Child Actor, and Now Children's Book Author, Arden Pala, Has His Own Book Series To Teach Children About Different Cultures.

"Superpowers for Good" cast member Arden Pala who was recently awarded “Best Child Actor” by the Los Angeles Film Awards talks about celebrating cultures and similarities in his new book series.

Arden wrote “The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car Through China” (available to purchase now and on kindle) and “The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car Through Turkey” (available only for amazon kindle) during his summer breaks and based them on trips he took with his family to China, Turkey and Mexico.

"The main message I want to get across is that folks are all different in various ways — maybe culturally or in beliefs, religions and background and other aspects. But the uniqueness of each person should be celebrated and that ultimately brings people together. In the process, they’ll probably also find they have a lot in common."

His 24-page children’s book with illustrations by Pavel Goldaev includes descriptions of Arden’s travels through the eyes of a young boy and his friends.

The book is part of a series that explores different countries around the world — the beauty of the land, historic places, and the food as experienced by several kids traveling in a flying car. Not a bad way to travel during the pandemic, although the series started several years before.

Proceeds benefit San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

The book, which raises money for the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund, takes readers on an adventure swimming with dolphins in Cabo San Lucas, and whale watching in Todos Santos on the way to the ancient pyramids of Chichen Itza where the kids explore a Mayan temple.

“I want kids to have a fun time when they read my book. I also want kids to learn about different cultures and food,” said Arden, a sixth-grader at Francis Parker School in San Diego.

The way Arden figures it, if he shows different places in the world where kids’ families come from, they can make a connection with those places and understand a little more about the kids who come from there.

“I wrote the books to show that it’s OK to be different,” said Arden.

Arden comes from an immigrant culture himself — Turkish American — and cultural differences and accepting each other with our differences, no matter where we come from, is something we discuss very often at home.

“I want to explain about a country in a short, fun way, so kids get to experience how exciting and cool it is,” said Arden.

"The Adventures of Noah's Flying Car Through Mexico" are only available for purchase on Amazon.com.

"Big Cat" by Emma Lazell - Children's Book Review and #Giveaway! #HolidayGiftGuide #GiftGuide #BigCat (US/CAN) Ends 11/17

"Big Cat" by Emma Lazell (Pavilion Children's; ISBN: 9781843654292; Hardcover $16.95; Ages 4-8, 32 pages).

Lazell’s bright colors and brilliant characterization gives the book the look of a classic from the 1970s or earlier, but with a very modern sense of humor and sensibility.

Isobel's grandma has lost her glasses and she can't see a thing without them. While Isobel and Gran are in the garden searching for the specs, they come across a cat. A very big cat. A very big and stripy cat! The big cat moves in with them, much to the disgust of all gran's other cats. He might be good fun, but he takes up lots of space and eats every scrap of food. Eventually the new cat's mom and dad turn up, looking for their missing son. And they just happen to have found gran's glasses too. The tiger family are delighted to be reunited—and gran now sees that she's been sharing her house with... a tiger!

A heartwarming and surreal romp, packed with jokes and funny details and with an underlying message of acceptance.

Connect with Pavilion Children’s:
Twitter: @PavilionKidsBks

Instagram: @pavilionchildrens

Facebook: @PavilionChildrensBooks

Connect with the author, Emma Lazell:
Twitter: @emmallazell

Instagram: @emmallazell

Website: https://emmalazell.co.uk/

About the author:
Emma Lazell is a UK-based illustrator and author. Her work is linear, expressive, and sprinkled with irony and playfulness. In 2018 she completed the prestigious MA in Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University, graduating with a distinction. In 2014 she graduated with an undergraduate degree in Illustration from The University for the Creative Arts. Big Cat is her debut picture book.

My Review:
"BIG CAT" is an adorable children's story! Great for infants up to five year olds, kindergarten age. I love the beautiful illustrations of the tiger, flower garden, the cats and people. So adorable! This would make a great Christmas gift for any little one this Holiday season! Especially if they love animals and cats!

If you plan to set up a Book Advent Calendar for your children to open up one book a day, from December 1st until December 24th, this would be a great, adorable book to have your children open on one of those events!

GIVEAWAY!

Enter below using the Giveaway Tools form for a chance to Win your own copy of "BIG CAT" children's book on my blog! Giveaway is open to residents who live in All 50 U.S. States and Canada, 18 years of age or older. Giveaway ends 11/17/19.

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Disclosure: I received one copy of "Big Cat" children's book in exchange for my post from Media Masters Publicity 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.

BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE - Children's Book Review.

Have You Ever Wanted One Thing More Than Anything Else 

In The World?

