Picture Book Extravaganza

Kojo the Sea Dragon Gets Lost – David Chuka

It is important for children to follow their parents directions. Parents are looking out for the best interest of their children. Kijo is a large, one eyed, double tailed, big toothed sea dragon. His mom and dad told hi to never go to the south side of the Zakari River. He loved playing hide-and-seek with his best friend Kofi the sea turtle. He had only one problem when playing with his friend. He was so large he couldn’t win at hide-and-seek. Kojo decides to find a place to hide so that he can win once and for all.  His decision is one that could put his life and the life of those he loves in danger.  Read this great book that teaches children the importance of listening to their parents and find out what happens to Kojo.

 The Adventures of Two Little Ducklings – K.K.

Enter the world of two little ducklings and the adventures they have.  This

books has five charming stories.  Find out why there is no better place than home, why patience is a virtue, how the person who dares is the one to win, why you should be thankful for what you have, and how the Easter Bunny came to be.  This author has done an excellent job of telling stories with wonderful morals attached to them.  These were stories that I was pleased to share with my grandchildren.  They are so wonderfully written that children, and adults of all ages will enjoy them.

You can follow the author on her Facebook page.

Pop! Pop! Bam! Bam!  - Sally O. Lee

For the first time ever, I found myself having a difficult time reading one of Sally’s books.  Tis book, in its simplest form speaks to children about the toughest topic of all, school shootings. This is a wonderful way to speak to children about these terrible events. I found it difficult because it is such a heart-wrenching topic. Sally has handled this topic in the most delicate way. With school shootings in the news, especially those involving the youngest of children this is a way to calm the fears and discuss the topic when your young children ask those heart-wrenching questions. I highly recommend this book to parents and teachers everywhere.

Katie Did Learn the Five Senses – Betsy Kirbo

Katie Did is a simple picture book that takes the reader through the many ways and activities that we use for our senses. This is not only great for teaching about the five senses to younger children, but a great way to prepare an older child to do some sensory writing.  This is great for a refresher.

We're Going to the Farm – Nancy Streza

This is a great book to share with toddles. There is lots of repetition to keep the youngest child engaged. Another great thing about this book is that it can be sung to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.” This is a fun way to teach children about the farm.

Doodled Doggy – Jason Sandberg

I had read this book shortly after it was sent to me.  I thought I had reviewed it and came across the review in an old notebook yesterday.  For that I apologize to the author and my readers.  Jason Sandberg is a Fine Artist who not only creates wonderful art but writes wonderful children’s stories. I was first introduced to him when I reviewed his book Candy and the Cankersaur.  The Doodled doggy is the story of what happens when a doodle comes to life.  The illustrator doodles a crazy looking dog on his paper that comes to life.  When he tries to erase it the dog tells him to chase him.  He draws mitts, nets, mazes and many other things to try to stop the doggy.  Want to know what worked?  Read this wonderful book to find out.  My grandson loved having me read this book to him.  More than the story, he loved the pictures and laughed at how the dog escaped the eraser.  His constant remark was “the doggy’s funny”.  I am always on the lookout for wonderful books for my grandchildren.  For we need great books for the younger age to create future readers.  Jason’s books do just that . I will be reading his book The New Crown soon.  He has another one coming out soon that looks equally wonderful.  It is called Baby Julia Feeds the Moon.

You can find Jason, and his artwork at the following places:

Website

Pinterest

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

You can find his e-books at these places

Amazon        Kobo        iTunes        Barnes and Noble

Cover Reveal: A Grimm Legacy

Summary

Enchanted castles and charming princes thought to exist only in stories come to life in this classically twisted fairy tale that combines the timeless quality of generations old folktales with the challenges of the modern world.

The woods of Elorium appear ordinary to Andi Grace, until birds start talking and elves answer doors. Along with three others, Andi has been whisked out of her world and finds herself the reluctant guest of the perplexing millionaire, Mr. Jackson—a stranger willing to help get them home, but who’s keeping secrets of his own.

Discovering unexpected family connections to this fairy tale land, the group must rely on each other as they dodge evil fairies and battle giants, intent on keeping them in Elorium. Faced with characters short on whimsy and bent towards treachery, Andi, Quinn, Fredrick and Dylan are forced into fairy tale roles to find the way home. But in Elorium, happily ever after is never guaranteed.

ABOUT JANNA JENNINGS

Janna is a Colorado based YA author who loves a good fairy tale. She’s married to her own real life Prince

Charming, and will usually admit to being mom of three, including her incorrigible middle child, Benny. Besides wrangling her kids she can be found doing some therapeutic baking, dreaming of the ocean, and of course, curling up with a good book.

