To add a final touch to the "Christmas in July" portion of my Blogversary, I am reviewing the Four delightful Christmas "Izzy Elf" series she has created. They are an exciting addition to children's reading & listening experience!

Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf(Santa's Izzy Elves #1)by Dorothea Jensen (Author) , Michelle Alfonso (Illustrations)

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2 edition (September 24, 2013) | Paperback: 32 pages | Grade Level: 3 - 4
• ISBN-10: 1492778540 | SBN-13: 978-1492778547

Blurb about the Book:
A recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award for its e-book edition, this Christmas story in verse celebrates the power of children's imaginations and the magic of books. It tells what happens when two naughty boys find Tizzy, one of Santa's elves, stranded in their living room. Tizzy tells them that Santa's sleigh is powered by the imaginations of children, and pleads with them to use the power of their own imaginations to send him home. But how?

MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf is the first in author, Dorothea Jensen's new Children's Christmas Elf "Izzy" series. Eight elves are named in this first introduction to the series. Each book can be read as a "stand alone" but will be better appreciated if they are read/listened to, in order. 

Owen and Alex are suppose to stay in bed but with the excitement of their Christmas gifts, they sneak down to "check out" their expected gifts. However, when they open the biggest one, it is not the gift they expected to find!

This rhyming tale is set to the rhythm of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas'. It is a delightfully different tale. Will these two disobedient brothers have what is needed for a "Christmas Miracle"? Will Tizzy be stuck and not able to return?

The watercolor illustrations are very well done and are brightly colored on a "mat" surface. The expression on the character's faces are very complimentary to the tale.

This book is very entertaining, but is even more captive if the author's voice and emphasizes on audible or CD accompanies the book! The book on Audible or CD  is also more appreciated if the colorful illustrations are shown along with the narration. Either way, this is a series which is sure to be "a hit" with children ages six to ten!
​
I offer a Five Stars rating.
*This was gifted me with no request for a positive review. This is my honest review.

Blizzy, the Worrywart Elf (Santa's Izzy Elves #2)by 
Dorothea Jensen (Author), Shayne Hood (Illustrations)
The e-book version of this story is a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award! Blizzy, Tizzy's "favorite lass," is the only one of Santa's Izzy Elves who notices that Tizzy is missing on Christmas morning. When she starts questioning all her friends about when they saw him last, and where Tizzy could possibly be, however, they think she is just being a "worrywart." What Blizzy REALLY is, however, is very, very clever, and she alone might just figure out the mystery! This is the second of the Santa's Izzy Elves series of Christmas stories in verse by Dorothea Jensen.

MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
If you missed the first book of this delightful new "Izzy" series, never fear! Each of these can be read as a stand alone. However, you will not want to miss reading any of them!

In this "Izzy" book, Tizzy is missing! Blizzy is worrying herself into a frazzle while searching everywhere for Tizzy! 

​Shayne Hood has successfully created colorful images, full of expression in the fun illustrations.

Dorothea Jensen's voice brought life to her story on the CD of this book! The story alone would have been entertaining for the children, but her reading it with emphasis in the right places added to the listener's enjoyment. The book was made even better by listening to her recording of it.

The book is written in wonderful rhyme. However, in places like AWOL if it isn't read as A-WOL rather than A_W_O_L, the rhythm and rhyme will be off. There is one other place toward the end, where the rhyming isn't quite there, causing the rhythm to be slightly off. 

Regardless, this is a fun, newly created series, and hopefully there will be more!

This is recommended for grades 3-4 but I feel this would be a good series for children ages 6 to 10 years of age.

I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating.
This was gifted me with no request of a positive review. This is my honest review.

This book can best be appreciated by listening to the CD recorded by the Author.

Dorothea Jensen was born in Boston, and grew up in Chillicothe, Illinois. (This is the same little town where Johnston McCulley, the writer who created Zorro, grew up many years earlier.) She majored in English Literature at Carleton College and earned a masters degree in Secondary Education at the University of New Mexico. She has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South America, tutored refugees in ESL, taught junior high and high school English, and written grant proposals for arts organization. She and her husband have three grown children and six grandsons.

Her first historical novel for young readers, THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM, was named an International Reading Association Teachers' Choices Selection soon after publication, and is read in classrooms throughout the U.S. as an enrichment resource for kids studying the American Revolution. In 2014, THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM won a first place Purple Dragonfly Award in the historical fiction category. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt published an e-book edition of this book in 2014 as well. 

      TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF was Dorothea's first illustrated story in verse, which she wrote for families to read aloud with their elementary school-aged children. She has now completed three sequels: BLIZZY, THE WORRYWART ELF; DIZZY, THE STOWAWAY ELF, and FRIZZY, THE S.A.D. ELF. Modeled on the 19th century classic poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas", these story poems feature decidedly 21st century elves. The Tizzy and Blizzy stories are recipients of a 2013 Mom's Choice Award in the e-book category. The Dizzy book was "Story Monster Approved" in May, 2014 and received a 2014 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention in the Picture Books Age 6 & Older category. The Frizzy story is the first place children's book winner in the new Red City Review Book Awards. It also is a 2014 Santa Choice Award Winner.
      Santa's Izzy Elves stories are available in fully illustrated e-book and trade paperback editions, and as downloadable and CD audiobooks narrated by the author herself. Dorothea plans to write a story for each of the remaining Izzy Elves -- Bizzy, Whizzy, Fizzy, and Quizzy.
      Dorothea's new historical novel for young readers, A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE, was released in April, 2016 by BQB Publishing. It is set in 1825 in the small town in New Hampshire where she has lived since 1991. She is now working on a new novel set in 17th century Massachusetts, called A SCALP ON THE MOON.
      In addition to writing, Dorothea is an experienced actress and singer. She performed with the Ex Machina Baroque Opera Company in Minneapolis, and also played most of the Gilbert and Sullivan battle-ax contralto and ingenue mezzo roles with companies in Philadelphia and Minneapolis. She nearly always lost the hero to the soprano.
Websites: dorotheajensen.com | abussfromlafayette.com | izzyelves.com
Blogs:   izzyelfblog.blogspot.com | dorotheajensen.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dgjensen116 | https://twitter.com/Izzy_Elves
FB PAGES: https://www.facebook.com/A-Buss-from-Lafayette-1573026166247655/?ref=hl | 
https://www.facebook.com/RiddleofPenncroftFarm?ref=hl | 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Santas-Izzy-Elves/530055507092115?ref=hl

To Win your OWN Print copy + CD (U.S./Can only)) of Blizzy the Worry Wort Elf, enter with the Rafflecopter below.

