I am honored to participate in the 10th anniversay of an event that I have been involved in since its inception. Here’s to all the readers of the world, big and small, young and old, from all corners of the globe.
DREAMS SHARED IN A BOTTLE
Arletis, Abuelo, and the Message in a Bottle
Written by Lea Aschkenas
Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
A beautifully written and illustrated children’s book with an inspiring message. Arletis lives on a tiny street in a Cuban village. When she gazes at her location on a map in school, she dreams of the world that stretches beyond her small world. While Arletis is content living with her parents, sister, and grandmother, a tiny voice inside wants to know what lies beyond it.
One day, her parents take her to the seashore. Arletis finds a bottle washed ashore that contains a message in a foreign language. She writes back in her native language and hopes for a response. Thousands of miles away, an elderly tugboat captain answers her message. The rest of the tale is magical. Maybe dreams in a bottle come true.
The author is masterful in creating beautiful language phrases to convey her message. For example, “In summer, the heat got so heavy and thick it rolled down the street in dizzying waves…” Images portray the spirit and emotions of the characters. They literally jump off the pages drawing in the eyes of the reader. Bonus features include a Cuban recipe, glossary of unfamiliar words, and a list of resources to continue learning more. The book will be available in Spanish and English editions. Based on a true story, this multicultural tale will delight children and adults of all ages.
Don’t miss this release in April 2023.
THANK YOU to our wonderful MCBD participants and supporters including Co-Hosts, Medallion and Author Levels Sponsors, book reviewers, book donators, and readers!
How to Shrink the Doubt Monsters: Novo the Space Robot Book 1
Written by Charity Froh
Illustrated by ZuzanaSvobodova
This book is part of a picture book series that helps young children gain confidence and solve problems.
Novo is a space robot from the planet, Infinata. When a group of self-doubters invade his planet, the happy robots begin to doubt themselves. Soon after, they can no longer enjoy their favorite pursuits because they no longer believe in themeselves. Novo makes a trip to the planet earth but discovers self-doubters are present there as well. However, the children of earth teach him a valuable lesson. Will Novo succeed in teaching that lesson to his robot friends and save their planet?
The vibrant illustrations pop and the alliteration sentences are so much fun to read aloud. This book invites rereading and its lessons open up children’s minds to discussion of problem-solving.
Highly recommend this series to readers ages five through seven and their caretakers.
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Another fun, fast read from the mystery adventure series that features Harley, an almost twelve-year-old cryptologist and official member of The Society for Mysterious Objects. She is the daughter of a famous, archaeologist, Russell James. Harley and her dog, Daisy are accompanying her father on a new job outside of Paris.
An announcement that an object has been stolen from the Louvre sets the plot in motion. Harley joins an educational group of young explorers and meets Veronica, her partner for this adventure. They feel duty-bound to explore the clues and solve the mystery. The setting of underground catacombs provides an eerie background for the middle-grade target audience but this fast-moving adventure will hold the interest of any age reader. Likeable characters, entertaining black and white illustrations, and short chapters appeal to beginning or reluctant readers. Each book of the series stands independently and apart from the rest.
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Bright Star: Empowering Children to Believe in Themselves and Follow Their Dreams
Written by Heather Dodge
Little Star is struggling to find her way in the world. Can she perform her job well? As she experiences failures and successes, Little Star discovers how to believe in herself and follow her dreams.
Children develop self-confidence and self-esteem, how to develop courage and resiliency. The questions and reflections prompt young readers to develop empathy for Little Star while building up the same skills within themselves. It enables readers to enjoy the adventures through the interactive experience.
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Publisher’s Synopsis: Author J.T. Michaels brings a fantasy tale of an ancient war, a modern-day murder mystery, mystical creatures, and memorable characters in his masterfully written young adult novel, Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone.