Twitter: @jannajennings80

Blog: http://www.janna.patchwork-press.com/

Cover Designed by: Erica Crouch (http://erica.patchwork-press.com)

Originally Published by: Patchwork Press, October 29th 2013

Student Saturday: Inside Out & Back Again - Thanhha Lai

Student Reviewer Maria C.

A girl lives in a place where war is starting, that place is Saigon. Her name was Ha. She loves everything in Saigon especially her own Papaya tree in her back yard. The Vietnam War has reached her home and she is forced out of her home. She flees with her family on a boat to the country of American and the state of Alabama. She learns the dullness of their food, the coldness of strangers and the strength of her family. She goes to school where kids make fun of her name, her skin and how her hair is. Her neighbors are kind, and she misses her papaya tree back at home. Her brother gets a job her father does too. When she gets made fun of right after school she will run to her brothers job ad tell him. Then she will go home with him. I will recommend this book to anyone who likes a story about a voyage to a new country. I really like this book.

Voices of the Locusts by Christopher Cloud

Pages: 230

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Amazon

From his deathbed, 81-year-old Jack O’Brien reveals to his grandson the existence of a long-forgotten story he wrote as a teenager years earlier while living in Japan. The 16-year-old grandson finds the story in an old footlocker in his grandfather’s attic, and spends days pouring over the real-life account. Set at a U.S. military base in rural Japan in 1948, and playing out against a backdrop of swirling post-War social change, Jack’s Voices of the Locusts tells the story of three families—one black, one white, one Asian. The story also recounts Jack’s love for a Japanese girl, Fujiko Kobaysi, who has been promised in marriage by her parents to an older man. Told in vivid and sometimes haunting detail, Jack and Fujiko are frustrated in their romantic quest by story characters coming to terms (often violently) with the emotional scars of World War II.

My Thoughts

I wasn’t sure what to think about this book in the beginning.  However, as I got into Jack’s story I was drawn in.  This is not your common coming of age story.  This is a story that takes place after World War II.  Imagine being an American and living in Japan with your military father, after the war.  Jack is a very studious kid who loves learning about all kinds of new things.  He is thrilled to learn so much about Japan.  When he meets Fujiko it is love at first sight.  He learns about prejudice from all sides.  He sees a teacher constantly berating a fellow student because he is the only black student.  He finds that a lot of the adults on both sides have very strong opinions. The most important lesson I think he learned is what sacrifice is.  He finds it coming from the one place he never expected.  This book ended completely different than I thought it would.  I read it in about three hours.  Once I started it I found I couldn’t stop reading. I had to find out what was going to happen to each of the characters.  There is some course language and a rape, so I would not recommend this to anyone under high school age.  But I would recommend it.  I look forward to finding out what else this author has.  The book was well written and the plot flowed smoothly.  I am glad I read this book and look forward to telling others about it.

Mr. Spunky and His Friends by Kelly Preston

Pages: 38
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Source: I received a copy from the publisher. I received no compensation for my review.

From Goodreads:
Mister Spunky and His Friends is the creation of award winning author, Kelly Preston. She has taken the story line from her book, Real Dogs Don't Whisper, placing it in a picture book format for children to enjoy. 

Mister Spunky and His Friends is about the importance of love, friendship; and, helping those with special needs. Follow Mister Spunky along his journey to the beach, where he meets three new friends; teaching him important life lessons along the way. Parents, if you enjoyed Real Dogs Don't Whisper, your children will enjoy this book for them. There are several pages at the end of the story for coloring activities. 

My Thoughts:
I loved this book.  It is the story of a dog who has a great life, and a cool car.  On his way to the beach one day he picks up a dog he sees crying.  He learned the dog is sad because she is bullied. Then they find another dog who is angry because he felt unloved.  Finally they come across a small dog who is blind.  They invite him along and to be their friend.  As I read this book I thought of who I was going to give it to.  My grand children have lots of books I've given them.  This one needed to go to someone special.  My sister is raising one of her grandkids.  At times she has trouble with her because she feels unloved by her mother.  I thought this would be the best book for her.  There are so many lessons to be learned and it is based on the author's real dogs.  This is a book children will really love.

Cover Reveal - ORENDA

Title: Orenda

Author: Ruth Silver

Expected Publication: Spring 2014

Publisher: Patchwork Press

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Cover Design: Erica Crouch

Synopsis:

A sword wielding girl, an eternal suit and an alternate universe.

