September 23, 2016

Book Birthday Celebration: Wishapick by M. M. Allen +GIVEAWAY

Today I'm excited to share a wonderful sounding book and a chance to win some great prizes! I teamed up with The Children’s Book Review to celebrate the book birthday of:


Wishapick:Tickety Boo and the Black Trunkby M. M. Allen



BOOK SYNOPSIS

Highly praised classic fairy tale, Wishapick Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk, a children’s book for all ages, written by acclaimed author MM Allen; and a CD of Wishapick Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk soundtrack composed by the talented Deborah Wynne.

Darkness-utter blackness. Was this why his mother had refused to let Jack unlock his father’s old trunk? It had been two years since his dad had died, and all Jack could think about was examining whatever treasures were stored inside the beloved trunk. But when he finally lifted the lid, he didn’t just fall in –he fell through it into a pit of rattlesnakes. Trying to recall his mother’s stories about the Breathe of All Good Things –anything to help him out of his dangerous predicament-Jack wished he had paid attention rather than mock the tales as childish myths… and that he’d waited to enter the trunk with his sister, Lilly. They could have at least faced this together. Jack quickly learns two things; the villagers in Wishapick think Jack is the only one who can bring light back to Wishapick –and accomplishing this feat is the only way he can return home.



Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk is available on Amazon (http://amzn.to/2bYcSRN).


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

About M. M. Allen

M. M. Allen, author of the acclaimed children’s picture book Let’s Play Ball, is the mother of two adult children and aunt to twenty-three nieces and nephews, including ten great-nieces and great-nephews. MM is a former teacher and university lecturer. She has also worked extensively in marketing and communications with varied businesses and non-profits. MM lives in a picturesque northern California town where she enjoys writing, tending to her rose garden, and caring for her West Highland terrier, Pip.




About Deborah Wynne

Composer and lyricist Deborah Wynne created a companion CD of songs to accompany Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk. Wynne’s primary talents lie in choral singing, stage musicals, and composing. Her musical projects include the 2013 album Strands of Gold and 2007 musical Moment of Truth. She is an active singer and composer in Santa Barbara, California, where she lives with her husband and their two shelties, Sparkle and Gracie.


Learn More About Wishapick 

Wishpick Soundtrack: Be sure to check out the companion music CD, Wishapick, for purchase or download from DeborahWynne.com



Book Club Questions: Get to the heart of Wishapick by downloading this set of book club questions: Wishapick by M. M. Allen: Book Club Questions


OFFICIAL LINKS
#WishapickBookBirthday






One (1) Winner Receives The Grand Prize:
  • An autographed copy of Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk
  • A CD of the Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk soundtrack
  • A Fitbit Alta
Four (4) Winners Receive:
  • An autographed copy of Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk
  • A CD of the Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk soundtrack

Giveaway begins September 23, 2016, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends October 23, 2016, at 11:59 P.M. PST.


Giveaway open to US and Canadian addresses only.
Prizes and samples provided by M.M. Allen and Deborah Wynne


To enter go to my new blog: Finding Magic!

For this post and giveaway I worked with: The Children’s Book Review, M.M. Allen, and Deborah Wynne

September 15, 2016

Blog Tour: The Story Book Knight by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty +GIVEAWAY

Title: The Storybook Knight
Authors: Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty
Gear towards: Pre-K to 1st Grade
Copy Obtained: Publisher in exchange for honest review


Even dragons can’t resist a good story…

Even though Leo would rather sit at home and read, his parents send him out into the world in the hopes that Leo will become a famous knight. But when Leo comes up against the land’s most fearsome beasts, he soon discovers that scary monsters enjoy a good book as much as anyone…




What a super cute book! Little Leo is sent out to fight a dragon but it's really not his thing! He much more enjoys reading a good book (a knight after my own heart).  As we goes along he encounters different beasts and ends up battling them all with the power of stories! I love that it shows him staying true to who he is and showing how that can be wonderful! And I love that his family sees it too in the end! A great little message for kids to hear. 

Media Thoughts:  For sure I would add! Plus I'm planning on reading it to my 2nd graders to talk about finding a book that fits you.  And - there is a website where kids can pledge to be kind and caring (see below!).  I can see a ton to do with this book!



