"Guion the Lion" - Children's Book Review and #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 9/13 #GuionTheLion

THE NEW GUION THE LION SONG LOOKS TO INSPIRE, ENTERTAIN AND CELEBRATE 

THE DIFFERENCES IN CHILDREN   

-- AUTHOR OF CHILDREN'S BOOK, GUION THE LION, INTRODUCES NEW SONG AND OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO--

In an effort to inspire children and parents across the globe to celebrate and appreciate the differences in all children, is a fun new engaging song titledGuion The Lion, available now on YouTube as well as on Amazon Music, Spotify and iTunes and more than 600 streaming platforms. Also unveiled today is the Guion The Lion Official Lyric Video. The release of this song and video follows the successful launch earlier this summer of the children’s book Guion The Lion, which was written by entrepreneur and author Rebecca Wilson Macsovits. 

“This new song, together with the Guion The Lion lyric video are both a superb complement to ourcolorful and compelling story that has been so well received by parents and kids,” says Macsovits, whose personal mission is to find meaningful ways to celebrate the differences in all children, allowing for a greater level of appreciation of these differences and encouraging acceptance. 

The song was a family affair as it was composed by Elwood Ervin, Macsovits’ cousin and in collaboration with his writing partner Betsy Walter. The singer of the song is Eliot Morris, also Macsovits’ cousin, and Wilson Young, her niece, who is the inspiration for the Giraffe character in the book.

Macsovits has also garnered the support of world-renowned music and entertainment personality Les Garland to drive distribution across a myriad of platforms and spread the song worldwide. Les, known as ‘Garland,’ has more than four decades of experience and was an executive or co-founder with major networks including MTV and VH1. He has also worked with bold face name artists for most of his career spanning the alphabet from Aretha to ZZ Top.  

“I’m ecstatic to collaborate with Rebecca and her team to release the Guion The Lion song and lyric video to millions of people,” Garland notes. “The song is a catchy sing-along for audiences of all ages and just like the book, it evokes a message of togetherness and kindness, which the world needs so much right now,” he adds.  

The Denver-based author wrote Guion The Lion to inspire and create conversations about the beauty and significance of being different. While speaking about the inspiration for the new songGuion The Lion she adds, “Music is universal and so is the message from Guion The Lion and connecting the two makes for a more powerful impact. The song is very memorable and absolutely encompasses the message of Guion The Lion.” 

Guion The Lion book follows the adventures of an imaginative little lion who sees things a little differently from his friends and was inspired by her three children including Guion, her oldest son who also happens to have Down syndrome. Full of whimsical delights, discoveries and beautiful watercolor illustrations, this book teaches children that appreciating individual differences and embracing others’ ideas can lead to unimaginable adventures and endless fun. 

As Macsovits launches this new song and lyric video, she reflects on how meaningful this experience has been for her personally. “It is extra special with the involvement of my loving family, all of whom have been incredibly supportive of this endeavor. My family, together with Garland, have been terrific in allowing me to expand my vision for Guion The Lion and this song is the first in many additional products and services to be introduced in the future as part of the Guion The Lionuniverse,” she notes. 

Guion The Lion the book  is now available for purchase on Amazon as well as www.Guionthelion.com. To learn more visit and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest. 

My Review and Thoughts:

Cute story. Guion the Lion uses his imagination daily to see dragons, dinosaurs, a mermaid, a carnival at sunset, and more! His friend Rae however, can't see the same things that Guion does at first. Then Rae turns her head like Guion, and begins to see the same things as her friend.

The back of the book includes talking points for parents and teachers. There's also some activities included in the back for families too!

"Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change." - Dr. Wayne Dyer (on the last page of the book)

GIVEAWAY!

I'm giving away ONE physical copy of "Guion the Lion" - Children's Book! Giveaway is open to residents in the main 48 continental United States only, 18 years of age or older. Giveaway will ends on 9/13/2020.

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"I Don't Like To Eat Ants" - Children's Book Review!

I Don't Like to Eat Ants by JTK Belle [Picklefish Press, August 1, 2019]. We would love to gift you a copy of the book to review, as parents will relate to the timeless message and children will love the fun illustrations created by Sabine Mielke.

I Don’t Like to Eat Ants follows two anteaters and the pros and cons about their diet of ants. Anteater Two insists it’s in their nature to only dine on ants, but Anteater One doesn’t like the taste and tells Anteater Two about the wonderful foods he’s tried and enjoyed more those little bugs. When Anteater One treats Anteater Two to a sandwich at the Peanut Butter and Jelly Deli, he too discovers he likes peanut butter and jelly, and decides to try more foods since he won’t know what he likes unless he is willing to take a chance.

“I Don’t Like to Eat Ants is meant to be read again and again, and enjoyed by parents and children alike,” says Jeffrey Belle. “It’s charm and silliness attract the early readers, but the moral is one parents know all too well and will appreciate.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The family of authors known as JTK Belle—father Jeffrey and his children Tommy and Katie—founded Picklefish Press in 2017. Their previous works include Freeda the Cheetah, Katherine’s Bike was Wonderfully Strange, and Tommy O’Tom in a Tub O’ Trouble. Katie and Tommy both are passionate about nonprofit work, as Katie raises funds for pediatric cancer research, and Tommy focuses his philanthropic efforts toward wildlife conservation. Jeff currently works for Amazon Publishing. The family resides in Seattle.

