AYA and PAPAYA Find Happiness by MQ

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required  to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

In this heart-warming new book for young readers, MQ shares a beautiful message about the true meaning of happiness. In the book, the sun rises and Aya knows it is time for her to wake up. But this morning something feels different – Aya has lost her happiness.

Aya and her best friend, Papaya search high and low. They look inside the wardrobe, under her bed, in the bathtub and even in the garden. But Aya’s happiness is nowhere to be found. Even though they have checked all her favourite places, Aya and Papaya simply cannot find her happiness. It is lost.

Lost, that is, until she looks inside and realises it was within her all along.

My thoughts-

One of my boys has some trouble focusing on the positive things in his life and once one thing goes awry the whole day in his eyes has been terrible. Aya and Papaya Find Happiness is a great book for kids like him to help explain that happiness lies within you. Along with the great lesson this book offers, there are gorgeous illustrations to help kids feel engaged with this story. I recommend this book to anyone with little ones at all, but especially to kids who have struggles with anxiety or negativity. 

Lolli and Pop Find Kindness by Carolyn Snelling (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Finding God's "Fruits of the Spirit" has never been more fun! Early readers will follow the adventures of little Lolli Cake and her beagle named Pop. In this first book of nine, the duo discover kindness which can sometimes be difficult to find especially when it may mean giving up something you love.

My thoughts-

I absolutely love the idea of a book series teaching fruit of the spirit lessons to children. I think one of the most important things we can teach our kids is kindness. Lolli learns many lessons in kindness thanks to a puppy her father brings home. She learns that we shouldn't be happy about other people's misfortunes and that we should be empathetic to others. Another opportunity to be kind presents itself when Lolli and her family find someone's missing item. I loved the lessons that are in the book and that the illustrations are bright and cute to help hold children's very short attention spans. The book is short and sweet, but gets the point across. It also presents a wonderful opportunity to teach your kids to make a point to purposely be kind. A fun way to do that is to have a blank calendar for the month or for a holiday week like Valentine's Day or Thanksgiving and fill it out with the things you have done to be purposefully kind. This would be a fun family project that everyone in the house can contribute to. Lolli and Pop Find Kindness is the first book available in the "Fruits of the Spirit" series. I look forward to seeing what lessons the next eight bring to us!