The Great War ended a century ago. Peace reigns across the eight countries. Epic tales of heroic men and women of those times are recounted in song and story. Yet, history seems to have forgotten a young battlefield healer, Tessa Marlise…
Sixteen-year-old Jimmy Chartron has just enrolled at the Navale Academy of Eagleon, his mind set on becoming an electrician. A chance magical encounter binds him to the trapped soul of Tessa Marlise. As Jimmy struggles to deal with this shocking development, murder and mystery unravel in the academy. Caught in the middle of everything, Jimmy realizes that a larger evil is afoot and that only two things can stop it: himself and the ghost in his head…
Author J.T. Michaels has always loved storytelling, no matter the medium. Being immersed in a different world, whether it’s through books or video games, has also been an obsession for him. Years after writing for his school magazine, he discovered he wanted to create his own worlds for readers, and his journey to fantasy writing began with Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone, the first volume in his epic fantasy series.
J.T. gets inspiration for his books from everything around him, incorporating his friends as character ideas to make his stories as relatable and realistic as possible. He hopes his young readers come away from his stories having escaped from the real world for a bit and with a spark of magic that lasts long after the book is closed.
When he isn’t writing enchanting fantasy novels for teens, J.T. enjoys running and spending time outside in the sunshine and hunkering down in a bookstore or library on rainy days. He lives in British Columbia, Canada, where he likes to indulge in a great cup of coffee. Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone is his debut novel, the first in a planned fantasy trilogy.
This young adult novel combines the most popular genres for this age group of readers. Fantasy, ghosts, a murder, coming-of-age struggles, and strong characters all rolled into a fast-moving adventure written with humor and great dialogue. The setting consists of a peaceful world left behind after a devastating war that wiped out civilization a century ago. Myths and stories tell the tales of former heroes. A battlefield healer named Tessie attaches her lost soul to Jimmy, the protagonist, who has just enrolled in school to become an electrician.
Jimmy struggles to deal with this dilemma but soon finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery at the school. Readers become immersed in his struggles, the murder mystery, and the lives of other colorful characters at the school. Michaels artfully reveals the successes and failures of the characters through skilled dialogue and humor.
This young adult novel is the first in a series and has much to offer to its targeted audience of readers thirteen and older but has widespread appeal for adults.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone prize pack!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
The Comfy Couch Reader Prize Pack
– Two Alice in Wonderland throw covers
– A side lamp with a unique horse stencil design
-A signed copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
The Books and Beverage Lover Prize Pack
– A Jimmy Chartron mug
-A Magic Mug with 3 Reveal Characters
-A signed copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone
Three (3) winners receive:
A signed paperback copy of Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone
The Change Guidebook: How to Align Your Heart, Truths, and Energy to Find Success in All Areas of Your Life
Written by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Most people would agree we would like to become the best we can be, but how many of us, are willing to put in the effort to achieve that lofty goal?
Guarino has made it possible by providing a simple framework to make it possible for us to grow and change as we move through life. She provides ten points of change in three phrases to help the reader become happier.
These three phases align our heart, our truths, and finally our energy. As one discovers herself, she must act. Guarino provides assessments that help us to think, write, talk, and finally, act. The reader learns to create power phrases and then complete exercises to practice implementing those actions. Practical suggestions help us manage our time and energy. For those who enjoy a challenge, a discussion quiz allows a way to gain certification in completion of the course in recognition of the arduous work and progress made on the path to change and true happiness.
Take the first step to becoming a better you.
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Publisher’s Synopsis: Celebrate the life-changing power of art in this inspiring and stunningly illustrated picture book biography of American artist Alma Thomas.
Meet an incredible woman who broke down barriers throughout her whole life and is now known as one of the most preeminent painters of the 20th century. Told from the point of view of young Alma Thomas, readers can follow along as she grows into her discovery of the life-changing power of art.
As a child in Georgia, Alma Thomas loved to spend time outside, soaking up the colors around her. And her parents filled their home with color and creativity despite the racial injustices they faced. After the family moved to Washington DC, Alma shared her passion for art by teaching children. When she was almost seventy years old, she focused on her own artwork, inspired by nature and space travel.
