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Posts Tagged ‘children’s book’

The Tree Watcher ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: March 23, 2016 in Children's books, giveaways, reviews
Tags: Author Christopher P. Stanley, children's book, giveaway, review, The Tree Watcher

I have a lovely little story to share with you today.

Please enjoy the authors guest post.

Check out my review.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

~~~~

Author Christopher P. Stanley is here to tell us about the inspiration behind his book and about the images.

Hello!

The inspiration behind my book was a walk that I took with my infant son a few months ago. It was in mid-summer, and there were many things on my mind. From issues at work, to dealing with simply trying to keep my house clean when four children live there, I felt very distracted and was definitely not being mindful of my many blessings. I decided that I wanted to walk down to the park a mile away from where I live, and I took Sam along so that he could have a change of scenery. As we started walking, I was not really paying attention to my surroundings as I was getting stuck in my thoughts. When we were down the street a bit, I looked down at Sam to see how he was doing – and that’s when everything changed. You should have seen his face. Here was this baby boy, all of 9 months old, teaching me about wonder, joy, and mindfulness. The way he was looking up at the trees, I could see how amazed he was. And he was right! I stopped to look as well, and it was really quite extraordinary. We are fortunate enough to have many mature trees in our neighborhood, and I was overcome with their beauty and just their…dignity. As we continued along, I joined Sam in being mindful of my surroundings, and many of those questions and scenarios from the book happened on this walk. It’s truly amazing what we can experience just by paying attention.

Furthering my inspiration, I have always loved picture books and realized just how much they have to offer the reader. I remember getting The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base when I was about 10 years old, and I was just obsessed! As picture books were such big parts of my life, I always wanted to make my own. I made simple ones as a child, but I really started wanting to make a picture book when I was 26 years old. I had a good idea, and even wrote an outline, but never did anything with it. It really wasn’t until that walk with Sam that “The Muse” spoke to me, as it were, and I decided to actually follow through with my life-long dream of writing children’s books. So it took almost ten years, but I’m happy to report I’m following through. I’ll have another release in a couple of months, and I’ve finally started to work on my original idea from almost a decade ago. What a walk that was, huh?

The images were a lot of fun to create. My artistic medium has always been photography/digital art. For this story, I decided to capture some of the actual trees that Sam and I encountered on our walk. So over the course of a couple of months, I took pictures. Some I had Sam pose in, others I did not. The image from the cover is actually a Beech tree in my front yard! One of my favorite pages, the page with the autumn leaves, is on a street by my eldest daughter’s middle school. I turned down the street and knew right away I needed this picture for the book. So after I took the photos, I started manipulating them on my computer. Some photos took little time and effort, while others I spent a lot of time getting what I wanted. Some pictures worked beautifully while others I had to do a lot of manipulating and creating. It was definitely hard work! Overall, it took about 4 months to get them all done.

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The Tree Watcher

by Christopher P. Stanley

My Review

I’ve always loved trees. Loved to lie on the ground and peer up through the branches. Hear the leaves rustle in the wind. And even loved rolling in them when the trees shed their leaves for the winter.

Do you remember doing that? Do you remember being buried in a pile of leaves, breathing their earthy scent? I do to this day.

This book is like taking a walk into the past. To those younger years when everything seemed so large and miraculous.

The delightfully colorful illustrations in the story burst from the pages. It makes me want to get out some watercolors and do some painting.

One of the first things I painted with water colors was a tree. Loved drawing the sturdy trunk, adding the branches, and the smaller limbs. Then came the leaves. All shapes and sizes.

Come take a walk with Christopher and Samuel. Next time you’re outside, stop and look at the trees. See their strength and beauty.

While this picture book is intended for early readers, I’d recommend it to all ages. The beautiful illustrations and story fill you with a sense of wonder.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

This story draws inspiration from the author taking his son, Samuel, on a walk to the park. He noticed how amazed Samuel was at everything there was to see – especially the trees that towered above him. With artwork depicting these trees that forged such awe in young Samuel’s eyes, “The Tree Watcher” takes the reader along on this wonder-inducing walk.

AMAZON

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Author Christopher P. Stanley

Christopher P. Stanley

Christopher P. Stanley grew up in Grove City, OH and had a childhood that centered around imagination, play, and exploring the outdoors (mixed in with a healthy amount of Nintendo). A large part of his, perhaps over-active, imagination is owed to books – “Where the Wild Things Are”, “Vinegar Pancakes and Vanishing Cream”, and “every single Dr. Seuss book” made up just a small sampling of the children’s books that filled him with wonder – and continue to do so to this very day!

Christopher graduated from Ohio Dominican University with a degree in Education, and has been an educator for the past 10 years in both the K-12 and Higher Education settings. He currently lives in Upper Arlington, OH with his wife, Morgan, and their four children – Rylee, Olivia, Lylah, and Samuel – who remind him every day of the magic that is childhood.

