Showing posts with label positive lessons for kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label positive lessons for kids. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

What a Pair by Wanda E. Brunstetter is a Wonderfully Positive Book for Kids



What a Pair begins with a brief background to the Amish community. This is valuable information, since it introduces readers to the lifestyle of the book’s main characters, Mark and Mattie.

Mark and Mattie are nine-year-old twins, who reside in an Amish community in Holmes County, Ohio and bicker just like any other brother and sister. They manage to get themselves into any number of sticky situations, but realize that teamwork is the key to it all.

This is a delightful chapter book for youngsters. It’s wonderful when books can expose children to different cultures and lifestyles and the Double Trouble series certainly does that. Children find that they’re not so different from most other kids their age. There is also positive parental role modeling going on here as well. I’d have to say that What a Pair is an all-around positive book for children.

There are fourteen brief chapters, with each chapter centered on a particular adventure or activity. This is sure to keep youngsters entertained and amused. What’s great about this book is that it should appeal to both boys and girls. The stories aren't overly simplistic, nor are they difficult, so this book is definitely appropriate for its intended audience. Highly recommended!


5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

Monday, February 8, 2016

Cool Kids Wear Glasses by Teddy O'Malley is an Excellent Way to Address Bullying with Middle-Graders



Mandy has crowned herself the coolest kid at school and queen of the third grade. In reality, Mandy is a tyrant who rejects anyone who is different. When she finds out she needs glasses to see better, she wonders how she’ll keep her cool kid title.
© Cool Kids Wear Glasses by Teddy O’Malley

Cool Kids Wear Glasses is a wonderful book for youngsters who may be just getting into chapter books. The chapters are short, yet packed with just the right amount of engaging elements to keep kids reading.

This book is certainly based on a timely subject. How many children know at least one school bully? I appreciated the way the author had Mandy gradually decide whether or not what she’s doing is bullying, since she wasn’t looking at it from the perspective of the uncool kids until she herself was in the same position. I think most children can relate to this. It definitely made Mandy a more likable character.

© Cool Kids Wear Glasses by Teddy O’Malley

This would make a great book to use as a way to introduce bullying to grade-schoolers. It’s an excellent jumping off point to begin an open dialogue with kids. I highly recommend it!

5 of 5 Stars, Susan Barton