In this celebration of art and the power of imagination, Jeanne Walker Harvey and Loveis Wise tell the incredible true story of Alma Thomas, the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York City and to have her work chosen for the White House collection. With her bold and vibrant abstract paintings, Alma set the world ablaze with color.
Ablaze with Color includes extensive backmatter with photos, an author’s and illustrator’s note, a timeline, and a list of sources and resources, which will be a great tool for parents, educators, and librarians. Perfect for Women’s History Month and Black History Month units alongside such favorites as Malala’s Magic Pencil, Hidden Figures, andMae Among the Stars.
Jeanne Walker Harvey has been a longtime docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Just like Alma Thomas, Jeanne believes that art brings us joy. Her other picture books include Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines and My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden’s Childhood Journey. Jeanne studied literature and psychology at Stanford University. She lives in Northern California.
Loveis Wise is an illustrator and designer from Washington, DC. They are currently based in Los Angeles and their work often speaks to themes of joy and liberation. Their work can be found through the New Yorker, Google, Adobe, and the New York Times.
Harvey and Wise share the story of the first black woman to have her work exhibited in a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York City. Michele Obama chose her Resurrection painting as the first Black woman’s art displayed in the White House.
Alma grew up in segregated Georgia where schools and institutions remained segregated at the time. Her parents countered that by opening their home to books of all sorts and teachers who gave lectures. Alma preferred to be outside absorbing the colors, sights, and sounds of nature.
Alma’s parents moved to Washington, DC as she turned fifteen. Schools and institutions remained closed to black students. As alma matured, she followed in her parents’ footsteps and brought art to students in her home. She organized field trips and encouraged them to display their work.
When Alma retired from teaching, she turned back to creating her own art projects, infusing them with the colors of nature. She grabbed inspiration from the space program of the late sixties. Galleries soon took notice of her brilliant abstract pieces, leading to her solo exhibit and notoriety. The Mayor of Washington, DC proclaimed “Alma Thomas Day,” on September 9, 1972.
The book features stunning illustrations, along with a timeline of Thomas’s life and historical events. Harvey provides references for young readers to satiate their curiosity and expand their knowledge. Highly recommended resource for students and teachers in elementary, middle school, and beyond.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a classroom set of the picture book Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas!
Three (3) winners receive:
A classroom set of Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas, autographed and personalized for each student and the teacher by Jeanne Walker Harvey (no more than 30 books per set).
Publisher’s Synopsis:When a young girl learns she is the Last Heir of the legendary pirate Davy Jones, she is whisked away to begin life aboard an enchanted schoolship for Pirate Heirs where danger and excitement awaits.
Contemporary kids who happen to be Heirs of the most villainous and celebrated pirates in history. Superstitions, mysteries, curses, secrets, strange ocean creatures, undead pirates, and seafaring legends will thrill middle-grade readers in this rollicking, globe-trotting adventure.
Avalina Jones, the Last Heir of the infamous pirate Davy Jones, has never heard of Sea Magic, flying dinghies, Pirate Heir schoolships, phantom islands, undead pirates, or creatures called Half Ones. And she has never understood her strange connection to water. But when a beautiful woman arrives in a swirling waterspout, Avalina’s life explodes with more adventures than she can possibly imagine. She takes her rightful place aboard a giant Pirate Heir schoolship teeming with Heirs of the world’s most nefarious pirates.
Raised as a Landlubber, Avalina quickly realizes bizarre and danger are normal aboard Pirate Heir schoolships-food fights back, school supplies giggle or explode in your face. And not everyone can be trusted.
When Avalina is accused of a terrible crime, she must prove her innocence or risk being banished from the schoolship forever-and this in the middle of a crucial Treasure Hunt!
Avalina races to unlock the secrets of the ship, and makes a dangerous discovery that threatens everyone aboard. With the help of her new friends Charlie, Pippa, and Bummy, Avalina draws closer to the truth, unaware that a deeper, darker fate awaits.