My Review: 
Adorable children's book! Especially great for children who are picky eaters. If kids would just give new foods a chance, they might actually like what they are tasting. This book would be fantastic for children with sensory food issues too!

Purchase your copy online or at your nearest book retailer starting August 1st!


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Smith publishing in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Ella and Mrs Gooseberry - Children's Book #Review!

"Ella and Mrs Gooseberry" by Penelope Pratley & Vikki Conley (EK Books, August  2019), a gentle, heartwarming story about finding love.

Grumpy old Mrs Gooseberry from next door has lost her love. ‘I didn’t know you could lose love,’ says Ella. So she begins her quest to find out what love looks like and how she can help Mrs Gooseberry to rediscover it. Her mother says love is like home-cooked pie. Her teacher says it’s like lanterns in the night. Perhaps love might look like a little kitten. Ella and Mrs Gooseberry is a heart-warming picture book about a child’s understanding of love, selfless giving and how it makes you feel.

My Review:
Beautiful book! Well written. When reading it, children will learn what love is.  Ella cared a lot about her neighbor, but her neighbor had nothing to care about other than her chickens and her garden. She had no one to talk to or play with, or spend her days with, until Ella did something special for Mrs. Gooseberry!


Disclosure: I received one copy of "Ella and Mrs. Goosberry" children's book, from EK Books, in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

"Grandpa’s Noises" by Gareth St John Thomas & Colin Rowe - Children's Book Review!

About the book "Grandpa’s Noises" by Gareth St John Thomas & Colin Rowe:
Children love laughing about body noises. In Grandpa’s Noises, a range of sounds and words coming from body and mouth are explained in a warm and funny intergenerational romp. For example, ‘Eyenolessgofurawark’ is obviously Grandpa-speak for ‘I know, let’s go for a walk’. But some sounds — like the ‘Fffffffft’ that sometimes escapes Grandpa’s bottom — need no explanation!

My Review:
Very cute book! Especially for 2-6 year olds, up to Kindergarten. Grandpas can make a lot of noise, and for little children, they can be quite curious about them. The older we get, the more our bodies snap, crackle, and pop!

Purchase your copy today of Grandpa's Noises on Amazon (non-aff. link) or at your local book retailers!


Disclosure: I received one copy of "Grandpa's Noises" children's book from EK Books in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged ore received.

Finding Granny: We never really lose the people we love ... - Children's Book Review! #FindingGranny

Every two seconds, someone in the world suffers a stroke. In Finding Granny, that someone is Edie’s beloved grandmother. When Edie comes to the hospital, she is confronted by the physical changes in her grandmother: muddled words, a crooked face, a woman confined to bed. This isn’t the ‘playtime, bedtime, story-time pantomime Granny’ that Edie knows. "That’s not my Granny," she says, as she waits outside in the corridor during her mother’s visits. But when her mother takes Edie to watch one of Granny’s art therapy sessions, Edie starts to understand that the Granny she loves is still there. Finding Granny is a heart-warming story of changing relationships and the bond between children and grandparents. It’s also a sensitive exploration of coping with illness and disability that will offer children much-needed comfort.

About the Author:
Kate Simpson spent her childhood with her nose in a book but always thought writing was something that other people did - people with ‘ideas’. In her thirties, Kate finally decided to give it a try and discovered that ideas can come from anywhere and writing can be for anyone. When she’s not writing or reading, Kate loves board games and laughter, the feel of the sun on her face, and spending time with family, particularly her two young children. This is her first picture book.

About the Illustrator:
Gwynneth Jones drew all through her maths book at school, so left to study art at TAFE and then majored in Plant and Wildlife Illustration at the University of Newcastle. Since then, Gwynneth has been imagining, drawing, exhibiting and holding market stalls. Gwynneth is also studying to be an art therapist.

My Review:
"Finding Granny" is a great children's book to teach them about people, like their grandparents, who might have a stroke. This book is a great teaching tool to show children that even though someone close to them might have a stroke, that it will take them a while to get back to normal. And also, that they may never be like they used to again. I wish I would have had this book around when I was little. It would have helped me to understand more about the older family members around me.


Disclosure: I received one copy of "Finding Granny" from EKBooks in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Perfect Petunias - Children's Book Review! #EKBooks

Perfect Petunias is a book especially for those little people who find it hard to make mistakes, designed to ’shape’ perfectionistic tendencies towards being a little more self-accepting and flexible. Loppy LAC is very worried about not doing his homework well enough. He is always focusing on what he hasn’t done rather then what he has, and he becomes very frustrated. So, his friend Curly teaches him about how petunias grow - in lots of different, imperfect directions that we can’t control! Loppy learns that by trying to control whether he makes mistakes or not it’s as if he’s always trying to grow ‘perfect’ petunias.  Sometimes he just needs to accept that things go a certain way and to change his definition of ‘perfect’ to mean trying his absolute best. Perfect Petunias is the third book in the ‘Lessons of a LAC’ series. This gorgeous series, by an author and illustrator who are passionate about giving children ways to think about and manage common emotional difficulties, is a valuable resource for every child to help guide their emotional development.

