A Flag for the Flying Dragon, by Carole P. Roman

Title: A Flag for the Flying Dragon

Series: A Captain No Beard Story

Author: Carole P. Roman

Illustrator: Bonnie Lemaire

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: April 9, 2015

Paperback: 46 pages




About the Book
It's business as usual on the Flying Dragon. Their mission is to find a flag for the ship. Captain No Beard sighs, "Being a captain is hard work," as he watches the busy crew preparing the vessel for their next adventure. Polly is giving out pretzels; Linus is polishing a lamp. Matie is cracking coconuts, Cayla is stuffing holes, and Hallie is swabbing the deck. High overhead, trouble is brewing, and it is not the weather. Mongo does not want any help from the newest crew member, and it is creating a hurricane of a mess on board. The team must come together and find a task that will fit Zachary without interfering with their own fun. On the way, they acquire a flag that will unite them as both friends and crew. Join the problem-solving crew of the Flying Dragon as they find a flag for their ship and a job for Zach.


My Take
I really love these books. Every time I get one, my daughter immediately picks it up and starts reading them. It is nice to see a book that is written for children that have learning lessons in them. It is simplistic enough for them to actually understand the lesson themselves.

This time around, the "crew" go out on the seas again. This time, the captain is looking for a flag to be flown from the ship. In the mix of all of this, a new crew member is trying to find his place amongst the crew. Everything that he is told to do doesn't go well. Then finally, the captain finds something for him to do. It is one of the most important jobs.

In this story, the crew learns how to get along. Every place that Zach (the new crew member) tries to help, he makes a mess and doesn't wind up helping. Most of the time, the other crew members don't want him to help. One thing they have to learn is how to all get along and find something for everyone to do. This is what makes a great crew.


About the Author

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the Captain No Beard series. Both Captain No Beard-An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life and Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis have received the Kirkus Star of Exceptional Merit. The first book in the series was named to Kirkus Reviews Best 2012. Each book has won numerous awards, namely the NABE Pinnacle Award, ERIK Award for 2013, ForeWord Review Five Star, Rebecca Reads, and Reader's Views Children's Book of the Year 2013. Recently it was awarded the Marble Book Award for Best Illustration in a series for Bonnie Lemaire's stunning illustrations.

This complimentary book was given to me by Red Feather Productions for my honest review.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be... a Veterinarian, by Wigu Publishing

 Title: When I Grow Up I Want To Be... a Veterinarian

Series: When I Grow Up...

Author: Wigu Publishing

Date: November 29, 2014

Paperback: 60 pages

Language: English

Age Range: 9 and up





About the Book
Sofia wants to care for all the animals in the world. But Mom does not think Sofia is ready for the responsibility of even one pet. Ready or not, when a hungry and sick-looking cat appears at the family's back doorstep, Sofia takes action. When Sofia is found feeding the cat, Mom gives in and agrees that a trip to the vet will tell them if the cat is healthy and not someone's lost pet. As the veterinarian introduces Sofia and readers to the important and wide-ranging work of animal doctors, Sofia learns how she might help all kinds of animals, including a little stray cat!


My Take
I must say I really love this series. I think it is one of the best ones out there for children to get a true understanding of what jobs are out there for them. I know my daughter gets very excited each time she reads one of these books. She gets to learn about a new career option. This particular story, about the veterinarian, was top of her list, as that is one of her options for when she grows up.


The cover along grabbed both of our attention. It is amazingly filled with bright attention grabbing colours.When you open the book, it has a list of saying from famous people regarding animals and how wonderful they are to have around. Next you find the Veterinarian Oath. This was nice to be able to read to my daughter and tell her that it will be something that she will have to uphold.


The story is a touching one. It shows how much love this young girl has for animals and how badly she wants to have one around. Even though most of the book is in cartoon form, there are pictures of actual people and animals. These sections give children a deeper understanding of what a Veterinarian does. Your children will also receive a deeper knowledge of cats, dogs, birds and reptiles. This book is filled with so much information that by time you are done ready the story, they will have a better understanding and know if this is the career for them or not. There is also two pages at the end that are dedicated to what makes and good veterinarian and pet owner.


About the Author
Wigu Publishing is a collaboration of talented and creative individuals working together to publish informative and fun books for our children.  Our titles serve to introduce children to the people in their communities who serve others through their vocations.  Wigu Books are unique in that they help our children to visualize the abundant opportunities that exist for them to be successful and to make a difference.  Our goal is to inspire the great leaders and thinkers of tomorrow.

