Monday, August 31, 2015

THE COPPER GAUNTLET Book Tour Schedule



TOMORROW The Copper Gauntlet will be out in stores! Today Holly Black took to Tumblr to share this picture of her and Cassandra Clare, whom are on tour in Australia. Fans in Canada and the US will be able to see them later this month. Check out their signing dates below:


We’re in Brisbane! I swear, I have done some fancy things in my time, but traveling with Cassie is the fanciest. 
No snippet today, but West Coast Tour dates instead:
Monday, September 14th - VANCOUVER
7:00pm-9:00pm: Presentation, Q&A and book signing at Chapters Metrotownlocation.
Tuesday, September 15th - SEATTLE
7:00-9:00pm: Presentation, Q&A and book signing at Barnes & Noble Lynnwood location.
Wednesday, September 16th - SAN FRANCISCO
7:00-8:30pm: Presentation, Q&A and book signing at Hicklebee’s.
Thursday, September 17th - SAN FRANCISCO
6:00-8:00pm: Presentation, Q&A and book signing at Books Inc, Laurel Village location.
Friday, September 18th - MENLO PARK
7:00-9:00pm: Presentation, Q&A and book signing at Kepler’s Books.


Mundie Moms / Mundie Kids will be at the Kepler's Books event! We hope to see you there!

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Holly Black Shares A New Excerpt From The Copper Gauntlet


This weekend on Tumblr, Holly Black & Cassandra Clare are counting down to their release day of The Copper Gauntlet by sharing another excerpt from the book! Check out this excerpt below:

My excerpt for today:
Call drove, with Tamara acting as copilot while Jasper and Aaron pillowed their heads on Havoc’s furry back and napped. Jasper must have been pretty exhausted to deign to sleep on a Chaos-ridden animal. Hours passed like this.
“You know you can get arrested for going under the speed limit, too,” said Tamara, her warm ginger ale in the cupholder beside her. She was unbraiding her hair, brushing it out as it blew around with the breeze of her open window. Tamara almost always kept her hair in braids, and Call was surprised by how long it was unbraided, black and shiny and hanging to her waist.
Call pressed his foot harder on the gas and the Morris lurched forward. As the speedometer needle started to edge up, the car began to shudder.

The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare will be out on Tuesday! 

*EDITED*

Holly Black shared a new excerpt this morning after my post was up, for count down day #3! 
“Let’s kill him,” Call said. 
Havoc growled.
“Master Rufus?” Aaron looked alarmed.
“No, of course not Master Rufus! I meant Jasper,” Call said. “Bury his body under a pile of rock. Who’d know?” 
“Call, stop being ridiculous,” said Tamara.
“Havoc could kill him,” Call suggested. Havoc turned at the sound of his name, looking interested by the prospect. Although the Chaos-ridden wolf had grown over the summer, Call wasn’t sure he could actually kill anyone, but he could sure take Jasper outside and chase him around the Magisterium a few times.
“And I’m supposed to be the psychopath?” Jasper grumbled.
Call wasn’t sure what it meant that he’d gone full Evil Overlord on Jasper but still couldn’t manage to impress him.
Aaron raised his hand. For a moment Call thought that Aaron was going to settle them down, say that Call should quit threatening Jasper and they should all just go back to their rooms. Instead, black fire sparked between Aaron’s fingers, a web of darkness. “Don’t make me hurt you,” he said, looking right at Jasper, chaos burning in the palm of his hand. “Because I really could.”

Check out her post here to read more!

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Harry Potter Book Night Set For February 4th, 2016




Save the date! The 2nd annual HARRY POTTER BOOK NIGHT is happening on February 4th, 2016! This is a world wide event is hosted by Bloomsbury Children's Books out of the UK. Trust me, it's an event you don't want to miss! Sign up now so you'll receive your Book Night Event Kit! I hosted a party for it last year, and we had a blast. Whether you're a reader, a teacher, librarian, bookseller, all Harry Potter fans are welcome to sign up and celebrate. 

Here's a little bit about the book night, per the Harry Potter Book Night website: 

Once again, fans of all ages will have the chance to celebrate J.K. Rowling’s wonderful novels – and pass the magic on to young readers who haven’t yet discovered these unforgettable books. 

For the first Harry Potter Book Night in February 2015, there were an amazing 10,500 parties and celebrations held all over the world, and we were overwhelmed by your fabulous pictures – so we can’t wait to see where your imaginations take you next. 

