Review: Every Day is a Holiday

Title: Every Day is a Holiday
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Greg Kincaid
Illustrator: Alessia Girasole
Publish Date: February 3, 2025
Publisher: 4U2B Books & Media
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Age: 4-7
Started Reading: January 21, 2025
Finished Reading: January 21, 2025
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

A heartwarming tale of love and family!

When six-year-old Allie McCray finds an abandoned puppy in a box outside her local animal shelter, she struggles to give the adorable pup a name. But after bringing the little hound home and reflecting on the most important things in her life, Allie comes up with the perfect name for the new addition to their family!
 
Every Day Is a Holiday is a celebration of the bonds of love and joy we form with the furry friends we adopt into our families. And for longtime fans of Greg Kincaid’s Crossing Tails series, it brings full circle the story of belonging, love, and friendship.

My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

This book is really cute, with a special visit from the dog Christmas to tie in to the author's adult series. My daughter (5) loved hearing about how Allie took care of the animals at the shelter ("she feeds them like I feed the cats mommy!") and was fascinated by the puppy sling. She loved all of the different name ideas, but Jack was her favourite as Halloween is her favourite holiday. We talked about how some animals go to the shelter and that's how they find their families, and also about the questions at the end and how, with one of the cats we adopted before she was born, we should have verified a bunch of information to know he wouldn't get along with our other cats at home. This book is excellent if you're looking to adopt a new animal. It has an information page at the end with things to discuss and consider, and helps kids understand the process a bit more. The illustrations are adorable, and Allie is just cute as a button. We really enjoyed this book! We read this ebook through NetGalley.

To Sum Up: A very cute book that helps teach about adopting pets. 

Review: A Little Labradoodle Christmas

Title: A Little Labradoodle Christmas
Series: Stand Alone
Author: April M. Cox, Kairi Fullerton
Illustrator: Remesh Rem
Publish Date: Nov 5, 2024
Publisher: Little Labradoodle Publishing, LLC
Genre: Children's Fiction, Picture Book
Age: 4-8
Started Reading: December 10, 2024
Finished Reading: December 10, 2024
NetGalley?: Yes

Book Summary from Goodreads:

When a grumpy old cat grumbles his way through the holidays, two playful Labradoodles and a kind-hearted little girl set out on a mission to change his mind. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, determined to show the cat that Christmas is about more than just decorations and gifts—it's about love, kindness, and reaching out to those who need it most.

Perfect for children ages 4-8, this beautifully illustrated story promotes important messages about compassion, making a difference, and embracing the spirit of giving. Cozy up with your little ones and share this delightful holiday story that will warm hearts and inspire smiles.

Inspired by the imagination of 7-year-old Kairi and brought to life with the loving guidance of her Nana, April Cox, A Little Labradoodle Christmas combines the wonder of a child's perspective with the craftsmanship of a seasoned storyteller. As the fourth installment in The Little Labradoodle series, this charming tale will resonate with young readers and families alike.

Munchie and My Two Cents:

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars (We both thought it was Amazing!)

Munchie (5) and I very much enjoyed this book. The story had her thinking and talking about those who don't have as much as we do. She loved the pictures, and was especially happy when the kitty got his bow. She stated it was a 5 star book, and I agree. Seeing that the main character was based on a real little girl and that she helped write the story was something that caught my daughter's attention. When I asked her if she would like to read the book again she said "not right now, but maybe Saturday" (Saturday being her favourite day when she does her favourite things, so that was a vote towards it going into the regular rotation). The gift at the end was nice and we will be reading the additional book. I read this book as a free digital version through Netgalley.

To Sum Up: This is a very cute Christmas story with a good message about including those around us.