Wednesday, May 30, 2018

GRUMP The (Fairly) True Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff / Blog Tour: Book Review #Grump


I'm thrilled to team up with Penguin Random House to celebrate the release of GRUMP by Liesl Shurtliff. Today's blog tour stop features my 5 star review. This is a middle grade read, readers of all ages will enjoy!

ABOUT THE BOOK

By: Liesl Shurtliff
Published by: Knopf 
Released on: May 29th, 2018
Ages: 8-12
Purchased fromPublisher | Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 Owlets
Thank you to PRH for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

From the New York Times bestselling author of Rump, comes the true story behind another unlikely hero: a grumpy dwarf who gets tangled up in Snow White’s feud with the wicked queen.

Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed “Grump”) has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind.

     At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . .

     When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He’s bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn’t stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He’ll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that’s enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed.

A fun, entertaining twist on a beloved classic. Shurtliff once again works her writing magic, and has created a whole new story with all the original components. We absolutely love her twists on the classic fairytales, and GRUMP was no different. This book is just what we'd excepted to be, a new Shurtliff classic!

One of my favorite fairytales growing up was Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. This retelling is one I would have devoured as a kid. Told from the point of view of Grump, it wasn't hard to fall in love with this entraining character. His grumpiness is part of his charm, but it also provides some laughable moments too. He plays a much bigger, more important role in this story than the original. He definitely doesn't shy away from taking action when it's needed. I liked that he and Snow White formed a bond in this story. 

While I may not have been Snow White's biggest fan in this story, though I did like her, I was definitely intrigued with the richly detailed world building. It also adds an element to Grump's personality when you know the dwarves history, and the choices Grump ends up making. The dwarves is this story are born underground, have no interaction with humans, and eat precious stones. 

The storyline is fast paced, highly entraining, and completely unpredictable. The later is a huge feat in and of itself, giving the fact we all know how Snow White's story goes. I loved that Shurtliff was able to create a whole new story, while still staying true to the key elements of Snow White's story. 

GRUMP is full of hilarious moments, surprising twists, a little bit of action, and a character whom you can't help but like. Even if he is a Grump. I feel like this book has all the elements that first made us fall in love with Lisel Shurtliff's first book. I think her fans will really enjoy jumping into Grump' story. This book is perfect for those summer reading lists.

Friday, May 18, 2018

Enter to WIN an #AskEmma Prize Pack! #BeeAReader



Happy Friday! We're excited to team up with Little Bee Books today to host a giveaway an Ask Emma prize pack. Below, you'll find out more about this new release from Sheryl Berk & Carrie Berk. Before you enter to win, here's a little bit about Ask Emma:


ABOUT THE BOOK


By: Sheryl & Carrie Berk
Published by: Little Bee Books
Released on: May 1st, 2018
Ages: 8-12

BE BRAVE. BE KIND. BE YOU.

Emma Woods knows just how to fix all her peers' problems-or so she thinks-in this first book in the brand-new middle grade series Ask Emma, from the bestselling creators behind the Cupcake Club series!

When 13-year-old Emma Woods gets that tingling feeling in her fingertips, she knows she’s on to a great idea–and starting an advice blog for her classmates at Austen Middle may be one of her most brilliant ones yet! Who better to give advice on friendship, style, school, and even crushes than someone who’s going through it too?

But when Ask Emma goes live, she quickly realizes not everyone sees it that way. Suddenly, Emma is bombarded with peers asking her to help them postpone quizzes, get out of detention, and cut gym class short. This wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. . . .What’s worse, someone is posting hurtful comments, telling her to mind her own business. Despite her good intentions, Emma’s blog seems to only be getting her-and her friends–deeper and deeper into trouble.

Will Ask Emma come to an end before it’s really begun? Or can Emma find her voice, write what’s in her heart, and truly stand up for what she believes in?


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

A New York Times-bestselling author several times over, Sheryl Berk is most proud of the dozens of books she has co-written with her daughter, Carrie, including The Cupcake Club and Fashion Academy series. Ask Emma is their third collaboration. 

