Tuesday, 11 February 2014

The Bifrost Bridge Book Blast

About the Book

The Bifrost Bridge by James ClarkTitle: The Bifrost Bridge | Author: James Bradley Clarke | Illustrator: Marcus Gran | Publication Date: January, 2013 | Publisher: Wynwidyn Press | Pages: 92 | Recommended Ages: 8+ Summary: The Bifrost Bridge is a Viking princess fairy tale intertwined with Norse mythology. Silya, the feisty ten year old Princess of Norway, eagerly awaits the arrival of her cousin and best friend, Princess Hedda of Denmark. The princesses are both looking forward to the summer solstice celebration, but trouble lurks in their future as magical villains see the girls as being vital for their deadly conspiracy. Hedda and Silya find themselves cast into a dangerous adventure filled with fire giants, female warrior angels and the God of Thunder.    

Purchase

Amazon | Wynwidyn Press Books

 

The Buzz

"A delightful and endearing adventure that winds Norse mythology and two young girls through a whirlwind of danger, friendship and standing up to evil-doers. The Princess heroines, Silya and Hedda, engage the reader with their charming day to day life at the celebrated summer solstice festival in ancient Norway... The book moves along easily and the characters are likable at once. A fun read for the parents, and challenging enough for the children because it may have a few new words and characters they may not know. It is an adorable story that will soon become a favorite." ~ 5 Star Review, Janet, Amazon
"Bifrost Bridge is a beautiful fairytale, mixing legend and adventure and creating a wonderful reading experience for both children and adults alike. I read this to my 7 year old daughter, and my 10 year old daughter read it for herself; both of them were captivated by the story. My 7 year old loved the idea of two princesses being such close friends, and my 10 year old loved all of the action and suspense in the story. I enjoyed the Norse mythology woven into the tale. It's a wonderful family story. I will be reading it to my sons next!" ~ 5 Star Review, Rebecca F., Amazon
"When I first looked into this book, I was sure that the world of fairy tales had been overdone so many times that I wouldn't see much difference between this one & my other classic favorites that I enjoyed over the years with my children... However, I was proven wrong.. This is such a beautiful and entrancing fairy tale! Mr. Clarke takes the often repetitive world of fairy tales and adds an elegant, dramatic twist to it, producing an epic and moving adventure that children will forever cherish! My daughter and I read it together and had many nights where we just didn't want to put it down! His characters, including the feisty Silya, are memorable and seem so very real! It's a hard thing to do that with children's fairy tales and again, I commend Mr. Clarke for releasing a wonderful new fairy tale to pass on to generations to come!" ~ 5 Star Review, Vicky R., Amazon
 

About the Author: James Bradley Clarke

[caption id="attachment_16629" align="alignleft" width="169"]James Bradley Clarke James Bradley Clarke[/caption] James Bradley Clarke is a graduate of Hiram College, The University of Houston, and the University of Michigan. He currently resides in Oxford, Ohio, where he works as an academic librarian for Miami University. He grew up near Ann Arbor, Michigan, and he has spent most of his life in the Great Lakes region. The Bifrost Bridge is Clarke’s first work of fiction. The children’s book was first developed as stories Clarke started telling to his two daughters back in the summer of 2003. Both girls shared a love for classic princess fairy tales, so he invented original princess characters for both of them. As residents in Riverside, Illinois, Clarke’s family lived in walking distance of the Brookfield Zoo where the girls regularly admired the Norwegian fjord horses. When he learned this ancient breed of horse was used by the Vikings, a specific medieval setting for the stories came into focus. As a Hiram College student, Clarke had developed a love for the epic poems of Homer and Virgil, so he chose to borrow from mythology to provide magical elements. The girls became instantly enamored with these stories and they insisted on developing new adventures for the two Nordic princess characters. The first draft of a manuscript was produced during the summer of 2005. Clarke’s daughters were delighted with the bound copy they received as a Christmas gift later that year, so he began the process of becoming an author. Clarke has a love for history and a taste for plot driven stories about extraordinary individualism. Themes of fortitude and self-determination lay at the heart of Clarke’s writing interests.

Facebook (Book Fan Page) | Facebook (Author Fan Page) | Goodreads

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest runs: February 10 to March 9, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, James Bradley Clarke and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway MDBR Book Promotion Services
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Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Kid Lit Blog Hop #32

Welcome Back To The Kid Lit Bog Hop #32


We are super excited to be in my home town visiting family, so today's post is going to be home grown....
 
