Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz

The following is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Hey, friends! Do you follow Lucky Diaz? From The Lucky Band? I first wrote about him and his band just over two years ago when I discovered his fantastic music video for his single Pan Dulce! 

I'm a big fan simply because I LOVE his bilingual music and I think it's engaging for kids, too. (Check out his YouTube channel here.)

Well, tomorrow, Lucky is launching his first children's book, Paletero Man (aff link), and I was lucky to get my hands on an advanced copy! Y'all. It is so colorful and fun to read. I've read it (more than once) to my 3yo and he (being a paleta junkie) adores it.

The story is based on Lucky’s Los Angeles diverse neighborhood and Latinx culture. But, honestly? It reminded me of the Dallas neighborhood and community where I grew up. And I suspect that Hispanic families across the country may recognize the neighborhood in this book.

In this story, a young boy is melting on the hottest day of the year and goes in search of relief by looking for Paletero José and his cart of many flavors (and colors!). But once he finds el paletero, he discovers he has lost all his money along the way! What's a boy to do??

The books is written in English with Spanish sprinkled in here and there. 

What I love best about the book is how colorful it is. The illustrations by Micah Player are fabulous and capture the story line perfectly.

An Exclusive Song

Of course, Lucky couldn't resist composing a new song to celebrate the release of his children's book. Like all of his music, it makes you want to get up and dance. (It's irresistible to kids!)

You can listen to it here on the HarperCollins website.

Free Reading Comprehension Questions

And because I find it impossible to resist, I put together these reading comprehension questions for you to use with this sweet book. Just click below to get your free copy.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

In addition to the new book, The Lucky Band will release an album of original songs on June 25th called Crayon Kids. I can tell you that it's just as big a toe-tapper as his other albums. Your little one's body can't help but move to the lively beats!

Thanks for all the great resources, Lucky!

Paletero Man in Spanish!

PSST! Did you know this book is now available in a bilingual version??

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

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• Airfryer Strawberry Chimichangas
  

INTEGRATE: Faith & Science Curriculum Supplement

 

The following is a sponsored post with BioLogos. All thoughts and opinions are mine. 

High school science has been weighing heavily on my mind. Why? Because I currently have two children in high school - one homeschooled and the other in a private school. The 9th grader is being homeschooled. And for his freshman year, we've been doing biology. I agonized for months over a curriculum because I just couldn't find one that fit us. I wish I'd known about INTEGRATE from BioLogos a year ago.

Before going further, I want to note here that MommyMaestra shares homeschool resources for families of all faiths. This particular faith/science program has a Christian perspective.

Quick Overview

Program: BioLogos INTEGRATE
Subject(s): The intersection of science and religion
Religious Perspective: Christian
Format: Digital Download  (Curriculum SUPPLEMENT)
Grades: 8th - 12th (some can work for 6th grade and up)
Language: English (but I have encouraged them to consider making it also available in Spanish)
Price: 29.99 per unit or 249.99 for all 15 units

I have used a variety of curricula over the years, both secular and from a Christian perspective. I've always been of the opinion that religion is taught at home and not in the classroom because it is such a deeply personal decision. 

And the reality is that all the curricula that I have seen try to force you to choose between scientific and religious beliefs. None seek to embrace both.

For those of you looking for a resource that helps you teach biology from both a scientific and Christian worldview, INTEGRATE may be what you are seeking.

A Curriculum Supplement

INTEGRATE is NOT a complete curriculum. Instead, it is designed to be used alongside a biology text, such as Miller & Levine, Campbell, Novare, or Apologia. Or you can use it as a standalone resource, an elective class, in my opinion, that may be described as Religious Studies and dives into how it is possible to believe in both science and God. 

The program has 15 units total. At the moment, only 5 are available. This is a NEW program, and the remaining 10 are being rolled out as each one is completed. The complete program is expected to be done by mid October.

Each unit explores a topic that is often a source of struggle for Christian families. BUT the program fosters a safe space for students to explore the nature of science, cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, and other topics through the lens of biblical faith. For example, it teaches the scientific consensus on the age of the Earth, evolution, and climate change, yet is sensitive to the fact that Christians differ in their opinions. The units are very well done both in terms of substance and organization. They are designed to ask hard questions for deep reflection and serious conversations between students and teachers. 

And most importantly, they may be used by anyone. You don't need a background in science or theology to use it. The lesson plans are laid out for you with all the resources.

