Better than the last, I suppose, but still not great in my opinion. The animals this time learned to “think big” and strive to be their best and help others, which is a great message for kids. However, in this situation, the animals were trying to escape a wildfire, and the baobab tree sacrificed its trunk for their shelter, but in the end the rain came and put the fire out - it was nothing the animals really did to survive for if the rains hadn’t come they would’ve cooked! But I might be over analyzing it.

Still, I do love the illustrations, so they do have that going for them.

'Think Big' by Kat Kronenberg is the third in this preschool picture book series set in the African savannah. This colourful book is all about the brain and heart connecting amongst the African wild animals. It is chock a-block full of heart-meltingly beautiful illustrations by David Miles.

Danger literally strikes sending the animals in a panicked mad dash. When Kudu saves others but gets hurt in the process, the others gather around the sore, upset wild deer. This is an uplifting story of beating unexpected adversity. From being simple creatures, the animals once again become better than they were, by connecting their brains and hearts. "Giraffe took a thoughtful breath, and feeling his brain and heart connect, he smiled big with a brilliant idea."

The addition of the wondrous baobab tree also becoming a companion in this time of need was wonderful and unexpected. The small text on some pages giving biological facts on the animals and the baobab tree informs the young reader and their parent or teacher.

This review also appears in Amazon.com, Netgalley.com, https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/2020/05/think-big-by-kat-kronenberg.html and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3326509699.

This story is set in the African forest where the characters are all different wild life animals. There are lots of new words to learn and new names of animals to learn, which was really fun for my daughter. The book is filled with sounding words which makes it an exciting read. Each story had a song that rhymed with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star that is easy to follow and sing along with. That also added to the making the book a fun read.

Think Big teaches children to believe in themselves. Whatever they think - they can accomplish. Also, it can all be easier if they all help each other.

I received an advanced reader copy of Think Big through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Just love this author.
Gorgeous little stories super pretty. Loved by adults and children alike. These will I am sure be firm favourites for years to come

Think Big is a Winner, what an interesting young children's book is this! 5 Stars for Think Big!

Think Big does more than teach the value of positive mindset, of belief in self as a key to feeling good and even to saving lives. It teaches so many little things in the storyline. It teaches why bees dance, and that others can lose their life when we fail to believe in ourselves and live up to our missions in life. It teaches that failing ourselves ultimately fails others. It teaches believing in ourselves can nearly save the world. It teaches idioms ("sticking your neck out") and so much more.

Glancing at the cover I expected something simple, along the lines of a busier "The Hungry Catepillar," or "Baby Beluga (in the Deep Blue Sea)," or a simplified "It's a Bug's Life" meets positive mindset mission, or simplified "Jungle Book" or something such. Little did I know what a feast lay inside!

There is a cast of animal friends inside of all types, all figuring out how to "pick each other up" (sometimes literally) and figuring out how to coach the best of one another, all in simplified children's book form. There is disaster and finding solutions. There is animal self discovery. There is teamwork and saving-the-day.

At the end of the book is also a resource for activities based on the book -- the book becomes an entire course in learning to think of solutions and positive framing. This book one could say is the child illustrative version of "Fear is not an option!" but it is presented in a colorful entrancing way with a wide cast of African animal characters. It is also the fun kid version of "The Magic of Thinking Big," but I'd bet there are many adults who would read this, who'd turn their noses up to the other title out of ignorance in the power of belief.

There is even reference to the power of our uniqueness, perhaps as held in our heart centers, the magic of unique selfhood.

I love this book!

Kudos to Kat Kronenberg. She has given a gift with this one. Buy it for every young child you know. Buy it for the reluctant downtrodden depressed adult you know. Just buy it, you'll need it at some point, for gift or self reflection. You will be making the future world a better place for it.

I read this book with my 5 year old twins. The cover and title and engaging. The illustrations were beautiful and the animals were engaging characters. We enjoyed the journey of the animals and the moral at the end that taught about believing in oneself, working together and caring for each other. It was at times a little wordy for young children but overall engaging and well written.

The illustrations and ideas behind this book are lovely, but the story was all over the place for me. It just didn't quite work for me.

Review of eBook

Thousands of years have passed since the savannas began in East Africa. The animals continue roaming the land in search of food; moody Baboon continues to tell them what to do. But Baboon discovers a powerful secret and helps Giraffe, Kudu, Busy Bee, Elephant, Bush Baby, and the Baobab Tree learn an important lesson. Baboon and Bee write a special song for Kudu and the friends celebrate with pom-pons and Baboon’s famous boom shake celebration.