 
Well, I returned to my childhood library for the first time in about 30 years, no kidding.... I know, I know, this may come as a surprise as I am book obsessed, but I was not a reader until my late 20's.
 
So, I was expecting it to be a little dingy, as I remember it be pretty old and decrepit as a child, but I was pleasantly surprised.
 

 

 The selection of books for Gigi were absolutely fabulous and more up to date than my library at home.
 
 Just look at this line up....
 

 Quite a few of these have already been reviewed on our hop so I won't review those again.
 
Today I will review.
 
The Day The Crayons Quit
By Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
 
 
 
Description From Amazon:
 
Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.

What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?

 
Our Review:
 
Well,  I can see why this book has got about 451, 5 star reviews and I think it won best picture book of the year in the US.
 
The premise to me is hilarious.
Each coloured crayon has a unique gripe about how they are being used, what they are sick of drawing and basically asserting their rights as crayons...
My favourites are Peach and Pink. Duncan removed Peach's paper crayon cover, so he gripes about how he is now naked and can't ever leave the crayon box, and pink begs Duncan to use him, trying to convince him he is not a girly colour.

Now I have been somewhat obsessed with picture book length as some of you know I have joined the 12x12 Challenge over at Julie Hedlunds blog. Hop over to my side bar to check it out.
The rule is that 500 words or less is average.
Well, this is wayyyyy over....

So once again, the rules are broken LOL. 
The text is done in crayon of course and kid like writing, as well as the illustrations.  Oliver Jeffers has stamped his style on this as per usual and the pictures are great.

HOWEVER!!!!!!!!

When reading this to my 2.5 year old who is I think quite advanced.  I mean every parent thinks that I know, but she sits through the entire Runaway Dinner and doesn't miss a word.

This one did not take her attention at all.

Admittedly she remembered that Peach had no clothes and proceeded to remove the covers of all her crayons the next day... Grrrrrr

So, I am going to give it 4 stars because I thought it was a hoot.  Maybe it is meant for an older age group but the proof is in the pudding, Gigi is not a fan.

As an aspiring picture book writer, I know the hard fact is not everyone will love your book.

So when I saw this on Facebook, I was crying with laughter.

Here's a group of Kid Lit Authors reading their worst reviews.  I was so chuffed when I watched this to find that Drew Daywalt was one of them. Episode 3 I think. I hope you get a chuckle out of this....
http://noblemania.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/childrens-authors-read-reviews-of-their.html

Happy Hopping folks.


Welcome to the 32nd Kid Lit Blog Hop where twice per month (the 1st and 3rd Wednesday) we continue to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists. So, you are always more than welcome to join us by popping in a post and hopping around to meet some of your fellow Kid Lit bloggers and authors! We are pleased to welcome with us this week a new full-time permanent hostess on the Hop, Maria from the blog Music Teaching and Parenting is joining us. Plus, we are also happy to have Savannah Mae from the book blog http://saywhatsavannahmaekids.com/   Big welcome to Maria and Savannah Mae!

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

Kid Lit Blog Hop
 

Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*

1. We ask that you kindly follow your hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)
Hostesses:
Co-Hostess:
2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.
* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post.*
* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one. Please link unique posts each time ~ no repeats please. *
* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*
* Feel free to link more than one post.*
3. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!
Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.
Happy Hopping!
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Sunday, 26 January 2014

Dragon Defender :Blog Tour

Dragon Defender - Blog Tour Button J.A. Blackburn

About the Book

Title: Dragon Defender (Dragon Defense League, Book #1)
Author: J.A. Blackburn
Publication Date: October 19, 2013
Publisher: Pip & Grey
Number of pages: 242
Recommended age: 10+

Summary (Amazon):

For over a thousand years dragons have existed in secret . . . Peter Clark can build a robot from scratch and pick a lock in two minutes or less. But he can't figure out why his mother left or why his grandma refuses to talk about her. When Uncle Dominick shows up on Peter's twelfth birthday with a letter that hints at answers and an incredible story about dragons, Peter follows him, determined to find out the truth about his mother's disappearance. What he finds is a reality far different from what he ever could have imagined - where dragons live in hiding, hunted by poachers for their magical parts, and a small group of men and women work tirelessly to protect them. These are the Dragon Defenders. Peter's uncle is one. So was his mother. Now it's Peter's turn.
* Finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2013 Literary Contest *
 

