Kid’s Reviews

By Lyda Whiting

RANGOLI: AN INDIAN ART ACTIVITY BOOK

Written by Suma O’Farrell, Photographs by Jessica Hamm, Kira McConnell, and others

Learn a fun and different way of drawing! Try rangoli, a flexible and different technique to draw all kinds of things. The book leads kids through some simple techniques using a grid of dots as a starting point. There are illustrations on every page, showing how to use straight and curving lines to connect the dots or go around the dots. Using the ideas and pictures as inspiration, kids can create almost anything.

Rangoli is a popular art form in India, often drawn on the ground with chalk or colored powders. This creative book includes drawn illustrations with colorful pictures of all kinds of rangoli designs.

This book will spark imaginations, because it encourages experimentation, not repetition. And because it is spiral-bound, the book will stay open to any page. For ages 9 and up.

Published by Mazaa LLC, this book is available at your local bookstore.

WHERE DO MISSING THINGS GO?

Written by Cynthia Drew, Illustrated by Bill LaRocque

What is wrong in Itza-Mine Woods? Things are vanishing all over the place. The animals all want to know — what made their things go? Did the key sneak away to fish? Did the tissues fly off on wings? Are the pens on the roof? Does the washing machine eat socks?

Porter the fox advises the other animals to handle their things with care, to put them down in the right place so they will be there later. While the animals cheer, Porter realizes — he has lost his sunglasses! His friends search with him, and they all learn that friendship is something that can never be lost.

This funny rhyming book is easy for young readers. It is filled with colorful drawings of these endearing and forgetful forest animals. For ages 4 and up.

Published by Legacy Book Publishing, this book is available at your local bookstore.

KATHRYN THE GRAPE: JUST LIKE MAGIC

Written by Kathryn Cloward and Jody Duhamel, Illustrated by Christine Winscott

Meet Kathryn, nicknamed Kathryn the Grape because she loves purple and wears it all the time. Kathryn’s best friend is a magical butterfly who gave her a magic wand. Kathryn uses her wand to banish monsters under her bed. She uses it to make her nervousness disappear on her first day at a new school.

But she can’t turn her older brothers into toads, no matter how mad she gets at them. She can only do good things with her magic, like noticing the sadness of a boy sitting by himself in the cafeteria and going over to make friends.

Children will feel at home with Kathryn and her real-life adventures. Parents will appreciate the message of the book: magic lives inside us all. For ages 3 to 6.

Published by Kandon Publishing, this book is available at your local bookstore.

BELIEVE!

KATHRYN THE GRAPE:  SONGS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

Lyrics by Kathryn Cloward and Astra Kelly, Music by Astra Kelly

Sing along and get up and move to these energetic songs! “Colorful You” is a song that teaches the colors of the chakras while inviting children to let their own rainbow of colors shine. Kids will relate to “Nervous Bubbles,” build self-esteem with “Magical,” and “Believe” that we are all love. Then they will slow down and relax with “In the Flow.”

Kids will love singing and dancing to this lively music CD. The lyrics are positive and easy-to-remember, and the fun pop music will get them moving, and then calm them down. The professionally-produced songs link to “Just Like Magic” and the second and third books in the Kathryn the Grape Affirmation Series. For ages 3 to 6.

Published by Kandon, this CD is available at your local bookstore.