We're introducing a new early reader series! This is the first book of the Claude series, first published in the UK and now available for all of us here in the US. You guys, I am so pumped about this series. Claude and his best friend Sir Bobblysock crack me up and I can't wait for you to read these books!
I'm leaving it to the capable hands of my wonderful blogger buddies to properly introduce this book to you in this week's BLOG TOUR!
An adventurous boy defeats an unlikely foe in this story of imagination, reading, and tigers!
Sometimes it's almost impossible to get your big sister to read your favorite book to you. Sometimes you have to go to great lengths even to get her attention! But if you're really creative and use your imagination, you might just get what you want. Take care, though, not to go too far. Once you conjure up a tiger, there's no telling where it might lead...
Product dimensions:9.40 (w) x 10.50 (h) x 0.40 (d)
About Author: Kashmira Sheth is the author of the picture books Monsoon Afternoon and My Dadima Wears a Sari, as well as the award-winning young adult novels Blue Jasmine and Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet. She lives in Wisconsin. You can visit Kashmira Sheth’s website here.
About Illustrator:
A graduate of Art Academy of Cincinnati,Jeffrey Ebbeler has been creating art for children for almost a decade. His books include Snow Day for Mouse, April Fool, Phyllis, and Jingle Bells. He lives in Ohio.
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Ends April 5th, 2013
Winner announced on April 6th, 2013
My Thoughts: A young boy is left under his sister's care for the day and he follows her around trying to get her to read him his favorite book about a tiger. But her answer is always, "later". She is focused on a book of her own and the music she has plugged into her ears. So he tries another tactic. He pulls the earplugs out of her ears and screams, "I'm hungry!". So she fixes him a bowl of soup and goes back to her book and music. Just as he starts to eat the soup lo and behold there is a tiger in his soup. Yep, a growling, stalking, furious tiger! This little boy decided to take on the tiger all by himself. When his sister sees him carrying on like a wild child, she picks up his book and read to him while he ate his soup. Did this take care of the tiger or will he still there somewhere? The author has written a fun, adventurous tale about a young boy's imagination and his attempt to tame a tiger. Imagination is a wonderful tool it makes reading so much more fun. She shows our children how to enjoy a book even if you can't read. The illustrations depicted the story so well that the young boy's imagination created his own take of the story. Then there comes the joy and excitement of reading or having the story read to you. Which is your favorite way to enjoy a picture book? The world of reading and your imagination can take you on adventures to meet new friends and places all over the world and beyond. So pick up a book and have fun! I highly recommend this book. I rated this book 5 out of 5. Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Peachtree Publishers/World of Peachtree for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This is my honest opinion. If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.
These are the magic words to call upon Manner-Man – a superhero who can help control bullies and teach children ways to be considerate of others.
Manner-Man arrives, shouting “To the Rescue”, helping children learn about sharing and warning about not ‘hitting with words.’ He teaches that if someone starts pushing, just shout out “not nice!” Meet the children who form the Manner-Man team and find out how to join!
Manner-Man incorporates messages and characters found within some of Cannon’s earlier books – helping children learn how to cope with bullies and look within themselves for their inner superhero!
This is the fifth rhyming children’s book by this award-winning author whose other bestselling books include Gimme-Jimmy, The Magic Word, Peter and the Whimper-Whineys and Santa’s Birthday Gift.
Former teacher Sherrill S. Cannon has won a dozen awards for her four previous rhyming books and is also the author of six published and internationally performed plays for elementary school children. She has been called “a modern day Dr.Seuss” – GMTA Review.
A former teacher, Sherrill S. Cannon of Great Bend, Pennsylvania, is now retired and travels the country with her husband in an RV, going from coast to coast to visit their children and grandchildren, sharing her books along the way.
Author Sherrill S. Cannon’s children’s books have won her twelve prestigious awards in 2011-12. In the past three years, this award-winning former teacher has had four books and six children’s plays published. Author's website: http://sbpra.com/curejm/ Facebook Fan Page Here Illustrator's website: http://www.Kalpart.com/latestbooksonline.php
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My Thoughts We all like heroes and in this book Manner-Man is definitely my hero. He was created for Rob a young boy that was dealing with another boy that was determined to take things away from others. He had bad manner and was on the verge of becoming a bully. What is wonderful about Manner-Man is you can call on him anytime all you do is raise your hand high and call him because the hero is within you, then say, "I am strong, and my flash is bright, and I will defend you and make things all right." Anyone can do this when they are being bullied or if someone else is being bullied. Teach others about Manner-Man and join his team. In the back of the book there is even a badge for you to wear. This author gets most of her ideas from her grandchildren and her grandson wanted her to write about with a hero. So what does she do, she writes this wonderful tale of overcoming your fears of being bullied and to encourage others to defend those who are being bullied. I recognized several of the characters from her other books in this story. The illustrations depict the story in bold colors and cute characters that will most definitely. I highly recommend this book. I rated this book a 5 out of 5. Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This is my honest opinion.