At only fifteen years old, Carrie Berk is already a bestselling children's book author, playwright, dancer, singer, actor, model and lifestyle blogger.


NoBully.org Partnership

Sheryl and Carrie are proud to work with No Bully, an organization committed to leading kids into a cyberbully-free world. Learn more at NoBully.org.


Enter To WIN!


BE NICE WITH YOUR ADVICE!
Find your voice, and spread kindness! One (1) winner receives:

Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Little Bee Books.

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Monday, May 14, 2018

CAPTURE CREATURES by Gibson & Dreistadt / Graphic Novel Book Review #CaptureCreatures


By: Frank Gibson
Illustrated by: Becky Dreistadt
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Released on: February 27th, 2018
Ages: 8 & up 
Purchase from: Simon & Schuster | Amazon | B&N
Rating: 4 Owlets
A copy of this book was provided by S&S to read in exchange for my honest review

100 creatures appear on earth. You’re gonna wanna capture them all!

Tamzen isn't happy: her dad is always busy in his lab, she doesn't exactly have a lot of friends, and to top it off, she's in trouble with the Rangers for going off into the wilderness without permission. But when a creature unlike anything she's ever seen appears unexpectedly in the forest, Tamzen sets off on an adventure with lab intern Jory and Ranger Teddy in search of answers...and what they find may be more than they can handle alone. Join the unlikeliest team of heroes ever on this beautiful, mysterious journey through a very wild world.

From the blockbuster team of Frank Gibson and Becky Dreistadt (Tiny Kitten Teeth), and featuring brilliant color work from Katy Farina (Steven Universe, Rick & Morty) comes a fully-painted comic book that takes kids deep into the mysterious world of the Capture Creatures!


This is a graphic novel readers of all ages can enjoy. With quirky, adventurous characters, to the creatures they discover / find, and the island setting they're on, there's definitely a little something for everyone in this book. The mix of Frank Gibson's writing, and Becky Dreistadt's illustrations are spot on, making each panel on each page engaging. This book reminded what I loved about reading the Sunday comics as a kid. 

This book is great for reluctant readers, and makes for a great summer reading. It's fun, short, quick read. If you're like us, you may end up re-reading it as soon as you finish it the first time, just to look at all the pictures. Some of the pictures at the end of this book are definitely frame worthy. This book is one I think fans of Pokemon, The Amazon World Gumball, and Steven Universe will enjoy. There's a little something from each of those that felt reminiscent in this book. 

Here's a sneak peak into the book:




Friday, May 11, 2018

Rick Riordan Summer of Magic & Mazes GIVEAWAY #ReadRiordan #TheBurningMaze #TrialsofApollo #KaneChronicles #DisneyHyperion


We are so thrilled to be partnering with Disney Hyperion to celebrate the Summer of Magic & Mazes, kicking off this summer with all-new Rick Riordan releases! New from Rick is The Trials of Apollo: THE BURNING MAZE. This is the third book in his Trials of Apollo series. We love the newly redesigned covers for THE KANE CHRONICLES. Trust us when we say you'll definitely want to enter to win this incredible prize pack (everything you see pictured above). 

ABOUT THE BOOKS/SERIES 



The Burning Maze
The Trials of Apollo Book #3
In Stores May 1st

The formerly glorious god Apollo, cast down to earth in punishment by Zeus, is now an awkward mortal teenager named Lester Papadopoulos. In order to regain his place on Mount Olympus, Lester must restore five Oracles that have gone dark. But he has to achieve this impossible task without having any godly powers and while being duty-bound to a confounding young daughter of Demeter named Meg. Thanks a lot, Dad.

Friends both familiar and new will emerge in The Burning Maze, Book Three of the New York Times #1 best-selling Trials of Apollo series, a twisty adventure featuring a hapless god who somehow still manages to think he's red-hot.

More about The Trials of Apollo series:


  • An Olympian Comes to Earth: The protagonist is nothing less than Apollo himself! Well, actually, he’s a mortal sixteen-year-old trying to earn his way back into Zeus’s favor by restoring five oracles. How will he manage without his godly powers?