Book Details:
Book Title:  The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid (Revised Edition) Author: Sandi Smith, Illustrator: Kathy Lee
Category:  Children's Fiction,  126 pages
Genre:   Children's Chapter Book, Animals, Bugs & Spiders
Publisher:  Mindstir Media | Release date:  January 3, 2017
Tour dates: June 18 to July 13, 2018 | Content Rating: G 
Book Description:
Harold! There goes that spider! See, he is running on the floor! That spider has to go. He cannot live here anymore!!! Oh, no! Beth looks very, very angry. What has A.R. Achnid done now? Well, before A.R. got into big trouble with Beth, he had a lot of wonderful adventures.

There are ten different adventures in this book. There is the time he went to the circus and rode on a balloon, and then had some shoo fly pie. Another day, A.R. and Rex (a Great Dane, who is A.R.’s best friend) decided to walk all the way into town, and they had such a wonderful time. Then, A.R. and his family went to New York City for the biggest craft fair ever (which was for spiders only), plus many, many other adventures.

Unfortunately, in the tenth story, A.R.’s current living situation is going to need an adjustment. Something changes in the lives of Harold and Beth (the humans) that will make things very difficult for A.R. Come along with A.R. for some fun, and find out what small bundle will cause problems for A.R. and his family.

As A.R. says, “Spiders rule!”

Book Trailer:

Guest Post: THE ADVENTURES OF A.R.ACHNID Sandi Smith
Finding your voice.  Writing in First Person (or third).  

I think I generally write in the third person. I am an outsider looking in, trying to make everything work out.  When I first started writing my children’s books, they were all written in verse. I loved poetry, and that was how I wrote.  Some people respond well to the poetry, and then there are some who don’t. They would rather have conversations between two or three different people in the story (i.e., “where were you today?”  or “I didn’t like that dress!”). I didn’t know how to do that.

Recently, I took one of my children’s books, printed it out, read it, and then I started to rewrite it.  I actually rewrote it in the first person style. It was fun! I had to work really hard at it, because three or four paragraphs would be in the first person style, and then I would switch right back over to third person (he went to the kitchen to get a drink of water.  His sister stuck her tongue out at him.) It actually was really confusing and frustrating. I didn’t think I could do it. Again and again, everything would go smoothly, and I would be writing everything in the first person, but then two or three paragraphs later, again, I would be writing in the third person.  I had to really pay attention to that. Once you get used to something, especially if that is the only way you would write, it is really difficult to change. But I liked the new style, so I am going to try to do more of it.

About the Author:
Sandi Smith spent her time as a young girl combing the shelves of the public library. She has always enjoyed the magic that books have to offer and was inspired by her high school English teacher, Mr. Coolidge to embrace the arts. The author found her calling as a writer early one morning as her first story came to her in the form of a poem. Since then she has written more than 15 children’s books, with her most popular series about the adventures of an adorable spider in the A.R. Achnid series.
​Sandi is happily married to her inspiration and husband of 40 years, John. She continues to write for her two precious grandchildren. When she’s not penning a new story, Sandi and John like to camp, kayak and to enjoy the simple life in their home in Pembroke, NH.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest​

​Here is the tour schedule

​Giveaway:​

Win a hardcover copy of The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid (open to USA & Canada - 1 winner)
(ends July 21, 2018)

The Pumpkin Patch  by Sandi Smith (Author)

• Publisher: Mindstir Media (November 5, 2017)
• Publication Date: November 5, 2017 |  Print Length: 425 pages
• Synopsis
  

How can one small-minded, angry person destroy the lives of so many people in her path, connecting them all together in a game of destruction and heartbreak? It is possible, but what pushes a person to enjoy inflicting pain to such an extent, leaving a trail of hate, anger, and defeat behind her, which only seems to make her stronger and more satisfied. Ms. Terri Plotski, owner of the Authors’ Book Agency, is that person, who, unknowingly, with a single thread of hate, has connected the lives of a small group of people, bringing them together with one single common denominator. Anger. The anger from this small group of people is building, but it has nowhere to go, or does it? Ms. Terri Plotski, owner of Authors’ Book Agency, has gone missing.

John William and the Bandits of Basswood by Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows 

John William Drake was born an explorer; just like many, many Drakes before him. His adventure really began with the discovery of an old book hidden in the ceiling of the Drake home, followed by the mysterious disappearance of his father. He lived everyday in misery until his twelfth birthday. A new friend gave him an invitation he could not turn down… follow me and change your destiny. He never imagined being captured by bandits and taken to a ship riddled with river rats was part of his fate. Not just any bandits – the Bandits of Basswood; known to be a ruthless and wild crew of thieves. Trying to escape would be a ridiculous idea. No one has ever escaped and lived to tell about it. Uncovering traces of his missing father gave him hope and upped the stakes. John William was determined to get off the ship alive and search for the missing pieces of the puzzle. The chase out of Basswood was on. He took a chance to change his destiny and ended up on a wild ride to solve the most important mystery of his life.
AMAZON
Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Praise for the Book “The imaginative world created by the author is especially fun. Some animals can talk (with attitude!), magic is in the air and emu-like creatures provide fast transportation. Yes, I realize this series is for children- and they can certainly read it. Just as soon as I'm finished.” “A simple walk into the world of furry and fairy alike. Enjoyed the character building, as the young boy finds himself in a world with furry pirates, and a feisty fairy princess.” “Love this book! Great kids book!”