There will be masses of magical ideas, events and activities for you to get involved with, which we will be announcing over the coming months, so please do accept this as your official invitation to join the fun and start your own planning. Sign up to make sure you’re one of the first to hear all the latest Harry Potter Book Night news and new Event Kit – the deadline to receive a printed Event Kit is October 23rd 2015

Join the fun! Share your love of Harry Potter and celebrate with fans world wide by joining Harry Potter Book Night! Check out events from last year, and start sharing your ideas now with Bloomsbury Children's Book via #HarryPotterBookNight on both Twitter and Facebook

Friday, August 28, 2015

Huff Post Lists 50 Great Picture Books of 2015



Looking for a few new picture books to pick up? Huff Post has you covered! Huff Post has recently shared it's list of 50 More Pictures Books From A Stellar 2015. If you're a picture book fan, than you definitely need to check out this list. Be warned, you may wish you could go get all the books, and spend the day reading them all. I for one would volunteer to do this! This is a stellar list. 

Here are just a few of the book listed. Two of which I have read and loved, which are:



Float by Daniel Miyares (Simon & Schuster): Following the rainy day adventures of a boy and his newspaper boat, every square inch of this book is a treat. The drama and disappointment hit when the boat floats away, but an uplifting twist leaves readers with their spirits soaring. And though it's a minor detail, I appreciated how, while racing down the street after his escaped boat, the boy still takes the time to look both ways before crossing the street. Safety first, people!



Lizard from the Park by Mark Pett (Simon & Schuster): Pett is a master of quiet illustrations that subtly pack an emotional punch. It may seem odd to use the word subtle about a book featuring a boy, his dinosaur, and a daring escape during a New York City parade, but trust me, it's fitting. It's in each of the tiny gestures, perfectly-angled head tilts, and touching in-between moments that the full extent of Pett's skill shines through. That being said, the daring escape is pretty awesome too.

Other books on the list:


Bernice Gets Carried Away by Hannah E. Harrison (Penguin): Compared to the limited emotional range of media-darling Grumpy Cat, Bernice is the Meryl Streep of the feline world. Harrison's vibrant art and clever (but not too clever) play on words makes Bernice the perfect companion for any mood.
Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley (Macmillan): A touching book about love and loss, sponsored by Kleenex (or at least it should be). If this debut is any indication, the prodigiously talented Bagley will have reduced us all to helpless puddles of tears before we know it.
The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt, ill. Oliver Jeffers (Penguin): The team behind the runaway bestseller The Day the Crayons Quit is back, this time following the harrowing adventures of lost and forgotten crayons. Like The Godfather II, it's a sequel that not only stands on its own merit, but may be even more colorful than the original.

The Dog that Nino Didn't Have by Edward van de Vendel, ill. Anton Van Hertbruggen (Eerdmans): A story about an imaginary friend that is interwoven with fraying threads of realism, Nino is a refreshing change of pace in the expansive imaginary friend genre. Rendered in scorching earth tones, this Dutch import might be the most visually jaw-dropping book of the year. 
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, ill. Sophie Blackall (Little Brown): Long before the Hundred Acre Wood, there was a Canadian soldier (the author's great grandfather) and his rescued pet bear. And by the way, did you know that Winnie the Pooh was Canadian? Maybe that explains his mild temperament and excellent manners.

Sonya's Chickens by Phoebe Wahl (Tundra): Sonya raises chickens on her home farm, but following a deadly fox attack, she must learn to cope with loss. And with the help of her father's timely storytelling (way to use that teachable moment, pop), she receives a valuable lesson about empathy. A warm hug on a crisp morning, Sonya's Chickens is The Lion King's Circle of Life... minus the soaring orchestral arrangement.

The Specific Ocean by Kyo Maclear, ill. Katty Maurey (Kids Can Press): Like the ocean itself, this book shimmers quietly on the surface but contains an unexpected depth. A valuable reminder that just because you can't take something with you, doesn't mean you have to leave it behind. 

To the Sea by Cale Atkinson (Disney*Hyperion): A story about the importance of being seen, Atkinson illustrates his story about friendship with a bold palette (mostly richly dark blues and radiant oranges), adding a level of high drama to this heartwarming book.
What a great list. I could sit and read picture books all day long. I'm definitely adding many of these to my TBR list. Check out the full list of 2015 picture books here. *Images and book content are credited to Huff Post's list here.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

THE COPPER GAUNTLET by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black / Snippet & U.S. Book Signing Info.



Who's ready for The Copper Gauntlet, book two in the Magisterium series by Cassandra Clare & Holly Black to be out? We are! While we have to wait until next week for the book to be out here in the US, it's out today in the UK! Holly Black and & Cassandra were on Tumblr today and shared a snippet from Chapter 3! 