About the book:
Loppy LAC is very worried about not doing his homework well enough. He focuses on what he hasn't done rather then what he has, and he becomes frustrated. His friend Curly teaches him a lesson about perfection by explaining how petunias grow - in lots of different, imperfect directions that we can't control! Loppy learns that by trying to control whether he ever makes mistakes is like trying to grow "perfect" petunias. Sometimes he just needs to accept that things go a certain way and "perfect" can mean trying your absolute best.

For more information about "Perfect Petunias" and Teacher's Notes and activities to do with children or students: https://ekbooks.org/product/perfect-petunias/#prettyPhoto

About the Author:
Lynn Jenkins is a clinical psychologist, author and mother of three. Lynn is passionate about early intervention in the social and emotional development of children, and has written picture books on the topics of anxiety and worry (Lessons of a LAC and Brave, and Perfect Petunias), a picture book on mindfulness called Ollie's Treasures, as well as two non-fiction titles for adults, Best Start and School Start.

Illustrator:
Kirrili Lonergan is a children’s book illustrator and mother of four. She has illustrated several picture books (Lessons of a LAC, Perfect Petunias, Brave and Dandelions) as well as created designs for clothes, prints and pottery. She is passionate about illustrating picture books that have a ‘healing’ message and has a great understanding of the need for such books as a result of her previous work as a pediatric nurse.

My Thoughts:
I feel that "Perfect Petunias" is an adorable children's book! I like that it teaches children that it's ok to be themselves and to not be perfect all the time. Our children in kindergarten and first grade really need this message today. As the Common Core standards and tests make kids believe if they aren't perfect and getting their scores above a certain level, then the kids feel that they are dumb. And sometimes, there are teachers who tell the kids this because they feel that the child should have done better, instead of encouraging them to do so. My almost nine year old knows that when she takes her STAR tests, she's only competing against herself and her own scores, not against kids in the school or her class.

"Perfect Petunias" teaches us all that we aren't perfect, and that our work isn't always going to be perfect, and that's ok. I am me. I do me, you do you! And that's ok!


Disclosure: I received one copy of "Perfect Petunias" children's book from EK Books in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

"Stewie Boom! and Princess Penelope: Handprints, Snowflakes and Play-dates" children's book Review

About the Book:

At school, Penelope’s teacher encourages the class to play with someone new at recess so that they can see that minds, like handprints and snowflakes, are one of a kind. Penelope chooses Eric and they have so much fun she invites him over for a play-date. Before he arrives, Penelope’s Mom tells her that Eric’s mind is called “on the spectrum,” and so his unique preferences might be different from the ones she’s used to. To prepare, they practice using quiet voices, listening with their eyes, and being flexible. As their play-date unfolds, Penelope and Eric show readers the many ways that families can embrace neuro-diversity.

This children's book focuses on neurodiversity and children with autism spectrum disorder. April is Autism Awareness Month! This book is geared towards both families and parents of special needs children and families in general.

This book includes:
• How parents can help facilitate successful social interactions between children with ASD and their typical playmates.

• Practical tips for both special needs families going on a playdate and the families welcoming them.
• Ten Tips to welcome Special Needs families for a play-date
• Ten Tips for special needs families
• Five Friendship Goals for Children
• The BOOM Friendship Award

About the Author:

Christine Bronstein. is an entrepreneur, a mom, an author, a philanthropist, and a wife. She's the founder of Nothing But The Truth Publishing, and the author of the Stewie Boom! series of children’s books. She's a graduate of the Columbia/UC-Berkeley executive MBA program and am a member of the honor society Beta Gamma Sigma, and am also a graduate of Emerge California. I was the CEO of one of the few women-run, venture-backed health and fitness companies in the nation for eight years and was president of a child-welfare foundation for three years. She is married to Bay Area journalist Phil Bronstein, and the mother to three children, multiple dogs and several other small creatures.

My Story:

My ten and a half year old son has Autism, he has high functioning Asperger's, well, at least that's what it seems like. He also has Sensory Integration Disorder and other sensory issues. He was also diagnosed back in 2015 with a behavioral disorder. He doesn't respect his teachers, his dad, and sometimes, even me. He does more for my husband and I then for most other people. Once he knows someone, he will push every single one of their buttons and hurt them when he can by not doing what they need and want him to do.

Some of his friends have known him since PreK and some since Kindergarten. So they know that on the playground and outside of school, Matthew is great, a good friend and a lot of fun to be around. But when he's in the classroom, he's been a huge distraction, refusing to do his school work, causing scenes inside the classroom, and having classwork sent home to do at home. He's currently receiving a D in 4th grade math. He knows math! He does really well on his homework and test reviews at home.

My ten and a half year old son is a mystery to me, his father, his teachers, and more. He is plenty capable of doing what the other kids are doing in class and following directions. He has done it on rare occasions and when he does, he makes us proud. But when he doesn't, we always ask him what's going on, what can we do to get him to do his classwork, or ask him if someone is bullying him. But when we talk to him, other than telling him that we love him so much and that we will love him no matter what, there's not much that we can do. We've talked him to death!

My latest conversation with Matthew ended with me telling him that if he'd do his classwork in class, that he would make his friends, classmates, teachers and us, his parents, happy. That the timers in his classroom that his teachers are using would stop if he'd just do his classwork and do what the other kids in class are doing when the teachers ask him to do.

