Wednesday, June 26, 2013

The Classroom: Student Council Smackdown, Guest Post & Giveaway


Hello! I'm thrilled to be introduce you guys to Robin Mellon's characters from her newest MG release, The Classroom: Student Council Smackdown. After you read more about Trevor, Cindy and Libby, see how you can enter to win a copy of their story. 



Meet Trevor Jones!

Here are some fun facts about Trevor:

* Able to put aside his normal worries about things such as peanut butter and mopped floors, Trevor mostly enjoys his new popular status!
* He owes his new-found level of popularity to The Orange Soda Incident of Several Days Ago (be careful who you ask about this)
* Year after year, Trevor has served as Libby Gardner's campaign manager (ask Libby about the Horrifying Incident of the Sixth Grade Student Council Campaign)


Meet Libby Gardner!

Here are some fun facts about Libby:

* Libby has competed with Cindy Applegate for Class President since Fourth Grade
* Libby based her entire sixth grade campaign on dry-erase markers (she lost to Cindy that year!)
* Libby eats ranch dressing when she is nervous


Meet Cindy Applegate!

Here are some fun facts about Cindy:

* Cindy is the Official School Gossip
* Cindy hews Hubba Bubba Strawberry Watermelon
* Cindy’s Favorite Sport: finding uses for glitter

Read all about how Travis ends up on the ballot for 7th Grade Class President, Libby’s quest to win the office, and Cindy’s fabulous Team Cindy! campaign headquarters (complete with a chandelier!) --- in The Classroom: Student Council Smackdown! by Robin Mellom, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin.

About The Classroom: Student Council Smackdown!

Libby Gardner and Cindy Applegate are smile-without-teeth friends, but they are fierce rivals when it comes to politics. Cindy owned the student council elections in fourth and sixth grades, while Libby came out on top in fifth. Now, they both hunger for the prestigious title of seventh grade class president.

But middle school elections have their own rules...and pressures. When Trevor Jones is forced to join the presidential race, he devises a plan to make sure his best friend Libby wins. That all changes when he discovers that Libby has oh-so-sneakily gone behind his back by hiring Molly Decker to be her campaign manager. Now, he's in it to win it. And things are going to get ugly.


Join Trevor, Libby, Cindy, and the whole Westside contingency (along with the documentary film crew) as they explore the ugly underbelly of middle school politics.



You can also find out more about Robin and her Classroom novels at RobinMellom.com. Click here to watch a trailer of the first novel, The Classroom: The Epic Documentary of a Not-Yet-Epic Kid. You can find Robin on Facebook and Twitter @robinmellom.

The Giveaway:
To enter to win a copy of Robin's newest release (out yesterday), leave me a comment and tell me who you'd vote for. 
- US only
- Under 13 yrs of age is required to have a parent/guardian's permission before entering.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Zoe's Room: No Sisters Allowed by Bethanie Deeney Murguia, Book Review & Giveaway

By: Bethanie Deeney Murguia
Published by: Scholastic
Released on: May 28th, 2013
Ages: 3-5
Source: book from publisher to review
4 Owlets: We Really Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads

Zoe rules as Queen of the Universe -- or at least, her room! -- in this sweet, funny companion to Zoe Gets Ready.

Zoe is the Queen of the whole Universe ... but her favorite place in the Universe is her own room, where she hosts tea parties, builds empires out of blocks, and gazes out upon the stars.

Then her parents announce that her little sister Addie is moving in to Zoe's room. Little sisters aren't good at tea parties (too rude), block-building (too clumsy), and starwatching (just plain too young!). So the Queen's new roommate is a royal pain . . . until Zoe discovers that even her smallest subjects can be useful in a storm!

Zoe's Room: No Sisters Allowed is a cute story the captures the struggles and fun of sharing a room. Zoe is kid who loves her space. At night after her lights are out she quietly gets out of bed to play pretend. She sets up for tomorrow's tea party, gazes at the stars, builds things and enjoys having a place all to herself, but things change when Zoe's parents move her baby sitter into her room. Not only does she not want to share her room, spaces in her room where she played at are now ruined to make room for her baby sister.

If you've ever had to share a room with a younger sibling you'll know it's both a struggle, and can also be a lot of fun. Bethanie captures both the struggles Zoe learns to cope with and the heart warming moments that come from sharing a room with little sister. It's a cute story with fun illustrations. This was a story my little girl loved having read to her. If you're a fan of Zoe, check out her Zoe Gets Ready book. That's become a favorite in our house.

