Category: giveaway

*Giveaway** & Review: The House That Wasn’t There

The House That Wasn’t There is written by award winning author, Elana K. Arnold. Thank you to Walden Pond Press for having us on the book’s blog tour. We are so happy to share Elana’s latest middle grade book with you.

When I saw the cover months ago, I knew I had to read this book. When the ARC (advanced reader copy) arrived, I was immediately drawn to the story and the two main characters, Alder and Oak. Each have very different and unique in personalities, but qualities I know readers can easily see in themselves. Alder, who is more quiet and reserved. Oak is outgoing, and has an easier time making friends. When Oak moves in next door, Alder is not sure what to make of her and her family. Oak’s family decides to cut down the oak tree that is between their houses, a special tree for Alder and his mother. As the book continues, we learn of many odd coincidences that draw Alder and Oak close. But when a weird, unexpected chance encounter happens to them together, a friendship begins to take place.

I enjoyed how the book has so many realistic elements with just the right amount of magic and mystery thrown in! A taxidermy opossum is an important symbol & character in the story and I am not sure I can see an opossum in the same light again. Elana’s descriptive writing had me excited as the lives’ of all the characters unfold.

This book will be a hit with many kids! I am excited this book is officially published, so I can discuss with readers how the ending was both surprising, magical, and fulfilling. Read below to see how you can win a copy and then reach out and let us know what you think!

To win a copy of The House That Wasn’t There courtesy of Walden Pond Press, please follow our blog, comment on this post and head to our other social media pages for more chances to win! US only. Giveaway ends 4/16/2021 @ 8pmET.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elana K. Arnold is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children’s books, including the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat and its sequels. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalog of feminist titles for young readers. Elana teaches in Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and lives in Southern California with her family and menagerie of pets.

Tour Stops:

March 28 Nerdy Book Club @nerdybookclub

March 29 YAYOMG @yayomgofficial

March 30 Unleashing Readers @UnleashReaders

March 31 Teachers Who Read @teachers_read

April 2 Maria’s Mélange @mariaselke

April 7 Bluestocking Thinking @BlueSockGirl

April 10 A Library Mama @librarymama

April 12 Storymamas @storymamas

*GIVEAWAY* Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Say Goodnight

A playful and silly read that may just be like looking in the mirror for many parents and children! Charlie and his pet dragon, Rosie face the challenging feat of bedtime! Charlie has prepared for every possibility during bedtime procrastination making sure to have all the supplies beforehand: writing a bedtime schedule together, extra towels for bath time, a fan for overheating in footie pjs and some other well-prepared ideas. Even after all the prep work bedtime is still a long process but Charlie learns being prepared sure does help! But just when Charlie settles in for a spa moment in the tub a surprise ending puts him back to work. Sound familiar parents?

I don’t know about you but my three boys struggle every night to fall asleep, even on days where I think I wore them out completely. Reading Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Say Goodnight with them was a fun one because we definitely identified with all the procrastinating Rosie does before she finally falls asleep! You might be thinking you don’t want to give your kids any more ideas on how to perfect bedtime procrastination but reading this book gave us a moment to laugh at all those long drawn out nights…and that’s something I need sometimes! The illustrations also brought a sense of playfulness to the story and we loved the bright color pallet. As a reader and teacher I loved seeing the different colored fonts between when Charlie was narrating the book and when he was talking to Rosie. This gives the reader a clear view of the story and is a great teachable moment to notice with children. After reading this one I can’t wait to get my hands on the other book in the series, Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves. Which you could win if you enter our giveaway! See below for entry information!

Thank you so much to Blue Slip Media for sending us a copy to review. All opinions are our own.

GIVEAWAY!

One lucky winner will receive a copy of both Rosie the Dragon books! Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves and Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Say Good Night, courtesy of Two Lions (U.S. addresses only please). To enter please follow our blog and comment on this post. Feel free to enter on our social media pages too for extra entries! Giveaway closes on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 11:00 CST. Winner will be picked at random and contacted soon after.

About the Author

Lauren H. Kerstein is an author and psychotherapist. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Josh; their dragons…er, daughters, Sarah and Danielle; and her rescue dogs, Hudson and Duke. Learn more about the author at www.LaurenKerstein.net. Twitter: @LaurenKerstein Instagram: laurenkerstein

About the Illustrator

Nate Wragg works as a production designer and illustrator for animation and book projects. He lives in Southern California with his family. Learn more about the artist at https://natewragg.tumblr.com.

