RECOMMENDED READING

The vision of Sunnyhaven Books is to reach as many young children as possible with books that promote love, kindness, compassion, empathy, inclusion and respect. Instilling these values in children while they’re young offers hope & possibilities for the future of mankind.

We have chosen and read the following books for the purpose of promoting the message of the story, the author, and/or the illustrator. In most cases, the book has been independently published by the author. In this time of societal chaos, upheaval and confusion, we understand that many authors & illustrators feel compelled to create and distribute books with love and kindness as the subject matter in an effort to enlighten those who are caught up in negativity, and to uniquely contribute to helping to make the world a better place. The books don’t always emphasize politeness and manners. In some cases, the stories are benign and just plain silly, which helps set the mood for lightness and laughter.

Disclaimer: Sunnyhaven Books makes no profit, nor seeks recognition, for recommending the following books. As part of our mission to promote love and kindness, our purchasing, reading and recommending the following books is simply our way of performing random acts of kindness. If you are the author/illustrator or agent of any of the following books, and you do not wish to have your book featured on this site, please e-mail editor@sunnyhavenbooks.com to have the book removed from our list of recommended reading.

Note: The “Click to purchase” links will lead to the book for sale on Amazon. The link is correct as of the date we posted it here. If the link no longer applies, please perform a separate search on Amazon or choose another outlet such as Books-a-million or Barnes and Noble.

Sunnyhaven Books happily recommends the following:

“Katie Spector creates art everywhere she goes. She makes lions from lint balls and snakes from straw wrappers. Mom tells Katie to pick her favorites and get rid of the rest. Get rid or her art? Impossible! Katie decides to stash her creations in the closets and crannies of her house. What will happen when a summer storm blows the lid off her sneaky secret? As story that celebrates community, art, and staying true to yourself”.

This story is cute and we love the colorful illustrations in this book by author Lisa Cloherty & illustrator David A. Rodriquez.  Every creative child with lots of crafts & not enough room to display them can identify with Katie, the determined, spunky creative art collector!

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“Liam shares his imaginative story of a goblin, a witch, and a flea in a fun, memorable rhyme that is sure to delight. Even a small flea can teach us a powerful message about acceptance, kindness, and love. Despite their obvious differences, Bree the flea longs to one day win the friendship of Soblin the goblin and Mitch the witch. This not-so-spooky story is the perfect way to end the day and get ready for bedtime”.

Thank you, Gabriela Fuller and illustrator Mousam Banerjee. This book is wonderful! This rhyming story is slightly spooky with lovely, colorful illustrations. Kindness wins in the end and leaves the reader feeling happy.

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“Little Betsy will learn that happiness is made up of simple things in life, both small and big. With the help of the magic stone, she will begin to feel gratitude for her parents, friends, and toys. But what happens when little Betsy forgets to use the magic of her stone? She will realize that the power of gratitude is hidden in her heart. Gratitude is my Superpower will teach your little ones to appreciate the warmth of home, time spent playing with friends, and family relationships”.

Ahh, gratitude. Yes! A wonderful children’s book about the power of appreciation. Thank you, Alicia Ortego for making the world a better place with this book and your other children’s “superpower” books!

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“It’s the first day of the summer holidays and what better way to celebrate the end of school than a beach party? There’ll be jam tarts, buns, apples, cheese sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, orange juice, oh, and something else, too – an extra strong, industrial strength, elephant-proof bouncy castle for a very special guest! Join Eddie the Elephant and Jackie as they head for Bakewell Beach, the home of the legendary pirate, Henry Slade.”

Eddie the Elephant is at it again! “SPLADOOSH-ing, KERBOING-ing and SPLADOOMPH-ing his way into children’s imaginations, bringing on smiles as he enjoys joining Jackie and her family and friends for a day of fun and adventure on the beach. We once-again appreciate the skillful, happy writing of author Colin Ridyard and the colorful illustrations by Sonia Sparkles. We’re all smiles as we look forward to Eddie’s next adventure.

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“In this heartwarming story of gratitude, Adam learns to appreciate what he has. He thinks he has found a house that is better than his, as he sees what appears to be windows made of gold! When he discovers that things are not always what they seem, it sets the stage for children to understand that the grass isn’t always greener on The Other Side.“

The simple message of this colorful children’s picture book is all about perspective and gratitude. Per the author’s website, he states “I take a quote that holds a deep life lesson and engineer a story around it, while breaking down the lesson in a way anyone can understand”. With this book, he works from the C.S. Lewis quotation “What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing”. In other words, the grass always seems greener from the other side.  This story depicts two children looking at similar things, and each child offers a different perspective. The end of the book features a Q & A section where the reader is asked to consider the idea of perspective, and to guess as to the message of the story. This book would make a nice gift for any child.

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“From giving away her snack to telling a joke to brighten someone’s day, Shelly learns how the gift of sharing can have a powerful impact on those around her. Join Shelly on some heartwarming adventures as she discovers the beauty of sharing!”

