Posts from the ‘travel’ Category

Gone, but not forgotten

The Yellow Suitcase

Written by Meera Sriram

Illustrated by Meera Sethi

Asha arrives at her grandmother’s house in India from California for her yearly visit, clutching her yellow suitcase. Each year Asha packs her suitcase with gifts for her grandmother and returns with little treasures that her grandmother has created for her. But this year the house is filled with relatives mourning her grandmother’s death. Asha struggles through her grief and becomes inconsolable until it is time to leave. She finds a wonderful gift that her grandmother has made for Asha just before she died.

This multicultural book is a colorful introduction to Indian culture and customs as well as a well-written book to help children understand the death of a close relative and the grieving process. Sethi’s hand-drawn illustrations are vivid and expressive. Perhaps the text could have been a bit larger, but the design of the book is clear and easy to read. Recommended for ages eight and older.

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BILLY AND BOB’S BLUNDERS

Lost in Lithuania and other funny stories

Written by Alex Goodwin

 

This is my first time reading a book in this series. Goodwin is a thirteen-year-old author with a wonderful imagination and a creative mind. Bob and Billy are two obese friends who decide that they must get in shape. They abruptly decide to enter a curling contest, even though they have no knowledge of the game. The friends discover a note that they have been fired from their jobs in San Francisco, so they hurry to board a plant to get back. Alas! Bob and Billy board the wrong plane and wind up in Lithuania. Now broke, they answer an ad for a job in a bakery for which they have no background and cannot speak the language. When the disgruntled patrons attack them, Bob and Billy flee for their lives and stumble across an abandoned castle where they become tour guides. The two tell a lot of lies, but they become quite adept at their profession. Determined to return home, at last, they are foiled when all their money falls through a hole in their baggage. So, they write to their uncle and secure employment, only to find they will be making aglets for shoelaces on an assembly line. And so, the stories go on… Will Billy and Bob ever make it back home to their jobs at the nuclear plant in Death Valley?

Goodwin writes crisp, catchy dialogue that is as hilarious as it is preposterous. He manages to weave a link between the short stories to create a cohesive plot. The tales are clean, good fun. Readers ages ten and older won’t stop laughing till the last line.

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IN SEARCH OF SOMETHING BETTER

The Magic Forest: The Secret of the Golden Egg

Written by Maya Sanders

Shu is a mythical creature with a horn in the middle of her head. She lives at the top of a tall tree and acts as the protector of the Urman forest. Together with her horse, Tu, Shu wanders the forest assuring that the weak are protected. One day, Shu awakes in a bad mood because she is no longer satisfied with her small, cramped home.

Shu has heard rumors of a golden egg that can turn into a castle, so she and her winged-horse friend seek out Yukka, a 1000-year-old viper who knows all. Yukka assigns Shu three tasks to complete before revealing where to find the golden egg.

On the journey, Shu helps Su find her lost comb, restores the confidence of the Firebird, Rukh, and learns that appearances can be deceptive. Children come to understand the importance of helping others and the necessity of keeping our own needs in check. The tale is an old Tatar folktale that combines magic and fantasy with lessons to learn for humans. There are a few color illustrations that make this book choice more appealing for beginning readers. Recommended for ages seven through ten.

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TO LONDON, WE WILL GO

HEY KIDS! LET’S VISIT LONDON (Fun, Facts, and Amazing Discoveries for Kids)

Written by Teresa Mills

This book is geared toward middle-grade students, roughly ages eight through thirteen. It can be used as a guidebook to prepare children who are planning a trip to London with a family or a community organization. Each site is accompanied by pictures, its history, main features, and visitor appeal. Mills talks about iconic historical landmarks like Stonehenge, The Tower of London, Big Ben, The Red Phone Booth, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. She discusses street landmarks like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye, and Harrod’s Department Store. Other notable spots to visit include The London Zoo, Hampstead Heath, The Globe Theater, and Platform 9 3/4’s with its connection to Harry Potter. Of course, no visit would be complete without a ride on the London tube or a visit to one of the museums like The Duxford Air & Space Museum or the RAF Museum.

There is so much to see. Mills has especially focused on those of interest to children. This book can also be useful as a starting place for a school project on London. The book need not be read in any particular order as the chapters are not laid out sequentially.

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A SINCERE THANK YOU AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Dear Readers,

It’s almost the end of 2018. Can you believe it? This year has absolutely flown by and as I reflect on this year, I wanted to share some things I am grateful for:

 

1. I published a new book this year. Little Miss HISTORY Travels to The NORTH POLE.

Check out what others have to say:

This is a book written for children, and its appeal is undeniable. I loved the chatty style that subtly hides the “educational” aspect, but Barbara Ann Mojica sets out to teach and she succeeds. I learned a lot I didn’t know, and any child would absorb the fascinating facts so clearly and entertainingly explained, and, of course, drawn in by the promise of finding out about Santa Claus. By the time they can read and understand this enchanting book, they know he’s make-believe, isn’t he? He has many other names dug from the mists of time by Little Miss History. Little Miss History Travels to the North Pole is the perfect Christmas gift, and sure to be welcomed by schools at any time. _ Sarah Stuart Reader’s Favorite 5 Stars

Little Miss History Travels to the North Pole” should be on top of YOUR holiday reading list! It will kindle your holiday spirit and your children will learn something useful. The clever informative illustrations and fun but an educational story will charm and educate your kids for hours. Please take a chance on this book and have fun traveling to the North Pole with Little Miss History! – Mrs.D

