Three new children's books for any library collection

Today I have three new children’s book to review!

First, If you were me and lived in…the Ancient Mali Empire by Carole P. Roman and illustrated by Mateya Arkova is a new addition to the series in which children are introduced to the ancient empire of Mali. The book details the empire’s history which was at its height in 1332 and was a vital trade and world power. The book highlights the empire’s Muslim faith and as well as daily life of their homes, food, clothing and cultural practices such as slavery for the salt and gold mines. I enjoyed this book very much as it introduced an empire that I was not aware of and how vital it was to the famous Silk Road. I highly recommend this book for any family or school library.

Second, If you were me and lived on…Mars by Carole P. Roman and illustrated by Mateya Arkova is a fantastical journey to what life on Mars would be like. The story introduces children to the 6 month journey from Earth to Mars. The history behind the name and its place in our solar system. The book also discusses what the living conditions would be like and how the food would be grown on the planet. I enjoyed this book as an interesting approach to introduce the planet to children. I highly recommend this book for any family and school library.

Third, Ellie Camps under the Stars by mother-daughter team of Marci and Elle Fair. It is the sixth book in The Amazing Adventures of Ellie the Elephant series. In this book, Ellie and her friend, Pudgy the penguin go camping. The pitch their tents and sleep under the stars. They go on several hikes and talk about what they see like beautiful waterfalls and amazing mountain views. I enjoyed this book and especially the photos of Ellie and Pudgy on their mountain adventure. I highly recommend this book for any family or school library.

These titles are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble in paperback and in eBooks. 

Another great addition to the Amazing Adventures of Ellie the Elephant series

Ellie’s Fun Day at the Farm by Marci and Elle Fair is another addition to the Amazing Adventures of Ellie the Elephant. The story follows Ellie and her friend, Pudgy the Penguin as they eat lunch and they wonder where their food comes from. So they decide the take a trip to a local farm. There they see many animals like goats, sheep and cows. They see a garden with tomatoes, onions and peppers. The book also includes fun puzzles and games for readers to enjoy.

I enjoyed Ellie’s Fun Day at the Farm. The mom-daughter writing team blends imagination and realistic photos to introduce children to the world around them. I loved the play on words when Ellie and Pudgy saw the different farm animals. For instance, when they saw the goat, the word “kidding” was used referring to a joke and a baby goat. The book encourages readers to take their own stuffed animals to visit a farm and snap pictures and shar them with the hashtag #elliesfriends. This book and others in the series are very unique which allowed engagement on the part of the readers. I highly recommend Ellie’s Fun Day at the Farm and other books in this wonderful series.

Ellie’s Fun Day at the Farm

is available at major booksellers

in paperback and on the Kindle

The Amazing Adventures of Ellie the Elephant: the places and fun she has

The Amazing Adventures of Ellie the Elephant is a series of books by Marci and Ellie Fair. A mother-daughter author team which tell the stories of Ellie the Elephant and Pudgy the Penguin. Ellie and Pudgy are the stuffed animal friends of Ellie. I received two books to review.

First, Ellie Goes Back to School is the story of Ellie and Pudgy as they get ready for the first day of school. They eat a good breakfast and their backpacks are ready to go. Ellie’s nervous because it’s a new school for her. It’s a strange new place, this school. The hallways are long and the doors are really tall. They get to their classroom and they meet their nice teacher. They learned about numbers and how to use a ruler. They learn the shapes and where they live in the world. They get to explore new places in their new school. The classroom has pets and books to read. Gym class, lunch, recess and music class fill in their day at school. They even make a new friend, Sparkle the unicorn. The first day of school comes to an end.

Second, Ellie’s Best Beach Vacation Ever is the story of Ellie and her friend Pudgy as they go on a beach vacation. The sand is white and the water is a beautiful blue and green. They dug in the sand and made sandcastles. They swam in the ocean. They even ride bikes on the boardwalk. They explore the beach town and its hidden treasures. The vacation is filled with fun, exploration and relaxation. The best vacation ever.

These books are cute and fun. The pictures of Ellie and Pudgy are really cute and the reader can experience the day with them. I enjoyed that at the end of each book, the authors encourages the readers to take pictures of their favorite stuffed animal friends at school or on vacation. They even include how to share the pictures with them on their Facebook page. I recommend these books to any classroom or family library for their fun adventures and the creativity in the pictures and their stories.

These titles as well as others in the series

Are available on Amazon