Book Review: All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner

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All the Ice Cream in the Land  by Emmy Kastner  is about a princess, the kingdom she lives in, and her loyal subjects. Full of twists and turns, children will surely delight in this story about ice cream. When I saw the title and cover art of this kid's book, it made me instantly think of my childhood and how I would've loved a book like this one. A huge shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. The storyline is very easy to follow, making it especially suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, particularly children between the ages of two and six. Its straightforward narrative and clear structure make it an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions at home, bedtime stories, or classroom story time. While there is limited character development, which is typical for a picture book format, the princess is still an intere...
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Book Review: Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen's Rise to Fame by Tami Charles

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NetGalley ARC Book Review: Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen's Rise to Fame by Tami Charles
Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen's Rise To Fame by Tami Charles is a children’s nonfiction book that explores how Debbie Allen became a dancer during the Civil Rights Movement and rose to fame through talent, perseverance, and determination. 

I received an Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this book for free from NetGalley and Charlesbridge in exchange for my honest review. I grew up watching Fame, so I’ve always known who Debbie Allen was, but I realized I didn’t know much about her life beyond her connection to her sister, Phylicia Rashad. I also remember seeing her appear on an episode or two of the reality dance show Dance Moms, which made me even more curious about her journey and legacy in the dance world.

This children's picture book gives kids a look into Debbie Allen's life in a friendly, easy to understand format. Additionally, the story teaches children about the Civil Rights Movement since that is part of the dancers story. It's extremely well written, and the illustrations are phenomenal. Both parents and children will enjoy this read.

One of the most powerful things I learned from this book as an adult is that Debbie Allen faced serious obstacles on her path to success. She was denied admission to a dance school because of the color of her skin, experienced her parents’ divorce, and later moved to Mexico with her mother and sister so she could continue her dance training and pursue her passion.

I gave Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen’s Rise to Fame by Tami Charles five out of five stars because it is beautifully written, engaging, and inspiring. I highly recommend this children’s biography to families with young readers, especially those who love dance or enjoy stories about perseverance, creativity, and achieving dreams.

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