In His Illustrated Children’s Book, BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE, Bestselling Author Alan C. Fox Focuses On Perseverence, Dreams, and Letting Go

Have you ever wanted one thing – just one thing – more than anything else in the world? A toy? A new bike? A computer game? Did you imagine that this one possession would make you incredibly happy – forever? For Benji that one thing is an enormous orange kite. In BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE (Clavis Publishing; August 2018), bestselling author Alan C. Fox tells the enchanting story of a young boy who learns that possessing something is not quite as meaningful as letting it go.

Benji adores kites. All kinds of kites – big or small, plain or fancy, square or diamond- shaped. He loves flying them at the beach, watching them float high in the sky. One day Benji sees a giant orange kite at the toy store. He wants it more than anything else – ever. But his mom explains that he’ll need to earn the money to buy the kite. So Benji buckles down and weeds the garden for the next two weeks – the vegetables in the morning and the flowers in the afternoon. It seems like he’ll never be done.

Finally the special day arrives, and Benji’s mom hands him the giant orange kite of his dreams. At the beach, Benji lets his kite soar higher and higher with every gust of wind. He watches it rise above the people, the hotdog stand, and even the houses beyond. Soon the kite becomes a distant speck in the sky. Benji is thrilled. But when it’s time to pull the kite down and head back home, Benji can’t bear to do it. He wants to set the kite free to fulfill its destiny among the clouds. Benji lets the twine go and the kite disappears into the sunset sky. The kite may still be up there yet.

Alan Fox explains that like all of his books, “BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE is based on a real-life incident. This one happened when I was a child. I decided to tell the story, because I wanted to share the sense of achievement I felt by working hard to obtain something I really loved. But once I saw the kite flying at the beach, I wanted to let it go. My dream had been accomplished. It was time move on to another, new experience. You must always keep going to fulfill your dreams and aspirations.”

BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE, with illustrations by Eefje Jujil, is the second in Alan Fox’s series of picture books. The first, BENJI AND THE 24 POUND BANANA SQUASH, was named a notable children’s book of 2017 by Booklist magazine and has become a much-loved story for youngsters and parents alike.

About the author:
Alan C. Fox is the bestselling author of three books for adults, PEOPLE TOOLS, PEOPLE TOOLS FOR BUSINESS, and PEOPLE TOOLS FOR LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS. His two children’s books are BENJI AND THE 24 POUND BANANA SQUASH (Clavis 2017) and BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE (Clavis 2018). An entrepreneur, philanthropist, and relationships expert, Alan is also the publisher of the poetry magazine, Rattle. He founded a charity that works to maximize the potentional of youth as well as an organization that encourages young people to become active in helping others. Alan lives in Los Angeles, California. To learn more, visit Alan’s website: alancfox.com

About the Illustrator:
Eefje Juijl, a graduate of the School of the Arts Utrech, creates colorful illustrations for children's books, magazines, postcards and more. She lives in The Netherlands with her partner Philip, her son Guus, daughter Fien, and their dog Jip.

My Review:
Benji really loves kites! So much so, that he uses all of his allowance to buy new ones because he keeps losing them. His mother buys him a new, big orange kite. But Benji can't play with it until he pulls some weeds and works really hard to pay it off. Then after Benji is all done, his mother brings the kite out of the closet for him! Benji takes the kite down to the beach and it flies super high. He spends a lot of time flying it. You'll have to buy the book to see what happens! This book is perfect for children ages 3 to 4 years old, and up! The illustrations are adorable and super helpful in telling the story.


Disclosure: I received one copy of the children's book "Benji & The Giant Kite" children's book from Clavis Publishing in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Liv on Life: Read, Read, and Read - Children's Book #Review!

Liv On Life book series, written by the extraordinary mother-daughter team of Hollywood actress Elizabeth Gorcey (FOOTLOOSE, TEEN WOLF) and her amazing daughter Olivia (Age 11). In bookstores everywhere, Read, Read, and Read tells the story Liv's love of books, and proves that a book can be a friend and make a friend. This book is not only fun read for the kids, it also opens up a dialogue between young children and their parents on reading and friendship. The award winning Liv On Life Series features Olivia (aka Liv) and her best friend, Bowie, a Boxer dog. Liv is the go-to-girl for kids and parents looking for advice on how to navigate our modern, technological world. The series encourages dialogue between parents and children, and encourages kids to find and celebrate their authentic voices.

About the Author: 
Elizabeth Gorcey has been creating her entire life with paint, film and words. Her new book series is inspired and written along with her daughter, Olivia, who as a three-years-old began to spontaneously deliver wisdom and advice to anyone who was listening. Elizabeth dubbed her daughter's musings as "Liv-Isms," and each book in the series is based on these everyday insights. Sometimes kids are the best teachers, and in encouraging her own daughter to embrace and use her authentic voice, Elizabeth realized how much adults can, and must, learn from the purity and honesty of a child's perspective.