Excerpt :Walking the Plank 
      “Stand up!” A bandit marched down the steps into the cabin. “You two are coming with me.” He dragged both of them up to the top. “Just stay quiet. Let me handle this,”
     Ferdinand whispered. John William nodded. He was too frightened to speak. The deck crawled with river pirates and bandits wearing sour, drunken scowls on their faces.
      “Toss them overboard! We have no use for them now!” The bandits cheered as they pushed John William and Ferdinand onto a thick plank of wood sticking out over the side of the boat.   
      “Wait!” One of the river pirates stepped forward with his chest out. “That boy is the princess’s friend. He could be worth something, Victor,” he bellowed with an extra deep voice. He certainly looked tough enough – with a chiseled face, broad frame, and big muscles. Even his slicked back, pony-tailed hair looked strong to John William. He began to feel a glimmer of hope.
      “Nonsense!” The stout, vicious looking badger pressed a blade into John William’s back. “Move, boy!” He let out a malicious laugh and glared at Ferdinand. “I love to cook hoppers. They make a tasty stew.” He moved the blade over to Ferdinand’s plump belly and rubbed the nub at the end of his wrist where a hand used to be along his whiskers. “Be careful. You don’t want to fall into this blade; it would make a terrible mess.”
     John William inched forward, watching the rushing water beneath him.
     “This is the princess’s betrothed! They are to be married when they are old enough,” Ferdinand blurted. He squeezed his eyes shut as if he expected to be boiled in a fat river pirate’s stew at any moment.   
     The Door in the Ceiling John William huffed and dragged his feet over to the ladder.
     “I don’t like climbing this old thing.”
    “You’ll be fine. I will be right behind you with the lantern.” His father gave him a nudge.
     “Fine…” John William clutched his hands around the rails.   
     “Relax, son.” He rubbed John William’s white knuckled hands. “This is just another walk in the park. You can do it.”
   “Okay, let’s get this over with.” John William took one step, then another; then he closed his eyes and climbed until his head hit the ceiling. He pounded the hatch with his fist repeatedly with no results. His father climbed up behind him. Thud! He gave the ceiling one good hit. John William ducked his head and the hatch flew open.
    “Here, take the lantern.” John William looked at his father’s excited smile. He swallowed the lump in his throat and grabbed the lantern. A chill hit his arm the instant it moved across the threshold. He used his elbows to boost his body through before he could talk himself out of it.
    “It is tight up here. My head hits the top; and the smell… it reminds me of Uncle Andrew’s old tree fort.         “Yes, yes… but do you see anything?” His father huffed.
    John William moved the lantern around every part of the opening.
    “Aside from some scratch marks in the wood, it is completely empty – not a single trace of anything.”           “Maybe I should come up.” His father took another step up the ladder.
    “Those scratch marks – they are from a rodent, right? Like a cute little mouse?”
    “Yes, John William; don’t worry.”
     John William crawled deeper in. Something in the wall caught his eye. He narrowed his eyes. “I, I think I see something. No, it can’t be.”
   “What is it?” His father blurted. Thump!
     “Did you hear that?” John William gasped. He jolted the lantern around. “I’m not alone up here.” A dark shadow darted across the wall, accompanied by more thumping. “Look out! I’m coming down!” John William stumbled through the hatch in a frantic fit, barely getting one arm around the ladder to secure himself.
​   The lantern hit the ground; glass shattered everywhere. “Fire!” His father slid down the ladder and covered the wreckage with his coat, followed by a vase full of water and flowers, extinguishing the flames.        John William perched at the top of the ladder, watching his disappointed father catch his breath. “I’m sorry.” He closed the hatch and stepped lightly down to the floor.
    “It’s okay; I was never really fond of that coat anyways.” He paused and smiled at John William. “You did well; I’m proud of you.”
    John William felt his dad’s reassuring hand ruffling his curls. “Now can I go to bed?”
      “Of course, we have an early start tomorrow… rest well.”
​     “Thanks, you too.” John William glanced up at the ceiling, and shuffled out of the study.
    “John William… you are certain you did not see anything?” He paused before turning the corner.
     “Yes. I just heard something. Maybe it was a rat?”
    “Most likely; goodnight, son.”
     John William waved and continued on. He did see something; at least he thought he did. What he saw was so peculiar it must have been his eyes playing tricks on him. It was a small red door with a well-used brass knob set in the wall on the other end of the space where there was enough shadow to keep it out of sight… but there was no way he was going back up there tonight. His father would have to find out another time.   
     Hawkeye John William approached the table and stared the possum down.
    “Who’s there?” The possum squinted through his good eye. He put his paw out, grabbing at the air.
     “Over here.” John William waved his arm awkwardly.
     “Oh, there you are – care to try your luck?” The possum slid three nut shells around on the table.
     “What? No, that bag hanging on your chair is mine. I want it back,” John William said. “Sorry, finders, keepers; I won it fair and square. You can wager for it if you want.”
     The possum raised his eye patch. “What have you got?”
     “Um, I have this pet hopper.” John William pulled Ferdinand out of his pocket.
   “Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait just one minute – I am no one’s pet!”
     “Ooh, he’s feisty; I like him! Okay, all you have to do is guess which shell the nuts are under.” The possum lifted the shells to show the nuts, then quickly swirled them around with his hands. “They call me Hawkeye; how about you, fella?”
     “Um – J-Jammer, yah – Jammer,” John William stammered, dizzy from watching the swirling shells. “That one.” He pointed to the shell in the middle. The possum lifted the shell, exposing the nuts underneath. 
    “Nope! Sorry, Jam-Jam; nothing there,” Hawkeye declared, sitting back with a satisfied grin.
   “Yes there was! I saw the nuts.” John William scowled.
    “I saw nothing!” Hawkeye snapped.
    “Oh, this is nonsense!” Ferdinand jumped out of John William’s pocket and yanked the bag off the seat while they argued. “Jammer, let’s go!”
    “Yes, okay! Thanks, Hawkeye.” John William perked up and followed Ferdinand out the door with his bag stuffed in his coat. “Hey – I want my hopper pet!”
   Hawkeye stood up and tapped his cane out the door behind them. “Come back here!”
  “Keep walking. Possums have terrible eyesight. We will lose him easily,” Ferdinand ordered.
   “Hawkeye!” John William turned and watched an oafish bandit stomp over to the possum, clutching a matted feather. “You told me this empyrean feather would give me magical powers! It doesn’t work. You sold me a broken feather; now I’m going to have to shove it in your good eye!”
      Hawkeye placed his hands over his heart and shut his eye. “It’s happening!” He fell flat on his back and threw his legs in the air. “I’m moving toward the light!” His paw twitched. He opened one eye, glanced around, and then shut it again. “Goodbye, Azra’s Pith.” He let out one last pitiful groan.
​     “Pathetic display,” Ferdinand muttered. “There is no way anyone would believe that… not even a big, dumb bandit.” The bandit nudged the possum with his boot. Then, with a defeated shrug of his shoulders, he thumped his way into The Garbage Pail to join the scuffle.