Lil has a gift, one she never thought possible as she finds herself awake after a strange dream with the tell-tale sign that what she dreamt was in fact real.  The dreamscape, was more than just a premonition it happened.  She’d been momentarily tossed into another dimension.  Where most would consider her crazy, not her best friend Bray.

In another reality, one similar and yet slightly different Willow has been kidnapped by the sorceress turned demon, Eilith.  Rawlie, Willow’s friend and companion crosses to our universe for help and brings Lil into his world.  Filled with frightening creatures and magical elements, Lil demands to go home, until she discovers Bray has been taken by Eilith as well.  Unable to watch her best friend die, she joins forces with Rawlie, Jamie and the others to hunt down Eilith and rescue those they care about.

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18757051-orenda

About the Author:

Ruth Silver attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication in the spring of 2005.  While in college, she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004.  Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories.  Her love of writing led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia.  Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all writing.  She loves dystopian and fantasy young adult stories.  Her debut novel published by Lazy Day Publishing and Patchwork Press, ABERRANT, was released April 2013.  The second novel in the series, MOIRAI, continues the saga. ISAURA, is the final installment in the ABERRANT trilogy. Ruth has been actively writing since she was a teenager.  Her current writing projects include a YA science-fiction fantasy series, ORENDA, and a YA/NA paranormal series, DEAD GIRL WALKING. Both novels are due for release in 2014. She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.

You can visit her online at http://writeawaybliss.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/writeawaybliss

Facebook: http://facebook.com/writeawaybliss

Student Saturday: School of Fear - Gitty daneshvari

Student Reviewer - Kamryn

School of Fear. One of the most terrifying places you could have ever been. Deep, deep fear will lurk inside you if you go there  to face your fears in the most horrific way.

Theo, Garrison, Madeline, and Lulu have the biggest fear of four different things; death, water, bugs and small spaces. Their biggest fears. They need all the help they can get. Everyone believes that only School of Fear can do the trick. This book was a very interesting book not only about how the four recover their fears, but how they save School of Fear. The School of Fear is located at the top of one of the tallest mountains in New England, hidden from anybody that comes their way. Day and night it is invisible to all other living things.

I believe that the School of Fear is one of the most terrifying places to go, but also one of the best places to go. I think this because you can recover your fear in billions and billions of odd ways, but you still do it.

I would definitely recommend this to a teacher so she/he could read it to their students. The reason I would do this is because when I was in fifth grade, my teacher would always have some of the BEST books in the world to read to our class that would make me never want to go to lunch because I didn't want her to stop. And I LOVE food!!! I felt like this book would be  one of those kind of books that you wouldn't want to put down!

I can make a connection to this book because when my two friends were going to a non IB school they thought that I was going to some weird school that made me gifted and special and them normal. I think that an IB school is a well taught school that wants their students to exceed so I didn't listen to them.

This book is very detailed but in the best ways possible! I LOVED this book !!!!!!

Two Great Books For Children

The Four Seasons of Patrick – Susan Hughes

Pages: 96

Genre: Upper Elementary, Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

Source: Review Copy

From Goodreads:

It's the start of winter, and Patrick is beginning to feel crowded out of his own family. His father's friend, Linda, and her seven-year-old daughter, Claire, are coming for dinner again. By the time spring arrives, not only is Patrick's father planning to marry Linda, but she and Claire will be coming to live with them at the summer's end. That just won’t do. So Patrick comes up with a big idea. He'll build a tree house where he can stretch out his arms and breathe. But wait. Will his father allow it? Where will he find the perfect tree? Who will give him a hand with the construction? And, most importantly, will his own tree house really be the hideaway he hopes for, especially from the irritating Claire?

As the autumn season arrives, Patrick discovers some surprising answers to these questions – and learns a little about the meaning of family.

My Thoughts:

This was a wonderful book with a wonderful message. As a teacher I see so many blended families. I hear kids tell me their feelings about such families. In this story we find Patrick, his older brother and their father living together after the death of their mother. Then dad starts dating a woman with a seven year old daughter. This doesn't go over well with Patrick. She gets into his things and kicks him. He sees her as a pest. When dad announces he is going to marry Linda and move her and her daughter Clare in with them Patrick decides to build a treehouse to give him space from this new family. He finds the perfect tree and sets about building it while his dad renovates the house for Clare. After Linda and Clare move in Patrick learns he is not the only one hurting about the situation. You really need to read the book to see how it turns out. I think anyone facing a situation like this needs to read this book to or with their children. It has a discussion guide in the back, but more than that I see it opening the doors of communication.