Reviews

“This humorous story is a sweet representation of care-taking and patience, with a parallel that can extend to older and younger siblings as well as to parent-child relationships, perhaps making young readers a bit more self-reflective and empathetic. This dramatic bedtime tale…will satisfy many.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Kat and Juju *GIVEAWAY*

My boys loved this story about Kat, an independent girl with some anxiety around what others will think about her. She is a shy little girl and that makes her feel lonely. She just wants to have a best friend and she knows that once her birthday comes a friend will show up at her doorstep. That’s when Juju arrives; a big fluffy red bird.

Juju is very different from Kat and challenges her to experience life more boldly by doing happy dances, experiencing life and letting go. Kat is still worried but a baby bird changes all that when Kat and Juju need to help take care of the bird. They work together to help the bird become stronger and learn to fly. With this Kat does things she would never try before shown through the beautiful illustrations and expressions on Kat’s face. Kat realizes that worrying about what others think about her was holding her back from the friendships she could have and she breaks free from her loneliness and worry.

My boys and I had some beautiful discussions during our reading together. My six year old is just like Kat, a rule follower and constantly caring about what others think about him while my four year old is riddled with anxiety about the unknown. So Kat and Juju’s story gave us a chance to talk about these very real feelings in a nonthreatening way. While this book hasn’t changed them completely it sure has helped them reflect and relax just a little bit.

Thank you Barbara Fisch from Blue Slip Media for sending us a copy for review. All opinions are our own. Don’t forget to enter our giveaway! See below for entry information!

About the Author

Kataneh Vahdani is a children’s book author and illustrator. Kat and Juju is her first picture book series. She is currently directing her original feature animation movie. Kataneh has been a professor for over seventeen years and she also saves fallen baby birds and rescues them. Together with her students, they have raised over 13 fallen injured baby birds and set them free once they were ready to fly away. Sometimes in her classes, birds fly from the head of one student to the other. Visit Kataneh on Instagram: @KatandJuju. 


“This debut gently encourages personal growth while reinforcing the value of being different.” —Kirkus Reviews

**GIVEAWAY**

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Kat and Juju  courtesy of Two Lions (U.S. addresses). Please follow our blog and comment on this post. Please feel free to enter on our other social media pages too.

It Is (Not) Perfect…..Giveaway

It is (Not) Perfect by Anna Kang and illustrated by Christopher Weyant, hits so many important notes. While building a sand castle, one friend thinks it is perfect, while the other makes a suggestion for their “perfect” improvements. This suggestion cycle continues as new friends come to the sand castle. Together, with their “perfect” ideas, the friends build a huge sand castle that they all stand by, admire and deem it perfect….until…..

Well, without giving away the ending, which builds hope and resilience, I want to say that I admired the character’s ability to accept constructive criticism and be open to the suggestions. I adored the teamwork that they all showed and allowed others to help make the castle. On a deeper level this book can help us talk about what perfect really means, if there is one way to do something , or what is everyone’s definition of perfect.

A book to enjoy with all ages and conversations that are important with our kids. We thank Blue Slip Media for including us on the blog tour.

Some more information about the creators:

Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant are the creators of Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Smallas well as series titles That’s (Not) Mine, I Am (Not) Scared, and We Are (Not) Friends. They also wrote and illustrated Eraser, Can I Tell You a Secret?, and Will You Help Me Fall Asleep? Christopher’s work can also be seen in The New Yorker, and his cartoons are syndicated worldwide. This husband-and-wife team lives in New Jersey with their two daughters and their rescue dog. Visit them at www.annakang.com and www.christopherweyant.com.Twitter: @annakang27 @chrisweyant05Instagram: annakangbooks; christopherweyant   Facebook: Anna Kang – Author; Christopher Weyant“Colorful cartoon illustrations add a lightheartedness to what could be a stressful real-life situation for kids. Another life lesson neatly packaged in child centric humor.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This award-winning duo have created a lovely tribute to the old adage that perfect is the enemy of good. Recommended for purchase for all collections.” —School Library JournalGiveaway!

***Giveaway****One lucky winner will receive a copy of It Is (Not) Perfect, courtesy of Two Lions (U.S. addresses). Please follow our blog and comment on this post. Please feel free to enter on our other social media pages too.

World So Wide *Giveaway!*

A beautiful and meaningful read for all ages! World So Wide by is a book that will make any parent tear up as they are experiencing the baby years or reminiscing about them. The book begins with a newborn baby and every few pages it poses questions about how they baby will experience the world through his/her senses. What will the baby see, hear, smell and touch. The story continues to unfold as the baby becomes an adult with his own child. The most beautiful part is each of the experiences revolve around making loving connections. I read this book with my six year old and as we read I told him stories about him as a newborn and what types of things he experienced when he was so little. He’s the oldest of three and he misses that special one-on-one time. Reading this book together, just the two of us, was such an amazing moment of connection. The smile didn’t leave his face and the hugs just kept coming. That’s the beauty of books that are as gorgeous as this one, they can serve as connections, reminders and shared experiences. 

