Homeschool Friday - Calling All Cars & Tell Time with Thomas

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Calling All Cars!

By: Sonia Sander

Publication: February 28, 2017 by Scholastic Inc.

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Level-1, Early Reader

Source: Personal Library

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Description--Explore the world of LEGO City!

Sound the alarm! The bank is being robbed! Will the police solve the crime or will the bank robbers get away?

We're going through our collection of Step-1 or Level-1 readers with my now 7-year-old. He could probably advance to level-2 at this point, but I want to finish up the Level-1/Step-1 books that we have. He picked up Lego City: Calling All Cars. He played a Lego City game on the Switch so this book was right up his alley.

Lego City: Calling All Cars starts out with a bank robbery. The police are called and must solve the crime. Ultimately, they find the crooks but they still have to stop them. The good guys win in the end.

Lego City: Calling All Cars gets 3 Stars. It's fine. It's good. I liked the action aspect which is appealing to young boys. And Lego City being the setting when my son plays a Lego City game helps him to be interested in reading the book. Have you or your child read Lego City: Calling All Cars? What did you think? Let me know!

Tell the Time with Thomas

By: Christopher Awdry

Publication: July 25, 2006 by Random House Books for Young Readers

24 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Learning

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads )

Description--The day passes quickly as Thomas, James, and all of the Really Useful Engines keep right on schedule. This book includes a large clock with movable hands. It is the perfect way to help all of Thomas’ friends stay right on time!

My son surprised me when he pulled out Tell the Time with Thomas for his book of the day. I haven't been able to find an AR level or reading level for this book, but my 7-year-old was able to read this with a little help from me on a couple of words. We've also been working on the clock in his math so being able to find the clock while reading is an added fun activity that helps the child relate the clock to real-life activities. Only hours were used in this book, but it does address the quarters of the clock at the beginning and ending if you want to go over those with your child as well.

I can't say that my son has been particularly into Thomas the Train at any point, but he has pulled different Thomas books the last two times he chose a book to read. And I like he enjoyed learning the names of the different engines and cars.

Tell the Time with Thomas is a fun activity book that can be used for your child's reading once they start. My son is still reading level-1 books, but he's starting to advance towards level-2. We both recommend Tell the Time with Thomas and give it 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Tell the Time with Thomas? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Have Courage

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Have Courage!

By: Cheri J. Meiners

Illustrated By: Elizabeth Allen

Publication: May 21, 2014 by Free Spirit Publishing

40 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Manners, Parenting

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

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Description--Counsels children how to develop the assertiveness skills that will help them do what they believe is right, sharing advice for distinguishing between helpful and harmful things that others say while taking reasonable risks and speaking out.

Have Courage starts by telling children that even though they are small they can still stand tall. And then there's a short definition of courage: doing what's right even when it's hard or the child feels afraid. A contrast is shown between needing courage to say yes to something (like a vaccination) or needing courage to say no to something (like climbing up a slide). The author uses the term "dare" in a positive way. Children often want to follow through on dares. So I think this is a smart way to show courage. Speaking up for oneself to show what one likes and daring to be oneself. Sometimes courage is being brave to stand up in front of the classroom to share something. When a child speaks up to talk to a child they don't know, the end result could be making a new friend. And bravery can rub off on others. Focusing on what we want instead of what we're afraid of helps us not be held back by fear and miss out on experiences and adventures. Another definition of courage is given: doing important things that one didn't know they could do. And then a couple more reasons for why having courage is helpful.

Have Courage has a section for parents to reinforce the ideas found in the book, some questions to ask to provoke thinking, and even some activities and games to do with kids to help them build courage.

The illustrations perfectly matched the words so that the ideas are presented in a visual form as great examples that kids can relate to.

Have Courage is a great option for building up your child's character. These are the types of books that I really seek out. The book is written for children probably younger than 4, but all children can benefit from the same ideas. Have Courage gets 4.5 Stars. Have you or your child read Have Courage? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Hands Are Not for Hitting

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Hands Are Not for Hitting

By: Martine Agassi

Illustrated By: Marieka Heinlen

Publication: April 1, 2009 by Free Spirit Publishing

24 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Manners, Parenting

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

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Description--Little ones learn that hitting is never okay, hands can do many good things, and everyone is capable of positive, loving actions. Includes tips for parents and caregivers.