Christopher is an author and co-founder of Jump Splash Books, and he aims to highlight imagination and celebrate the joy of childhood through his stories. He co-founded Jump Splash with his childhood friend and artist Alex LeVasseur, and the name of the company encapsulates their vision – through imagination and wonder, we can find joy; even in something as simple as jumping in a puddle.

Amazon / Website / Twitter / Facebook

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have one print copy to giveaway.

Giveaway is open Internationally, so all are welcome.

To enter, please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win , and answer this question:

“Where’s your favorite place to take a walk?”

Giveaway ends April 4th.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

This Little President by Joan Holub ~ Book Blast and Giveaway

Posted: January 14, 2016 in Book Blast, Children's books, giveaways
Tags: A Presidential Primer, Author Joan Holub, children's book, giveaway, This Little President

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the newly-released board book, “This Little President: A Presidential Primer” by Joan Holub and Daniel Roode.

About The Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million

Goodreads | Indiebound | iBook | Kobo

Book Description:

A board book primer on presidents

Learn about the US presidents with this bright and playful board book! Highlighting ten of the most memorable presidents—and featuring all forty-four on the last page—parents and little leaders-in-training alike will love sharing this fun primer full of age-appropriate facts, leadership skills, and White House history.

Leading our country.
Helping you and me.
Keeping all fifty states
safe, happy, and free.

Little presidents have a great big job.

See more at Little Simon

Sneak Peek

About Author Joan Holub

Joan Holub is the author of 140+ books for children including the Mini Myths series of 8 board books: Be Careful, Icarus!, Brush Your Hair, Medusa!, Make A Wish Midas! Joan also authored the acclaimed picture books Little Red Writing, The Knights Before Christmas, and Mighty Dads, a New York Times bestseller. Joan also co-authors (with Suzanne Williams) three series: Goddess Girls (ages 8-12, Greek mythology with a middle school twist), Grimmtastic Girls (for ages 8-12, fairy tale adventure with a middle school twist), and Heroes in Training (ages 6-11, Greek mythology adventure chapter books).

Author Blog | Twitter | Pinterest

Goodreads | Facebook

Book Blast Giveaway

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner’s choice

Giveaway ends: January 26, 11:59 pm, 2016

Open to: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Joan Holub and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Things From Other Worlds by Anne E. Johnson

Posted: December 14, 2015 in Book Blast, Children's books, Science Fiction
Tags: Author Anne E. Johnson, children's book, fiction, science, Things From Other Worlds

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Things from Other Worlds
AUTHOR – Anne E. Johnson
GENRE – Children’s literature / science fiction
PUBLICATION DATE – October, 2015
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 84 pages
PUBLISHER – Anne E. Johnson
COVER ARTIST – James for GoOnWrite.com

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Many strange things wait inside these pages. There’s a fuzzy ball of kindness, camped out on a grumpy man’s porch. A chewed piece of gum with a mind of its own. A smart Alec who actually stands in line twice when they’re handing out brains. A girl who isn’t afraid when all the plants in her neighborhood come to life.

This collection of 15 science fiction and fantasy stories for kids by award-winning author Anne E. Johnson is perfect for ages 8-12, or anyone with a child’s heart.

EXCERPT

THE CRUSTY-HEARTED MAN
(Excerpt from Story No. 15 in Things from Other Worlds)

Outside our town, a few miles from where Jimbo’s gas station used to be, an old man lived all by himself. Everybody knew he was there, but nobody actually knew him. He’d show up a few times a year to buy canned goods at Ruth & Bobby’s, but that was it. Not a soul, not even the oldest soul in
town, could remember a time when that man hadn’t been around. He must have been two hundred years old. Some said more like three hundred.

Truth was, he’d been out of touch with people for so long that nobody could remember his name.

He couldn’t even remember his own name. Folks said that a crust had grown over his heart.

The heart’s a funny organ, though. It’s tougher than you’d think, and can survive through pretty much anything. It’s like a tulip bulb. No matter how icy and long the winter is, that little bulb stays alive under the frozen ground until it’s time to shoot up a new sprout, green and full of life.

But for some especially frosty people, there’s rarely enough sunshine to wake up their hearts. It takes something spectacular, maybe even something from another world. I’ll tell you what happened to this old, old man, and you’ll see what I mean.

Nobody wanted to have anything to do with him. Flies and grubs and spiders occasionally tiptoed into the walls of his house, but most were never heard from again. The younger raccoons and rabbits only touched his front stoop on a dare because their parents warned them not to.

“Get away!” the old man would scream hoarsely while shaking a frying pan above his head.

Every living creature, from human on down to bedbug, knew enough to keep off the old man’s property. But that knowledge had not been broadcast across space. So, when an alien landed in a clearing in the woods one late winter afternoon, it didn’t realize what it was up against. It was scared and a little woozy after a rough landing, although it wasn’t afraid. It had been brought up to assume that all beings will do right by each other when given the chance. Poor little thing.

I bet you think an alien is a spindly sort that looks like it’s made of green plastic. Well, not this one. It was furry. Oh, so furry. Picture fur as thick as a polar bear’s and as soft as a mink’s. Now double how thick and soft it is. Now color it blue-green. This deep, soft, dark fur was all over its body, which was short and wide. The alien, standing, came up just past your knees, but was too wide to get your arms around.

It had two giant tangerine-orange toenails on each of its four feet. Its eyes, too, were the color of tangerines, but twice as big. They were very close together in its head, and surrounded by fur, giving it a very intense look. Your average human would probably describe this alien as “the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” and make a sound that went something like “Awwww.”

