Friday, July 31, 2015

Happy Birthday J.K. Rowling!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the author who reminded us to believe in magic, and reminded adults that reading children's book is cool! No matter what age we are. In honor of her, here are some of my favorite quotes from the Harry Potter series. 








Tuesday, July 28, 2015

DR. SEUSS CLASSIC CELEBRATORY TOUR & Enter To WIN! #WhatPet


Today I am so thrilled to be apart of the Celebratory Tour for Dr. Seuss! Having grown up reading this book as a child, being apart of this tour means so much more to me than just reviewing a book. Dr. Seuss's books are timeless classics that have helped countless children learn how to read. Today I have the pleasure of featuring HOP ON POP.

ABOUT HOP ON POP



By: Dr. Seuss
Published by: Random House Kids
Released on: 2/28/1963(original release date)
Series: I Can Read It All By Myself Beginner Books Series
Ages: 3-7 years old
Rating: 5 Stars
Purchase it from: Amazon | B&N 

Loved by generations, this “simplest Seuss for youngest use” is a Beginner Book classic. See Red and Ned and Ted and Ed in a bed. And giggle as Pat sits on a hat and on a cat and on a bat . . . but a cactus? Pat must NOT sit on that! This classic Beginner Book makes an ideal gift for Seuss fans and is an especially good way to show Pop some love on Father’s Day! Originally created by Dr. Seuss, Beginner Books encourage children to read all by themselves, with simple words and illustrations that give clues to their meaning (Quoted from Amazon).

This is one of my favorite Dr Seuss books as a child. It's one I enjoyed reading to my children when they were younger. Hop On Pop is a fun read. I loved having the chance to recently read it again. With rhyming words, and easy to read words, this book is an ideal book for those toddler age through second grade. It's a great book for children who can't yet read, and those who are just learning to read. 

*Source: I received this book from the publisher to review in exchange for my honest review.

ABOUT DR. SUESS'S NEW BOOK




ABOUT WHAT PET SHOULD I GET?
In the Fall of 2013, an original manuscript with accompanying sketches by Dr. Seuss, aka Ted Geisel, was discovered in the La Jolla, California home of the late beloved children’s author. That complete manuscript was for the picture book, WHAT PET SHOULD I GET?, and will be published by Random House Children’s Books on July 28, 2015. It is the first original new Dr. Seuss book since the publication of the last book of Dr. Seuss’s career, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! in 1990. WHAT PET SHOULD I GET? captures the excitement of a classic childhood moment—choosing a pet—and features the brother and sister characters that Dr. Seuss drew in One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.


Dr. Seuss 44 Classic Book Celebratory Tour
  1. And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 1937 – The Young Folks.com
  2. The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, 1938 – Bookish Antics
  3. The Seven Lady Godivas, 1939 – The Eater of Books
  4. The King’s Stilts, 1939 – On Starships and Dragonwings
  5. Horton Hatches the Egg, 1940 – The Book Cellar
  6. McElligot’s Pool, 1947 – Media Mikes
  7. Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, 1948 –Mommie of 2
  8. Bartholomew and the Oobleck, 1949 – Nonperfect Parenting
  9. If I Ran the Zoo, 1950 – Live to Read
  10. Scrambled Eggs Super! 1953 – Word Spelunking
  11. Horton Hears a Who! 1954 - Bookiemoji
  12. On Beyond Zebra! 1955 - Jessabella Reads
  13. If I Ran the Circus, 1956 – Book Hounds
  14. The Cat in the Hat, 1957 – The Bookbag
  15. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 1957 – Nightly Reading
  16. The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, 1958 – Winter Haven Books
  17. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, 1958 – Alice Marvels
  18. Happy Birthday to You! 1959 – Chapter by Chapter
  19. Green Eggs and Ham, 1960 – Poland Bananas
  20. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, 1960 – Once Upon a Twilight
  21. The Sneetches and Other Stories, 1961 - The Mod Podge Bookshelf
  22. Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book, 1962 – Good Books and Good Wine
  23. Dr. Seuss’s ABC, 1963 – The Irish Banana
  24. Hop on Pop, 1963 – Mundie Moms
  25. Fox in Socks, 1965 – Page Turners
  26. I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew, 1965 – Book Rock Betty
  27. The Cat in the Hat Songbook, 1967 – Giveaway Train
  28. The Foot Book, 1968 – I Am A Reader
  29. I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! And Other Stories, 1969 – Cuddlebuggery
  30. I Can Draw It Myself, 1970 – The Children’s Book Review
  31. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? 1970 – Curling Up with a Good Book
  32. The Lorax, 1971 - Elizziebooks
  33. Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! 1972 – Reading with ABC
  34. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? 1973 – Me, Myshelf, and I
  35. The Shape of Me and Other Stuff, 1973 – Paperback Princess
  36. There’s a Wocket in My Pocket! 1974 – Presenting Lenore
  37. Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! 1975 – YA Books Central
  38. The Cat’s Quizzer, 1976 – Lille Punkin’
  39. I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! 1978 – Confessions Of A Vi3tbabe
  40. Oh Say Can You Say? 1979 – Ex Libris
  41. Hunches in Bunches, 1982 – No BS Book Reviews
  42. The Butter Battle Book, 1984 – Novel Novice
  43. You’re Only Old Once! 1986 – Dad of Divas
  44. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! 1990  - Jesse the Reader

