Friday, September 29, 2017

CLICK'D By Tamara Ireland Stone / Spotlight & Giveaway #ClickdBook


We're thrilled to team up with Disney-Hyperion to celebrate this month's new MG release from Tamara Ireland Stone, Click'd. We're huge fans of Tamara's on Mundie Moms, and look forward to sharing my review for her newest MG books soon. Click'd has received rave reviews, and they're much deserved. 

Thank you to Disney-Hyperion, we're giving away 1 copy of Click'd! Before you enter to win, be sure to read more about the book, including an excerpt, below. If you haven't already, add this book to your TBR lists.

ABOUT THE BOOK

By: Tamara Ireland Stone
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Released on: September 5th, 2017
Purchase from:
Add it to Goodreads
Read an excerpt from Click’d here

New York Times best-selling author Tamara Ireland Stone combines friendship, coding, and lots of popcorn in her fun and empowering middle-grade debut.

Allie Navarro can’t wait to show her best friends the app she built at CodeGirls summer camp. Click'd pairs users based on common interests and sends them on a fun (and occasionally rule-breaking) scavenger hunt to find each other. And it’s a hit. By the second day of school, everyone is talking about Click'd.

Watching her app go viral is amazing. Leaderboards are filling up! Everyone’s making new friends. And with all the data Allie is collecting, she has an even better shot at beating her archenemy, Nathan, at the upcoming youth coding competition. But when Allie discovers a glitch that threatens to expose everyone’s secrets, she has to figure out how to make things right, even if that means sharing the computer lab with Nathan. Can Allie fix her app, stop it from doing any more damage, and win back the friends it hurt—all before she steps on stage to present Click'd to the judges?

ADDITIONAL INFO

Visit the Official Site
Follow Disney-Hyperion on Twitter and Instagram
Like Disney Books on Facebook
Hashtag #ClickdBook

ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Tamara Ireland Stone (www.TamaraIrelandStone.com) is the author of Time and Time Again, a collection of her two novels Time Between Us and Time After Time, and the New York Times best seller Every Last Word. A Silicon Valley-native, she has worked in the technology industry all her life, first testing Atari game boards in her parents’ garage, and later, co-founding a woman-owned marketing strategy firm where she worked with some of the world's largest software companies. She enjoys skiing, hiking,and spending time with her husband and two children. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

ENTER TO WIN

Thank you to Disney-Hyperion, one (1) lucky winner will receive a copy of Click'd! To enter, please fill out the form below. Giveaway open to US addresses only. Prizing and samples provided by Disney-Hyperion. 

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Thursday, September 28, 2017

YOUR FIRST LOOK OF THE MARAUDER'S MAP from the ILLUSTRATED EDITION of HARRY POTTER & The PRISONER of AZKABAN from BLOOMSBURY #HarryPotterIllustrated #ISolemnlySwear


Bloomsbury has treated Harry Potter fans to their first look of THE MARAUDER'S MAP featured inside the upcoming release of Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, out October 3rd, 2017. If you're like me, and somehow missed this awesome teaser, I've included everything below; including the picture, links, and what they said via their email. If you haven't yet, be sure to sign up for their newsletter! Trust me, it's worth it. 

Per Bloomsbury:

Greetings Harry Potter fans,


As we get closer to the publication of the Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, we solemnly swear that we have been up to no good … Last week we released one of the most iconic items in the Harry Potter stories, Jim Kay’s illustration of The Marauder’s Map! Take a look at the map here and using #HarryPotterIllustrated let us know where at Hogwarts you would explore first!


Fizzing with magic and brimming with humour, this full-colour edition will captivate fans and new readers alike. Pre-order your copy today and make sure you are among the first to see Jim Kay’s depiction of the Dementors, Buckbeak, Lupin and much more!


**  **  **  **  **

We absolutely love the illustrated editions of Harry Potter. They're a must for any Harry Potter fan, and perfect for fans new to the series. My daughter absolutely loves these, and is reading Harry Potter for the first time with these editions. 

The Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will be out next week on October 3rd, 2017! Be sure to pre-order your copy from your favorite book retailer! 

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker By Shelley Johannes / Spotlight + Giveaway #BeatriceZinker #UpsideDownThinker


We're thrilled to team up with Disney-Hyperion to introduce our readers to a brand new character, who's book, BEATRICE ZINKER, Upside Down Thinker by Shelley Johannes, was just recently released. 

Like Beatrice, we think that sometimes the best way to solve a problem is do it upside down. Have you ever tried standing on your hands to solve a problem? It may not help you think better, but it does make you laugh. If you like thinking outside the box, or maybe upside down in a box, you'll like getting to know Beatrice. 

To celebrate this brand new MG book, we're teaming up with Disney to not only introduce our readers to Beatrice's story, we've got a copy of the book to giveaway to one lucky reader! To find out more, please keep reading this post, and don't forget to enter to win (at the end of this post). 

ABOUT THE BOOK

By: Shelley Johannes
Published by: Disney Hyperion
Released on: September 10, 2017
Ages: 9-12
Purchase from: Disney | Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

Beatrice does her best thinking upside down.

Hanging from trees by her knees, doing handstands . . . for Beatrice Zinker, upside down works every time. She was definitely upside down when she and her best friend, Lenny, agreed to wear matching ninja suits on the first day of third grade. But when Beatrice shows up at school dressed in black, Lenny arrives with a cool new outfit and a cool new friend. Even worse, she seems to have forgotten all about the top-secret operation they planned!

Can Beatrice use her topsy-turvy way of thinking to save the mission, mend their friendship, and flip things sunny-side up?

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Visit the Official Site
Follow Disney-Hyperion on Twitter and Instagram
Like Disney Books on Facebook
Hashtags #BeatriceZinker #UpsideDownThinker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Shelley Johannes previously spent ten years in architecture—where she fell in love with felt-tip pens, tracing paper, and the greatness of black turtlenecks. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two sons. Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker is the first book she's written. Find her online at shelleyjohannes.com.

ENTER TO WIN

Be An Upside Down Thinker! Thank you to Disney Hyperion, one (1) winner receives:
  • Copy of Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker
  • “Upside Down Thinker” beanie
  • And branded pencil case and notepad!
Open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Disney-Hyperion.

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Thursday, September 21, 2017

IMAGINE by John Lennon / Illustrated by: Jean Jullien | Book Review #Imagine #PeaceDay


By: John Lennon 
Forward from: Yoko Ono Lennon
Illustrated by: Jean Jullien
Published by: Clarion Books in partnership w/ Amnesty International 
Released on: September 21st, 2017 - TODAY
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads 
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review 

Imagine all the people living life in peace.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will be as one.

Join one little pigeon as she sets out on a journey to spread a message of tolerance around the world. Featuring the lyrics of John Lennon’s iconic song and illustrations by the award-winning artist Jean Jullien, this poignant and timely picture book dares to imagine a world at peace. Imagine will be published in partnership with human rights organization Amnesty International.

It's World Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than by featuring a brand new picture book (out today), featuring the words to John Lennon's infamous hit song, IMAGINE.

I grew up being a huge fan of the Beatles, and a John Lennon fan (and still am). One of the songs that always resonated with me was IMAGINE. What a beautiful message for living as one, with peace, without hatred, war, and all the other things that separate us from being one. With today being World Peace Day, what better way to celebrate than sharing my review for a picture book that brings John's IMAGINE song to life, beautifully. 

Like John's message in his song IMAGINE, this picture book is simple in it's words and illustrations, but powerful in it's message of peace, and unity. Written for young readers in mind, all who read this book will feel empowered to make a difference in making our world a better place. Even the youngest of readers will understand the kind gestures the pigeon in this story is doing, and how it makes the other birds in this book feel.