This complimentary book was given to me by Wigu Publishing for my honest review.

Lift the Flap Bible, by Karen Williamson

Title: Lift the Flap Bible

Series: Candle Tiny Tots

Author: Karen Williamson

Illustrator: Louise Anglicas

Publisher: Candle Books (October 1, 2014)

Board Book: 16 pages

Age Range: 2 - 4 years old



About the Book

What's under the flaps? Find out in this collection of eight very simple Bible stories in a large cased board book format. Each story is told across a double-page spread and there are flaps on every page. Bright, quirky illustrations full of wit and color from Louise Anglicas are perfect for this engaging introduction to Bible stories.

Stories are: Noah and the Ark, Moses and the Bulrushes, Daniel and the Lions, Jonah and the Great Fish, Born in a Stable, Boy with Loaves and Fishes, The Lost Sheep, and Man Lowered Through the Roof.

My Take
Do you know any young kids that love to play and learn in the process? If so, this is the perfect book for them if you want them to get a head start on learning the stories in the Bible. The stories are the ones that most kids love to hear about. The ones we remember learning about when we were young. Each story is only two pages and there is no more than two sentences per story. So all the little kids with short attention spans will be able to sit through each story because it won't last long. Each story also has about three to four flaps for them to pull down. The pictures are very colourful, so your child will want to go through this book over and over again. It is very simple and to the point and worth including in your child's library collection.

About the Author/Illustrator
Karen Williamson worked as a London primary school teacher and publisher s editor before launching a successful career as a full-time writer. With three children of her own, she specializes in Bible stories for young readers.

Louise Anglicas holds a degree in Ceramics and Surface Design from Staffordshire University. Working as a designer, she was instrumental in securing the Harry Potter license for a local ceramic manufacturer! She applies her love of pattern and design to the world of children s illustration.

This complimentary book was given to me by Kregel Publications for my honest review.

                                                            

The Christmas Cats Encounter Bats, by Constance Corcoran Wilson

Title: The Christmas Cats Encounter Bats

Author: Constance Corcoran Wilson

Publisher: Quad Cities Press

Date: September 13, 2014

Paperback: 24 pages








About the Book
The third book in the Christmas Cats adventure teaches us to honor life in all its forms. Love and accept all God's creatures. Some animals--(puppies and kitties come to mind)--are popular with nearly everyone. Others (spiders, lizards, bats, etc.) may not seem as worthy,  but all are small cogs in the universe. Bats serve a very useful purpose in God's grand scheme. All life should be valued. The bats of story three are just as deserving of respect and have as much right to life as any other creature on the planet.

My Take
This book happens to be just as cute as the other one I reviewed, The Christmas Cats Chase Christmas Rats. Just like the other book, this one has a lesson that one can learn. We all have issues with certain animals and some of us take drastic measures to make sure those types of animals are not to be seen in our dwellings. For instance, like the bats in this story. The cats must go on a journey to help figure out what is making a certain sound. They find out it is a bat. Of course they don't hurt the bat and explain that it can be helpful to have them around and so we should enjoy them.

I like the fact that the author doesn't drag the story out to make a point. I know the younger a child is, they don't tend to want to sit as long and hear a story. Another good thing is that it rhymes. This is also helpful for the younger ones. It can come across more or less like a song and so they tend to enjoy it more. The bright colours in the book will also attract a lot of readers. They make the pages stand out. Lastly, but not least, there is a colouring page at the end that has the reader or child interact with the story by colouring a page and adding to the "story". Once you are done, you can email them in and see it posted on the website.

Like I stated before. This book is cute and the lesson is just as good.

About the Author
Connie graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in English and Journalism, but she began writing for her hometown (Independence, Iowa) newspaper at the age of 10 and was Editor-in-Chief of her high school newspaper. She continued her education, including a Ferner/Hearst Journalism Scholarship and a Freshman Merit Scholarship at Iowa, and then at Berkeley, WIU, NIU and the University of Chicago. Connie holds a Masters (+30) in English, Journalism and Education. Her career path led to teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts (Silvis, Illinois) and teaching writing at 6 IA/IL colleges or universities, including a class teaching film at Black Hawk Junior College. She then established the second Sylvan Learning Center in the state of Iowa and a Prometric Testing site, in conjunction with ETS of Princeton, NJ. She has taught writing and literature classes at all 6 IA/IL Quad City colleges.

