It is just two days before the long-awaited family camping with Noanie and PopPop, and while the little girl is excited about the camping, she is worried about the weather forecast, indicating that things can go wrong. A phone call brings the sad news that PopPop isn't feeling well. As she listens to her mom speak with Aunt Kate —a Doctor —about PopPop's condition, she feels hurt and worried. Will PopPop get well in time for the family camping?

Little Children, BIG Feelings by Joan Ruddiman, EdD is an interesting, colorfully illustrated book for Children, a book that is expertly designed to help children find words to communicate their BIG emotions. Young readers will learn how to properly use adjectives that describe their feelings such as euphoric, disappointed, hopeful, relieved, worried, anxious, grateful, and joyful.

The author intelligently uses an engaging story, accompanied by colorful illustrations, to describe the learning journey of a child while she joins her family for camping. The family spirit is well written for children, including fun moments with her aunts and cousins and PopPop. The illustrations are bright and they inspire a joyful spirit. I read this book with my three-year-old daughter, and I enjoyed how she explored the characters, how she resonated with the protagonist, and how she identified the right words to describe what the young protagonist felt. Little Children, BIG Feelings provides an engaging, exciting learning journey for young readers and it features characters that are real and that children can strongly relate to. It is a highly recommended story for families with children and those who want to help children find the right words to describe how and what they feel. 

REVIEWED BYDAVID

Date: October 23, 2021

Category: Children-Educational

 On the first day of Kindergarten and Cara wakes up with the sunshine streaming through her pink shade. While she is excited to meet the nice Mrs. Hogan, she can't get herself to eat much of the pancake breakfast mommy makes for her. Her tummy hurts a little bit. But is it her tummy that hurts? No! It is the feeling of anxiety when confronted with change, with a new experience. Is Cara ready for this new step in her educational journey? As she fears about what might happen, her mother brings powerful lessons to assure her that all will be well and one of them is this: 'Be a friend to have a friend.' What stories will she come home with?

Today Cara Goes to Kindergarten by Joan Ruddiman Edd is a book that adults will explore with nostalgic sentiments, remembering the day they faced what is before the young Cara. The author captures a common situation and explores a haunting emotion in Cara: Her anxiety about the new step she is about to make. The role of her parents, especially her mother, in instilling a powerful lesson in her results in the confidence that establishes a new friendship.  The story is colorfully illustrated and it is interesting to notice how beautifully the author captures the events of Cara’s first day in school, allowing a brilliant portrait of her family and expertly exploring signs of anxiety in the child. The role of the parent in instilling trust and confidence is deftly written. Today Cara Goes to Kindergarten is a beautiful adventure, brimming with realism and humanity, a story with a strong lesson about growing for children. 

REVIEWED BYDAVID REYESReview Date: October 23, 2021

Category: Children-Educational