Alexis discovers one of nature's miracles! Six-year-old Alexis and her parents have just moved from an apartment in the city to a home in the suburbs. While lying in the grass in her new backyard, Alexis is startled by a tiny flash of color darting by, heading for her neighbor's yard. Peeking through a hole in the fence, she sees a wondrous sight. Her new neighbor's backyard is filled with hundreds of beautiful flowers, and there are colorful glass balls hanging from some of the trees. But the most magical sight of all are the tiny, jewel-like birds flashing by, hovering in midair, and even flying backward! This delightfully illustrated book will bring the world of hummingbirds to life as Alexis learns a valuable lesson about what sharing can accomplish.
Evelyn Schwarz loves the outdoors and volunteers as nature center docent at a local regional park in San Diego, California. She enjoys hiking and sharing nature with others. The Anna’s hummingbird is one of her favorites. Illustrator Kitty Quinn is a high school student who plans to attend the San Francisco Academy of Art.
Alexis Johnson has just moved to a new home with her parents. As she sits out in the backyard she noticed something buzz by and over the wooden fence to the neighbors yard. She runs to the fence and peeks through a knot hole and wondrous to her eyes she sees a magical garden bursting with colorful flowers and some kind of glass balls with water in them. Then she sees many tiny birds with wings moving so fast she could not even see the wings and the tiny birds were drinking from the glass balls and hovering. She had never seen a bird hover in place. She ran in the house to get her parents to come and see the magical garden and the tiny hovering birds. She decides they must have a garden just like their neighbors' so she could enjoy the birds whom her parent's informed her were called hummingbirds.
Alexis and her parents visited with their new neighbors to find out what plants and trees they needed to buy so they could have a hummingbird garden. But the neighbor's five year old son got very upset because he was afraid the hummingbirds would leave his garden to go to Alexis' new garden. He cried and cried . Alexis had hoped to be his friend but if it caused the hummingbirds to leave his garden for her new garden he would never want to be her friend. What will she do? Is it possible to share the hummingbirds?
In this story you will learn things about the hummingbird, the plants they like and what goes into the glass balls they enjoy so much. You will feel Alexis' excitement the first time she sees a hummingbird and the beautiful garden. You will also feel the pain of the young boys broken heart at the possibility of the hummingbirds never returning to his garden. The illustrations depict the story so well the colorful artwork will take you to their peaceful hummingbird magical garden.
I highly recommend this book.
I rated this book a 5 out of 5.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author/Bostick Communications for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This is my honest opinion.
A patterned parade of animals comes to life in Stockdale's stunning new book!
Bouncy, alliterative rhyme and gorgeous illustrations introduce readers to a wide range of striped animals. An afterword provides more information about each featured animal and where it lives, and explains the role its stripes play. Readers can test their knowledge of animal stripes with a fun matching game at the end!
Susan Stockdalehas written and illustrated a number of children's picture books, including Stripes of All Types, Bring On the Birds, Fabulous Fishes, and Carry Me. Her books celebrate nature with exuberance and charm and have won awards from the American Library Association, Parents' Choice, and the National Science Teachers Association. Stockdale lives in Maryland and speaks frequently at schools and conferences.
MY THOUGHTS
What animals have stripes? All types of animal and reptiles have stripes. The most familiar is probably the zebra and the skunk. In this book you will learn of many animals with stripes like a poisonous frog, a garter snake, an american badger, wild and domestic cats and more. You will learn why they have stripes, though some have stripes that can't be explained as to why they have them, at all. As you read along in the book the author in a singsong rhyme tells of the places these creatures exist here on our planet Earth. In the back of the book are more details about these creatures and where they live. Then there is an activity titled "STRIPES?" that ask, "Can you find the animals that belong to these stripes?".
I found this to be a fun and entertaining book, a wonderful way to learn about these bold, beautiful and uniquely marked animals. I highly recommend this book to children ages 4-6, parents, grandparents, educators, librarians and caregivers. I rated this book a 5 out of 5. Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Peachtree Publisher for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This is my honest opinion.
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STRIPES OF ALL TYPES
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A PLACE FOR TURTLES
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A PLACE FOR TURTLES
This fact-filled, colorful look at the amazing world of turtles includes a call to action to protect these creatures and their habitats. In simple yet informative language, A Place for Turtles introduces readers to the ways human action or inaction can affect turtle populations. The text provides an intriguing look at turtles, at the ecosystems that support their survival, and at the efforts of some people to save them. At the end of the book, the author offers readers a list of things they can do to help protect turtles in their own communities.
