In partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Idle Time Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

Boy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Written by Cynthia C. Huijgens

Ages 8-12 | 187 Pages

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.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Eyf0gR

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/2078/9781732925847

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK

Boy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Written by Cynthia C. Huijgens

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.

For more information, visit https://www.idletimepress.com.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a Boy Between Worlds prize pack!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• An autographed copy of Boy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector
• Two (2) 100% pashminas purchased from a vendor in the Khan el Kahlili, Cairo
• A custom bookmark
• An Idle Time Press t-shirt

Three (3) winners receive:

• An autographed copy of Boy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

https://gleam.io/VYdQF/boy-between-worlds-book-giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, December 6, 2021The Children’s Book ReviewA book review ofBoy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Tuesday, December 7, 2021Over Coffee ConversationsA guest article byCynthia C. Huijgens

Wednesday, December 8, 2021Barbara Ann Mojica’s BlogA book review ofBoy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Thursday, December 9, 2021The Fairview ReviewA book review ofBoy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Friday, December 10, 2021Glass of Wine, Glass of MilkA book review ofBoy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Monday, December 13, 2021Life Is What It’s CalledA book review ofBoy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Tuesday, December 14, 2021Tales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero MomAn activity to pair withBoy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Wednesday, December 15, 2021Book Bug CAA book review ofBoy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Thursday, December 16, 2021Satisfaction for Insatiable ReadersA guest article byCynthia C. Huijgens

Friday, December 17, 2021icefairy’s Treasure ChestA book review ofBoy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Monday, December 20, 2021Lisa’s ReadingA book review ofBoy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector

Night Critters Play

Written by Esseboe Kwami Nyamidie

Illustrated by Pamela Christiansen

What a fun book to read aloud for young children!

The author explores creatures of the night like those he heard while growing up in the tropical jungle. The poem evokes strong images and the text is laid out in eye-popping colors that highlight the rich vocabulary word choices.

The illustrator’s printmaking technique draws the eye of the reader inward inviting detailed exploration of each page. It is a book that children will want to read over and over again.

Especially recommended for ages three through eight, but a delightful read for age.

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Check out lots more for the whole family and http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com

THE CAVES OF SAN PIETRO

WRITTEN BY SUSAN GAYLE

An enjoyable historical fiction read based on real characters. A well-researched tale that follows several families during World War II and the Spanish flu pandemic.

The characters are believable and well-developed. Readers are drawn into the tragedies, the struggles, and at times, a bit of humor despite the awful circumstances. Each of the separate stories hits the mark and makes a deep impression on the reader.

If you enjoy historical fiction, adventure, and in-depth characters, you will like this tale.

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Looking for even more fun for your whole family? Check out http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com

The Order of Time (The Order of Time Series Book 1)

Written by Scott P. Southall

Eleven-year-old twins, Edward and Anastasia could not be more different. They do share an affinity for visiting the Smithsonian. They develop a friendship with a curator, Dr. Gregorian.

While on a visit one day, the twins discover Dr. Greogrian passed out. Little do they know, they will soon be on a time travel adventure to ancient Egypt where they discover Dr. Gregorian is part of a secret society.

The siblings’ unique character differences shine as they thread their way through ancient Egypt and struggle to remove obstacles to survival. At the same time, they need to find a way out of the past to return to the present day. Suddenly, peer and school relationship challenges seem insignificant.

The author does a good job of character development and keeping the plot moving along. This is a compelling read combining history, time travel adventure, and coming-of-age struggles for middle-grade readers.

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Do you want even more resources for the whole family? Check out http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com.

The Secret of the Snallygaster: Washington, DC., USA (Cities of Adventure)

Written by Rishi Piparaiya

This book is part of a series. In this adventure, the author presents a travel guide to Washington D.C, while presenting a family mystery for the protagonists to solve.

Tara is an insatiable reader, while her younger brother is more interested in sports. They are on a family trip to the US capitol, when they uncover a family mystery. As they wind themselves through the historical monuments and museums of the city, they follow the clues to solve the mystery contained in the yellow envelope they find in Arlington Cemetery.

Readers learn about the museums of the Smithsonian, the National Zoo, the White House and the National Mall as they follow clues. There are a lot of bonus features like a short American history summary, a description of American versus British English, interesting facts about the US, and some of its famous people.