*  My Review *

  When Peter's twelve birthday reveals a long lost uncle and a mysterious letter, a dangerous quest follows. Peter is a loner, lives with his gran, never knew his mother and until his uncle Dominic arrived, never knew about the existence of ..... Dragons.  Those mythical creatures everyone knows are just stories made up for little kids. Or are they.... When Dominic tells Peter he is part of an order called the Dragon Defence League and needs his help in retrieving an egg of a very rare dragon, Peter jumps in.  His is however, unaware of the danger he will face, or the number of  lives that will be affected for both human and dragon, and ultimately that the mystery of his mother's disappearance will deepen.

This was a fast paced read from the get go.  Peter joins with two unlikely side kicks in Xana, a strong willed, and very resourceful girl, who Peter happens upon in the jungles of Mexico when his uncle goes missing. Peter manages to escape with the egg, but he soon realises there are eyes watching him everywhere.  The egg draws the attention of danger thugs and thieves, all vying for the much sought after egg. When the egg hatches, Peter and Xana are desperate to return it to the mother dragon, but that turns out to be more dangerous than the thugs.  With the help of a young orphan called Mario, Peter and Xana fight of the thugs and Peter manages to calm the dragon long enough to return the baby to its mother. Peter realises he  can speak to the dragon, but he keeps quiet as some how, he knows that his new found ability is a secret he must guard with his life.  Peter is eventually reunited with Dominic, but truths were spoken to him about his mother during his dangerous quest, truths that he can no ignore. Peter realises he has a destiny he cannot ignore. The Dragon Defence league is in his blood and for Peter the journey continues......

I very much enjoyed this middle grade read but as others have mentioned in previous reviews, there was quite a deal of violence including guns and explosives, which I am very prudish about for middle grade reads.  I therefore recommend this for 10+

I give it 4 Stars.  

NB: I received a free copy as part of this blog tour in exchange for an honest review.

More Buzz About the Book

"We read an advance copy of this book on kindle earlier this year and our 5th grade son read it twice and is anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. Great adventure, really kept our interest reading it together at night. This was one of the kids books I most enjoyed reading myself as well. The characters and the plot are well developed, and appealing to a wide range of kids (both genders). The writing is sophisticated but easy to understand, not 'dumbed down' like many kids books. The subject of dragons was so well crafted that it's easy believe that dragons just might exist, after all." ~ 5 Star Review, Leigh A., Amazon
"Reminiscent of the Fablehaven series (with just the right touch of Harry P.) this middle grade book is both an adventure and a pleasure...Fast-paced and full of wonder, this book takes middle grade readers on a vivid journey from the southwestern U.S. to Mexico; where jungles, ancient ruins and local folklore add to the enchantment that Peter finds when he discovers that dragons are in fact, real. As a former elementary school teacher, my strong feeling is that kids will eat this book whole, and then turn to searching for dragon eggs in their own backyards!" ~ 5 Star Review, Grace W., Amazon
"Dragon Defender was an absorbing action packed read! The author pulls you in from the first page and I'm not sorry to say I read it all in the first day. I'm 33 but still! This is a fun book for a chapter a night with your 5 year old (my son is loving it so far) or for yourself. The characters are well developed so you feel like you're really there, and the dragon is so believable. I'd venture so far as to say I had to remind myself that dragons don't really exist.... or do they?" ~ 5 Star Review, MGC, Amazon
 

Purchase

Dragon Defender by J.A. Blackburn

Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle)

 

About the Author: J.A. Blackburn

[caption id="attachment_15386" align="alignleft" width="151"]J.A. Blackburn, Author J.A. Blackburn[/caption]   J. A. Blackburn lives in Seattle, Washington in a small white house overlooking the sea with her husband, Jason, her son, Camden, and their dog, Bella. Dragon Defender is her first novel.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

     

Dragon Defender Blog Tour Schedule (2014)

January 6
January 7
January 8
January 9
January 10
January 11
January 12
January 13
January 14
January 15
January 16
January 17
January 18
January 19
January 20
January 21
January 22
January 23
January 24
January 25
January 26
 

* $50 Blog Tour Giveaway *

Amazon $50 Gift Card Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest runs: January 6th to January 31, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, J.A. Blackburn and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway MDBR Book Promotion Services
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Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Kid Lit Blog Hop #31


Welcome Back To The Kid Lit Blog Hop #31


 
We are excited to bring you two Australian books today for review, by Aaron Blabey
 
 
 

Stanley is a very small person and he hates it. He thinks he is all alone in the world until Eleanor Cabbage arrives new to his school. Eleanor is the tallest person Stanley has ever met. Eleanor hates being tall and teased, and she too feels alone. Each one wishes they had the others problem, and the two odd balls become kindred spirits. They can both face the day, with a friend at their side, and life for Stanley and Eleanor was never the same, but better than ever.