The Layout

The units that I've seen are organized into a series of modules: 

1. Meet highlights Christian scientists who work in fields related to the topic in question.
2. Grow focuses on a Christian virtue and includes guided Scripture reading and reflection questions.
3. Engage is an activity related to the intersection of science and faith
4. Experience is a hands-on science-related activity
5. Integrate is the final activity when you put it all together

Some of the units build on what was learned in previous ones. But you don't necessarily have to use them in order. Actually, you can pull whichever unit pairs well with your current science lessons.

In addition, you'll find that each unit begins with a unit summary, list of learning outcomes, estimated teaching time, scope and sequence, co-requisite science, alignment to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and unit vocabulary. And at the end of each one, there is a glossary of relevant terms, as well as access to the extensive INTEGRATE glossary.

And ALL the resources - lesson plan, video links, printable downloads - are included in the PDFs, which are between 35 and 50 pages long.

My favorite unit so far, is Unit 15: Biodiversity & Conservation. It delves into the question of where we stand on the topic of conserving the life on our planet. There's just so much goodness in this packet! And it provides the scripture verses that help us to look at the topic from God's point of view instead of society's.

What I think of it

I will straight up tell you that I love the program. We used Miller & Levine Biology with my homeschooled 9th grader this year because that's what my oldest had used her freshman year in private school and loved it. It's a secular curriculum. I wish that I had had INTEGRATE when we started. But I'm looking forward to using it this summer. 

Why? Because I love science. I study science to know God better. My faith is strengthened as I learn about creation. I see evidence of God over and over again when I study science. And I want to pass on this worldview to my children. 

I'm tired and frustrated of society telling me that I have to choose between God and science, because I don't. They aren't EITHER/OR. They are AND in my heart. One is perfect and the other isn't. That's okay. Because the whole point of science is to constantly learn and change with the discovery of new information. It leads to greater understanding. And it leads me to greater love as I marvel at the beauty and intricacy of life on this planet that has, without a doubt, a master designer.

And I love that INTEGRATE is a bridge helping us to study both and find the relationships between the two.

A special discount for MommyMaestra readers

BioLogos has kindly set up a discount code for MommyMaestra readers. Just enter the discount code: mommy40 to receive 40% off all units/bundles through July 15!

If you'd like to know more and/or see all the topics that are covered by this program, explore their website yourself!

Want to find this post again? Pin it!

2021 Free Bilingual Reading Logs

 

Summer is upon us. And for us, that means trips to the library and bookstore.

Summer is an opportunity to maintain or even develop your child's literacy skills. So try to make it fun. I have a new set of free reading logs for you to use. They're pretty versatile to meet your needs. Inside you'll find:

• 3 different designs so you can track by:
  1) # of minutes read,
  2) # of pages read,
  3) OR # of books read,
  
• ALL of the logs are available in full color or black-and-white,
• AND they are available in English and Spanish.

You choose which one works best for your kid(s).

You can find them free in my TpT store OR if you are subscribed to my monthly newsletter, keep an eye out for them to arrive in your inbox by next week.

Happy reading!

¡A leer!

Exploring Primary Sources Website

For those of you with older children who are studying civics, I wanted to be sure to share with you the new site from iCivics. 

Exploring Primary Sources gives educators free, high-quality primary source teaching tools. And it allows students to research and examine primary resources directly rather than reading textbook accounts or narratives. 

This site gives students a chance to:

• Discover innovative, free products from iCivics and their partners that offer interactive, engaging learning experiences with primary sources
• Build their knowledge, skills and confidence to teach with primary sources with this collection of professional development videos
• Simplify lesson planning with this curated collection of high-quality primary source tools

This site is really important for teachers and students in middle school and high school. But there are sections dedicated to students in K through 5th.

The cool thing is that the materials and lessons appear to be presented in an engaging format using games and other interactives to teach kids.

AP teachers (homeschool & traditional) should especially find this site of interest because there is a tool devoted to DBQs (Document Based Questions), which are part of AP U.S. History exams. The tool takes students through these 4 steps:

1. Rate the document for usefulness and determine perspective.
2. Identify and analyze the text and visual elements that assist with answering the questions.
3. Address the supporting questions in your own words.
4. Summarize your findings as a response to the Big Question.

I love this resource because as the mother of a rising sophomore, this is a tool that I can use in our civics and history lessons for the next three years. 

And the fact that this is published by iCivics (who I've been using for a couple of years now) has my complete trust.

