February 27, 2017

Picture Book Review: Good Morning, Superman by Michael Dahl

Title: Good Morning, Superman
Author: Michael Dahl
Illustrator: Omar Lozano

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s the . . . SUN! When morning comes, a young boy must prepare for his day, faster than a speeding bullet. Follow along as he leaps tall buildings (jumps out of bed) in a single bound, dons his heroic uniform (his clothes), and faces his greatest weakness (Kryptonite-colored toothpaste). Then it’s up, up, and away to daycare! The perfect companion to the bestselling author Michael Dahl's BEDTIME FOR BATMAN, this official DC Comics picture book will have Superman fans young and old delighting in their morning routines. Includes a morning routine checklist.




Ok so I've been seeing Bedtime for Batman around and LOVED it!  How cute! So when I was offered up Good Morning Superman I jumped at the chance to be able to review it.  So (excuse the pun) super cute! I think I giggled the most when at the start it says "duty calls" and he heads into the bathroom.  I can see my little ones giggling at this as well! My second favorite is when he went to brush his teeth.  I also liked the energy this little guy has.  He pops right out of bed and gets going.  I wish my kids were like that!  And you can tell he's positive too - just like his super hero.  

I have lots of ideas how I could use this with my students.  I could have them take selfies and turn themselves into superheros.  I could have them tell about their mornings.  So many ideas!

In short:  Loved it :)

PS - If you haven't read Bedtime for Batman you really need to.  It's also by Michael Dahl.  Great companion book and perfect for getting little ones to look at bedtime differently.  I can also see lots of ways to use this book.  My favorite part - When the hero "gets the signal" which is his dad telling him to head to a bath! 

February 22, 2017

Wanna Have It! The Hidden Memory of Objects

I love a good mystery! Give me something tense and suspenseful and full of twists and turns and trying to figure things out and I am a very happy reader.  This one seems to fit that really well.  

I will be checking out for sure when it comes out!


Release Date: March 21st

Megan Brown’s brother, Tyler, is dead, but the cops are killing him all over again. They say he died of a drug overdose, potentially suicide—something Megan cannot accept. Determined to figure out what happened in the months before Tyler’s death, Megan turns to the things he left behind. After all, she understands the stories objects can tell—at fifteen, she is a gifted collage artist with a flair for creating found-object pieces. However, she now realizes that her artistic talent has developed into something more: she can see memories attached to some of Tyler’s belongings—and those memories reveal a brother she never knew.
Enlisting the help of an artifact detective who shares her ability and specializes in murderabilia—objects tainted by violence or the deaths of their owners—Megan finds herself drawn into a world of painful personal and national memories. Along with a trusted classmate and her brother's charming friend, she chases down the troubling truth about Tyler across Washington, DC, while reclaiming her own stifled identity with a vengeance.

February 14, 2017

Blog Tour: Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He's the Favorite +GIVEAWAY

Today I get the pleasure of sharing with you a super, super cute picture book:

Mr. Fuzzbuster knew he was Lily’s favorite. They did everything together. Naps. Story time. Walks. And more naps. But now four more animals lived in the house.…

To prove he’s still Lily’s favorite, Mr. Fuzzbuster will have to ask her, but will her answer surprise him? This funny, heartwarming story is for every child who has ever wondered if there’s a favorite in the house.

I absolutely loved this book!!!  The idea that Mr. Fuzzbuster thinks he's the favorite and then finds out something different than he expected was adorable!  And I love what it shows to kids - that everyone is unique and loved for who they are.  What a great lesson.


In celebration of this book I have a guest post from the author Stacy McAnulty and a GIVEAWAY!

First about the author and illustrator.

STACY MCANULTY is certain she's her mom's favorite. Her younger brother disagrees. She's the author of Beautiful, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach; and 101 Reasons Why I'm Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. Originally from upstate New York, she now lives in Kernersville, North Carolina, with her three children, two dogs, and one husband. She doesn't have a favorite. You can find her online at www.stacymcanulty.com.