Gigi chose this one from the Library, and I was quite surprised as I expected that the colours of the illustrations would not normally capture a 2 year olds attention.  Of course I was wrong. She loved it from the get go. With a really sweet message, lovably odd characters and uniquely glum looking illustrations, this has become a huge hit in our house, which made us search out more by this author.

The next one we read was
 

Description From Amazon:
A delightfully uplifting tale about self-belief, courage, and—above all—the power of friendship. Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley are the best of friends. But they are different in almost every way: Pearl loves solving mysteries and moves rather fast in the world, and Charlie likes taking leisurely baths and watching his flowers grow. So how can Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley be such good friends?
 
This one also captured Gigi's attention from the first read.  She loves hearing how different the two characters are. And of course, you can't go wrong with characters that have foods as names, I am partial to the odd food name myself in a story as you may well know.
The illustrations are brighter than Stanley Paste, but still in that unique Aaron Blabey style.
We loved this one too, so we are planning our next read....
 

 
Description from Amazon: Sunday Chutney is not your ordinary every-day girl. Sunday has lived everywhere and been everywhere. The only problem is this means she is always the new girl at school and she never really has a place to call come. But Sunday doesn't mind, not really. After all, she doesn't care what people think, she loves her own company, she has heaps of imaginary friends, so many important interests that keep her very busy . . . and traveling is so glamorous. What more could Sunday Chutney want?
 
Another quirky read, that the toddler loved. So far we haven't found a Blabey book we didn't love, so we will keep you posted on our adventures. 
 
 
If you are after engaging books with quiet themes to encourage your child contemplate the universe, these are your books.
 
 
Happy Hopping Folks
 
 
 
Welcome to the 31st Kid Lit Blog Hop where twice per month (the 1st and 3rd Wednesday) we continue to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists. So, you are always more than welcome to join us by popping in a post and hopping around to meet some of your fellow Kid Lit bloggers and authors! We are pleased to welcome a new full-time permanent hostess on the Hop, Mia from the parenting and book blog, Pragmatic Mom is joining us! Big welcome to Mia and a big THANK YOU to my fellow hostesses - you are all amazing bloggers and authors.

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

Kid Lit Blog Hop
 

Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*

1. We ask that you kindly follow your hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)
Hostesses:
2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.
* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post.*
* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one. Please link unique posts each time ~ no repeats please. *
* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*
* Feel free to link more than one post.*
3. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!
Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.
Happy Hopping!
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Tuesday, 21 January 2014

Princess Madeline And The Dragon: Blog Tour

Princess Madeline and the Dragon - Tour Button - 3 Kirstin Pulioff

 
Today we are going to be a little left of centre, as we may have miscalculated our dates a life got in the way.  So instead of the third book, today we are going to review the first book.


http://amzn.com/B00A1Y87P0
 
 DESCRIPTION FROM AMAZON:
 
 The Kingdom of Soron is known for many things, its rolling landscape, haunting history, fiery sunsets, and its beautiful princess. Princess Madeline woke on her sixteenth birthday to realize that her future had been planned out, a life full of privilege, royalty, and boredom... a life with a husband and knight champion that she did not choose. Using her charm, strength and stubbornness, she defies the King at every turn, determined to keep her freedom on her terms.

Freedom quickly turns to disaster as she finds herself seized by a group of wandering bandits. With the kingdom in turmoil over her capture; her Knight Champion eager to prove himself, a group of dedicated suitors determined to win her hand, and a group of exiled wizards join forces in the hunt to rescue her. Follow Princess Madeline in this adventure full of twists and turns as she tries to find her freedom and answers to her questions about life and love.

OUR REVIEW

Poor Madeline finds herself in an impossible situation. Her 16th birthday approaches and she is expected to marry. Although she is a twin, her brother is not at all expected to marry, which of course creates quite a disparity between the siblings. That kind of double standard would be enough to cause siblings with the best of relationships to falter of that I am certain.    Her father prepares a celebration for her betrothal, and many willing suitors attend in anticipation of the young girls decision.