In SIX DAYS, Magisterium 2: The Copper Gauntlet will be out in the US. And apparently TODAY is the day it is out in the UK
If you haven’t already seen it, here’s the first chapter.
And here’s a snippet of a scene from Chapter 3 that I particularly enjoyed:
“Jasper!” Call yelled, waving his hand around frantically. “Hey, Jasper!”
Jasper looked over at him and his eyes widened. He headed toward Call. He was carrying a glass of fruit punch in which chunks of real fruit floated. Call had never been so relieved to see anyone. He started reconsidering all the bad things he’d ever thought about Jasper. Jasper was a hero.
“Mr. DeWinter,” said the waiter. “Do you know this boy?”
Jasper took a sip of punch, his brown eyes traveling up and down Call, from his tangled hair to his dirty sneakers. 
“Never seen him before in my life,” he said.
Call’s positive feelings about Jasper evaporated in a whoosh. “Jasper, you liar —”
If you're in the San Francisco Bay area next month, stop by Keplers to see both Cassie and Holly! Find out more about their signing taking place on Friday, September 18th, at 7 pm, here. *Please note you do need to purchase tickets which are $10 each without the book, and $22 which includes the ticket. Please find out more here.

*Edited - more signing dates have been added to Cassie's schedule!
A couple more tour dates have been added to Cassie and Holly's schedule! They'll be in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as well as making two other Bay area stops before their Keplers signing. After Kepler's they'll be in NYC. Please see her FULL SIGNING SCHEDULE HERE.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Receive An Exclusive Harry Potter Tote Bag When You Pre-Order The Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone



Check it out Harry Potter fans! Bloomsbury Publishing (from the UK), recently sent out an email with some exciting news. Those who pre-order the Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone from harrypotter.bloomsbury.com or Bloomsbury.com, will receive a tote bag. The tote bag features one of Jim Kay's stunning owl illustrations from inside the book! 

I seriously LOVE this tote bag (pictured above). Per Bloomsbury, if you've already pre-ordered from one of the sites mentioned, then you'll automatically receive one of the must have bags. *Please note that if you do pre-order this is out of the UK.

You can Pre-order it here. Get a sneak peak inside the Illustrated Edition. 

Monday, August 24, 2015

The Most Anticipated Children’s and YA Books of Fall 2015 via Publishers Weekly

Happy Marvelous Middle Grade Monday! School started today, which means fall is right around the corner. If you're looking for some Fall 2015 releases to add to your must read list, check out this list of The Most Anticipated Children’s and YA Books of Fall 2015 from Publishers Weekly. Below I've shared their list of Children's and Middle Grade books. You can check out their entire list here

Children's Books



The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt, illus. by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel, Aug.) - Daywalt and Jeffers’s The Day the Crayons Quit has been a stalwart on bestseller lists since it was published in 2013. This very funny follow-up sees the crayons writing postcards to their young owner after being left out of town on vacation, lost within the sofa, or otherwise abused.

The Full Moon at the Napping House by Audrey Wood and Don Wood (HMH, Sept.) - More than 30 years after the publication of bedtime favorite The Napping House, this husband-and-wife team takes readers back to a dwelling, where a certain granny, boy, dog, and cat are having trouble falling asleep under the light of an enormous moon.

Happy! by Pharrell Williams (Putnam, Oct.) - “Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do.” Hmm, could a picture book adaptation of Williams’s chart-topping pop song essentially turn out to be a 21st-century version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It?” Readers can find out come October.

Lenny & Lucy by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead (Roaring Brook/Porter, Oct.) - The Steads made a name for themselves with the Caldecott Medal–winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee and have been accumulating accolades ever since. Their latest tells of a boy who creates a pair of protector-companions as he adjusts to his new home.

Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett, illus. by Christian Robinson (Chronicle, Aug.) - Who says ghosts don’t have feelings? Not Barnett and Robinson, whose “ghost story” is alternately funny, sad, and sweet as a lonesome spirit named Leo tries to make a connection that doesn’t leave the other party fleeing in terror.

MIDDLE GRADE



Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate (Feiwel and Friends, Sept.) - Applegate is back with her first middle-grade novel since The One and Only Ivan, which won the 2013 Newbery Medal. In this equally sensitive story, fifth-grader Jackson worries that the reappearance of his childhood imaginary friend portends the return of problems for his family, too.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney (Abrams/Amulet, Nov.) - With more than 150 million copies in print, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is something of a global juggernaut, and this 10th entry in the series will be published simultaneously in 90 countries on November 3.