Author Elizabeth Bellows Um, let's see... when I was eight, I had a pet turkey. I used to take it with me on my very short lived paper route. Needless to say, I was terrible at delivering the paper. No one wanted a "Dollar Saver" with turkey poop splattered across the front page. Apparently that's where the best coupons are. Books... well, "Treasure Island" is a fantastic pirate tale. I love just about anything by Roald Dahl. I would also like to thank C.S Lewis for sending me on an unrelenting childhood quest for portals to amazing worlds (even in the most unpleasant locations, e.g... the older brother's closet, etc...) I love to write... these days sneaking away just to use the bathroom is hard enough. Finding a quiet moment alone with my laptop is impossible. I've developed a talent for making airplane noises out the side of my mouth for my son while squeezing in a paragraph or two. I write fantasy stories for children. Yep - I am a HUGE fantasy geek. I can't help myself! It's too darn awesome to escape to another realm with sorcerers and wizards. The underlying theme in my stories is empowerment, self love, and living purposefully. When football is on I turn into a different person. I may even use a curse word or two... or three. I enjoy running; which is a good thing because I need to do it in order to fit into my jeans. I love to cook and really, really love to eat. I have a theory that avocados actually contain super powers and have the amazing ability to make any snack epic. I also love garlic... which, according to my loved ones, also has an unfortunate super power ... the pungent breath-inator... or something of that nature. Few things make me smile more than chocolate, cheese, and a good bottle of vino... AND, if the Chargers would make it to the Super Bowl again - just once:)
Website * Facebook * Twitter

Matylda, Bright and Tenderby  Holly M. McGhee

• Print Length: 225 pages |Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0763689513
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (March 14, 2017)
• Publication Date: March 14, 2017
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

In a courageous debut novel, Holly M. McGhee explores the loss that shakes one girl’s world — and the unexpected consequences of the things we do for love.

Sussy and Guy are best friends, fourth-graders who share their silliest thoughts and deepest hopes. One afternoon, the two of them decide they must have something of their very own to love. After a trip to the pet store, they bring home a spotted lizard, the one with the ancient face and starfish toes, and they name her Matylda (with a y so it’s all her own). With Guy leading the way, they feed her and give her an origin story fit for a warrior lizard. A few weeks later, on a simple bike ride, there is a terrible accident. As hard as it is, Sussy is sure she can hold on to Guy if she can find a way to love Matylda enough. But in a startling turn of events, Sussy reconsiders what it means to grieve and heal and hope and go on, for her own sake and Matylda’s. By turns both devastating and buoyant, this story is a brave one, showing how far we can justify going for a real and true friend.

MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
Matylda - with a "y" - Bright and Tender is a wonderful, poignant tale of a close friendship which ended tragically.
It is about developing love for someone, or something, difficult to love. Additionally, it is about the process of grief 
each individual must go through in her/his own way and how others can allow them to work through it.

Finally, it us about unselfishness of caring individuals and of redemption.
The author has created a unique, captivating story which induces the reader too become very endeared to the characters,
The reader is "drawn into the story" to the point he/she will feel he/she is there.

The writing of the author, Holly M. McGhee was very effective, coupled with the most outstanding narration of amazing Jenna Lamia.
makes this a truly DYNAMIC Children's book on CD! Jenna Lamia is, by far, the most talented and entrancing "voice" i have ever listened to on tape. Her voice for each character is very concise. She never deviates. When she speaks of the background scenes its in a separate voice, also.
If an educator wants a beak or if a audio story is needed for Summer Reading Programs, rest assured, this young voice will captivate children more than most anyone!
This is not only an entertaining book but has a multitude of lessons one can use for several discussions.
This is a very STRONG Five Stars rated book on tale, in this reviewer's opinion
*I Won this Book on Tape. I was not asked to offer a positive review. This is my honest Review.