  • A Godly POV: Apollo narrates the adventure; the disparity between his godly assumptions and his disappointing reality is hilarious.

  • Favorite Demigods Are Back! All of the beloved characters from Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter will aid Apollo in his quest over the course of five books.

  • New Demigods Are Introduced, including Apollo’s sidekick, a twelve-year-old girl named Meg who is secretive about her past—and is Apollo’s secret weapon.

  • Viperous Villains will complicate matters for our heroes as they search for the ancient Oracles.


Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual
The Kane Chronicles Companion
In Stores May 1st

Calling all young magicians of Egypt! If the blood of the pharaohs runs in your veins, you can't afford to be without this guide to Ancient Egyptian deities and creatures, and Carter and Sadie Kane's world of magic. Featuring fans’ favorite human, divine, and animal characters for the bestselling Kane Chronicles trilogy, Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual offers info about Egyptian mythology in laugh-out-loud entries with surprises throughout, including snarky comments from Sadie Kane and a dastardly plot by an old enemy.

More about Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual:

  • Tie-in to Best-Selling Kane Chronicles Trilogy featuring fans' favorite human, divine, and animal characters.

  • Offers Info About Egyptian Mythology in laugh-out-loud entries from favorite characters.

  • Has Surprises Running Throughout, including snarky comments from Sadie Kane and a dastardly plot by an old enemy.

The Kane Chronicles Trilogy


The Red Pyramid #1 | The Throne of Fire #2 | The Serpent’s Shadow #3
Series first launched in 2011
New cover designs released April 3, 2018

Fans of Rick Riordan's Greek & Roman and Norse mythology adventures will love his funny and exciting take on Ancient Egypt in the Kane Chronicles trilogy, now with dynamic new cover artwork and Percy Jackson-Kane Chronicles crossover stories.


More about The Kane Chronicles series:

  • Mysteries of Ancient Egypt: Egyptian mythology is more widely studied in school curriculum than ancient Greece. Both familiar and loaded with mystique, ancient Egypt is the perfect backdrop for Rick's imaginative brand of storytelling. Readers will leap at this real-world portal into the rich fantastical world of ancient myth.
  • More of the Good Stuff: Rick combines all his fortes--witty, relatable heroes, gods & monsters, prophecies, curses, and non-stop action--in this best-selling hit.

OFFICIAL LINKS 

Visit ReadRiordan.com
Follow Read Riordan on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Follow Disney-Hyperion on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook


ENTER TO WIN!



Thank you to Disney, we have a fabulous Rick Riordan prize pack to giveaway! Enter to win this Summer of Magic & Mazes! (1) winner will receive a “Summer of Magic & Mazes” beach tote plus seven Rick Riordan books!
  • The Trials of Apollo series -- with an autographed copy of The Burning Maze!
  • The Kane Chronicles trilogy – plus new companion book Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual!

Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Disney-Hyperion.


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ON GULL BEACH by Jane Yolen / Blog Tour: Book Feature & Giveaway #OnGullBeach


Welcome to Day#10 of the On Gull Beach Blog Tour! We're thrilled to be the final blog tour stop and to celebrate the release of On Gull Beach by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Bob Marstall. Released on March 27th, blogs across the web are featuring a scavenger hunt interview with Jane, plus 10 chances to win a set of On Bird Hill, On Duck Pond, and On Gull Beach! Follow along each day to see a new answer or poem from Jane!

TODAY'S EXCLUSIVE TOUR POST


I have been on docks when the gulls arrive. It's noisy and a great big mess!

Procession

Gulls in  a noisy row

argue about who goes first.
The dock is white
with their aggression,
feathers marking
each argument
like tickertape
falling on
a passing parade.

©2018 Jane Yolen


ABOUT THE BOOK 



By: Jane Yolen
Illustrated by: Bob Marstall
Published by: Cornell Lab Publishing
Released on: March 27th, 2018
Ages: 4 & up
Purchase fromCornell Lab Publishing | Amazon 
Together again! On Gull Beach reunites bestselling children’s author Jane Yolen and award-winning illustrator Bob Marstall for the third installment of the acclaimed On Bird Hill and Beyond series of children’s books written for the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

In On Bird Hill, Yolen and Marstall took readers on a surreal journey with a boy and his dog as they see the natural world, ultimately witnessing the miracle of a chick emerging from an egg.

