M.M. Hudson's Blog, page 71

Review: The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman /Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline #DiverseBooks

Summary:
"Pick whatever you like most. Then I’ll tell you its story." 
When a little girl visits her great-grandfather at his curio-filled home, she chooses an unusual object to learn about: an old cigar box. What she finds inside surprises her: a collection of matchboxes making up her great-grandfather’s diary, harboring objects she can hold in her hand, each one evoking a memory. Together they tell of his journey from Italy to a new country, before he could read and write — the olive pit his mother gave him to suck on when there wasn’t enough food; a bottle cap he saw on his way to the boat; a ticket still retaining the thrill of his first baseball game. With a narrative entirely in dialogue.

My review:
This is the tale of a great-grandfather and great-granddaughter, getting to know one another through oral stories. The grandfather tells his story of his hardship life in Italy and coming to America. Along the way he keeps an unusual diary that only he could tell the story.

I thought this was an incredibly sweet way of telling yet another kind of "diary book" but this is no ordinary diary or ordinary immigration story. It goes to show that no matter what one person is capable or not capable of doing, in this case reading and writing, that their story can still be told. I thought it was amazing that this young boy knew that he needed to remember where he came from and his trip along the way. He managed to collect small things in such a way that he would never forget.

I enjoyed the telling as each matchbox was opened. Although this book would be considered a picture book, I thought it could have been expanded even more. None-the-less, I liked what was told.

The illustrations were by far what makes this book. Most of the photos are done in heavily muted browns and yellow. This has been purposely done to show oldness, age, and a time gone by. The incredible details of each matchbox were only something of a master illustrator.

Overall, I really liked this book and it is one that I think should be in schools and homes. It is one that will remain timeless. 5 stars.

Disclosure: I picked up a copy of this book at my local library. The reviews here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. aka Naila Moon




Where to find the author:

Amazon
Goodreads

National Read A Book Day #ReadABookDay #YouTubeVideo

Today I am celebrating National Read A Book Day. Nobody seems to know who started this holiday but it really does not matter. What does matter is that you pick up your favorite book and read it? Or maybe go to your local library and check out a great book or two. There are some hidden gems there!

I decided to do a video of me reading to my grand-kids, or for that matter, any child that wants to listen. So get comfy and listen as I read a book from author, Carole P. Roman.

Happy National Read A Book Day to you! ~M.M. aka Naila Moon

#Giveaway: Package of 3 books by Paulette Bogan & $20 Amazon ( Two Winners) Open U.S. & Canada

This giveaway is part of the book tour "Bossy Flossy " by Paulette Bogan. Watch out for my review of this book Sept. 23rd. Win a package of 3 children’s books by Paulette Bogan: Bossy Flossy, Virgil & Owen, and Virgil & Owen Stick Together plus a $20 Amazon Gift Card (Open to USA & Can) 2 winners, giveaway ends Oct 8-Enter below Disclosure: I, Naila Moon, of Reading Authors was asked to promote this giveaway and is not responsible for prize shipment. a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Review: Tucky Jo and Little Heart by Patricia Polacco

Summary:
Tucky Jo was known as the “kid from Kentucky” when he enlisted in the army at age fifteen. Being the youngest recruit in the Pacific during World War II was tough. But he finds a friend in a little girl who helps him soothe his bug bites, and he gets to know her family and gives them some of his rations. Although the little girl doesn’t speak English, Tucky Jo and Little Heart share the language of kindness. Many years later, Tucky Jo and Little Heart meet again, and an act of kindness is returned when it’s needed the most in this touching picture book based on a true story.

My review:
This is the sweetest, most heart felt, children's book I have come across. This is the story of an act of kindness done during a time of tribulation, that test time and space.

There were a few men of time period that were truly way too young to be fighting in a war. Here the reader sees a young man's kindness over what is a terrible surroundings. He takes a huge chance by befriending this young girl and heartbreak will follow, in the end, it was worth it. 

I loved that his friendship with this small girl would eventually grow to be something big and save not one life but two.

This book is a true story and highly recommended. 5 stars!