This series of books always starts with the positive. Hands are wonderful. And they come in all different shapes and sizes. Hands can do all kinds of amazing things. Waving is mentioned, but the page shows hands making symbols or ASL signs ("I love you" and "okay"), crossing fingers, shadow puppets, holding maracas, and even an animal paw. Hands are not for hitting is introduced early. And then some alternate uses for hands are listed: saying hello, drawing, playing, the itsy bitsy spider, and building. Repetition: hands are not for hitting. And then more proper uses of hands are listed: eating and drinking, dressing and undressing, keeping safe, taking care, and brushing teeth. Again: hands are not for hitting. Even more proper uses: helping, hugging, and waving goodbye.

The repetition is important for children. I do wish that addressing some of the reasons why a child might feel compelled to use their hands for hitting had been included and discussed.

This book was dual language, meaning that the English words were on the page, followed by the Spanish interpretation. This isn't super important for me. I am teaching my kids English only right now. Although I do plan for them to learn a second language at some point. I know enough Spanish to be able to read in Spanish if necessary--although my pronunciation probably needs some work. But if having this included is meaningful to you, then I thought you should know.

Hands Are Not for Hitting is a good option for very young kids. I liked the repetition of the concept, but I do wish some of the emotions behind wanting to hit were addressed. My children are a little old for this book, but the concept is timeless. Hands Are Not for Hitting gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Hands Are Not for Hitting? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Be Polite & Kind

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Be Polite & Kind

By: Cheri J. Meiners

Illustrated By: Meredith Johnson

Publication: December 15, 2003 by Free Spirit Publishing

40 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Manners

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

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Description--When children are kind, courteous, and respectful, people enjoy being around them and reciprocate with the same behavior. This book helps kids understand the importance of showing politeness, speaking kindly, using basic courtesies ("please," "thank you," "excuse me"), and respecting the feelings of others. Scenarios and role-play activities help adults reinforce the book's lessons.

We have been studying manners in our homeschool. So when I saw Be Polite & Kind for review, I grabbed it. Our family can get into a habit of using our words negatively with a negative tone. I feel like I've been harping on "be kind," "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." And "speak the truth with love." I'm guilty of it too. The content in this book is best suited for smaller children, but no one is too old for a reminder on polite behavior.

Be Polite & Kind sprinkles instruction, situational awareness, and the reason why we are polite and kind throughout in a cyclical manner. It starts out with how our words show others that they are important to us. Then there is a focus on the word "please" and a few situations where using "please" is polite and kind. There's a sprinkle of information: "Being polite means people will often want to help." Then, "thank you" is introduced with a few situations where the phrase could be used. I liked the attention being brought to the reader to make a point to notice things you can be thankful for and verbalize that to others. Help others. And then when others thank you, say "you're welcome." There were a few situations with "excuse me" and "I'm sorry". And then the reader is reminded to think before speaking. "No, thank you" is shown as an option for saying how you feel politely. And then again, the reason we do these things is shown. "Respect others because that is how we each like to be treated." And "people enjoy being around others who are polite and kind." All in all, I think Be Polite & Kind gets 4.5 Stars. Have you or your child read Be Polite & Kind? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Close Shave

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

The Close Shave

By: W. Awdry

Illustrated By: Richard Courtney

Publication: May 27, 2008 by Random House Books for Young Readers

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-1 Readers, Step-1 Readers, My First Reader

Source: Personal Library

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Description--THOMAS’ FRIEND DUCK likes to be Really Useful and Right on Time. One day, some Troublesome Trucks start pushing and they will not stop, and a station is just ahead! Duck works himself into a lather trying to brake in time, but ends up crashing into the station’s barber shop.

The Close Shave is an obvious choice for early readers who are fans of Thomas the Train. The hardest word in the book is "troublesome" which is only used once. Readers get to see how three troublemakers cause problems for Thomas, an engine named Duck, and a barber shop. So there's a little moral to the story which I always appreciate. The Troublesome Trucks are mean and cause problems. Duck is a hero and saves the day by thinking of others.

My seven-year-old isn't a Thomas fan exactly, but he did enjoy this book and read it willingly without any fuss. He did stumble on the word "troublesome" as I mentioned above. I do wish it had been used more than once to build up mastery and recognition. The main repetitive words were names, and so there weren't any repetitive phrases. Sometimes I appreciate repetitive phrases so that the child really begins to recognize and memorize those words. Other times, it's really nice from an adult reader perspective not to have the same phrases sprinkled throughout the book.

The Close Shave gets 4.5 Stars for being a good early reader, but also having a moral to the short story. Have you read The Close Shave? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Cooking with the Cat

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

The Cat in the Hat the Movie!: Cooking with the Cat

By: Bonnie Worth

Illustrated By: Christopher Moroney

Publication: October 14, 2003 by Random House Books for Young Readers

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-1 Readers, Step-1 Readers, My First Reader

Source: Personal Library

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Description--Look! Look! The Cat wants to cook!