Quoting Yoko Ono Lennon from the forward in this book

"Everyone wants to feel happy and to feel safe. And we can all help make the world a better place in our own way. We should alway keep love in our hearts, and look after on another. We should always are what we have, and we should stand up for people who are not being treated fairly."

I love this. Imagine what it would be like if we all did our part, no matter how big or how little, to make sure other's felt happy and safe. Much like the pigeon in this story, even the smallest gestures of kindness and doing good, go a long way, and make a difference. 


WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

THE SCHOOL OF GOOD & EVIL: QUESTS FOR GLORY by Soman Chainani / Series Spotlight & Giveaway #GuestsforGlory #SchoolOfGoodAndEvil


Out Today! Happy Book Birthday to QUEST FOR GLORY the next installment in THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD & EVIL series by Soman Chainani! QUEST FOR GLORY is the next installment into one of our favorite middle grade series, THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD & EVIL. To celebrate, and a huge thank you to Soman Chainani, we're giving away some chapter samples of this new book.  Before you do, check out more about the book, and the rest of the series below:

ABOUT THE BOOK


By: Soman Chainani
Published by: Harper Collins
Released on: September 19th, 2017
Add it to Goodreads

If Good and Evil can’t find a way to work together, neither side will survive.

With every end comes a new beginning in the fourth installment of Soman Chainani’s New York Times bestselling School for Good and Evil series, Quests for Glory. Join Sophie, Agatha, Tedros, and the other students as they begin a new era in the Endless Woods—The Camelot Years—where Evers and Nevers alike must move beyond the bounds of school and into the biggest, boldest adventures of their lives.

The students at the School for Good and Evil thought they had found their final Ever After when they vanquished the malevolent School Master. Now, on their required fourth-year quests, the students face obstacles both dangerous and unpredictable, and the stakes are high: success brings eternal adoration, and failure means obscurity forever.

For their quests, Agatha and Tedros are trying to return Camelot to its former splendor as queen and king. For her quest, Dean Sophie seeks to mold Evil in her own image. But soon they all feel themselves growing more isolated and alone. When their classmates’ quests plunge into chaos, however, someone must lead the charge to save them...


ABOUT THE SERIES (Books 1-3)

BOOK ONE


By: Soman Chainani
Published by: Harper Collins
Released on: May 14th, 2013
Add it to Goodreads

The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.

This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.

But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?

The School for Good & Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.

ABOUT BOOK #2


By: Soman Chainani
Published by: Harper Collins
Released on: April 15th, 2014
Add it to Goodreads

After saving themselves and their fellow students from a life pitched against one another, Sophie and Agatha are back home again, living happily ever after. But life isn't exactly a fairytale. When Agatha secretly wishes she'd chosen a different happy ending with Prince Tedros, the gates to the School for Good and Evil open once again. But Good and Evil are no longer enemies and Princes and Princesses may not be what they seem, as new bonds form and old ones shatter

ABOUT BOOK #3


By: Soman Chainani
Published by: Harper Collins
Released on: July 21st, 2015
Add it to Goodreads

In the epic next chapter of Soman Chainani’s New York Times bestselling series, The School for Good and Evil, everything old is new again as Sophie and Agatha fight the past as well as the present to find the perfect end to their story.

As A World Without Princes closed, the end was written and former best friends Sophie and Agatha went their separate ways. Agatha was whisked back to Gavaldon with Tedros and Sophie stayed behind with the beautiful young School Master.

But as they settle into their new lives, their story begs to be re-written, and this time, theirs isn’t the only one. With the girls apart, Evil has taken over and the villains of the past have come back to change their tales and turn the world of Good and Evil upside down.

Readers around the world are eagerly awaiting the third book in The School for Good and Evil series, The Last Ever After. This extraordinary new journey delivers more action, adventure, laughter, romance and fairy tale twists and turns than you could ever dream of!