Their first two books Green is Good and Going to the Park are also based on the life philosophy of a very wise little girl, and the LOL Series has been honored with a variety of awards including the Beverly Hills International Book Awards finalist in Picture Books for Going to the Park, Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, first place for Green is Good in the category of green living and environmental excellence, Newbie Author Award from Royal Dragonfly for Going to the Park, and International Book Excellence Awards for Going to the Park as a finalist in picture books, and Green is Good as the Winner in the Green Living category. Green is Good was selected for "Great Kids' Gifts" in People magazine's holiday issue and Olivia attended the Global Green pre-Oscar party as a "Global Green Champion." Olivia also won the inaugural Gutsy Girls Educational Award. Olivia is a columnist for two magazines, Story Monsters Ink and ACT, writing her monthly columns under the banner of "Liv Says...". She is also in demand as a guest speaker at local schools, libraries, and book stores.

Click here for Free Printable Coloring Pages, and more: http://livonlife.com/games-stuff/

About the book (my own words):
This book is about Liv and her one day at school. At recess, her friend ran off with another friend to play tag, so she found a ladybug, and it flew away. Then she thought she'd go on the monkey bars, but the line was too long, so she ended up in the library where she found a bunch of books about all sorts of things. Then her friend Bella found her in the library and Liv and Bella read some books together. Liv took some of the library books home and her and her dog Bowie read them together until they fell asleep. Then Liv dreamed about all sorts of adventures that she read about in the books.

My Review:
This is a cute children's book aimed towards 4-6 year olds. It's a great introduction to books and the library. This would be a cute book to read to a kindergarten classroom and for the children to draw about an adventure that they've read about in a previous book.


Disclosure: I received one copy of "Read, Read, and Read" children's book from Anderson Group PR agency in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Reindeer Dust - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 12/18 #HolidayGiftGuide

All around the world, families are preparing for a season of magic. Many holiday traditions have existed throughout the years, but one tradition that is quickly sweeping the nation is the fun and festive ritual of sprinkling “reindeer dust” on Christmas Eve to attract Santa’s reindeer. A perfect way to spend time together and get every member of the family in the spirit, it’s no wonder reindeer dust is such a hit; but where and why did the tradition begin?

Kate Dwyer explains in her magical new holiday picture book, Reindeer Dust. In a fun and lyrical tale, readers are immersed in the story of hungry and harried reindeer who can’t find houses to land on through thick fog. Santa has a sled overflowing with presents, but he’ll never be able to deliver them if the reindeer don’t know where to land! One little boy, William, devises a plan: he mixes up a special batch of reindeer dust and he and his friends and family sprinkle it outside while reciting “I will always believe!” Through the fog, the reindeer are able to spot the glittering trail of reindeer dust, and Christmas is saved!

Dwyer, a mother of two and passionate advocate for children’s advancement and literacy, knew she had to share the magic behind reindeer dust when her own family became so attached to the yearly tradition. She aimed to engage children’s imaginations through family participation.

“It was important for me to write a book that features an engaging element that would both visually and physically bring the story to life,” Dwyer says.

With a captivating tale and beautiful illustrations, Reindeer Dust is sure to do just that. After reading about the origin of reindeer dust, families can turn to the back of the book, where there is a special Reindeer Dust Recipe and poem to recite on Christmas Eve. Children will stay engaged and parents will love that reindeer dust encourages a fun and positive new tradition. Why not add a little extra sparkle to the holidays?

Fun for the whole family, Reindeer Dust:
- Tells the exciting story about how the “reindeer dust” tradition first began
- Includes an easy reindeer dust recipe and special poem to be read on Christmas Eve
- Engages the imagination through family participation and captivating illustrations
- Inspires a new holiday tradition that the whole family will enjoy
- Encourages children to develop a lifetime love of reading

About the Author:
Kate Dwyer is a seasoned marketing executive and mom to 8-year old twins. She is actively involved in several children’s charities and organizations. Combined, this experience has uniquely positioned her to take on her latest role as a children’s book author.

Reindeer Dust is the recent recipient of the Mom’s Choice Gold Award and the IBPA Gold (for best cover design) and two Silver (for best first book and best interior design) Awards.

My Review:
I love making Reindeer Dust. My children think it's so much fun to sprinkle it all over our front yard so that Santa can find our house and the reindeer have a snack while Santa is putting out their presents and filling their stockings. We are going to take this book to share with my daughter's class this coming Friday before they make their own reindeer dust to take home as one of their fun class party activities. The illustrations in this book are super cute and friendly. The book talks about Santa getting ready to leave on Christmas Eve and he had no time to feed his reindeer and a little boy who studied the weather and wanted a way for Santa to find his house.