So far, so good. It lasted for two whole school days! Thursday last week, and yesterday! I keep reminding him every night what he needs to do. He repeats to me that he knows! But I have to keep reinforcing it when I can, and tell him how happy he makes me that he's doing his classwork in school. Being the parent of a child on the spectrum has it's ups, and of course, its downs. Some days are easy, but most days are hard.

My Review:

"Stewie Boom! and Princess Penelope: Handprints, Snowflakes and Play-dates" children's book explains to children that we are all different like our handprints and snowflakes, and about how we all like to do different things. It also explains that children on the spectrum can help us to see new ways of looking at the world. It also explains that other people might communicate what they are feeling with their body language.

I wish that this book existed when my son was four to six years old. It would of helped his classmates and friends that came over to play that he is like them, but he's also different too. It might have also helped us to have better play-dates and on how to develop better friendships.

I recommend this book to everyone who has a child on the spectrum from ages two to eight or nine. My almost nine year old daughter read this book with her five and a half year old sister, and it helped them both to understand how their friends are different then they are.

I also have an Autistic girl in my Daisy Troop. I can't wait to share this book with them in the fall and use it to discuss children on the spectrum!

Purchase your copy of "Stewie Boom! and Princess Penelope: Handprints, Snowflakes and Play-dates" children's book today on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stewie-BOOM-Princess-Penelope-Handprints/dp/0997296275

Disclosure: I received a copy of "Stewie Boom! and Princess Penelope: Handprints, Snowflakes and Play-dates" children's book from Nothing But The Truth Publishing who specializes in works by diverse female authors as well as children's books.

There's a Dragon in my Closet - Children's Book Review & Giveaway! (2 Winners) (U.S.) Ends 8/21

About the book:
There’s a Dragon in My Closet tells the funny and engaging tale of a little boy who blames sweet surprises and mischievous behavior on an invisible, mysterious guest only he knows exists: the friendly, goofy, trouble making dragon that lives in his closet. Readers will appreciate the warm, loving relationship between the little boy and his dragon, as well as between the boy and his mother: a nurturer who gives her son space to let his imagination soar. The appearance of the dragon, big and powerful yet vulnerable, is a precious reveal that will leave readers rooting for the friendship and wondering if the animal is truly a figment of the little boy’s imagination.

There’s a Dragon in My Closet, lushly illustrated by renowned fine artist Charly Palmer, is a fitting picture book in the debut year of Denene Millner Books, as it fulfills the line’s mission to highlight the everyday stories of black children and families beyond the typical civil rights movement stories and slave narratives that dominate the genre. While the book’s themes of friendship and imagination are universal, There’s a Dragon in My Closet celebrates the humanity and everyday wonder of a character from a group that rarely finds space in children’s picture books: black boys.

Renowned fine artist Charly Palmer’s colorful illustrations bring to life Dorothea Taylor’s crackling prose, celebrating a little boy who blames sweet surprises and mischievous behavior on a mysterious guest only he thinks exists: the friendly, goofy, trouble making dragon in his closet. This inventive and engaging story highlights:

• The wonder of friendship and the power of imagination

• The importance of playful mischievousness on childhood development

• A lush, colorful, all-too-rare main African American male character reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats’s Peter

Charly Palmer is a nationally recognized fine artist whose work is in private and public collections, including the McDonald’s Corporation, the Coca-Cola Company, and Vanderbilt University.

"There’s a Dragon in My Closet is a hilarious and heartwarming salute to mischievous little boys and the imaginary friends who find giggles and create a few pickles on the most ordinary days." Dorothea Taylor runs an award-winning design studio, T.P. Design Inc.

My Review:
"There's a Dragon in My Closet" is a cute children's book with rhyming words, which makes it even cuter! I really like that the little boy in the book has brown skin, that's what my children call black people, or African Americans if you want to get technical. But I've said that a few times to people with brown skin, and they've personally told me that they aren't from Africa, nor are their descendants. Some of them are from England, America, and so on.

The little boy in the story has quite an imagination. As he has a dragon in his closet for sure! His dragon does naughty things, including eating a whole jar of cookies! That's when his mom grabs his hand and takes him upstairs to see if there really is a dragon in his closet! I will let you purchase the book to find out what happens!

GIVEAWAY!

Enter below using the Giveaway Tools form for a chance to Win your own copy of "There’s a Dragon in My Closet" children's book (2 Winners)! Giveaway is open to residents who live in the main 48 Continental United States only, 18 years of age or older. Sorry, no P.O. Boxes. Giveaway ends 8/21/2017.

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Disclosure: I received one copy of "There's a Dragon in my Closet" in exchange for my review and giveaway post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

"The Queen Is Coming to Tea" by Linda Ravin - Children's Book Review, a Recipe, and a Giveaway! (2 Winners) (U.S.) Ends 8/6

Can Ellie and her furry friends get everything ready in time for tea with the Queen?

One day there was a knock at Ellie’s door. There stood the Queen’s Footman.

“A message from Her Royal Highness.” He offered Ellie a note on a silver tray.

May I please come for tea?

