Best of California State Parks by Moon Travel Guides

Today's read was a surprise, which suddenly arrived in my mailbox. I'm thinking it was probably sent to me by mistake from a publishing house, since it definitely doesn't fit the usual kidlit direction of Bookworm for Kids. While I was about to lay it aside and let the publisher know that it isn't for me, I stopped before tossing it into my donation pile. Why? Thinking back, I realized that I would have grabbed something like this up in my tween/teen years before a family vacation. I loved to know where we might go and make recommendations to my parents on what we might visit. I realize that teens, today, will simply search the internet (I do, too), but there's something special about picking up a travel guide in book form and taking a peek.

So, while this one isn't really for the teen audience, I've decided to take a peek at it for those readers, who might enjoy hiking, exploring sites, and diving into vacation possibilities this way.

BEST OF CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS    

Top 50 Parks in the Golden State

by Jenna Blough and Kayla Anderson

Moon Travel

Travel Guides

560 pages

From rocky coastal coves and sandy beaches to verdant forests and quiet desert camps, experience the natural wonders of the Golden State with Moon Best of California State Parks! 

Inside you’ll Coverage of 50 California state parks and historic sites, organized by region Strategic lists and Choose from lists of the best parks for hiking, wildlife, history, families, scenic drives, and more or make your way down the list of the top ten adventures throughout the state The best outdoor recreation and unique  Wander among towering redwoods, relax on a sandy SoCal beach, or set up camp in the Mojave Desert. Paddleboard the sparkling blue waters of Lake Tahoe, immerse yourself in California’s past at a state historic park, or hike coastal bluffs with stunning views of the Pacific Regional state parks road trips that strategically combine nearby parks in Northern, Central, and Southern California Detailed hike descriptions marked with distance, duration, effort level, and trailheads Expert advice from California locals Jenna Blough and Kayla Anderson on when to go, where to stay, and how to avoid crowds Know before you  Find essential background on climate, terrain, wildlife, history, and safety precautions, plus practical information on park fees, passes, and reservations Gorgeous, full-color photos and maps throughout, plus a detachable fold-out poster map 

Whether you’re trekking to striking vistas, cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway, or camping under the stars, find your park adventure with Moon Best of California State Parks.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

This travel guide offers a nice overview of places to see, things to do, and moments to experience while visiting California...for outdoor fans.

I was already won over when I opened this one up to the Table of Contents and saw that it immediately lists the best and most important sites and such before diving into the general, travel guide schematic. It starts with the top 10 experiences ....all in a nature direction, and does this by giving a colorful photo of each one with a quick phrase and the page to turn to to learn more. So, a person can see the possible highlights in one quick glance. Then, there are a few pages covering important information such as seasons, how to avoid crowds, and the like. After that is 'Best of the Best', lists of the best hiking, beaches, unique experiences, and more. So, anyone looking for main activities doesn't have to flip through hundreds of pages first to get a general idea of where to go or what to do. After that, the usual, travel guide breakdown according to areas (northern, southern, etc) takes control with a list of parks in each one.

This book is all about heading out into nature. Each park gets a general map, which is very helpful, the top sites or activities, things to do or look for, tips, food, hints, and more. There's even information surrounding campgrounds, highlighted trails and the like. Photos give a good impression of what to expect as well. All of this is formatted in a quick and easy-to-find way, keeping the information clear and understandable. Current prices are given for various sites and activities, so anyone heading to these places will have an idea of what to expect. It's a nice and organized overview, which gives a broad range of information for outdoor enthusiasts. 

It's a nice and useful guide to have at hand when heading out to explore California State Parks and is sure to even inspire when it comes to deciding where to go or what to do.

About Moon Travel  

Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can’t wait to share their favorite places with you.
 
For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

Sloths and their Moths by Katie Lee Reinert

Should there be more children's books, which take a look at sloths? I know several kids who would scream 'yes' to that question. And moths? I'm betting that one would get a little quieter answer. And how do the two work together? Honestly, I have no idea. Today's read should take care of that question and will dive into the world of sloths, ecosystems, and more. I'm really curious to see where this one goes and am looking forward to learning more about sloths and moths or whatever.