Learn more about Reindeer Dust at:
Websites: www.reindeerdust.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparklingreindeerdust
Twitter: @reindeer_dust

Reindeer Dust is available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.

Win It!

Enter below using the Giveaway Tools form for a chance to win your own copy of Reindeer Dust! Giveaway open to residents in the main 48 continental U.S. states only, 18 years of age or older. Giveaway ends 12/18/15.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of Reindeer Dust in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

I See Me Coloring Book #Review & Personalized Children's Book #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 12/13 #HolidayGiftGuide #iseemebooks

I have done a few reviews and giveaways for I See Me. I really love their children's books, coloring books and other products. My children love reading personalized books with their names in them. It's as if the story really is all about them and was written just for them. It makes them feel super special when we read their personalized books together.

My girls and I had a chance to review two I See Me Personalized Coloring Books. The girls love them. They've been coloring in them for a few months now, and they want new ones!

Here is a list of Personalized Themed Items that you can purchase from I See Me:

• Children's Books
• Board Books
• Coloring Books
• Placemats
• Puzzles
• Stickers
• Growth Charts
• Lunch Boxes (On Sale for $17.99 Each!)
• Gift Sets
• and NEW from I See Me: Sing-A-Long Book & Personalized Children's Music CD

My NEW favorite are the Personalized Christmas Ornaments! I need a few ornaments on our tree of our third child, Hailey! I am going to order one of her dated when she was a few months old, and one New for this year of each child! I can't wait to see their faces when they get to hang their ornaments this year with their names and photos on them!!!

Check out the Personalized Children's Books and Christmas Gift Set above! We have reviewed the My Very Merry Christmas Board Book in the past, check out my review post!

Connect With I See Me:

• Like I See Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISeeMeBooks/
• Follow I See Me on Twitter: @ISeeMe_Maia
• Follow I See Me on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/iseemebooks/
• Follow I See Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iseeme_books/
• Google+: https://plus.google.com/+ISMBooks/
• Sign Up for Email promos/discounts and updates from I See Me: http://www.iseeme.com/preference-center.html

Win It!

Enter below using the Giveaway Tools form for a chance to Win One Personalized Children's Book from I See Me! Giveaway ends 12/13/15. Giveaway is open to residents in the main 48 continental United states only.

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Disclosure: I received two personalized coloring books from I See Me in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

National Geographic Kids Book: Mission Rescue Wolves #Giveaway! (US/CAN) Ends 11/28

Enter Here for a chance to Win a copy of "National Geographic Kids Book: Mission Rescue Wolves" on Go Adventure Mom! 

Giveaway is open to residents in all 50 U.S. States and Canada! 

Giveaway Ends on November 28, 2015.

Over the River and Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure - Children's Book Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 11/22 #HolidayGiftGuide

Pack up the pooches and load the van.

We need to leave by eight!

There’s so much to bring.

Do we have everything?

Come on, we can’t be late!

The classic Thanksgiving song gets a fresh new twist in Linda Ashman and Kim Smith’s Over the River & Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure (Sterling Children’s Books). The fun begins when Grandma and Grandpa send invitations to their far-flung, modern, and multiracial family: Come to our house for the holidays—and bring your favorite pie! Off everyone goes, driving down snowy roads, riding the train, boarding a plane, and even sailing along in a hot-air balloon. But no trip is without delays! Ashman’s diverse sing-along story masterfully illustrates the chaos of holiday travel and the reason we all put up with it: family.

Perfect for Thanksgiving, I thought you might like to consider the book for a holiday review or inclusion in a Thanksgiving-themed children’s book roundup or gift guide. With its modern, multiracial family that includes interracial couples, adopted children, and gay parents, Over the River & Through the Wood is also an ideal addition to any planned features or booklists surrounding the ever important topic of diversity in children’s books.

Linda Ashman has written more than 20 children's books, including Creaky Old House; Stella, Unleashed; No Dogs Allowed!, and TheTwelve Days of Christmas in Colorado (all Sterling). She lives in Chapel Hill, NC. Visit Linda online at lindaashman.com.

Kim Smith has a fun and vibrant extended family, perfect as inspiration for this book. This is the fourth children’s book she has illustrated, along with A Ticket Around the World (Owlkids Books), The Raven and the Loon (Inhabit Media), and The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada (Sterling, NYP). Kim lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband, Eric, and their one-eyed goldfish named Goulash.

My Review:
Over the River and Through the Wood is an adorable children's book! You can't help but sing the song while reading it! The story is a little different twist on the song, making the story/song more modern for today's families. This would be a great book to read to children between now and Thanksgiving! Over the River and Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure is now available for purchase on amazon and at your local book retailers!