AUTHOR"S BIO:
Twitter |Growing up in the Steuben Valley of upstate New York, I never guessed I'd ever write a book or be a literary agent . . . I was pretty busy singing loudly in the hay barn with my middle sister, selling sweet corn out of my dad's red pick-up truck at Gerry Blood's gas station, playing with our kittens, and building my own balance beam with a 4X4 piece of lumber and two sawhorses—I dreamed of being a gymnast . . . my back up was meteorologist.!
What I did know from pretty early on was that I wanted to live in a city.  So during college I did a publishing internship in New York, and I fell in love with the place, all these millions and millions of people living in relative peace astonished me, how was that even possible? I was hooked. And eventually I became an editor at HarperCollins, and years later, when a few projects I was crazy about didn't make it through the acquisitions process, I decided to start Pippin Properties, a literary agency. It was born from a longing to see stories I loved in print.

And a little less than a decade after I opened the doors at Pippin, I was as surprised as anybody when the character who would narrate my first book came marching into my life while I was pleasantly reading on NJ Transit. She came in loudly and demanded I write down her story, in her words. That was my first real experience in writing (all in a spiral-bound notebook), and it led to the publication of the Dessert First trilogy, which led to my three picture books, two about a boy named Mitchell who was born to drive and one about my own son Marshall, who believed gingerbread men could run (I think we both still do). I wrote all of those under a pen name, Hallie Durand, because I wanted them to be judged on their own merit, not influenced one way or the other because I owned a literary agency or was a publishing insider.
​
But these days I'm writing under my given name, Holly M. McGhee. My first middle-grade novel, Matylda, Bright and Tender came out in 2017 as did Come with Me (a picture book illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre). Because the books are inspired by my own emotional journey, it felt right to weave all of the strands of who I am together. I so look forward to continuing both writing my own books and bringing books I love into the world at Pippin. Look for Listen, again illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre, in Fall 2019.
Twitter |Facebook | Tumbler |Website |

$10.00 Amazon Gift Card GIVEAWAY!
​[Ends 6/28/18]

Book Details:
Book Title:  Buckaroo Buckeye: A Little Nut with Big Dreams  Author: Kristin Anderson Cetone
Illustrator: Nadia Komorova
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7),  36 pages | Publisher:  KLAC Enterprises, LLC | Release date:  September 1, 2012
Genre:  Friendship, Social Skills & School Life, Bullies, Growing Up & Facts of Life  | Content Rating: G
Tour dates: May 21 to June 15, 2018
Book Description:
Winner of the Mom's Choice Silver and OneBookAZ Awards!

There's a new cowboy in town! Hit the trail with Buckaroo Buckeye, a lovable little nut who falls from his tree in Ohio, as he dodges the bumps and bullies along the way in a magical journey to find his true place in the world.

Created by Reading Specialist Kristin Cetone, Buckaroo Buckeye teaches children 4-8 to: • Learn to ignore bullies
• Improve their self-esteem
• Connect with reading
• "Dream, Believe and Achieve" no matter their size!

Your child will be inspired by Buckaroo's determination in this touching story with unforgettable characters illustrated by Nadia Komorova. Get yours today!

BOOK TRAILER:

GUEST POST: 
What inspired you to write this book, and when?
Book publishers and other authors often tell aspiring writers to write from what they know and have experienced in their life.  This is the foundation for all writers. I witnessed so many young children with low self-esteem because they could not read. Many were bullied.  I knew I wanted to write a story of encouragement and not discouragement, for children and their parents. Believe in yourself and follow your dreams.  Everyone has this tiny ‘seed’ within them and with determination, perseverance and nurturing, they will succeed. They will have to rise above the bumps and bullies along their journey to self-discovery as there will be many who cross their path!  I know, because through the years I have had many who felt I was too shy and too afraid to reach for my dreams.
Telling my story was my dream, but what kind of character should I have?  It’s very hard to find a relatable character to tell such a universal story, so I decided I wanted to create a unique, but adorable character for readers to love.  I got my inspiration from my own ‘roots.’ Born and raised in Ohio, the tiny buckeye nut ‘seed’ was a natural part of my life. I thought to myself, “this tiny buckeye nut seed could represent the tiny ‘seed’ we all carry within us with our passions and dreams.  With proper nourishment from family, culture, education, and life experiences this tiny seed will sprout and grow mighty…despite discouragement and self-doubts along the way, just as the majestic buckeye tree grows from a tiny seed. So, I brought Buckaroo Buckeye to life.  Did I mention, that as a child I was always fascinated about the days of the cowboy and the old wild west. So, I decided to transform my buckeye nut seed character, into a cowboy, ten years ago! Yippee!
The focus of my book came from my father.  He would ask many times, “do you know what a buckeye nut is?”  To be respectful, we would say, “No, Dad, what is a buckeye nut?”  He would always respond, “It’s a worthless nut!” This is the starting point for Buckaroo.  He starts his life journey of self-discovery to find his purpose and worth and place in the world despite discouraging words and self-doubts on the long journey, when in the end, this tiny seed finds his true place in the world and discovers it was within him from the very beginning.  He always believed in himself and his dreams. We are all born with the potential for greatness! So as Buckaroo will tell you, “Dream, Believe, Achieve.”
“Success comes from a tiny ‘seed’ within each of us.  This tiny seed contains our hopes and dreams and passions in life.  When we receive encouragement and nourishment from family, culture, education, and life experiences, the seed will sprout and grow mighty, and rise above the bumps and bullies and setbacks along the way.
Discouraging words…discourage dreams,
Encouraging words…sprout dreams,
Parents plant the seeds.”
-Kristin Anderson Cetone

About the Author:
 Buckaroo Buckeye grew out of author Kristin Anderson Cetone's imagination and joy of reading.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, she traveled many miles before putting down roots in the Arizona desert. Influenced by family, education, life experiences, and a desire to teach others, Mrs. Cetone discovered her purpose---just like Buckaroo Buckeye did.

Her true calling and passion is writing and helping others become successful readers. She created Buckaroo to encourage children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams while dodging the bumps and bullies along the way. Reading will help guide the way. Being a Reading Specialist, she has also created Nuts About Reading™ an informal, supplemental, online reading service. She shares her insights and suggestions to help parents strengthen their children's reading process and become successful readers.