Madeline's world implodes when she makes a rash decision to leave the safety of the castle, her father the king and brother.  She is captured not long after, and now the very thing that Madeline is running from, is the only thing that may be able to provide her salvation.
When the king discovers Madeline has fled her responsibilities, he is distraught, and will do anything to get her back, even promise her hand to one of the most creeper suitors in the land Prince Paulsen. 
Enter a young knight called Daniel, determined and somewhat smitten with Madeline. Each will stop at nothing to find her.
Meanwhile, Madeline isn't helpless, she formulates a plan of escape, which isn't very successful but it was a very good attempt.
When Prince Paulsen's men catch up with the bandits that have captured Madeline, the young girl is bound and gagged, but she manages to secret away, amidst the fight. Finding, only her gown, Prince Paulsen returns to the king with the dreaded new that Madeline is lost to him forever.

Daniel, however, will not give up. He searches and finds her, and brings her home, but not without a club on the head in the process. Madeline, realises, what Daniel has done for her, and would do for her, and her heart begins to open like a rose of first love.
Madeline returns to the King and is welcomed with open arms. She chooses Daniel as her intended, and thus ends the tale and begins the further adventures of Princess Madeline.

I enjoyed this very sweet tale, which felt a mix of a  coming of age, parable of the lost sheep and the prodigal son/daughter.
Madeline's character development was lovely and reminded me also of another book that I loved when I was a teen,  "Chatain's Guardian (Annals of Lystra) by Robin Hardy.

I do feel that his is perhaps an early Young Adult read as I don't feel many 9-12 year olds would be yet interested in the very appropriate love story, but ages 13-16 would find this completely endearing.

My bottom line, I give it 4 stars and am looking forward to the further two books.


About the Author: Kirstin Pulioff
Kirstin Pulioff Kirstin Pulioff[/caption] Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in Oregon, and enjoys being a stay at home mom. When she’s not writing, she is busy with her kids and church.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

   

Princess Madeline and the Dragon Blog Tour Schedule (2014)

January 13
January 14
January 15
January 16
January 17
January 18
January 19
January 20
January 21
January 22
January 23
January 24
January 25
January 26
 

* $25 Blog Tour Giveaway *

Amazon 25 gift card Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest runs: January 13th to January 31st, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Kirstin Pulioff and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway MDBR Book Promotion Services
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Monday, 20 January 2014

Riley's Lost Tooth & Goodbye Baby Max : Book Blast

About the Books

Riley's Lost Tooth by Diane CantrellTitle: Riley's Lost Tooth Author: Diane Cantrell Illustrator: Heather Castles Publication Date: February 16, 2010 Publisher: Brown Books Publishing Group Number of pages: 24 Recommended age: 4+ Summary: Oh no! One of Sunday's very favorite humans, Riley, has lost her tooth! But where did it go? How did she lose it? Why does no one besides Sunday seem to care? It isn't long before the tooth fairy steps in and tries to teach the pups all about growing up. Join Sunday and her two puppy-pals, Precious and Mr. Lee, as they try to hunt down . . . Riley s lost tooth!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Author Website

   

Book Trailer for Riley's Lost Tooth

  Good-bye Baby Max by Diane CantrellTitle: Good-bye Baby Max Author: Diane Cantrell Illustrator: Heather Castles Publication Date: February, 2008 Publisher: Bridgeway Books Number of pages: 32 Recommended age: 4+ Summary: Mrs. B's class excitedly awaits the birth of three baby chicks. When Max is unable to crack open his shell, the children's loving teacher assists them in expressing their feelings of loss and planning a special good-bye.  

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Author Website

 