WIN IT!

Enter below using the Rafflecopter form for a chance to Win a copy of "Over the River and Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure!" Giveaway is open to residents in All 50 U.S. States!

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Disclosure: I received a copy of Over the River and Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure children's book in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Dinosaurs Living In My Hair - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 11/8 #HolidayGiftGuide

Multi-award-winning book helps children of all ages embrace being different; a portion of the proceeds go to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, which supports individuals dealing with the autoimmune skin disease that causes hair loss.

A movement is afoot. It’s called the DLIMH movement, and it’s based on the popular new book “Dinosaurs Living in My Hair!” by Jayne M. Rose-Vallee. Jayne hopes this book encourages children to embrace and celebrate their differences.

This whimsical book of rhymes with beautiful watercolor illustrations details how a little girl’s curly hair makes her mornings difficult. Inspired by Rose-Vallee’s daughter Lauren, now immortalized in the book as the hapless Sabrina, the response to rhymes like those excerpted below has been enormous from both boys and girls:

- I think I see movement.
- Is Mom really right?
- Do dinosaurs live
- In my hair out of sight?

“Dinosaurs Living in My Hair!” received the Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Book Award in two categories, Gold in Poetry and Silver in Cover Design. The book also received the Mom's Choice Gold Award for Children's Picture Book.

Rose-Vallee has now created a line of hair accessories, apparel, and a handmade Sabrina doll available at rosevalleecreations.com. She comments, “Our Facebook page is starting to have children send in their photos holding their dolls, reading their books, wearing their sweatshirts – all with CRAZY HAIR! It truly is a movement.”

Meanwhile, a portion of all profits from the sale of the book goes to support the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF). Rose-Vallee explains that while the fictional Sabrina is blessed to have the problem of dinosaurs living in her curly thick hair, over sixty million people in the United States experience some form of hair loss, many of them children. Children suffering from this condition face tremendous challenges, and the NAAF offers support and tools to help them overcome emotional pain and build self-confidence; it also provides classroom education essential to advocating for them.

About the Author:
Jayne Rose-Vallee is a writer and the founder of Rosevallee Creations. Growing up on a farm in Battle Creek, Michigan, taught her hard work and a little bit of dirt builds character, and her mother's love of poetry and quick-witted humor sparked an early appreciation for good rhymes. Having raised three children, she found time in this next chapter of her life to follow her passion and write. She started Rosevallee Creations in 2014, and her website offers accessories to the “Dinosaurs Living in My Hair!” (DLIMH) book, which has catapulted her into a new business venture. She has formed a relationship with Jane Tran from LA to create hair accessories designed specifically for the DLIMH brand.

My Review:
This is an adorable children's book about a little girl named Sabrina with blonde curls. She tries to comb her own hair, and it doesn't work because she's little, and her hair is just too curly. So her mom helps her and mentions something about creatures living in her hair, which makes Sabrina's imagination flourish thinking that there might be dinosaurs living in her hair! This is a great anytime story for boys and girls from ages 3 to 8. Even my eight year old son liked this book!

LIKE the Dinosaurs Living in My Hair Facebook page.

Follow Dinosaurs Living in My Hair on Instagram.

Win It!

Enter below using the Rafflecopter form for a chance to Win your own copy of "Dinosaurs Living In My Hair AND a Hooded Sweatshirt (You can choose from size 2T, 4T or a 5/6, colors are Pink, Green, or Blue). Giveaway is open to residents living in the main 48 United States only.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of Dinosaurs Living in My Hair in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Bella Donna: Coven Road - Children's Book #Review and #Giveaway! Ends 10/25 #BellaDonna

Bella Donna: Coven Road is the First book in a NEW Series! Bella Donna was written by Ruth Symes and Illustrated by Marion Lindsay. Bella Donna is great for all children, boys and girls who like paranormal and supernatural stories. Bella Donna tries to be herself, and no one wants to be around here. So she then tries wearing pink and acting like the other kids to fit in, and then she becomes popular. Then she starts living with a woman name Lilith and tells Lilith that she wants to be a witch. Lilith then introduces Bella Donna to Coven Road. A place where Bella Donna can be herself, a witch, and practice spells.

Connect with Bella Donna online: http://belladonnaonline.co.uk/. There are also some fun activities on the website too!

