It warms my heart to see my children beam with excitement over a new book--especially
my youngest son. It takes him a while to warm up to anything new. But seeing
characters that look like him in his storybooks is what really makes the
connection. This was the case for Eli's 1st Winter Carnival by Lisa Bowen and
illustrated by Nina Vanessa Pontillas.
Eli’s 1st Winter Carnival by Lisa Bowen takes readers on an
adventure-filled day with Eli and his family for Winter Carnival. Through vibrant,
beautifully illustrated images by Nina Vanessa Pontillas and easy-to-read storytelling
by Lisa Bowen, readers can get in on the fun through the eyes of the youngest in the family.
Eli, short for Elijah, is attending Winter Carnival for the first time and
he’s very excited. Winter is Eli’s favorite season and he’s finally able to
experience all the fun his big brother Isaiah has in previous years. So, by trekking
through the woods with family, Eli begins a fun day of outdoor adventure while meeting good friends along
the way.
Eli participates in many fun sports and activities with his
friends and family. And he meets each adventure with smiling eyes and a
joy-filled smile.
Through Eli’s
storytelling, my 4-year-old son can connect with the story and follow along. He
takes turns reading with his dad, his siblings, and I with a full understanding
of all the fun things going on within the pages. He even points to pictures of
Eli and Isaiah and tells us all the illustrations look like him and his big brother!
Isn’t that adorable? Now (after reading this book for the millionth time), he’s
excited about the approaching winter season and can’t wait for snow!
Not only has Eli’s 1st Winter Carnival sparked a love for winter festivities in my youngest son, it has also prompted him to ask several questions:
“When will we go to the Winter Carnival?”
“Can Elmo go too?”
“Can
I have marshmallows in my hot cocoa sometimes?”
And the list goes on and on. Most
importantly, reading this book prompted a family discussion everyone could
participate in. We talked about enjoying family traditions, spending time with friends/loved ones, and making time to do fun things together. I love how Eli’s
1st Winter Carnival was able to illustrate the importance of these
things in such an adorable and engaging way for my youngest son. Thank you Lisa Bowen for sharing your book (and your Little Eli's likeness) with my family!
This book is recommended to children ages 4-8, up to a grade 2 reading level. It also comes highly recommended to young children who like to have fun + try new things from both me and my son, Jj. To grab up a copy for yourself, your family, your friends, and/or the children in your life, be sure to click the link here. And to get more familiar with best-selling author and Toronto CA native Lisa Bowen, be sure to visit her site here and check her out over on Instagram.
Have you read Eli's 1st Winter Carnival?
Is it a book you'd love to share with the children in your life?
Disclosure: This book was sent to me by the author for review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. To read more about my disclosure policy, click here.