Told with simple rhymes and rhythms, this jaunty illustrated tale gives very young readers a taste of the Cat in the Hat’s flamboyant cooking skills as he slaps on a Chef’s hat and whips up purple cupcakes using some truly odd ingredients! A cat-terrific spin-off based on Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat movie.

I hated The Cat in the Hat when I was a kid. I'm typically a rules-follower. Plus I don't like a mess. So these alien-looking creeps with no fingers terrorizing my house while my mother is gone sounds like a nightmare to me. That being said, Cooking with the Cat didn't make the little girl in me cringe.

Cooking with the Cat is 32 pages of rhyming and repetitive words and phrases. There's not much to it, and I'd say it falls on the easier side of level-1 readers. My son did like some of the nonsense that is typical of Dr. Seuss, but there's nothing too crazy.

Cooking with the Cat is a fine level-1 reader. It's fun for kids and anything that makes reading enjoyable is a win in my book. Cooking with the Cat gets 3.5 Stars. Has your early reader read Cooking with the Cat? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Let's Go for a Drive

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Let's Go for a Drive (Elephant & Piggie, # 18)

By: Mo Willems

Publication: October 2, 2012 by Hyperion Books for Children

64 pages

Genre: Children's, Level 1, Humor,

Source: Own/Personal Library

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Description--Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In Let's Go for a Drive Gerald and Piggie want to hit the road. But the best-laid plans of pigs and elephants often go awry.

Let's Go for a Drive is the fourth Elephant and Piggie story included in Biggie 1 even though Goodreads lists it as # 18 in the series. Elephant and Piggie books are books that my seven-year-old wants to read. They are lengthy books (64 pages) for this reading level. I love this. Most pages only have a sentence or two at most, so my son doesn't feel overwhelmed and can read through the books quickly. These are all AR Level 1 (a couple of them are 0.5 and 0.6) so the words aren't complex or difficult.

Gerald gets the great idea to go on a drive and asks Piggie to go also. The realize they need a plan and a map. Then they need sunglasses. Piggie is great at getting the things they will need for their drive. Planning ahead means they may need umbrellas. The realize they have a lot to take with them, so they need bags to carry their stuff. Ultimately, they realize they don't have a car.

The illustrations for Let's Go for a Drive make the series and bring the words to life. Any book that can get my son to enjoy any part of the reading process is a win for me. Let's Go for a Drive gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Let's Go for a Drive? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Can I Play Too?

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Can I Play Too (Elephant & Piggie, # 12)

By: Mo Willems

Publication: June 8, 2010 by Hyperion Books for Children

64 pages

Genre: Children's, Level 1, Humor,

Source: Own/Personal Library

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*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Description--Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

Can I Play Too? is the third Elephant and Piggie story included in Biggie 1 even though Goodreads lists it as # 12 in the series. Elephant and Piggie books are books that my seven-year-old wants to read. They are lengthy books (64 pages) for this reading level. I love this. Most pages only have a sentence or two at most, so my son doesn't feel overwhelmed and can read through the books quickly. These are all AR Level 1 (a couple of them are 0.5 and 0.6) so the words aren't complex or difficult.

Gerald asks Piggie to play catch. Piggie's excited. A snake comes up and asks if he can play catch too. Piggie and Gerald are concerned. They want to play with him, but he doesn't have any arms. The snake jokes with them, and he then attempts to catch the ball. Piggie and Gerald are determined to play catch with their snake friend, and things go a little awry. In the end, they are all happy with the results.

The illustrations for Can I Play Too? make the series and bring the words to life. Any book that can get my son to enjoy any part of the reading process is a win for me. Can I Play Too? gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Can I Play Too? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Watch Me Throw the Ball

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Watch Me Throw the Ball (Elephant & Piggie, # 8)

By: Mo Willems

Publication:March 17, 2009 by Hyperion Books for Children

64 pages

Genre: Children's, Level 1, Humor,

Source: Own/Personal Library

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*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Description--Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In Watch Me Throw the Ball! , Gerald is determined to teach Piggie that ball-throwing is serious business... but Piggie is just as determined to have serious fun.

Watch Me Throw the Ball is the second Elephant and Piggie story included in Biggie 1 even though Goodreads lists it as # 8 in the series. Elephant and Piggie books are books that my seven-year-old wants to read. They are lengthy books (64 pages) for this reading level. I love this. Most pages only have a sentence or two at most, so my son doesn't feel overwhelmed and can read through the books quickly. These are all AR Level 1 (a couple of them are 0.5 and 0.6) so the words aren't complex or difficult.