Connie lives in East Moline, Illinois with husband Craig and in Chicago, Illinois, where her son, Scott and daughter-in-law Jessica and their newborn twins Elise and Ava reside. Her daughter, Stacey, a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, has been living and working in Australia since February of 2012.

This complimentary book was given to me by the author for my honest review.

Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis, by Carole P. Roman

Title: Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis

Series: A Captain No Beard Story

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Plateform

Date: September 23, 2014

Paperback: 42 pages





About the Book
Captain No Beard's a brave pirate, with a loyal and hearty crew. Usually Hallie, Cayla and the rest of The Flying Dragon's crew are ready for any adventure, but as the captain sails ever-northward, they start to worry.

It's cold on the arctic seas. Icebergs float by, and every one's timbers are shivering. More alarmingly, Captain No Beard doesn't want to tell the crew where they're going or why.

When the crew finally learns their mission, they're shocked. The captain wants to steal something beautiful. The crew of The Flying Dragon may be pirates, but they all know stealing is wrong. Can they talk Captain No Beard out of his plan before he does something very bad?


My Take
Every time I read one of the Captain No Beard stories, I think this is a really great story. Can it get any better then this? Yes, each of the stories are great, but I have to say hands down, this is one of my favorite ones. I really like this story and the message that you receive when you read it.

Winter is coming and what better time to read this story with your children. On this adventure, the captain and his crew head north, while dealing with cold weather and icebergs. While traveling, they learn about the North Star, how it is wrong to steal, and the aurora borealis. Children will not only learn new things, but there is an art project that they do at the end that you can have your children do.

Just like the other books, this one has great artwork. The cover alone made me want to read the story. When you open the book, you get that nice winter feel from the pictures. The little snowflakes, the icebergs, and the warm clothes the characters wear.

I really enjoyed this book and do think that it should be added to your shelf.

About the Author

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turn businesswoman. She has successfully run a family business with her husband. Her most favorite job is being grandmother to her many grandchildren. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband.

Her first book, "Captain No Beard - An imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" has been named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 as well garnered the star of remarkable merit and was just named as one of Children's Indy Best - The Pinnacle Award of 2013. "Strangers on the High Seas" was named Readers Views Kids Award - Best Children's Book of the Year.

This complimentary book was given to me for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in...India, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...India: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: January 30, 2014

Paperback: 28 pages




About the Book
If You Were Me and Lived in...India: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World - the fun and exciting series that takes children around the world is back with and interesting new country and an educational look into the culture of India. Focusing on what life would be like for children if they lived in another major city or country, the series continues to show young readers the diverse world around us and the value of all different cultures. The travel channel for children in book form , this captivating adventure takes children on and exciting journey to the mesmerizing county of India!

My Take
I am a big fan of this series. Every book that my child and I read together is another learning experience about a place we have never gone. Like all the other books, it starts out with a picture of the country and where the capital is located. I really like this because not only does my child get to learn about the country, she gets to see what it would look like on a map and then it is shown what it looks like on a globe. As we take a "trip" around India, we see the sights, sounds, and cultures. We learn what your name would be if you were a boy/girl, how you say mom/dad, a famous place, games you would play, foods you would eat and a famous holiday. In the back of the book is a pronunciation guide and also some of the colors from India are used throughout the book. There is also a little building by the numbers of each page (which I just love). With the book also being in cartoon form, it makes it more interesting for children to read.

So if you already haven't, add this one to your collection. And if you don't have the collection, go out and get it. Trust me, you will not regret it.


About the Author









Award winning author Carole P. Roman is delighted to add India to her growing series. She has recently completed If You Were Me and Lived in...Portugal, Greece, and Russia; which she researched and wrote with her five year old grandson, Alexander. Her first book Captain No Beard An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life was named to Kirkus Best 2012, received the Star of Remarkable Merit, the Pinnacle Award for 2012, and Just recently The Erik Metzroth Award for Best Children's book 2013.


This complimentary book was given to me for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Date: October 24, 2013

Paperback: 30 pages



About the author: 
 Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the If You Were Me and Lived in... series, which won the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in 2012. She collaborated on this installment in the series with her five year old grandson, Alexander. Roman also writes the Captain No Beard series, the first of which was named a Kirkus Best of 2012, received a Star of Remarkable Merit, and won The Pinnacle Award in 2012.