The book is perfect for middle-grade readers who shy away from nonfiction. It is an easy read with short chapters for reluctant readers. Recommended to teachers and parents looking for a good children’s travel guide or American history introduction.

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Check out my learning opportunities for the whole family at http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com

Where’s My Joey?: A Heartwarming Bedtime Story For Children of All Ages

Written by Wendy Monica

Illustrated by Roxana Antochi

This tale tells the story of a mama kangaroo who is in search of her child at dinnertime. She introduces the readers to different native Australian animals like the kookaburra and the quokka.

The soft, gentle colors of the illustrations portray the mood of the plot perfectly. There is a surprise ending that will leave readers smiling.

I enjoyed the map of Australia and the bonus maze that will continue to engage the young reader. Recommended especially for readers in the five to eight age range.

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I am here for you. Check out lots more learning opportunities for you and your family at http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DANIEL GERSHOWITZ AND THE CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW

ABOUT THE BOOK

We Can Color! Fun & Facts Coloring Books

Created by Daniel Gershkovitz

All Ages | 70 Pages

Publisher’s Synopsis: Who doesn’t love to color beautiful illustrations and learn interesting facts that enrich the mind?

If you also like amazing drawings and cool facts and believe it’s important to impart knowledge and broaden your child’s horizons, the We Can Color! series was created especially for you!

These eleven books cover topics that will interest anyone at any age: Dinosaurs, Vehicles, Aircraft, Space, and Animals from around the world in their natural environment: Farm, Jungle, Ocean, Savannah, Forest, and Desert!

Did you know that the most dangerous animal in the savannah is the hippopotamus? That the oldest koi fish lived to be 226 years old? That some goats can climb trees? And that the terrible T-Rex was not the biggest dinosaurs predator?

How big is the Sun relative to the Earth? What was the first man-made object to reach space? What is the fastest land animal? The tallest? The heaviest?

Did you know that scorpions glow in ultraviolet light? That male seahorses are the ones that get pregnant? That one of the astronauts lost his glove in space? That one of our planets was given its name by a girl in elementary school? And that there is an aircraft that takes off like a helicopter but flies like a plane?

Do you know the speed of the fastest truck in the world? Or how much does the heaviest tractor weighs?

What is the price of the world’s most expensive fighter jet? How much does an Air Force One flight hour cost?

What is the most venomous snake in the world? The most venomous jellyfish? The most poisonous frog? And do you know how to distinguish between a mammal and a fish in the ocean? Or how to tell a jaguar from a panther?

Next to each of the 330 full-page illustrations you can color, there are interesting facts: over 1,375 facts throughout the 11 books!

• All the books contain full-page original coloring pages that are not repeated!
• The extra-large pages are 8.5 x 11 inches in size!
• All the illustrations are single-sided to prevent bleed-through and can be torn out and displayed without losing the images on the back!
• All the illustrations and information are suitable for ages 5 and up. Children, teens, and adults will enjoy relaxed moments while coloring and learning fun facts!

The We Can Color – Fun & Facts Coloring Books series includes the following books:

The Great Dinosaurs of the Earth!

Space Technology and Our Solar System!

The Coolest Aircraft in the World!

The Coolest Trucks in the World!

The Coolest Vehicles in the World!

The Great Animals of the Farm!

The Great Animals of the Ocean!

The Great Animals of the Jungle!

The Great Animals of the Savannah!

The Great Animals of the Forest!

The Great Animals of the Desert!

PURCHASE LINK

https://amzn.to/3lrUtnt

My Review of the Series

What kid would not want this collection of cool coloring books. Space, trucks, animals, oceans, jungles, deserts, and the world as your oyster!

The large outline images are clear and simple enough for a young child to color. But there is a plethora of information packed into each one. Young artists will also learn more than 1300 facts about each of the topics in the series.

Gershowitz provides hours of entertainment for children as young as five that can also be enjoyed by grandparents who are ninety.

I love books like these that provide an outlet of artistic expression and creativity, while expanding and enriching the mind. Highly recommended.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a set of the We Can Color! coloring books, as well as a Crayola Inspiration Art Case Coloring Set!

One (1) grand prize winner receives: A set of the eleven We Can Color! coloring books, as well as a Crayola Inspiration Art Case Coloring Set.