EDWARD HEMINGWAY is certain he's Stacy McAnulty's favorite illustrator, although the illustrators of Stacy's other books may disagree. Edward himself is the author and illustrator of the children's books Bump in the Night, Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship, Bad Apple's Perfect Day, and Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus. Originally from Bozeman, Montana, he now lives in Brooklyn where he teaches creative writing at the master's level at SVA in Manhattan. If he has any favorite students, he'll never tell. Learn more about him online at www.edwardhemingway.com.

Stacy is sharing what it's like to go on school visits.


The Best Job in the World: Tales from School Visits

Most of my work days are spent alone in my office with my three dogs. They’re adorable, stinky, and don’t say much. So I love when I have the chance to visit elementary schools where the children are also adorable but don’t usually stink, and they always have lots to say.

At some school visits, I get to have lunch with students. This is generally small group of kids and it gives us time to chat about their favorite topics ranging from books to best video games to foods they would never eat. While I would never eat dog chow or anything discharged from the human body, students I talk to avoid things like escargot and broccoli. At a visit in November, one little girl waited until the rest of our lunch buddies left before she shared something special with me. It was a book she wrote and illustrated. We sat down together and I read it aloud. She beamed, and it was the highlight of my month.

When time permits, I like to end my presentations with a Q&A. Some schools have the students prepare the questions ahead of time. Which results in well thought out question like…

  • Where do you get your ideas from? (A: Everywhere! But a lot come from my kids.)
  • What’s your favorite book that you wrote? (A: I’ll never tell. Add maniacal laugh.)
  • If you weren’t a writer what would you be? (A: A paleontologist.)

But it’s the off-the-cuff questions that make me laugh and, sometimes, make the other adults in the room cringe?

  • How much money do you make? (A: About 89-cents on each hardcover book sold.)
  • Did you know my grandmother writes books about chickens? (A: I did not know that. Your grandmother sounds very interesting. I would like to meet her someday.)
  • Why are your teeth so big? (A: It’s the microphone. Makes my teeth look huge.)
  • You’re pretty. Can I have a hug? (That honestly happened! The girl got a hug and so did the 23 kids in line behind her.)

Yeah, I may have the best job in the world. Hugs to all the kids.


As a new elementary teacher this year I can relate to so many of her off-the-cuff questions! The "you're pretty" one is sooooooo true! 

Did you know Mr. Fuzzbuster loves writing notes? 
He wants to send cards to young readers across the country.  Maybe he will be your favorite.

More information can be found at http://www.stacymcanulty.com/fuzzbuster-email

Now for the giveaway!

Two Lions is offering a copy of MR. FUZZBUSTER KNOWS HE’S THE FAVORITE to one lucky winner (U.S. addresses).

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February 13, 2017

Dragonwatch: A Fablehaven Adventure Book Trailer and VR Experience!!!

The Fablehaven series is an absolutely fantastic series.  I know so many kids that have read the series and just LOVED it.  If you are one of those people - get ready because Brandon Mull has written a sequel!!! 
It's called Dragonwatch, and today I have the trailer for it and a cool 360 VR video as well!  

Oh and stay tuned because I'm participating in a blog tour in March, so I'll be sharing my thoughts on the book.  

Book Trailer




And here is the VR 360 video.  Pretty cool! 




February 9, 2017

STARFALL Launch Blitz and GIVEAWAY

Today I'm excited to share with you the launch for Starfall by Melissa Landers. I have a message from Melissa and a giveaway!


Hi, booklovers!


I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m so excited to launch STARFALL, the second and final book in my Starflight duology! This story picks up shortly after the first book ends, but now Cassia and Kane are the main characters, with Doran, Solara, and the rest of the Banshee crew pitching in to help take down an intergalactic mafia. (You know, just an ordinary day in space.) And while saying goodbye to characters is never easy, I think I gave the crew a proper sendoff with plenty of humor, heart, and action. I hope you love STARFALL as much as I do!