This mythological fable, the third in a series [following “Dream Big” and “Love Big”], the animals are afraid and don’t choose to help others; Baboon challenges Kudu and everything begins to change. A footnote provides a brief fact about each of the animals as the young reader meets each of them. The story encourages young readers, empowering them to believe in themselves, and their ideas as they realize they are extraordinary and are capable of amazing things. Because they are made of star-stuff, they are extraordinary. A positive lesson about the importance of caring for others, young readers are sure to read this story over and over again.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Greenleaf Book Group Press and NetGalley
#ThinkBig #NetGalley

Think Big by Kat Kronenberg has ideas as big as the African savanna!

The third in Kat Kronenberg's series for children and families, Think Big, continues with the characters and the most wonderful illustrations as in the previous two colorful picture books - Love Big and Dream Big. In fact, I believe it helps if the reader has explored these first two books before delving into number three, however, it is not a must.

I thought the story was a bit more engaging than in the first two and will reach an even wider and appreciative audience. There's action, danger, a silly baboon, and cute baby animals again. There's even unobtrusive "sidebar" notes on some pages of an animal factoid that leads to ideas and interests related to but outside the current story.

I've really come to look forward to seeing new additions to this series on the African savanna. I recommend this book to families with small children but most specifically those in the Kindergarten to 2nd grade age range.

Think Big teacher children that even if you're scared or don't know what to do, you can always try your best to help others.

The illustrations in this book were colorful and held my 4 year olds attention. The message the book sends to kids about believing in themselves and helping those around you feel the same and being thankful for your friends is fantanstic. Overall it was a great message for kids to learn that's useful for their entire life and the pictures were engaging as well.

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group in exchange for an honest review.

The illustrations in this book are so vibrant and beautiful. This book has a good message for kids about believing you can do extraordinary things but it was not my favorite of Kat's three books.

I like that Kat Kronenberg puts little information tidbits about the animals at the bottom of the page, and I love the 'Notes for two-leggers of all ages' at the end of the book.

#ThinkBig #NetGalley

In the newest "Big" book by Kat Kronenberg we are again reminded of the fact that stardust is all around us and that it may be magic. (We know that it's really full of animal facts told to us through fun characters). Once again I was a little bummed to not have the pictures to enjoy. I know many ARCs have them but this one did not.

This time we learn a little about giraffes, bees, kudos, and even trees! We once again can sing along and, I think my favorite part, there are ready made activities to do with your young readers. Now that we are all stuck at home, these books can provide parents with a lot of ideas.

While I think the first book is still my favorite, I am really loving this series.

This book would make a great family read. The art work is gorgeous. The vocabulary is a bit much for children to read on their own. Each story is somewhat of a fable, teaching kindness, friendship, helping others. All of this is taught by the animals who believe in themselves, and learn by working together they can beat any situation.

Thank you NetGalley and Big Leaf Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. My 6 year old loved the story but did complain there were so little pictures/illustration. One of the surprises in the book were the fun facts about the animals and plants in the story. Overall the story was great!

This book was not for me. However, It has a good message and would serve as a great teaching resource. It’s positive message about the power of good deeds and self-belief coupled with fun facts about African animals and the savannah is well-suited for childhood development.

This would've been better told as the folktale of how giraffes got long necks, but even then I doubt it would've achieved its purpose. The book starts with a giraffe having a short neck, but it doesn't acknowledge why this is or that this is not normal. Then somehow the neck magically grows when the giraffe...wills it to? The message of bravery with the Kudu is good, but the rest of the story is only tolerable because of the illustrations.

This is the 3rd big book featuring these familiar animals by this author. She encourages kids to think & help each other, using big colorful artwork/drawings. The 'notes for two-leggers of all ages' at the end reminds us all to think big, smile & be grateful, be extraordinary & giving......all worthy lessons/reminders for all readers. She also leaves little snippets of real info about the characters in the story too. I guess I downgraded to a 3 star rating because I just didn't feel the 'happiness/feel goodness' in this book that I did in the 1st two books....this might've given me more of an ominous feeling because of a fire scene/issue in the story...... altho it does carry a good message to the readers.
I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher Greenleaf Book Group Press via NetGalley, in exchange fro reading it & posting my own fair/honest review.

This children's book has some really cute pictures and super great messages. I loved this book, but it does have hard words to read for younger children. I would say this children's book is a book that mom or dad will have to read to the child not them read to themselves. My older daughter who is 10 years old could read it to her brothers. My daughter wants to a vet when she grows up, so she loved this book and the pictures. I did get a kindle edition of this book from netgalley, so I could give a honest review.

The third book in the trilogy. Moody Baboon is still moody and doesn't seem to have learnt his lesson in the first 2 adventures. Hopefully he will now, as the animals all learn to think big!