About the book:
If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World is back with a brand new expedition. This amazing children's series by Carole P. Roman is heading to Africa! Focusing on what life could be like for children in another land, this series continues to show the customs and cultures that inhabit our great globe.

My take:
It has been another great adventure for my daughter and me, as we take a trip to Kenya through the If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya book.

Just like the other books in the If You Were Me and Lived in... series, there is enough information to let us know a lot about the particular country. The book starts out with the shape of the country of Kenya with a location of the capital, Nairobi. Then it shows on a globe where it is located in Africa. Through the different cartoon drawings, we are shown what Kenya looks like, from the city parts to the country parts. We learn about the different foods they eat, like chapati and samosa and how they like to play cricket and celebrate Mombasa Carnival.

I don't know if this was in the other books, but I did like how one of the colors of Africa was used on the pages and then how there was a tiny little giraffe at the bottom of the pages. There is also a pronunciation guide in the back of the book to help out with words that one might not know how to say.

This is a really cute book and like I said before, they are great learning tools and I feel like every school and home library would benefit from having this series in them.

This complementary book was given to me for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in...South Korea: An Introduction to Learning About Other Cultures, by Carole P. Roman

  

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace

Date: June 14, 2013

Paperback: 28 pages


Ages: 3 - 7





About the author:

Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 for her first book, award winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons. She just finished the first of six books in a groundbreaking new nonfiction series about culture around the world. "If You Were Me and Lived in..." combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us.

About the book:

"If You Were Me and Lived in...South Korea: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World" is the third installment in Carole P. Roman's remarkable series about countries all over the globe. Roman opens up a world of wonder while highlighting the fact that underneath it all we are far more alike than we might have imagined. Like a children's version of The Travel Channel that is filled with entertaining and educational facts, this astonishing journey to the southern end of Asia's Korean Peninsula will captivate our child with amazing and fun filled facts!

My take:

Just like the other books in this series, this one starts out with a picture of South Korea and shows what and where the capital is located while going into a small history. The next thing you learn is the different names one might have depending on if you are a boy or a girl. Your children will also learn about the different shops they go to, what type of foods they eat, a holiday that they have and information about their schools. Like the books before this one, it also contains a pronunciation guide at the back of the book.

I also really like the colorful cartoon like drawings that are in the book. It contains just the right amount of pictures to keep our children interested, but not too much to leave them without knowledgeable information about the country.

I am a big fan of this series and so is my child. Every time she sees one of these books she gets really excited because they have created a strong yearning of cultural knowledge in her. I do believe that teachers should buy them and put them in their classrooms.

This complementary book was given to me for my honest review.

Get to Know Apostle Paul, by Nancy I. Sanders

 Title: Get to Know Apostle Paul

Series: Get to Know

Age: 6 - 10

Publisher: Zonderkidz

Date: July 8, 2014

Pages:128

About the book: Paul traveled all over the Roman Empire telling people about Jesus. But his life wasn't always easy. Read about the life of Paul, from the time he first became a believer to the completion of his mission and learn why he is a Bible hero.

About the Author: Nancy I. Sanders is the bestselling children's author of over 80 books including Frederick Douglas for kids. She lives with her husband, Jeff, and their two cats in sunny southern California and has tow grown sons.

My take: Apostle Paul was an amazing person and to show your children just how great of a person he was, give them the book Get to Know Apostle Paul, by Nancy I. Sanders. This book has four guidelines for children to follow for a better understanding: a foot - Bible Hero, an Egyptian eye - Eyewitness Account, a water jug - Did you know?, and a scroll - Word Bank. There are also pictures of maps (which have journeys mapped out on them), buildings, artifacts, places and people. They are brightly coloured and really draw your attention toward them. This book also has Bible texts splattered throughout.

The author did an excellent job with the writing style. She made it simple enough for a young reader to understand, yet complex enough for an adult to enjoy reading. The important words are bold typed with definitions at the bottom of the page and in glossary format at the back of the book. If you or your child want to gain a better understanding or even learn about the Apostle Paul, this book is for you. If you enjoy it, you should also check out the other books in the series, which are Jesus, Mary and King David.

This book was given to me by Booklook Bloggers for my honest opinion.

If You Were Me And Lived In...Portugal, by Carole P. Roman

Series: If You Were Me and Lived In...

