#NetGalley Book Review: Out of the Box by Jemma Westing

This looks like great fun with imaginative projects for kids.

Out of the Box
by Jemma Westing

Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Lexile Measure: 0870 (What's this?)
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: DK Children (April 18, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1465458964
Genre: Children, Crafts
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Twenty-five interactive cardboard model projects that engage kids' creativity and "out of the box" thinking skills through hands-on learning and the application of science-based principles.
Kids can bring old cardboard to life and build recycled creations they can play with, sit in, and wear.
Supporting STEAM education initiatives and the Maker Movement, Out of the Box includes 25 interactive cardboard model projects to inspire kids' creativity through engaged and hands-on learning, and, as the founder of Maker Faire Dale Dougherty says, "to realize with their hands what they can imagine in their minds."
From small-scale gifts to large constructions, author and award-winning paper engineer Jemma Westing uses clear, step-by-step instructions to show kids how to make dinosaurs, masks, race cars, and so much more, and inspirational images encourage them to make their own unique models when they are feeling more confident. The projects utilize only recycled materials, including cardboard rolls and boxes, so all the supplies should be easy to find right at home.
Build something brilliant with Out of the Box. The possibilities are endless!

Review:
This is a fun resource for crafts made from boxes and recycled materials. The book starts with tools that may be needed and techniques for cutting, curling, taping and gluing. It closes with templates for many of the projects.

There are smaller items like tube owls, butterflies, flowers and lizards to larger items like outdoor games such as Ring Toss Challenge and Feed the Monster games. There are Racing Rabbits and an alternate version for Penguin Skate race. There are fun items to wear like helmets, masks and body costumes. There are settings like a play theater, aquariums, castles and a city. Finally, there is a large geodesic den to serve as a clubhouse and an ambitious project to build a recycled racer.

The projects show the difficulty range as easy, medium or hard. Each project ends with an extra tip to try another version or add on. Although I suspect that working with cardboard may not be as easy as this makes it look, this clearly gives a chance to encourage the imagination of young people with crafts, variations and colors! I like that it uses recycled materials. If I was home with children I would give this a try.

Source: NetGalley 2018. This adds to my NetGalley and Alphabet Challenge.

Audiobook Review: The Mysterious Howling, Book 1 by Maryrose Wood

This is a fun and charming story for all ages.

The Mysterious Howling, Book 1
The Incorrigible Children Of Ashton Place
by Maryrose Wood
Read by Katherine Kellgren

Children Ages 8+ • 5.5 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2010
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Children, Fantasy, Growing Up, Middle Grade
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
Narration: 4.5

Newly graduated from England's Swanbourne Academy for Poor Bright Females, prim and very proper Miss Penelope Lumley is hired as a governess for three children living at Ashton Place. The 15-year-old Penny takes it in stride when she discovers the children were raised by wolves and communicate only in barks and growls. Katherine Kellgren's outstanding interpretation sets just the right tone in this clever and amusing tale. Her ability to speak effortlessly with varying British accents—from aristocratic to Cockney—allows listeners to become completely absorbed. Kellgren's reserved Miss Lumley rises to the challenge when the snobbish Lady Ashton insists she must civilize the three orphans before her holiday ball. Kellgren's charming narration will leave listeners howling for the next installment. L.A.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2010]

Review:
Miss Penelope is just 15 years old when she accepts her first governess position. She has just graduated from England's Swanbourne Academy for Poor Bright Females and expects to be prim and proper for her new position. She doesn’t expect to find three feral youngsters who were raised by wolves. Lord Ashton has taken the children on as curious wards. His new, young wife wants nothing to do with the children, except that he insists. Lady Ashton claims the children are incorrigible and is ready to send them away unless Penny can prepare them to behave properly for the holiday ball she will be hosting.

Penny has always worked well with animals and she quickly manages to establish a report with the children, allowing them to choose their own names: Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia. They are bright and fast learners under her kind and imaginative training. The children seem to be ready for the ball but it is hard to anticipate what might happen with mischievous children. Penny becomes alarmed when she hears some of the guests talk about hunting as it sounds like they planned to hunt the wolf children! Things go fairly well with the children even prepared to provide entertainment. Then the snobbish Lady Ashton tries to drown her sorrows and the hired entertainers bring on a threatening situation causing an uproar to ensue.

I was caught into the story right away and enjoyed the light eeriness of it. Penny is a remarkable young lady and I enjoyed her undefeatable attitude and her references to the quotable wisdom of Ms. Swanbourne. The children are precious in their own growly way. This is a delightful and charming story, certainly suitable for young audiences as well as adults. I recommend this to middle graders and adults who enjoy childhood charm.

Audio Notes: Katherine Kellgren does a wonderful job with the narration. The British accents are precisely fitting from lofty to low, and she has fun with the howls and grunts of the children!
This is definitely a fun experience in audio.

Source: SYNC 2013 Download. This qualifies for 2018TBR, Audiobook and Alphabet Challenges.

Audible Book Review: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

This is a charming story.

The One and Only Ivan
By: Katherine Applegate, Patricia Castelao (Illustrator)
Narrated by: Adam Grupper

Length: 3 hrs and 46 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 03-14-13
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Animals, Children
My Rating: 4.50 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he's seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home - and his own art - through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.
©2012 Katherine Applegate (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Review:
Ivan, a silverback gorilla, has lived most of his life in a small, uninspired mall mini circus. Ivan barely remembers his old home and family as those memories bring a poignant sadness. Ivan has a gentle friendship with the other animals and Julia, the young daughter of the mall maintenance man. Ivan and Julia share a love of art although Ivan’s efforts are much less clear than Julia’s. Ivan's other friends are Stella, an elephant with a damaged leg, and Bob, a stray dog who snuck in off the streets of the world and who sleeps on Ivan’s belly. Then the mall owner purchases Ruby, a baby elephant, in hopes of picking up business. But Ruby is untrained and the owner's methods of training makes all the animals unhappy.