Praise for World So Wide

★“While it will certainly touch new parents, Pulitzer honoree McGhee’s text and Alizadeh’s tender pictures will delight readers of all ages.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Breezy illustrations are pleasingly attuned to the author’s spontaneous verse as both reveal the marvel—and regeneration—of human life.” —Publishers Weekly

“Smudgily outlined illustrations bring a soft but bright energy to the author’s tender text. Pleasant and sentimental ponderings for new parents and children.” —Kirkus Reviews

About the Author and Illustrator

Alison McGhee is the author of many highly acclaimed works. Her children’s books include the #1 New York Times bestseller Someday, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds; the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award–winning Bink & Gollie, cowritten with Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Tony Fucile; and the Christopher Award–winning Firefly Hollow, illustrated by Christopher Denise. Her novels for adults include Pulitzer Prize nominee Shadow Baby and Never Coming Back. She lives in Minnesota, Vermont, and California. Learn more at www.alisonmcghee.com.Twitter: @alisonmcgheeInstagram: alisonmcgheewriter 

Kate Alizadeh is the author-illustrator of Quiet and the illustrator of That Is Actually MY Blanket, Baby! by Angie Morgan. Her distinctive hand lettering appears on the covers of Unboxed and Second Best Friend by Non Pratt, and her black-and-white illustrations are featured in Proud: Stories, Poetry and Art on the Theme of Pride, compiled by Juno Dawson. A graduate of Falmouth University, she is currently based in Northern Ireland. Learn more at www.katealizadeh.net. Twitter: @katealizadeh Instagram: katealizadeh

GIVEAWAY!

One lucky winner will receive a copy of World So Wide, courtesy of Two Lions. (U.S. addresses only please) Leave a comment below for an extra entry and be sure to visit us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more entries! Giveaway ends 3.9.20 at 11pm CST.

We Could Be Heroes and a GIVEAWAY!

Happy book birthday We Could Be Heroes by Margaret Finnegan! This book was a sweet and heartfelt read. You’ll fall in love with Hank, Maisie, Booler the dog and the parents of the two children are just as thoughtful and caring as the main characters. The story starts with Hank setting fire to a book his teacher is reading about the Nazis. He’s a sensitive and empathetic kid who takes the story to heart. Reading the book has made him so upset and he has decided he’s had enough of feeling upset when they read the book in class. He meets new-girl, Maisie and she notices he’s all wet from the fire alarm sprinkler. At first he feels uncomfortable with her but as they get to know each other a little bit he starts to cherish the time they spend together. They have a shared mission to save Booler, the dog with seizures who they feel isn’t being taken are of. It’s a wonderful story of the realities of friendship: the ups and downs, the connections, the love and the idea that “different isn’t less”. With characters who have differences it’s a wonderful story for middle grade children as both a “window and a mirror” for readers, a term coined by Dr. Sims Bishop.

About the Author

Margaret Finnegan’s work has appeared in FamilyFun, the Los Angeles Times, Salon, and other publications. She lives in South Pasadena, California, where she enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog, and baking really good chocolate cakes. Connect with her at MargaretFinnegan.com.

Twitter: @FinneganBegin

Instagram: @finneganbegin

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY!

One lucky winner will receive a copy of We Could Be Heroes, courtesy of Atheneum/Simon & Schuster.  (U.S. addresses only please). Please follow and comment on this blog post for one entry and visit Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages for other opportunities to enter. US only. Giveaway ends 2.29.20!

Calling All Scientists! ?Giveaway?

Happy book birthday Dream Big, Little Scientists! 
A goodnight book for all the young scientists in your life! This adorable book explains twelve different branches of science from astronomy to chemistry in a very discreet and early childhood way. Each two page spread shows a child in a bedroom full of objects: a poster of a famous scientist(s) in that branch, quilts, books, art, etc. with clever text explaining the science and saying goodnight. For example, the paleontology page says, “Slumber’s been a part of life since prehistoric days.” The words and illustrations so perfectly tell a little bit about each part of science my boys and I already learned so much together! We also enjoyed reading the last two pages which gives a few sentences about each type of science. Author, Michelle Schaub, created a book trailer and has great extra information about science on her webpage!https://www.michelleschaub.com/dream-big

Giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Dream Big, Little Scientists, courtesy of Charlesbridge Publishing (U.S. addresses only please).To enter: 1. Follow our Blog 2. Leave a comment 3. Visit our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook  
Winner chosen at random when giveaway ends on 2.21.20 at 11pm CST. Giveaway not affiliated with Instagram.
Thank you to Blue Slip Media for sending us a copy to review! All opinions are our own

This Book Is Gray & GIVEAWAY

“This book was GRAYT!” Student A, 2nd grader from my Michigan class!