Sincerely yours,

The Queen Herself

When Ellie finds out the Queen is coming to tea, she snaps to attention! With her best friend, Langley the Elephant, Ellie travels to Paris, China, Italy, and New York to make sure they have everything they need for tea with the Queen. But will the Queen patiently wait? And what exactly will be waiting for the Queen?

My Review:
I loved this cute children's book and the imagination of the little girl Ellie in the story. She flies all over Europe to gather all of the things that she'll need for her tea party with the Queen and she brings her friends (plush animals) with her. When it's time for tea, her mom is the one arriving for the tea party! Her mom is the queen. It's truly adorable. My girls love this new book as much as I do. I can't wait to read it with them again!

About the Author and Illustrator: 

LINDA LODDING is originally from New York, but has spent the past fifteen years in Austria, the Netherlands, and now lives in Sigtuna, Sweden. Visit her at www.lindalodding.com.

After finishing her studies, CONSTANZE VON KITZING worked in the cover department at Der Spiegel. She now works as a freelance illustrator, teaches, and runs an art shop in Cologne, Germany, where she lives with her family.

Peach Mango White Iced Tea Recipe

Ingredients: 

4 Cups Water

3 White Tea Bags

1 Peach

½ Cup Chopped Frozen Mango

1 tbsp sugar plus Sugar to Taste

Instructions:

Boil the 6 cups of water; remove from heat/

Steep the tea bags about 5 minutes; remove bags and allow tea to cool to room temperature/

Add chopped peaches and mango to a mixing bowl and mix with sugar; let fruit soften/

Place fruit in pitcher and pour cooled tea on top; add sugar to taste and stir/

Chill and serve.

Enter below for a chance to Win One Ceramic Tea Set and One copy of "The Queen Is Coming to Tea!" (2 Winners)

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received one copy of "The Queen is Coming to Tea" children's book in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received. Giveaway is being sponsored by Sourcebooks. Sourcebooks will contact the winner(s) of the giveaway posted above. Airplanes and Dragonflies blog is not responsible for sending out the giveaway prizes listed in this giveaway.

Sweet Child Born in Texas - Children's Book Review & Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 4/9

Texas Mom Serves Up Lone Star Lore for Kids with Sweet Child Born in Texas

New book debuts first of “Sweet Child” series for all 50 states

About the book:
Sweet child, welcome to Texas! Cowboys, NASA, scrumptious chili there are so many things that make Texas great. If your child was born here, what a lucky state! From history tidbits to fun facts, this beautiful poem describes and teaches all the things that make this sweet state special. Whether you're a child or a child at heart, this book is perfect for all sweet children born in Texas! So sweet child born in Texas, feel pride in the things that you see. Friendship is the motto here. A Texan is what you’re meant to be!

About the Authors:
Necessity truly is the mother of invention as Dallas native and new author Whitney Strauss can attest. While on bedrest awaiting the birth of her second son six years ago, Strauss busied herself as best she could, including unsuccessfully finding a good book about Texas for toddlers. Instead of giving up, she decided to write one.

Cowboys, NASA, scrumptious chili—there are so many things to love about the Lone Star State. Here are just a few of the things that make our home so great.

Nearly a decade later, Strauss’ ode to her beloved Lone Star State —Sweet Child Born in Texas —was released on March 6, which is Texas Independence Day. Designed for children ages 2-6, the book uses lyrical rhyme to highlight famous Texas historical figures and landmarks, state symbols, the varying regions and landscapes and more. Slated for an initial run of 3,000 copies, the colorfully illustrated 24-page hardcover book is available on Amazon.com.

“The initial idea came from my mom around the time my sister and I were having children,” said Strauss. “We are a family of book lovers and Mom wanted to read them a book about the state in which they were born. So I thought, why not write one myself?"

Strauss enlisted the direction and help of her mom, Kathleen Cooter, a former university professor of early and special education at Texas Christian University, and of her friend Susan Giles, herself a mom and grandmother in Franklin, Tennessee. Giles also wanted to share the story of her beloved home state of Tennessee, so she and Strauss began researching and writing a story for not only Tennessee, but for each and every state, reaching out to another friend, artist and Dallas resident Holly Weinstein, to illustrate the series. Sweet Child Born in Texas is the first of the series to be published.

As is only fitting, a book written for children will also help children in need as a portion of the book proceeds will go to various children’s organizations, including the North Texas Food Bank. “When we were growing up, we used to end our prayers praying for ‘all the children in the world who do not have enough to eat,’” said Strauss. “With one in four children hungry in North Texas, we wanted to address hunger in our own backyard.”

Connect with Sweet Child book series:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetchildUSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sweetchildUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetchildusa/

My Review:
"Sweet Child Born in Texas" is a cute children's book with the main facts about the state such as the state capital, main cities, state bird, state flower, state flag, state insect, state mammal, and more. It's a great way for children ages two to six to learn about different states or their home state, and to help them memorize the facts about those states. I can't wait to see what other books come out soon in the sweet child series! I can't wait to read about Tennessee and California, where I grew up.

Go to http://www.sweetchildseries.com/ for more information about the authors and this new book series!

You can purchase your copy today on amazon or at your local book store.

Win It!

Enter below using the Giveaway Tools form for a chance to Win your own copy of "Sweet Child Born in Texas" - children's book. Giveaway is open to residents in the main 48 continental United States only, 18 years of age or older. No P.O. Boxes, sorry. Giveaway ends 4/9/17.