Her joy now is to inspire and help kids to find the Buckaroo Buckeye in themselves.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

Blog Tour Schedule:  Here is the tour schedule

Giveaway:​
Prize: Win a signed copy of Buckaroo Buckeye plus a $5 Amazon.com gift card (open to USA & Canada - 1 winner)
(ends June 23, 2018)

BeachBoundBooks is pleased to be coordinating a Blog Tour for the children's adventure book written by Fiona Ingram, Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper (The Chronicles of the Stone). The tour will run from February 26 - March 19, 2018.

Title: The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper (The Chronicles of the Stone, Book 3) |  Author: Fiona Ingram | Publisher: Bublish, Inc | Publication Date: November 17, 2017| Genre: Children's Adventure | Number of Pages: 318

Description: Continuing the adventure that ended in Britain just a short while ago, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair, with their friend Kim Maleka, are now hunting for the third Stone of Power, one of seven mysterious stones lost centuries ago. The third stone might be located in an ancient city, hidden in the depths of the Mexican jungle.When their small plane crashes in the jungle, Adam, Justin, Kim, and James are rescued by an uncontacted tribe. James, who is wounded, must stay behind as the kids, with only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the city. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task.

Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on in search of the lost city of stone gods. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?

EXCERPT:
A guard turned Adam round to face Smoking Mirror again. It was horrible being so close to this evil man. He seemed like a giant, and his gaze bored into Adam as he leaned down from his throne to stare at Adam. His eyes were cold, hard, and utterly pitiless.
“Oh, but he is very … very special. In fact, quite extraordinary. I did not realize the true significance before, but now I see it.” Smoking Mirror spoke in a silky whisper as he stared fixedly at Adam. “You see, this boy has the fire hair and the pale skin of the god Quetzalcoatl who came to my land from far across the sea. This boy also bears the mark of an ancient civilization, yes?”
“Er … yes,” said Dr. Khalid in a sulky tone, shooting a quick, angry glance at Adam that seemed to say, “Now look what you’ve done!”
“In fact, the mark is from your civilization, no?”
“No … er, I mean, yes,” Dr. Khalid gabbled. “It is the ankh, the sign of life.”
“The sign of life?” Smoking Mirror shouted. “Then we will extinguish that life!”
He leaped up and screamed an announcement in the people’s language. The crowd remained silent except for a few women who began crying. But not a minute later, a deep collective groan arose from the gathering. Smoking Mirror’s warriors cheered and clattered their weapons against their shields as he continued with his speech.
Adam turned his head a little to one side, trying to catch Tukum’s eye. “What’s he saying?” he whispered, although he sensed already that it was bad.
Tukum’s head drooped. “He says this is the ultimate battle, because you represent the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, or Kukulkan to the Maya. He says the game will prove who is the ultimate winner.”
Adam could hardly speak. His heart had begun pounding so hard it felt like a hammer against his ribs. He was breathless for a moment. This was the confrontation Kotz had spoken of, but it would be impossible to defeat Tezcatlipoca.
“So he thinks we’ll lose?” Adam asked.
“Yes,” said Tukum.
“What if we win?” asked Justin. “It’s possible.”
Tukum gave him a despairing look. “How can we win?”

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

Book One: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab

Descriptions: A quest filled with danger... Seven ancient Stones of Power... Two young heroes...

This action packed Middle Grade/tween adventure tests the courage of cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair from the moment they arrive in Egypt. Can they survive a harrowing journey to discover the secret of the sacred scarab while being pursued across the desert by a deadly foe?

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab is the kind of adventure readers love! The fast-paced action, the evil villain, the secrets of the past, and the mysterious ancient setting make this a sure-hit favorite for both young and young at heart explorers.

Book Two: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur
Description: A modern day adventure as our protagonists search for Excalibur and the treasures it holds! This is a must-read for Middle Graders keen on action, adventure, and Arthurian stories!  Continuing the adventure that began in Egypt a few months prior in The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair are hot on the trail of the second Stone of Power, one of seven ancient stones lost centuries ago. This stone might be embedded in the hilt of a newly discovered sword that archeologists believe belonged to King Arthur: Excalibur. However, their long-standing enemy, Dr. Khalid, is following them as they travel to Scotland to investigate an old castle. Little do they know there is another deadly force, the Eaters of Poison, who have their own mission to complete. Time is running out as the confluence of the planets draws closer. Can Justin and Adam find the second Stone of Power and survive? And why did Aunt Isabel send a girl with them?

Join Justin and Adam as they search not only for the second Stone of Power, but also for the Scroll of the Ancients, a mysterious document that holds important clues to the Seven Stones of Power. As their adventure unfolds, they learn many things and face dangers that make even their perils in Egypt look tame. And how annoying for them that their tag-along companion, Kim, seems to have such good ideas when they are stumped.​

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
​
I’m a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, I was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked my new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with my mother and two young nephews. We had a great time and I thought I’d write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned book series later, I had changed careers. I have now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in my MG adventure series Chronicles of the Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and one already for Book 3! I also teach online novel writing for aspiring authors and I find that very satisfying. Relaxation time finds me enjoying something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. I love doing research for my book series. I love animals and have written two animal rescue stories. I have two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin, and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.
Facebook ~ Book Website ~ Twitter ~ Author Website ~ Blog ~ Google+ ~ Amazon ~Goodreads

Blog Tour Giveaway
Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice. 
Giveaway ends: March 19, 11:59 pm, 2018 
Open to: Internationally 
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. 
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Fiona Ingram and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.