Piggie stumbles upon a ball. He's excited and Gerald tells him that Piggie found his ball. Gerald asks if Piggie knows the secret to throwing, and Pigge declares to have fun. Gerald is incensed. Gerald being matter-of-fact as he is tries to tell Piggie that it is hard work. Piggie's throw is terrible but Piggie is ever the optimistic and sees things his own way. Gerald tries to point out that Piggie didn't throw the ball very far at all, but Piggie doesn't mind because he had fun. Gerald gives the fun thing a try. In essence, a nice moral to the story to boot.

The illustrations for Watch Me Throw the Ball make the series and bring the words to life. Any book that can get my son to enjoy any part of the reading process is a win for me. Watch Me Throw the Ball gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Watch Me Throw the Ball? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Today I Will Fly

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Today I Will Fly (Elephant & Piggie, # 1)

By: Mo Willems

Publication: April 1, 2007 by Hyperion Books for Children

57 pages

Genre: Children's, Level 1, Humor,

Source: Own/Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Description--Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

Today, I Will Fly! is the funny introduction to the characters. Piggie is determined to fly. But Gerald the elephant knows that's impossible--isn't it?

Mo Willems is a beloved author for our family. We love the Pigeon books. And my daughter read a lot of Elephant and Piggie books when she was learning to read. (Side note: I always want to call them Piggie and Gerald.) So I got Biggie 1 for my 7-year-old son for Christmas this past year. I need books that he will want to read willingly and this series fits the bill pretty well. They are lengthy books (57 pages) for this reading level. I love this. Most pages only have a sentence or two at most, so the child doesn't feel overwhelmed and can actually blow through the books quickly. These are all AR Level 1 (a couple of them are 0.5 and 0.6) so the words aren't complex or difficult.

Piggie declares that he(?) will fly today. Gerald is too practical for that mess. He's like "nope, that's not going to happen." Piggie decides to enlist help. Piggie enlists a dog to help, but does not accomplish flying. Then Piggie enlists a duck to help. Gerald sees what looks like Piggie flying. Piggie declares that there was no flying, only helping. And then Gerald decides that tomorrow, he will fly.

The illustrations for Today I Will Fly really make the series and bring the words to life. My son ends up giggling through parts of this book. My biggest pro for Today I Will Fly is that my son didn't fight reading these books at all. Today I Will Fly gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Today I Will Fly? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Candymakers

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

The Candymakers (The Candymakers, # 1)

By: Wendy Mass

Publication: October 5, 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

453 pages

Genre: Children's, Middle Grade, Mystery, Fantasy, Realistic Fiction

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

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Goodreads description--Four children have been chosen to compete in a national competition to find the tastiest confection in the country. Who will invent a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Lightning Chew?

Logan, the Candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by touch alone?

Miles, the boy who is allergic to merry-go-rounds and the color pink?

Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy like it's a feather?

Or Philip, the suit-and-tie wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook?

This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations.

The Candymakers starts off pretty similarly to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Four kids have been selected to participate in this candy-making competition. The competition will have many more than 4 contestants, but these four are going to visit the Life Is Sweet candy factory to meet the candymaker and work with the staff to create a new candy creation/recipe. Other contestants from all over the country will work with other candy factories, and then they will all come together for a national candy-making competition. Before I move on, I wanted to note that how the contestants were chosen wasn't specified. And I bring this up because it bugged me not to know. Three out of the four contestants that this story is about had zero prior experience working with candy. Their knowledge was basically starting from scratch.

Each contestant had various reasons why they wanted to participate in the contest and why they wanted to win. But it drove me a little crazy wondering how they were each chosen. When you look at competitions today, especially like the ones on Food Network, the contestants already have prior experience. They aren't totally inexperienced. 

As the description says, we have four contestants, and each contestant has a part of the book where we follow them from day one of the competition up until a central point in a "who done it" kind of method. Then we move into the perspective most needed to advance the storyline. It's hard to discuss because the book is written in a bit of a mystery so I don't want to spoil anything. All of the characters are connected in some way or other which is part of the mystery as well.

The contestants being chosen are kind of like the kids with the golden ticket with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Once they arrive at the factory for the first day of the competition, the characters are given a tour of the factory where they see different rooms needed for the candy-making process. This is also similar to the Wonka Factory. Things aren't quite so magical as Wonka, but still. The candy all has weird names as well.

