Animals are Great By Latifa Kimberly Reeves, Mark Larson and Lisa Hart – The Children’s Book Review

June 24, 2025 · by sybrinapublishing

Animals are Great

Written by Latifa Kimberly Reeves, Mark Larson, and Lisa Hart

Ages: 3-12 | 26 Pages

Publisher: Tika Tika Time (2025) | ISBN: 979-8349311215

Publisher’s Book Summary: Animals are great! In this whimsical book written by the team at Tika Tika Time, children will see a variety of animals. Tika Tika Time is a children’s multimedia entertainment brand filled with fun and silliness. Kids sing along and engage with lively videos featuring original music. The playful animations and whimsical characters spark joy and creativity. Each video encourages movement, laughter, and learning through music. Companion books bring the songs to life with colorful illustrations. Interactive elements keep children engaged and excited to participate. Designed to entertain and educate, tika tika time makes learning feel like play. With catchy tunes and cheerful energy, it’s a magical adventure for kids everywhere!

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Expound Publicity. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

FROM THE CREATORS

Interactive reading activities for pre-schoolers

Making Books Come Alive…

“Animals Are Great” is a joyful and interactive children’s book that invites young readers to explore the fun of making animal noises. You can find here https://a.co/d/j3TOOpC The inspiration came from my experience as a preschool music teacher—children love pretending to be animals, making sounds, and moving their bodies. I wanted a an interactive experience where children are using their voices from top to bottom. We wanted to create a book that not only encourages reading but also sparks creativity and active play.

What makes “Animals Are Great” truly special is that it’s part of our larger multimedia project, Tika Tika Time—Tikatikatime.com a creative company I co-founded with Mark Larson and Lisa Hart. Together, we combine our talents in music, storytelling, and visual media to bring playful and meaningful content to young audiences. In addition to the book, we created an Animals Are Great YouTube video, https://youtu.be/CHJvYjb999M?feature=shared where I—Miss Latifa—sing and demonstrate fun movements that match the animal sounds. The video allows children to engage in music and movement, whether they’re reading the book or watching online. To make it easy for families and teachers to access, we included a QR code inside the book cover that links directly to our Tika Tika Time YouTube channel, https://youtube.com/@tikatikatime?si=p4I8-w90O518lfB9 which is filled with interactive music videos.

A very important part of our vision was to create music that adults would enjoy, too. As real musicians playing real instruments, we wanted the songs to sound warm, genuine, and fun for everyone listening—not just kids. Parents and caregivers often spend a lot of time with children’s media, and we believe it should be as delightful for them as it is for the children. Our goal was to craft music that bridges generations: fun and interactive for kids but also pleasing to an adult’s ear.

A little about us:
I, Latifa Reeves, am a soulful artist whose spiritual essence infuses every aspect of my work. As a powerful singer, co-front woman of the acclaimed Mama Said Band, and a dedicated preschool music teacher, I’ve long dreamed of creating a children’s record that brings joy and connection through music. Partnering with Mark, I crafted enchanting music that resonates with both kids and adults and later joined forces with Lisa to bring the whimsical world of Tika Tika Time—and our enchanting land of Precious Nation—to life.

Mark Larson is a talented musician, composer, producer, and guitar teacher with a gift for blending music and storytelling. When we began collaborating on a children’s album, Mark’s creative journey naturally expanded into the broader world of children’s multimedia. Along with Lisa, he brings a dynamic and innovative spirit to Tika Tika Time, exploring new ways to merge music, art, and narrative for young audiences.

Lisa Hart is a healer, singer, songwriter, and actress whose heart-centered creativity shines through in all her work. Lisa’s playful spirit, imagination, and deep sense of love for children’s storytelling infuse the Tika Tika Time world with warmth and joy. Together, the three of us aim to inspire, uplift, and nurture young minds through music, stories, and interactive experiences.

And of course, we can’t forget our lovable mascot—our furry friend and plush toy Ear Worm! Ear Worm is a fun and silly character who pops up throughout Tika Tika Time, helping kids remember songs and sounds while adding a little extra magic to the experience. You can find the Earworm plush toy, along with new sing-a-long books “I Love That Train” and “No More Sugar” on our website Tikatikatime.com

Our mission with “Animals Are Great” and Tika Tika Time is to spark joy, creativity, and a lifelong love of music and storytelling in children. We truly believe that when learning feels magical and fun, it creates memories that last forever—and that’s exactly what we hope to share with every child and family who joins us on this journey.