ABOUT DR. SEUSS

Theodor “Seuss” Geisel is one of the most beloved children’s book authors of all time. His long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligot’s Pool, If I Ran the Zoo, and Bartholomew and the Oobleck, the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates. Works based on his original stories have won three Oscars, three Emmys, three Grammys and a Peabody. Geisel wrote and illustrated 45 books during his lifetime, and his books have sold more than 650 million copies worldwide. Though Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading. For more information about Dr. Seuss and his works, visit Seussville.com.

ENTER TO WIN 

Thank you to Random House, I've got a copy of Dr. Seuss's newest release, What Pet Should I Get, to giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a copy of the book, which is out TODAY. US residents only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Little Golden Book To Release STAR WARS Books!

Coming to a book store near you soon! Little Golden Books will release STAR WARS books starting on July 28th, 2015! There will be a book for each Star Wars film that has already been released. Check out the press release from Random House below:




New York, NY, July 9, 2015—The iconic Little Golden Book format will extend its collection of titles to include retellings of the epic Star Wars movies for the first time ever, as announced today by Barbara Marcus, President and Publisher, Random House Children’s Books. On July 28, 2015, the first six Star Wars Little Golden Books will be released, including illustrated retellings of The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Chris Angelilli, Vice President, Editor-in-Chief, Director of License Publishing, Random House Children’s Books, will oversee the publication of these six titles.

All Star Wars Little Golden Books will feature a custom gold spine that includes popular characters from the Star Wars universe.

These books will introduce young readers to the iconic film series that ranks among the top five highest-grossing film franchises of all time, and will be welcome additions for adult collectors and fans.

“We are thrilled to contribute to the Star Wars galaxy with these Little Golden Book retellings,” said Marcus. “Bringing together these two beloved and popular brands is a significant moment, and we look forward to sharing these epic stories in classic Little Golden Book form.”

Launched in 1942, Little Golden Books revolutionized children’s book publishing by making high-quality picture books available at affordable prices. More than 60 years later, many of the original Golden Book titles are still wildly popular.

“The Star Wars franchise has woven itself into the hearts and minds of generations of fans, many of whom read Little Golden Books as children,” said Jeanne Mosure, Senior Vice President, Group Publisher, Disney Publishing Worldwide. “We’re very excited to be incorporating Little Golden Books into our overarching strategy so parents can now introduce their own children to the wonders of the galaxy through this classic format.”

Coming September 1, 2015, Random House will release a boxed set with the six Star Wars Little Golden Books titles.



STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE
By Courtney Carbone; Illustrated by Heather Martinez 
RH Children’s Books; Golden Books | On sale July 28, 2015
Hardcover: 9780736435420 | $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.) | 24 pages | Ages 2-5
Ebook: 9780736435437 |On Sale August 25, 2015|  $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.)



STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE CLONES
Illustrated by Ethen Beavers
RH Children’s Books; Golden Books | On sale July 28, 2015
Hardcover: 9780736435468 | $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.) | 24 pages | Ages 2-5
Ebook: 9780736435475  |On Sale August 25, 2015|  $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.)



STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH
By Geof Smith; Illustrated by Patrick Spaziante
RH Children’s Books; Golden Books | On sale July 28, 2015
Hardcover: 9780736435406 | $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.) | 24 pages | Ages 2-5
Ebook: 9780736435413  |On Sale August 25, 2015|  $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.)



STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE
By Geof Smith; Illustrated by Caleb Meurer
RH Children’s Books; Golden Books | On sale July 28, 2015
Hardcover: 9780736435383 | $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.) | 24 pages | Ages 2-5
Ebook: 9780736435390  |On Sale August 25, 2015|  $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.)



STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
By Geof Smith; Illustrated by Chris Kennett
RH Children’s Books; Golden Books | On sale July 28, 2015
Hardcover: 9780736435444 | $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.) | 24 pages | Ages 2-5
Ebook: 9780736435451 |On Sale August 25, 2015|  $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.)



STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI
By Geof Smith; Illustrated by Ron Cohee
RH Children’s Books; Golden Books | On sale July 28, 2015
Hardcover: 9780736435482 | $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.) | 24 pages | Ages 2-5
Ebook: 9780736435499 |On Sale August 25, 2015|  $4.99 / $5.99 (Can.)



THE STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK LIBRARY
Various; Illustrated by Golden Books
RH Children’s Books; Golden Books | On sale September 1, 2015
BX/Hardcover: 9780736434706 | $29.94 / $35.94 (Can.) | Ages 2-5


* * * * * * * * * * 

The Star Wars nerd in me can not wait to get my hands on these! 

Thursday, July 16, 2015

IN A VILLAGE BY THE SEA by Muon Van / Book Review




By: Muon Van
Illustrated by: April Chu
Published by: Creston Books
Released on: 5/12/15
Ages: 4 - 8 years old

Written in a spare, lyrical style using fresh, evocative imagery, In a Village by the Sea tells the story of longing for the comforts of home. A perfect book for teaching about diverse cultures and lifestyles through rich pictures and words, moving from the wide world to the snugness of home and back out again.

A beautifully illustrated, culturally diverse book. In A Village By the Sea will give children a personal view of a Vietnamese fishing village, and the beautiful story that unfolds within the pages of this book. 

I love the adventure a book can take you on without leaving the comforts of the very spot you're sitting to read a book at. In A Village By the Sea, readers are taken on an adventure at sea, as well as welcomed into the warmth of a small house that sits high on the hills over looking the sea, that belongs to the family who is waiting for their fisherman to return home, safe and sound.

I loved the imagery, and the way Muon Van tells her story. The story itself is simplistic in it's wordage, and is told in such a way that young children can easily comprehend what is happening on each page. The illustrations are just as beautiful as the story. Each page focuses on a specific part of the story, bringing that part of the story to life elegantly. One of my favorite parts of the story is the hole in the wall of the kitchen, where the cricket is at, who's painting the picture of the boat out at sea. I won't say anything else about it, as you'll have to read the book to find out the significance of that painting.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the author's note at the end of the story. Readers learn more about the real life inspiration behind the book itself, and the author's personal connection to the story. This is a book that would be a wonderful addition to any library, classroom or personal library. 



Rating: 4 Owlets - I Really Enjoy It!
This book was provided by publisher to review, in exchange for my honest review. Check out the book on Goodreads, purchase it from Amazon.



Wednesday, July 15, 2015

BUCKY AND STU V.S. THE MIKANIKAL MAN by Corenlius Van Wright / BOOK REVIEW




By: Cornelius Van Wright
Published by: Nancy Paulsen Books / Penguin Random House
To Be Released on: 7/28/15
Ages: 5-9

It’s the adventure of a lifetime when best friends—and self-proclaimed superheroes—defeat bad guys of their own invention.

It’s wonk ’em time when Bucky and Stu have to stand up to Phat Tyre, TrashMan and Hose-Nose. No matter that the bad guys are all made out of household items that Bucky and Stu have assembled themselves—these bad guys don’t stand a chance against the boys’ power moves. Still, it’s quite a surprise when their latest villain, the giant Mikanikal Man, gets zapped during a lightning storm and comes to life! The battle—and thrill—of a lifetime ensue. 


Full of surprises and laughs, this upbeat, action-packed story celebrates imagination, creativity, and friendship in even the most unexpected forms. Cornelius Van Wright’s hilarious illustrations are full of surprises and are perfect for portraying the high-speed antics of two enthusiastic boys.