Pages: 28 pages

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: May 28, 2014

Language: English




About the book: Written specifically for Preschoolers and early readers, If You Were Me and Lived In...Portugal presents valuable information about Portugal in a simple yet thoughtful way that doesn't talk down to little ones or go over their heads. Full of basic facts about topics that matter most to kids, it opened doors for children to learn about this unique country and get a better idea of what life is like there... without ever leaving the house or turning on an electric device.

About the author: Carole P. Roman is a former social studies teacher and award-winning author who has published over ten children's books. If You Were Me and Lived in...Portugal is her most recent installment in a growing series of children's books that explores different countries and cultures from one-of-a-kind, kid-friendly perspective.

My take: My daughter and I really enjoyed reading the Portugal book. We actually learned a lot from it. I love it when we can read a book and actually obtain information to take with us and share. Well, this is how I feel when I read any of the books in the If You Were Me and Lived In... series. The fact that my daughter can tell me about the stuff she learns from this series brings a smile to my face.

Just like the other books, it starts out showing you what Portugal looks like by itself and then on a world globe. It then goes into the history of the country, which is very interesting, and we were able to learn that 240 million people speak their language. Just like the other books, we were able to learn what you might be named if you were a boy or girl. My daughter learned and actually uses "Olá, Máe" (translation Hey Mom). You learn about different foods, going to the store and more.

Not sure if it was just me, but I felt like this book had more of a language learning edge to it than the other ones. Maybe it is the way it is written, but I felt like we were actually able to learn more of the language in this book. I do enjoy the pronunciation throughout the book and the list at the end of the book. I also liked how the author has a couple of regular pictures mixed in with the cartoon ones.

I really like this series and if I try to read the book without my daughter she gets upset because she really enjoys them. I think this series should be a part of every one's library and feel like schools could even benefit from it.

This book was given to me by Bostick Communications for my honest review.

Captain No Beard: The Crew Goes Coconuts!, by Carole P. Roman

Series: Captain No Beard

Paperback: 48 pages

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Date: May 15, 2014

Language: English





About the Author: Award-winning author Carole P. Roman has produced another book for her "Captain No Beard" lineup. The first book in the series, "captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" was named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012, with a Star of Remarkable Merit, and was presented with a National Association of Book Entrepreneurs Pinnacle Award in 2013. Roman, a former teacher, is the mother of four and grandmother to many. She currently resides on Long Island with her husband.

About the book: As the imaginations of cousins Hallie and Alexander bring their stuffed animals to life, the crew of critters is stranded alongside a desert island. The friends wish to refresh their thirst; however, the newcomer to the ship makes a critical error that draws the negative attention of the other shipmates. Miffed by Matty the Goat's mistake, the parched crew turns on the hapless greenhorn with cruel taunts and personal attacks. Captain No Beard steps in and expertly navigates the rough waters of bullying with sensible leadership that leaves everyone with a good taste in their mouths.

My take: I think this is a really cute book. Plus, you can't go wrong when there is a series of them to read. I think the way the author teaches kids it is not okay to judge is incredible. She keeps her writing very simplistic, so that even a younger child could read it for themselves. Some of the names like, Mongo the Monkey and Linus the lion, I think helps to keep young ones interested. She uses dialogue that most younger kids would use when speaking about someone they do not like.

The artistry for the book is also great. The characters and colors that are used I feel really appeal to children. The way they are drawn grabbed my daughter's attention and made her want to read the book. The expressions on the character's faces really make you feel for them.

I think this is a really cute book that everyone should have their children read. It could really help them understand how to deal with bully issues. The story shows how it starts, what happens and the outcome to make it all work out.

This book was given to me by Bostick Communications for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived In... Russia, by Carole P. Roman

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Paperback: 32 pages

Date: May 14, 2014

Language: English








If You Were Me and Lived in... Russia, by Carole P. Roman is a great book if you or your child want to learn about Russia. With the great cartoon pictures and word pronunciations, you can't help but enjoy learning.

About the author: Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the If You Were Me and Lived in... series, which won the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in 2012. She collaborated on this installment in the series with her five year old grandson, Alexander. Roman also writes the Captain No Beard series, the first of which was named a Kirkus Best of 2012, received a Star of Remarkable Merit, and won The Pinnacle Award in 2012.

My take: The book starts out showing where Russia is located on a globe, just like the front cover of the book. We are also shown some of the different names children might have if they lived over there. Also, what you would call your parents if you lived there. We are taken on a tour of the most popular places to visit and some of the favorite foods that one might have if they live in Russia. There is so much to learn from the book, like holidays and games to play.
 