ENTER TO WIN


To enter to win, just leave us a comment here on the blog, or any of our social media accounts. See, really easy. Yes, it's open internationally! Don't forget to include your email address! 
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Friday, September 15, 2017

THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO DRAGONS (and Why They Keep Biting Me) by Wade Albert White / Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway


Welcome to the next stop in THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO DRAGONS blog tour. I'm thrilled to share my review for Wade's newest book in a must read series full of humor, adventure and friendship. Find out more about the book below and don't forget to enter to win! 

ABOUT THE BOOK


By: Wade Albert White
Published by:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Released on: September 5, 2017
Ages: 8 & up
Purchase from: AmazonB&NiBooksTBD
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 Fireballs
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review

Get ready for dragons, robots, and an even more dangerous quest in the sequel to The Adventurer's Guide to Successful Escapes! 

Anne, Penelope, and Hiro have returned to Saint Lupin's Quest Academy for Consistently Dangerous and Absolutely Terrifying Adventures, where there's only one way to leave: pass or fail. At the annual Quest Academy awards, they're recognized for their success in their first outing-Best Illegal Quest That Nearly Destroyed the Entire World--but a strange boy steals Anne's gauntlet and activates a new quest that pits them against all of dragonkind. Their charge: kill the dragon queen. The problem is, Anne doesn't want to kill any dragons! But ignoring a quest can have horrible consequences, just as killing the dragon queen would start an all-out war between people and dragons. To avert disaster, Anne and her friends will have to dodge robot attacks, defeat new foes, and survive the dangerous dragon trials just for a chance to explain.
With charming, funny text and lots of heart, The Adventurer's Guide to Dragons is the perfect read for anyone who likes fantasy with lots of laughter.
An unforgettable of adventure brimming with humor, friendship, dragons, and magic! This is the kind of book that gets kids exciting about reading. Be warned, this adventure is one you'll be reading at your own risk.... 

This adventure story follows a girl name Anne, and her friends Penelope and Hiro. When Anne is tasked with fulfilling a quest, it's going to take a whole lot of team work, smarts, and bravery to do the impossible. This is a hero's quest unlike one I've ever read before. It's the perfect blend of characters you wish you had as a real life friends, a lot of humor, and an imaginative, magical filled world with talking robots, dragons, a floating island, a volcano, unlikely heroes and so much more. 

White's writing is captivating. This book is such a fun read not only because of the voice telling the story, it also has the perfect mix of adventure, and humor that makes reading this book so much fun, for both kids and adults. We also like that at the beginning of each chapter is an illustration and at the end of each chapter there is a tip /guide for being an adventurer. This is the kind of story I would have re-read as a kid. I love being able to read this book along side my daughter now. 

I don't remember the last time I enjoyed reading an adventure story as much as I did reading this one. This is a fun, laugh out read with a cast of unforgettable characters, a richly detailed unimaginable setting, and an ending that will make you wish the next book in this series was already out. I really hope there will be many more books in this series. It makes the perfect read out-loud for a classroom setting or at home. It's also a great book for reluctant readers as well. I highly recommend picking this book up. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wade hails from Nova Scotia, Canada, land of wild blueberries and Duck Tolling Retrievers. He teaches part-time, dabbles in animation, and spends the rest of his time as a stay-at-home dad. It is also possible he has set a new record as the slowest 10K runner. Ever. He owns one pretend cat and one real one, and they get along fabulously.
Website |  Twitter 

FOLLOW THE TOUR
9/4/2017- Little Red Reads- Interview
9/5/2017- JrsbookreviewsReview
9/6/2017- Margie's Must ReadsExcerpt
9/7/2017- BookHounds YAReview
9/8/2017- Carina's BooksInterview
9/11/2017- The Book ShireReview
9/12/2017- The Desert BibliophileReview
9/13/2017- YAYOMG!Review
9/14/2017- Book Stacks AmberInterview
9/15/2017- Mundie KidsReview

ENTER TO WIN

Thank you Little Brown, (3) winners will receive a finished copy of THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO DRAGONS (AND WHY THEY KEEP BITING ME), US Only. Ends on September 19th at Midnight EST!