Chock-filled with interesting facts, there are tons of gateways for discussions from all the brave people who explored to discovering fun facts about Santa Claus.
Highly recommended.
Carole P. Roman

I love books that teach me something in a fun way! Many of us know that the North Pole is not on land, but this author has a wonderful way of presenting her material. The book is well-researched and honestly admits where there are uncertainties or dual opinions. She includes little known or unknown information, and the illustrations make learning fun. What a joy to read Little Miss History books! And the North Pole is non-commital about tying Santa Claus to any religion. A wonderful work! – Ann Morris

 

2.. I received a Book Excellence Award for Little Miss HISTORY Travels to MOUNT VERNON in the children’s non-fiction category.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. I received three honors in The International Readers Favorite Book Award Contest. A Gold Medal in children’s nonfiction for Little Miss HISTORY Travels to Ford’s Theater,  a silver medal for Little Miss HISTORY Travels to MOUNT VERNON in children’s educational books, and honorable mention for Little Miss HISTORY Travels to La Brea Tar Pits & Museum in the children’s 4th to 6th-grade category.

 

4. MOST OF ALL, I AM GRATEFUL FOR A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF READERS, JUST LIKE YOU!

I hope you have a very happy holiday and I wish you all the best for a wonderful and prosperous New Year!

Barbara

WINTER’S TALE

Snowdrops: Adventure Three (Book # 3 in the Adventures of Katie and Alex series)

Written by Julia Gousseva

Ten-year-old Alex and his nine-year-old sister are staying with their Aunt Karina while their parents are working in Russia. Karina frequently reads the children Russian folktales. But she does more than read those tales, the children have discovered a fireplace that leads to a magic portal through which they become a part of that story.

One day the children are on the porch when the summer weather suddenly turns stormy. Within a matter of minutes, snowdrops are swirling. Alex, Katie and their Aunt Karina retreat to the warmth of the house. Karina reads them a folktale about a girl named Masha who lives with her wicked stepmother, Darya.  This stepmother ordered Masha to go into the forest and pick snowdrops even though it was still winter. Alex, Katie, and Karina rush into the forest to save Masha and they proceed to have an adventure in which they meet Father Frost and move through all the seasons of the year. The children learn about the seasons and meet the Twelve Months of the Year.

Will the children and their aunt be able to rescue Masha and prevent Darya from abusing her further?

This is a chapter book that combines elements of fantasy with a Russian folktale and a travel adventure. There are no illustrations. I would recommend this book as a good choice for readers in third through fifth grade, but readers of any age who enjoy multicultural folktales will probably enjoy it.

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#Featured Author #MiamiBookFair #history #children’s nonfiction

Want to help your child learn about history? Then follow Little Miss History on her explorations.

 

Little Miss HISTORY Travels to MOUNT RUSHMORE is her first stop. In her second journey, she sails to The STATUE of LIBERTY. Little Miss HISTORY’S third adventure to SEQUOIA National Park finds her skydiving into the park to explore its history. This book recently received honorable mention in the Children’s Literature Independently Published Principal’s Awards (CLIPPA), and runner-up in nature/wildlife category of the 2015 Great Northwest Book Festival. In her fourth adventure, Little Miss HISTORY arrives at FORD’S THEATER in her horse and buggy just in time for the 150th Anniversary to witness an event that changed history. This book won the 2015 IAN Award for Outstanding Children’s Nonfiction Book.

Awards for books in this series include seven B.R.A.G. MEDALLIONS, Eric Hoffer Award, Book Excellence Awards, International Reader’s Favorite Awards, Independent Author Network Awards, Global E-Book Award, and CLIPPA Principal’s Award.

https://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Ann-Mojica/e/B00B9DOVKC

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Barbara+Ann+Mojica?_requestid=786603

About the Author

 

Barbara Ann Mojica is a historian and retired educator living in New York State. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in History. Barbara spent more than 40 years teaching in NYC and holds New York State teacher certifications in Elementary, Special Education, and Administration. She also spent several years as a Special Education Administrator and principal of a special education preschool for developmentally delayed children. Barbara, although retired from teaching, is staying busy: along with her series of Little Miss History travel books she writes historical pieces for The Columbia Insider, Pat Fisher, and Ed Pollack Editors, under the banner “Passages”. Marrying her love of history and teaching, Barbara hopes her Little Miss History character will inspire children to learn about historical people, and visit landmarks such as the one covered in this book.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Ann-Mojica/e/B00B9DOVKC

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Barbara+Ann+Mojica?_requestid=786603

Barbara@littlemisshistory.com

http://www.littlemisshistory.com

https://bamauthor.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/Littlemisshistory.com

https://twitter.com/bamauthor

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6851359.Barbara_Ann_Mojica

https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-mojica-5a5b6262/

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Review excerpts

 

“The use of photographs and colorful illustrations by the illustrator enhances the book with visual appeal. Highly recommended.”

 

“Charming and informative, Little Miss History doesn’t disappoint, informing young readers about the many great places the United States has to offer for entertainment and learning.”

 

“I love Barbara’s Little Miss HISTORY books! They visit historical sites and explain the significance of that location in terms kids understand. These books can be used in the classroom as well as for reading at home. Kids love to learn!”

 

“Because ALL books produced by Barbara Ann Mojica are just wonderful to read, I can’t tell you my favorite. Each time I read one, I believe they all become my favorite.”

 

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