Writers Wednesday

If you’re a Fantasy reader, CaladriusDreams, a mystery wrapped in a fantasy adventure, is worth a look.

Calli, is an orphan abandoned by fate to a life on the street where she is always just one bread crust away from starving – until she encounters the King’s Guard, Master Arcturus Sheridan. Her chance meeting soon immerses her in a world of nobility, privilege, and power that is as dangerous as it is beguiling. Author Erin Ann McCarter weaves a tale of magic that explores Calli’s struggle toward self-discovery as she seeks to uncover the secrets that underlie her disturbing dreams.

Nonfiction Monday

If you have an interest in STEM, you’ll want to check out Explore Comets and Asteroids! With 25 Great Projects by Anita Yasuda with illustrations by Bryan Stone.

Eighty-eight colorful, fact-filled pages provide a thorough overview of the subject and offer young scientists multiple opportunities for hands-on activities.

Six well-organized chapters are enriched with maps, diagrams, photographs and illustrations. Words to Know, Good Science Practices, Keyword Prompts, Primary Source connections, QR codes, and small notes inviting readers to investigate, consider and discuss topics create a rich addition to the text. 

A glossary of terms is followed by a section titled Resources includes Metric Conversions, Books, Websites, and a QR glossary for links to additional information.

For ages 7-10. Recommended as a fine addition to home and school library collections.

Goodreads Giveaway

October is Pit Bull Awareness Month. To Celebrate, I'm running a Goodreads Giveaway for 10 hardcover, autographed copies of
Monty: The Courageous Survival of a Rescue Dog.

Entry Details are in the sidebar to the left.

Picture Book Friday

I’m Not A Scaredy-Cat: A Prayer For When You Wish You Were Brave, by New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado is delightfully silly story about a little cat who encounters one frightening moment after another – a squeaky rubber duck, a playground slide that seems much too tall, a furry caterpillar, the ticking of clocks, and the patter of rain – to name just he few. But, as the subtitle suggests, each time he feels frightened, worried, or nervous he knows he can rely on a simple child’s prayer to help him feel better.

The large format of the double-page spreads gives illustrator Ng-Benitez plenty of space to play and the simple, but colorful artwork is in keeping with the text.

Childhood fears, while seeming mild to adults, are all too real for children and the incidents depicted in I’m Not A Scaredy Cat feel just right for a child’s perspective.

Nonfiction Monday

The Holocaust:Racism and Genocide in World War II by Carla Mooney with illustrations by Tom Casteel is part of the Nomad Press Inquire and Investigate series.

Eight chapters: What Was the Holocaust?, The Jewish People and Anti-Semitism, The Rise of the Nazi Party, Persecution and World War II, The Final Solution: Extermination, War’s End, How Could the Holocaust Happen? Rescue and Resistance, and The Legacy of the Holocaust provide a thoughtful look at the subject.

Chapters include vocabulary labs and additional opportunities to inquire and investigate specific content. Sidebars provide highlights and access to primary sources and QR codes. Maps and photographs enrich the text.

A Time line from1918 through 2005 traces the forces that led to the holocaust and its continuing impact on world events. A glossary addresses terms and a final section, titled Resources, lists books, museums, and websites for further study.

For ages 12-15. 

SAVE THE DATE: November 25th

I'll be here from 10:00 - 12:00 reading two of my books: THE GINGERBREAD COWBOY and JUST LIKE GULLIVER. If you're in the neighborhood, be sure to stop in and say hello!

Picture Book Friday

Elephants! One of the most amazing animals on the planet and always a favorite with children.

Now preschoolers can enjoy Elephants, a delightful picture book, illustrated by Suzie Mason with words by Rebecca Heller.

Simple language describes elephant behavior (Elephants trumpet. Elephants roam. Elephants never forget.) and each page is beautifully illustrated to highlight the text that follows a baby elephant and its family. An author’s note at the end offers additional information about these remarkable creatures.

A portion of the proceeds from the book are donated to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants www.elephant trust.org.

Recommended as a lovely addition to your home library.