As Stella becomes ill from her infected foot, she makes Ivan promise that he will take care of Ruby. Ivan isn’t sure how he can help Ruby and struggles to accomplish a plan once he comes up with one.

Ivan, and the other animals, are lovely characters and the story is charming. I don’t agree with the statement that we evolved from Apes, but other than that, this shares interesting details about apes, particularly silverbacks. It also shares a wonderful message of compassion, caring, friendship and hope. There are painful moments and scenes that made me cringe at the callousness of men. Fortunately, these are overshadowed by the sweet caring shown by Ivan and his friends. The story evokes empathy for the plight of animals taken out of their natural homes to live in cages for human entertainment. This may be written for children but it is a lovely read for adults too.

Audio Notes: Adam Grupper does a wonderful job with the narration. The voices fit and the reading is seamless with no distraction from the story. I recommend this in audio although I note that the kindle and print versions have awesome illustrations.

This was from my Audible library purchased through Kid’s Sale in summer 2017. It qualifies for my Audio Challenge.

Audio Book Review: The Case of the Cursed Dodo by Jake G. Panda

This is a fun story of animals – good for children and adults!
The Case of the Cursed Dodo
By: Jake G. Panda
Narrator: Michael McConnohie, J.W. Terry, Dave Mallow, Molly Brandenburg, Antoinette Attell, Ian Whitcomb, Barbara Watkins, Bobb Lynes

Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 10-03-17
Publisher: Woolly Family Studios
Genre: Animals, Children, Mystery, Noir
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Duration: 2 hrs and 34 mins
This came in just in time for my post tonight.
And I was looking for a lighter audio to listen too.
I received this from the author, Jake!
Publisher's Summary
Listen up. If you're looking for trouble, you've found it. His name's Jake G. Panda and he's a wildlife investigator. This hard-boiled bear works at a flophouse for endangered critters called the Last Resort. He's the hotel snoop. The resident fuzz. It's his job to keep these unusual guests safe and outta harm's way.
This hilarious first installment of The Endangered Files is a wild and woolly mystery involving a missing guest, a green bird, and a bunch of double-crossing critters all hot on the trail of The Cursed Dodo. It's designed to introduce young listeners to the subject of endangered species in a fun and informative way.
So join this tough talking panda detective and a cast of endangered creatures on a globe-trotting audio adventure that will appeal to young and old alike.
©2014 Jake G. Panda (P)2017 Jake G. Panda

Review:
Jake G. Panda is a bold wildlife investigator. He cares about the people/critters he lives with at the Last Resort, a hotel where endangered species gather. Jake is quick to set out to investigate when one of the hotel guests calls in while on exploration and the call is cut off.

Jake races off to foreign lands to rescue the Professor, a rare Hispid hare. Jake soon finds himself and a few friends tricked and captured. A small thing like a cage won’t stop Jake and his cohorts. As they chase down a suitcase with a rare green dodo, Jake comes across old friends, including a very special one from his past.

Other employees at the Last Resort include Rose, an El Hierro giant lizard, Gloria, a Mexican grizzly who works the front desk, and Timmy a Round Island day gecko selling newspapers in the lobby.

The enemy critters include a wild yak, a one-eyed cave salamander, a large slithery, Bimini boa, with his much-abused assistant, the shrew. They are countered by the Endangered Underground. This wildlife resistance who fight against the human intruders, are led by the legendary Diego “the Desert Rascal”, a Mexican prairie dog and Lieutenant Nina, a Tehuantepec jackrabbit.

This is a fun, quick tale that describes endangered species. Jake and critter friends run through several dangerous situations and share some lessons along the way. The presentation of the story is unusual as it is set up like a screen play with ‘fade in’ and ‘fade out’ scenes. Although I found this to be fun, I am not sure how children would follow the scene changes. Also, the detective tone has a noir atmosphere and some of the fun irony will be lost on children. I liked the characters, sass and mystery. I note that the kindle version has images that might be more engaging for children. However, as an adult I thoroughly enjoyed the audio.

Audio Notes: The audio book has a cast of narrators who bring the various characters to life. I found myself smiling and chuckling through the listen. I am glad I had the opportunity to enjoy this.

I received this from the author. It adds to my Audio Challenge.

Book Review: Alycat and the Monday Blues by Alysson Foti Bourque

This is a delightfully fun children’s book!

Alycat and the Monday Blues
by Alysson Foti Bourque

Hardcover: 38 pages
Publisher: Mascot Books (September 12, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-1684012459
Genre: Children, Music, School
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

One Monday morning, Alycat wakes up with the dreaded Monday Blues—she's certain that everything will go wrong. But even when mishaps seem to ruin her day, she finds out that helping a friend can lead to discovering hew own hidden talent and curing the Monday Blues!

Review:
Alycat wakes up dragging one Monday Morning. She doesn’t want to go to school and doesn’t know what talent she can share for the school talent show. Mother encourages her to go to school where she is sure to feel better and find inspiration for her talent.

Alycat has a mishap during the day but it helps her find a talent to share. She makes up words to go with a friend’s instrument and they even bring her father into the group playing another accompanying instrument. The song is fun and I enjoyed singing it to my five-year-old granddaughter. She enjoyed the story and tried to sing the words too by the end.

The book is fully illustrated and shares a good story for children going to school but sometimes experiencing reluctance. The book came with a card with a code that allowed us to access the songs and coloring pages. My granddaughter was quite excited about these too, even though my version of the song wasn’t quite the same as the online song. 😊.

I enjoyed this light read and recommend it for sharing with early school age children.

I received this print book from the auhotr through iRead Book Tours.

SEE THE AUTHOR GUEST POST AND GIVEAWAY POST HERE!