In this book (also the series), the pictures are in cartoon form and are very colorful and will keep your child reading the book. It also has pronunciations throughout the story and a section in the back that list all the Russian words and how to say them phonetically. Every time my child reads one of these books, she actually learns something new about each country and I really love that.

If you have the chance to purchase this series, I highly advise it. I am one who loves to find ways for my child to learn in a fun and interesting way, and I think this series gives them the opportunity to learn about different places without feeling like they are in school.

I was given this book by Bostick Communications for my honest review.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be...in the U.S. Navy!, by Wigu Publishing

Age Range: 6 and up 

Series: When I Grow Up I Want To Be...

Paperback: 58 pages

Publisher: Wigu Publishing

Date: April 10, 2014

Like I have stated before, these are really awesome books that everyone should own. With that said, here is my review for the next one in the series.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be...in the U.S. Navy! is a really great read. It seems likes these books get better and better each time a new title comes out. My daughter and I decided to read this one together. Most of the time I am the one reading and she is just listening, but there is a young girl in this book and she read her part while I read the other character's parts/main story. 

This story is about a young boy name Noah, his grandfather Ed and his sister Marina. Their grandfather decides to take them to visit a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that has come and docked nearby. They tour it and the grandfather tells of his experiences when he was in the Navy.

Like the other books in the series, there is an educational aspect to the story. While you are reading, you are shown pictures of an actual carrier and the different compartments on it. My daughter and I were amazed at the different levels and compartments on the carrier. We also visualized the length of it and realized they are huge! As you are taken through each level of the carrier by the grandfather, there is a page to the right or left that explains in detail about what you are seeing. I thought it was really neat because it felt as though we were actually on the carrier. They did a really awesome job showing and having you understand everything. Toward the back of the book is a page that shows all the different boats (and their names) that might be part of a carrier strike group, which my daughter gleefully said reminded her of the game Battleship.

The other great part about this story is the fact that the characters are in cartoon form and the rest of the picture is in real life. My daughter thought it was funny how it showed "cartoon people" on a real carrier. The fact that it was very descriptive made it easy for her to truly understand what the book is about and stay involved in the story. And the comedic aspect kept her laughing through the whole story.

We have a cousin who is in the U.S. Navy, so she was able to see everything that he experiences on a day to day basis. The book is not only a great tool to help a child learn about what they can possibly achieve when they grow older, but also help out children who have fathers or mothers in the Navy. 

This book was given to me by Wigu Publishing for my honest review.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be...in the U.S. Army!, by Wigu Publishing

 Age Group: 6 and up

Series: When I Grow Up I Want To Be...

Paperback: 56 pages

Publisher: Wigu Publishing 

Language: English

Here is another great book to add to the series of When I Grow Up I Want To Be.... I really enjoy reading these books and so does my child. I love that they give her an idea of what is out there. There isn't a limit to what she can become and these books give her a chance to realize this very thing. 

We occasionally talk about what she wants to do when she becomes older, but I have to say, after she started reading this series, I think it really sparked something in her to take a broader look at what is out there and not settle for something typical. It never hurts to start thinking about what you want your life to be like, even though you are young. In this present time, I think it is becoming more and more imperative for one to start thinking about this sooner rather than later.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be... in the U.S. Army! is about a boy named Jake who has to do a school project and decides to do it on being a soldier. The book takes you on the journey of him learning what it all entails. 

Jake's father takes him to a local GI store, which is neat because we have one that I will be able to take my child to so she can see everything that he saw. This is where the book starts to give you background knowledge of what it's like to be a soldier. As Jake sees different things in the store, we learn right along with him what they are, like badges and their rankings, the different positions a soldier can hold (not just for fighting), types of soldiers and their equipment, and training. By the time Jake is ready to give his report, we have learned just as much as he has. There is also a glossary in the back to further explain some of the words that are in the story.

Like the other books in the series, they mix "cartoon" form with real life form. I believe the cartoon form pulls the children in and keeps them reading and the real life form helps them relate to life around them.

This book was really helpful because my child has a cousin that is thinking about joining the army and it gave her a better insight into what he was going to be going through. It would also benefit a child who has a parent in the army. It would also give them a better understanding and help answer any questions that they may have.

Like I stated in all the other reviews, these are awesome books and are very helpful in opening up a whole new learning world for young children.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.