About the book:
Princesses? Boring! Unlike all of her friends, Bella Donna dreams of becoming a witch. Ever since she was a baby, Bella Donna has suspected she has magical powers. Bella tries keeping her witchy tendencies a secret from her new foster family—and she stays on her best behavior—but when she comes home early one day from school, she stumbles upon something very surprising. Could Coven Road really be a road for witches? The first installment of the sweet, spooky Bella Donna series will captivate young, magic-loving minds. The text is broken up by adorable pen and ink illustrations that make this a good introduction to chapter books for reluctant or struggling readers, and the vocabulary is not too difficult or challenging. Bella Donna is perfect for children ages 7 to 10 years old.

Bella Donna: Coven Road is now available for purchase at your local book retailers and online.

Win It!

Enter below using the Rafflecopter form for a chance to win your own copy of Bella Donna: Coven Road. Giveaway is open to residents who live in the main 48 continental United States only.


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Disclosure: I received a copy of Bella Donna: Coven Road in exchange for my review and giveaway post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

Saturday, September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day! #PirateDay

International Talk Like A Pirate Day dates back decades to 1955. Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy of Albany, Oregon decided each year, on September 19, we'd all celebrate pirates. Here are a few "pirate words" to work into your vocabulary today!

• Ahoy: Say this instead of boring old "hello" or "hi."
• Matey: Today, people aren't your "friends" or your "buddies" — they're your mateys!
• Aye aye: Can be followed up by the word "captain," but this phrase is to be used to agree to something.
• Arrr: Honestly, you can stick this one anywhere, including cheesy phrases like "Arrr, do you want fries with that?"

The U.S. states of Michigan and California have officially recognized the occasion. Krispy Kreme gives out free doughnuts to people who talk and/or dress like pirates on September 19. Long John Silver's has a similar promotion.

To celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day, we are going to be reading Hailey's Pirate Adventure book from I See Me! This book has a photo of her that I sent in on the front page, along with her name throughout the book and the first letter of her first name, "H!" Tomorrow we will be dressing like pirates! Arrr!!!

I See Me sells many personalized children's books, lunch boxes, puzzles, coloring books, placemats, stickers, growth charts and more! Children love personalized products with their names on them. It makes them feel special. Seeing their names inside of books teaches them to enjoy books and to recognize their name.

Buy a Book from I See Me and Give Back to Children's Cancer Research Fund (CCRF). September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Simply enter coupon code RESEARCH at checkout at www.iseeme.com. We’ll donate 10% back to CCRF and they’ll take 10% off of your order! Expires 9/30/15

LIKE I See Me on Facebook.
Follow I See Me on Twitter.


Disclosure: I received one book in exchange for my review 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.

Ava The Monster Slayer: A Warrior Who Wears Glasses - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 10/3 #AvaTheMonsterSlayer #ChildrensBooks

Don’t underestimate Ava just because she’s “cute” and wears “adorable glasses”—she’s really a fierce monster slayer. And when her beloved Piggy is left in the dryer in the basement, Ava knows she’ll have to face the ferocious monsters lurking in the dark if she wants to rescue her favorite stuffed animal. So she puts on her brother’s superhero cape, grips his sword tight, puts on her pink rain boots and sparkly princess crown, and creeps downstairs.

Not even the roar of the greenest and hairiest monster is going to stop this spunky girl. Even though she’s scared and the monsters smell terrible, Ava is determined to rescue Piggy. Ross Felten’s brisk, sketch-like illustrations help bring energy and humor to this story of bravery and loyalty. Young readers will relate to Ava’s mission and delight in her victory over the monsters. Ava the Monster Slayer is sure to appeal to children worried about monsters in their own homes and kids devoted to their own stuffed animals.

My Review:

Ava and the Monster Slayer is an adorable book about a little girl who can't sleep without her plush piggy who is in the dryer, inside the basement. Ava is afraid of the dark because her brother told her that there's monsters in the basement that have four arms so they can catch both children if they go downstairs! Ava's mother and father are to busy to help her go down to the basement to get her piggy. So she grabs her brother's cape and sword, and goes downstairs into the basement by herself to rescue her piggy! Ava braves the monsters (in her head) and rescues her piggy despite her fears! This book is perfect for children ages 3 to 7.

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

The Runaway Pumpkin: A Halloween Adventure Story - Children's Book #Review & #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 10/3 #TheRunawayPumpkin #Halloween

A cute little Halloween pumpkin announces that he is ready for a Halloween adventure. So he prepares to set out on the exploration of a lifetime. However, his ever watchful and caring mother wants to make sure he’s prepared before he takes that first step outside.

The little pumpkin will begin his adventure on a witch’s broom, where he will fly through the skies. Next, he’ll dare to venture through the very spookiest haunted house. And to celebrate the night, he’ll dance to the “Monster Mash”! It’s scary out there on Halloween night, but his mother is packing a parachute just in case he falls, a blankie for reassurance, and his favorite monster shoes so he can boogie-woogie all night long. Whatever adventures he has, he is sure to be prepared. Halloween isn’t so scary when you have a mother pumpkin making sure you’re ready for whatever frights might come your way! Great for children ages 3 to 6 years old.

