I Got This!: I Have Bounce Back Superpowers, by Julia Cook , Michele Borba, Dale Crawford (illustrator)

Love this! What a fantastic teaching/guiding tool attached to a fun story. Children (and adults) can also benefit from the advice within, so a double win. Toss in great illustrations....my favorite was Hazel the squirrel and Charlie the wannabe rescue dog looking ever so human and dejected, sitting in the snow.... and you know children will enjoy the story. The story follows Charlie's quest to become a certified rescue dog by completing the difficult journey of climbing the tallest mountain. It's full of challenges and, even better, hints on how to overcome the obstacles her (and we) meet sometimes. I loved the eagle as the wise one, guiding Charlie along, offering suggestions but not telling Charlie specifically how to achieve his goals. I must admit, too, the illustrations are well done and realistic, even to the one of the "oops" in the slippery, deep snow. 

Eagle helps Charlie and his squirrel friend Hazel reach their destination. It isn't easy and he learns how to use his "Bounce Back Superpowers" to reach the top of that mountain. Step-by-step, obstacle by obstacle, they show us that we do have the power within us to overcome obstacles by staying calm and using our heads. They're presented to Charlie in a believable way via the dialogue and illustrations. And, hey, Charlie, I've seen some real life mushers tackle getting around a downed tree to keep moving forward, so, yes, quite realistic. I definitely liked that Eagle reminded Charlie that while the journey is his, there is no reason he can't ask for help, something even we humans tend to forget at times when we're so focused on the target we lose sight of the big picture. The helpful suggestions shared with Charlie and nicely summarized at the end, too, with some suggestions on how to help children grasp what they actually mean.

Bottom line, I adored this book. Not only was the cover adorable, but the illustrations throughout managed to capture both the whimsical personalities of Charlie and Hazel but the reality of the winter scenes. You'll feel like cheering at the end, trust me. Teachers and parents, this is a book you should have. I'll be a quite valuable resource for you to bounce back, too, as you guide your child through ways to stay strong and keep their eyes on the goal, not the momentary frustrations we all feel at times when things don't go just right. Thanks so much #NetGalley and #NationalCenterForYouthIssues - #IBPA for sharing this early peek at this great resource that has the benefit of also being a great, fun story with an adorable dog and its squirrel friend. With this books help, we can all look forward to that virtual downhill sled ride at the end. Wheeee.....

My Schoolwork Is a Mess!, by Jennifer Licate , Suzanne Beaky (illustrator)

 Publication August 27, 2024

Yes! We gave a winner! 

Seriously, this one is great. Provides easy to follow, direct ideas for how to get organized and take charge of your life or, in this case, school days. As an adult who uses variations of many of these suggestions, I can definitely recommend it to not just teacher friends but parents struggling to help their children who are also struggling in school. The colorful illustratins and fun and main character Dakota is easily likeable. You'll root for him as his mother and counselor work to help him,. I particularly liked that these aren't ideas engraved in stone, either, but ideas that recognize the need for down time, too.

I won't detail the basic suggestions, the blurb does a good job of that, but will note that I also liked the emphasis on reaching out for help. Dakota's mother is there for him but every child wanting to appear cool and in control will relate to how Dakota struggles to do a simple task that seems easy for most, simply pick up the phone and call a classmate to ask what the homework was for a class that night. Dakota's mother, who calls him Kota, is disappointed but instead of going off on him, she shows him ways to get things done. Then, she herself reaches out for help, enlisting the counselor's assistance, showing that even adults need a helping hand at times. I definitely liked that his math teacher, the same one Dakota accused of being out to get him, took time to praise him one-on-one, too, rather than doing it in front of a classroom of Dakota's peers and possibly causing embarrassment. A good reminder to us so called adults, I'd say, on taking the time to acknowledge effort and improvement. 

Bottom line, I highly recommend this book to not just my teacher and parent friends but anyone, quite frankly, not just the targeted middle grades, who maybe needs a bit of a help getting organized. Honestly, I use many of these suggestions without thinking, including the idea of using modern technology to snap a photo of information that I need to remember. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoysTownPressPublishing - #IBPA for sharing an early peek at this title with me. Let's face it, part of getting organized is getting started, so I assure you I'll be sharing this with others.

The Messiest Monster on Mill Street, by Sarah Sparks , Sypha Vendez (Illustrator)

 Publication Oct. 1, 2023

Oh, my, Max is, well, a mess. He just lets things pile up until they're out of control. His mess becomes a nightmare where dust bunnies chase him. Max needs help. This book will help children learn that no matter how big their mess, you can take control. Quite frankly, as a procrastinator who would far prefer to be doing something more fun than sweeping or cleaning up glitter and glue, yuck, I could definitely sympathize a bit with Max. 

Told in lyrical rhyme, Max's story details the problem. It's pretty simple. He's created a mess. The mess begins to take over, however. That's where the dust bunnies and even crumb soldiers come into play. And wait until you see what the stray crayons are up to. Children and even we adults, sigh, may recognize a part of themselves in Max. It isn't too late, however, they're shown. By first recognizing the problem, then tackling its parts one thing at a time, Max makes amazing progress. The dust bunnies are banished! The crumb army is gone. The fun illustrations and words show how it can be done, as well as showing the subtle change in Max's appearance. Max even looks happy, maybe even proud of himself, as he puts away toys and cleans up after himself. He never quite becomes the neatest monster on Mill Street but he's made a start. Maybe that's the biggest message, to get started.

Thanks #NetGalley and #ViaNovaProductions for this subtle example of how children can learn to take charge of their own space without feeling overwhelmed. The illustrations are fun and I liked the lighthearted, lyrical approach. I'm thoroughly enjoying meeting these monsters of Mill Street, even if Max's plight did make me flinch at the pile of papers near my laptop. Should be a fun book for parents and teachers and would definitely make a great gift idea.