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Friday, September 8, 2017

BB-8 ON THE RUN by Drew Daywalt / Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway #BB8OnTheRun


Welcome to the next stop for the BB-8 On The Run blog tour! We're so thrilled to be apart of this tour. Being huge Star Wars fans, this is a book I was beyond excited to feature on the blog. Trust me, it's one that's worth picking up. Below you'll find more information on the book, my thoughts on it, and a giveaway! First, about the book:

ABOUT THE BOOK 

Written & Illustrated By: Drew Daywalt
Published by: Disney Lucasfilm Press
Released on: September 1, 2017
Ages:
Pages: 40
Purchase from: AmazonB&NTBD,
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 Droids
*A copy of this book was provided by Disney Hyperion in exchange of my honest review

When BB-8 is separated from his master, Poe Dameron, on the lonely desert planet of Jakku, he has no choice but to keep rolling. It's all up to him to get a top-secret map back to the Resistance so they can find Luke Skywalker and save the galaxy from the evil First Order.

It's scary to have a big job when you're just a little droid on your own. But BB-8 isn't alone for long. As he speeds across the sand, BB-8 meets all kinds of strangers who need his help. Should he do good things, as Poe always told him, or will that get in the way of his mission?

See how everyone's favorite little astromech droid makes friends and foils enemies in this funny and exciting new Star Wars adventure!

A must have for Star Fans of all ages! Stunning illustrations, and a message about friendship, hope, and never giving up, make this book one readers of all ages will enjoy. Out of all of Daywalt's books, this one is my absolute favorite! That, and I may be bias since it is about one of my favorite droids, BB-8.

Take a journey with BB-8 on his quest to find his master, and in the process, you'll learn that no matter how small this droid is, he's a true friend who does everything he can to help others. Even if it deters him from his mission. BB-8 might be small, but that doesn't mean he can't do amazing things. We loved that he always lent a helping hand to others, and not just his friends. In his helping others, he even over-came his fear of being alone.

Easy to read, and visually stunning, this book is one you'll want to read again and again. With humor, fun, and foiled villains, this is one adventure readers will enjoy. Plus, what's not to love about the illustrated Star Wars world, and getting to hanging out with a droid over and over again. The nice thing is that this book is both for longtime Star Wars fans as much as it for those not familiar with it. I highly recommend picking up this book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR



TEN TOTALLY TRUE FACTS ABOUT DREW DAYWALT FOR YOUR AUTHOR REPORT:
Before becoming an author, Drew was a farmer in the 1800’s.
Drew eats his weight in bamboo shoots every day.
Drew is a man of 1000 faces. Unfortunately, every face looks exactly the same.
The cheetah is the fastest land animal with recorded speeds of up to 80mph. Drew hopes one never chases him.
In addition to being an author, Drew is also a world renowned beekeeper.
And a race car driver.
Drew likes to make up stories about being a world-renowned beekeeper and race car driver. (He is neither.)
Drew just made a hot cup of tea. Please retweet.
Drew has three rows of razor sharp teeth designed for ripping and shredding his prey.
Drew has ferocious hair and he’s not afraid to use it.


ENTER TO WIN

Thank you to Disney Hyperion, (3) winners will receive a finished copy of BB-8 ON THE RUN, US Only.

Ends on September 19th at Midnight EST!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

FOLLOW THE TOUR
9/4/2017- Novel NoviceExcerpt or Illustrations
9/5/2017- NerdophilesReview
9/6/2017- BookCrushinGuest Post
9/7/2017- Book-KeepingReview
9/8/2017- Mundie KidsReview
9/11/2017- Owl Always Be ReadingReview
9/12/2017- BookHounds YAGuest Post
9/13/2017- RhiReadingReview
9/14/2017- Word SpelunkingInterview
9/15/2017- Once Upon a TwilightReview

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 ~