I read this aloud to my two older kids and they both really enjoyed it. My daughter always looked forward to me reading it. My son wouldn't always look forward to it, but he does a great job of seeing foreshadowing, so he would often spot clues that pointed to answering various mysteries in the book. 

I really underestimated the amount of time it would take me to read this to my kids. At this point, I was only reading to them every other day at bedtime, but during times when the kids had extracurricular activities we often had to skip reading in favor of hurrying off to bed since we'd gotten home late. I started reading this in July 2024 and didn't finish it until December. I will try not to pick books this long to read aloud until I can read them every day or read bigger chunks at one time.

The Candymakers was an enjoyable family read-aloud. It was reminiscent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which we've also read aloud together so the kids enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences. The mysteries were fun for the kids to try to figure out. I highly recommend this for young kids. (Mine were 7 and 9 when we finished reading this if that gives you an idea of a target audience.) The Candymakers gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Candymakers? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Look for the Lorax

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Look for the Lorax

By: Tish Rabe

Publication: January 10, 2012 by Random House Books for Young Readers

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Level-1 Readers, Early Reading, Step Into Reading

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Look out for the Lorax! Dr. Seuss's lovable grump makes his Step into Reading debut in this wonderland adventure through hills of green where the Truffula trees sway. Through easy words and simple sentences, the youngest readers will discover the Lorax's paradise, from singing Swomee-Swans to playful Bar-ba-loots.

We're going through our collection of Step-1 or Level-1 readers with my now 7-year-old. He could probably advance to level-2 at this point, but I want to finish up the Level-1/Step-1 books that we have. He picked Look for the LORAX thinking there would be a hide-and-seek element to the book. There's not. Don't be confused. The Lorax isn't hiding at all. The "story" mentions some things that the Lorax sees.

Look for the LORAX is written in a style reminiscent of Dr. Seuss, meaning there is a rhyming scheme. I like that it repeats phonetic principles so that the child can see how changing just a few letters here or there makes a similar but different word. And I like that the Step-1 readers we have are a mix of repetitive words and phrases as well as repetitive phonics principles.

Look for the LORAX gets 3 Stars. It's fine. It's good. The title is a little confusing. And there's nothing wrong with it. But I wasn't overly impressed with anything. Have you or your child read Look for the LORAX? What did you think? Let me know!

All Things Halloween/Homeschool Friday - The Wild Robot

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, # 1)

By: Peter Brown

Publication: April 5, 2016

279 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library (was on sale)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Can a robot survive in the wilderness?

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.

I got The Wild Robot a while back because I'm trying to increase the number of chapter books that I am reading aloud to my kids. My kids are currently 8, 6, and 3. We just finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire which is a massive book for the age of my kids. I wanted to take a break from the Harry Potter series before we started that one, but my daughter was determined to push forward. I am forcing a break before we move into book 5 though because the subject matter gets more mature and the plot gets more complex. But back to The Wild Robot. I might have an easier time convincing my kids to pick this one as our read-aloud option before bed if I were more familiar with it. So I get the audiobook from the e-library. 

Kate Atwater does a wonderful job with the narration. She is robotic when Roz speaks without being too over the top. And her voices for the other characters were just enough to distinguish them without making it feel like too much either. I think my kids would enjoy the audiobook version as well, since I have the Kindle version, I will probably just read this aloud to them when convenient. Kate did give me a great jumping-off point to guide my own inflection while reading aloud.

The book description tells you about all that I can when it comes to plot. Roz is a robot that wakes up on an island. Some robot pieces were scattered around where she wakes up, and she realizes that she's the only robot who survived. And survival is exactly what Roz needs. I love this concept. That's what most of us humans are doing as well. We're surviving. We have to survive in the basic sense of feeding and clothing ourselves. Of course, our society is more advanced in technology so we have many of our survival needs almost on autopilot. But there's still more we have to survive. We need other humans for survival. We need relationships. And so we have to manage, navigate, and sometimes survive our relationships. And how we survive becomes learned and ingrained. Roz does the same thing. She has to adapt to her environment to survive. She doesn't have basic needs as far as eating or sleeping. She can rest, but many of her instincts are about helping her not to die rather than needing xyz to survive. Either way, she sees that she needs to learn from the animals on the island if she's going to survive.

But life should go beyond mere survival. Of course, if we don't have our basic needs met, we can't look beyond that to relationships. But once we have the basics we can move from surviving to thriving. Roz shows us that the most satisfying "survival" we can have is to be helpful to others. We can create better relationships that allow us to both survive and thrive when we're living a life that helps and serves those around us. Roz goes from being viewed as a monster in the eyes of the animals on the island to being family. 

