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Book Review: “Geek Parenting: What Joffrey, Jor-El, Malficent, and the McFlys Teach Us about Raising a Family

Book Review: “Geek Parenting: What Joffrey, Jor-El, Malficent, and the McFlys Teach Us about Raising a Family

Written by Stephen H. Segal and Valya Dudycz Lupescu Reviewed by Joyce St. Giermaine As Editor of Tomorrow’s Child, I often get unsolicited books and educational resources to review. Usually, I pass them along to somebody who is a real, certified, honest-to-goodness Montessorian. But sometimes, a little gem comes across my desk that I am […]

Book Review: The Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need From Grownups

Book Review: The Importance of Being Little: What Preschoolers Really Need From Grownups

By Erika Christakis I don’t know how this happens but great books seem to come my way during the summer! Last summer was no exception. The Importance of Being Little is a great book! Erika Christakis is an astute observer of young children and their needs. She loads the early part of the book with […]

Book Review: One More Tickle!

Book Review: One More Tickle!

One More Tickle! Written by Sam McBratney Illustrated by Anita Jeram This is an adorable board book and puppet book. The puppet is a nut-brown hare. The stories characters are Big Nut-Brown Hare (dad) and Little Nut-Brown Hare (son). They have tickle time before Little Nut-Brown Hare goes to bed for the night. Sweet story, […]

Book Review: The Deep Well of Time

Book Review: The Deep Well of Time

By Michael Dorer Wow! Michael Dorer has done an outstanding job of putting together a comprehensive guide to storytelling for educators, particularly Montessori elementary educators. This book begins by giving the reader the history of storytelling throughout the ages, explaining the preparation of the storyteller, categorizing types of stories, and even sharing how to write […]

Book Review: I’m OK , You’re OK

Book Review: I’m OK , You’re OK

I’m OK, You’re OK… By Sgt. Sunshine I love the moral of the story! Certainly, children need lessons in empathy and kindness as they are growing up. This book might be used as a supplement to the greatest teacher of all—modeling/living the values that we want our children to hold. I would not use it […]

Book Review: The Big Disconnect

Book Review: The Big Disconnect

By Catherine Steiner-Adair, EdD with Teresa H. Barker In the fall of 2015, I had the distinct privilege of attending a talk given by Catherine Steiner-Adair, Ed.D. She is a dynamic, humorous, and informative speaker. The 90-minute talk was done in what seemed like only a few minutes. Her topic was that of her book, […]

Book Review: Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animal Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better

Book Review: Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animal Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better

By Tracey Stewart illustrated by Lisel Ashlock If you are an animal lover and want to encourage and support children in their development of love for animals, this is an especially good book for children in the middle elementary years. Tracey divides the book into three sections: Animals at Home; Backyard Wildlife; and Falling in […]

Book Review: California The Magick Island

Book Review: California The Magick Island

Written and illustrated by Doug Hansen This is a beautifully illustrated, mythical history of California. Each vignette highlights a part of California history using a letter of the alphabet. The legendary Queen Calafia was outraged at first when some people from a place far away began to use the name of her island for their […]

Book Review: A Montessori Workbook: Volume 1

Book Review: A Montessori Workbook: Volume 1

A Montessori Workbook: Volume 1 By Dr. Punum Bhatia Dr. Bhatia has created three volumes in this set. She designed these workbooks as a resource for parents of three-to-six-year-olds. Her intention, as she described it to me, was to give parents and children something fun to do during the summer to keep ideas and concepts […]

Webinar: “Good Gifts” and Other Holiday Dilemmas

Webinar: “Good Gifts” and Other Holiday Dilemmas

Do you ever scratch your head and wonder what kinds of gifts would be the most meaningful to the youngest receivers to the oldest receivers in your life? Do you dread traveling during the holidays? Are you frustrated because your children are acting out at the worst times ever during the holidays? Lorna McGrath shares […]

Book Review: A Handful of Numbers

Book Review: A Handful of Numbers

A Handful of Numbers Written by Christinia Cheung & Han Tran Illustrated by Tong Wu This is a great little board book. The counting and numbers are all related to things about the Earth and our universe. Example: 2 poles (north and south); 5 geologic layers; etc. The illustrations are beautiful! On the left page […]

Book Review: Kangaroo Kisses

Book Review: Kangaroo Kisses

Kangaroo Kisses Written by Nandana Dev Sen Illustrated by Pippa Curnick This is an interesting book for young children. The storyline is basically about how a child can avoid going to bed when it’s time. It has a happy ending as the child does eventually go to bed. In the meantime, she is very imaginative […]

Book Review: The Most Magnificent Thing

Book Review: The Most Magnificent Thing

Written and illustrated by Ashley Spires What a funny, wonderful story about a girl and her dog. The girl has an idea of something that she wants to create. She has a helper (her dog), she gathers things, she puts things together, but each time it’s just not right. The girl doesn’t give up, though. […]

Book Review: My Daughters are Smart!

Book Review: My Daughters are Smart!

Written by Anita B. Adhikary Illustrated by Blythe Russo This book is an interesting alphabet book full of empowering words for boys and girls but is focused on girls —young and old, culturally diverse, interacting with each other and with men and boys, able-bodied and differently abled. It pictures girls in situations from friendship to […]

Book Review: Otis

Book Review: Otis

Otis By Anne Rooney Author & Illustrator Otis is an imaginary story, set on a farm, about a friendship between a tractor and a calf. Otis was a hard-working, energetic little tractor for many years on the farm. The little calf followed Otis everywhere. Their friendship grew and grew. However, as sometimes happens, the tried […]

Book Review: Ordinary People Change the World

Book Review: Ordinary People Change the World

Ordinary People Change the World Written by Brad Meltzer Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos This is a great set of books! I checked with our elementary teacher and she said definitely for Lower Elementary age children (6-9 years old). The four books that are in this gift set are: I am Rosa Parks; I am Amelia […]

Book Review: The Desert is Theirs

Book Review: The Desert is Theirs

Reviewer’s Notes: I returned recently from a trip to the United States’ great Southwest. So, for this issue of the magazine, there is a slant towards children’s books of the southwest. It was an amazing adventure that I wish we had taken our children on when they were young. If you have an opportunity, I […]

Book Review: Creating a Real School By Larry and Pat Schaefer with Lori Sturdevant

Book Review: Creating a Real School By Larry and Pat Schaefer with Lori Sturdevant

Thank you, Larry and Pat, for documenting with such love and detail the history and process of the creation of Lake Country School. What an amazing and inspiring story for all of us who aspire to create a school from scratch or to further develop an already existing school! Lake Country School in Minneapolis, Minnesota […]