Book Review: Yak and Dove by Kyo Maclear, Illustrator Esme Shapiro

This sweet story, with lovely illustrations, delivers a nice message of friendship.
Yak and Dove
by Kyo Maclear (Author), Esme Shapiro (Illustrator)

Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Hardcover: 56 pages
Publisher: Tundra Books; Ill edition (September 19, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1770494944
Genre: Animals, Children, Friends
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Sometimes the unlikeliest friends form the greatest friendships. A funny, charming picture book from a dynamic duo.
Friends Yak and Dove are complete opposites. Yak is large and Dove is small. Yak has fur and Dove has feathers. Yak is polite. Dove is ill-mannered. Yak likes quiet. Dove likes noise. One day as Yak and Dove list their differences they come to the conclusion that maybe they aren't meant to be friends. In the hope of finding a new best friend, Yak holds auditions. But when a small feathered contestant sings Yak's favorite song, the two begin to think that maybe they are alike after all . . .
Yak and Dove whimsically captures the highs and lows of friendship through the three interconnected tales of two very different friends.

Review:
Yak and Dove are close friends in spite of their many differences. Yak is big, furry and polite. Dove is small, feathered and abrupt to the edge of rudeness. The pair see twins and wonder what it would be like to be so close and connected. Suddenly they are challenging their own friendship and decide they are not well suited as friends after all. Marmot helps Yak audition for new friends but in the end Yak and Dove remember all they share and care about. This portion of the book is fun, the message meaningful and the illustrations are full and lovely.

The book then becomes confusing as it moves to what seemed to me to be unrelated, and disjointed additional stories. At that point it lost my attention as well as the attention of my four year old granddaughter. The book would have been better without the strange jump and could have been shortened which would fit the intended audience even better. I can recommend the first portion of the book but am sorry I was lost on the remainder.

I received the ebook through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley challenge.

Book Review: FIFO 50 STATES by Hayley Rose

This is a charming way to share state information with children.
FIFO 50 STATES
by Hayley Rose
Illustrator: Jessie B. Orlet

Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: Flowered Press (March 15, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0998248347
Genre: Children's Picture Book, Educational
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

In this delightful rhyming story, Fifo, a warm and loveable brown bear, is bitten by the travel bug. Fifo dreams of diging up diamonds in Arkansas, looking for fossils in Kansas, enjoying a delicious bowl of gumbo in Louisiana, and even seeing a Broadway show in New York. Yes, America is an exciting place! Fifo's second book is full of adventure. A colorful reference-like geography book, Fifo discovers the wonders each state has to offer. He learns along the way each state's capital, shape, flag, motto, and much, much more. The possibilities are endless! So, come along with Fifo and you'll soon discover the beauty of America one state to another. A positive experience for both Fifo and the reader. Learning should always be this much fun!

Review:
This is fun and educational for young readers. Each state gets a descriptive page and an illustration that depicts more features of the state. The states are presented alphabetically and each descriptive page provides the number order that the state joined the United States, the capital of the state, the state flower and the state bird. Below the description is the state motto. These elements are pulled into the illustration but additional features are included such as the shape of the state with the capital marked by a star, the state flag and a prominent sight such as surfing for Hawaii and alligator wrestling in Florida. The illustrations are lovely, providing additional tidbits for an adult to learn and to share with a child.

My granddaughter and I began reading together and made it to Illinois where their family now lives. She was especially interested to see Hawaii and Mississippi where they used to live and Florida where P-pop and Grandmom live.

The only thing that made this drag a bit is that each page repeats several phrases for the rhyme. This actually got tiring after about 10 states. I felt those extra three lines could be used to suggest other prime features of each state. Still it is a wonderful learning tool for parents and children to share time together. I have not read any other Fifo books and it was fun to meet this charming bear in his travels.

I received this from the author for Amazon Review Campaign through Pump Up Your Book.

Additional Information:
 Author's Website
Follow at: www.facebook.com/booksbyhayleyrose 

AMAZON * GOODREADS

Audible Book Review: The Quilt by Gary Paulsen

This was lovely and had me in tears by the end.

The Quilt
Written by: Gary Paulsen
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 1 hr and 45 mins
Series: Alida
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-26-13
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Family, Ages 8-10
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A six-year-old boy goes to spend the summer with his grandmother, Alida, in a small Minnesota town. With the men all gone off to fight, the women are left to run the farms. There’s plenty for the boy to do - trying to help with the chores; getting to know the dog and the horses, cows, pigs, and chickens.
But when his cousin Kristina goes into labor, he can’t do a thing. Instead, the house fills with women come to help and to wait, and to work on the quilt together. This is no common, everyday quilt, but one that contains all the stories of the boy’s family. And as they wait, and work, the women share these stories with the boy.
In this spare, affecting novel, ordinary life and ordinary things take on a new meaning, and the bond between a boy and his grandmother shines through.
©2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.; 2005 Gary Paulsen

Review:
Gary Paulsen has painful memories of his mother but some wonderful memories of his grandmother, Alida. He spent summers with Alida and one summer, as a six-year-old boy, was particularly memorable. Alida and young Gary are driven on an old, lumbering truck to cousin Kristina’s home to be with her as she is expecting. The boy learned of all the fun animals on a farm along with all the chores even a young boy can help with. But he learned something even more important about people… about the community of family.

The men are all away at war so the women are about the business of taking care of the farms. Kristina works up to the day she goes into labor. Young Gary tries to figure out what is going on but the kitchen full of women shoo him aside. And when he hears the cries of labor he runs out the door.

But Gary is blessed to be allowed to sit in the circle around the community quilt. There he learns the special history of the quilt as the ladies tell stories of their family members who are no longer there.

The story was simple in its presentation but deeply moving in emotional impact. I had never read Gary Paulsen so I did not pick this up because of the author. I thought it sounded interesting. As it started I wasn’t immediately pulled in but then I began to be interested in the historical elements. Then it moved into the emotional aspects and I was punched in the gut with the beauty of the precious memories shared. This may be written for young people but it is a gem for adults too.

Audio Notes: Susan Ericksen is a wonderful narrator and I recognized her voice immediately as the voice of JD Robb’s In Death series. I had to adjust my listening to her narration of this totally different work. I loved how she does grandmother’s Norwegian accent, adding the extra touch to the narration. I am very glad I got this on audio.