The Buzz

Riley's Lost Tooth: "The book is well written and the illustrations are beautiful. The book will definitely appeal to all children (including children at heart like this reviewer) and their parents / grandparents / elder siblings and other care givers. The book is strongly recommended as a good gift that is educational and also entertaining." ~ 5 Star Review, S.V. Swamy, Amazon
Good-bye Baby Max: "This book is amazing! I have given it as several gifts to my friends with children. It is very well written and the illustrations are fun and colorful. This book it a great tool to help parents and teachers talk to children about loss of a pet and a loved one in general. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!" ~ 5 Star Review, Dawn N., Amazon
Good-bye Baby Max: "This colorful, hardcover children’s title Good-bye, Baby Max (Bridgeway Books, Texas, 2007) by Diane Cantrell & Heather Castles is special in its purpose of teaching an invaluable lesson: that of properly saying the final farewell to a loved one who is no more ... Diane Cantrell has created a very purposeful book for children-one that is at once a story, a poem, and a healthy course of helping children get over grief. The book’s illustrations by Heather Castles are very appealing to a child’s imagination. There is a good deal here in Good-bye, Baby Max to learn for children ages 4 to 8 years and the 32-pages book is a must read for all kids of this age category." ~ Ernest Dempsey, Book Corner
Good-bye Baby Max: "I bought this book to help my nieces and nephews deal with the loss of a beloved pet. The storyline and illustrations were used as a springboard to discuss their own loss. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has young children and is looking for a way to help them cope with a loss in their lives." ~ 5 Star Review, Jeanne B., Amazon
Good-bye Baby Max: "[Good-bye, Baby Max] is a tender story about death, a tough topic for young children. Kindergarteners eagerly await spring and the hatching of the class' three chick eggs. But one chick, Max, dies. What ensues is a gentle exploration of grief and its many expressions -- from tears to songs to artwork. At the end, the surviving chicks' peeps encourage the children to embrace the living without forgetting the dead." ~ Michele Siuda Jacques, Detroit Free Press
 

About the Author: Diane Cantrell

Diane Cantrell
Diane Cantrell began her career in education teaching Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Transitional First Grade. She also worked as a counselor providing assistance to parenting teens in a local school district. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Diane has provided therapy for adults, families, and children in agencies and private practice settings. As part of her private practice, she offers parent training to her clients and to parents in local schools. Diane is presently writing and publishing children’s books as well as provides counseling services to adults and children in her private practice, Life Designs Counseling. Diane’s time at Fort Sam Houston I.S.D. provided inspiration for Good-bye, Baby Max. The book, which is based on a true story, describes how Ms. B helps her kindergarten class cope with the loss of a classroom pet. At the time Diane wrote the book she was working with many children who were experiencing a great deal of loss in their lives. Her hope in writing Good-bye, Baby Max was that the story would help parents, children, and other caring professionals begin talking about losses rather than responding to their losses from a state of fear. Her second book, Riley’s Lost Tooth, was written for her granddaughter, Riley as a Valentine’s Day present. Mr. Lee, and Sunday are main characters in the book as is Precious, who died before the book was written. When Diane is not involved in writing or listening to people’s stories, she enjoys being with her husband, Rich, and their two dogs, Sunday and Mr. Lee. Diane and Rich live in San Antonio, Texas.

Website | Twitter

 

* $100 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $100 AmazongGift card or PayPal cash (winner's choice) Contest runs: January 20th to February 19th, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Diane Cantrell and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway MDBR Book Promotion Services
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Wednesday, 8 January 2014

Kid Lit Blog Hop #30


Welcome to the 30th Kid Lit Blog Hop. This is our first hop of 2014! In 2013, we have welcomed so many wonderful people and we are very excited to continue to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists. So, you are always more than welcome to join us by popping in a post and hopping around to meet some of the new bloggers who have joined the Hop. If you are one of our regulars - thank you so much!

Happy New Year!!

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

Kid Lit Blog Hop
 

So great to be back. We hope you all had a joyous Christmas and a safe new year.

And look what Santa brought us.....
 



 
Can you tell 2014 is going to be a wonderful year, exploring the plethora of fabulous kids books.
 
We have some bold plans for 2014.
 
If you didn't catch our post a few days ago, here it is again....
 
 http://whenigrowupiwannawriteakidsbook.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/brave-new-world-whats-skinny-on-2014.html 
 
So welcome back to our fabulous little kidlit community, and we look forward to connecting with you for another great year.
Catch you on the hop.
 