This whole site is packed full of teaching resources. I encourage you to go and check out the new Primary Sources website for yourself.

Art History Kids Summer Open House

 

Do you know about Art History Kids? This fabulous company introduces kids to art, invites them to come to their own conclusions, and encourages them to tap into their own individual creativity as they make art.

I've been a subscriber of their newsletter for a long time now. They have some really great resources that they sell in their online shop. Specifically, they create incredible art history studies that help children delve into art and the lives of artists. 

They'll be hosting their free, online Summer Camp in The Studio Open House this June 1st through 3rd.

According to their newsletter, they'll be "taking a vicarious virtual vacation through three sensational works of art! We'll explore works by...

🦋 Frida Kahlo in Mexico

📷 Ansel Adams in the US National Parks

🇲🇦 and Henri Matisse's art in Morocco

No special art supplies are necessary… just watch the videos each day with your kids (or relax and have a coffee break while they watch) and then set out some simple supplies for them to create some amazing art of their own!

These mini-lessons are little pieces of the actual lessons we've done in The Studio membership... and you get to try them out for free!⁣⁣"

This is best geared for children in elementary and middle school.

If you'd like to sign your child up for this event, here's the invite where you can register.

Cicadas! Brood X Emergence 2021

Pmjacoby, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Brood X emergence has begun! 

Have you heard all the hype about the 17-year cicadas? Let me quickly explain...

Cicadas come in two different types: annual cicadas and periodical cicadas. The annual ones come out every year and are seen throughout the United States. But the periodical cicadas are unique in that they remain underground for 13 or 17 years and then emerge en masse. 

These periodical cicadas are only found here in the United States (weird, right?). And there are groups of them that emerge all at the same time. Actually, there are roughly 15 known groups that are recognized and monitored by scientists. These groups are called Broods and each brood is assigned a Roman Numeral for identification. These emergences are only found in the eastern and central U.S. 

And when I say emerge, what I mean to say is EMERGE. Because literally trillions of them come out all at the same time and they seem to just cover everything around them like some sort of plague. Ha. But not so much a plague because for some animals it is more like winning the lotto. All sorts of animals feast during the cicada emergence including snakes, skunks, owls, bats, songbirds, turtles, frogs, foxes... I mean everything. Watch this excellent video from BBC Earth:

A few hours before I sat down to write this, the first cicadas from Brood X have started to emerge from the ground. 

I wanted to share a few cicada resources with you in case this is something you'll be studying with your kids. And if you actually live in a place where this years emergence is happening...I'm jealous!

Cicada Biology & Emergences

First, I wrote this more detailed article about cicadas (specifically, periodical cicadas) for Woo! Jr. It comes with free printable activity sheets for you to use. Lots of fun in this one. I'm especially proud of it. 

Cicada Day

Second, I happened upon this hilarious, but oh-so-fun-and-educational webpage from Purdue University. Seriously, those entomology people are crazy creative and have fantastic sense of humor. It's titled, Digital Bug Bowl 2021: Cicada Day. And you'll find great videos embedded, including how to make an origami cicada and how to make cicada cookies (using cricket powder!). Oh. My. Gosh. It's crazy fun!

Books About Cicadas

And last, here are some fantastic children's books on cicadas for you to check out of the library or buy at your local bookstore, OR you can just click on the links below to purchase from Amazon using my affiliate links. 

30 Activity Books for Kids Ages 8-12

Summer is quickly approaching, which means that it's time to start preparing to keep your kids busy over the hot months ahead.

Today's post is for kids ages 8 to 12 who are creative and inquiring. Check out this list of excellent activity books for long car trips, lounging by the pool, airplane rides, or simple staycations. 

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. See my sidebar for more information. 

Question a Day Journal

A daily journal to help kids ages 8 to 12 explore who they are.

Do you want to get to know yourself a little better? This question a day journal is bursting with amazing prompts for you to answer. What is your favorite kind of music? How would you use different superpowers? Is there anything that makes you nervous? Answer questions like these every day for a whole year!

Discover a question a day journal that offers:

• 365 Prompts―Find out how much fun journaling can be by answering a brand new prompt every day.
• Kid-friendly questions―Explore questions perfect for young writers like you.
• A positive approach―Feel great when you write about your hopes, share what you’re good at, and more.