Melissa Stewart earned degrees from Union College and New York University and worked as an editor. She is the author of more than sixty books and lives in Massachusetts. You can visit Melissa Stewart’s website here.
ABOUT ILLUSTRATOR
Higgins Bond received a BFA from the Memphis College of Art and has illustrated many books for children. She lives in Tennessee. You can visit Higgins Bond’s website here.
MY THOUGHTS What can we do to ensure there will always be a place for turtles on this planet? It is up to humans to protect the turtles existence. There are turtles that live in the ocean, in lakes and ponds, then there are those that live in the desert and farmlands. No matter where they live they are always in danger at the hand of humans, whether it is from plastic bags, vegetation planted by humans taking over their nesting grounds or humans making the mistake of taking them out of their habit as pets exposing them to diseases if released back into nature. It is our responsibility to make sure they have a place so they can live and grow. The author definitely did her research on the turtle. When she had all the right material she needed she wrote this book in a way that our children will be encouraged to help the turtle and its habitat so they can live and grow. The illustrations are spot on with the author's writings giving a visual look of the different kinds of turtles and their habitats. I have read some of the author's other books in the A Place For Series with the same enthusiasm as this final book of this series. The series will make a great addition any child's collection of books. Just image them spouting off all the facts they have learned to their friends and family. I highly recommend this book to children ages 6-10, parents, grandparents, educators, librarians and caregivers. I rated this book a 5 out of 5. Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Peachtree Publisher for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This is my honest opinion.
About Book Twins Carlos and Letty Thompson live in a tough neighborhood on the eastside of Oakland, California. Somebody stole their mother's car. The twins and their friends think they know who did it. Will they call the police or take the law into their own hands?
Thompson Twins Call the Cops is the second book of the Everyday Role Model Book Series, a project of Achievement U, Inc. devoted to inspiring students to live the best life they can. In the series, real role models come into the lives of Letty and Carlos Thompson. As the role models share their stories with the twins, they also share their story with the middle grade readers. The stories are designed to engage the reader with an entertaining story while teaching principles of achievement and success as practiced by everyday people who have a successful life.
This book features Lieutenant Sheryl Boykins of the Hayward Police Department.
Lesa Hammond, is the founding President of Achievement U, Inc. and considers herself a catalyst for positive change. She collects the stories of people who have made significant and positive changes in their lives. By retelling those stories embedded in an adventure, she inspires young readers to envision possibilities for success. Lesa holds a bachelors degree in sociology, a masters in human resources development and a PhD in transformative learning and change.
Garrett Croker is a writer working out of the San Francisco Bay Area. He has studied writing at UC Berkeley and received his MFA in creative writing from Mills College, in Oakland, California. He is a co-host of "The Rough Drafters," a podcast on writing, writers, reading, and more. Thompson Twins: Call the Cops is his first book-length publication.
My Thoughts
Twins, Carlos and Letty Thompson are startled awake to the sound of gun fire and police sirens. They cling together with their mother in Letty's room, Letty's room is furthest from the street where the action was taking place. This type of thing is not anything new for the twins or their community.
The next morning on the way to school everyone was talking about what happened when an older boy they use to be friends with kept trying to get their attention but they felt uncomfortable about the guys he was now hanging out with because they made a habit of making the younger kids empty their pockets to take their money or anything else they decide they wanted to keep. They would even make crude remarks to the girls. It made walking past them difficult and scary. Then on the way home from school it was the same problem.
When the twins got home their mother was there, when she normally would have been at work. She explained to the twins that when she went to go to her car that morning her car was gone. It must have been stolen. Right away the kids wanted to blame the boys that harass them on the way to school.
The twins get their friends together and come up with a plan to interrogate the boys about the stolen car without them suspecting they were being recorded. Their friend's grandmother told them this was not a good idea and could put them in danger. She suggested they make a report with the police, which they ended up doing.
At school the next day they had a special guest that came to talk to the class. Someone that would be a good mentor for the children. One of the boys in their class got very upset about the guest. His name was Manuel and he ran with his cousins whom were not a very good influence on him. Also his family was always in trouble with the law. No one wanted to be his friend because they assumed he was just like the rest of his family.
Now that is not fair that they judged him by the rest of his family maybe if he had some friends that could set a good example for him maybe his life would turn out different.
Attention children! The author has written a story with a wonderful lesson about not allowing people, peers, surroundings or situations to control your future. It will inspire you to set goals, find a mentor, finish school and go to college. Y-O-U control your future! Achievement U!
