The Toys' Christmas by Claire Clement (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a digital copy of this picture book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

The Toys' Christmas
Words by Claire Clement
Illustrated by Genevieve Godbout
Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books
on November 9, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages 
Ages: 3 - 7 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
This cozy, cuddly Christmas story tells how Santa makes sure he leaves the perfect gift for each child--with a little help from their favorite toys! 


My Thoughts:

It's Christmas Eve and Little Noah can't find his favorite toy, an elephant named Fanfan. Why? Because Fanfan is off on a very important errand to deliver Noah's Christmas wish! 

Every year, beloved stuffed animals and other toys take a long journey to the North Pole to deliver their owner's Christmas wishes to Santa Claus. Who else would know a child's most secret wishes? 

This is a magical and heartwarming holiday story that little ones will absolutely adore! With soft, calming illustrations and colors, this picture book is a perfect bedtime story for the holiday season.

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Journey to the Last River by Teddy Keen (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Journey to the Last River
by Teddy Keen
Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books
on November 9, 2021
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 128 pages
Ages: 7 - 12 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Are you ready to take part in an adventure? To face danger at every turn? To venture into unknown lands? If you are, then Journey to the Last River may be the perfect adventure book for you. 

Join the Unknown Adventurer on this thrilling adventure into the Amazon, which begins with a map discovered in the Royal Geographical Society showing a river that has been mysteriously rubbed out. It leads to the Unknown Adventurer and his companion Bibi into a search for this 'last river' that will change their understanding of nature forever. 

This is the first title in a new series of spin-off adventures from The Lost Book of Adventure. 

My Thoughts:

Journey to the Last River is a fantastic adventure story that will inspire you to journal your own adventures while giving a first-hand account of the author/illustrator's journey into the Amazon after discovering a purposely smudged map at the Royal Geographical Society that showed an otherwise uncharted river.  

The "Unknown Adventurer" teams up with a friend, Bibi, and sets off to the Brazilian savanna, where they enter the jungle on a journey to find the lost river and encounter all that the rich habitat and ecosystems have to provide. 

This reads like an actual travel journal and I honestly wish more books were like this!

The author/artist included colorful illustrations and doodles around and along with the handwritten tale of their adventure, as well as actual taped-in samples of leaves, snake skins, fish scales, and even actual panned flakes of gold!
 I loved seeing what they saw and learning little things about plants and creatures and more that were added in the text or as footnotes alongside their illustrations. 

This was just absolutely fascinating and had me pouring over it and its beautiful illustrations as often as possible! I definitely recommend it if you enjoy first-hand accounts or nature or adventures or all of the above! 

Many thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this amazing book! 

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Greta and the Giants by Zoe Tucker & Zoe Persico (Children's Picture Book Review)

Greta and the Giants

Written by Zoe Tucker
Illustrated by Zoe Persico
Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books
on November 19, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Nonfiction
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 7 years


Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
This picture book tells the story of Nobel Prize nominee Greta Thunberg--the Swedish teenager who has led a global movement to raise awareness about the world's climate crisis--using allegory to make this important topic accessible to young children.

My Thoughts:

Greta and the Giants is the heartwarming story of a girl who saves the forest. It was inspired by Greta Thunberg and has all of the same heart that she has shown towards the well-being of our planet, with peaceful protest and a happy ending. 

Greta lives peacefully in the forest with her animal friends, until one day they ask her for help. They tell her that the giants are ruining the forest and their homes, so Greta makes a sign and proceeds to peacefully protest until others join in and the giants finally take notice. 

This sweet story is gorgeously illustrated and filled with amazing woodland creatures and plant life. There is lots of color and depth and texture but I especially loved the animals and diverse human characters that come together peacefully to make a change.

This story really hits me in the feels every time I read it. Whether you appreciate Greta Thunberg or not, this is an amazing story about a girl who wants to make a difference in the world. There is a little bit of extra information about Greta Thunberg at the end of the story but also a little more about how anyone can make a difference!

More like this:


How to Make A Better World: For Every Kid Who Wants to Make A Difference
We Are Power: How Nonviolent Activism Changes the World

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