Disclosure: I picked up a copy of this book from my local library. The view expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. aka Naila Moon

Where to find the author:


Amazon
Goodreads

Spotlight & #Giveaway: Black Thumb by Frankie Bow #mysteries

The Black Thumb (Professor Molly Mysteries) (Volume 3)
Paperback: 342 pages
Publisher: Hawaiian Heritage Press (April 18, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-1943476183Summary: When a violent death disrupts the monthly meeting of the Pua Kala Garden society, Professor Molly Barda has no intention of playing amateur detective. But Molly’s not just a witness-the victim is Molly’s house guest and grad-school frenemy. And Molly quickly finds to her dismay that her interest in the murder of the stylish and self-centered Melanie Polewski is more than just…academic.
About The AuthorLike Molly Barda, Frankie Bow teaches at a public university. Unlike her protagonist, she is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, a loving family, and a perfectly nice office chair. She believes if life isn’t fair, at least it can be entertainingIn addition to writing murder mysteries, she publishes in scholarly journals under her real name. Her experience with academic publishing has taught her to take nothing personally.Author LinksWebpage: www.frankiebow.comGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7809288.Frankie_BowPurchase LinksAmazon  – B&N 
Would you like to win a copy of one of the books from this author? Then enter below. Good luck.Disclosure: I, Naila Moon, agreed to promote this author only and am not responsible for prize distribution. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Review: Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull/Illustrated by David Diaz #Olympics #DiverseBooks

Summary:
Before Wilma Rudolph was five years old, polio had paralyzed her left leg. Everyone said she would never walk again. But Wilma refused to believe it. Not only would she walk again, she vowed, she'd run. And she did run--all the way to the Olympics, where she became the first American woman to earn three gold medals in a single Olympiad.

My review:
I have always heard of Wilma Rudolph, her story is legendary. However, her story was not complete until I read this book. It is amazing to me that this woman had overcome not only polio, but also all the childhood diseases we now have vaccines for. She often had double pneumonia too.

She was one of the youngest 23 children and at the time faced discrimination in Tennessee where she was born. Many doctors would not even treat her because of her color. She was most often treated at home. It is amazing she lived past her first birthday but then to become so great in history...Wow!

I loved her story of tenacity and never giving up. This is a story that many of us should learn because if we do, we can do and become anything we want.

As for the illustrations, the are bold and in mostly brown colors with touches of greens, oranges, and blues. They are all done in watercolor and just as fantastic as the whole story itself.

The book is a gold medal for me with 5 stars!

Disclosure: I obtained a copy of this book from my local library. The review here is 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. aka Naila Moon

Where to find the author:


Amazon
Goodreads

Write On August Review-a-thon #Challenge

Hey, I have come across this monthly challenge which seems to be a good one to me. Since this is new to me, I am going to take it on with gusto!Here is what we are supposed to do:

The Write On Review-a-Thon is a challenge hosted by Book Bumblings. From Friday through Sunday, we all band together and write as many reviews as possible. It’s a weekend for you to either catch up on reviews or get ahead on upcoming ones. It doesn’t matter if you write one review or 10 – if you write a review, you’re in. [image error]

#Review: Rice and Rocks by Sandra L. Richards #DiverseBooks

Summary:
Giovanni’s friends are coming over for Sunday dinner, and his grandmother is serving rice and beans. Giovanni is embarrassed—he does not like “rice and rocks” and worries his friends will think the traditional Jamaican dish is weird. But his favorite Auntie comes to the rescue. She and Giovanni’s pet parrot, Jasper, take him on a magical journey across the globe, visiting places where people eat rice and rocks. This exciting story celebrates the varied traditions of every culture while also highlighting the delicious similarities that bring us all together. 


.My review:This wonderful little picture book celebrates cultural differences and cultural sameness. What I like about it though, the boy in the story learns about his own culture and that of others by going to the places where his friends are from.

Children reading this book are sure to get the concept that sometimes, even though we may be different, sometimes we have very similar taste in things, as the case in this book for food.
I found it interesting that one of the cultures used the beans and rice as a celebratory food and that them came up in the end of the book.

I thought the book had a magical essence about it because the way that the child and his aunt traveled and the interesting pet he had. This gave the book a different spin that I had not seen before.I loved that the child's interest were wrapped up in their travels too. That was a nice touch.

Finally, I really liked the illustrations in this book, they pretty much filled up the pages. They were not loud, bright colors but a bit more muted. Some pictures even were in black and white. That made them feel in a different time and space.

This is the first book from this author and I look forward to reading other books from her.  5 stars.


Disclosure: I received a PDF copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. This review is also part of the Beach Bound Book Tours. ~M.M. aka Naila Moon
Where to find the author:
AmazonGoodreads

Review: Mama The Alien/Mama la Extraterrestre by Rene Colato Lainez/ Illustrated by Laura Lacamara #DiverseBooks (#review También en español)

Summary:
When Mama s purse falls on the floor, Sofia gets a peek at Mama's old Resident Alien card and comes to the conclusion that Mama might be an alien from outer space. Sofia heads to the library to learn more about aliens. Some are small and some are tall. Some have four fingers on each hand and some have large, round eyes. Their skin can be gray or blue or green. But Mama looks like a human mother! Could she really be an alien? Sofia is still puzzling out this mystery when she sees an alien-looking Mama one night. It turns out Mama is doing a beauty treatment so she will look her best for her citizenship ceremony. That's when Sofia realizes that in English, an alien can be someone from another planet, and it can also be a person from another country. Just like Mama! Filled with imagination and humor, Mama the Alien/Mama la extraterrestre is a lighthearted immigration tale and a celebration of family, no matter where that family comes from. Even if it s outer space!"