I'm always on the lookout for books with strong moral values--especially if those can be taught in a way that doesn't cram the message down the reader's throat. The Wild Robot succeeded in that area. When we get to the end of the book, the stakes are raised, and the adventure peaks. Some sensitive readers might find this to be too intense for them, but I think my kids would be just fine. They survived Cedric Diggory's murder as well as Charlotte's self-sacrifice from Charlotte's Web. So I think they will handle The Wild Robot without any issues. I'm not sure if we'll continue the series as I've heard less than stellar opinions about the subsequent books in this series. But for now, The Wild Robot gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) The Wild Robot? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

All Things Halloween/Homeschool Friday - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

By: Roald Dahl

Expected Publication: January 17, 1964

196 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Humor

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--'The ultimate children's story' - David Walliams

Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Gold Ticket from Mr Willy Wonka! I shake you warmly by the hand! Tremendous things are in store for you!

One miraculous moment changes Charlie Bucket's life forever.

A boy who only gets to eat cabbage soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner finds a Golden Ticket that will take him into Willy Wonka's magical chocolate factory.

Joining him on the tour are four horrible

Augustus Gloop - a great big greedy nincompoop, Veruca Salt - a spoiled brat, Violet Beauregarde - a repulsive little gum-chewer and Mike Teavee - a TV addict.

With a chocolate river, crafty squirrels and mysterious Oompa Loompas, Mr Wonka's chocolate factory is the strangest, most magnificent place Charlie has ever seen.

What other surprises are in store for the lucky ticket winners?

Now you can listen to CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry - plus there are added squelchy soundeffects from Pinewood Studios!

I'm not looking to add to what's been said about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by many smarter and more in-depth reviewers already. I only want to review our experience of the book. We got into a habit of listening to an audiobook in the car when driving around places. For one, I wanted to give the kids something to "do" when they weren't allowed to use their tablets in the car. Also, I wanted to get to a few more books as a family than we were doing. And since working these into our homeschool hasn't been too successful yet (we're only in our first year), I thought audiobooks in the car might help us get around to a few more books. And so we chose to listen to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on our way home from a field trip where we had an hour and a half drive. 

The audiobook version of this was well done. Douglas Hodge did a wonderful job narrating.

The two movies that have been made based upon this book have both done a wonderful job and between the two of them, I could picture what was happening based upon each movie. I think I pictured Johnny Depp's version of Willy Wonka the most, as well as Freddie Highmore as Charlie. But I had flashes of both movies during the book. The kids all enjoyed listening, and I think it also helped that they could picture the movies as well. And of course, they wanted to watch both versions after we finished.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is probably my favorite of Roal Dahl's book (that I've read so far out of four). It's just weird enough to be a fun fantasy for me without being too weird and too realistic. See, I don't like when books are supposed to be realistic but there's a bit of magic. And books like James and the Giant Peach are a little out there (too fantastical) for my preferences. 

Of course, there are many important moral lessons that we can learn from the children and parents included in the story. I won't expound upon those just now, but I always love when fiction has a nice moral and lesson to be learned. It isn't always as easy as eating chocolate to apply those lessons to our own lives, but I am a firm believer that little bit by little bit, these types of stories influence our character and our worldview. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Homeschool Friday - I Know Mad

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

I Know Mad (We Find Feeling Clues)

By: Lindsay N. Giroux

Illustrated By: Alicia Teba Godoy

Publication: September 3, 2024 by Free Spirit Publishing

36 pages

Genre: Children's, Emotions

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Children learn to recognize and cope with feeling mad, frustrated, and jealous.

A young feelings detective looks for clues, both physical and emotional, to identify anger, frustration, and jealousy in themselves and in others. The child uses a special notebook to draw their feelings and identify how they feel. By noticing the clues, the feelings detective is able to find a new plan to overcome feeling jealous and even help their mom when she is feeling frustrated.

We Find Feelings Clues

Increase children's emotion vocabulary and boost their emotional literacy. This series helps children learn how to find, notice, and use a variety of clues to identify and name their emotions and those of others. Clues are found in facial expressions and body language, sensations within the body, and knowledge of past experiences. After identifying an emotion, children also learn how they can feel better when their emotions are overwhelming. Each book features a child using the tool of the feelings detective notebook to record their feelings through drawings and words. Additional information and strategies on recognizing and dealing with feelings are included at the back of each book.

