A book review on One of a Kind Creatures, written and illustrated by Tasos Georgiou. This is a powerful and thoughtful story about belonging, differences, and discovering strength in what makes us unique. This story introduces us to three very different animal friends, each struggling to fit into a world that expects them to be something they are not. Includes thoughts from a mom-counselor and strategies for expanding on social-emotional learning.

Balancing multiple children means someone has to wait sometimes. It means a child might stay upset longer than we want while we attend to another need. That doesn’t mean we failed. It means we’re human. Emotional regulation isn’t about preventing every meltdown. It’s about repair. It’s about coming back together once we can.

I Don’t Wanna Be a Dino follows Dougie as he tries to be anything other than himself, only to learn that who he is truly matters. With bright, engaging illustrations and a heartfelt message, this story gently introduces self-acceptance, strengths, and confidence for kids ages 3–7. A wonderful read-aloud that opens the door to meaningful social-emotional conversations.

Set in the sweet community of Harmony Lane, Ready… Set… Frog! and Let’s Work Smarter explore balance, teamwork, and problem-solving in kid-friendly ways. These warm, beautifully illustrated stories help young children learn about helping others, working together, and finding what works best, at home, in classrooms, and beyond.

Life with a toddler is unpredictable, but add sensory needs, both seeking and avoidance, and suddenly your house feels like a mix between a wrestling ring, a therapy clinic, and a zoo with an exceptionally patient dog.

Whether your kid is a cautious eater like my step-son or a culinary daredevil like my toddler, the goal is the same: to raise kids who can have a healthy, flexible, and positive relationship with food. That means less pressure, more patience, and a whole lot of humor. Because if parenthood has taught me anything, it’s that food is rarely just food when kids are involved. It’s comedy, it’s chaos. So, pull up a chair, grab a napkin, and enjoy the show.

Teaching kids deep breaths can go two ways: peaceful calm…or a spit-covered coffee table. Guess which one we got? This month’s Imagination Library book delivery brought us Dandelion Magic by Darren Farrell, a whimsical, laugh-out-loud story that turned our “calming breath practice” into speed puffs, giggles, and yes…a little spit on the coffee table. But behind the silliness is something powerful: a playful way to help kids manage big feelings, slow down, and discover calm