My review:
This is an incredibly fun tale of massive confusion. With our country being a very diverse country, the English language can be very confusing. In this book, the word "alien" is explored in a humorous way. I could easily see how a young child would think her Mom is an "alien". You know, the skinny, big-eyed, gray kind. She has the card and at one point the face to prove it. Funny!

This book certainly made me laugh and I know it will make kids laugh too. The book though has a couple of different elements to it though. First, it gives parents or teachers the opportunity to talk about English words and their opposites and meanings.

Secondly, this book is in Spanish and English so, it can helps families whose first language is not English read together and learn English together. That is some winners right there!

The book is targeted for 4-8 year olds but this is definatly a book for the child who is beginning to read or even a good reader. However, the illustrations are large and very brightly colored. The whole book give the reader a cheery feeling. 

I simply love the feel of this book overall. It is a positive story, funny, and has a great outcome.
Get yourself a copy today as I highly recommend it. 5 stars!

Disclosure: I recieved a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. aka Naila Moon

----------------------
Mi opinión en español:
Este es un cuento muy divertido de confusión masiva. Con nuestro país siendo un país muy diverso, el idioma Inglés puede ser muy confuso. En este libro, la palabra "extranjero" se explora de una manera humorística. Yo podría ver como un niño pequeño podría pensar que su mamá es un "extranjero". Ya sabes, el, de ojos grandes, de color gris tipo flaco. Ella tiene la tarjeta y en un momento dado la cara para probarlo. ¡Gracioso! Este libro sin duda me hizo reír y sé que hará reír a los niños también. El libro, aunque tiene un par de elementos diferentes a él sin embargo. En primer lugar, se da a los padres o los profesores la oportunidad de hablar acerca de las palabras en inglés y sus opuestos y significados. En segundo lugar, este libro está en español e Inglés así, puede ayuda a las familias cuyo primer idioma no es Inglés leer juntos y aprender Inglés juntos. Es decir algunos ganadores allí mismo! El libro está dirigido para 4-8 años de edad, pero esto es sin duda un libro para el niño que está aprendiendo a leer o incluso un buen lector. Sin embargo, las ilustraciones son grandes y muy brillantes colores. Todo el libro dar al lector una sensación alegre. Simplemente me encanta el ambiente de este libro en general. Es una historia positiva, divertida, y tiene un gran resultado. Consíguete una copia hoy como lo recomiendo. ¡5 estrellas! Divulgación: He recibido una copia de este libro para mi opinión abierta y honesta. Las opiniones expresadas aquí son 100% mi propia y pueden ser diferentes a la suya. ~ MM alias Naila Luna

Where to find the author:
Amazon
Goodreads

Review: The Adventures of Lovable Lobo - Selfies in the Wild by C. L. Murphy #BlogTour #Giveaway #SelfiesInTheWild

[image error]
Summary:
Lobo and his sidekick raven find a trail camera in their neck of the woods, and it attracts the attention of forest friends. Images captured have never been sillier or more candid. Just as their wild dispositions are exposed, the photo shoot comes to an unexpected end and they're all left wondering why. The reason may be obvious.

My review:
This book is an absolutely adorable picture book. The photos in the book are large  and colorful with very few words which is perfect for the age group targeted (3-7 years old). Each page shows the animals doing very silly things. I could see my grandson laughing his head off as we look through the pages.

[image error]posted with permission from C.L. Murphy
I think it was really cool that in the back of the book, the author included real photos of animals she capture on her own camera. She tells this is what gave her inspiration to write the book. I like that!

The author also includes a small glossary of bigger words used throughout the book. This would be helpful for the older child reading the book as it is recommended up to 7 years old.

For my review, the author suggested some activities to go along with the book. These activities could easily be integrated with the reading of this book. It might have been nice to see those on the last page but that does not take away from the book in the least. Click on THIS LINK for those activities.

I certainly recommend to get your own copy and I give the book 4 stars.

Disclosure: I received a PDF copy of this book for the purposed of this review. The views expressed here are 100 % my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. aka Naila Moon

-----------------------------
Don't forget to enter the author's giveaway which can be found HERE.

Where to find the author:

[image error]

Amazon
Goodreads