Find out more
Visit the Official Site
Watch the Book Trailer

About the Author 
Bethanie Deeney Murguia earned an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts. Bethanie lives with her family and her fifty pound lap dog, Disco, in Sausalito, CA. She is the creator of Zoe Gets Ready and Buglette, the Messy Sleeper.

The Giveaway
Thank you to Big Hancho Media and Scholastic, I've got a copy of both Zoe's Room and Zoe Gets Ready to giveaway! To enter, please fill out the form below.

*sorry about the technical difficulties*

TO ENTER, please leave me a comment, along with your email address to enter.
- US residents only
- 13 yrs & older (if under, an adult/guardian's permission is required before entering)

Monday, June 24, 2013

Blog Tour: MACMILLAN KIDS'S SCHOOLIES / Giveaway


Who's ready for Summer?! One of the things my kids love during the summer time is fun educational activities. I know, that might seem weird. Don't get me wrong, they love their out door play, and other activities as well, but since they were little I've always done "school" time with them for a bit each week day morning during summer. Macmillan's newest line called SCHOOLIES is something I wish I had when my kiddos were younger. Check out everything you can get (see picture above). This set is perfect for kiddos ages 3 & up.

Here's a little bit about the set
Preschoolers will love to meet the colorful and unique cast of Schoolies characters, created by artist and designer Ellen Crimi-Trent and published in Priddy Books’ signature early learning formats.

Books include:
My School DayFrom waking up to favorite lessons to the bus ride home, kids will love learning to tell time as they spend a day with the Schoolies. Includes a play clock with moveable hands so young readers can turn to the right time as the Schoolies enjoy their day.
School House – Fold-out pages create four scenes in and around the Schoolies school house. Includes press-out play characters and accessories, plus sticker sheets.
Let’s Get Ready For School – Early learning book with wipe-clean pages so that all of the activities can be repeated, reinforcing learning.
Making Friends and My First Day of School Storybooks – Two reassuring and positive stories about overcoming shyness and being nervous to start school. Books include two sheets of fun Schoolies stickers.
Activity Flashcards – The Schoolies introduce multiple key first concepts (numbers, letters, colors, shapes) in this set of 26 wipe-clean, double-sided flashcards.

The Giveaway:
Thank you to Macmillan, 1 lucky blog reader will WIN this set!
- Giveaway open to U.S. addresses only.
- Prizing & samples courtesy of Macmillan/Priddy Books

To enter, please enter to win below
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 

Harper Colins Childrens's Summer Reading List

Looking for some great Summer reads for the kids? Check out Harper Collins Children's list of some great Summer reads. They have a little something for everyone.


Be sure to stop by their site to find more exciting titles to read! 

Sunday, June 23, 2013

New Books to My Shelves

Summer vacation is here! I don't know about you guys, but I love having my kiddos home. One of the many things I love doing with them in the Summer time is reading with them. Did you know that on average, kids who do not read during the summer time can lose up to three whole reading levels? That is a lot! I love my son's second grade teacher for stressing the importance of reading during the summer time to her kids. What she told them has stuck with my son, and he's eager to keep his reading level up because of it.

Here's a some great books to be on the look out for this summer that have arrived in my mailbox over the past couple of weeks (picture books not included):


Simon Kids
Disney Hyperion
Penguin Kids / RazorBill
 Scholastic
Tor
Chronicle Kids

THANK YOU To: 
Simon & Schuster
Disney Hyperion
Penguin Kids/RazorBill
Scholastic
Tor
Chronicle Kids

For the past few weeks wonderful reads! 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Princess in the Opal Mask by Jenny Lundquist, COVER REVEAL / GIVEAWAY

Along with Mundie Moms, Mundie Kids is thrilled to be apart of today's COVER REVEAL for Jenny Lundquist's upcoming release of THE PRINCESS in the OPAL MASK! I'm so excited to help Jenny reveal the cover for newest book. 

Check out this cover!



Beautiful! Before I tell you a little bit about the book, if you're attending ALA next week be on the look out for ARCS being handed out of it there!

About the Book
One Legend Determines the Fate of Two Lives

 In the faraway village of Tulan, sixteen-year-old Elara has spent her entire life as a servant, trying to track down her real name. The name she was given before being orphaned. Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Galandria, Princess Wilhamina does not know why her father, the king, makes her wear a mask. Or why she is forbidden to ever show her face.

 When a new peace treaty between Galandria and Kyrenica is threatened, Elara and Wilha are brought face to face. Told in alternating perspectives, this intricate fairytale pulls both girls toward secrets that have been locked away behind castle doors, while the fate of two opposing kingdoms rests squarely on their untrained shoulders.