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead (Random/Lamb, Aug.) - Stead returns to the Manhattan environs of her Newbery Medal–winning When You Reach Me as she explores the entwined and sometimes precarious friendships among a group of seventh-graders, shifting smoothly and perceptively between multiple points of view.

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion, Oct.) - Having delved into Greek and Egyptian mythology in his Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and Kane Chronicles series, Riordan moves on to Norse legends in this first book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. Riordan’s fans should be ecstatic; trolls and frost giants, less so.

The Marvels by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press, Sept.) - A shipwreck, the world of London theater, a home meticulously maintained as it would have existed in the 18th-century, and the magic of storytelling combine in Selznick’s latest, a full 500 pages of which consist solely of his intricately detailed pencil drawings.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Carrie Ryan Shares the 1st Page from Her Next MG Book, CITY OF THIRST


Carrie Ryan shared the first page of her next MG book, CITY of THIRST, yesterday on Twitter. Check out more about the book below. You can currently pre-order it for 50%!



Friday, August 21, 2015

Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects from Zest Books / Book Review


By: Sophie Maletsky
Published by: Zest Books
Released on: July 1st, 2014
About The Book
Purchase The Book: Zest Books Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

Sticky Fingers is a vibrant, easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to creating amazing projects with the hottest crafting material on the market today duct tape! The book includes tons of photographs alongside directions designed to make creating a wallet and making a bag even easier, while also providing a steady stream of ideas for personalizing and embellishing your duct tape creations. Each project includes icons showing difficulty level and project time, as well as helpful hints, such as how to keep your scissors clean and what to do with end pieces. So grab a roll of duct tape, pick a project, and get started!

If you're looking for a book that's full of creative ideas, and easy to make projects, this is your book! It's also the perfect size book to hand your child when you hear the "I'm bored, there's nothing to do" line, I'm sure many of us parents have heard through out summer.

Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects (Easy to Pick up, Hard to Put Down), is a great book for young DIY'ers. With 240 pages featuring a variety of projects, there's something for every "do it yourselfer" who loves creating things with duct tape. I was surprised at the large variety of projects featured. There are projects that go from beginner to more advanced. When it comes to DIY books, this one is full of ideas. There's definitely something for everyone in here. I liked that this wasn't a small, hastily thrown together book. If you've read your share of DIY books, you know the ones I'm talking about. This book has easy to read, step by step directions to follow, making it great for all ages. Though this is listed as a teen book, there is a wide range of projects that even my elementary school age daughter enjoyed doing.

If you're looking for a great project/DIY book for your young reader, I'd definitely recommend this book. 

WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID:

“This fun, creative, and colorful book takes readers through the whole process of duct tape crafting…These projects are engaging and good for beginners as well as those who might have made the classic wallet before…The fun project ideas and detailed instructions make it easy to get started and help ensure that duct tape crafting is something readers will stick with for a long time.” —Foreword Reviews

TAKE A LOOK

Here's an inside look at one of the pages (picture source Zest Books):



This book gets 4 owls from us!

Thursday, August 20, 2015

THE PAGES BETWEEN US by Lindsey Leavitt & Robin Mellom / Cover Reveal / Guest Post / Enter To WIN!

Hello and welcome today's exciting cover reveal for Lindsey Leavitt and Robin Mellom's THE PAGES BETWEEN US! I'm so thrilled to not only reveal the cover for their upcoming release, both Robin and Lindsey have stopped by the blog today! That's not all! You can also enter to win an arc of The Pages Between Us! 

CHECK OUT THIS COVER!



I love this cover! If I had a book with a cover like this back (like way back) when I was tween, I'd have totally picked it up. Thankfully I've got a daughter whom I can read this book with, and I'm looking forward to that. 

THE PAGES BETWEEN US by Lindsey Leavitt & Robin Mellom

Piper and Olivia have been best friends since… well, forever. They aren’t about to let a little thing like middle school get in their way—but their new schedules aren't giving them enough together-time. How are two girls supposed to fill each other in on all the happenings of sixth grade if they never actually see each other?

Luckily, an idea sparks when Piper finds a cute sparkly notebook. It’s genius—the girls disguise their discovery as a "French Class" notebook, passing secret notes all day long. Now the two BFFs can stick together all the time. And document their adventures--you know, for anthropology sake. 

But when Piper finds she’s suddenly seeking guests for her birthday party while Olivia musters the courage to tackle after school clubs, the two realize that they may need to branch out more than they originally thought. Their notebook, once a life raft, begins to feel like a big responsibility. Can they grow up, without growing apart?