On Duck Pond continued their journey, this time at a serene pond filled with birds, frogs, and turtles who are suddenly disrupted by their intrusion, but soon settle back into a quiet equilibrium. On Gull Beach brings us to an idyllic shoreline in Cape Cod, where gulls hover, dive, and chase with pitched acrobatics in pursuit of a seastar. This enchanting sequel in a brand new habitat will delight readers young and old.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR




Jane Yolen has authored more than 370 books, including the Caldecott-winning Owl Moon, which every budding young ornithologist owns, You Nest Here With Me, which is a popular new favorite, and the New York Times bestselling series How Do Dinosaurs. Jane Yolen’s books have been translated into over 20 languages and are popular around the world. Jane's husband, David Stemple, was both a well known bird recordist and a professor of computer science and he taught the entire family how to identify birds. Many of Jane’s books are about wildlife subjects, especially the winged kind. Jane lives in Easthampton, MA. Visit her online at janeyolen.com.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR


Bob Marstall is the illustrator of nine nonfiction children’s books, including the The Lady and the Spider, which sold over a quarter-of-a-million copies and was a Reading Rainbow selection. Bob has also been honored with an ALA Notable; an IRA Teachers’ Choice; a Smithsonian Magazine Notable Book for Children; and three John Burroughs selections.

In addition, two of Bob’s books are included in the New York Times Parent’s Guide’s “1001 Best Books of the Twentieth Century.” Bob Lives in Easthamton, MA. Visit him online at bobmartsall.com.

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER 

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds. Our hallmarks are scientific excellence and technological innovation to advance the understanding of nature and to engage people of all ages in learning about birds and protecting the planet. birds.cornell.edu


ENTER TO WIN



  • One (1) winner will receive a set of On Bird Hill, On Duck Pond, and On Gull Beach -- great summer reads!
  • US only
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FOLLOW THE BLOG TOUR

April 30th - Living Simply
May 1st - Mrs. Mommy BookNerd
May 2nd - The OWL
May 7th - Word Spelunking
May 8th - GeoLibrarian
May 9th - Chat with Vera
May 10th - Books My Kids Read
May 11th - Mundie Kids

Thursday, May 3, 2018

THE ITCHY BOOK by LeUyen Pham / Book Review & Giveaway #TheItchyBook


By: LeUyen Pham
Published by: Disney Hyperion
To Be Released on: May 15th, 2018
Series: Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! Series from Mo Willems
Ages: 6 & up
Purchase from: Disney | Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 4 Owlets
A copy of this book was provided by Disney in exchange for my honest review

ABOUT THE BOOK

They may be dinosaurs, but their gigantic discover still holds true three million years later.

Itchy dinosaurs try to follow a very important, very prehistoric rule. A rule so important and so prehistoric, it’s written in stone. DINOSAURS DO NOT SCRATCH!

Triceratops has an itch. . . so does Pterodactyl. . . and Brontosaurus. . . and T-Rex! But Dino-Mo reminds them all of the BIG rule: Dinosaurs do not scratch! What’s an itchy dinosaur to do? Find out in this hilariously charming beginning reader by author/illustrator LeUyen Pham.

MY REVIEW

Great for young readers, this beginning reader features some very itchy dinosaurs. With bright illustrations, laugh out loud humor, and repetitive words make this a beginning reader worth picking up. This book is definitely our favorite from the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! series. We loved seeing them introduce the book at the very beginning. Fun aside, we can to caution, this book may make reading fun, and may make the reader think they have an itch. You've been warned.... we highly recommend picking this one up! It's great for readers of all ages, and while it's the perfect beginning reader book, it also makes a great bedtime story.  

