LITTLE HOUSES: A Counting Book

Do you love seeing a child learning to count for the first time? If so, you will love Little Houses: A Counting Book,a wonderful new picture book from Laurence King Publishing. It is full of educational lessons that not only teach children to learn to count, but also helps to teach children about colors, hand-eye coordination skills, and memory skills .

What makes Little Houses: A Counting Book a unique picture book is its introduction of the different types of houses that are from various countries around the world, including Sweden, South Africa and Japan. The book's extra large size is an extra bonus. Another unique feature of Little Houses is the photographs of construction paper houses that stand in for traditional illustrations that you normally see in children's picture books. This really makes the book that more special.

Little Houses is great for both parents and teachers to share with children. For parents, it's a great book to bond with a child, as it is interactive, and reads like playing a memory game, or "find the hidden picture" if you will. For educators, it's a great book for teaching how to count from 1 to 10, but it also educates the reader about different cultures, giving a fun lesson in geography as well as one in math. If you are looking for a fun, unique, educational children's book, Little Houses: A Counting Book is a must-read, especially for children ages 2 to 6 years old, as well as children with special needs who may learn to count in later years. A truly brilliant book, and one that makes a wonderful gift for this holiday season!

Little Houses: A Counting Book

By Helen Musselwhite

GOLDEN DOMES AND SILVER LANTERNS: A Muslim Book of Colors

Orange is the color of my henna designs, they cover my hands in leafy vines.

Silver is a fanoos, a twinkling light, a shiny lantern that glows at night.

There is much religious turmoil going on in our world right now. As a devout Christian, I always hope that those who do not share my religion will still respect it. In turn, I make an effort to respect religions that are different from my own. For that reason, this week I am reviewing the educational picture book Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns. It is my hope and belief that if we teach children at a young age the beauty of other religions, then they will grow up with a love of their religion, as well as tolerance for others.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is a beautifully written children's book. It is a  positive introduction to some of the cultural practices of the Muslim religion featuring breathtakingly beautiful illustrations, and rhyming prose that educates young children about different colors. Some of the cultural practices highlighted in the book are of women wearing a hijab (scarf) and henna (tattoo-like artwork), and the hanging of a fanoos (lantern) during Ramadan. At the end of the book is a glossary of the terms used in the book that explains what each word means and why it is important in the Muslim culture.

It is not always easy to embrace customs that are different from ours, but if we are to use the golden rule - to treat (respect) the beliefs and customs of others, the way that we in turn would like to be treated - then embracing different cultures, and educating our children about them is something we must make an effort to do. For this reason, I strongly recommend reading Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns to children who are both Muslim and non-Muslim.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book that is a great educational tool for teaching young children colors as well as well as introducing children to Muslim traditions. If it is your hope to educate and/or raise a tolerant and educated child who respects those different from him or her, this is a wonderful book to read to a child of any religion, and a great way to introduce a child to the concept of peace and tolerance.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors

Written by: Hena Khan

Illustrated by: Mehrdokht Amini

About BookBuzz4Kids.com

BookBuzz4Kids.com reviews books that celebrate culture and educate young children ages 1-10. Our mission is to celebrate children’s books that promote diversity so that parents of all cultural, diverse and religious backgrounds, including those with disabilities have a source where they can find children's books that represent their children. BookBuzz4Kids.com also aims to support independent self-published authors who write educational and culturally diverse books.

Colors of Wine Country

Have you been to wine country? If not, then grab your little one and take an imaginary trip to Napa Valley, California in Colors of the Wine Country, a wonderful board book that teaches children about the colors found throughout the beautiful California wine country. 

Told in a simple and fun style, Colors of the Wine Country, is a comprehensive lesson for toddlers and other children who have not yet learned to speak (such as autistic or other special needs children), that not only teaches children about colors, but also  introduces them to farm equipment, crops and animals.

The book contains bright and  beautiful colors of animated illustrations of many of nature's wonders including crop fields, streams and animals, including a cow and dog. I have no doubt that Colors of the Wine Country  would be a fun and enjoyable read that children will love for its visual appeal, and parents will love for its educational content. It's a win-win!

Colors of the Wine Country

Written by Kyle and Amy Goleno

Illustrator: Peter Francis

DID YOU KNOW?

May 4-8 is is teacher appreciation week, and that May 5th is National Teacher Appreciation day? Since 1984, National PTA has designated the first week in May as a special time to honor the men and women who lend their skills to educating our children. Find out more at www.pta.org.

About BookBuzz4Kids.com

BookBuzz4Kids.com reviews books that educate young children ages 1-10. Our mission is to celebrate children’s books that promote education, diversity and fun, and to give parents of all cultural, religious and racial backgrounds a source where they can find children's books that represent them and their children.  To suggest a book to have reviewed on BookBuzz4Kids.com, email adcwriter@gmail.com