This was from my Audible TBR shelf. (I didn’t note so I don’t know if this was an Audible Daily Deal or a half price purchase.) This qualifies for 2017 Audio Book Challenge, 2017 Mount TBR and “Q” in Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: Ivy in Bloom: The Poetry of Spring... by Vanita Oelschlager

This is a lovely way to share classic poetry with children.
Ivy in Bloom:
The Poetry of Spring from Great Poets and Writers from the Past
by Vanita Oelschlager (Author),
Kristin Blackwood (Illustrator)

Age Range: 5 - 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Vanita Books (April 1, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0980016277
Genre: Children, Poetry
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Ivy In Bloom captures the weariness of a young girl tired of a long winter. ""I stare out the window,"" she says on the first spread of brown and gray, ""looking for birds or flowers / or even warm showers / but I don't see any such thing."" But then Spring comes when ""March is out of breath snow melting to flowery waters and watery flowers spring rose from its wintry rest."" And Ivy's ""heart dances with daffodils."" As these words also dance across each spread, Ivy's world erupts into a riot of color. Ivy In Bloom introduces the poetry of Dickinson, Longfellow, Browning, Wordsworth, Frost and others. Excerpts from their writings, as seen through Ivy's eyes, will open up poetry as a way for children to express their own feelings about the changing of seasons. This book includes longer excerpts and brief bios of each author.

Review:
This lovely story opens with Ivy inside a somber room, frustrated by the gray smudge of winter. She is looking forward to the colors of spring! She goes out on a cold, cloudy March day and sees the signs of winter still around her. She is even anxious for puddles and finally April comes and “Spring arose from its wintry rest.” Ivy's world comes alive with color.

Somehow I thought there would be poems shared with whimsy illustrations. Rather than full poems, and more appropriately for children, there are one or two lines or phrases enhanced with delightful illustrations. The lines are familiar and some I knew the poet. (Several of the poets are mentioned in the blurb.) Thankfully, at the back of the book the poems and poets are shared with the line from Ivy’s world highlighted. This makes the book a fun way to share classic poetry with younger children.

The fully illustrated pages are wonderful – not overly complex but full of energy and fitting to the text. Most of the poetry lines blend smoothly although one or two seemed a bit forced. Still, it is a delightful experience and learning tool. I look forward to sharing this with my granddaughters. I recommend this to others who would like to share the joy of poetry with children.

I think late winter and early spring is a good time to read this.
I received this from NetGalley. This qualifies for my NetGalley and Mount TBR Challenges as well as "I" for Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: The Blue Hour by Isabelle Simler

This is a delightful, visual view of nature.

The Blue Hour
by Isabelle Simler

Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Hardcover: 42 pages
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
(February 20, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-0802854889
Genre: Children, Nature
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

A lovely and tranquil celebration of nature
The sun has set, the day has ended, but the night hasn't quite arrived yet. This magical twilight is known as the blue hour. Everything in nature—sky, water, flowers, birds, foxes—comes together in a symphony of blue to celebrate the merging of night and day.
With its soothing text and radiant artwork, this elegant picture book displays the majesty of nature and reminds readers that beauty is fleeting but also worth savoring.

Review:
The ‘blue hour’ is that twilight time when sun has gone down but the dark of night has not yet arrived. The sky, the water, the fauna, animals and birds shine out softly, in all sorts of glorious blues. The images are beautiful and I really loved how the creatures are located on the final pages in their native countries. The only problem I had was that the text was very small to read, even on my computer. I was glad that my granddaughters were reading with me as the eight-year-old was able to read the story for us.

This is very lovely. I do recommend this as a wonderful, delightful book to share with young… and old.

I received this book through NetGalley. It qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley and Mount TBR Challenges.

Book Review: Kalico Jack by Mike Nahorniak

This is a fun little read with a positive message.

Kalico Jack
by Mike Nahorniak

File Size: 3653 KB
Print Length: 34 pages
Publisher: First Edition Design Publishing (October 6, 2016)
ASIN: B01M8F0RSM
Genre: Children
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Kalico Jack is a little different from the other Jack Rabbits so much so that he is he is constantly ridiculed. As he gets old enough, Kalico Jack decides to embark on a journey to find where he fits in. This adventure takes him across the western part of the United States where he makes many friends and eventually figures out what his special purpose is.

Mike Nahorniak was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He is a self-taught artist who has enjoyed the adventure of living in various locations across the Western half of the United States. Some of his most famous paintings include, "Time," "Where the Antelope Play," and "Montana Moose."
He is retired from the Air Force where he served for 27 years. Mike is married with three children.

Review:

Kalico Jack is a jack rabbit with a difference – his fur is multicolored with orange and black stripes and splotches on white. Add to that two different eye colors and Kalico Jack was repeatedly made fun of by other rabbits. When he gets old enough, Kalico Jack decides to take travel west from his home in Chicago hoping to find a place where he fits in.

The story follows Kalico Jack as he passes through St. Louis and journeys west all the way to the coast Along the way he makes friends with bullfrogs, cows, wolves, various desert creatures, Big Foot and even a Martian (near Area 51 apparently). He checks out several national parks and, as he nears Devil’s Tower, he makes a surprising discovery. He decides he must return to the city to use his newly found skills to help others. That isn't easy and he faces a fearsome enemy. He knows he still has lots to learn, but now he feels he has a purpose.

The story is cute and imaginative, if a bit wacky. The images are beautiful and fun and I am sure that a print version would be a delight for children. There is obviously a message regarding being different and finding a way to accept one’s differences and make them an asset. I enjoyed the story and think it would be a fun read with a young person who likes adventure.

I received this title through NetGalley. This qualifies for 2017 TBR Challenge, NetGalley Challenge and “K” on Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: Reading is for Idjits! by W. W. Rowe

This has great illustrations and a well meaning message; but I have some cautionary concerns.
Reading is for Idjits!
by W. W. Rowe (Author), Charles A Filius (Illustrator)

File Size: 18529 KB
Print Length: 98 pages
Publisher: Charwood Publications (May 26, 2016)
ASIN: B01G87KU0S
Genre: Children
My Rating 3.5 of 5.0

Martin and Morton are identical twins! Which one is which? "Smarty Marty" loves to read. "Morton the Moron" hates it. "Reading is for idjits!" he declares. But Morton's faulty reading gets him into BIG trouble. His entire world falls apart! After a series of humorous disasters, Morton finally learns to read. He even saves the day with his new skill!

