Imagination Soup

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Imagination Soup

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Get the best children's book recommendations, writing ideas, and engaging learning products and activities for kids ages 0 - 13.

Book reviews for kids, recommended children's books, reading tips, and literacy inspiration.

10/06/2026

Happy book birthday to THE CHARLATAN’S BOY, written by my talented publicity client and friend Jonathan Rogers with art by Joe Hox a middle grade novel for ages 9 to 12, published by The Rabbit Room!

Read this if you loved the Wilderking series also by Jonathan Rogers, enjoy stories about internal and external journeys, and want a thought-provoking, discussion-worthy adventure!

I love its themes of identity, truth, redemption, and family. This would be a great family book club book. It’s entertaining and full of depth.

*Since today is one of my days with horses, I let FredBob be in the photo. I think he also loves this book!

09/08/2026

Ohh, my heart! This is a beautiful book that celebrates a child’s journey, growth, and milestones with warmth and love. Gentle rhymes and gorgeous illustrations show a childhood filled with joy, play, and exploration. “It won’t be long” repeats throughout. And then, the child is grown. And even when the child is grown, the parent’s love never ends. (I’m not crying, you’re crying.)

Gift this sweet book to new parents, parents with graduates, and graduates!

IT WON’T BE LONG is written by Laura Hays Hoover , illustrated by Jieting Chen, and published by Reycraft Books .

Congratulations to my friend, Laura, on her debut picture book!

09/01/2026

THE PATRIOTS AND THE POX written by Beth Anderson , illustrated by Ashley Yazdani, published Calkins Creek by is a nonfiction historical picture book for elementary-age children.

You can always count on a Beth Anderson book to be well-written about a fascinating piece of history! In this case, a time during the Revolutionary War when something deadly began killing soldiers...

During the Revolutionary War, soldiers were attacked by a stealthy, silent, unseen virus—smallpox. George Washington had already survived the pox and thus had immunity, but most of his soldiers didn’t. When Washington couldn’t quarantine everyone in time or effectively, the virus spread, and his army grew smaller and smaller.

Washington grew suspicious that the British were spreading the disease on purpose since both sides needed soldiers to win the war. So what could he do?

He decided to try inoculation as a last resort. And it worked!

I appreciate the extensive author’s note and bibliography— this book was meticulously researched! And the artwork pops with cool details and beautiful colors. So gorgeous!

08/14/2026

Want an engaging nonfiction book for ages 8-12 that is written by a pediatrician and illustrated by a top cartoonist? Read ASK THE DOCTOR written by Betty Choi, MD Dr Betty Choi, illustrated by Jannie Ho Jannie Ho , published by Storey Publishing | DIY Books —a nonfiction gem that kids will love...and learn from, too. (Meaning parents and teachers, you’re going to want this in your homes and libraries.) I adore everything about this book!

The visually delightful book is organized by human body-related questions with written and illustrated answers and humorous commentary. The written answers contain both plain-language answers as well as science answers. Cartoon fonts for the headers, cartoon illustrations with labels, and cartoon panels add up to make an eye-catching feast for the eyes...and mind.

Dr. Choi begins with “Grub, Guts, and Glorious Waste”, including several p**p and puke questions, which I’m predicting will be popular. (What’s the perfect p**ping position? Why’s there corn in my p**p?)

But there’s more! Read about Mind and Nerve Mysteries (What’s brain freeze?), Silly Senses (Why do I see colors when I rub my eye?), and three more sections, making a total of 6 topical categories.

Who do you know that will love this book? Share and save this post for them. They will thank you!

08/13/2026

I don’t usually take new books to review anymore except for friends and publicity clients, but I couldn’t resist this one...

From Workman Publishing comes SCRATCH & SNIFF ART HISTORY: A SMELLABLE GUIDE TO BECOMING AN ART EXPERT, written by Elizabeth Lunday.

My daughter’s home from college, and she’s a fine art minor. I thought she would love it. Spoiler alert: She told me it was grossing her out and to put it away.

Also, there’s only one female artist. :(

While there are a few good smells — the cherry in Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s “Vertumnus” and the red w**e in Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s
“Bacchus”, many other smells are nauseating.

Even so, this could make a dinner party more entertaining, or it could be an interactive coffee-table book. Does anyone actually have a coffee table? (I don’t. Kids. Dogs. Shins.)

What do you think? Would you buy this book?

Who else in my generation had a scratch-and-sniff sticker collection? (My pride and joy growing up!)

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Denver, CO

Website

https://imaginationsoup.net/

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