This double-sided foldout book takes you on a fascinating journey deep underground. One side of the foldout shows the ground beneath the city, whilst the reverse side shows the ground beneath the countryside. The underground scenes include tunnels and pipes, creatures' burrows, layers of rock and the planet’s molten core, and run seamlessly into the next. Mixing urban and rural settings, covering subjects such as geology, archaeology and natural history, The Street Beneath My Feet offers children the opportunity to explore their world through a detailed learning experience. And its fold-out, 'laperello’ style, which extends to eight feet in length, is ideal for spreading out on the floor to pore over for hours.

  MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
This is an informative fascinating book describing-the many layers of earth and what "lies beneath our feet"!Written with children in mind, many adults will find this fascinating as well!

This very instructive book simply states each layer of the earth with various illustrations of the things which exists in each layer.

At the end of the first oversize eleven pages  of layers, the reader then goes back through he other side of the fold-out pages, continuing to discover more layers of information.
​The illustrations, by Yuval Zommer, are very creative and colorful.. 

This is an excellent book for parents & educators to use in teaching students 5 to 12 years of age about our earth. It is also a great book for Library Reading Programs.

The only problem I found is the print is slightly difficult to read as it often blends in with the page illustrations.

I offer a Four Stars rating.
*This book was gifted to me with no request for a positive review. This is my honest review.

About Author (per contactanauthor.co.uk)

1. I write picture books, including Spaghetti with the Yeti, Pizza for Pirates and School for Dads, with my husband Adam Guillain. I often write in rhyming text and love exploring silly ideas! I've also written over 100 non-fiction titles for primary age children on subjects that include biography, sports, art theft, spies, vampires, animals, countries of the world and many other things!
   
2. I can offer an author visit that caters for children across a whole primary school. I usually focus on one of my picture books with Reception and Key Stage 1, getting the children to join in and act out parts - this is lots of fun! For Key Stage 2, I offer non-fiction based workshops tailored to a range of topics to help children write their own texts. In these workshops I show the children a selection of my books and talk about how I set about researching a new topic and write my ideas in my own words and for a specific audience. In a longer workshop, I can facilitate the children writing and 'publishing' their own books.

Website: http://www.tinnedspaghetti.co.uk | Facebook |
​QUARTOPUBLISHING{ |FACEBOOK |

Complete the Rafflecopter below for chances to WIN! ( U.S./Can. Restraints only...Sorry!

The Adventures of Popcorn and Jellybean 
by Robert Gillespie
58 pages, Children's
Published July 24th 2017 by Page Publishing, Inc.
Popcorn and Jellybean had never ventured down the path beyond the big tree. But since they never really did anything exciting and even though it made them a little nervous at first, they decided it would be a fun adventure for a couple of days since. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty, as it turned out, if the explorers were not prepared! Join them as they took on new challenges each day, learn how to survive by following the behaviors of the animals they encountered, and go where Mother Nature led them. And who knows, maybe we would learn as well! 

​Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Google Play   Add to Goodreads

MY REVIEW:(LAWonder10)
Join in this fun "survival" adventure directed at a younger elementary age audience.
Popcorn and Jellybean are feeling bored so decide to go for a two day nature adventure. They get prepared with camping equipment, food, water, paper and pencil placed inside their backpacks. Although they feel they have everything, events do not go as planned.

This is a very cute tale with great survival skill ideas but not great for the age group the story would interest.

The illustrations are simple, colorful and very good.

^Spoiler: The first questions the children will ask is, "Why did nobody come looking for them?"
I offer a Three and a Half Stars rating for this book.
*This book was gifted me with no requirement for a positive review. This is my honest review.
​

GUEST POST:
The Birth of a Story
What an amazing journey this has been. As a first-time author, I really had no idea what to expect. And to be honest, it was more for fun, than profit.
The goal was to share a simple bedtime story that was created by me and my seven-year-old son Colton. I asked him to come up with the characters, and being the creative soul that he is, he came through quite adeptly.
I also wanted to present the adventure through the eyes of young boys, and my son was very instrumental in giving me his thoughts and perspectives in many areas. The more the story evolved through our nightly sessions, the more we wanted to bring it to life.
I thought I would try to self-publish and give it a little exposure, but it turns out that route is a difficult road to follow. It just didn’t have that professional look or quality that I wanted. At that point I could either settle, or explore other possibilities.
And we’re talking about an absolute rookie when it came to knowledge of the industry. But I just figured I would throw it against the wall, and see if anything would stick. Through a little research I came across a publisher in New York, and sent them a query.
We set up a phone meeting, and after giving them a brief synopsis of the storyline, I was told that they would be interested in seeing the manuscript. They were very upfront about the realities. They said I shouldn’t get my hopes too high as they get more than eight thousand submissions each month, and only a small fraction gets beyond the first stage.
As promised, I was contacted seven days later, and informed that they would be interested in working with me, much to my delight. I was assigned a coordinator, and things were expertly, and professionally handled throughout the entire process.
Needless to say, my son and I are extremely proud of the finished product. I have circulated several copies to friends and family for feedback, and have had wonderful, and helpful, feedback.
My son Colton and I also decided that this could not be just a beginning and end to our adventure. We have come up with several sequel ideas, and are currently in the publication process, with the same publisher, on the second book. The third of the series is being written as we speak. Looking forward to seeing what comes next!  

Here is the tour schedule

Giveaway:​
Prizes:  Win a paperback copy of The Adventures of Popcorn and Jellybean by Robert Gillespie and a $20 Amazon gift card (1 winner / open to USA & CAN)
(ends Feb 10, 2018)

Boxed Book Set Level 1 Description:
A1 Edutainment takes you to the world on an amazing new reading programme with Purple Turtle. The first level of Purple Turtle Graded Readers includes a set of 12 books with interesting stories and activities and 150 word count. This level is exclusively for learners who have just started reading. It is based on ATOS and Lexile reading level system.

