Archives for June 10, 2024

Books of the Week of June 10th

BEACH HAIR debut Picture book by author Ashley Woodfolk and Illustrator Nina Mata

A fun-to-read children’s book for the Summer! The book is a joyful celebration of family, community, and showcases the importance of representing all kinds of hair but also fun at the beach! I highly recommend for young children as it really is an engaging and entertaining book with wonderful illustrations!

Author Bios
Ashley Woodfolk has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. As a full-time mom and author, she spends her days reading and writing from a sunny Brooklyn apartment where she lives with her cute husband, her cuter dog, and the cutest kid in the world. Her books include When You Were EverythingNothing Burns as Bright as You, anthologies Blackout and Whiteout, and the Flyy Girls series. Beach Hair is her debut picture book.

Niña Mata is the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of I Promise by LeBron James, which was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. Niña grew up in Queens, New York, after her family emigrated from the Philippines when she was six years old. As a child, Niña spent a lot of time drawing. Her after-school activities usually involved watching Bob Ross and Reading Rainbow and looking for adventures in the library (which she still does). She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, their daughter, and Tabi, the cat.
Sandcastles Are Forever by Ellie Peterson

With gentle, heartfelt prose, author-illustrator Ellie Peterson explores the difficult feelings of loss and sadness that come when a friend moves away. Young readers will see that with the right tools—and a willingness to build again tomorrow—who’s to say the things you love can’t last forever?

Sandcastles Are Forever is the perfect, heartfelt read about summertime and sandcastles with important messages about lasting friendships.

This book is perfect for Summer reading and I love the overall message! Young children will be able to relate to the characters and will love the story and illustrations!

 Ella Learns to Dance by Stenetta Anthony

Who says Elephants can’t dance?! Ella Learns to Dance is such a fun book to read! It gives the message that you can do anything if you believe you can. Ella Learns to Dance is a heartwarming children’s book that follows the enchanting journey of an elephant who only wants to take ballet classes. Young children will fall in love with Ella and enjoy this story. I love how it teaches the importance of having self-confidence and to keep trying!

 IT’S PRIDE, BABY! by Allen R. Wells; illustrated by Dia Valle

In this uplifting picture book, IT’S PRIDE, BABY! follows a queer family as they prepare for and celebrate Black Pride in Washington, D.C. Readers will see such a special day packed with loads of fun while ending the celebration with fireworks!

Allen’s lyrical text and Dia’s joyful art perfectly captures the expansiveness of a parent’s love and acceptance. Readers will also enjoy the extensive backmatter of the book that includes an author’s note and a brief history of the gay Black Pride movement – the perfect companion to this uplifting picture book!

I love the positivity and the overall message of love & acceptance in this story. I also enjoyed reading the author’s note and the brief history of the gay Black Pride Movement. I highly recommend this book for young children.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature in the books of the week. Images were also provided.

Evo Hemp Bars are a Beach Bag and Poolside Essential for Families!

My favorite flavor!

Your beach or pool bag needs healthy snacks, so make sure to include Evo Hemp Bars, which are made from a delicious combination of cashews, protein crisps, and the world’s most nutritionally complete superfood, hemp seeds. With 12 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per bar, Evo Hemp Bars pack a nutritious punch to fuel your day at the pool or beach! Gluten-free and vegan, the bars are available in 5 tasty flavor combinations, including NEW Matcha Latte, Cookie Dough, Brownie Chip, Lemon, and Birthday Cake. 

This one is delicious too!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples. Information and images were also provided.

Cayton Children’s Museum Releases June Programming Events

The Cayton Children’s Museum releases its June programming lineup, which will be filled with interactive play for kids and their grownups.

The Cayton kicks off its June festivities with Chalk It Up, which will take place every Friday from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. June through August. Chalk drawings are one of the earliest types of art, and each month the Cayton will welcome a special guest to accompany young artists in transforming our sidewalks into colorful canvases. This month’s special guest will feature Miles Christopher, an abstract painter, chalk artist, muralist, and musician, who lives and works in Southern California. The themes for June include Express Yourself, All Families are Unique with Miles Christoper, Use Your Voice, and No Color but the Rainbow.  More information & tickets

On June 15, kids and their grownups alike will enjoy Parents’ Night Out from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Offering caregivers a night off, children ages 4-10 years will enjoy three hours of activities and free play supervised by the Cayton’s Play Guides. Games and activities include life-size Connect Four, bean bag tosses, floor bowling and more, along with dinner, a snack, and a drink. This limited-time series is offered on the third Saturday of each month through August and is open to both members and non-members. More information & reservations  

In celebration of Father’s Day, kids are invited to create an “I Love You to Pieces” themed gift for their father figures, which will take place on Sunday, June 16, at 11:00 a.m.

On June 19 at 11:00 a.m, The Cayton will also celebrate Juneteenth with Storytime + Art featuring “Juneteenth for Mazie” by Floyd Cooper and craft creating celebration poppers.

Throughout the month of June, the Cayton Children’s Museum will invite its visitors to vote for their favorite plush toy to lead a series of Proud to Be Me Parades in celebration of Pride Month. The parades will be held throughout the museum daily at 1:30 p.m. from June 26 through July 1.

The Cayton offers daily activities including art studio and storytime, which are drop-in and included with admission for members and museum visitors. For more information about daily programming offered at the Cayton Children’s Museum throughout June, visit https://www.caytonmuseum.org/calendar.

Credit: Cayton Children’s Museum.