Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers: A board book is made of thick cardboard and cannot be easily torn as a regular paper book could be. Board books are often given to babies and preschoolers as they are more durable for this age.
http://answers.ask.com/Society/Other/what_is_a_board_book 

Bear in Sunshine was $6.99, now $4.99

Cleo The Cat was $6.99, now $4.99

Meet children from across the world as they learn the sounds that all sorts of animals make. The question-and-answer structure pairs with the lift-the-flap format for easy learning.

Ages 1 to 4 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Caroline Mockford

Talk with Me! was $7.99, now $5.99

 

Join children from across the world as they find out how all sorts of animals get around. The question-and-answer structure pairs with the lift-the-flap format for easy learning.

Ages 1 to 4 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Caroline Mockford

Was $7.99, now $5.99

I love this beautiful board book. It's a must for your toddler!

Large Board Book was $14.99, now $9.99

Learn your ABCs while meeting twenty-six African animals in this simple rhyming text. Notes at the end enhance the learning layers with facts about each of the animals featured.

Ages 2 to 6 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Philippa-Alys Browne

African Animals ABC was $14.99, now $10.99 

You can order online @ http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

I have a wonderful collection of children's board books for my 4 grandchildren. Do you have a favorite? I think you'll find the quality of Barefoot Books is excellent with very thick, sturdy pages for those toddlers who are learning not to tear pages!  

Happy Reading,
-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Book Review of Eye of The Bear by Naida West

 

Book Review: Eye of The Bear by Naida West

 About The Author

 

Naida West, Ph.D., lives with her husband on their little ranch in California’s “Gold Country.” The ranch lies alongside the Cosumnes River, a primary setting in her novels.

Born in Idaho, she spent her early years in small towns and on farms and ranches, often living with relatives. Among the many schools, she attended a one-room schoolhouse in Divide, Montana. She lived in a variety of homes where the inhabitants ranged from Methodist, Mormon, Catholic to agnostic — all opinionated. They were conscientious objectors, military patriots, alcoholics, and religious teetotalers. They raised sugar beets, potatoes, sheep, and cattle; they practiced law, the Christian ministry, and played piano-bar. Naida learned to stand back and observe. In all locations she wandered freely through open fields and hills and along streams. Greatly influential was her grandmother, Elizabeth Symon Smith (the subject of Symon’s Daughter) — a teacher and lover of English literature...

For inspiration and stress reduction Naida walks the trails along the Cosumnes, where history seems to come alive beneath her feet. That and the beauty of the natural world unblocks the flow of words. In 2010, she completed the 3rd novel in her California Gold trilogy, Rest for the Wicked.
Naida has managed the Authors Booth at the California State Fair for 13 years, and has spoken at, and led, writers conferences and workshops. A lively speaker, she often headlines conferences in the three fields of California history about which she has written: Native American/Euro-American contact period; Gold Rush; and turn-of-the-century Gilded Age.

Product Details

• Paperback: 630 pages
• Publisher: Bridge House Books (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965348741
• ISBN-13: 978-0965348744

Naida West has finished the third novel in her California Gold trilogy, Rest for the Wicked. It has taken me awhile to finish her first novel, Eye of The Bear and a big thank you to Bridge house Books for providing this book for review. I have now passed the first novel onto my husband because we both LOVE California history. 


About the Book


The story begins in the 1820s around the time of California's pre-gold rush days.  Naida covers the history of the West, including true events, real people and thought-provoking content.
I was aware of the conflict between and among the Native Americans, the Spanish/Mexican secular rulers, and the religious zealots of the early California Missions but not to the extent that Naida discloses to her readers with tremendous research and excellent representation of what really happened in fictional form. Perhaps said best in one word... injustice!
Chapter Listings:

Tracks to Another World
Maria
The Circle Widens 

"Becoming strong on earth is a lesson in not floating, in becoming less transparent, in becoming an animal shape against the sky."