 The Cow-Pie Chronicles – James L. Butler

Pages: 192

Genre: Upper Elementary, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Humor

Source: Review Copy

From Goodreads:

Ten-year-old Tim Slinger and his nine-year-old sister Dana face danger, excitement, and heartbreak in this story of life on a modern family farm. Though Tim (aka Poop Slinger) and "Devil" Dana engage in intense sibling rivalry that gets them both into hilarious situations with barns, ropes, farm animals, city-kid cousins, and each other, they are soon forced to confront unwanted changes when the farm is lost. As they face an alien world in town, Dana readily adapts to a new way of life while Tim resists, sending the siblings down separate but intersecting paths. Although an unexpected encounter puts Tim back into familiar surroundings, will life ever be the same? This fresh and humorous account of modern rural living brings a unique approach to the time-tested theme of families and communities coming together under challenging circumstances.

My Thoughts:

Growing up on a farm I could relate to so much of this. It brought back fond memories. On a farm you have to use your imagination to play.  I also remember when my city cousins would visit how much fun they had.  I couldn’t wait to spend the night in town with them.  It seemed like there was so much more to do.  I even recall saying I would move to the city when I grew up.  Then like Tim and his family we moved away from the farm.  The difference is we sold our farm to move to Florida.  We had chores just like Time and Dana.  We had accidents that required stitches from doing stupid things or things we weren’t supposed to do.  Dana easily adapts to life in the city as did all of my siblings.  I like Tim had a hard time adjusting and look forward to one day when my husband and I can move back to a rural area. We currently live in the city because my elderly mother lives with us.  She has recently started to reminisce about “the good old days on the farm”.  I think kids who have never lived on or been to a farm will enjoy this and learn a lot.  I also believe that children/adults who grew up on a farm will enjoy and be able to relate to this story.  I, like Tim, can look back on my life and see how living on a farm shaped me and my work ethic.  This is a wonderful book and I look forward to reading so much more by this author, and recommending the book to everyone.

Full Disclosure:  I received a copy of each book in exchange for my honest review.  I received no compensation and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Real Dogs Don’t Whisper by Kelly Preston

Pages: 200

Genre: NonFiction

Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own. I was not compensated in any way.

From Goodreads:

Do you believe in second chances? Real Dogs Don't Whisper book is about second chances and miracles. Special needs dogs teach their human about life and how to believe and live in the moment. Award winning, Real Dogs Don't Whisper is more than a book about dogs - it's a book about life. Named Winner for the 2013 National Indie Excellence Awards, Alex Carroll Radio Publicity Sponsor's Choice. 2013 Silver Award Winner in Readers' Favorite Non Fiction, Animals/Pets category. 2013 Finalist in Readers' Favorite Awards, Animals/Pets category. 2013 Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards, Animals/Pets category. 2013 Finalist in the "Animals/Pets: Narrative Non-Fiction" category by International Book Awards. Real Dogs Don't Whisper is about rescue dogs that were ready to be given up on because they have special needs. It is about how these special four taught their human, Kelly, about life. Real Dogs Don't Whisper: Life Lessons from a Larger than Life Dog! (and his Owner), is the true story of a remarkable family as told in a unique way by both Kelly Preston, the owner of the household, and her spunky, hilarious, nine-year old Lhasa Apso, Mr. MaGoo. Kelly, Mr. MaGoo, Buffy, Carla Mae, and Betty Boop. A girl, her two Lhasa Apsos, one Cocker Spaniel, and one adorable mutt - each with their own challenging set of difficulties to overcome. One puppy has serious neurological disorders. Two were severely abused. All are on a journey of discovery. Together, learning love and patience along the way, they have grown and thrived. And perhaps none so much as the girl.

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful book.  You don’t have to be a dog lover to enjoy this book.  I grew up on a farm much like the author did.  We raised pigs.  We rented out our fields to neighboring farmers. We always had 1-2 dogs and loads of cats.  I was the cat lover in the family and everyone else the dog lovers.  We took in dogs that were dropped off in the country and found their way to our house, or dogs that were given to us because someone had abused them and they needed a good home.  I could identify with the author in so many ways.  There is  a lot of work that goes with taking in pets like this.  There are ups and down. There are times when you are overjoyed by what your dog is doing and then there are times that  are tough to deal with. Kelly has gone above and beyond with her dogs.  She has taken in dogs with a plethora of medical and personality disorders that would prompt others to put them down.

Another reason to read this book is because of the sheer humor found in it.  The book starts out being told by Kelly’s co-writer and dog, Mr. Magoo.  His humor in the way he sees things makes the story flow. The books is peppered with pictures of her dogs throughout the years.  I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read and review this book.  It is one I will definitely cherish and recommend to my friends.