Crow From the Shadow (Parent-Child-Connect (P2C) Book 1)
Written of Olaolu Ogunyemi
Illustrated by Joshua Ogunyemi
Crow is a bird that possesses a high level of intelligence. He wants to push himself to his limits. Perhaps he will be an architect, a superstar athlete, or a military genius. Unfortunately, self-doubt in the form of the shadow is always lurking in the background telling him that he cannot succeed.
Children and adults are so often held back by nagging self-doubts. This beautifully illustrated book urges us to aspire to our best and see the possibilities for success not the fears of failure. There is a wonderful opportunity to continue the discussion with parents and teachers by using the discussion questions. In addition, the information section about crows is highly informative.
Recommended for upper elementary school and middle-school-age students.
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Publisher’s Synopsis: Every morning at seven o’ three, I wake up just in time to watch Grandpa play with Bizzy Bzzz the Bee.
Bizzy Bzzz the Bee and Grandpa’s Tea is reading made fun. Told through the eyes of a child, this is an entertaining story about a boy who gets a good laugh watching Grandpa’s encounter with a bee every morning while trying to enjoy his cup of tea. Teetering on the edge of frustration, Grandpa has a heightened escalation with Bizzy.
The boy comes up with a quick solution that allows Grandpa to enjoy his morning tea and lets Bizzy stay. It’s safe to say, the Grandson saved the day. This story has playful rhyme, problem solving, and is sure to put a smile on faces of children every time.
Bizzy Bzzz zips around Grandpa’s head three times and makes him dizzy. It’s funny when his eyes cross. He looks so silly.
Travis Peagler is a unique individual, being the youngest of seven kids, raised partially in low-income apartments on the East side of Dayton, Ohio, until the age of nine. Humble beginnings growing up in a somewhat multi-racial neighborhood gave Travis an inimitable perspective on life at an incredibly young age.
His imagination has always been his outlet. Thinking back to grade-school when he was in an uncomfortable situation or when he didn’t handle conflict well, Travis would always replay the scene again in his mind where things played out the way he wished. An innate defense mechanism, he assumes, which led to the discovery of his extraordinary talent.
Be sure to leave Travis a book review. You also can keep up with Travis for future promotions, giveaways, and etc., at the following:
Grandpa’s trouble with a pesky bee is narrated by his clever, young grandson. Every morning, Grandpa sits on the porch with his dog, Sparks, and his tea. He repeats the scenario every evening. Poor Grandpa is troubled by a pesky bee. His grandson decides to do something about the pesky visitor. One evening the boy comes up with an ingenious solution and saves the day.
This short multicultural rhyming picture book teaches children kindness and empathy toward others. It is a touching tale of a loving Christian boy and his grandpa. Elementary grade readers will chuckle at the bee’s antics and the boy’s efforts to save the day. Recommended as a bedtime story or family read-aloud.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a copy of Bizzy Bzzz the Bee and Grandpa’s Tea and a $100 Visa gift card!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
A copy of Bizzy Bzzz the Bee and Grandpa’s Tea
A $100 Visa gift card
Six (6) winners receive:
A copy of Bizzy Bzzz the Bee and Grandpa’s Tea
The giveaway begins May 24, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends June 24, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
Virtual Blog Tour and Giveaway in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Next Pivot Point
ABOUT THE BOOK
Little Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
Written by Julie Kratz
Illustrated by Edwards Maiello
Ages 5-10 | 74 Pages
Publisher: Next Pivot Point | ISBN-13: 978-1736515907
Publisher’s Synopsis: As Ally navigates through her school day, she watches her classmates face bullying and discrimination. Ally realizes that they all want the same thing – to be accepted as they are. Ally learns an important lesson, brought to light by her teacher, that our differences make each of us unique and special, and that we can be an ally to others to help them navigate through life.
Little Allies is a touching tale that reminds us of the importance of accepting each other, celebrating our differences, and working to become an ally. The colorful pictures show Ally’s willingness to stand by her friends, even when she doesn’t know how else to help. Adults in the story are also important allies, helping kids navigate challenges, learn ways to support, and cherish their uniqueness.
The bonus material at the end of the book will spark discussion at home or in the classroom.100% of online book sale proceeds will be donated to a nonprofit or organization focused on children’s diversity and inclusion development or providing equitable access to opportunities for all children.
Julie Kratz is a highly acclaimed TEDx speaker and inclusive leadership trainer who led teams and produced results in corporate America. After experiencing many career “pivot points” of her own, she started her own speaking business, focused on helping leaders be more inclusive. Promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, Julie is a frequent keynote speaker, podcast host, and executive coach. She holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, is a Certified Master Coach, and is a certified unconscious bias trainer.
Kratz has provided an interesting approach to handling discussions of diversity among elementary age and middle-school students. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Ally, each day of the week at school reveals a different character experiencing a challenge. Readers meet members of Ally’s fourth grade class who face opposition from fellow classmates. They represent different religious, cultures, special needs, gender, racial and family groupings. Ally stands up as a child willing to protect and empathize with these fellow students.