Boxed Book Set Level 2 Description:
Welcome to a world of fun-filled learning with Purple Turtle. Purple Turtle Graded Readers by A1 Edutainment is an amazing new reading program that is ideal for emerging readers. The second level includes a set of 12 books with 12 interesting stories and several engaging activities that is likely to make learning an enjoyable experience. The book has a word count of 150-250 and is based on the ATOS and Lexile reading level system. This level is for readers who have just learned to read.

Boxed Book Set Level 3 Description:
A1 Edutainment is all set to take you on an adventurous journey to the amazing world of Purple Turtle and his friends. Purple Turtle Graded Readers by A1 Edutainment is a new reading program especially for emerging readers. The third level includes a set of 12 books with engaging stories and fun-filled activities. It is based on the Lexile and ATOS reading level system and has a word count of 250-350. This level is for learners who have started reading with confidence.
​

MY REVIEW:
If you are looking for a perfect gift for an older toddler or a young elementary student, do not look any further!
This is an attractively boxed set of 12 early reading books starring Purple Turtle and a cast of fun, entertaining characters! 
I can only wish I had seen the other two levels! I am certain they are ideal for the very young!

In level three,It has subjects of : a magic show; sailing; Birthday calendar; all types of jobs; growing a garden; birds; treasure hunt;imagining "If I Were"; rhyming; the rainbow; different types of homes;and when someone feels bad.

Each book is simply, cleverly written.  Each also contains two or three pages of various activities to increase learning and cognitive skills. 

They are all colorfully illustrated with animals and scenery to accompany the book's subject matter.

The set comes with helpful instruction to the parent/teacher ways to help student gain the most benefit from these tales.
This earns a Five+ Stars rating!
*This was gifted me with no expectations of a positive review. Thiis is my honest review.

Meet the Publisher:

Purple Turtle is India’s 1st International brand with its educational content in several languages sold in more than 30 countries including Russia, China, US and UK. The character of Purple Turtle has delighted children across the globe through beautifully created Purple Turtle books, rhymes, and videos available on YouTube.

Purple Turtle was created with the idea to spread education through a wide range of innovative books for children. To give them the experience of convenient online learning, Purple Turtle also brings both learning and entertainment on a common platform to give a wholesome learning experience to young minds.

Connect with the publisher: Website ~ Twitter ~Facebook
​

​Here is the tour schedule

Giveaway:​
Prizes: ​ Win one of 10 trolleys that contain 5 Purple Turtle books
(ends Dec 2)

​The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel (The Bedtime Story Books) by Thornton W. Burgess

In this delightfully told tale, Burgess chronicles the escapades of Chatterer the Red Squirrel, who's known throughout the Green Forest as a mischief maker. Narrowly escaping the clutches of Shadow the Weasel and Redtail the Hawk, the bushy-tailed little fellow decides to leave the forest for a new home, only to learn that curiosity, carelessness, and mistrust can lead to a heap of troubles.
First published in 1915, this engaging story will charm readers of all ages — as well as young listeners

​Author and editor of numerous children's books, Thornton W. Burgess was also a noted conservationist. In writing for youngsters he combined a gift for storytelling with his love of the outdoors, creating an entertaining menagerie of animals whose adventures he skillfully recounted in a series of charming fables. In them, he taught young readers about nature and encouraged Author and editor of numerous children's books, Thornton W. Burgess was also a noted conservationist. In writing for youngsters he combined a gift for storytelling with his love of the outdoors, creating an entertaining menagerie of animals whose adventures he skillfully recounted in a series of charming fables. In them, he taught young readers about nature and encouraged them to love the "lesser folk in fur and feathers."
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5732.Thornton_W_Burgess
http://www.thorntonburgess.org/​
https://www.facebook.com/QuartoKnows
https://twitter.com/quartoknows

U.S./Can. residents enter the Rafflecopter below for the opportunity to WIN One of the Thornton Burgess Books Reviewed above.

Sticks 'n Stones 'n Dinosaur Bones: Being a Whimsical "Take" on a (Pre)Historical Eventby Ted Enik, G F Newland (Illustrations)

Hardcover, 42 pages
Published September 28th 2017 by Schiffer Publishing (first published May 2nd 2013) 
ISBN: 0764353942 (ISBN13: 9780764353949)

The first book in the Unhinged History series is a ripping yarn--full of adventure and deceit--that brings to life the best-known public spat in all of paleontology: the bitter rivalry between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh. This frenzy of discovery and one-upmanship--known today as the Bone Wars--was a gold rush-like scramble to find the most and "best" din The first book in the Unhinged History series is a ripping yarn--full of adventure and deceit--that brings to life the best-known public spat in all of paleontology: the bitter rivalry between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh. This frenzy of discovery and one-upmanship--known today as the Bone Wars--was a gold rush-like scramble to find the most and "best" dinosaur fossils, thus bringing to glory to their respective home-base universities. Lively and witty rhymes plus wonderfully demented illustrations reveal how the paleontologists' infamous rivalry began, and how--despite making genuine and lasting contributions to the field--their mutual obsession with outdoing one another spun out of control.

MY REVIEW: 
This is a slightly humorous tale about the first two men who instigated the collection and promotion of Dinosaur bones discoveries.

Edward Drinker Cop and O. Charles Marsh, were the paleontologists w"who used unethical methods" in competing against each other during the years 1865 and the 1890s. 

Several methods used are comically addressed through word and illustration.

The poetry and prose, throughout the tale, was well-written.

The slightly abstract illustrations by G.F. Newland, were colorful and well done, but not the type this reviewer is a fan of.

The Book Title and Cover are very well done and a "good fit". The book is made of a Covered Hardcover with heavy, quality paper pages.

This is recommended for children ages 8 to 12.
This earns a Four Stars rating.
*This book was gifted to me with no suggestion of a positive review.. This is my honest review.