ABOUT THE SERIES

Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! is a beginning-reader series created by Mo Willems, author of the popular Elephant & Piggie book series. Best friends Elephant and Piggie introduce kids to their favorite books – brought to life in original stories created by contemporary children’s book authors and illustrators. 


LEARN MORE

#TheItchyBook
Visit the Official Site
Follow Disney-Hyperion on Twitter and Instagram
Like Disney-Hyperion on Facebook


ENTER TO WIN

We're thrilled to be partnering with Disney Hyperion, to host a giveaway for the newest addition to the ELEPHANT & PIGGIE LIKE READING! series. 

One (1) winner will receive an exciting book pack including:
  • The Itchy Book;
  • 2 more Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! titles: We Are Growing! and The Cookie Fiasco;
  • The final Elephant & Piggie title: The Thank You Book;
  • PLUS custom “Thank You” notes!

To enter to win, please fill out the form below. Be sure to read the giveaway rules prior to filling out the form. GOOD LUCK!

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Wednesday, May 2, 2018

New In Middle Grade from @HarperCollins / #MGLit


There are a lot of great new middle grade and kid lit books that have recently been released. These books are great for summer reading lists as well as current reading lists. Harper Collins Children's Books has made it incredibly easy for me to feature some of their most recent buzz worthy middle grade books. Thank you to them, we recently received a box of their newest releases. We are really looking forward to reading these books. Check out some of their newest books for readers 8 - 12 years old.



From Harper Collins, here's a little bit about each book:

  • BAT AND THE WAITING GAME by Elana K. Arnold, released on 3/27/18, this book is for ages 6 & up. It's the second book in a funny, heartfelt, irresistible and widely acclaimed young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum. 
  • ELEMENTALS: ICE WOLVES by Amie Kauffman, released on 3/28/18, for readers 8 & up. This is the first book in an electrifying new fantasy series about children who can shapeshift into torch dragons and ice wolves. 
  • INTO THE NIGHTFELL WOOD by Kristin Bailey, released on 4/3/18, for ages 8 & up. This action packed sequel to The Silver Gate follows two siblings and the fractured world they inherit when they are adopted by a grieving queen. 
  • FOLLOWING BAXTER by Barbara Kerley, released on 4/3/18, for readers 8 & up. This story is a heart-warming adventure for fans of The Fourteenth Goldfish, and A Snicker of Magic, starring 11 year old Jordie, a quirky professor, and a magical dog.
  • MAGGIE & ABBY'S NEVERENDING PILLOW FORT by Will Taylor, released on 4/3/18, for readers 8 & up. The first book in a sparkling middle grade magical realism debut duology about two best friends who discover a portal through their living room pillow fort. 
  • TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN GRAPHIC NOVEL by Philippa Pearce, released on 4/3/18, for ages 8 & up. This exquisite graphic novel adaptation from award winning artist EDITH of the classic, Carnegie Medal winning Tom's Midnight Garden, brings a beloved tale to a new audience and format.

Many of these titles can be purchased from your favorite book retailer. To find out more about each book, please click on the title link to be taken to the Harper Collins information page for each book. We'll be posting our reviews for each of these books over the next few weeks. Happy Reading! 

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

A Few New MAY Middle Grade Book Releases #MGLit


Happy May! Just in time for summer reading, there are some fantastic new KidLit and Middle Grade books being released this month. Pictured above are some of those releases. A few pictured are out TODAY! 

One of the things I have wanted to do a better job at here on Mundie Kids, is feature new releases. Every month on Mundie Moms I post a list of all of the month's new YA release. Each week I post the new releases coming out. I've been wanting to do that here on Mundie Kids, but it's a little bit harder as there are far more children's books being released each month than there are YA ones. 

This month I decided I'd feature the middle grade books I've recently received to review. Here's some of the newest MG books you'll find out now, and through out the month:

MAY 1st



MAY 15th


MAY 29th 


Each of these books can be purchased and pre-ordred from your favorite book retailer. To find out more about each book, please click on the title to be taken to the Goodreads page for more information. We're looking forward to sharing our reviews for each of these titles. *Thank you kindly to each of the publishers who have sent us these books in exchange for our honest reviews. 

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 ~