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Disclosure: I received one copy of "Sweet Child Born in Texas" children's book in exchange for my review post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

"Squash Boom Beet: An Alphabet for Healthy, Adventurous Eaters" - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 10/16 #BlueBayBooks

Tasting new vegetables can be an exciting adventure, especially when trying foods like dragon tongue beans, dinosaur kale, fairy tale eggplant and candy cane beets. Journey from A to Z and enjoy beautiful photography of exciting farm foods--everything from awesome Asparagus to green tiger Zucchini! Kids will love this new book all about fun foods, and parents will love how it inspires and educates their little ones to be brave, healthy eaters!

About the Author:
Nutrition journalist Lisa Maxbauer Price is the author and photographer behind the book Squash Boom Beet. She spent 10 years in New York City working as a magazine editor before moving to the Midwest. She currently contributes to multiple national publications, writing on health, nutrition and parenting. She is a contributor at First for Women magazine and has blogged for The New York Times. She currently lives in Northern Michigan with her husband and three sons.

My Review:
I took this book while doing childcare for my daughter's dance school and the kids thought it was a neat book and super helpful to teach them and other children about healthy eating and some vegetables that they had never even heard of before. My four year old daughter likes this book, and it's fun teaching her the ABC's along with teaching her about healthy food and veggies. The photographs are amazing and very well done.

Squash Boom Beet should be available for purchase at your local book store, or you can purchase a copy online!

Buy It! (affl. link)

Win It!

Enter below to Win your own copy of "Squash Boom Beet: An Alphabet for Healthy, Adventurous Eaters," a Squash Boom Beet Bookmark, and a few Coloring Pages! Giveaway is open to residents who live in the main 48 continental United States, 18 years or older. No P.O. Boxes, sorry.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of Squash Boom Beet from Blue Bay Books in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Bella Donna: Too Many Spells - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 10/9 #SkyHorsePub @skyhorsepub

About the Book:
Bella Donna seems just like any other student at her school, but she has a secret: she’s really a witch! The other witches who live on Coven Road are having a spell casting contest, and Bella is determined to win. She’s trying to learn as many spells as she can, and that’s no small thing! It’s not easy to complete secret magic training while trying to live a normal-kid life. When strange things start to happen at school and begin to spin out of control, Bella wonders if she can really do it. Maybe there are just too many spells!

This second installment in the sweet, spooky Bella Donna series will captivate young readers. Bella Donna: Too Many Spells is a combination of magic, adventure, and staying true to yourself. Marion Lindsay’s adorably simple spot illustrations bring even more magic to author Ruth Symes’s delightful tale. Fall in love with Bella Donna and her road to witchdom! And be prepared for her next big adventure!

For readers and reluctant readers ages 7 to 10, this is the second book is a sweet little series about a witch who is just trying to live a normal life (albeit while practicing and casting spells). Teachers and parents will love this series since it has a good mix of illustrations and text for their more reluctant readers, and the lessons in each book are important for all young kids to learn.

Go to http://belladonnaonline.co.uk/ to find out about more Bella Donna children's books and more!

Meet the Author!
Ruth Symes thinks the next best thing to being magic is writing stories about magic. She lives in Bedfordshire and when she isn’t writing she can be found by the river walking her dog, Traffy (who is often in the river). Find out more at www.ruthsymes.com

My Review:
Bella Donna is the second book in the series. My seven year old daughter has read the first one, and she couldn't wait to get her hands on this one! Bella Donna is a young witch in training. Bella Donna enters a spell casting contest. A few days after the contest, a bad witch breaks into Coven Road and tries to control Bella Donna and one of her friends. Bella Donna traps the bad witch in Amber, and Zorelda sends the bad witch back home. Next, Bella Donna find her friend Sam, who was turned into a frog by the bad witch. Then the book ends with a party, and a unicorn!

I don't mind my children thinking about magic. I don't really want them ever casting spells, but it's nice to believe that there just might be some magic in this world after all.

Click here to read my review on the First Bella Donna children's book, Coven Road!

Purchase a copy of Bella Donna: Too Many Spells by clicking on the link below! (aff. link)




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Disclosure: I received one copy of Bella Donna: Too Many Spells children's book in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

"Happy Birthday To You!" - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 9/7 @WorthyPub #ad

This musical board book includes all the ingredients that make a birthday special for a child: balloons and presents, cake and candles, and, of course, the birthday song! Follow along throughout a day of celebration, concluding with a good night blessing, then push the button to hear the melody of “Happy Birthday.” Book features a photo pocket on the last page to allow for personalizing.

About the Author:
Michelle Medlock Adams began her career in journalism; but when she had two children of her own, she quickly turned to writing children’s books, including the successful What Is . . . series for WorthyKids/Ideals. Michelle has two grown daughters and lives in Bedford, Indiana, with her husband, Jeff.

About the Illustrator:
Sandra Rodriguez grew up in Mexico in a house with a big garden. From doodling her way through math class to playing with her dogs, her creative spirit was evident. Rodriguez’s illustrations are inspired by simple, everyday life: children playing in the park, people walking their dogs, families interacting after school. Rodriguez favors watercolor because it allows her to transmit the movement and emotion of life into her illustrations.

