Draw the Magic Green Fairy ~ Learning Step-By-Step

Draw the Magic Green Fairy
Author: Rosa Maria Curto
ISBN#: 978-1-4644-0479-5

This book is jam-packed with colorfully illustrated drawings that will appeal to aspiring artists that have an interest in the magical world of fairies. Children will enjoy flipping through this book time and time again to search for items that they would like to draw, perfect and to make their own.

The illustrations are filled with colors that will appeal to the young artist. There are easy step-by-step illustrations that will help the artist develop their drawing ability. It will keep the young artists entertained for hours as the magical world of fairies become alive on their paper.

It won’t take the artist long to learn how to sketch fairies and items that a fairy might need... such as ice cream for fairy parties, jars to store their honey and of course many fairy friends! I promise your girls will loved it!


Enslow Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of these book to review.

Fun Party Food ~ Little Chef Recipes

Fun Party Food – Little Chef Recipes

Author: Mercedes Segarra
Illustrations: Rosa M. Curto
ISBN#: 978-1-4644-0467-2


This cookbook begins with some very basic safety tips and other information that every chef needs to know before they begin to start cooking in the kitchen. The illustrator uses cartoon characters of children and adults that will appeal to the young chef. I loved the variety of people that were illustrated throughout the book.

Each of the recipes will need an adult working with their little chef in the kitchen. Recipes throughout the book have a list of ingredients with illustrations for each. The easy-to-make recipe follows with step-by-step instructions. Each of these steps is also shown with illustrations.

These recipes will appeal to most children. Children will enjoy be a part of creating their own cheeseburgers or chicken nuggets!

I will be adding this book to my “How To” section in my classroom. Some of the recipes can be easily created in the classroom and students will write about the process of making these recipes.

Enslow Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review.

The Quietest Pencil Sharpener

I wish I could say that I just received this green pencil sharpener in the mail a few days ago...but it would be a lie... I received it in August (I think)!  I’m such a procrastinator.  I’ve been meaning to write about it...but I was kind of torn about what to write.  Everyone has raved and raved about it...but I have mixed feelings.  If you don’t know anything about the pencil sharpener that  I’m talking about you can check it out at Classroom Friendly Supplies.

Here is what I absolutely love about the pencil sharpener:

• The pencils always come out SHARP – I mean really really really sharp... (I think they could even be considered a weapon!)

• The pencil sharpener is VERY quiet!You don’t have to hold the pencil while you are sharpening it. The pencil is pulled in as you turn the handle.  

• It will sharpen even the cheap pencils as well as those special pencils that mean so much to my little ones! 

• It has never locked up or eaten up any pencil.

• It can be moved anywhere easily.

• They come in a variety of great colors: groovy green, cool blue, firehouse red, and midnight black. 

 Here are the things that I have issues with:  

• It is such a pain to pull out the clasps for every single pencil!!  Maybe I’m just lazy, but I do not like it one little bit. I can use my electric pencil sharpener much quicker.  (Which needs replaced at least once a year).

• I have not been successful using the clamp to hold the pencil sharpener down.  It always moves when my students sharpen their pencils. 

So there you go... my thoughts on this beautiful pencil sharpener.  If you would like to watch a video about how the pencil sharpener works, please click on the pencil sharpener below to view.

Go check is out for yourself.   It was designed by Troy Decoff who is the owner and founder of The Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener.

Draw Princess in 4 Easy Steps

Draw Princesses in 4 Easy Steps: Then Write a Story

Written by: Stephanie LaBaff

Illustrated by: Tom Labaff

ISBN 978-1-4644-0011-7

If you have ever been interested in learning how to draw fairy tale characters, then this is definitely the book for you. The title leads you to believe it is only about learning how to draw princesses, but actually the book shows you how to draw other things as well. If you are interested in learning how to draw a princess, then you will also want to learn how to draw her shoes, crown, throne and many other things that you would see in fairy tales. Each one of the drawings begins with the basic outline of the shape. More and more details are added in each of the steps. I am not an artist, so I didn't find the steps "easy". There are very few written directions - which allow the artist to make it their own.

