My First Gratitude Journal by Creative Journals for Kids

My First Gratitude Journal is an adorable way to teach children the power and value of gratitude. There is a space a day for a year. Each day has a prompt and space for writing and drawing. Every ten days, there are more in-depth prompts. It’s a fairly simple, basic journal. Great as a first teaching tool. Recommended!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Zeitgeist for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Whose Habitat is That? by Lucile Piketty

Whose Habitat is That? by Lucile Piketty is an adorable children’s picture book exploring animal habitats. There are five habitats, with an iconic critter hiding in each. Children are invited to guess the animal by following clues about the environment and the creature, and flaps open to reveal each beastie. The art is cute, and the language is engaging. Given the level of language, this isn’t a book meant for really young kids unless you plan on explaining things further, though they would no doubt love the pop-ups!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Unfamiliar Familiars by Megan Lynn Kott & Justin Devine

Unfamiliar Familiars by Megan Lynn Kott & Justin Devine was an amusing read. I loved all the unusual animals listed. Especially the tardigrade!! I adore tardigrades. Even moreso after Star Trek Discovery featured a gigantic cousin of our little ‘water bears’. I’m a magical practitioner myself, however, and I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a mention that this way of familiar finding isn’t the only way, merely one of many. The spell to summon a familiar was a little goofy, though that’s fine. Many spells are, though this one was a bit vague. Walk to the third tree of what?? Your garden? What if you don’t have one? Or have no trees? I’d’ve liked to have seen mention of the fact that intention is the driving force behind magic, and suggestions for crafting one’s own spells for finding a familiar. 

I realise this is likely supposed to just be a novelty book, but many of the animals are impractical or illegal to actually keep in any way, shape, or form, not without permits or such. This guide would be better labelled as a spirit animal guide. Indeed, despite lots of interesting facts, cheeky humour, and delightful drawings, I felt that the authors didn’t take the magical aspect seriously at all. This disgruntled me a surprising amount. Take the ways to figure out your familiar. Either you can rip out the animal pics, fold them into swans and float them down a river, and in three days one will return to you some way. Or you can just follow a bizarre flowchart. Huh? I followed it and got Sloth. I love sloths, so that was cool. Each animal has a ‘partners well with’. Sloths apparently partner well with ‘witches who grow their own kombucha’. Um, eww. No. Or take the name suggestions, strengths, and weaknesses. “Choose a powerful name.” Name suggestions for ball python include Boop Noodle and Shoelace… Weaknesses of the Capuchin monkey include frequent drunkenness, and strengths include poop throwing. Son, what the hellz?

Actually, this book made me think of a magical text from the world of Harry Potter. Taken in that context, it’s an amusing humour book perfect for magical practitioners. In the context of actual practise, this book leaves much to be desired, at least, for this practitioner. 

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Your Day Will Change the World by Shigenori Kusunoki, Taku Furuyama, and Chigusa Theresa Hanaoka

Your Day will Change The World was an interesting read. It is listed as a children’s book, though it did not have that feel for me. The English didn’t flow like a book meant for kids’. It is also in Japanese, though, and I cannot speak as to the kid-friendly language there. The book contains two stories, illustrated with watercolour pictures. This is a book detailing a simple yet powerful tool of positive psychology/ mindfulness. It is a book about gratitude and kindness, and shows how your thoughts shape your emotions which shape your reality, and how positivity can be passed on. It is a bit simplistic to say that positivity alone can help my day change the world. It takes a great deal more positivity to negate negativity on a psychological level. I cannot recall the exact ratio, but I think it is 5 positives to balance 1 negative. Because our brains are fun like that. 

***Many thanks to Netgalley and PHP Institute for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.