Picture Book Wednesday: Making the World a Better Place (1)

Just a few pictures book about making the world a better place, slowing down, and speaking up.

This is LeBron's second picture book and it's also super cute. It's about kids who believe in themselves. They can be more than just one thing.

Like I'm a librarian, a book reviewer, a reader, a writer, and an artist. 

I love their confidence! I wish I had that at their age. I love how they dream big! The illustrations are lovely. 

This is a parent wishing only good things for their child. There are big and small moments in this book and everything is celebrated. 

The love shines through the pages in this book. The illustrations are bright and colorful. 

Yo-Yo has a hard time sitting still; her body wants to move! Her grandpa tries to teach her yoga, but it's hard to pay attention.

All of us have a hard time paying attention some times. This book shows off some good tricks for getting back in the moment. There are poses in the back of the book for readers to test out. 

Kids write letters to Ruby Bridges - asking for advice but also saying how much they are inspired by her. The two page spread has a lovely bright illustration plus two letters - a letter to Ruby and a response from Ruby.

These kids have so much going on and so much that they are worried about. Letters range from concerned about climate control to food waste to learning disabilities to racism. I'm both saddened by these letters and impressed at the thoughts of these letters. I wish we lived in a world where children didn't have these worries.... 

Movie Review: The Hustle

 

This week, I watch The Hustle

And I really enjoyed it.

It's a basketball story - about a scout who wants to be a coach. 

He almost makes it but then everything changes. He's back on the road searching for that one player that will make the team stand out. 

And he does it.

Sort of.

What I Loved:

Training Montage

Celtics

Basketball Cameos

Family

Love of the Game

The Challenge

Underdog

The One Thing that didn't make sense:

The hand injury. Unless he was driving in England, the story doesn't match. Wouldn't it have been his other hand?

If you like basketball, you'll enjoy this movie! 

LeBron James was a producer, but he did not appear. I wish that he did.

Review: We Are Family

 

Jayden Carr has been training all summer to be ready for Hoop Group--the free afterschool basketball program where his hero, NBA superstar Kendrick King, got his start. But when his beloved coach tells him there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year, Jayden is heartbroken.

And he's not the only one. Coach Beck's daughter, Tamika, was planning to be the first girl ever to start for the squad. Chris King, Kendrick's only nephew, spent the summer bragging that his uncle was coming home just to watch him play. For Anthony Pierson, Hoop Group was supposed to be his way out of trouble. And for Dexter Donyel, all 4'6" of him, Hoop Group was his chance to finally be part of a team, instead of just watching from the stands.

For each kid, Hoop Group was more than just a chance to ball; it was an escape, a dream, a family. Now their prospects seem all but impossible--but then the world hasn't met Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex before. Determined to have their shot, the five new friends scrap, hustle, fight, and play hard to save their season to prove that sometimes a chance is all it takes. - Summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I really liked this book.* I loved Jayden but my heart went out of the Tamika. I adored her characters and how she was determined to make this team happy - even if it meant standing up to her father. I loved Chris's story arc and how he changed. I loved how this team became a team of underdogs but had each other's backs. 

*There was one nitpicking problem and that was the layout. I didn't like how they characters switched POVs in the middle of the chapters. It was sometimes hard to figure out the new character's POV and took me out of the story.

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic - so many little details.

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for school and public libraries.

Athletes Who Became Authors

 

Watch them.

Read them.

   

   

   

Picture Book Review: I Promise

Promises to remind us to always do our best and be kind.

Celebrity pictures books aren't always amazing - but this one really is. It's sweet, kind, and has A LOT of heart. The messages are so important for every child.  This book is so inspiring. The rhythm and rhymes of the book work rally well - making this a great story to share with a classroom or storytime or just one and one. And reading this book just puts a great big smile on my face. Of course the art is diverse, but it's also amazing with bright colors and happiness.

These messages are too important not to share. 

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public libraries!