So, let's open this cover up and see what the sloth inside is up to.

SLOTHS AND THE MOTHS

by Katie Lee Reinert

Illustrated by Gabi Moraes

Tielmour Press

Picture Book

36 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING MARCH 30th!!!

A sloth’s fur is full of life. Many small creatures live there, and each one plays an important part in the sloth’s world. Told in cumulative format, SLOTHS AND THEIR MOTHS zooms in to take a closer look at each part of the unique relationship between sloths, the moths that live on them, and so much more! Kids will discover each layer of this unique ecosystem, step by step, in a fun and educational way!

Each page adds new details as kids learn about bugs, moths, algae, and how they all work together with the sloth. The repeat-and-build style supports early reading skills, memory, and language growth.

At the end of the book, kids can play a seek-and-find game to search for hidden animals and tiny creatures. This helps build focus, attention, and curiosity.

Great for:

• Kids ages 4–8
• Classrooms and science units
• Early readers
• Nature and animal fans
• Seek-and-find lovers
• Parents and teachers who want simple STEM learning

What families love:

• Simple words for young readers
• Real science in a gentle, friendly way
• Bright art that keeps kids excited
• A story rhythm that supports read-aloud time
• Teaches how animals and tiny creatures live together

SLOTH AND THEIR MOTH brings a tiny rainforest world to life—right inside a sloth’s fur.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Sloth and animal fans will see the world a little bit differently and learn there's more to life then meets the eye.

In a jungle, there's a sloth. The sloth sits in a tree. From there, each page builds and adds more. Each colorful illustration portrays the adorable sloth in its habitat and carries a short, single phrase with a detail, which adds to the scene. As the story continues, the details are repeated and constantly receive another short line. This goes on and on until an entire row of things is exposed. This also means that listeners can join in, and after a few read-throughs of the book, will be able to repeat the lines right along with the reader. But this is just the beginning of the fun these pages hold

This book takes a look at an entire ecosystem, which begins with the sloth and the tree. I think this is the first time I've seen a picture book, which heads into the fur of an animal and takes an ever-smaller look at what there is to discover. A sloth isn't a lone animal but carries an entire array of life with it. While this idea is sure to have some listeners cringing, at first, with an 'ew', it catches the attention and opens them up to how much life really has to offer. 

On each page, along with the fun text, there's a box with exact details, which describes the new level of life being mentioned. The adult or older reader can use this to explain the connections and more to the listeners. The information is simple enough to bring across easily and interesting enough to raise curiosity. Listeners are sure to take a few details with them and tell others the fun facts they learned.

To round all of this goodness off, there are a few pages in the back of the book with more facts and descriptions. There is also a list of several other creatures hidden in the illustrations, so readers can go back and explore the scenes to find each one. In other words, there are many things to enjoy about this read.

And here she is...

Katie Lee Reinert is a picture book author who loves writing books about the magic of imagination that will inspire kids and make them laugh. She lives outside of Portland, Oregon with her family where she loves exploring new hiking trails in the summer and trying to stay dry in the winter.

Come What May by Ms Debi Gliori

Today's read hit the shelves a couple weeks ago, and I've been very eager to, finally, have a chance to read my copy. I find the cover super adorable, and I'm betting that this is the type of book to snuggle up with and enjoy with a favorite young listener. I'm hoping for parental love and a sense of security and love. 

Let's see if this book is one for those quiet hours or not.

COME WHAT MAY

by Debi Gliori

Bloomsbury Children's Books

Picture Book

30 pages

ages 4 to 8

**A touching and timeless follow-up to the much-loved No Matter What**

Come What May follows Debi Gliori's much-loved foxes, Large and Small, as they head out on a picnic in the countryside to wind down after a rather trying afternoon attempting some baking. As their walk takes them across flower-strewn meadows, through cool woods and eventually up onto a gentle hill from which they can see their cosy home below, they reflect on all the moods a single day can hold. And as a squall of rain briefly threatens their picnic, they eventually decide that moods may change like the weather, but their love for each other will always remain constant.

A warm-hearted, uplifting story, told with genuine affection and flourishes of humour, perfect to read at bedtime – or any time!