From: The Endangered Roots of a Person - Wendy Rose, Miwok

Los Americanos
Walking Into Fire

"The men wore human skins
but removed them at night
and fell to the bottom of darkness
like crows without wings.


War was the perfect disguise. 
Their mothers would not have known them,
That's why fire is restless
and smoke has become the escaped wings of crows."

 From: "Skin" - Linda Hogan, Chickasaw

For more information, visit Naida's website, http://www.bridgehousebooks.com/authors/naida.htm

My Review


Big thank you to Bridge House Books in Rancho Murieta, California for sending a copy to LadyD Books for review.

Eye of the Bear is not what I expected! Naida West has done a superb job in weaving historical fact with fiction and creating the first of 3 great novels about the California Native Americans.

In the back of Naida West's novel is a list of glossary terms. You will learn about the Neophytes. During the time of establishing Missions along the California Coast and inland, the captured Indians, called neophytes were baptized Indians into the Catholic faith. The details of their cruel torture and punishment while confined to the mission walls and way of life was difficult for me to read and almost unforgivable by the Black Hats. This is a fanciful name for the Mexican soldiers who lived in the presidios of San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Francisco.

Not only does Naida West explain the Spanish terms in her book such as  Tulares, a specie of giant hollow-stemmed marsh grass known as Tule Fog but Naida's main character, Grizzly Hair becomes her main fictional character. The author's huge efforts of research greatly shows in her ***** star novel, Eye of the Bear. If you want to learn the stories of the Indians and their life style, plus the stern, cruel taskmaster's of the mission, like Father Narcisco Duran then you must purchase the book!

Naida reveals so much of what really went on in the missions, stuff you would never learn in school nor have any idea... the land that you walk on was once inhabited by these dear people.


Naida West did a masterful job weaving fact/fiction with California history that I had not known before. A wonderful wordsmith, beautiful job. Naida deserves much praise for  Eye Of The Bear.
I'm looking forward to reading her next book in the series.
Eye of the Bear

* * * * * *

Barefoot Books offers Board Books about Bears.

Bear's Busy Family

Meet the rest of Bear's family and learn about all of their busy activities. Smell, touch, taste and sound are all familiarized in this rhyming text, and there is a full spread family tree at the end.

Ages 2 to 6 years 

Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

Barefoot Books offers Spanish Books for Kids.

Familia activa de Oso

Bear's Busy Family

Meet the rest of Bear's family and learn about all of their busy activities. Smell, touch, taste and sound are all familiarized in this rhyming text, and there is a full spread family tree at the end. (Spanish language edition)

Ages 1 to 4 years
Written By: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

Paperback $6.99

* * * * * 

Polar Bear Puppet

Barefoot Books Offers Bear Hand Puppets

Polar Bear Puppet

Brrr! This plush polar bear hand puppet features movable head and arms, a soft vinyl nose, and rubber claws, and is fashioned with ultra-soft, micro fiber fabrics.

Ages 5 to 8 years
Produced By: Folkmanis 
Puppet $20.99 

Black Bear Finger Puppet

Wander through the forest with this cuddly black bear. This finger puppet is six inches long.

Ages 3 to 7 years
Produced By: Folkmanis 
Puppet $7.99

As always,  for browsing for children's picture books and looking at the Folkmanis puppet collection, visit My Bookstore

Thanks for stopping by.

Best,
-- LadyD

P.S.
 November is National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. Writers from all over the world attempt to complete a 50,000-word first draft during the month of November. Not all writers are supportive of NNWM. Here's another viewpoint: http://www.shewrites.com/profiles/blogs/nanowrimo-its-not-for-everyone

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis


My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Related articles

• Reclaiming the Sierra Summit a Huge Success (yubanet.com)
• 10 Interesting But Random Facts About California (trifter.com)
• Happy Birthday, California! (mohighlibrary.wordpress.com)