One (1) winner receives: A set of six We Can Color! coloring books.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER

https://gleam.io/bZqdn/we-can-color-coloring-book-giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, August 9, 2021The Children’s Book ReviewA book series review of theWe Can Color: Fun & Facts Coloring Books

Tuesday, August 10, 2021Lisa’s ReadingA book series review of theWe Can Color: Fun & Facts Coloring Books

Wednesday, August 11, 2021A Dream Within a DreamA book review ofThe Great Animals of the Jungle! Fun & Facts Coloring Book

Thursday, August 12, 2021Crafty Moms ShareA book series review of theWe Can Color: Fun & Facts Coloring Books

Friday, August 13, 2021icefairy’s Treasure ChestA book series review of theWe Can Color: Fun & Facts Coloring Books

Sunday, August 15, 2021Barbara Ann Mojica’s BlogA book review ofSpace Technology and Our Solar System! Fun & Facts Coloring Book

Monday, August 23, 2021Library Lady’s Kid LitA book review ofThe Coolest Vehicles in the World! Fun & Facts Coloring Book

Tuesday, August 24, 2021The Fairview ReviewA book review ofThe Coolest Aircraft in the World! Fun & Facts Coloring Book

Wednesday, August 25, 2021Life Is What It’s CalledA book series review of theWe Can Color: Fun & Facts Coloring Books

Thursday, August 26, 2021J.R.s Book ReviewsA book review ofThe Great Dinosaurs of the Earth! Fun & Facts Coloring Book

Friday, August 27, 2021Heart to HeartA book review ofThe Coolest Trucks in the World! Fun & Facts Coloring Book

The Dragon Defenders – Book 1

Written by James Russell

Animations by Yongtao Zhang

Paddy and Flynn are two brothers who live on an island in the Pacific ocean. That may already sound like an adventure. They also have a dog named Coco, a pet falcon, and a horse. In addition their island is home to secret dragons.

Sounds like a promising beginning to an adventure series for late elementary school and middle-grade readers. The two brothers become detectives and try to thwart the evil boss who wants to capture one of the dragons.

This is a page turner that is made even more attractive by the ability for readers to download an app to turn the book into an interactive adventure. Readers who download the app are able to read secret codes, and view three dimensional animations. There is also a map to trace the journey.

Lots of authentic dialogue, intrigue, teamwork, colorful characters, and bravery to spur readers on and get them hooked on reading the entire series.

If you enjoyed reading this post, please subscribe by clicking on the word Follow or by hitting the orange RSS FEED button in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

Check out a zillion learning opportunities for the whole family at http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com

The Universes Inside the Lighthouse: (Balky Point Adventure #1)

Written by Pam Stucky

A good choice for middle-grade and young adult readers looking for a summertime read. A vacation trip to an island turns into the adventure of a lifetime for teenage twins, Charlie, and Emma.

They cannot resist investigating the haunted lighthouse. Soon they get a lot more than they anticipated. This adventure combines real science, science fiction, magic, time-travel, and fantasy with two interesting characters.

Charlie and Emma become the detectives who discover multiple universes, two-dimensional characters, and a society that chooses to isolate its members. The twins are surprised to find alter egos and must figure out how to cope with them and find a way out of the void.

The dialogue is fun and the plot fast-moving. This is the first book in the series.

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Please check out my learning opportunities for the whole family at http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com

Ruin Hunters and the Dead Man’s Myth: A series of epic adventures throughout ancient sites across the globe!

Written by Rob Beare

Protagonist River Ruins is a junior archaeologist embarking with his family on the greatest adventure of his twelve years. In this first adventure book of a new series, River and his family will sail their way through the Caribbean. Here they will find themselves with codes that need to be solved, fortresses that need to be conquered, and pirates who will fight them each step of the way.

The Ruin Hunter Family are in search of a statue, The Glowing Idol of the ancient Mixtec people. They will engage in a fierce battle with the Helions, who are just as determined to fight to the death for the idol statue and secure it for themselves.

The series promises to be a hit with middle-grade adventure and history lovers, especially boys who love Indiana Jones’ tales. Maps and illustrations enhance the read for reluctant readers. Recommended for readers ages nine through thirteen.

If you enjoyed reading this post, please subscribe by clicking on the word Follow or by hitting the orange RSS FEED button in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

Check out learning opportunities for your whole family on http://www.LittleMissHISTORY.com