Well, this little alien was in need of shelter and food. It didn’t know the plants and animals of our planet, so it shuffled right by some perfectly edible berries and nuts. But it recognized a building when it saw one. And so it approached the old man’s house in the middle of the woods, with hope in its heart but nothing in its belly.

“MMMnnnyonggg,” it called out from the yard. Nothing stirred in the house, but several woodchucks and foxes gathered to watch from a safe distance. The alien trundled up the front steps. Once it caught its fur on the rotting wood, but freed itself like a real trooper.
Inside the house, the old man heard a nasal howl.

“MMMnnnyonggg!”

He assumed it was a wolf or an injured bear. “Durn thing’s up on the porch,” said the crusty-hearted man as he pulled his frying pan down from its nail. “I’ll teach ʼem whose house this is.”

The old man shoved the front door open so hard it smacked against the rotten siding. A few shingles crumbled and fell. The woodland creatures watching the show skittered deeper into the shadows, fearing what would come next.

But the alien didn’t move. It didn’t know it was supposed to be afraid of the sound of wood smacking wood, or the sight of a two-legged earthling holding a round metal object. It assumed this was either a way to say “hello,” or else a communication device telling the whole planet about its arrival. Those were the only options that made sense to the alien. Widening its eyes and puffing up its fur, it tried to look as friendly as possible.

For his part, the old man was so puzzled that he forgot to swing the pan. “You’re not a bear,” he accused the blue-green furry thing. “You’re sure not a wolf. What are you? Gorilla?”

The alien didn’t know what the word “gorilla” meant, but it enjoyed the sound, so it waddled a little closer to the cool-talking human.

“GGgggrrrrill,” said the alien, trying to fit in.

The old man just snorted and slammed the door, leaving the alien alone on the porch.

AUTHOR BIO

As the author of dozens of published short stories, Anne E. Johnson has won writing prizes for both children’s and adults’ short fiction. Her short fiction for kids has appeared in FrostFire Worlds, Wee Tales, Jack & Jill, Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide, Rainbow Rumpus, and elsewhere. Her stories for adults can be found in Alternate Hilarities, The Future Fire, Liquid Imagination, and SpeckLit. For a complete list of her published stories, please visit AnneEJohnson.com. She also writes science fiction novels, including the humorous Webrid Chronicles series.

To give back to the writing and children’s lit community, Anne is a volunteer story judge at RateYourStory and writes a weekly column called Kid Lit Insider for EatSleepWrite.net.

Anne grew up in Wisconsin but moved to New York City over 20 years ago. She now lives in Brooklyn with her husband, playwright Ken Munch.

This Event has been Organized & Hosted by:

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Until the next time….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the Christmas Flamingos below!

A New Children’s Picture Book by Angela Muse ~ The Fox & The Snowman ~ Blast and Giveaway

Posted: November 2, 2015 in Book Blast, Children's books, giveaways
Tags: Author Angela Muse, children's book, giveaway, The Fox & The Snowman

The Fox & The Snowman is a delightful children’s story by Angela Muse. Mother Daughter Book Reviews has coordinated the wonderful Book Blast for this new picture book.

Enjoy my post.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Summary:

This is a story of a lone fox and his journey through a year of changing seasons. He discovers friendship and family in this colorful winter tale.

Also check out Lil Glimmer, The Nutt Family: An Acorny Adventure, The Pig Princess, The Bee Bully, Eager Eaglets: Birds of Play, Cactus Charlie, Suzy Snowflake, Monsters Have Mommies, The Christmas Owl, The Cat Who Lost His Meow, Caterpillar Shoes & Ten Thankful Turkeys by this author.

Grab a copy of the ebook, available for a limited time at the

introductory price of 99 cents! (Reg $2.99)

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

iBooks * Createspace * Goodreads

Author Angela Muse

Angela Muse was born in California to a military family. This meant that she got used to being the “new kid” in school every couple of years. It was hard trying to make new friends, but Angela discovered she had a knack for writing. In high school Angela began writing poetry and song lyrics. Expressing herself through writing seemed very natural. After becoming a Mom in 2003, Angela continued her storytelling to her own children. In 2009 she wrote and published her first rhyming children’s book aimed at toddlers. Since then she has released several more children’s picture books and released her first young adult romance series, The Alpha Girls.

Angela’s husband, Ben Muse writes suspense/thriller books that can also be found on Amazon.

Check out what else she’s working on by visiting www.4eyesbooks.com

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

Prize: One winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card or $100 PayPal cash prize, winner’s choice

Giveaway ends: November 15, 11:59 pm, 2015

Open to: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Angela Muse and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Reimburse The Universe ~ Gorgeous and Enchanting

Posted: October 29, 2015 in Blog Tour, Children's books, reviews
Tags: Author Lisa McDonald, children's book, life lessons, Reimburse The Universe

I couldn’t resist being a part of this tour. These books look spectacular and I really enjoy children’s books.

On Monday, October 26th, I featured Little Boy Gan from Passion-Filled Everland.

As I mentioned, it’s now time for my review of Reimburse The Universe!

Enjoy both reviews of these wonderful books.

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Title: Reimburse the Universe
Author: Lisa McDonald
Publisher: Lisa McDonald
Pages: 36
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

My Review

This book was such a delightful read.

Each message is displayed through wonderful illustrations on glossy pages along with thought provoking insight into how to be true to yourself and reminding you to treat others as you would want to be treated.