Two best friends, back yard fun, and a lot of great imaginative play, make for a fun read. Wright does a fabulous job at capturing the imaginative world of play through the eyes of two young boys, Bucky and Stu. Every day is an adventure as these two battle various household, and yard items. After all, someone has to protect earth from these bad guys right? 


Bucky and Stu are in a for a huge surprise when they awake the next morning after a thunder storm, and find that one of their creations, The Mikanikal Man was hit by lightening, and is now alive! Now these two superheroes have to spring into action. What ensues is a fun, action packed story that young readers will enjoy. Be warned, a superhero cape is must when reading this book!

Rating: 3 Owlets - It Was A Good Read 
* I received this book to review from the publisher (in exchange for my honest review). You can add it to Goodreads, pre-order it from AmazonThe Book Depository or any of your favorite book retailers. 

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CUPCAKE! by Terry Border / Book Review



By: Terry Border
Published by: Philomel Books
Released on: 7.7.15
Ages: 5 & up

From the creator of Peanut Butter & Cupcake comes a birthday book starring everyone's favorite dessert!

What's a cupcake to do when she needs to plan her birthday party? In this hilarious, kid-friendly homage to food and birthdays, Cupcake runs through tons of ideas while her best friend, Blueberry Muffin, finds reasons why they won't work: Soup gets seasick; Donut melts in the sun; someome might get squashed during musical chairs; and Cupcake is not very good at limbo (her icing might get sliced off!). Just as Cupcake is ready to crumble, Blueberry Muffin has one last idea that just might save the day. 

With laugh-out-loud visual gags (like a band made up of beans--the musical fruit, of course), this book is sure to put a birthday smile on any kid's face (and on adult faces as well).


If this book doesn't leave you wanting a cupcake, I don't know what book will. The pictures in this book look delicious. 

It's Cupcake's birthday, and she wants to plan a great party for all her friends. Every idea she has, her friend Muffin counters with why it may not work out. As Cupcake and Muffin continue to plan, little does Cupcake know that her friends are planning something of their own to surprise her with.

This was the first picture book I've read who's pictures were of actual food. My initial thought was that it was a little weird, though incredibly smart. Kids will love looking at these pictures. Aside from the pictures, the story itself is okay. I liked the concept of it, but having recently read some outstanding picture books, this book's story fell flat for me. What this book lacked in it's writing, it made up for in it's pictures. Just be warned, you may crave a good cupcake after reading it. 

Over all rating = 2.5 stars (Story wise - the story was okay = 2 stars / Picture wise - the pictures were good = 3 stars).

This book was provided by publisher to review, in exchange for my honest review. Check out the book on Goodreads, purchase it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble. 


Monday, July 13, 2015

Summer Reading with READ BRIGHTLY



Summer is full swing, and that means summer reading is too. Did you know that during the summer, kids can lose crucial reading ground, especially those at high risk. Students who don't read during the summer can fall back a few levels on their reading levels. As parents, we understand how hard it can be sometimes to get our kiddos to read at least 20 mins each day during the summer. 

If you're looking for some great tools to aid in your children's summer reading, check out Brightly (www.readbrightly.com). This is an awesome new website that Penguin Random House has created to aid parents for summer reading, as well as aid in raising life long readers. 

About The Site
The site is a Penguin Random House initiative that shares book recommendations from all publishers for every age and stage of reader--from toddlers to teens to grown-ups. On Brightly you'll find essays from authors, insights from illustrators, tips and advice on raising readers, seasonal inspirations, and more. Check them out here www.readbrightly.com.


Summer Reading
Now that school’s out, Brightly has created Summer Reading Fun Packs to keep kids reading and help families survive the summer months. Brightly offers three Summer Reading Fun Packs created for different ages and stages: Pre-K, growing readers, and tweens. 

The packs include: 
 
  • Ultimate Summer Reading Lists—combat the summer slide and make reading fun with Brightly’s book recommendations for preschoolers6-8 year olds, and 9-12 year olds.  
  • Engaging Audiobooks for Family Travel—cheer for traffic as you enjoy a shared reading experience with your preschoolergrowing reader, and tween.  
  • Learning Games for Car Trips—play your way to your destination and put an end to “are we there yet”. 
  • Kindergarten Readiness—discover ten things you can do to at home to get your child ready for the transition. 
  • Summer Learning Loss Preventiontips and advice to prevent brain drain in 6-8 year olds and tweens
  • Printables—hands-on activities, puzzles, Mad Libs, coloring, and more. 
 