I Know Mad helps in the important task of teaching children how to label their emotions. The book guides them through a variety of situations, facial expressions, and ways their bodies might feel during the emotions of anger, frustration, and jealousy. I know there's a limit to the amount of information you can include in a children's book, but I wish that anger being a secondary emotion would have been discussed. Anger (or as the book describes "mad") happens after another emotion like sadness, fear, loneliness, or hurt. Understanding our emotions is crucial to having good mental health as well as healthy relationships.

I Know Mad did focus on coping strategies. The idea of a "feel better basket" is one that I might incorporate into my own home. Suggestions were even made about what to include in this type of basket. Asking for help from an adult and talking things out with someone else were both strategies used. Most of all, empathy towards others who might be feeling similar strong emotions is a great inclusion to this topic. The last page of the book shows the word "calm" on the artwork that a child created for his emotional artwork. Calmness is the goal. I recently heard the saying "All emotions are welcome, but not all behavior is welcome." And I think even though calmness is the goal, teaching children that some emotions are negative lends to some shame around feeling those emotions when they do arise, which they inevitably will.

I read I Know Mad with my six-year-old son who struggles with regulating his emotions and frequently falls into anger and frustration. I think the ideal age for this book is a little younger than my son. But I asked him when we were done reading it if he thought it would help children understand and work through their anger. He said he thought so. Now, is this a book that he wants to read again? Not really, unfortunately. I can see where my younger son might benefit from this book even more, I just haven't had an opportunity to read it with him since it's on my computer instead of my phone or a physical copy.

I Know Mad is a great introduction to helping young kids understand, label, and process their emotions of mad, frustration, and jealousy. I do wish there were a few things that were added or different. Overall, I think I Know Mad gets 4 Stars. Have you read I Know Mad? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - This Is My Treehouse

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

This Is My Treehouse

By: Guillaume Gueraud & Alfred

Publication: September 3, 2024

36 pages

Genre: Children's, Juvenile Fiction / Imagination & Play

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Edelweiss description--Discover a secret hideaway built from dreams and imagination in this stunning and special book that will leave readers longing for a treehouse of their own.

Sitting high in the branches of a tall tree in the forest, there is a den made from bits of wood, and rope, and Grandma's old parasol. But for one child it is much, much more – it's a castle, a pirate ship, an igloo, a plane. A place to dream.

Joyful and lyrical, This is My Treehouse observes the endless adventures our imaginations can take us on, and the sanctuary offered by a space to call our own.

With tender text from award-winning author Guillaume Gueraud, and stunning visuals from graphic novel artist Alfred, this evocative story celebrates the playful wonder of childhood.

This Is My Treehouse is a book about...a treehouse. The book covers all the imaginative ways that the child plays in the treehouse. The child imagines kingdoms and pirates. The weather changes from season to season and weather changes, the treehouse provides sanctuary and imaginative play. The illustrations are beautiful. The colors are bold and change through the seasons, weather, and imaginings. The pictures are loose enough that a child can imagine however much or however little they want to make things their own. I can't picture a child reading this book and not immediately wanting to go out and build their own treehouse where they can have the same experiences as what is described here in This Is My Treehouse. This Is My Treehouse gets 4 Stars. Have you read This Is My Treehouse? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Things That Go Bump in the Day

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Things That Go Bump in the Day

By: Melinda Beatty

Illustrated By: Charlene Chua

Publication: August 6, 2024 by Dial Books

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Halloween

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The sun is out and it’s time for vampire Vlad to go to bed, but it’s easier said than done with all the creepy, creaky daytime noises that keep him (and his mother) from getting a good day’s rest.

Vampire Vlad is all tucked in, ready for bed. But his imagination runs wild when he hears all the daytime noises happening outside. A clickety-clack, a skreek and a clang? Who knows what that could be!

With each new sound, Vlad races to his patient and reassuring, but tired mama’s room until he learns how to calm himself down and finally get a good day’s rest. Melinda Beatty’s clever text and award-winning illustrator Charlene Chua’s imaginative illustrations make the perfect bedtime read (during the day or night) for anyone a little nervous to go to bed.

Things That Go Bump in the Day is very conceptual. There's a kid vampire who sleeps during the day and is scared of normal daytime noises like the mailman putting the mail in the mailbox or a fire engine off to a firefight. He runs to his mother to discuss what he's heard. And she comforts him by telling him the noises he's heard are just various monsters about their normal activities. And of course, the mother's explanations aren't scary at all. I can see kids being confused about this. I guess it depends on the age range that you're reading to. My three-year-old would be drawn to this book because he loves all the Halloween-themed books, but I can also bet you that he wouldn't understand the concept. My older two kids might get it, but I'd probably have to explain it to them. I did like the illustration style. And the cover is eye-catching. Things That Go Bump in the Day gets 3 Stars. Have you read Things That Go Bump in the Day? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

I Survived the Chicago Fire, 1871 (I Survived, # 11)

By: Lauren Tarshis

Publication: February 24, 2015 by Scholastic Inc.

