Selena Gomez, by Beth Gottlieb

Short and sweet and I mean that as a compliment. Written for young readers, it presents quite a bit of basic information on Selena Gomez in an easy to read manner. While positive in nature, it doesn't avoid mentioning her various health issues, either, which I count as a plus. Gomez seems to be upfront with her fans about such issues, so it was nice to see the book take a similar approach. Nicely illustrated, it covers her early life, including her parents' divorce, and her emergence first on Barney & Friends, going up to her current position on Only Murders In the Building with Steve Martin and Martin Short. As I type, that show is in the entertainment news with the well-received premiere of Season 4 and quick renewal for another season, so I was happy to see the relative up-to-date nature of the book. 

You're not going to learn everything there is to know about Selena Gomez from this book, of course, but for young readers eager to get to know a favorite star, it's a great start. Chapters are quite short, with words possibly unfamiliar being in bold print later being defined in a glossary. There's also a timeline and suggestions of where to find more information. The publishers and authors note that while the sources were checked for appropriateness, parents of young readers might want to do an updated check, a nice suggestion. Bottom line, a nicely done book for young readers and even older readers might pick up a few things while enjoying the photos, too. Thanks #RosenPublishingGroup for sharing this look at a young woman I've come to admire.

Porter and Midge: Paws and Responsibilities: A Kid's Guide to Welcoming a New Dog, by Giselle Nevada, Jennie Chen

 Publication March 15, 2024

Whether you're an aspiring dog owner or experienced one, this would make a great addition to your bookshelf. The info within is comprehensive and vital to a good relationship and bond with your dog. Even more fun, it's written in a rhyming lyrical style. As has become my habit with such books, I opted to read it aloud to my own dog and as I fell right into the rhythm she was attentive and enjoyed the lyrical tone of the story. The illustrations are realistic in manner, showing each human and a diverse range of dogs as unique characters. I'm betting they are based on real people and dogs.

As for the information shared, I won't try to detail it but will say it's presented in an easy manner (that rhymes--grin). Without being nit-picky detailed, it does seem to focus on a wonderful system of preparing to bring your puppy/dog home and not only how to do that preparation but things to do afterward while explaining the why briefly. For instance, rather than wait until a vet visit is needed, take your new furry friend for a get-acquainted visit so they don't associate the vet with bad things. Responsible ownership is focused on throughout, from being prepared with all the "doggie stuff" one needs before the dog comes home with you as is the importance of routine and making safety a priority. I rolled my eyes at my listening dog when it talked about a car harness, though, recalling how many styles I had to go through before finding one my escape artist corgi mix didn't somehow wiggle out of while we were moving. And....so much more. All fairly obvious things to experienced dog owners but a reminder never hurts and it may be brand new insight for your wannabe dog owners. 

Inspired by the authors' own dogs, named appropriately enough Porter and Midge, they include a brief but well-written note to parents at the end. It succinctly summarizes the material covered. Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this book. Now, I think I'd better go check Daisy's water bowl....and just maybe find her a treat. Grin. Thanks #NetGalley and #RaiseTheWoofPress for compiling this lovely guide to being a dog person. Nicely done and Daisy (whose water bowl is sparkling fresh now) gives it four paws up and a tail wag.

Ralphy's Rules for Feelings, by Talar Herculian Coursey, Riley Herculian Coursey

 

Publication Jan. 23, 2024

Do you remember your first day of school? The first time you did something on your own, away from your parents? Those days can be frightening. This book offers up ways to help children (and probably some adults, as well) deal with the feelings such events can conjure up. 

Don't let the book's surface simplicity fool you. It's subtle message may be delivered by cute pups and children, but they are clear and right to the point. All of us, no matter our age, have feelings. That's okay. In fact, it's normal. It's how one deals with them that make the difference. The book makes no promises to simply wave a magic wand and bad feelings disappear forever, oh, wouldn't that be nice, but it shows simple ways even children can take control of their bad feelings and direct their thoughts to more positive ones. Simplistic though some of the suggestions may appear to us more cynical adults, giving the child a measure of control is important.

The illustrations are simple with no distracting backgrounds. That allows the child to focus on the words, the advice being offered by the Furrapist. I love the word play and so will children. Ralphy brought along a friend, Furrapist Jackson Johnson, who also happens to be an adorable dog, to assist him in assisting the children this go-round. Hard not to at least conjure up a tentative smile when looking at the adorable drawings. I liked that each emotion was "carried" by the child in question. Each emotion was represented by an emoji surely familiar to today's media savvy child. This also allowed the child to either embrace their emotion or set it aside easily depending upon their learning to guide their mind to less negative thoughts. Remember, not all emotions are negative, so they may opt to hang onto positive feelings, ie happiness or comfort. 

Through it all, Furrapist Jackson reminds them that having even negative feelings is okay. We all have feelings, good or bad. It's how we handle them that makes all the difference. That's an important concept for children who may fear being different or not knowing how to do something, something even as simple as choosing a seat on the bus. The book gives them ways to work through these feelings. Thanks #NetGalley and #PurpleButterflyPress - #IBPA for giving me this sneak peek. I loved Ralphy's first book and was delighted to receive this update on his efforts to provide help. Looking forward to his next adventure/effort.