This book allows young readers to visualize and understand these situations. The discussion guide and glossary of terms to know provide valuable reference points. They can be used by adults such as teachers, counselors, and parents to encourage further discussion. It is my hope that the facilitators will not interject politics into the issues but use this framework to promote unity and healing.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a Little Allies ART-Stravaganza prize pack!
One (1) Grand Prize Winner Receives:
A copy of Little Allies, autographed by Julie Kratz
A $50 Target gift card
An ART-stravangza kit for your budding artist including:
A Sketchbook
Skin Tone Colored Pencils
Crayola Multi-Ethnic Skin Tone Washable Tempera Paints
Paint Brushes
Crayola Skin Tone Multicultural Crayons
Crayola Skin Tone Multicultural Markers
Two Winners Receive:
A copy of Little Allies, autographed by Julie Kratz
A Little Allies Slap Bracelet
A Little Allies Sticker
The giveaway begins May 17, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends June 17, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT
Monday, May 17, 2021The Children’s Book ReviewA book review ofLittle Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
Tuesday, May 18, 2021The Fairview ReviewA book review ofLittle Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
Wednesday, May 19, 2021Shooting Stars MagazineA book review ofLittle Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
Thursday, May 20, 2021Lisa’s ReadingA guest post by authorJulie Kratz
Sunday, May 23, 2021Barbara Ann Mojica’s BlogA book review ofLittle Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
Monday, May 24, 2021Satisfaction for Insatiable ReadersA book review ofLittle Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
Tuesday, May 25, 2021J.R.s Book ReviewsA book review ofLittle Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
Tuesday, June 1, 2021Mommy RamblingsA book review ofLittle Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
One of the biggest hurdles, an author faces is building an online following. There are many theories on how to approach this. Obviously, one needs to understand the audience for which one writes, their needs, desires, and wants. Once that step has been accomplished, how do you reach that audience most effectively. What is your purpose? Is it to sell a product, offer a service, teach a skill, or extend a helping hand?
I recently read and reviewed this book. It has a unique approach suitable for anyone but certainly applicable for writers.
LET IT BE ME
Free: Build an Online Following that Liberates You for Life’s Adventures
Written by Linda Claire Puig
I have read many books that purport to give the answer to how to build an online following. This book is different.
It is written in conversational style rather than an instruction manual. While the author’s purpose is to allow you to live a lifestyle that will allow you the freedom to achieve the lifestyle you desire, Puig gives the tools that will allow the reader to discover how to do it.
Readers learn about the five different types of freedom, why it is important to use generosity in attracting and building that audience, and then how you can interact with your audience to help weather your own struggles while using your own strengths to help them overcome their own problems.
The author presents multiple avenues that can be used to achieve these ends, and also includes an extensive bibliography of resources to explore and enhance the reader’s knowledge base.
I recommend the book as an interesting addition to anyone interesting in taking that next step.
Many of us who want to build a following and have a sense of fulfillment and success struggle because we have no clear sense of purpose or direction. This book guides the reader to discover where he wants to go before spending time being frustrated in not knowing how to get there.
This book relates the sweet tale of a young girl with blonde hair who loves horses. She cannot have her own, so she is working in a barn with a horse trainer for the summer. A gray pony balks at everyone, but this young girl succeeds in developing a special relationship with the pony. As the summer wears on, the two seem to complete each other’s thoughts, hence the phrase, Me Too.
At the end of the summer, the pony is sold. For many years, their paths diverge. The girl begins college. Then she starts to reminisce and dream about the pony. She wants to reconnect. Will she succeed in tracking down the pony and can she restore that special bond of empathy, trust, and kindness?
The soft pastel illustrations impart a whimsical and light-hearted mood to the rhythmic storyline. Highly recommended for elementary grade readers.
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Sophie Washington: Things You Didn’t Know About Sophie
Written and Illustrated by Tanya Duncan Ellis
This is Book Three of the Sophie Washington book series. In this tale, Sophie is about to turn eleven. She is excited because she has a crush on Toby, a new boy in school who has recently moved from Cleveland. Of course she wants desperately for him to notice her. Her other big concern is talking her parents into getting her a cell phone for her birthday. Sophie tells her friend that she is getting an Apple phone, but her parents have not agreed yet. In an effort to impress her friends, she might just jeopardize her fondest wish.
This series is popular with late elementary school and middle-grade readers. Sophie is a character with which many of her readers empathize. Her mistakes and hijinks move the story along. She is funny, genuine, and contemporary. I recommend the series to students ages seven through thirteen.
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I Feel Anxious: Children’s Book About Overcoming Anxiety For Kids 4-8.
Written by Aleks Harrison
Illustrated by Ferlina Gunawan
Max is a little boy who feels overwhelmed and anxious. He is moving with his parents to a new town two states away. As he rides in the moving truck, worries crowd his mind. What will his new school be like? Will the new children like him? Who will be his teacher?
