At the beginning of the year, I proudly discussed a children's book called Arianna's Magic Boots by Karen A. Gasperini, which quickly became a favorite in our household.
I have finally gotten my hands on her second book! Arianna's Magic Boots Vol 2 Underwater Sea Adventure has been such a welcomed addition to our children's bookshelf!
This time, instead of the jungle, she stomps her feet three times, says “AWAY WE GO!” and finds herself deep in the ocean -- her boots now a gorgeous mermaid tail! Almost immediately she is greeted by three friendly mermaids.
One of the best aspects of this book is the inclusivity and diversity. In addition to the main character's corrective wear, two of the fellow mermaids also allow readers to relate to several experience they or their friends might have.
Destiny has a cochlear implant and Carmela wears glasses. There is only brief mention of these, when Arianna acknowledges that there are similar items back on land as well. I like that it wasn't a massive part of their story, just a nod to these characteristics, but they are clearly much more than their differences.
Destiny, Carmela, and Xzayah ask Arianna to help locate items on a list needed for a bracelet to be gifted to their oldest sister, Lillian.
I liked where that was going as it appeared it was going to have an added aspect of counting, which my kids love in books. In one part, the mermaids need five seashells which was easy to count on the page.
However, in the next part they need six white pearls. There are many pearls shown on the page, but, unless I'm overlooking it, I can't find 6 white ones. This just seems like a simple missed opportunity - and also frustrated my kids!
However, that was such a small thing, and truly doesn't distract from the amazing message of these books!
At the end of the story, the mermaids present Arianna with a special seashell bracelet of her own. Finally, she leaves her new friends, spinning around three times saying, “AWAY WE GO” and when she opens her eyes, she is back on the beach with her parents, and completes their sandcastle.
The fellow mermaids in this book are inspired by Karen's real life nieces, just as Arianna is modeled after her daughter. I love that this family has these books with their likeness in them - how special that must be for them!
I'm not sure what could be better than a series of childrens books filled with characters of color, who are differently abled, and sends a wonderful message! I am saving space on the bookshelf and crossing fingers the story continues many more times.
The book is available on Amazon for $10.99 or Kindle for $4.71
Karen has graciously offered a signed copy of Underwater Sea Adventure AND an adorable seashell bracelet only available through giveaways, book launches and meet and greets. Read on to see how you can enter to win!
One winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Arianna's Magic Boots Vol. 2: Underwater Sea Adventure, by Karen A. Gasperini, and a child's seashell bracelet.
To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment in this entry as instructed by the Giveaway Tools Entry Form below. This will open up additional optional entries to increase your odds of winning. (If you don't leave a comment, any additional entries will be void.)
This giveaway is open WORLD-WIDE and will end just before midnight ET on 8/1.
The winner will be notified by email 24 to 48 hours after the end of the giveaway by email. In order to claim the giveaway prize, the winner will need to respond within 24 hours of notification, or an alternate winner will be selected.
What a great idea for a book! Where can I purchase the first one? My little guy has bilateral clubfoot and currently struggling to keep the ADMs on him at night. He's night wear only. Maybe this will help!! Thank you for sharing! ��
ReplyDeleteThe first one is also available on Amazon - I think your son will enjoy it very much! https://www.amazon.com/Ariannas-Magic-Boots-Karen-Gasperini-ebook/dp/B076FQPDKZ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1531938795&sr=1-1
DeleteWe find dragons most appealing---it sets them up for a lifetime of reading books of the fantasy genre. It is set apart from other things because there are so many options available!
ReplyDeleteWe like a story that teaches about difficult topics for children to understand because it introduces it in a child friendly way. For example, my daughter is biracial and she is always asking about why we have different skin tones, so we we like to read books that have a child from diverse backgrounds. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFor my children I look books that are interesting but also have valuable morals for them to learn. I feel like a children's book is best when it can manage to get a child's attention span and actually make them think a little bit about what they read or had read to them.
ReplyDeleteMy son and I really enjoy reading about living underground (moles and ants right now).
ReplyDeleteMy son and I really love reading and watching dinosaurs.
ReplyDeleteI think this book is an excellent way to make sure that our homes, classrooms, and hearts are all inclusive. The school where I work is participating in a “Just Say Hi” initiative/program where children are encouraged to reach out to each other and embrace that which makes us unique and different. This would be a great addition to the activities we are adding around this initiative.
ReplyDeleteMerry Mermaid Christmas! This holiday season, give the gift of an adult mermaid tail! Whether your loved one is a seasoned mermaid or a first-time tail user, they’re sure to enjoy the experience of swimming like a real mermaid.
ReplyDelete