In May Elliott Kurta reviewed the first four books in the lower middle grade series, Upside Down Magic. In this post, he shares his thoughts on the second four books written by Sarah Mlynoski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins.If you missed the first part, you can find it here. This is Elliott's introduction to the series: "The Upside-Down Magic series spreads a message of… Continue reading UPSIDE DOWN MAGIC -Part II by Guest Blogger, Elliott Kurta
REVIEWThe View from the Very Best House in Town (Walker Books, 2022) is a tale of friendship, told with a twist. Sam and Asha are both autistic and ostracized as a result. They’re each other’s best friends, playing soccer and their favorite videogame, Househaunt, together. As the summer ends and Sam and Asha are preparing to begin seventh… Continue reading THE VIEW FROM THE VERY BEST HOUSE IN TOWN: A Middle Grade Review by Guest Blogger, Elliott Kurta
I recently attended a webinar "Feel the Feelings: Crafting Picture Books" with Bethany Hegedus, author and founder of The Writing Barn. As a result, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is front and center in my brain. Bethany emphasized that readers should be able to take away kindness, empathy, understanding, bravery, and inclusion after reading picture books. Here… Continue reading TWO FUN PICTURE BOOKS with IMPORTANT MESSAGES: ROCK AND VOLE and WHERE'S MY COW?
As promised on my last blog, here's another book in Frank Murphy's "Like You" series published by Sleeping Bear Press. A FRIEND LIKE YOU is co-authored with his dynamic friend Charnie Gordon. The bright, colorful illustrations are once again created by Kayla Harren. REVIEWHere is the opening spread:You'll meet thousandsand thousandsand thousandsof people in your lifetime.Some you will only meet… Continue reading A Friend Like You: A Picture Book Giveaway
Although I've never met Sundee Frazier in person, I feel as if I know her. When I first started researching Half-Truths, I read her autobiographical book, Check All That Apply: Finding Wholeness as a Multiracial Person (InterVarsity, 2002. The daughter of a white mother and a Black father, Sundee wrote candidly about her struggles to fit in, to feel accepted… Continue reading MIGHTY INSIDE: A Middle Grade Historical Novel Review and Giveaway
I'm slowly making it through my to-be-reviewed shelf (which keeps getting replenished by publishers and publicists sending me books!). Last spring I received these two books from Sleeping Bear Press and I'm now getting around to sharing them with you.A CAPE!Author-Illustrator Marty Kelley's book begins and ends without words. In fact, I bet the entire book has less… Continue reading SILLY BOOKS FOR KIDS (with not-so-silly messages): 2 REVIEWS AND 2 GIVEAWAYS
Today I'm sharing two new books from Sleeping Bear Press. Although they're not coloring books per se, they each use colors to teach important friendship lessons. Written for the pre-K through first grade crowd, teachers, librarians, parents, and caregivers will enjoy sharing these sweet books with young readers.The Color Collector (Written by Nicolas Solis and illustrated by… Continue reading Two "Coloring" Books from Sleeping Bear Press: Two Reviews PLUS Two Giveaways!
Sleeping Bear Press keeps sending me books! Here are two that young readers (and pre-readers) in your life will enjoy. BECAUSE I'M NEWWho would have thought of writing a book from the point of view of the new child in the family? Author-illustrator Brad Sneed, that's who. The title page shows a little boy peering out the living room… Continue reading BECAUSE I'M NEW and LITTLE SOCK MAKES A FRIEND: Two Picture Books, One Giveaway
Congratulations to Angela Kunkel who won How to Find A Bird on last week's blog. Kim Doele and Jolene Gutiérrez won Skype visits in their classrooms. *****Last month, I announced Laura Sassi's picture book Master Class sponsored by Write2Ignite on April 24.… Continue reading DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE: A Picture Book Review, Author Interview, and Giveaway!
Congratulations to Susan Rice who won Memoirs of a Tortoise from last week's blog. ******Ever since August, I've been sharing Cat Michaels and Rosie Russell's co-publishing journey.… Continue reading JUST BETWEEN SAM AND ME: A Review and Giveaway