Haven’t read the first book? You’re in luck, because for a limited time, Starflight is on sale for 99 cents in all e-formats. Now you can binge read the entire duology in one sitting!



Praise for Starflight:


“Smart, action-packed and utterly addictive!” –New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman


Starflight has the cinematic appeal, warp-speed action and unlikely heroes of Star Wars.” –Justine Magazine


“A lively tale of romance, space pirates, conspiracy, and made (as opposed to genetic) families.” –Booklist


A great choice for fans of raw sci-fi action, reminiscent of the lawlessness presented in the television series Firefly.” –School Library Journal


If you love sci-fi adventure with a dash of romance, I hope you’ll pick up the Starflight duology today. Starflight and Starfall are both available in stores and online.



STARFLIGHT (book 1)

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2kjs57n
Book Depository (free international shipping): http://bit.ly/1OoN2WD
Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1IIMPx7

STARFALL (book 2)

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2ddKuih
Book Depository: http://bit.ly/2k98EvN
Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/2dhMLry

GIVEAWAY



To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a Starflight duology swag pack, complete with bookmarks and two signed mini posters! The giveaway is open internationally. Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

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Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

February 8, 2017

And Yet Another Mystery I Need: A Good Idea by Cristina Moracho

So many good mystery, suspenseful, tense books coming out! I need this one! I love the sound of it and the tagline question of whether the "right kind of boy" can get away with killing the "wrong kind of girl".  

Oh and that cover! Perfect!

Anyone read it yet?




Release Date: February 28th

Fin and Betty’s close friendship survived Fin’s ninth-grade move from their coastal Maine town to Manhattan. Calls, letters, and summer visits continued to bind them together, and in the fall of their senior year, they both applied to NYU, planning to reunite for good as roommates.

Then Betty disappears. Her ex-boyfriend Calder admits to drowning her, but his confession is thrown out, and soon the entire town believes he was coerced and Betty has simply run away. Fin knows the truth, and she returns to Williston for one final summer, determined to get justice for her friend, even if it means putting her loved ones—and herself—at risk.


But Williston is a town full of secrets, where a delicate framework holds everything together, and Fin is not the only one with an agenda. How much is she willing to damage to get her revenge and learn the truth about Betty’s disappearance, which is more complicated than she ever imagined—and infinitely more devastating?


February 1, 2017

THE 100 Book/TV Show Blitz +GIVEAWAY


THE 100 returns to TV tonight! 

I was a late-comer to The 100, but once I started I was hooked.  I LOVE it.  I love how the second season took a turn and brought the story in a different direction.  I love the characters!  I love it all! Can't wait to see the new season.  



And to help celebrate the show's return Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Rockstar Book Tours are giving away 5 Boxed Sets of the Complete series! So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.


About The Book:

Title: THE 100 Box Set (Books 1-4)
Author: Kass Morgan
Pub. Date: January 3, 2016
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 1360
Formats: Paperback
Find it: AmazonGoodreads
All four thrilling novels in The 100 series, now available in a paperback boxed set! 

Ever since nuclear war destroyed our planet, humanity has been living on city-like spaceships hovering above the toxic surface. As far as anyone knows, no one has stepped foot on Earth in centuries--that is, until one hundred juvenile delinquents are sentenced to return and recolonize the hostile land. The future of the human race rests in their hands, but nothing can prepare the 100 for what they find on this strange and savage planet. 



Read the series that inspired the hit TV show. The 100, Day 21, Homecoming, and Rebellion are gathered together for the first time in this striking box set, perfect for fans and series newcomers alike.








About Kass Morgan

Kass Morgan studied literature at Brown and Oxford, and now resides in Brooklyn, where she lives in constant fear of her Ikea bookcase collapsing and burying her under a mound of science fiction and Victorian novels. Kass is currently working on the sequel to The 100, which she’ll finish as soon as she finds a coffee shop that allows laptops on the weekend.






Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive the complete boxed set of THE 100 Series, US Only.

Ends on February 8th at Midnight EST!





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