Review:
This quick story tells how Morton gets into trouble repeatedly when he misreads signs. The mistakes are funny until they start getting Morton injured. Ultimately his misreading leads to a very dangerous event, at which point his mother punishes him until he learns to read properly.  Finally he learns to love reading too.

I really enjoyed the fun illustrations in this book which are much more creative than the cover might suggest. But the cover did get my attention to look at the rest. 

I had some concerns about calling any child a "moron" as I totally discourage name calling. There are additional negatives, including the "idjit" phrase of course. I am also pretty doubtful that punishing a child to make them read will make them like or enjoy reading. I learned with an oppositional child that it is better to find reward structures than punishing structures.

As humorous as the story is and as cute as the pictures are, the more I thought about reading this with a reluctant reader the more I wondered if it would work. Making reading fun is the goal... and this book does make it fun so it might be worth a try with the right child and an adult to discourage the negatives of name calling.

I received this book through NetGalley. It helped to complete my NetGalley Challenge for 2016.

Book Review: Mrs. White Rabbit by Gilles Bachelet

This is delightful especially for fans of the classic Alice in Wonderland!

Mrs. White Rabbit 

by Gilles Bachelet

Age Range: 6 - 10 years
Grade Level: 1 - 4
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
(February 6, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0802854834
Genre: Children's
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0*

A hilarious twist on a classic tale.
Alice in Wonderland is one of the great classics of children's literature, but what does anyone actually know about Wonderland? Through the diary of the White Rabbit's extremely busy wife, readers finally get to see what happens in the background during Alice's adventures.
Mrs. White Rabbit loves her husband and their many children, but with an invisible housecat from Cheshire and a young female visitor who frequently changes size, living in Wonderland comes with a number of challenges.
With an abundance of wit and charm, Mrs. White Rabbit gives Lewis Carroll's famous tale a refreshingly modern twist.

Review:
As the description notes, this is a view into the diary of the beleaguered wife of the White Rabbit. With five children you can imagine she is very busy and doesn't appreciate the addition of a transparent cat and a young woman who can't control her size.

I thought the story was fun and creative. It could be considered a quick read but that would be such an injustice. You can't just read through quickly because there is so much to see on each page. The illustrations are fabulous, creative and many! As a fan of Alice in Wonderland I had to stop on each page and look at the drawings that relate back to the original classic.

This is set out as a children's book and I don't think that is the best audience. Perhaps if a child has recently read Alice in Wonderland, he or she might get the humor and the irony, especially with the help of an adult to point out the scenes and characters that fill this book.

*I didn't give this a 5 star rating only because I am not sure it is fitted to the target audience. However, it would definitely get my recommendation for any mature or adult enthusiast of the classic Alice in Wonderland.

I received this title as a NetGalley pdf. It adds to my NetGalley Challenge.
(I realized I was a few books short for my NetGalley Challenge so I picked up some children's titles to test for my grandchildren... and to enjoy myself!)

Book Review and Feature: What's In My Pocket and Who Stole My Homework by Todd Key, Illustrated by Steve Ryder

This is a review and feature resulting from a gift by a talented entertainer and author.
Last month we spent a fun weekend at DeSoto Caverns Family Fun Park. Friday and Saturday nights during October they have a special event called Tomb of the Risen Dead. The event included a haunted cavern tour, a haunted maze, costumed characters and a juggling act. The juggler, Todd Key, did a great job and incorporated children, including our grandson, into the act. We got to visit with Todd and after the second night he surprised our granddaughters and grandson by giving them a copy of his books. (And that was before I told him I was a reviewer!)

Our grandchildren with Todd the Juggler.

Our older granddaughter, who is 7,  rushed back to the RV to read her book. She read it to her mother and me. When she finished she read it again... and again. And then asked me to read it to her.
Clearly she loved the book and we found it entertaining too.
What's in My Pocket?
by Todd Key and illustrator Steve Ryder

Paperback
Publisher: Toddkeybooks; 1st edition (2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0615360799
"What's in My Pocket" is the delightful, creative, and funny tale about the simple, strange, and completely BIZARRE items that Darius McDougal McDirty McBean pulls from his pocket before giving his pants to his Mom for washing. It's not a big deal when some coins, a rock, and a magnet come out of his pocket, but when Darius digs deeper he starts impossibly pulling out animals, people, and finally a dinosaur. How will Darius explain all of this to his Mom? Find out by reading this book.


Who Stole My Homework?
by Todd Key and illustrator Steve Ryder
Paperback

Who Stole My Homework? tells a new tale in Darius' life.
The BIG school project is due - the one that counts for half of the semester grade. Darius is riding to school on the bus and discovers his "finished" project is missing! "Someone must have STOLEN IT." But who....?

Review:
These books are written in rhyme which captivates young minds... and older ones too. Darius McDougal McDirty McBean is a young, active boy with an active imagination. His mother wants to wash his jeans and reminds him to empty his pockets. He starts with little things, like coins, a rock and a magnet. But then he progresses to larger and larger items that certainly would not fit in a pocket but make for great fun, giggles and smiles. The wording is perfect level reading for young readers or for parents to read to the younger crowd who haven't started reading yet. And the illustrations are perfectly loud and full of details to discover on  multiple readings.

Book two finds Darius panicking when he can't find his special homework project. He knows he did the work but can't remember where it is.

"My homework was MISSING!
It's gone! It's been took!
But how do I find it?
Where do I look?"
....

"Perhaps it was MOLE-MEN
Digging up through the ground.
They snatched up my work
Without making a sound.

Then they burrowed back down
To the core of the planet,
Engraving my writings
On great walls of granite."