Julie

 Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*

1. We ask that you kindly follow your hosts and co-hosts. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)
Hostesses:
2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.
* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post.*
* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one. Please link unique posts each time ~ no repeats please. *
* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*
* Feel free to link more than one post.*
3. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!
Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.
Happy Hopping!
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Dragon Defender: Book Blast

About the Book

Dragon Defender by J.A. BlackburnTitle: Dragon Defender (Dragon Defense League, Book #1) Author: J.A. Blackburn Publication Date: October 19, 2013 Publisher: Pip & Grey Number of pages: 242 Recommended age: 10+      

Summary (Amazon):

For over a thousand years dragons have existed in secret . . . Peter Clark can build a robot from scratch and pick a lock in two minutes or less. But he can't figure out why his mother left or why his grandma refuses to talk about her. When Uncle Dominick shows up on Peter's twelfth birthday with a letter that hints at answers and an incredible story about dragons, Peter follows him, determined to find out the truth about his mother's disappearance. What he finds is a reality far different from what he ever could have imagined - where dragons live in hiding, hunted by poachers for their magical parts, and a small group of men and women work tirelessly to protect them. These are the Dragon Defenders. Peter's uncle is one. So was his mother. Now it's Peter's turn.
* Finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2013 Literary Contest *
 

Purchase

Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle)

 

The Buzz

"We read an advance copy of this book on kindle earlier this year and our 5th grade son read it twice and is anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. Great adventure, really kept our interest reading it together at night. This was one of the kids books I most enjoyed reading myself as well. The characters and the plot are well developed, and appealing to a wide range of kids (both genders). The writing is sophisticated but easy to understand, not 'dumbed down' like many kids books. The subject of dragons was so well crafted that it's easy believe that dragons just might exist, after all." ~ 5 Star Review, Leigh A., Amazon
 
"Reminiscent of the Fablehaven series (with just the right touch of Harry P.) this middle grade book is both an adventure and a pleasure...Fast-paced and full of wonder, this book takes middle grade readers on a vivid journey from the southwestern U.S. to Mexico; where jungles, ancient ruins and local folklore add to the enchantment that Peter finds when he discovers that dragons are in fact, real. As a former elementary school teacher, my strong feeling is that kids will eat this book whole, and then turn to searching for dragon eggs in their own backyards!" ~ 5 Star Review, Grace W., Amazon
 
"Dragon Defender was an absorbing action packed read! The author pulls you in from the first page and I'm not sorry to say I read it all in the first day. I'm 33 but still! This is a fun book for a chapter a night with your 5 year old (my son is loving it so far) or for yourself. The characters are well developed so you feel like you're really there, and the dragon is so believable. I'd venture so far as to say I had to remind myself that dragons don't really exist.... or do they?" ~ 5 Star Review, MGC, Amazon
 

About the Author: J.A. Blackburn

[caption id="attachment_15386" align="alignleft" width="151"]J.A. Blackburn, Author J.A. Blackburn[/caption]   J. A. Blackburn lives in Seattle, Washington in a small white house overlooking the sea with her husband, Jason, her son, Camden, and their dog, Bella. Dragon Defender is her first novel.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

     

* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest runs: December 8, 2013 to January 6, 2014, 11:59 pm, 2013 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, J.A. Blackburn and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway   MDBR Book Promotion Services
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Saturday, 4 January 2014

Brave New World: What's The Skinny On 2014

 
HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS
 
 
I hope you all had a great start to the year.
 
 
Gigi and Danny and I had a wonderful time with family and friends, and of course.
ANOTHER 
 
CLUEDO REMATCH
 
Yep, still losing at cluedo.
 
Everyone seems to be charting their goals for the year, so I thought, I would too.
 
 
So what is on the cards for 2014.....
 
 
1. Release my middle grade mystery, Frankie Dupont And The Mystery Of Enderby Manor. Stay tuned for a cover reveal and blog tour.
 
2. Release the third and final book in my Adventures Of Caramel Cardamom Trilogy, "Stellarcadia" Stay tuned for a cover reveal and blog tour.
 
3. Attend Supernova Melbourne to try my hand at selling some paperbacks.  I will be sure to post evidence of our costumes, complete with Elf ears.
http://www.supanova.com.au/show-information/melbourne/

4. Attend Book Expo Australia to sell some more paperbacks
http://www.bookexpoaustralia.com/


I am also embarking on a new genre....


Picture Books
To be honest it is the one I love the most, but I haven't felt ready until I did


http://taralazar.com/piboidmo/

This gave me a huge amount of inspiration and as a result I have written 8 Picture Books.

Which brings me to my next venture:

over at http://www.juliehedlund.com/12-x-12/

So it may sound like I am well on the way to my goal of 12 picture books already, but I know I have a lot of work to do just yet.

Last but not least, here is my new years resolution, or maybe it should be a goal.

I WANT TO LAND A PICTURE BOOK AGENT.


That's my plan for 2014.


SO STAY TUNED.......





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