Max’s parents encourage him to draw and write about his feelings. That makes him feel better. Perhaps, things won’t be so bad.
Through beautiful illustrations and expressive language, Max calms his fears and reaches out to children who may find themselves in similar situations. Recommended for preschoolers and primary grade children.
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This well-written and organized book is a wonderful way to introduce elementary and middle-grade readers to the world of chemistry. Wissinger offers simple explanations with appropriate illustrations making the content clear and easy to comprehend.
The short book packs a ton of information in forty pages. Young scientists learn about matter, elements, atoms, DNA, X-rays, chemical reactions, the periodic table, and so much more. There is a brief history of the contributions by women in chemistry going way back to Cleopatra. The glossary adds additional information to explore. The tone is positive encouraging the young reader to embrace scientific exploration.
I am looking forward to reading more books in this new nonfiction science exploration series.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me an ARC to review, which I voluntarily chose to read and review with my honest opinions for no compensation.
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Nyima and the Blue Bear: A Journey of Hope and Compassion
Written by Angela Castillo
Illustrated by Cher Jiang
Nyima and his yak, Yeshi, live in the Himalayas. While searching for goji berries, they hear the cries of a little blue bear who has been separated from his mother.
They retrace the cub’s steps and encounter many examples of native wildlife along their journey. When it begins to get dark, Nyima offers to take the cub home for the night. Will the cub and his mother ever find each other?
This multicultural folktale is beautifully illustrated and teaches young readers about the native wildlife. Young readers also discover lessons of compassion, empathy, and friendship. Highly recommended for elementary school readers.
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Publisher’s Synopsis: Introducing eight-year-old Marisol Rainey—an irresistible new character from Newbery Medalist and New York Times–bestselling Erin Entrada Kelly!
Marisol Rainey’s mother was born in the Philippines. Marisol’s father works and lives part-time on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. And Marisol, who has a big imagination and likes to name inanimate objects, has a tree in her backyard she calls Peppina . . . but she’s way too scared to climb it. This all makes Marisol the only girl in her small Louisiana town with a mother who was born elsewhere and a father who lives elsewhere (most of the time)—the only girl who’s fearful of adventure and fun.
Will Marisol be able to salvage her summer and have fun with Jada, her best friend? Maybe. Will Marisol figure out how to get annoying Evie Smythe to leave her alone? Maybe. Will Marisol ever get to spend enough real time with her father? Maybe. Will Marisol find the courage to climb Peppina? Maybe.
Told in short chapters with illustrations by the author on nearly every page, Maybe, Maybe Marisol Rainey is a must-have for early elementary grade readers. Erin Entrada Kelly celebrates the small but mighty Marisol, the joys of friendship, and the triumph of overcoming your fears in this stunning new novel for readers of Kevin Henkes, Meg Medina, Andrew Clements, Sara Pennypacker, and Kate DiCamillo.
Newberry Award Winner, Erin Entrada Kelly has created an adorable character in a new series that is sure to win the hearts and minds of beginning and middle-grade readers. This multicultural book features Marisol, a child who says maybe to everything because she is afraid to try anything new. What is Marisol afraid of? Climbing trees, strange noises, speaking in front of the class, to name just a few of them. Luckily, Marisol’s best friend, Jada, has an insatiable curiosity like Marisol. She is kind and empathetic, encouraging and patient. Together they create imaginative scenarios.
Kelly manages to reveal Marisol’s life chapter by chapter. Readers learn her father works on an oil rig and is only home one week a month. Her mother is a teacher, who speaks three languages and was born in the Philippines. Marisol loves silent films, real and stuffed animals, and cannot stop asking questions. Throughout the story, readers uncover bits of knowledge about philosophy, science, bullying, and common sense.
The charming black and white illustrations make this book a wonderful choice for new readers. Character depth and age-appropriate themes will have middle-grade students unwilling to put it down. Looking forward to new stories in this series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times–bestselling author Erin Entrada Kelly was awarded the Newbery Medal forHello, Universe and a Newbery Honor forWe Dream of Space. She grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and now lives in Delaware. She is a professor of children’s literature in the graduate fiction and publishing programs at Rosemont College, where she earned her MFA, and is on the faculty at Hamline University. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Philippines Free Press Literary Award for Short Fiction and the Pushcart Prize. Erin Entrada Kelly’s debut novel,Blackbird Fly, was a Kirkus Best Book, a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALSC Notable Book, and an Asian/Pacific American Literature Honor Book. She is also the author ofThe Land of Forgotten Girls, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature; You Go First, a Spring 2018 Indie Next Pick;Lalani of the Distant Sea, an Indie Next Pick; andMaybe Maybe Marisol Rainey, which she also illustrated. The author’s mother was the first in her family to immigrate to the United States from the Philippines, and she now lives in Cebu.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a hardcover copy of Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey!
Ten (10) winners receive:
A hardcover copy of Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey
The giveaway begins April 26, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends May 26, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
May 30, 2021
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