115 pages

Genre: Children's, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Chapter Book

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Could an entire city really burn to the ground? Oscar Starling never wanted to come to Chicago. But then Oscar finds himself not just in the heart of the big city, but in the middle of a terrible fire! No one knows exactly how it began, but one thing is clear: Chicago is like a giant powder keg about to explode.An army of firemen is trying to help, but this fire is a ferocious beast that wants to devour everything in its path, including Oscar! Will Oscar survive one of the most famous and devastating fires in history? Lauren Tarshis brings history's most exciting and terrifying events to life in this New York Times-bestselling series. Readers will be transported by stories of amazing kids and how they survived!

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 is the second book in the I Survived series that we have listened to. We follow Oscar who's mother is remarrying after being a widow for a while. Oscar isn't happy to be moving to a new place even though he does like the man his mother is planning on marrying. When they arrive at the train station in Chicago Oscar's luggage is stolen, and shortly after he decides to take off after a girl who was instrumental in helping the boys who stole it. Oscar finds the little girl and learns why she is helping a gang of boys steal in the city. In the meantime, the famous fire breaks out and Oscar has to find his way back to his mother and Mr. Morrow while helping the little girl also.

My kids were really enjoying the audiobook when we had to take a break because they went on a trip during Spring Break with my parents and our library copy expired. The break in our rhythm kins of messed things up, and they weren't as excited to finish this book than I think they would have been otherwise.

Oscar's story is brief but packed full of all the good things you hope for in a kid's book. He faces many challenges and has to overcome them. The people he meets aren't always good, and he has to decide how to handle each one.

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 was another good installment in a series that I know we will continue diving into. I love how Lauren Tarshis mixes fictional stories into historical events that help the reader (or listener) feel like they are actually experiencing the events and learning about historical events in the process. The characters always face challenges that bring out the best in them. I Survived the Chicago Fire, 1871 gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - No Kisses, Please!

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

No Kisses, Please!

By: Hans Wilhelm

Publication: January 1, 2004

32 pages

Genre: Children's, First Readers

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Noodles the puppy faces a new kind of problem. Auntie Judy has arrived for a visit, and he is determined to avoid getting a kiss! When his attempt to hide in the garden fails, Noodles comes up with a hilarious and messy plan. This funny Level 1 story is perfect for beginning readers.

In No Kisses, Please! we follow a dog whose aunt is coming to visit. The aunt always gives him kisses which he doesn't like. He tries hiding, but that doesn't work. Eventually, he finds something that works. In the end, he gets something better than kisses.

This story appealed to my 6-year-old son because he isn't always a fan of kisses either. He can understand wanting to get away and hide from people who want to smother you with kisses. Even though this wasn't laugh-out-loud funny, it was funny enough for him to appreciate the story and relate.

No Kisses, Please! gets 4 Stars. I have no complaints with it, but I'm a firm believer of not giving everything 5 Stars because then you have nothing to rate the exceptional. Have you or your child read No Kisses, Please!? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Get the Giggles

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Get the Giggles: A First Joke Book

By: [Scholastic Reader Level 1]

Illustrator: Bronwen Davies

Expected Publication: April 29, 2014 by Scholastic Inc.

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Humor, First Readers, Joke Books

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--This joke book is sure to tickle your funny bone!

Why is it hard to play cards in the jungle?
-There are too many cheetahs.

What's a pirate's favorite letter?
-Aaarrr!

What time is it when an elephant sits on your fence?
-Time to get a new fence.

These hilariously simple jokes will have beginning readers rolling on the floor with laughter.

My six-year-old is a reluctant reader. He CAN do it. But overall, he doesn't enjoy reading. Yet. So I'm always on the lookout for books that might interest him. I wanted to get all of my kiddos a book as an end of school present, and this seemed like the perfect choice. And I have to say, I was right. My six-year-old loved this book. Not only has he read it and laughed, but he's read it more than once without complaining at all. Before long, I know he'll have it memorized word for word. Of course, the jokes aren't mind-blowing. They're written for early readers. That's the entire point of the book. But if you have a child who likes jokes but doesn't love reading, Get the Giggles might be a great choice for him/her. I have to give Get the Giggles 5 Stars. Have you read Get the Giggles? What did you think? Let me know!