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.
Goodreads description--A Massachusetts Book Awards Must-Read for 2022!
Sometimes Lulu wants to play, but her big sister Zoey doesn’t. Sometimes Zoey tries to share, but Lulu won’t. Sometimes, it is HARD to get along with a sister! But, sometimes, sisters come together and create something wonderful. This charming story follows the adventures of Lulu and Zoey as they navigate the ups and downs of sisterhood and find there is room in their hearts for each other.
I love the illustrations in this one. My 7-year-old daughter read this during independent reading time and told me I needed to read it too because it was so good. And she was right. It was. The challenges of having a sister is so tricky. One the one hand, your sister can be your best friend. On the other hand, sometimes you just want things for yourself. This is always the case with age gaps too. But we both loved this book, the message behind it, and the ending. It would easily be applicable to siblings of different genders, but there's certainly something special and unique about sisters.
Goodreads description--A silly, noisy bedtime book that will have readers squealing, croaking, and laughing along before settling down for a quiet night's sleep!
It's time for bed, but one little mouse just can't get to sleep—it's TOO QUIET! However, the night is actually full of sounds, from the croak of the bullfrog to the howl of a coyote on a distant hill. As the rhythmic symphony of nighttime noises build in this rollicking read-aloud, the mouse starts to wonder whether he wouldn't like a little MORE quiet.
• From the bestselling author of the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series
• Sweet illustrations by renowned artist Tony Fucile
• A hilarious read-aloud perfect for bedtime or story time
Little readers will delight in the humor and interactivity of It's So Quiet —which concludes by encouraging an appreciation of nighttime's soothing quiet.
• Children's books for kids ages 3–5
• Funny, rhyming picture book
• Perfect for kids who love animals and animal noises
Meh, I didn't like it. The illustrations aren't my favorite. The animal noises or sounds the mouse heard weren't phonetically what I would imagine each time (some were, some weren't). Ultimately it just wasn't a favorite. I think we all kind of looked at each other disappointedly and then moved onto the next book in our stack. This was picked out by our 2-year-old boy.
Goodreads description--Perfect for all children experiencing loss or grief, A Flood of Kindness gracefully confronts difficult feelings and celebrates the healing power of kindness.
"The night the river jumped its banks, everything changed."
So begins A Flood of Kindness, a poignant picture book that addresses grief and loss and demonstrates how kindness can bring hope. Written in spare prose and told from an intimate first-person point of view, the story follows Charlotte, a young girl who watches floodwaters rise in her home and is forced to evacuate to a shelter with her parents. Kind people she doesn't know give her food, socks and shoes to keep her feet warm, and a place to sleep. As Charlotte adjusts to the shelter--a strange, crowded place that is not home--she grapples with feelings of anger and sadness. But as the days go by, Charlotte starts to realize how grateful she is for the things that she does have--her parents, a cot to sleep on, food to eat--and starts looking for ways to help others in the shelter.
All children deal with sadness and loss in some way, whether it stems from a natural disaster, the death of a pet, or moving to a new place. A Flood of Kindness acknowledges those difficult feelings and helps readers process them in a healthy way. Children will be encouraged to be kind to those who need a friend and to help others in whatever way they can, no matter how small.
I saw "kindness" and picked this up from the library without even flipping through the book at all. It deals with the heavy situation of a family being forced from their home due to a flood. The little girl in the book is so scared, and she just wants to be back home with her things and everything that makes her comfortable. I could tell that my kids were somber when I was reading this book to them. The story is really sweet even if heavy. I felt like this was a great lesson and exposure to them, but I also felt like I needed to liven the mood with something silly after we read this book. Great story and meaning though.
Goodreads description--A sweet sibling story about one fed-up big sister who wants to find a space of her own, perfect for fans of Ashley Spires's The Most Magnificent Thing .
Mia loved her big, bright room . . . until she had to share it with her new brother. With Brandon's toys, books, and even underwear taking up space, Mia has finally had it. "I'm moving out!" There are lots of new and interesting spaces she could settle into--the bathroom, the basement, even a pillow fort. But something is always missing. What could it be? Tackling the oh-so-relatable topic of finding a space of one's own, Mia will inspire siblings everywhere to work together as a team. Because sometimes the best place of all is a shared one.
This one sparked some discussion. I remember trying to run away from home when I was little. I don't even know how old, but I packed my things and was ready to leave, but my mom asked if maybe I shouldn't wait to leave until after dinner and I thought that was a pretty good idea. I might get hungry out there. And then she said well it's mighty dark out there, you might get scared. And I thought "yep, better wait until morning", and then by morning I forgot I was planning to run away. Having to share space with your siblings isn't always easy, but this was a nice lesson in learning to live together and share space. And hey, you might just be able to find a fun space for you and your sibling.
Goodreads description--A tender tale to remind the youngest of children that Mommy always comes back.
"I want my mommy!" Three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, and they can't help but wonder where she is. What is she doing? When will she be back? What scary things move all around them? Stunning illustrations from striking perspectives capture the anxious little owls as they worry. Not surprisingly, joyous flapping and dancing and bouncing greet the mother's return, lending a celebratory tone to the ending of this comforting tale. Never has the plight of young ones who miss their mother been so simply told or so beautifully rendered.
I confess I had a little bit higher hopes for this book. I thought the little owls were going to have to work together to survive with their mom gone. Instead, this was just a realistic view of the potential responses a little one might have to their mom being away. It was cute, but didn't blow me away.