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON     /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Get ready to snuggle into a chair with your young listener/reader because this book is all about love and care.

A little fox is having a bad day...one of those days when everything seems to be going wrong. Large fox realizes this and offers a few words of comfort, and that gets little fox thinking. Will the larger fox really always love the little fox? That's when the little fox's imagination shifts into high-gear and tests how enduring the larger fox's love truly is.

These pages are filled with warmth, security, and love. The larger fox's care for the little fox is inspiring, and this feeling radiates from every page. While the good vibes flow, the author works in quite a bit of humor, too. The little fox has a huge imagination and asks the larger fox if the love still qualifies if he/she changed into a tiger. Or a stinging insect? The list goes on and on. The illustrations follow suit wonderfully and let each mutation come across with playful fantasy, vibrant colors, and a touch of silliness to keep smiles huge. The text rhymes smoothly and works in a little repetition to give listeners a phrase to recognize, and maybe, repeat themselves. 

It's a lovely read with tons of goodness and is sure to become one of those reads, which receives an 'again'. 

And here she is...

Debi Gliori is the award-winning writer and illustrator of over eighty picture books and novels for children of all ages, including the bestselling modern classic No Matter What (Bloomsbury) and the Mr Bear series (Orchard). Her picture book about depression, Night Shift (Templar), was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. She is also author of the Little Owl series of books, illustrated by Alison Brown, for Bloomsbury. Debi lives near Edinburgh and has twice been writer-in-residence in the Shetland Isles. Her favourite colour is blue or, more precisely, four different shades of blue: cerulean blue, cobalt blue, Mediterranean turquoise blue and warm ultramarine blue. She has sold over 600,000 books in the UK alone.

Soccer Kicks by Emiliano Migliardo

Sports, humor, and a graphic novel, too? That sounds like a perfect mix to me, so I was very eager to grab up today's read and take a quick peek. It should hold 60 comic strip jokes, and all of them will rotate around soccer. I have no idea if these will be clever, weird, slap-stick, or...well, I have no clue.

Let's open it up and see what kind of humor these pages hold!

SOCCER KICKS

by Emiliano Migliardo

Happy Yak

Children's Humor

64 pages

ages 7 to 10

COMING APRIL 7th!!!

Soccer Kicks is a hilarious collection of comic-strip soccer jokes, filled with over 60 laugh-out-loud silly scenarios! 

Emiliano Migliardo’s outrageously funny full-color comics are perfect for avid soccer fans and reluctant readers, as the jokes are mostly wordless. This awesome compilation of one-page comics is a winning combination of silly yet clever gags and pranks, filled with the joy—and frustration—of soccer!  

Full of soccer japes about mischievous tactics, doing whatever it takes to get the ball in the back of the net, and even the perils of being nutmegged, this is the perfect gift for any young soccer fan. These short, sporty jokes will be the talk of the playground… or soccer field! 

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Smirks, giggles, and laughter are guaranteed thanks to the varied humor offered in these jokes.

This one is not only for soccer fans, since the humor is very understandable even for those, who don't know much about the sport. Each page holds a short comic strip, which forms a humorous, short situation. Every single one connects with soccer, although it can simply be a situations, which includes a soccer ball of sorts, or swirl around playing the game. Most of the jokes are purely visual, but then, that's all that's needed to make most of these sit. There are various characters, various situations, and various types of humor. Some are slap-stick, some are clever twists, some are mischievous, and others pack sudden surprises. 

The illustrations are bright and bring across the moments clearly with the familiarity needed to make the humor hit. The characters stay in the animal kingdom, which adds a nice detachment and keeps the humor high. The jokes fit very well to the intended audience level and even older readers are sure to giggle if they get their hands on a copy. Younger readers can enjoy many of the jokes as well, although some might be a bit over their heads and a couple take on a slightly dark twist...not directly obvious, but a little logical thought makes it clear that something unpleasant really happens. 

It's a very well done book with tons to enjoy. The visual layout gives it a relaxing and fun atmosphere, while the jokes are sure to gain more than a giggle or two.

And here he is...

