Children’s Corner — The One And Only Wolfgang and One Big Heart

30 Oct

Today I have not one, but two colorful children’s books to share with you! Each will delight your child. All the details are below –

The One And Only Wolfgang

From Instagram sensation Steve Greig and New York Times bestselling author Mary Rand Hess comes this humorous, heartwarming story about Greig’s real-life menagerie of senior rescue animals that affirms, in a family, everyone belongs.

What makes a family? Is it sharing favorite foods, cuddling up for snuggle time, loving each other no matter what you look like in the morning?

For Steve Greig’s oddly wonderful, real-life family of senior dogs, chickens, rabbits, and a pig named Bikini, family is all those things and then some! And this lovable bunch is now starring in their very first children’s book that showcases the importance of family.

Meet the Wolfgang, a loveable bunch of animals belonging to Steve and each other. Greig looked for the most “unadoptable” animals and gave them a home . . .  his home! Strange and unique, The One and Only Wolfgang will remind readers that no matter how old or how odd, everyone has a place where they belong.

Steve Greig is an accountant whose passion for animals has led to him becoming a sought-after advocate for pet adoption. He has appeared on television and in many publications, including NBC Nightly News, ABC News, Fox 5, Animal Planet, Bravo, Rachel Ray, Today.com, Huffington Post, and more.

Mary Rand Hess is a poet, screenwriter, mixed-media artist, and New York Times bestselling author of notable and award-winning books such as Solo and Swing (Blink YA), coauthored with Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander, Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures (National Geographic Children’s Books), also coauthored with Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido, Little Larry Goes to School (National Geographic Children’s Books), written with renowned photographer and filmmaker, Gerry Ellis, and The One and Only Wolfgang: From Pet Rescue to One Big Happy Family, coauthored with Steve Greig of @wolfgang2242 Instagram fame. Mary lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, sons, and quirky dogs (who sing to the piano and swear they’re human).

My Impressions:

The One And Only Wolfgang is the story of real life members of a very unique family — a real menagerie made up of rescues. While many might find these dogs, pig, and chicken (yes chicken!) unadoptable, they have found their forever home. I loved the hilarious photos that are inserted into the colorful illustrations with a narrative about the individual personalities of each member and the doings of this big, happy family. I think this book is a good reminder to everyone that finding a place among family is the very best place to be. It may even inspire you to welcome a rescue into your own home.

Recommended.

Audience: kids ages 4-8.

(Thanks to Zonderkidz for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

One Big Heart

What do you get when you combine ABC News correspondent Linsey Davis’ lyrical rhymes with Lucy Fleming’s whimsical art? A culture-rich picture book that proudly showcases the beauty of diversity while celebrating all the wonderful things we have in common.

From skin, hair, and eyes in a multitude of colors to different personalities and interests, God gave us all special traits and characteristics that make us uniquely ourselves. And we all have things in common too: like sharing fun and laughter on the playground, a sense of curiosity, big feelings, and so many other things that show how we are all more alike than we are different.

Ready to celebrate all our likes and differences? So are we! And this diverse picture book — drenched in color and full of laughter and fun — will show you how.

Linsey Davis is an Emmy Award winning ABC News Correspondent, filing reports for World News, Good Morning America, 20/20 and Nightline. She has covered major news stories around the globe.

In addition to her role at ABC, she is a Christian, wife, mother and author. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Lucy Fleming has been an avid doodler and bookworm since early childhood. Drawing always seemed like so much fun, but she never dreamed it could be a full-time job! She studied art and practiced drawing every day, and in no time, she went on to graduate from the University of Lincoln (UK), having specialized in illustration. She leapt straight into a career as a professional children’s book illustrator and hasn’t looked back since. She lives and works in a small town in England, surrounded by farmland and trees and accompanied by a little, black cat. When not at her desk, she prefers nothing more than to be outdoors in the sunshine with a hot cup of tea.

My Impressions:

One Big Heart is all about differences and similarities — the variety found in people and the important things they share. With bold and colorful illustrations and a rhyming verse, the authors show the importance of being unique while celebrating the things that bind us together. Great lessons for both kids and adults!

Recommended.

Audience: kids ages 4-8.

(Thanks to Zonderkidz for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

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