My Review:
This is a cute little book that would be perfect to give a little one for their Birthday or the night before! On the last page there's a place for a photograph of the Birthday Child and a place to write in who the book is to and who it's from! You can also press the button on the top left corner of the book and sing Happy Birthday along with the song! My children have been doing this constantly, they think it's cute and funny too to hear the Happy Birthday song when it's no one's birthday yet.

"Happy Birthday to You!" is available for purchase tomorrow, August 23rd!

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Enter below to Win a copy of the "Happy Birthday To You!" - Children's Book using the Giveaway Tools form below! Giveaway is open to residents in the main 48 continental United States only, 18 years of age or older. No P.O. Boxes, sorry.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from WorthyKids/Ideals for free in exchange for an honest review and my post about the book. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Spot the Reindeer at Christmas - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 11/29 #HolidayGiftGuide

Spot the Reindeer at Christmas is packed with things to spot and facts to discover! My children ages three and six really like this book! They had a lot of fun trying to find the five pictures hidden in plain site on the pages along with the reindeer, which is on each page too! Some of them were hard to find for my girls, which I like because it makes it more challenging for them.

Win It!

Enter below using the Giveaway Tools form for a chance to win a copy of "Spot the Reindeer at Christmas" children's book! Giveaway ends on 11/29/15. Giveaway is open to residents who live in the main continental 48 U.S. States only.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of Spot the Reindeer at Christmas children's book in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

I Want To Eat Your Books - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 10/3 #ChildrensBook #IWantToEatYourBooks

I Want to Eat Your Books (Sky Pony Press) is a delicious introduction to the value of books. When a hungry zombie stumbles into a school looking for books to consume, it’s up to the kids to teach him how books are for reading, not eating! This monster book is silly and fun with a strong message about kindness and friendship. The little zombie teaches kids not to jump to conclusions and to give everyone a chance. This is the perfect monster book for little ones who want a thrill but aren’t looking for anything too scary. For children ages 3 to 6 years old. Available for purchase on September 22, 2015!

My Review:
I Want To Eat Your Books is a rhyming children's book about a Zombie child who wants to eat all of the books, until he is shown a book about the human brain, and then he changes, and starts want to read books instead. This book is perfect for Halloween and all year round. It's especially great for children in kindergarten and first grade who are learning about rhyming words. This book isn't scary at all, my children thought it was cute.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of the book above in exchange for my review and giveaway post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Gorillas in Our Midst - Children's Book #Review! #Gorillas

My Review:

Gorillas in Our Midst is a cute children's book. It's for children ages three to six years old, although everyone will love it. They will love seeing the adorable, beautifully done, illustrations by Richard Fairgray, who is legally blind, which makes them even more amazing! This book is cute, funny and overall, easy for my six year old daughter to relate to. Reading this book might even make you want a banana! Gorillas in Our Midst is now available for purchase at your local book stores nationwide and online too!

About the book:

Gorillas can be hard to spot, because they are masters of disguise and really good at hiding. Gorillas often have jobs where they get to wear masks—that’s why so many gorillas are surgeons, astronauts, scuba divers, and ninjas. There are adult gorillas and kid gorillas. There are even gorillas that go to school with you. You may think you’ve seen a gorilla swinging by before, but it’s much more likely that he was an orangutan—orangutans are terrible at hiding. You will know when there are lots of gorillas living in your midst because the grocery stores will be entirely out of bananas. In fact, you should always carry a banana with you, because you never know when there might be a gorilla around.

Richard Fairgray is New Zealand’s most prolific and highest selling comic writer and artist with over 150 titles to his name. His main focus has been comic books, but he has taken time out during his life to work on films, to perform stand-up comedy, to teach high school, and to stick labels on honey jars. He has been working exclusively in comics for the last six years with long-time collaborator Terry Jones. Their main work together is the on-going series called Blastosaurus. Though Fairgray is legally blind, he is the illustrator of this book. http://www.newsarama.com/3544-life-imitates-art-legally-blind-creator-brings-comic-to-us.html

Disclosure: I received a copy of Gorillas in Our Midst in exchange for my review post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Ally-saurus & the First Day of School - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway & Twitter #Contest! (U.S.) Ends 8/16 #Allys1stDay #BackToSchool

Ally-saurus & the First Day of School is an adorable new picture book from Richard Torrey that celebrates the boundless imagination of children. When Ally roars off to her first day at school, she hopes she'll meet lots of other dinosaur-loving kids in class. Instead, she's the only one chomping her food with fierce dino teeth and drawing dinosaurs on her nameplate. Even worse, a group of princess-obsessed girls won’t let her sit with them at lunch. Will Ally ever make new friends?

With colorful illustrations that expertly capture the diverse personalities of Ally and her classmates, Ally-saurus & the First Day of School encourages young readers to embrace their differences while also preparing them for new experiences, such as a big move, a new summer camp, or, as in the book, a new school. Add in a charming heroine, a delightful surprise ending, and Walter—a boy in love with his bright, yellow lunchbox—and you have a fun and hilarious read-aloud story that will leave children eager for more of Ally and her imaginative new friends. Ally-saurus & the First Day of School is now available for purchase at your local book store and online at websites like amazon.