The second part of the book gives you directions on how to write a story in 5 easy steps that will go with your drawing. For those writers that sometimes have problems getting started, they have provided several story starters.

I have found this book to be one of my 1st graders favorite books to go to when they have time to draw - especially the girls!

Enslow Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

The second part of the book gives you directions on how to write a story in 5 easy steps that will go with your drawing. For those writers that sometimes have problems getting started, they have provided several story starters.

I have found this book to be one of my 1st graders favorite books to go to when they have time to draw - especially the girls!

Enslow Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Draw Aliens and Space Objects in 4 Easy Steps: Then Write a Story.

Title of Book: Draw Aliens and Space Objects in 4 Easy Steps: Then Write a Story

Written by: Stephanie LaBaff

Illustrated by: Tom Labaff

ISBN #978-1-4644-0014-8


If you are looking for a how to draw aliens and have your students write about their drawings...then this is perfect for you. I teach 1st grade and the illustrations are a little advanced for them, but they still love trying to create their aliens!!!

This is a “how to book.” The reader (artist) is shown in 4 steps how to draw a designated object. There are illustrations and written directions for each step. As I attempted to follow the “easy steps” I realized very quickly that it was definitely going to take me more than four steps to complete the drawing. I successfully added my own personal touches to each drawing and I was relatively pleased with the outcome. I think that my students will enjoy using this book to create their aliens and other space related drawings. As a teacher, I was pleased to see that writing was also included in this book. What child wouldn’t want to use their imagination and write about the alien they created! There is a story example and some story prompts that might help them get started.



Enslow Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Simon's Escape by Bonnie Pryor

     I recently received a complimentary copy of Simon’s Escape:  A Story of the Holocaust from Enslow Publishers. 

Simon is a young Jewish boy whose life changes forever one day in September 1939.  

     This historical fiction book is told through the eyes of Simon, a young teenager.  

     He and his family are forced by the Nazis to leave the comfort of their home and live in the Warsaw ghetto.  While they live in the ghetto, they experience hunger, filth, and saw things that no one should ever have to see.  As time passes, his family members keep disappearing.  He eventually escapes to the forest and fights for his survival.  

     I have read many books about the Holocaust.  This is the first one that I have read that has been through the eyes of a young person.  I can't even begin to think about the evil that was experienced by the Jews during that time.  

     I finished the book in one setting.  It wasn't necessarily a book I ever want to read again, but it was one that reminded me once again of how many innocent lives were lost during the Holocaust.

Simon’s Escape:   A Story of the Holocaust

by Bonnie Pryor

ISBN #978-0-7660-3388-7

Zebra Pens...OH MY!

Don’t you just love to receive packages in the mail!!  There is something about opening my door and seeing a package in my mailbox that brings a huge smile to my face.  It’s sort of like Christmas, especially when you don’t know for sure the contents of the package!  Last week when I opened up my package, I first saw an adorable zebra.  More importantly though, I received a pen case with several different types of  Zebra pens.  A person can never have too many pens!    

The package was sent to me from an office supply store called Shoplet Office Supplies and I was asked to give my thoughts on a couple of their pens. 

The first one is called the Zebra Z-Mulsion EX Ballpoint Pen.  You can check it out by clicking here.  If you are looking for a gel pen that glides as you write, this is the pen for you. I have used many gel pens throughout the years, and most of them have a tendency to skip, but not this one!  It has a very comfortable grip and was easy to write with.    

The next pen is the Zebra F-301 Retractable Ballpoint Pen and you can check this one out by clicking here.  I love retractable pens.  Just one click after I've finish writing and I’m ready to put my pen away.  This Zebra pen has a stainless steel tip with a rubberized no slip grip which makes it relatively easy to hold.  This pen is thinner than I normally use.  After writing with it for several minutes, I realized that it was becoming uncomfortable to write with.  I like the way it writes though, so I will use it for papers that do not require a great deal of writing.

For more information about these and other office supplies head on over to Shoplet.com. I don't think you will be disappointed.