Like to read
Feel like they don't belong
Like stories with knights


Author Links:

Thomas Docherty: www.thomasdocherty.co.uk
Twitter: @TDIllustration
Helen Docherty: www.helendocherty.com
Twitter: @docherty_helen

Educator Resources

Download an educator or activity kit:

Book Website:




Enter for a chance to win an original sketch of Leo and Ned by illustrator Thomas Docherty!

Go to my NEW BLOG to enter:

Finding Magic

September 8, 2016

Blog Tour: Max at Night by Ed Vere +GIVEAWAY!

Title: Max at Night
Authors: Ed Vere
Gear towards: Pre-K to 1st Grade
Copy Obtained: Publisher in exchange for honest review

This is Max. Max is very sleepy. It's way past Max's bedtime. Max has drunk his milk. Max has brushed his teeth. Max has cleaned behind his ears. Now Max just needs to say goodnight... Max is tired and all ready for bed, but when he can't find the moon to say goodnight to, he sets out to find it. But that's not as easy as Max had hoped... Witty and heart-warming, this stylish and beautifully illustrated book is the perfect bedtime read.



Sweet, sweet book! I adored this book!  Max is so cute as he climbs higher and higher intent on wishing the moon goodnight! I loved it. And then when the moon tells him he could hear him from home, Max's reaction was just precious.  This is a wonderful bedtime story.  It's calm, positive and has enough little laughs to make it fun to read.  I also love the illustrations.  They are soft - perfect for a bedtime story - simple but yet help convey Max's emotions clearly.  I love his big eyes.  They remind me of my animals! 

Media Thoughts:  I would for sure add this to my "everybody books" collection.  I can see kids liking it a lot especially when Max finally finds the moon (I personally loved when he climbs the dog!).  I plan on using it with my kindergartners and having them have Max climb something to find the moon.



Like to read
Fans of Goodnight Moon


Author Links:

Twitter: @ed_vere

Educator Resources

Download an educator or activity kit:



Enter for a chance to win an original sketch by author and illustrator Ed Vere and a copy of Max at Night!

To enter visit my new blog Finding Magic

September 2, 2016

Review: The Drawing Lesson: A Graphic Novel That Teaches You How to Draw by Mark Crilley

Title: The Drawing Lesson: A Graphic Novel That Teaches You How to Draw by Mark Crilley
Author: Mark Crilley
Gear Towards:  4th Grade and Up

An instructional art book in narrative graphic novel form that uses the tale of one aspiring young artist and his reluctant mentor to impart easy-to-follow lessons on the fundamentals

of drawing.

With over 10 million views and growing, Mark Crilley's YouTube drawing instruction videos have an enormous worldwide legion of fans and have been featured on sites such as Yahoo News and Reddit. In addition, Crilley is an accomplished graphic novelist. Now for the first time, he pairs both strengths resulting in a one-of-a-kind art instruction experience. Through the story of aspiring, overeager young artist-in-the-making David and his helpful, but often flustered mentor, Becky, readers gain a grounding in the basics of drawing and rendering, along with a helping of laughs and poignant entertainment. Each lesson builds off the previous, with sidebars at the end of each chapter that direct readers to tackle some of the very same drawing exercises that David has just completed. The sequential art format provides the perfect vehicle for these step-by-step lessons, and the Pixar-esque approach to the surrounding characters and story ensures an enjoyable experience that readers will want to revisit again and again.





This is a very creative idea for a book! I love that this is both a book to read and look at (since it's a graphic novel), but it is also a book that can teach you how to draw! I've never seen a book like this before.  In the book David wants to learn how to draw.  Like a lot of kids he wants to jump in and get going, but Becky teaches him the pieces he needs in the order that he needs it.  It's a perfect example of how learning takes time and practice and that you cannot give up right away.  Slowly as the story goes along you see how David is progressing and how Becky does know what she is doing when it comes to teaching him.  

It's also really neat that the reader can join in and attempt the lessons that David is learning as well.  I know plenty of kids who would take that challenge and try right along with him.  And like David they might feel frustrated - but with the story they can see that is a normal part of learning! Great lesson to learn!



Like to draw
Like to be active with their reading
Enjoy graphic novels


Media Center Thoughts:  I would put this in the media center.  It will not have a huge following unless one student finds it and begins drawing from it.  Then I see others wanting to read it as well!