Told in letters, posters, blog posts, homework assignments, and more, The Pages Between Us is a totally fun, totally earnest snapshot of real-life friendship—and what it truly means to be there for someone during the ups, downs, and everything in between.

A Letter Between Robin and Lindsey

Lindsey,
This is a big day. BIG. Remember that phone call we had a couple of years ago where I said ‘hey, wouldn’t it be cool to write a middle school novel told in letters between friends and it’s written by ACTUAL friends?’ You said yes…let’s do it and you didn’t even cough or laugh or hesitate or hiccup. Just…YES. It was my most favorite YES ever.  I was on my phone sitting in my car at Whole Foods. I was so excited I didn’t even go inside the store to buy my kale. (I went across the street and got a celebratory frappuccino.) Also, not sure if this is important, but most of our phone conversations ever since have been in the Whole Foods parking lot.
-Robin

Robin,
I know, right? It’s like we’re having a baby and everyone is seeing her face for the first time. But we can’t introduce her to the world until next February, so actually this is like showing an ultrasound, except an ultrasound that is in color with no mysterious blobs that might be an ear or a kneecap. I’m going to sit over here and figure out how to speed up time. I’ll try to spoonfeed my clock some sugar. Or maybe Twinkies? Not sure how this time/space continuum thing actually works. And while you have conversations with me in the Whole Foods parking lot, I can usually be found on my cell phone while at a fast food drive-thru. Um…an organic, free-range drive-thru.
Ok, back to our book baby. Did I mess up that metaphor?

I am so in love with this cover. The colors. The girls’ sweet faces as they look at each other. And I especially love the tagline on the fortune cookie. “Friendship isn’t a big thing…it’s a million little things.” #sniff!

Remember when we decided to search the internet for our favorite quotes on friendship and out of a zillion choices, we both came back with the SAME EXACT ONE. We are so MFEO (made for each other. Obviously).

Our team at HarperCollins has been amazing at creating a cover we all love. I mean THAT FONT.

Adorable.

Scrumptious.

Edible.

Cupcake-like.

This got weird fast.

I went too far.

You always do. It’s a good thing I’m here. Super straight-edge.

Do you want me to tell the story of you doing that Katy Perry dance last night?

Okay, we gotta get back to work. Book two isn’t going to write itself! And a huge literary fist bump to Katie here at Mundie Kids.

Absolutely! You are such a strong advocate for children’s books and we are so grateful for the great work you do. When our ARCs arrive, you will be first on our list. ☺

* * * * * * * * * * *

Thank you so much Lindsey and Robin for stopping by Mundie Kids today! We're looking forward to hearing more about book 2! 

ENTER TO WIN
Thank you to Lindsey and Robin, I've got an arc to giveaway to one lucky reader! To enter, please fill out the form below. US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Celebrating 10 Years of Percy Jackson: Enter To WIN Percy Jackson's GREEK HEROES! #ReadRiordan


Happy Birthday to Percy JacksonWe're continuing our celebration of 10 years of Percy Jackson today! What better way to celebrate his birthday, than with the release of Rick Riordan's PERCY JACKSON'S GREEK HEROES! Today I'm thrilled to not only spotlight this must have book for fans of Percy Jackson, I'm also hosting a giveaway! First, more about this book, and it's series. 


 Greek Mythology lessons: The GREEK GODS and GREEK HEROES books share even more insight into Greek mythology than the Percy Jackson series itself. What is so fascinating about Greek mythology? Who are your favorite gods? What myth do you find most interesting and why?  

GREEK HEROES IS OUT TODAY!!!
Pick up your copy Percy Jackson’s GREEK HEROES, TODAY! This is the companion to the national best seller Percy Jackson’s GREEK GODS available on Percy Jackson’s birthday, August 18, 2015Check out the downloadable Activity Kit for GREEK HEROES!

DETAILS
Title: Greek Heroes
On-Sale: August 18, 2015 
Description: 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.

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


Follow the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Percy Jackson via the #ReadRiordan.

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

THE GIVEAWAY


Be back-to-school ready with GREEK HEROES! Thank you to Disney, I've got an awesome Percy Jackson prize pack I'm giving away! 
One (1) winner receives:
·         a copy of GREEK HEROES 
·         plus a “Percy Pack” limited edition backpack!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Open to US addresses only. Prizing provided by Disney-Hyperion.


Per FTC Disclosure Guidelines, I have received books, merchandise and prizing from Disney-Hyperion for free. 

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 ~