My Review:
Ally-saurus & the First Day of School is an adorable book! Ally goes to school thinking that everyone else likes dinosaurs like her. Then she learns that everyone is different and that her classmates all like different things. She comes to find out at lunch time, that some of the other kids like to Roar too, like dragons and lions! By the end of the day, Ally becomes friends and playmates with her new classmates.

I feel that this book can help little ones going into PreK and Kindergarten and even into 1st grade overcome the feelings that come with starting school for the first, second or third time. We all get nervous, even us parents! This is a Must Own book for everyone!

In honor of the new school year, author Richard Torrey is offering teachers, librarians, parents, and picture book lovers the opportunity to win one of three signed copies of his latest picture book, Ally-saurus & the First Day of School (Sterling Childrens Books, May 2015). To enter the contest, Rich is having contestants wish Ally-saurus luck on her first day by tweeting at her using Hashtag #Allys1stDay.

Rich will also be sending tweets to various U.S. and Canadian school districts from his own handle, @richtorrey, to wish them a happy first day on their first days of school. The contest will end after the very last first day of school on September 9th (lucky NYC and Seattle!). Ally-saurus & the First Day of School is the perfect book for any child starting a new school year, and Mr. Torrey would love to give as many people as possible the opportunity to win a copy for your personal, public, or classroom library.

Enter below using the Rafflecopter form to win your own copy of "Ally-saurus & the First Day of School!" Giveaway open to residents in the main 48 continental United States only.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of Ally-saurus & the First Day of School in exchange for my review and giveaway post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

The Mystery Hat - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 8/9 #TheMysteryHat

The Mystery Hat is a great children's book write by Danish animator duo Rune Brandt Bennicke and Jakob Hjort Jensen. Mr. Jensen also illustrated the book! Recommended for children ages three to six. I can't say much more about it then what's below. The imaginations of the crow, pig and beaver of where the hat came from or who it belonged to are awesome.

Crow, Pig and Beaver are taking a nice stroll in the woods when they come across a red hat sitting in a puddle. Whose hat is it? What mysterious circumstances could have brought it to this very puddle? Crow thinks that Bear lost the hat when he fell into a giant hole. Perhaps Bear is holding his breath underground, waiting to be saved! Beaver thinks he’s got a better idea. Maybe Turtle, who was wearing the hat, was snatched up and made into yummy turtle soup by a crazed snowman! Can Pig come up with a logical explanation so that the friends can be rid of all these hogwash ideas?

Imaginations run wild in this hilarious picture book from Rune Brandt Bennicke and Jakob Hjort Jensen. The Mystery Hat is sure to get a chuckle from all during this last leg of winter and would be a great addition to any child’s bookshelf!

Rune Brandt Bennicke is a celebrated Danish animator with seventeen years of experience in the industry. After working at A-Film in Denmark, he moved to London’s Amblimation Studio and then worked at Walt Disney Studios in Florida. He is now a supervising animator at DreamWorks. Jakob Hjort Jensen, a fellow Danish animator, is a veteran of the animation industry. He has worked for Disney Animation and Imagi Animation. He is also a supervising animator at DreamWorks, where he has worked since its inception in 1995. Both now live in Los Angeles, California.

Here is a great book teaser that shows the process behind the wonderful drawings as well as animated scenes of the final characters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ta85qMybic

Enter below using the Rafflecopter form, for a chance to win your own copy of "The Mystery Hat" children's book! Giveaway open to residents who live in the main 48 United States only, 18 years of age or older. No P.O. Boxes please.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of the book mentioned above in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Mason Jar Crafts for Kids Book #Review! #MasonJars #CraftsForKids #MasonJarCrafts

For some of us living in the United States, in the south, school starts in a week and a half. The kids here only get about nine weeks for summer, wish it was longer. We've really had a lot of fun! But for some people living in the U.S., their kids have a month or more before school starts again, as they get the whole month of August off too!

"Mason Jar Crafts for Kids: More than 25 cool, crafty projects to make for your friends, your family and yourself!" will give your children, ages seven and up, depending on the child, some awesome crafts to do with Mason Jars for the rest of their summer, or on the weekends when it's raining or too hot to play outside! Maybe they can create some of these awesome crafts to give to friends and family for Christmas in five months! I can't wait to make a few "Thumbprint Sunflower Jars" for gifts for others for Christmas!

Mason Jar Crafts for Kids even has a few little experiments inside for children to do, such as "Color Changing Flowers," "Color Burst in a Jar" and "Bubbling Brew."

A trend popularized by Pinterest and DIYers all over the world, Mason jars are no longer just for canning. Their crafting possibilities are almost limitless! Mason Jar Crafts for Kids provides exactly what the title promises. This wonderfully creative book will keep kids and parents busy all year round with dozens of easy DYI projects and activities. Projects are accompanied by photo tutorials and comprehensive step-by-step instructions to make sure that anyone can follow along. These kid-friendly projects offer a variety of options for both beginning and advanced crafters!

Linda Z. Braden is a Mason jar enthusiast and the founder of an extensive online Mason jar community. Her fan base has grown to more than twenty-three thousand strong on Facebook, nearly ten thousand followers on Pinterest, and more than forty thousand unique monthly visitors (and seventy thousand page views) on her blog, Mason Jar Crafts Love.


Disclosure: I received a copy of Mason Jar Crafts for Kids in exchange for my review post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.