3 Minute Gratitude Journal

The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal is a guide to cultivate an attitude of gratitude for children. It is a self exploration journal designed to focus on being thankful for what we have, the big things in life, as well as the simple joys. Each well designed and kid-friendly daily spread contains space to list out three things you are thankful for, a person who brought you joy and how you felt about your day. If you start each day by writing down three things you are thankful for - a family, a favorite teacher, starting a good book - you begin each day on the right note. Do it daily and make it a habit to focus on the blessings you have been given! Grab a copy for a friend and share the journey together!

Mindfulness Workbook for Kids

Mindfulness can help kids overcome challenges, take care of big feelings, and learn from their experiences and the world around them. This book about mindfulness for kids provides fun exercises and easy strategies to help your child find focus, develop coping skills, and handle tough situations.

Kids will start their mindfulness journey with practical tools that help them act with kindness toward themselves and others, live with greater positivity and joy, and deal with common issues like impulsiveness, anxiety, and concentration.

Really Fun Travel Activity Book

Whether you have some downtime on holiday or need a boredom-beater for the car these carefully selected fun colouring images, mazes, jokes, riddles, quizzes & puzzles are perfect to keep kids entertained for hours.

Ideal for both girls & boys each page is easy to follow, introducing suitably challenging activities for your child. From confidence boosting easy starters to tricky brain ticklers these fun exercises help develop concentration, imagination and problem solving skills.

Highlights Book of Things to Do

This highly visual, hands-on activity book shows kids some of the best ways to do great things--from practicing the lost arts of knot-tying, building campfires, connecting circuits, playing jump rope, drawing maps, and writing letters, to learning how to empower themselves socially, emotionally, and in their communities. The final chapter, Do Great Things, inspires kids become caring individuals, confident problem solvers, and thoughtful people who can change the world.

Awesome Games for Smart Kids

This activity book contains more than 50 activities include crosswords, word searches, Sudoku, mazes, logic puzzles, codeword puzzles, jokes, and more. It will provide children with hours of brain stimulation and challenges. Ideal for a break from the screens during a long journey or on a rainy day.

Brain Games for Clever Kids

The perfect companion for vacation, this collection contains more than 90 puzzles, including memory, word, and number workouts; codes; battleships; and mind-bending spot-the-differences. There are hours of fun to be had with Japanese puzzles, including hanjie, kakuro, hitori, sudoku, and lots more. Let the brain games begin.

Everything Kids Puzzle Book

Decode a secret message using the phases of the moon, wind your way through a pizza maze, find hidden presidents, borrow some drachmas, unscramble an invention time line, play super duper tic-tac-toe, classic hangman, match up snowflakes, and more with The Everything Kids’ Puzzle Book!

Ultimate Puzzle Book

From complex crosswords to crazy mazes, this complete puzzle book for kids ages 9-12 delivers hours of mind-bending entertainment for budding brainiacs. You can play alone or play with a friend in the games-for-two section. There’s even an answer key in the back of the book if you get stuck!

Everything Kids Games and Puzzles Book

What's not to love about puzzles? Unlocking answers, solving mysteries, breaking codes--you're practically a super-spy and you haven't even left your house. Not to mention how puzzles prove what a superior brain you have! The Everything Kids' Games and Puzzles Book is chock-full of more than 100 challenging and satisfying word games, logic puzzles, and brain teasers.

The Brainiest Insaniest Puzzle Book

An outrageously clever and colorful bonanza of more than 250 mind-teasing mazes, word games, visual puzzles, and much more. 

Wind your way through the twisted cemetery gates in Dead End. Match sunburned kids to their beach gear by examining their Hot Lines. In It's Astro-Logical, figure out which astronaut is asleep on the job. Decipher the words that are shimmering underwater in All Wet. And discover puzzles within puzzles, like Crunch Time: rearrange every letter in a finished crossword to solve a riddle. 

101 Awesome Bible Puzzles for Kids

Parents, here's a fun and safe way to let your kids try out their detective skills. This entertaining collection of Bible puzzles provides ample opportunities for your kids, ages 8 to 12, to challenge themselves or match wits with a friend as they search for hidden words, find their way through mazes, and solve riddles.

Brain Games

In this fascinating, interactive book -- a companion to the National Geographic Channel hit show ? kids explore the parts of the brain and how it all works, brainy news nuggets from a neuroscientist, plus fun facts and crazy challenges.

Big Brain Teasers Book for Kids

This huge book of brain teaser puzzles for kids is perfect for ages 9 - 12 and up. Keep your kids busy and engaged for hours of fun away from their screens! Included are long time family favorite mind teasers such as hidden pictures, cryptograms, math squares, logic grid puzzles, picross and matchsticks. Also included are cool Japanese puzzles like sudoku, maysu, slitherlink, and numberlink.