Emiliano Migliardo is a cartoon illustrator, a career that he knew he would want to pursue ever since his childhood days of watching cartoons. His favourite shows were The Pink Panther, The Three Stooges and The Simpsons. Emiliano feels that his style generally reflects his personality; his work tends to be neat, well defined, fun, and colorful. He works and lives in Buenos Aires with his wife, his son and his dog Lenny, a Chihuahua.

Happy Birthday Book, From the Fields to the Fight by Angela Quezada Padron!

March had held quite a few book birthday shoutouts so far, and it isn't stopping yet. I love the energy and wish it would continue the entire way through...always a reason to party! Today's read falls into the picture book category and heads in the nonfiction direction. It takes a look at two women, who worked to help migrant workers here in the US. I'm, honestly, not sure what to expect and am going to learn something in these pages.

So, let's dive into this book and see what these women did.

FROM THE FIELDS TO THE FIGHT

by Angela Quezada Padron

Illustrated by Sol Salinas

Atheneum Books

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

A timely and inspiring picture book biography of Jessica Govea Thorbourne, 

a Latina labor activist who worked alongside Dolores Huerta to bring attention

to the plight of migrant farmworkers.

When Jessica Govea Thorbourne was four years old, she began picking crops in the 

California fields. One resilient girl, doing what was needed to help her family. As 

Jessica grew up, she saw her community struggling. Farm workers were being treated

unfairly. But she was just one child. What could she do?

Jessica stood up for justice and learned to organize for change, passing out flyers, speaking 

to crowds, and rallying other kids to petition for a neighborhood park. As an adult, she 

joined the United Farm Workers and played a pivotal role in the success of the California 

Grape Boycott. Though her journey started when she was very young, Jessica found her 

voice and empowered others to fight for their rights.

Jessica showed that making a difference can start with just one child.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Following a young migrant girl, Jessica Govea Thorbourne, these pages are written to inspire.

Jessica's parents worked as migrant field workers in California, and as soon as she was able, she joined them. She saw not only her own parents' struggles with low pay, hot days, and long hours but also how it affected the workers around her. Grabbing inspiration and ideas from individuals and her surroundings, she joined groups to raise awareness for people like her and her parents. 

This is a well-laid out, smoothly written journey surrounding Jessica Govea Thorbourne and the difference she made to help other workers like her. The beginning allows younger readers to sympathize with her as she works as a young girl in tiring circumstances. From there, she grows up, and the book follows the steps she makes on her life path, fighting for rights. The various problems and set-backs she faced are understandable and inspire. The illustrations bring across each moment nicely and make sure to express the desired emotions clearly.  At the end of the book, there is a short list and definition of several important words, tips on how readers can  organize their own protests, and a timeline of the United Farmworkers Labor Union. It forms a solid biography which can easily be used as a theme in a classroom or group setting.

The overall atmosphere shows fighting spirit and leans into Jessica's drive and not as heavy into detailed facts. The amount of text sits on the slightly heavier side for a picture book for the intended age group and fits better with the upper end. More reluctant readers/listeners might find this one more difficult to sink into, since the pages depict Jessica's life-long, steady determination. It works well in those situations, where the readers are meant to learn (and maybe discuss) either about the movement of the UFLU, migrant workers, or about Jessica Govea Thorbourne. 

And here they are...

Angela Quezada Padron is a Latina author-illustrator who spent her childhood days writing stories and doodling on the garage walls of her New Jersey home and her summers visiting family in the Dominican Republic. As the Seas Rise: Nicole Hernández Hammer and the 

Fight for Climate Justice is her author-illustrator debut. She’s also the author of From the Fields to the Fight: How Jessica Govea Thorbourne Organized for Justice. She won first place in the Portfolio Showcase at the 2023 Florida SCBWI Conference and was a semifinalist for the SCBWI Tomie dePaola Award in 2014. Visit her at AngelaPadron.com.

Sol Salinas is a non-binary artist from San Antonio, Texas. At a young age, they fell in love with history while watching old Hollywood movies with their grandmother. When they aren’t drawing, Sol can usually be found playing Dungeons & Dragons, collecting rose quartz, drinking warm cups of tea, and listening to their favorite music: Fleetwood Mac. Find more at SolSalinasIllustration.com or on Instagram @SolsticeIllo.