My students got to hear This Book is Gray for their Classroom Book A Day read aloud. It was a huge hit from start to finish. Before reading picture books, we peak under the book jacket (we call it the “undies”) to see if there is any new details to see. Sure enough, Lindsay has drawn readers a fun surprise. After checking out the undies we look at the endpapers, as those sometimes are part of the story. And yet again, Lindsay has used the beginning end papers to give readers some art language to help you understand the story better. All this fun information and we didn’t even start the story yet!

The book is set through gray’s eyes, why doesn’t he get used? He is important? He doesn’t always have to be a depressing color. As he tries to tell a story using only gray, the other colors show up.

“I liked when all the colors show up and interrupt” Student B says excitedly.

Lindsay weaves in some fun puns that had my kids chuckling when they caught her humor. But my students also realized that their were lessons on kindness and including others to take away from the book.

Thank you Blue Slip Media for having us on the blog tour and for providing the book for review. All opinions are our own.

**GIVEAWAY***Win a copy of this book for being one of our readers! For one entry, follow our blog & comment on this blog post. For additional entries head to our other social media pages. US only. Courtesy of Two Lions.

About the author:

Lindsay Ward is the creator of the Dexter T. Rexter series as well as Brobarians, Rosco vs. the Baby, and The Importance of Being 3. Her book Please Bring Balloons was also made into a play. Lindsay lives in Peninsula, Ohio, with her family. Gray is one of her favorite colors. Learn more about her online at www.lindsaymward.com.Twitter: @lindsaymward

Dog Driven & GIVEAWAY!

Look at that cover! This middle grade novel is just as thrilling as the front cover makes you believe! What a page turner! A book of bravery, determination, grit, perseverance and figuring out that your challenges only make you stronger young readers will be drawn to this story.

Fourteen-year, McKenna is asked by her younger sister, Emma to run her team of sled dogs through a terrifying and dangerous race in order to raise awareness around Stargardt disease. A disease that Emma has had since she was a young child and one that McKenna fears she is developing symptoms for as well. The Great Superior Mail Run is a race complete with terrible ice and wind, freezing temperatures, scary owls and a treacherous trail to deliver mail just like they did way back when. How can McKenna say no now that she is having her own vision challenges as well? However, no one knows McKenna has been having some of the same challenges except her sister because she’s been doing a really good job hiding it from her parents and her friends, which in turn has made her feel more isolated then ever. With a connection to a historical dog sled with a letter at the end of each chapter being sent back and forth in the 1890’s we loved the special story inside the story.

This book was beautifully told and you will inevitably cheer for McKenna and her new musher friends (a term for a person who leads sled dogs in a race) as they struggle to deliver the mail

About the Author:

Terry Lynn Johnson, author of Ice Dogs, Sled Dog School, and the Survivor Diaries series, lives in Whitefish Falls, Ontario where for ten years she owned a team of eighteen Alaskan Huskies. Learn more at terrylynnjohnson.com. Twitter: @TerryLynnJ

Other Reviews:

★ “Like Gary Paulsen’s Winterdance, Johnson shows the deep bonds and trust between musher and dogs . . . .”—Booklist, starred review

★ “A densely plotted, fast-moving, thematically rich tale set at the intersection of ability and disability.”—Kirkus, starred review

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY!

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Dog Driven, courtesy of HMH Books for Young Readers (U.S. addresses only please). Please follow and comment on this blog post for one entry and visit our other social media pages for other opportunities to enter. US only. Giveaway ends 12.5.19!

Santa’s Story & GIVEAWAY

Welcome to our stop on the blog tour for Santa’s Story by Will Hillenbrand. Thank you Blue Slip Media for including us. All opinions are our own.

Santa’s Story is about remembering the traditions we have for our families and how forgetting them can change everything. It is the night before Christmas and Santa is trying to find his reindeer to get ready for the next day. Santa is baffled when the reindeer aren’t anywhere to be found. He begins to think what he might have missed. With some thought, Santa comes to realize he forgot all about their night before Christmas tradition. With everything back on track, the reindeer come back to Santa, engage in their tradition and are ready for Christmas.

I don’t want to spoil what Santa and the reindeer do each year to get ready to deliver presents, but let’s just say, if you are reading this blog, it will put a smile on your face.

I adored the illustrations in this book, I love reading winter stories where the pictures transport you to night or snowfall. This book was no exception!

We’d like to continue to spread the holiday cheer and are offering one lucky reader a copy of SANTA’S STORY, courtesy of Two Lions. Please follow and comment on this blog post for one entry and visit our other social media pages for other opportunities to enter. US only. Giveaway ends Tuesday 12/3/19