Author Lori Adams expertly delivers a story that is timeless, bringing together elements of sea lore, magic, and adventure. The first book in a seven-book series, Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm, is a romping tale for middle graders who are searching for the next enduring fantasy classic.
LORI ADAMS is the author of the Avalina Jones series for middle-grade readers (Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm (#1)as well as two young adult series: The Kate March Mysteries: Speak Easy (#1) set in Hollywood during the Roaring Twenties, and the Soulkeepers Series: Forbidden, Awaken, and Unforgiven, a paranormal fantasy set in the quintessential but fictitious town of Haven Hurst, Connecticut and first published through Random House.
Lori was born and raised in Oklahoma but moved to Southern California where she lives with her family. She loves traipsing along SoCal’s wonderful beaches, watching Angel’s baseball, Cowboys’ football. Aside from writing, Lori loves reading and watching Classic Hollywood Movies.
Avalina has lived in an orphanage from the age of four. Soon after her tenth birthday, Avalina develops strange powers like breathing underwater. A mysterious, beautiful woman appears to her in a swirling waterspout and turns her life upside down.
This creature swoops her up in a magical dinghy to a phantom pirate ship. Avalina learns that she is the last surviving heir of Davy Jones. This ship is a school for pirate heirs divided into four houses that compete to decipher a pirate map and retrieve its treasure.
Avalina must prove that she is not guilty of an awful crime. There are thrills, adventures, secrets, and legends along the way. Through it all, Avalina is not afraid to stand up for rights, fight the bullies, and work hard. Middle-grade readers will love the wonderfully descriptive language of Sea Magic, ghost pirates, fantasy sea creatures, and strange places. Highly recommended for adventure seekers and fantasy lovers, especially those in the eight to twelve age range.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win an Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm prize pack!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
An autographed copy of Avalina Jones: And the Eye of the Storm
An Avalina Jones quote tote
A Hands-Off Me Gigglin’ Grog mug
An Avalina Jones fridge magnet
An Avalina Jones bookmark
Two (2) winners receive:
An autographed copy of Avalina Jones: And the Eye of the Storm
Publisher: Idle Time Press | ISBN-13: 9781732925847
Publisher’s Synopsis: On his thirteenth birthday, Max Mead wakes up battered and bruised in the villa of his grandfather, a famous antiquities expert, in Cairo. He has a hard time remembering how he got there, but slowly details of his quest to locate his missing grandfather begin to emerge. But the Lieutenant, leader of a ruthless antiquities trafficking gang, has left Max with more than a few nasty bruises.
This is book two of a series The author provides a summary at the beginning which allows first-time readers to catch up on the plot.
Max Mead awakes bruised and battered on his thirteenth birthday. As the fog lifts, his memory returns. He envisions a cave of stolen Egyptian antiquities. A gangster called the Lieutenant had kidnapped Max.
Max’s grandfather inherited a magical cabinet of curiosities from his father which Max used to travel back in time. Max’s grandfather wants Max to continue his mission of restoring the stolen ancient artifacts to Egypt and bringing the criminals to justice. Can Max learn the skills necessary to transition from a novice to an expert?
Max’s parents have always favored his sister who wants to become a gold medal fencing champion. When they decide to leave Egypt, Max refuses to leave and convinces them to allow him to train under his grandfather. He will need to learn about all the cabinet’s secrets and face life-threatening danger to succeed. Is Max up to the task?
This action-packed historical adventure sustains interest. Middle-grade readers will identify with Max’s coming-of-age struggles, the family conflicts, and his love of adventure. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy fantasy, history, and adventure.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cynthia C. Huijgens writes for children of all ages, including children’s picture books. She holds a BA in Art and Design, Masters in Education, and is a certified K-12 Art Teacher. Cynthia graduated from Simon Fraser University’s The Writer’s Studio.
January 25, 2023
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Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm
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