Susan Ring

I really love the concept of this book! In our materialistic obesessed society I believe children have trouble understanding the concept of needs and wants. It's important that they understand the difference and learn to count their blessings! This book would be great for guiding a lesson about different countries and socio-economic backgrounds and how some children don't have all the extras like many American kids do. It can teach them that we need to be grateful that we have what is needed show more to sustain life, and usually much more. There is a glossary in the back with some words that can be used to initiate discussion. This is a simple book highlighting an important topic that all children should learn to reflect on! show less

I really enjoyed this book. The plot of this storyline was very cute and very parallel. As the young baby turtle was lost and couldn’t find his way back to the sea, he went around to all of the other turtle’s habitats – marsh, pond, and the woods. The turtle tried to live in those habitats, but it just was not working out. He started to travel again and landed back on the beach to find out that the place he should be was the ocean! I liked that the author gave descriptions about each show more habitat and the diet of the turtle in that habitat as well.
Another reason I liked this book was because of the word choice and vocabulary. It was a very easy read and the vocabulary was not too challenging for a young child. The word choice was also accompanied by rhyme and rhythm and was extremely engaging. For example the author said on one page, “But the lights weren’t stars, and the lights weren’t the moon. They were houses and cars – and he turned too soon.”
The main idea of this story deals with this little turtle losing his way and he politely takes the advice of others, but in the end, he follows his heart and finds his way to his home where he belongs. show less

We enjoy these pre-readers...I can see My 4-year-old making the mental connection that letters go together to make specific words and the words represent actual things...it's quite a big concept when you think about it.

Young readers join the Little Einsteins on an action-filled adventure through the galaxy. Rocket takes them to the moon and then on to the other planets in our solar system. Each double-page spread offers readers a bit of information about one of the planets and, throughout the book, Leo, Quincy, and June each share a fact related to the galaxy. [And, since Pluto’s demotion to dwarf planet status didn’t occur until after the writing of this book, it’s included in the solar system show more tour.]

An exciting and unique feature of this book is the slideviewer. Each time Rocket, Leo, Annie, Quincy, or June takes a picture, a viewer icon appears in the text, cueing the reader to look through the eyepiece to see the picture they've just taken in the story.

Highly recommended. show less