My Review:

The Runaway Pumpkin: A Halloween Adventure Story (Sky Pony Press) is about a little Pumpkin who wishes to explore Halloween. He wants to fly on a witches broom, go trick or treating, visit a spooky house, and dance at a Halloween party! His mother tells him then that she will give him a parachute to keep him safe, a pirate costume so that he can go trick or treating, his blankey so that he won't be scared in the spooky house and dancing shoes so that he can dance the night away. Then she tells him that he should come with her, so that they may explore Halloween together.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of the above children's book from the publisher in exchange for my post. No other compensation was received or exchanged.

The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings - Children's Book #Review and #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 9/26 #ChildrensBooks #TheColorMonster #PopUpBook

The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings deviates from the standard identification of numbers, letters, colors, and shapes to instead illustrate commonly felt emotions, including happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and love.

We teach toddlers to identify colors, numbers, shapes, and letters—but what about their feelings? By illustrating such common emotions as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and calm, this sensitive book gently encourages young children to open up with parents, teachers, and daycare providers. And kids will LOVE the bright illustrations and amazing 3-D pop-ups on every page!

My Review:
My six year old said that it was very cool. We enjoyed reading about the different feelings. My daughter said that they were similar to those on a recent children's movie with five feelings! The 3-D Pop-Up pages are super neat and they really help to make the book come alive. Great book to read most anytime, day or night and anytime of year.

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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.

Monster Trouble - Children's Book #Review and #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 9/26 #MonsterTrouble #ChildrensBook

Monster Trouble! (Sterling Publishing) by Lane Fredrickson is the rhyming story of adorable Winifred Schnitzel and the monsters who terrorize her each night. She’s not afraid, of course! She just wants them to leave her in peace so she can get some sleep. But scaring away monsters is no easy task. The fearless, African-American protagonist is sure to help children overcome their fear of monsters, and the delightfully sweet ending will have them begging for an encore. This wonderful addition to diverse picture books is the perfect bedtime story on Halloween night.

My Review:
Monster Trouble is a cute rhyming children's book about a little girl who learns how to deal with the Monsters that keep her awake a night. She tries baiting them with traps, then with bad stinky cheese, with a pokey chair and more. Nothing works until she's in such a deep sleep and she's dreaming of puppies one of the monsters wakes her up, and she kisses him! Then the monster starts to freak out, so she starts kissing all of them and they finally leave her alone at night to sleep. Great children's book to teach your children to deal with their own monsters that they fear at night when the lights go out.

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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.

Dining with...Monsters!: A Disgusting Way to Count to 10! #Review and #Giveaway! (U.S.) Ends 9/26 #ChildrensBooks #DiningWithMonsters

For toddlers, European import Dining with...Monsters!: A Disgusting Way to Count to 10! (White Star Publishers) offers a humorous, rhyming introduction to numbers.

What do hungry monsters like to eat? 1 spider swallowed whole, 2 leaping frogs, and 3 entire whalesfor the ogre with gigantic claws and scales! And for Mr. One-Eye, four mice are very nice. Kids will enjoy this fun feast of a counting book, with 10 colorful creatures and their meals of grasshoppers, scorpions, owls, and prickly porcupines. Foldout pages and simple, humorous rhyming text make this a delight to read aloud.

My Review:
Dining With... Monsters! is a cute children's rhyming book with adorable Monsters inside who eat various things like bats, owls, mice and more. Each monster eats a certain amount of something starting with the number 1 and ending with 10. I had my six and three year old girls laughing by the end of the book because I was doing each page/number with a different voice! They got a kick out of it.

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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.

Princess Cupcake Jones - Children's Books #Review! #BackToSchool

Princess Cupcake Jones, is the perfect read for your small children to learn and grasp valuable life lessons to take with them while they’re at school. The Princess Cupcake Jones stories teach all readers that ALL races are beautiful and to love and accept everyone for whom they are.

Cupcake Jones, recently featured on Fox News in a Back to School segment, is an inspirational role model for little boys and girls to look up to. Her three books,Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu, Princess Cupcake Jones Won’t Go to School, and Princess Cupcake Jones and the Queen’s Closet all teach her readers incredibly important valuable life-lessons that they can take along with them and keep in their minds whilst entering their first big adventure.

The Princess Cupcake Jones books are not only fantastic reading experiences, but all three books also consist of subtle positive messages within every illustrated page. The word “LOVE” is hidden within each page to remind each child what really matters most.

Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu

Follow Princess Cupcake Jones in her first book, Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu. In this adventure, when her beloved tutu goes missing, Cupcake learns the importance of tidying up and putting things in their proper place. Join Princess Cupcake Jones as she searches her palace in hopes of finding her tutu and discovers hidden treasures along the way.

Princess Cupcake Jones Won't Go to School

Princess Cupcake returns! In the second book of the Series, Princess Cupcake Jones Won't Go To School, national award-winning author Ylleya Fields delivers a valuable message about facing fears of starting school. With the same gentle, rhyming cadence and vibrant illustrations, this captivating story helps children and their parents learn about sharing feelings, taking risks, and being supportive for new adventures. All will delight and learn as Princess Cupcake finally begins her first day of school.

Princess Cupcake Jones and the Queen's Closet

One day, Princess Cupcake finds a special box in the closet that she hasn't seen before. Curiosity propels to explore what lies within the mystery box. And once she looks inside, she finds herself in a shoe-filled situation that is more than she could have imagined!

You can shop for these three children's books, shirts, Princess Cupcake's Tutu, print out coloring pages that go along with the books, word searches and more from www.princesscupcakejones.com! You can also purchase Princess Cupcake books on amazon and at most book retailers. LIKE Princess Cupcake on Facebook.


Disclosure: I received all three Princess Cupcakes children's books in exchange for my post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.

"The Knight and the Firefly" & "The Pirate and the Firefly" - Christian Children's Books #Review and #Giveaway (2 Winners)! #BackToSchool (U.S.) Ends 8/30

About "The Knight and the Firefly: A Boy, a Bug and a Lesson in Bravery"

Brave knight Oliver fights fearlessly during the day, defending his backyard, but once the sun goes down, he is wide awake and afraid of all of the things hiding in the dark! Oliver finds some helpful advice from a clever firefly named Phineas, who shows him that the true light comes from God's Word! Little kids will love reading along and learning from this story based on Psalm 91:1-2. Includes the "Parent Connection" in the back that features discussion questions, activities for parents to do with kids, and more!

About “The Pirate and the Firefly: A Boy, a Bug and a Lesson in Wisdom”

Oliver loves pretending to be a pirate, but learns that blindly following others doesn't leave him with a good feeling inside.

In this Scripture adventure, kids join Oliver as he rights the wrongs done by his so-called Pirate friends. Through it all, Captain Oliver learns that following God's way is the true way to wisdom!

The second book in the “Nightlight Chronicle" series brings entire sections of Scripture to life via imaginative, fantastical stories that use a passage from Psalms to help children understand and apply biblical truths to their lives. Each book in the series will depict Oliver wearing a different costume as he imagines and adventures his way through God's Word with the help of Phineas, the firefly. Based on Scripture from Psalm 1, "The Pirate and the Firefly" aims to address the felt needs of children ages 4 to 8 including courage, confidence, friendship and more with biblical truths about God.

Amanda Jenkins is passionate about communicating biblical truths to kids in a way they can understand and connect with. Amanda lives just outside of Chicago with her husband, Dallas, and their four young children. She is also the daughter-in-law of Jerry B. Jenkins, author of the best- selling Left Behind series.

Tara Mcclary reeves is the author of Don’t Tell That to Beasley and one of her joys and privileges as a parent is daily pointing her two teens and toddler to Jesus. She is thrilled Amanda Jenkins agreed to join her on The Knight and the Firefly and is prayerful their collaboration will equip parents and children to focus and depend upon the Lord. Tara and her husband, Lee, live in Davidson, North Carolina with their 13-year- old twins, Caroline and Daniel, and 14-month-old Harrison. She blogs at www.rememberyourraisin.com.


My Review on both books:

In "The Knight and the Firefly," Oliver learns to trust in God, and that God will protect him always. In "The Pirate and the Firefly," Oliver learns that making bad choice and hanging out with friends who make you do bad things isn't right. He also learns that God gave us the bible to guide us and keep us out of trouble. My seven and a half year old son and I read these books together and it opened up a bunch of questions he had about God and about his own choices. It was awesome. I haven't had a conversation like that with my son ever, until we read these books together. It was great to hear what my son had to say and about how he felt about things. Us adults can all learn things from the innocence of young children.

With our children going back to school, so comes early bedtimes and lots of reading books before bed and reading books for school too! We keep reading to our children before bed all year long. As they look forward to reading to us out loud and sharing new stories with us and their siblings too!


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Disclosure: I received a copy of both "The Pirate and the Firefly: A Boy, a Bug and a Lesson in Bravery" and "The Pirate and the Firefly: A Boy, a Bug and a Lesson in Wisdom" in exchange for my review post. No other compensation was exchanged or received.