Sharing Shelly is a very sweet book about a little girl who enjoys the feeling she gets from sharing things with others. She begins by sharing her own belongings with others who are in need, and when she finds someone who’s spirit needs to be uplifted, she realizes that she can give of herself by sharing jokes, hugs and words of encouragement. Shelly is happily aware that sharing makes the world a better place and the end of the story shows the domino-effect that results from her kindness. This is a very nice book that we happily recommend reading to a child. The illustrations are colorful and beautifully created. Nice job author Edwin Kim & illustrator Emmy Dala Senta.

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“A children’s book about overcoming adversity from a life changing event. This is a story about Robert (Bob). When Bob was small he lost his eye in a silly accident with his brothers. Now this could cause people, especially children to withdraw and see only the negative, causing struggle and self-consciousness to overcome what can be a wonderful life. Bob had a wonderful life, he did well in school, loved sports, had large family and felt every bit of success that he wanted. Bob’s happy. Hopefully the story about Bob can show children that such events or injuries don’t have to be life changing and happiness and success can and will still be achieved.”

Perspective is everything! This book has lovely, colorful illustrations & the wonderful message that we have the power to overcome adversity by shaping our perspective. A wonderful book about not letting adversity shape your attitude or determine your direction in life. Evidently a true story about the author’s grandfather, the author’s message “sometimes bad things happen but that doesn’t mean it will be bad forever” is conveyed in a nice story that people of all ages can relate to. The clear and colorful illustrations are appealing to children and the happy ending is sure to leave the reader smiling. What a great story about not letting adversity shape your attitude or determine your direction in life. Thanks, Paul Wild!

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“Jackie is celebrating a birthday with her friends and family in the garden. It’s a lovely day; the table is piled high with jelly, iced buns, sausage rolls, ham and cheese sandwiches, chicken nuggets and orange juice. There’s a paddling pool, a slide, a big trampoline, oh, and something else, too – a rather unusual guest!!! Step inside and come and join the party!”

This cute children’s PB made us smile as we read it. Clear & colorful illustrations, cute & silly story. Perfect gift for any child. Congrats to author Colin Ridyard & illustrator Sonia Sparkles!

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“A heart-warming, moral tale of how friendship can blossom once you get to know someone – even if they are very different to you.Dasher is a pretty Terrier with love in her heart and wet paws. Her adventure takes her across the countryside where she makes some unlikely friends along the way. When she gets lost, these new friendships help her to find the way home.”

This story about a sweet and lovable dog who embraces other animals with love and kindness assures them that she wants to be friends and not eat them! A cute story.

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“Meet Sprout! A cute little earthworm that invites us into their world and teaches us what worms do everyday. By the end of the book Sprout will have you wondering, ‘Have I thanked a worm today?'”

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “worm”? For small children who are afraid of worms we recommend this sweet, little book.

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“Sun and Moon have been together for a lifetime. Can they resolve their differences? A whimsical tale written with a universal theme about restoring balance. Moon’s refusal to take turns with Sun to gain more attention not only impacts his friend, Sun, but affects our whole planet, Earth. Fun facts about our Sun and Moon included.

Filled with nature, science and how Sun and Moon resolve their differences, Taking Turns, offered in both English and Spanish, provides social skills for children to learn kindness, sharing and friendship with a science theme. This book follows the common core standards for English, Science, Spanish and in social skills for children up to grade five.”

A nice story about the sun, the moon, and cooperation.

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“Hannah knows how to help others, but can she help herself? A delightful read that teaches children about kindness to others and overcoming personal fears and anxieties.”

A very nice story with a kind vibe that encourages the reader to create a unique ending.

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“Shout-Out to Self-Love!, is about children’s appreciation for who they are! Often, children need a way to affirm the true meaning of a word. This book is ideal for helping children affirm and visualize the essence of self-love from the perspective of children.

Shout-Out to Self-Love! tells the story of how children who take care of their minds, bodies, and souls contribute to self-empowerment. Every child is special, and we should always foster self-love. We should celebrate all children, regardless of color, size, or background, as each individual brings something unique to the Universe!

The book includes a message page for parents, guardians, and educators on the value of encouraging children to love their various qualities and affirming that self-love is the greatest love.”

A wonderful and timely message about kindness and respect for one another.

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“The Big Spider Who Learned How to Swim® is the heart-warming story of a spider with a kind disposition and a love of adventure who is taught how to swim by a kindly fish who saved the spider’s life after it fell into a lake and nearly drowned. The spider then encourages his peers as he teaches them how to safely cross a puddle.”

This feel-good, rhyming Read-to/Read-along story is appropriate for pre-school & elementary school-age children as it inspires the spirit of kindness, empathy and appreciation. There is a “Did You Know” page about spiders who swim, as well as a fun, bonus story-themed Word Search puzzle in the back of the book.