I wish I had the books in front of me so I could share a verse from the first book. Still, you get a flavor from the verses above. If you have young ones at home I recommend these books for fun family reading entertainment.

Thank you Todd for making a special weekend even more fun and memorable. I believe that my grand kids will think of you and the fun time they had whenever they enjoy your fun books.

Todd spins a ball with our two older grandchildren.

Book Review: On the Run (The Elijah Project) by Bill Myers

This includes zany action that should fit great with 9-12 year old readers.
On the Run (The Elijah Project)
by Bill Myers (Author), James Riordan (Contributor)

File Size: 1157 KB
Print Length: 128 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (August 30, 2009)
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing
ASIN: B002SKZBGI
Genre: Children, Christian Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 (based on audience age)

In book one, On the Run, Elijah’s supernatural gifts have drawn the attention of dark forces. Separated from their parents, Zach and Piper (with a lot of help from heaven) must protect their little brother.

Review:
Elijah is a six year old with gifted talents. His teenage brother, Zach, is pretty clueless but his 13 year old sister, Piper, is careful to watch over him. Their parents have had to move several times to protect the family, but especially to protect Elijah. Not only would the public be interested in his abilities but evil people want to use him … or stop him.

Piper has a small crush on one of Zach’s cute friends, Cody. Although she doesn’t think Cody would even know who she is, she learns that he is kinder than his looks would indicate. One of his good friends, Willard, is a young ‘mad scientist/inventor’.

An accident before school brings out Elijah’s talent and puts him in the eyes of the media. Mom and Dad immediately make arrangements to move but they must sneak out of the house to draw away bad guys before the kids come home. The bad guys, a witchy woman, a mindless brute and a skinny, ambitious and evil man, are stumbling but determined.

Zach, Piper and Elijah dodge the bad guys as they head out to find their parents. Cody and Willard show up with the help of some of Willard’s wacky inventions to help the fleeing trio. A mysterious stranger appears unexpectedly just in time to help with a few narrow escapes. During the flight, Zach, Piper and even Elijah, share some Biblical wisdom, learned from their faithful parents.

The story is zany with gruesome, but comical, villains and the fun of Willard’s inventions. I appreciated the clues but thought some of the actions were “duh” or “idiot” moments. However, this is written for an audience age of 9 to 12 and I do think that it would be engaging and fun for that reading level. Not so great for adults unless you really just want some silly antics to enjoy. Also, this book has an open ending as it is just the beginning book in a series that continues with more danger and adventures.

This is another TBR title in my free Kindle library since 2010. It is one of my TBR Pile Challenge books.

Audible Book Review: The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen

This is an interesting classic (the inspiration for Frozen) although I did not find it gripping. 

The Snow Queen
Written by: Hans Christian Andersen
Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Length: 1 hr and 14 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:12-12-14
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Fairy Tale Classic
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Audible's 2014 Narrator of the Year Julia Whelan performs one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved fairy tales, The Snow Queen. This classic tale is a fantastical fable of two dear friends - one of whom goes astray and is literally lost to the north woods, while the other undertakes an epic journey to rescue him. This charming, strange, and wonderful story is a timeless allegory about growing up and the challenges of staying true to one's self, and it served as the wintry inspiration for the blockbuster hit Frozen.
Public Domain (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Review:
This tale is told in seven short stories, or chapters. It begins with two lovely young friends, Gerda and Kai, enjoying roses and snowflakes at the feet of sweet grandmother. A wicked gremlin takes an evil mirror that shatters into a million tiny pieces. Anyone who looks through this mirror sees good as ugly and ugly as good. A tiny piece, no bigger than sand, falls into the eye of Kai and a piece settles into his heart, changing him. He runs off and becomes enthralled and ensnared by the Snow Queen. Gerda sets off to find her friend and faces magical creatures, dangers and adventure along the way.

This story is a classic fairy tale with dark overtones and good winning over evil in the end. I don’t really recall this one from my childhood. It is a sweet story with some dangers posed - one child falls to the dangers while the other struggles through to ultimately rescue her friend.

Having watched Frozen, I can see the basis that led to that tale. The original story has a stronger religious message than the modern take-off, but this production left me with no real excitement. Although I enjoyed this, oddly it didn’t stick with me. I actually had to go back to listen to the last chapter in order to recall the details.
.
I recommend it because it is an easy way to read (listen to) a classic and it is timely to anyone who might watch Frozen with their children/grandchildren.

Audio Notes: Julia Whelan did a good job with the narrating and voices. I think she captured both the sweetness and the dark elements. Unfortunately there was nothing really enthusiastic or gripping in the tale or reading. I don’t know if reading this would have been more enjoyable - I might have had the same reaction. I liked that it is a quick listen of a classic.

This was a free Christmas gift to Audible subscribers in 2014. It adds to my Audio challenge. 

Book Review and Giveaway: Carving Angels by Diane Stringam Tolley

This is a true delight that could become a family Christmas treasure!

Carving Angels
by Diane Stringam Tolley

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (September 8, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1599559447
• ISBN-13: 978-1599559445

Genre: Inspirational Fiction, Children's Story, Christmas
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Papa Adam, the North Pole's oldest elf and Santa's former chief carver, has given up. Blind, frail, and useless, he counts the minutes in every day as he waits to die. But a challenge to carve, given by his youngest granddaughter, reawakens Papa Adam. Together they prove that the most paralyzing thing you can do is underestimate or undervalue anyone, especially yourself. With the right love and encouragement, anything is possible.

This is a delightful Christmas story to read!
Review:
Papa Adams, also known as “Grandpa” to five year old Amy, feels like he is of no use and has no reason left to be alive. He was called the best toy wood carver in Santa’s workshop. Slowly he lost his sight and for ten years he has had nothing to look forward to except the same routine of the day: to eat, hear the work bells whistle and count the hours until sleep time.