Perfectly Logical

Puzzles and brain games are a great way for kids to exercise their minds while having a blast! Perfectly Logical! helps inquisitive kids develop logical reasoning skills with a mix of 100 challenging puzzles that get more difficult as they progress.

Brain Games

Calling all fans of the Brain Games TV show! Exercise your mental muscle with awesome challenges, wacky logic puzzles, optical illusions, and brain-busting riddles. Write-in pages include both games and short explanations of the neuroscience at work. Have fun and challenge yourself as you unleash your inner creativity and become the genius we all know you are.

Ultimate Puzzle Challenge

The puzzling experts at Highlights have assembled a brand-new, 256-page collection of our most challenging--and most rewarding--puzzles yet. Created for puzzle-loving kids who are ready to up their puzzle game, the book is bursting with a wide variety of mind-bending, super-challenging visual puzzles and clever word puzzles, all infused with a sense of playful humor that will make kids want to keep on puzzling. With a full-color interior of engaging illustrations and brilliant photos, this puzzle collection is sure to please the most discerning of puzzle-loving kids.

How to Draw All the Things

Perfect for budding artists and kids who have never drawn before, this beginner drawing book will teach your kid how to draw cool things in no time! Author and professional artist Alli Koch's kid friendly, mini drawing lessons will help your child practice their basic art skills and teach them how to draw with confidence. This book is perfect for kids 8-12, but kids 5-7 with an interest in art will be able to easily follow along as well. From cupcakes, to unicorns, to cars, and cats, your kid will be drawing all sorts of things that they'll want to show off to their friends, or color afterward and hang on their room! No experience required!

The How to Draw Book for Kids

Learning to draw has never been easier! The How to Draw Book for Kids uses simple step-by-step guides to teach kids of all ages how to draw cute and silly things. Choose from five super fun themes, including: Cute Creatures (hello, llama!), Fairytale Fun, Under the Sea, Outer Space, and Tasty Treats. You've never seen a cute donut or a sweeter rocket ship. Add drawings to a composition with fun colors and kids will have their very own piece of art to enjoy or gift!

Blank Comic Book

Kids love making their own cartoons and comics and, this Blank Comic Book for Kids is the book you need. Filled with comic book templates of various styles, with 150 pages, this book will keep budding artists busy for hours. This is a big comic book, 8.5" x 11", so lots of room for them to immerse themselves in their own creativity. Also, fun games at the end of the book make kids even happier.

Math, Art, and Drawing Games for Kids

In Math Art and Drawing Games for Kids, you’ll find an amazing collection of more than 40 hands-on art activities that make learning about math fun!

Difficult Riddles for Smart Kids

This kids book is a collection of 300 brain teasing riddles and puzzles. Their purpose is to encourage children to think and stretch their minds. They are designed to test logic, lateral thinking as well as memory and to engage the brain in seeing patterns and connections between different things and circumstances.

Fun Riddles and Trick Questions

300+ brain-teasing riddles creatively designed to not only get your kids laughing and exploring their goofy side, but also to promote functional problem solving.

Quiz Whiz

Based on one of the most popular features on the National Geographic Kids website, this collection of themed quizzes, true-and-false questions, and photo-driven quizzes, will include questions about animals, weather, countries, and lots more. This compact book is just he right size to toss into a backpack and will make car trips, dentists' waiting rooms, even visits to the mall enjoyable experiences for all.

Would You Rather?

Laugh and learn with 160+ questions designed to make kids giggle, think, and figure out who's the wittiest (and silliest) of all! Would You Rather? Made You Think! Edition provides endless hours of fun for eight- to twelve-year-olds who love a challenge--and a good laugh.

Everything Kids Word Search

Become a word sleuth! You’ll find tons of hidden words (and clues that lead to other puzzles) in The Kids’ Word Search Puzzle and Activity Book.

Word Search for Kids

With our expertly designed word search puzzles, you can find words in all places (upside down, reverse, overlapping, and many more!). Your child will also experience fun themes while word searching such as planets, animals, food, and other cool stuff!

Easy Origami

Here are 32 simple projects that are a snap for beginners! There are illustrations and instructions for folding a hat, cup, and pinwheel. There are even more difficult models such as a penguin, pelican, and piano.