Jenny Lundquist was born and raised in Huntington Beach, CA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Intercultural Studies with a minor in TESOL at Biola University. Lundquist has published two middle-grade books, Seeing Cinderella and Plastic Polly. She lives in Rancho Cordova, California with her husband and two sons. Visit her online at jennylundquist.com and Twitter @Jenny_Lundquist.

Head over to Goodreads and add this book to your TBR lists.

The Giveaway
Thank you to Jenny, I've got 1 ARC to giveaway to one lucky reader! To enter, please fill out the form below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Book Review: Genie Wishes by Elisabeth Dahl


Written by: Elisabeth Dahl
Published by: Amulet
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Source: netgalley

Purchase: amazon | IndieBound | Barnes and Noble  Genie Wishes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - We loved this story and ran out to get the hardcover!

Synopsis: This sweet, funny novel follows fifth-grader Genie Kunkle through a tumultuous year. From the first day of school, Genie knows there will be good, bad, and in-between. The good? She’s in homeroom with her best friend, Sarah. The bad? Sarah’s friend from camp, Blair, is a new student at their school, and is itching to take Genie’s place as Sarah’s BFF. The in-between? Genie is excited to be elected to write her class’s blog, where she’s tasked with tracking the wishes and dreams of her class. But expressing her opinion in public can be scary—especially when her opinion might make the rest of her class upset.

Elisabeth Dahl authentically captures the ups and downs of a tween girl’s life, and the dramas—both little and big—that fill the scary transition between childhood and adolescence.


Let me tell you about Genie Wishes; I downloaded a copy through netgalley thinking that MundieTween would enjoy. Whoa! Did she enjoy it? I'd say so because she begged, pleaded and promised to help fold all the laundry (not just her own) for the entire year, if only I bought her a hardcopy of the book. She wanted to have it to re-read as she pleased. So what's a mama to do? I, of course, ran to the store and got her the copy. Let's face it, laundry folding is the worst part of that task, so I'm willing to do just about anything to avoid it including using child labor when needed.

What did MundieTween LOVE about the story? Well, Genie is not your average tween. She's the type of girl whose Halloween costume is row houses. Yes, you read that right. MundieTween loved Genie because she's smart, funny and adaptable to situations that could be frustrating (like a friend leaving you  to make friends with someone else).

The class blog's (which Genie writes) theme of "wishes, hopes and dreams" captures that last moment of childhood and the story itself is a good reminder how fifth graders are caught in the last gasp of it. This is a great book for girls who are transitioning into the Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?phase of reading. I'm glad that we have it on our shelf because I know my second grader will love this book, too, in a few years.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Book Review: Witch Twins by Adele Griffin


Written by: Adele Griffin
Published by: Open Road Young Readers
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Source: netgalley
Rating: 4 stars -- we enjoyed it!

Purchase: IndieBound | amazon | Barnes and Noble    Witch Twins

Synopsis:   Though identical on the outside, ten-year-old twins Claire and Luna Bundkin are as different on the inside as peaches and peanut butter. Claire is mischievous and Luna is a dreamer, but they do share a favorite hobby: witchcraft. Whether it’s making breakfast or washing dishes, there’s nothing a five-star witch can’t accomplish with a wave of her pinkie finger. But there are two strict rules: Don’t tell Mom, and don’t try any spells without Grandy—their magical grandmother—watching. When Claire and Luna’s father announces that he’s getting remarried to a loudmouthed Texas woman named Fluffy, the twins know they need to do something to stop the wedding. Fluffy wouldn't be a bad stepmother, but Claire and Luna know that she would lure their father to far-away Houston. A spell might be the only way to save their Dad, and they’ll try anything. Even if magic usually lands them in a pot of trouble. 

MundieTween read this book in only a few sittings. The plot line of Claire and Luna trying to stop the wedding (by using magic) was one she truly enjoyed. Grandy was one helpful character who gives the girls a lot of leeway for them to pursue trouble like allowing them out of her sight so they can use her spell book to cast an important wedding ruining spell. The results wilt flowers, make the food taste bad, and to make sure their father's fiancee does not say those two little words, "I do".

At the end of the story, there's a sweet twist, involving a character that the girls only heard of and who delivers a big surprise. This is such a sweet story and perfect for a tween who loves sibling mayhem plot lines. MundieTween is looking forward to reading Witch Twins: Camp Bliss, Witch Twins: Melody Malady and Witch Twins: The Ghost of Glen Bly, and I'm looking forward to her nose in a book this summer. A win-win for both parents and tweens!
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~