One day Amy comes to visit with a small piece of wood. She reminds him that the elves think he is the best carver and her papa says Grandpa doesn’t need his eyes as he can feel the shape in the wood. At first Grandpa says that he cannot carve the piece, but Amy insists that she has seen the figure waiting to come out of the wood.

Grandpa discovers that in fact he can still carve with his skilled hands and with Amy helping by bringing pieces of wood for him to work on. Realizing that Amy has a natural ability to visualize the wood shapes, Grandpa begins to teach her to carve very carefully. They secretly begin making wooden toys.

Grandpa hears noise outside and Amy explains that the elves are having trouble with Santa’s old sleigh as pieces keep falling off. It has become so bad that the normal team of reindeer won’t drive it and there is concern building for Santa’s safety. Grandpa and Amy start a secret project to help solve the problem of the worn out sleigh. Can they finish their project on time and will it be accepted?

This story is an absolute delight to read. I loved the childlike faith and wonder that fills the pages. Amy is able to help her Grandpa realize that age, whether young or old, and other handicaps do not have to be a barrier to being useful. When a person keeps a proper attitude and allows God to use the talents He has provided then God will guide to fulfill the purposes we are given. It was lovely to read of Christian faith and value lessons woven into a very sweet Christmas story.

The story is heartwarming and the reading flows easily. The author's website is titled "The Storyteller" and that is very apt. This would be fine for middle graders to read themselves or it is perfect to read with children...of all ages! I highly recommend this book for one’s own enjoyment or as a special gift to another who might enjoy the wisdom and encouraging message provided.

I received this as a win late 2012 and am glad to have the chance to share it.

I enjoyed this so much I am offering two copies for giveaway - one print for US or an eBook for International. I am keeping my personally autographed copy to share with friends and family. :-)
ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for a copy - Print for US or Kindle or Nook version for International.

ENTRY FORM HERE

Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! 

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.  

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest; OR tell me about another book by this author that you enjoyed; OR comment on the review.

* This contest is open WORLDWIDE - Print to U.S. address; Kindle or Nook to International.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on January 3, 2014.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after January 3, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Blog Tour Spotlight: The Funny Adventures of Little Nani by Cinta Garcia de la Rosa

THE FUNNY ADVENTURES OF LITTLE NANI

Little Nani is a little girl who likes helping people. However, when she helps people the results can be a bit unexpected. Why is that? Little Nani is a witch! Or at least she wants to be a witch. With her magic wand, she will try to cast different spells to help her friends, but she won’t be successful all the time. Follow Little Nani in her funny adventures and meet her extraordinary friends. Funny ostriches, horses that love reading, super-fast turtles, grumpy zombies… Little Nani has lots of friends! You can also draw your own characters! Little Nani is willing to become a good witch. Will she manage to do it? Who knows? Read the stories and discover what happens next!

Buy Link

Add to Goodreads 

ABOUT CINTA GARCIA DE LA ROSA

Cinta Garcia de la Rosa is a Spanish writer who has loved the written word since she discovered she was able to read books at age 5. Since then, she has become a bookworm and reads around 100 books every year. She also writes, every day, compulsively, even in the middle of the night. You cannot control when inspiration hits you, can you? She writes in English because she is convinced that in a previous life she was British, so writing in English feels more natural to her than writing in her native language. Yes, she is crazy like that. Cinta Garcia is the author of “The Funny Adventures of Little Nani”, a collection of short stories for children, and “A Foreigner in London”, a short story published on Smashwords.

Book Review and Download Giveaway: The Jupiter Chronicles by Leonardo Ramirez

This is a fun, fast children's read, complete with steampunk hot air!

The Jupiter Chronicles: The Secret of the Great Red Spot
by Leonardo Ramirez

• File Size: 399 KB
• Print Length: 54 pages
• Publisher: Leonardoverse (August 15, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008Y65J1M

Genre: Children, Fantasy, Steampunk
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: August 15, 2012
It is the year 1892 and Ian and Callie Castillo have had to suffer the hardships of a single parent family since their father went missing five years ago. Since then Ian has refused to use the last gift that his father left the wounded boy; a telescope that sits collecting dust in the attic.
When Callie decides to peer through its murky lens it activates the device and sends the Castillos to the steam-powered floating cities of Jupiter to rescue their father and save the Jovians before the Martians launch their attack.

What follows is the beginning of an era that will forever be known by its strange name…Steampunk.

Review:
Ian is sulking as he prepares to celebrate his 12th birthday five years after his father disappeared. The night of his 7th BD his father gave him a wonderful telescope but by the next morning his father was gone without a trace. Ian has refused to look at the telescope since. Although he bickers with his younger sister, Callie, she tries to cheer him up for his birthday, as does his mother.

Nine year old Callie is a typical younger sister. She loves to write to her “Dear Journal” and she reads taunting entries to aggravate Ian. Having failed to cheer Ian, Callie slips up to the attic to look at the wonderful telescope. Ian hears her and follows. The next thing they know the telescope transforms into a space craft that beckons them. As soon as they sit down they are launched into space.

The ship takes them to Jupiter where they are awed by a Jovian world of giant cities powered by steam.  They are quickly surrounded by metal, geared robots with steam rifles. The Doomslayers identify Ian and Callie as the son and daughter of 'First Petros' and take them to the Martian Emperor, a large, formidable lizard creature.  The children are placed in a cell and meet another metal robot, Francisus Flatulus Ferdinand, who has a steam and hissing problem. The children learn that “Stinky Frank,” as they name him, is a friend of their father and he can help them to find him. Ian and Callie are sent into the arena to battle the Doomslayers. They manage to escape with the help of Stinky Frank and head out to locate special orbs to fight the Martian oppression forces on Jupiter.  Along the way they locate and rescue the First Petros, their father.

This is a story written for elementary age but it was sufficiently entertaining for me too. There is humor suitable for the audience level and the writing is easy reading.  There is plenty of action in the adventure as well as interesting ‘characters’ to make the story move well. This is a good, clean and fun science fiction for kids to enjoy or for parents to enjoy reading with their children. I'm looking forward to sharing this with my 8 year old grandson.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is a description of the Martian leader:

Emperor Phobos was a large lizard with frills on the side of his head that looked like large, spiked fans. He had long fangs and claws that could easily cut through wood like paper. “Yesss, at long lasssst,” the Emperor spoke, in a raspy, reptilian voice.  Location 367.