Not just for young children, these lessons are ones we should all heed and live by. We are reminded that everyone is important, has feelings, hopes, and dreams. There’s more to life than just another day.

My mother read this book and had this to say, “A gorgeous book. Just what life is. Loved it.”

My son read this book and had this to share, “Simple yet interesting story about not straying from your course and staying true to yourself. Regardless of how you’re born, you’re somebody.”

Three generations loved this book and I’m sure you will too. A great book yo read to kids from the time they can understand. One you’ll want to read to them often.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

In REIMBURSE THE UNIVERSE, a diverse cast of characters continue the theme of people sharing their best selves with the world. The message of this book focuses on giving back to the universe by honoring and respecting ourselves and others and understanding that all human beings are part of a collective whole. Each page in the book offers examples of how individuals can give back to the collective out of appreciation for the many gifts that the universe has provided all of us.

For More Information

Reimburse the Universe is available at Amazon.

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Title: Little Boy Gan From Passion-Filled Everland
Author: Lisa McDonald
Publisher: Lisa McDonald
Pages: 36
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

My Review

Gan is such a wonderful young lad. He’s filled with joy, compassion, wonder, hope, and a strong belief in do unto others.

Each page features Gan and a creature of nature.

I love how the names of the characters begins with the same letter as their being, and this also carries over into their actions and reactions. Here’s a couple of examples:

“Sammy the squirrel scuffled.”

“Terrence the turtle toddled.”

It was such fun to turn each page and see what the author came up with next.

The pages are large and glossy, with brilliant color.

The story is like an interview. The creatures ask Gan a question and he gives them an answer. Each one is a life lesson and they make you stop and ponder. Make you question how you see the world around you. How you can be a better person. How you can share the joy of life with others.

A tale of being all that you can be, and cherishing and sharing life and all that surrounds you.

My mother read this book and said it’s adorable. She loved the fun Q&A aspect, the colorful pictures, and the life lessons it contains.

A book for all ages, I hope you read this and share it with your children.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

McDonald’s first book, LITTLE BOY GAN FROM PASSION-FILLED EVERLAND, tells the story of ten-year-old Gan. Gan is humble and wise with a loving spirit that he shares with the animals he meets in the magical forest where the story takes place. The curious animals watch Gan and observe his kindness and humility. Soon they seek the boy out to learn the secret of his happiness. The old soul gives his new friends advice on humility, passion, compassion, and paying it forward. The impact Gan has on the animals is life changing. The lessons they learn lead to expressions of gratitude for their individual gifts and embolden them to share their passions with the world.

For More Information

Little Boy Gan From Passion-Filled Everland is available at Amazon.

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About Author Lisa McDonald

Lisa McDonald is an author and radio host. Her children’s books, LITTLE BOY GAN FROM PASSION-FILLED EVERLAND and REIMBURSE THE UNIVERSE, take readers, young and old, on journeys with diverse characters that teach lessons of acceptance, understanding, and sharing. Lisa’s radio program, Carpe Diem, promotes personal empowerment and showcases world-renowned authors, speakers, and musicians.

Writing has been a long-time passion for Lisa. “I have been writing since the age of five. I always wrote poetry, short stories, anthologies, essays. My maternal grandmother foresaw me being a writer/author from a very young age and encouraged me to pursue it. As a result of reinventing myself due to a change in personal/familial circumstances, it became clear to me that writing was not meant to be a hobby but rather my vocation.”

Lisa’s third and fourth books, PLANET POME-GRANITE and KISMET TALES FROM HAPPY TRAILS, are forthcoming in late 2015 and early 2016.

For More Information

Visit Lisa McDonald’s website.
Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Twitter.

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Until the next time….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

A Joy To Read! Little Boy Gan from Passion-Filled Everland and Reimburse The Universe

Posted: October 26, 2015 in Blog Tour, Children's books, reviews
Tags: Author Lisa McDonald, children's book, life lessons, Little Boy Gan from Passion-Filled Everland

I couldn’t resist being a part of this tour. These books look spectacular and I really enjoy children’s books.

For today I am featuring Little Boy Gan from Passion-Filled Everland.

Mark your calendar and stop back by on Thursday, October 29th for my feature of Reimburse The Universe!

Title: Little Boy Gan From Passion-Filled Everland
Author: Lisa McDonald
Publisher: Lisa McDonald
Pages: 36
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

My Review

Gan is such a wonderful young lad. He’s filled with joy, compassion, wonder, hope, and a strong belief in do unto others.

Each page features Gan and a creature of nature.

I love how the names of the characters begins with the same letter as their being, and this also carries over into their actions and reactions. Here’s a couple of examples:

“Sammy the squirrel scuffled.”

“Terrence the turtle toddled.”

It was such fun to turn each page and see what the author came up with next.

The pages are large and glossy, with brilliant color.

A tale of being all that you can be, and cherishing and sharing life and all that surrounds you.

My mother read this book and said it’s adorable. She loved the fun Q&A aspect, the colorful pictures, and the life lessons it contains.

A book for all ages, I hope you read this and share it with your children.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

For More Information

Little Boy Gan From Passion-Filled Everland is available at Amazon.

~~~~~

Title: Reimburse the Universe
Author: Lisa McDonald
Publisher: Lisa McDonald
Pages: 36
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

I’ll be posting my review on Thursday, October 29th. Please stop back by!

~~~~~

Synopsis

For More Information

Reimburse the Universe is available at Amazon.

~~~~~

About Author Lisa McDonald

Lisa’s third and fourth books, PLANET POME-GRANITE and KISMET TALES FROM HAPPY TRAILS, are forthcoming in late 2015 and early 2016.

For More Information

Visit Lisa McDonald’s website.
Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Twitter.

~~~~~

Until the next time….

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

A girl with a view ~ Kika the Upside-Down Girl ~ Tour Review and Giveaway

Posted: June 3, 2015 in Blog Tour, Children's books, giveaways, reviews
Tags: Author Jessica Tudoa, children's book, Kika the Upside-Down Girl

Kika the Upside-Down Girl

by Jessica Tudos

My Review

In a world of normal, Kika dares to see it differently, much to the exasperation of her parents. They throw up their arms in frustration, urging Kika to be like the other kids.

The reason for this, Kika is an upside-down girl. Whether reading a book hanging upside-down from a tree, or walking to school on her hands, Kika loves to be upside-down.

Sad that her parents are unhappy, Kika is filled with glee when she discovers a place where she can be herself. A place of flips and handstands, somersaults and swinging.

Now her parents throw up their hands in excitement and Kika’s upside down world is right side up.

The glossy, colorful pages are filled with wonderful illustrations of Kika’s escapades and the story has an important message.

Kids will be encouraged by Kika’s adventure, dare to dream and find their own place in the world.

An exhilarating story for children and parents. I’d encourage you to read this with your child and watch their eyes light up as they see themselves as Kika.

5 Stars

~~~

Description

Kika always seems to accomplish things differently than others and tends to get into trouble for it. She reminds us that choosing to be different is more than okay, and finding others to join in her upside down adventures makes her heart feel huge – especially when it involves somersaults, vaults, flips and kips! Join Kika, a girl who loves living upside down in a right side up world, on her unique journey to a fliptastic world! Kika reminds us that choosing to be different is more than okay, and finding others to join in her upside down adventures feels fliptastic – especially when it involves somersaults, vaults, flips and kips in the Gymnastics Emporium!

Purchase Links:

Amazon Chapters-Indigo Barnes & Noble

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About Author Jessica Tudos

Olympic gymnast turned author, motivational speaker and experiential educator Jessica Tudos (JessicaTudos.com) is on a mission to empower kids, youth and adults to develop the confidence and resiliency required to lead active, healthy and creative lives. In organizations around the world, Jessica empowers audiences through engaging stories, insights & reflections drawn from her upside down life, including her Olympic gymnastics adventures. Jessica is a sought after speaker, facilitator and professor in experiential education, physical literacy, leadership & elite sports.

Connect with Jessica: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow the tour for more fun posts!

June 1 –   Did YOU Hear About the Morgans? – review
June 1 –   Sarah Rehmatullah – review
June 1 –   Library of Clean Reads – review / giveaway
June 1 –   Crossroad Reviews – review
June 2 –   Working Mommy Journal – review / giveaway
June 2 –   Rockin’ Book Reviews – review / guest post / giveaway
June 2 –   Christy’s Cozy Corners – review / guest post / giveaway
June 3 –   fuonlyknew – review / giveaway
June 3 – View From the Birdhouse – review / author interview / giveaway
June 3 –   A Simple Life, really?! – review
June 4 –   Booknerd – review / guest post
June 4 –   Bluerose’s Heart – review / author interview / giveaway
June 4 –   Hello, my name is Alice – review / guest post
June 5 –   One Frugal Girl – review / giveaway
June 5 –   Just One More Chapter – review / author interview / giveaway
June 5 –   A Mama’s Corner of the World – review / giveaway
June 8 –   Create With Joy – review / giveaway
June 8 –   Blooming With Books – review / giveaway
June 8 –   Brooke Blogs – review / guest post / giveaway
June 9 –   Mrs Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews – review / author interview
June 9 –   The Autistic Gamer – review
June 9 –   Deal Sharing Aunt – review / author interview / giveaway
June 10 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – review
June 10 – Bound 4 Escape – review / giveaway
June 10 – Seaside Book Nook – review / giveaway
June 11 – Pinky’s Favorite Reads for Kids – review / guest post
June 11 – 3 Partners in Shopping Nana, Mommy , + Sissy, Too ! – review / giveaway
June 11 – Experiencing Parenthood – review
June 12 – Jessica Cassidy – review / author interview / giveaway
June 12 – Book Loving Hippo – review / giveaway
June 12 – A Bit Bookish – review / giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

So that’s where they went! The Monster That Ate My Socks ~ Review and Giveaway Tour

Posted: February 25, 2015 in Blog Tour, Children's books, giveaways, reviews
Tags: Author AJ Cosmos, children's book, The Monster That Ate My Socks

Have you ever lost your socks? Sure you have. We all have.

Wonder what happened to them? We all do!

Learn what happens when two boys find out where those socks went.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

My Review

His mother has had enough and is threatening to ground him for the summer. What is Max to do? His dirty socks are there when he goes to bed and gone in the morning.

So, in order to avoid a grounding, he sets out bait, dirty socks, and waits to see what shows up that night. And in creeps a little green monster.

Max jumps on it but it squirms away and runs in his closet. His mother comes in, scolding him for still being awake and doesn’t believe his story about the sock eating monster.

The next day at school, Max tells his friend Ryan about the monster. They devise a plan to capture the little green guy and save Max’s summer. The trap works, but then the monster tells his story and they face two choices, help the monster or let him and his family go hungry.

Such a delightful story with vibrant and exciting illustrations, this story is meant to help children with their reading and has some lesson plans at the end of the book. Parents will have fun reading this with their kids, and the young ones will learn some valuable lessons.

I particularly liked the plan the boys come up with for the monster and his family. It was a funny one and I could see kids eyes lighting up and hear their giggles when they read it.

I hear Max and the monsters are in another pickle in the second book and look forward to seeing how they solve that one too.

5 Stars

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Book Synopsis

A young boy, who is about to be grounded for going through so many socks, discovers that a monster has been eating them.

Max is a young boy who is constantly getting in trouble for his socks disappearing. He doesn’t know where they go, but he does know that if he doesn’t do something quickly his mom will ground him for summer. Max soon discovers that a little green monster is sneaking into his room at night and eating his sweaty socks. His mother, of course, doesn’t believe him, so Max calls on his best friend to come for a sleepover to catch the monster.
They devise a trap and capture the monster only to learn that the creature can speak. It hasn’t meant to cause any harm, it’s just trying to feed its family. The monster shows them his home and his three little children and begs the boys not to turn them over to the adults. Adults, he says, want to destroy monsters.

The boys are left in a pickle. Allow the monsters to be and get grounded, or turn the monsters in knowing what will happen to them? Neither idea seems good, so they come up with a new plan!

Author’s Bio

A.J. Cosmo’s stories are crafted to help parents teach their children simple everyday lessons in an easy to understand manner. By artfully marrying beautiful illustrations and language, children are challenged to explore his magical worlds. Written for the transitional reader, A.J.’s stories allow your child to develop and master a new level of reading.
Connect with A.J. Cosmos

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Where to buy the book:

Amazon

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Follow the tour for more fun posts!

Feb 9 – One Frugal Girl – review / giveaway
Feb 9 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – review / author interview / giveaway
Feb 10 – Library of Clean Reads – review / giveaway
Feb 10 – Bookroom Reviews – review / author interview / giveaway
Feb 10 – Hello, my name is Alice – review / author interview
Feb 11 – Book Dilettante – review
Feb 11 – Back Porchervations – review
Feb 12 – Nighttime Reading Center – review / author interview / giveaway
Feb 12 – Book Loving Hippo – review / guest post / giveaway
Feb 13 – Working Mommy Journal – review / giveaway
Feb 16 – Life as Leels – review / author interview / giveaway
Feb 16 – Genuine Jenn – review / giveaway
Feb 17 – Reading Authors – review / giveaway
Feb 17 – Bound 4 Escape – review
Feb 18 – Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks – review
Feb 18 – Deal Sharing Aunt – review
Feb 19 – Walking with Nora – review / giveaway
Feb 19 – Girl With Camera – review / giveaway
Feb 20 – View From the Birdhouse – review / giveaway
Feb 20 – Being Tilly’s Mummy – review / giveaway
Feb 23 – Just One More Chapter – review
Feb 23 – Kincavel Korner – review
Feb 24 – Pinky’s Favorite Reads – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 25 – fuonlyknew – review / giveaway
Feb 26 – Did YOU Hear About the Morgans? – review
Feb 27 – DeDa Studios – review / author interview / giveaway
March 2 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – review / giveaway
March 3 – Life with Katie – review / giveaway
March 4 – 3 Partners in Shopping – review / giveaway
March 6 – I’d Rather Be At the Beach – review / giveaway

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Other books in the series.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Lulupop says…Pants! No Chance! ~ Guest Post, Review and Giveaway

Posted: February 24, 2015 in Blog Tour, Children's books, giveaways, Guest Post, reviews
Tags: Author Susan Lanyi, children's book, Pants! No Chance!

Pants! No Chance! by Susan Lanyi is a fun picture book illustrated by Alexandre Rouillard.

Before we get to my review, I have a Guest Post by the author. She shares a freakish encounter with a masked bandit.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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A Guest Post by Author Susan Lanyi

Sometime around my twentieth birthday my father left me home alone for the weekend, something any teenager would consider a gift of mega proportions. Saturday had been a full day of shopping. Happily, my friends and I stumbled through the front door of my house. The three of us were ready for some much needed relaxation. Instead, what we got was a large dose of excitement.

As we entered the house I noticed that a standing lamp lay flat on the couch. Perplexed, I moved towards the kitchen. There was garbage scattered all over the floor. Warning lights began to go off in my head. Something was terribly wrong. Then I saw it, a carpet of brown fur making elegant brush strokes on our shiny yellow kitchen floor. I admired my cat’s tail for a moment. Then I snapped out of it. In a flash, it occurred to me that we did we not own a cat. Even the more distressing however was when I concluded that this was no cat at all. No, this was one big fat raccoon. The front door seemed painfully far. “GET OUT!” my lips moved but nothing escaped my mouth. Luckily my legs did remember how to work.

Two men arrived with a big cage. Unsure if the beast would go quietly, I wished them luck. After about ten minutes they materialized with my fluffy friend. They explained that he would be set free. Overwhelmed with relief I thanked the animal rescue guys and watched them place the creature in the back of their truck. We said our goodbyes and they drove away.

My friend and I made plans for the evening. Two male friends decided to join us. I regurgitated all the elements of my coon story. When the evening came to an end my post trauma had me feeling nervous about going back into the house alone. The guys were quick to offer their protection services.

My friends went ahead of me. “Hey the lamp is lying on the couch.” One of them said, “Oh, stop being such a joker.” I responded. The other guy backed him up, “No it’s true.”

Was this a horror movie entitled “the night of the living dead rodents”? I was in total disbelief. “How can this be?” I cried out. The guys moved further into the house. “Awwww he’s so cute” one of them muttered. On my kitchen counter between the toaster and the blender lay a baby raccoon.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. I tried animal rescue but it was fruitless. No one was coming to get this raccoon at 2:00A.M. Luckily, the two guys managed to prod the little fur ball out the window with a broom.

In a flash, I grabbed a few items and asked my friend if I could crash at her house. There was no way I was going to risk running into another masked eyed animal on my way to the toilet that night.

It was not easy to return home the next day but I did take some comfort upon my fathers return. If there were any more animals lurking in the shadows, it would be his and his problem alone. Still, I guess the raccoons liked me more than him because they never showed their furry little faces again.

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My Review

Each morning, no matter what outfit her mother suggests she wear, Lulupop stubbornly insists on wearing a dress. It’s always a dress, even when it causes problems or she misses out on some fun stuff.

The pictures are delightful and fill the pages. You’ll see the consequences of Lulupop’s insistence upon wearing a dress in colorful, fun ways.

When her mother finally throws in the towel, Lulupop surprises her and comes up with her own solution. Kids are funny like that.

I see where parents can learn from this. Lulupop is showing her personality. Be patient. Let your child express themselves. My son used to always wear a stocking cap and matching cloth gloves. I have so many pictures of him with toese items on. It makes me smile now, but I remember the frustration when trying to get him to take them off.

Lulupop finally learned yet still kind of had her own way.

A delightful picture book to read aloud with your child. Sure to make you giggle.

5 Stars

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Book Synopsis:

Lulupop rarely puts up a fuss, except when it comes to wearing pants. Dresses, dresses, dresses, is all she will ever wear! With time, a little drama, and no lack of imagination, Lulupop realizes that wearing dresses is not always the best choice.

Author’s Bio:

Susan Lanyi lives in Montreal with her husband, three children and puppy. She is a writer and has previously been published in The Globe and Mail. When Susan is not busy writing or doing “mom stuff” she is shopping for dresses with her daughter….Too bad her daughter only wants to wear pants!

Connect with Susan: Website ~ Twitter

Where to buy the book:

Domnizelles Publications
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Barnes & Nobles

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

Book Blast and Giveaway for Karmack by J. C. Whyte ~ Winner of the Purple Dragonfly Book Award

Posted: August 27, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Book Blast, Children's books, giveaways
Tags: Author J.C. Whyte, bullying, children's book, Karmack

I love sharing children’s books with ya’ll. Who doesn’t remember when they were young, the rush of that new book, opening it up to start the adventure, and getting lost in it. The library was my favorite place to go on the weekend. I’d carefully choose my books and when I got home, I’d rush to my room and spread them all out, close my eyes, select one, and start reading.

Karmack would have been one I brought home.

Summary:

A strange little creature enters the lives of three tough guys at Higgins Elementary. And from that point on, pranks come back like boomerangs, smacking the bullies right in their fifth grade butts!

Sully, the leader of the gang, is the only one who can see this creature, which he names Karmack. Sully learns that the creature’s job is to balance all the bad pranks the bullies have pulled over the years. Karmack warns that if this fails, “dreadful, awful doom” awaits them all.

Sully soon realizes that he must save not only himself but his friends, who have no idea why they keep getting boomeranged by Karmack!

“Karmack” won First Place in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly Writing contest, a national contest for children’s book authors, in the category of chapter books (e-Books).

Purchase the Book

Amazon (US) * Amazon (UK) * Muse It Up Publishing

Barnes and Noble * Omnilit * Bookstrand

The Buzz About the Book

“Karmack is a well-written, middle grade book tackling the difficult topic of bullying from the perspective of the bully. The character development is absolutely brilliant as the reader witnesses the transformation of Sully from an aggressive, angry bully to a positive role model and respected leader among his peers. While the concept of karma is not for everyone, I found myself agreeing with the main message of how our actions have consequences, intended or otherwise. I would recommend this book to middle grade classrooms as a great book to generate discussion around bullying.” ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

“A wonderful story about growing up and treating others with respect, Karmack is well paced, funny, and manages to teach important lessons without coming off preachy.” ~ Jess W., Amazon

“A fun read with important lessons for us all about Karma, and why bullies have more to balance than most people. Great for ages 9 up, child centered, non-preachy, action packed, great classroom read aloud.” ~ Carolyn W., Amazon

“What an AMAZINGLY FUN story! EVERYONE needs to read it! Full of FUN, FANTASY, and FANTASTIC REVENGE on a bully! Fun for ALL ages!” ~ Shauna W., Amazon

“Karmack is a captivating pre-teen fantasy and author J.C. Whyte has created a strong cast of characters that are well developed and quite likable. As the story progresses, the suspense builds to a delightful outcome that is sure to keep readers anticipating Whyte’s next round of literary treasures. We look forward to seeing more from this author.” ~ Literary Classics Book Review, Amazon

About The Author: J.C. Whyte

When J.C. Whyte was eleven, her 6^th grade teacher gave a class assignment to write a poem about a sport. Realizing her classmates would probably choose popular American sports like baseball or football, J.C. decided to write about something different: golf. And to her complete surprise, the teacher found it comical; she was thereby encouraged to keep writing.

Then over summer break, students were told to choose 26 books from a reading list and write a book report on each. J.C. was horrified! She wanted to enjoy her summer, not spend it reading! You see, J.C. was a very slow reader and didn’t much enjoy the experience. Plus, kids back then didn’t have all the fun books to choose from today. But that same teacher who had assigned the sports poem told J.C.’s mother she could write 26 stories instead of reading them. That was absolute genius! Although she didn’t actually write 26 stories (perhaps six?), J.C. submitted one which made her teacher laugh out loud in class. And she got an “A” on her summer reading assignment. J.C. has never forgotten that wise teacher who let her play to her strengths.

So from the age of eleven, J.C. knew she wanted to be a writer. Yet by the time she reached college, she understood that writing stories seldom paid the bills. So she got her degrees in Journalism and Communications Management. Then for many years she channeled her creative energies in the field of Public Relations.

Marriage, kids, and several more degrees and occupations later (including stints as a travel agent and paralegal), J.C. entered law school – mostly for the challenge of writing creative arguments for the court. But while in law school, she became a columnist for the student newsletter, writing humorous pieces on the strange and quirky life of a law student. She was absolutely thrilled when one of these articles was chosen for publication in The National Jurist, a magazine distributed to law students throughout the US.

But after graduating and passing the Bar, J.C. realized within a few years that creative writing was still what made her heart sing. So now, as a grandma, she’s returned to writing. And with publication of her middle grade novel Karmack, she’s come full circle, back to where her writing journey began.

Website | Goodreads

* Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash prize

Contest ends: September 18, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. One winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, J.C. Whyte and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Posts Tagged ‘children’s book’

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the newly-released board book, “This Little President: A Presidential Primer” by Joan Holub and Daniel Roode.

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“Karmack” won First Place in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly Writing contest, a national contest for children’s book authors, in the category of chapter books (e-Books).

Purchase the Book

Amazon (US) * Amazon (UK) * Muse It Up Publishing

Barnes and Noble * Omnilit * Bookstrand

The Buzz About the Book

About The Author: J.C. Whyte

Website | Goodreads

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