100 Easy STEAM Activities

Feeling bored on a rainy day? Now you can pick a project, gather your supplies and let the magic happen. Try far-out science experiments like making Shaving Cream Rain Clouds or Lava Lamps. Make math-time snack-time with delicious Cream-Filled Cookie Fractions. Unlock boundless creativity with art projects like Marbled Paper or Monster Bugs. With seasonal activities like the Pool Noodle Obstacle Course and Erupting Pumpkins, there are games to love year-round.

Big Fun Kids Cookbook

The Big, Fun Kids Cookbook from Food Network Magazine gives young food lovers everything they need to succeed in the kitchen. Each recipe is totally foolproof and easy to follow, with color photos and tips to help beginners get excited about cooking. The book includes recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert—all from the trusted chefs in Food Network’s test kitchen.

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New Website & Titles from Nacho Books

The following is sponsored post with Nacho Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. 

Friends! I've been highlighting Nacho Books for a few years now because they are so well done and are hugely popular among the bilingual homeschool community. 

New Website

Well, I'm excited to share that they have just launched a brand new website! It's easier than ever to find their amazing products, including new ones such as the ones below.

Susaeta is a leading publisher of children's learning books throughout Latin America. In fact, I've heard from many homeschooling moms that they learned to read with Nacho books when they were kids in Venezuela, Colombia, and other Spanish-speaking countries. Their products have been really hard to find here in the United States, but thanks to Nacho Books, they are now available!

New Titles

The response has been so positive that Nacho Books has decided to expand the number of titles that they carry. They were kind enough to send me several for review, which I'll do over the next few months. 

The first two titles I want to highlight for those of you who are preparing to homeschool (again or for the first time) next year, are below.

Lecturas Integradas is ideal for emergent readers in 1st through 2nd grades. This book is packed full of stories that boost vocabulary, as well as comprehension questions to reinforce what they've read. The book still reviews the alphabet here and there simply to help students master it. But the focus is on reading and writing. 

Matemáticas A is best for students in 1st and 2nd grade (in my opinion). It begins with number recognition (1 - 100), quickly moves into double digit addition, and continues all the way through understanding how to interpret different types of graphs. 

These activity books should not be used as complete curricula (they don't teach how to do the various concepts), but rather they make excellent supplements as a fun way to practice in addition to their lessons. I think I would use these as activity books for car rides, on trips, or simply to pass the time at home.

If either of these sound like what you are looking for, go and check their website out! Or if you are looking for books in Spanish that teach concepts in grades PreK through 2nd grade, take a look at all the other titles on their website. 

A Discount for YOU!

MommyMaestra readers can get a 30% discount on any order of Nacho Books. Just use this link and the discount code MommyMaestra at checkout.

Makanaka's World: Adventure in Morocco

This is a sponsored book post with Global Kidz House. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post uses affiliate links.

If you are like me, you are always on the lookout for diverse books to read and share with your children. Raising a global citizen, a person who is able to communicate and appreciate people from all across the world, is an empowering action. Doing so helps us enact change in our world. And part of that journey to global citizenship is deeply rooted in diverse literature. Which is why today, I'm so very pleased to share Global Kidz House with you!

This new publishing company highlights the stories of Africa and the African diaspora through their publication of children's books. Their first book has recently been released and I have had the opportunity to get my hands on a copy of it. 

Makanaka's World is a series following a young girl named Makanaka and her pet parrot, Fari. Makanaka has friends ALL over the world, of course, and loves to visit them with the help of Fari. He isn't just your average pet parrot. Her little feathered friend has the special ability to transform into an airplane that can fly anywhere in the world. 

In this first book, Adventure in Morocco (aff), the two fly to the North African country to visit Makanaka's friend, Nadia. Upon their arrival, there is trouble to be found, and Makanaka and her friends set out to help. Along the way, they explore the city of Casablanca and its rich culture.

The illustrations are lovely; they are colorful and engaging without being too busy for little readers. 

There is also a glossary and a world map in the back of the book, as well as a couple of pages with photographs that give a mini tour of Morocco. 

This book is recommended for children in K - 3rd or 5 - 8 years old, but my 3yo loves it. 

The really fun thing is that there is also a 7-page curriculum guide for the book. It comes with discussion questions, recipes, and activity ideas to go along with the story. 

This story is a good addition for lesson plans on world cultures, travel, geography, global citizens, family, friends, Africa, Morocco, Casablanca, soccer, languages, Arabic, and more.

You can click the links above to purchase this book, or find it here on Amazon: