Avi's New Book! By Prolific Children's Author, Carole P. Roman - Henrietta Hedgehog's Prickly Problem! Illustrated by Matteya Arkova!

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else

--Judy Garland 

Henrietta Hedgehog rolled into a tight ball under her quilt. She didn't want to go to school today. Mama Hedgehog stood in the doorway. "Henrietta, stop trying to hide! You are late."

Mrs. Shrew will be mad if I am late," she said with a sniff.  "I don't want to go to school." A big fat tear slid down her cheek. "What happened? I thought you loved school!" Mama said.

"I do love school, Mama. It's just...just... I hate being a hedgehog." "You hate being a hedgehog! That's... that's..." Mama sat on the edge of the bed. "Why?" The other kids make fun of me. They say my spines are scary!" Mama Hedgehog wiped Henrietta's tears away. "They're not scary. You have beautiful quills."

Henrietta looked at herself in the mirror. "I don't know about that, Mama. The kids won't sit close to me because they say they're very sharp. I wish I had a busy tail like a squirrel or soft fur like a ferret. Anything but these pesky things," she sighed. Mama frowned.

Henrietta waited for Mama to leave and then took a paper bag from under her pillow. She shoved it into her backpack...

~~~

I've been reading the children's books written by Carole P. Roman for over a decade... and I enjoy each one! In this time when we are even more involved with children and what affects them in school, church, or even at home, it is important to gently but specifically talk about things that bother all of us, from grade school to adult!

Using animal characters often helps to take the child out of this world into a make-believe world where things that make us different in America, can be explored without pinpointing the real differences. In the case of bullying, this may be especially important. I don't think this book is about bullying per se, rather it is a book about getting to know and liking--and loving--ourselves, no matter what we look like...

The minor twist used by Carole in identifying the issue facing Henrietta Hedgehog's prickly problem, was perfect... You see, Henrietta was not liking who she was--a hedgehog that had quills on her body, which, at certain times, would help her against any enemy that might attack another. She knew that if somebody got too close to her, though, they could be hurt, even if she didn't mean to hurt anybody!

What to Do? Henrietta wanted to just not go to school. But her mother wouldn't allow that. So, thinking about those she knew in her class, she remembered that Bella Beaver was somebody she thought looked nice, so she made a mask to wear that made her look just like Bella...

But when she got to school, Bella took one look and thought that Henrietta was making fun of her front teeth, which were Bella's prickly problem for seeing herself as needing to change... Wow! Henrietta soon realized that everybody had something that they didn't like about themselves...and that the others still were willing to be...a prickly hedgehog, a beaver who didn't like her front teeth, a squirrel who doesn't like his "squeaking" voice...and many others who came to talk to Henrietta and tell her that they still liked her, even with her quills!

How about you? Is there anything that you don't like about yourself? Well, think about it and be open to talk about your problem with your mother, or even your teacher... Sometimes, you'll find that the problem you have really isn't prickly at all!

GABixlerReviews

Touch & Feel Wild Animals - A Teaching Book for Avi and His New Friend A Chameleon!

 

A bit of serendipity, or a
God Incident? I had just bought three of these Touch and Feel books for Avi's Home Library--and then his father brings home a live chameleon which is another name for this particular lizard...

Avi is just 2 years old, but also enjoyed this new creature in his life... The little girl in the video below you may recognize from her many singing videos, but when she was 3, she was quite vocal to meet her new friend! I thought I would add a little additional info since this lizard is shown as green; however, could indeed sometimes change color!

And wouldn't you know it, Grandma has a toy one to share! Sometime I'll tell you about the 'possum she brought to me! Let's just say, the introduction was...scary! LOL

Now on to the inside of this children's book!

I am a wild lizard.

I live up in this tree.

My skin is rough and scaly,

but not my personality.

Note: Amazon has all pages shown on site for the book.

You can move around the page to study the detail! Cool, right?!

Now, notice on this first page... See the circle right on the lizard? It is a small patch of material that emulates, or matches, the type of skin of the lizard (and other animals). When touching, it feels like an uneven, but smooth surface and a definite pattern! Of course, this is to teach your child about the type of skin that each of the animals has.

~~~

My furry body feels like wool,

and I'm as cuddle as cuddle can be

My baby snuggles closely on my back

while I nap in this eucalyptus tree.

Notice where the fir is shown? It's a white spot instead of his ear! It does indeed feel like fir, can be fluffed, or petted down like we would if we were meeting a real bear! Did you know that you can find stuffed toy koala bears just like your teddy bear?
~~~

You may not notice where you can touch the lion! It's right on the top of his head! Oh My! But really, his fir feels just like, perhaps, your cat or kitten, if you have one like I do!

While most cats may love to be petted, always remember that lions, even at zoos, really are wild--and never touched. Don't even get close, specially if there is a baby lion nearby like this one, because the mother will want to protect that baby...

~~~

The dolphin, I have heard, is the friendliest of the creatures from the sea. You can even see them at some parks where it is warm, and they will do tricks for you!

But like all wild animals, meaning that they are not those that have learned that we humans will not harm them, don't ever get too close. Even if they have made friends with one or two people who take care of them, they are still considered wild. This dolphin's skin feels smooth...maybe just like your daddy's car plus the wheel used to drive it.

~~~

Hey, Did you know that it is said that Elephants never forget? Soooo, I had to be sure about it... Here's What I found out!

Question: Where did the phrase "An elephant never forgets" originate from? Answer: The origin of the phrase seems to go back to observations that elephants follow the same paths and even hand down genetic memories of directions and places or grounds across generations.

Cool, right? And By the way, an elephant's skin is like leather and sometimes, you may have a chance to see them at a circus, maybe...

They are verrrrry big, so don't go close! OK?

!!!

I have to admit that I've had fun just putting this review together, so I'm excited to give the book to Avi since he's old enough and the book is just the right size. Plus it's well made and will  take the wear and tear from this energetic child...with parental guidance, as you can see is recommended...  

I have a couple more of these books for Avi...Check back or search for "Avi" for new children's books I've reviewed, or just "children's books" for those created over the years! 

By the way, I also added a tablet-like book to allow Avi to get the idea of holding books...and it can be written on! Also, a learning book for words... Both are basic early books I'd recommend to, like I said, get your child holding books early in life... Reading...is...

indeed...Fundamental to your child's Future!

God Bless,

Gabbie

Carole P. Roman, Award-Winning Children's Books Author Presents Her Latest - Henrietta Hedgehog's Prickly Problem

I've been reading the children's books written by Carole P. Roman for over a decade... and I enjoy each one! In this time when we are even more involved with children and what affects them in school, church, or even at home, it is important to gently but specifically talk about things that bother all of us, from grade school to adult!

Using animal characters often helps to take the child out of this world into a make-believe world where things that make us different in America, can be explored without pinpointing the real differences. In the case of bullying, this may be especially important. I don't think this book is about bullying per se, rather it is a book about getting to know and liking--and love ourselves, no matter what we look like... 

https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/2023/01/carole-p-roman-henrietta-hedgehogs-prickly-problem

Read or Listen to Interview with Carole

The minor twist used by Carole in identifying the issue facing Henrietta Hedgehog's prickly problem, was perfect... You see, Henrietta was not liking who she was--a hedgehog that had quills on her body, which, at certain times, would help her against any enemy that might attack another. She knew that if somebody got too close to her, though, they could be hurt, even if she didn't mean to hurt anybody!

What to Do? Henrietta wanted to just not go to school. But her mother wouldn't allow that. So, thinking about those she knew in her class, she remembered that Bella Beaver was somebody she thought looked nice, so she made a mask to wear that made her look just like Bella...

But when she got to school, Bella took one look and thought that Henrietta was making fun of her front teeth, which were Bella's prickly problem for seeing herself as needing to change... Wow! Henrietta soon realized that everybody had something that they didn't like about themselves...and that the others still were willing to be...a prickly hedgehog, a beaver who didn't like her front teeth, a squirrel who doesn't like his "squeaking" voice...and many others who came to talk to Henrietta and tell her that they still liked her, even with her quills!

How about you? Is there anything that you don't like about yourself? Well, think about it and be open to talk about your problem with your mother, or even your teacher... Sometimes, you'll find that the problem you have really isn't prickly at all!

GABixlerReviews

Winding up in Australian Brings Santa A New Friend and Helper! Delightful Christmas Story by Jonathan and Hugh McCauley

And they were suddenly in the sky “Wow!” exclaimed Katy “I've never jumped this high or this far on one single hop like this”

“It's because you have a pouch full of Magical Elves and Reindeer” Santa replied. “You'll be able to hop over the highest mountains and across the widest oceans”

 WHOMP! Katy landed loudly on the first rooftop. “Here” Santa whispered “put these on” “What are they?” Katy asked.
“Christmas Stockings” Santa replied “If you have these on nobody can hear you at all. That's why I have everybody hang them up on the Fireplace Mantle for Christmas; if all the boys and girls put these stockings on they would be able to sneak up on me while I'm delivering toys and presents. If a boy or girl ever sees me delivering their present, no matter what is, no matter how much they want it, that toy or present won't bring them any joy or pleasure.
Katy put the Christmas Stockings on, and at the next rooftop, instead of WHOMP! It was shhhhh..

~~~

Katy the Kangaroo

 Saves Christmas

By Jonathan and Hugh McCauley

I have always wanted to visit Australia, so I was very happy to learn about the exciting event there when Santa was in serious trouble! You see there was really a lot of snow this year, but with extra hard work and help by many, Santa was ready to leave Christmas Eve... But the deer were already sniffling and it began to snow again...Soon, the reindeer were so sick that they couldn't help drive the sleigh. One by one, they had to climb into the sleigh! But that would soon begin to be too crowded since all the presents had to be kept in the sleigh also... What would Christmas be without the presents! They had to land to figure out how to proceed...

A-choo! A-choo! “Yep, that's Blitzen alright,
and it sounds like he's getting a cold”
 Blitzen was Santa's favorite Reindeer –
he was Santa's very first reindeer, when Santa
 only needed one Reindeer to pull his Magic Sleigh.
 But now, with so many children in the world,
 even with 9 Reindeer he had a hard time getting
 to each child's home. Santa knew he would have
 to get a couple more reindeer soon.

~~~

The noses of the reindeers were bright as Rudolph's, but it was from their sneezing so much! Santa gathered the deer around him trying to keep them warm...But now it was so bad that not even Rudolph could lead them to fly through the dense snow...

But at least when they had landed, Rudolph was able to help Santa look for help.

Only to be surrounded by... Dingoes (which are Australian wild dogs!)

And these animals were not thinking of inviting everybody home to celebrate with them!




What was Santa going to do?! His reindeer were so sick that they would not be able to pull the sleigh...and the sleigh was full of toys that needed to get to all the good boys and girls around the world...

Can you guess what happened, based upon the title of the story!?

Now I couldn't help by add a little music and a few pics as I always do, but this book is a read-aloud 24-page Night Before Christmas storybook for the whole family and you also get another book which you'll learn about at the end! What a nice present, isn't it?!

The story is very well done and has sufficient flavor of Australia to give it an extra-special touch... After all, many of us have never even seen a kangaroo, but now we can thank Katy for saving Christmas this year! Find out how in this wonderfully delightful tale from down under!

Oh and by the way, Katy sent me the following song about how more kangaroos got involved with Christmas after she saved it...But they only do special runs for the children there in Australian. LOL Boy, wouldn't that be funny to see?! Six of them...and White! Now, I didn't even know there was white kangaroos, so I looked it up! Here's a real picture! Learn something new everyday, don't we?"

GABixlerReviews

Latest in Children's Series, If You Were Me and Lived in Russia By Carole P. Roman Great Cultural Experience for All Ages!

 If you were me and lived in Russia (rush-a) you would live in Northern Eurasia (Ur-ray-ja). You might call it the Russian Federation  because it has many different nationalities and ethnic groups living within its vast borders. Russia is famous for being cold, but it is so big that it has nine different time zones and a variety of climate from warm to cold.

~~~

Helping to Bring Peace Around the World!


If You Were Me and
 Lived in...Russia

A Child's Introduction
to Culture Around the World

By Carole P. Roman

You may have noticed from time to time that Book Readers Heaven is honored to have visitors quite often from Russia and the Ukraine... I was so please, therefore, to have an opportunity to read the latest addition to a wonderful Children's Series! Imagine how much it might affect world-wide peace if our children could learn and know about the children who live in other countries!

This time your children will have an opportunity to visit Moscow! How I wish I could visit it in reality, but this color-illustrated book certainly did a wonderful job on the major cultural points in this great country! In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a small flag from the country--quite beautiful! And speaking of beautiful, the art work is brilliantly bold with deep, dark colors that stand out to clearly delight all children. I was very impressed with the colors shown for the domes to be seen on many of the buildings. almost saying non-verbally, come see me! Here's a pic the author showed before the book was out...but I guarantee that the colors actually are bolder, brighter, simply fantastic!

You could live in the capital city Moscow (MOS-cow) and people would call you a "muscopvite" (mus-co-vite). It is the most populated city in Europe and fifth largest city in the world.

~~~

If you are a boy, your parents might have chosen to name you Ivan (ee-van)

 

 Maxim (Max-eem), or Alexander (a-lex-an-der).

If your parents needed a girl's name, they could have picked
Natalya (Nah-tal-ya)

Tatiana (tah-chee-ah-nah)
or Anya (Aan-yuh).

A shapka ushanka

Russian Children got coloring books for Olympics!

Children ready for another school brings flowers!

In addition to learning about the capital, popular names, and family information, readers also learn about clothing, money, food, games children play and more about primary important sites such as the Red Square... and so much more! Check out the special dolls available!

Red Square is the main market place and the site of state ceremonies and parades. It is very central to the city, and all major streets which connect to the highways originate there. You can also see both St. Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin...
~~~

Do check these little gems out. Included in addition to information about the country is pronunciation help for what you will see there... And wait until you hear about Grandfather Frost! Highly Recommended! Enjoy!

GABixlerReviews

About Carole

Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 for her first book, award winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons. Using an imaginary game she played with her grandson as a base, Captain No Beard was born. It has followed with four more books to the series.

Motivated by her love of yoga, Roman has written a book that not only teaches four poses, but shows how easy and accessible yoga can be.
She has just finished the first of six books in a groundbreaking new nonfiction series about culture around the world. "If You Were Me and Lived in..." combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us.

Writing for children has opened up a whole second act for her. While she is still working in her family business, this has enabled her to share her sense of humor as well as love for history and culture with the audience she adores. Roman lives on Long Island with her husband and near her children.