Callie describes the Book of Worlds to her Journal:

Dear Journal,
The Book of Worlds is not one book. It’s a big round room with a bunch of floating books that make me dizzy. I might throw up on another planet.
Love, Callie
Location 517.

I received this title for honest review and a link for Giveaway from the Author's staff.

I will add this to my New Authors and Steampunk challenge lists.

JUPITER CHRONICLES: STEAMPUNK CHILDREN’S BOOK SERIES 

LAUNCHES THIS SEPTEMBER! 

WHAT: The Jupiter Chronicles Book One: The Secret of The Great Red Spot http://leonardoverse.com/the-jupiter-chronicles  http://www.facebook.com/jupiterchronicles
WHO: Written by Leonardo Ramirez with Cover Art by Poochie Mars, and Weapons-&-Orb Designs by Ronan Hayes.
WHEN: Released On September 15th, 2012.
WHERE: Purchase Online at http://www.amazon.com/The-Jupiter-Chronicles-Secret-Great/dp/0615633331/   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-jupiter-chronicles-leonardo-ramirez/1111580778
WHY: To Share an Ongoing Steampunk, Sci-Fi Adventure Story About Family Love, Sibling Camaraderie, and Friendship, with Early Elementary School Readers (Grades 1 – 3).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Leonardo Ramirez is a writer whose joy first comes from being a husband and a dad and enjoying life with his family. Every Saturday morning is Dad’s turn to make breakfast with bacon, blueberry pancakes and cheese eggs on the menu. There’s nothing better in this world than spending time with family. Then it’s off to karate where he trains and teaches as a 2nd Degree Black Belt along with his family at the American Karate Academy.

Lenny has been writing for 20 years with his first published work released as a graphic novel titled, Haven. With books in hand Lenny made it a point to reach out to as many events as possible with appearances at GMX where he hosted numerous panels including one with James O’Barr (creator of The Crow), Nashville Comic Con, Outer Limits Comics, Fairy Tales Bookstore, Southern Festival of Books and Author’s Circle at the Williamson County Library. He also enjoys meeting with local high schoolers about their passion for creativity and reading for elementary aged kids. His work made one of the top ten best new releases for 2010 by Gelati’s Scoop and has been featured on Comics About Girls…by a Girl Podcast as well as The Columbia Herald, Playstation Comics, Megacomics Weekly, and many others.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for an eBook Download:

ENTRY FORM HERE FOR eBook
 

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website or blog and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open WORLDWIDE.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 2, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 3.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.   

Book Review, Feature and Giveaway: God Loves You. - Chester Blue by Suzanne Anderson

This is a sweet story with a loving message of encouragement.

God Loves You. - Chester Blue

by Suzanne Anderson

• Paperback: 134 pages
• Publisher: Henry and George Press (June 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615654835
• ISBN-13: 978-0615654836

Genre: Inspirational, Children
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: June 24, 2012

What if when you most needed help,  a blue bear appeared with a note from God? One night, Miss Millie of Blossom, Ohio turns her face to the stars and asks God for help. The next day, a package arrives on her doorstep containing a blue teddy bear and a special note.  Over the course of a year, this remarkable blue bear travels across the country, showing up just when he’s needed most.    During his journey, Chester Blue helps a young girl trying to impress her big sisters; saves a sailor caught in a terrible storm; reunites two constantly fighting brothers; helps a cowboy become a rodeo clown; and aids a father and daughter in bonding after divorce.  If you ever needed a message from God, it's here...

Review:

The unique and beautiful blue teddy bear shows up mysteriously on the doorstep of Miss Millie just when she needs encouragement. Miss Millie specializes in teddy bear restoration and history but she was saddened that she might have to close her downtown store due to business getting less and less in her small town of Blossom, Ohio. One night Miss Millie prays out under the bright night stars. The next morning she receives a package in which she discovers a blue bear and a special note: “God Loves You. -Chester Blue.” Miss Millie puts a name tag on “Chester Blue” and decides to send the bear to two young boys who are having some struggles.  She prepares Chester Blue with a small suitcase with blue thread and a needle, and of course his original note.

Chester Blue helps his new owners but they occasionally lose him on their adventures. Each time Chester Blue is lost he is picked up by a person who needs his special message. The message helps with those who need to share, those who are lonely, those who are confused and discouraged. Often the blue thread comes in handy at just the needed moment too.  But most of all each person, adult or child, is encouraged by the message they find in Chester Blue’s suitcase.

Each chapter ends with a very short and encouraging scripture verse which are another lovely addition. I enjoyed this easy story.  It is told primarily in third person although there is one section that is told from Chester’s view. This is a nice light read for an adult to read to a child or for an older child to read.  I think this would also make a great gift to someone who might need the special encouraging message that Chester Blue gives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Example of the encouragement that comes with Chester Blue:

And for the first time since he’d met Chester Blue, Sam felt a genuine sense of hope and happiness....
That was where Sam’s heart already lived. Now Sam finally had the opportunity to follow. Sometimes, things that seemed bad could turn into good, thought Sam.  Page 88.

Thank you to the author for providing this book to Review with BookBlast event. See the next post for more info and Giveaway.

God Loves You. - Chester Blue by Suzanne Anderson

Meet Author Suzanne Anderson

I was born in Fort Lauderdale, attended the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship for swimming and then worked on Wall Street. I left the bright lights of the big city fifteen years ago and traveled the world. I now live in the mountains of Colorado, where I pursue my dream of writing novels.

LINKS:

Website: http://www.suzanneanderson.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Anderson-Author-Page/201662786512944

Twitter: https://twitter.com/seakiev

http://bookblastpromotions.blogspot.com/

Giveaway Details:

$50 Amazon Gift Card

Ends 9/11/12

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.