I highly recommend this book to parents, educators, caregivers and most definitely children.
I rated this book a 5 out of 5.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Achievement U, for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is my honest opinion.
Written and illustrated in 1941 by Letitia Fairbanks, the niece of silent film stars Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Mary Pickford, the seemingly traditional children’s book is transformed into a modern-day fairy tale that will captivate child and adult readers alike.
Letitia was inspired to create portraiture for the characters of Princess April Morning-Glory from film stars of the day. John Barrymore, and Letitia's cousin Douglas Fairbanks Jr., provided glamorous inspiration through their then-current films. The Wicked King's (Barrymore) costume was sparked by his role as Louis XV in Irving Thalberg's 1938 Marie Antoinette, while the hairstyle resembles his eponymous role in Archie Mayo's 1931 Svengali. Prince Chivalry was inspired by her cousin's (Fairbanks) sword-fighting role in David O. Selznick's 1937 The Prisoner of Zenda.
Viewed as unconventional when it first debuted – up until then, no one had thought to meld a Disney-like moral tale with a swashbuckling adventure – the story centers on the prescient acknowledgment that we create our destinies by the choices that we make.
The main narrative is focused around the brave and courageous Princess April who must first transcend darkness and evil before she can realize her true potential. Intrigued by the Great World and its sense of adventure, a young Princess April decides to abandon the familiarity of her home in Fairyland and undertake a voyage into the unknown. Once outside the Enchanted Forest, she finds comfort and friendship in the company of various creatures who ensure her safe passage.
But returning home proves more difficult than at first she realized. In order to go back to Fairyland, a friendly wizard informs Princess April that she must first accomplish three good deeds. Can Princess April resist the temptation of darker forces and summon enough courage to continue doing good deeds? And if she dares to hold true to herself, will it someday lead her back home again?
About Letitia Fairbanks
Letitia Fairbanks, the niece of Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Mary Pickford, lived a life guided by artistic passions. In 1939, wanting to commemorate her late uncle, Letitia began work on Princess April Morning-Glory, allowing a creative outlet for combining her lifelong loves: painting, writing, and illustration.
Holding firm to her artistic identify, Letitia gravitated toward portraiture, landscapes, and still-lifes. She was also a biographer, co-authoring Douglas Fairbanks: The Fourth Musketeer, with Ralph Hancock. Her marriage to Hal Smoot in 1966 marked the beginning of a particularly joyful and creative period. Needle points and annual Christmas cards, which featured a painting from the previous year, not to mention her role as a wife, mother, step-mother and grandmother brought her much fulfillment. After a life rich in artistic accomplishment, Letitia passed away in September of 1992.
Kelley Smoot Garrett was born in Dallas, raised in Manhattan and has lived the life of a West Texas wildcatter as well that of an IT professional. At one time or another in her life she’s called places as diverse as Scourie, Scotland; Austin, Abilene and Midland, Texas; Singapore; Paris; and Auckland, New Zealand — home. She is proud to be the daughter of Sue Ashby and Harold Smoot and the step-daughter of Letitia Fairbanks Smoot. She currently lives with her husband Danny Garrett, three cats, and one happy only-dog, Moxie in the Texas Hill Country.
Once Upon a Time the Fairy Queen of Crystal Castle a fairy baby in a shiny pink tulip in the middle of the Enchanted Forest and the Fairy King named her Princess April Morning-Glory.
As Princess April grew into a little girl she became disappointed that her wings were too small for her to fly. She went to Fairy School and learned her lessons well but she was eager to have big fairy wings. So she and Blue Butterfly left the castle and before she knew it she was lost and did not know how to get back to the Enchanted Forest and the Castle.
Princess April had to find Wise Owl but it was dark and she was very tired and scared. Some of the creatures of the forest tried to help her and this made her feel better and was able to continue.
Wise Owl advised her to see the Wizard at the edge of the forest but to beware of the Wicked Queen Misery.
The Wizard told her to go back into the forest and do three good deeds then she would be able to return home. What are good deeds? Who would need her help?
The author wrote and illustrated this fairy tale in 1941 after her Uncle, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., passed away. The story was written from her heart in memory of actors and actresses she dearly loved. It is a darling twist to Fairy Tales with fairies, wizards, witches and magic. The illustrations were classic of the golden age of Hollywood's swashbucklers, chivalry, maidens in distress, and enchanted forest. Bringing it all together to entertain fairy tale lovers of all ages.
They say the book is a treasure and I totally agree. I will always have a special place in my personal library for this book.
I highly recommend this book.
I rated this book a 5 out of 5.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book Tours for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. It is my honest opinion.