There's definitely something for everyone on Brightly. Whether for children, tweens, teens or parents. I highly recommend checking them out. A great thing about Brightly, is you can take it with you on the go! Brightly works great on an hand held device, or laptop, (at least it has on our devices so far). 

Give them try, and get your kids hooked on Summer Reading!

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

CHRIS COLFER is Coming To BOOK PEOPLE on 7/13/15

Author & Actor Chris Colfer is coming to Austin, TX! He'll be signing his 4th book in the The Land of Stories series on Monday 7.13.15 at Book People! Get all the info below. YES, you can pre-order a signed book if you can't make it to the signing. 

Check out all the info below from Book People:


Land of Stories 4: Beyond the Kingdoms
is officially on sale today! Books and signing tickets 
are now available in-store and online. 

Colfer will speak, take audience questions, 
and then sign books. The speaking portion of the event 
is free and open to the public. 

Tickets are required to join the signing line and are only available with the purchase of a copy of 
The Land of Stories 4 
 
from BookPeople. 


Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy 4th of JULY!


Image found via Google

HAPPY 4th OF JULY! 
We hope you have a wonderful, and safe holiday! 

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Percy Pack: Celebrating 10 Years of Percy Jackson / New Original E-Book Will Be Out on 7/14/15 #ReadRiordan




We are so excited to be apart of the Percy Pack! We've teamed up with Disney Hyperion to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of PERCY JACKSON! Each month beginning in June, through October, we'll be bringing you exciting news, and special features celebrating the 10th anniversary of Percy Jackson! Each month we'll feature a new post about the latest Percy Jackson news, as well as Rick Riordan's other series. If you're a fan of Percy Jackson, and Greek Mythology, be sure to follow our posts, as well as other Percy Pack members via the #ReadRiordan hashtag.

Get your first look! Today I'm thrilled to share an exclusive first look at the NEW ORIGINAL RICK RIORDAN E-BOOK DEMIGODS OF OLYMPUS: An Interactive Adventurewhich will be released on July 14th, 2015!



ABOUT THE BOOK: 
Your quest begins! Use your demigod skills in this interactive and customizable adventure story written by New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan. Combining four short stories, The Two-Headed Guidance Counselor, The Library of Deadly Weapons, My Demon Satyr Tea Party, and My Personal Zombie Apocalypse, your choices will have consequences in this first interactive demigod adventure. 

There's more exciting news for fans of Percy Jackson! Keep reading to out more about other upcoming releases!


MAGNUS CHASE COVER REVEAL & EXCERPT
The first look at Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (being released on October 6, 2015), was revealed last week on USA Today

ABOUT THE BOOK 
Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he’s tracked down by an uncle he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. His uncle tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants, and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarök, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .




GREEK HEROES PRE-ORDER
Don’t forget to pre-order Percy Jackson’s GREEK HEROES, the companion to the national best seller Percy Jackson’s GREEK GODS available on Percy Jackson’s birthday, August 18, 2015.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Who cut off Medusa's head? Who was raised by a she-bear? Who tamed Pegasus? It takes a demigod to know, and Percy Jackson can fill you in on the all the daring deeds of Perseus, Atalanta, Bellerophon, and the rest of the major Greek heroes. Told in the funny, irreverent style readers have come to expect from Percy, ( I've had some bad experiences in my time, but the heroes I'm going to tell you about were the original old school hard luck cases. They boldly screwed up where no one had screwed up before. . .) and enhanced with vibrant artwork by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco, this story collection will become the new must-have classic for Rick Riordan's legions of devoted fans--and for anyone who needs a hero. So get your flaming spear. Put on your lion skin cape. Polish your shield and make sure you've got arrows in your quiver. We're going back about four thousand years to decapitate monsters, save some kingdoms, shoot a few gods in the butt, raid the Underworld, and steal loot from evil people. Then, for dessert, we'll die painful tragic deaths. Ready? Sweet. Let's do this.


Pre-order Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | Indiebound | Indigo | iBooks


RICK RIORDAN ONLINE
Visit the Official Website
Follow Rick Riordan on FacebookInstagram and Twitter
#ReadRiordan

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 ~