It's the Big Birthday Giveaway!! Ends July 26th

Ah, yes, today is my birthday. To celebrate, I am hosting a couple of big giveaways! I learned how to read at an obnoxiously young age. From that point on, my nose was always stuck in a book. I wanted to share the love of reading with some more kids, so I hit up some of my author friends to share their works with you. You have the opportunity to win their books, as well as a gift card to get whatever you want for yourself or a loved one. If you see something you like, you can also click on the book cover to purchase your own Kindle or paperback copy from Amazon! Read the blurbs about the authors and their books, then enter the Rafflecopter below! This contest ends on July 26th. The same Rafflecopter is also available over on Andi's Chapter Books. Find a different birthday giveaway at Andi's Young Adult Books and yet another over at Andi's Book Reviews.

Angry Octopus or Affirmation Weaver by Lori Lite of Stress Free Kids

Children love to unwind and relax with this fun exercise known as "muscular relaxation . Children relate to the angry octopus in this story as the sea child shows him how to take a deep breath, calm down, and manage his anger. This effective stress and anger management technique focuses awareness on various muscle groups to create a complete resting of the mind and body. Muscular relaxation can lower stress and anxiety levels. It can be used to decrease pain and anger. This engaging story quiets the mind and relaxes the body so your child can let go of anger and fall asleep peacefully.

This is one of four stories featured on the Indigo Ocean Dreams CD/mp3.

Ideal for kids who have a tough time settling down for bedtime or transitioning through anger in a healthy way.
Children love to turn self-doubt into self-belief. Children relate to the dolphin in this story as the sea creatures show him how to believe in himself. Watch your child's self-esteem grow as the sea creatures weave a web of positive statements. This feel good technique can be used to bolster self-image, manage stress and anxiety, and accomplish goals. This encouraging story will bring a smile to your face and give your child a tool that will last a lifetime.

This is one of four stories featured on the Indigo Ocean Dreams CD/mp3.

Ideal for children with low self-esteem, confidence, kids who are bullied or excluded from activities.

Stress Free Kids founder Lori Lite has created a line of books and CDs designed to help children, teens, and adults decrease stress, anxiety, and anger. As a parent, Lori spent two hours every single night trying to settle her young son down to sleep. Her daughter developed stress related night terrors and Lori herself became sick from anxiety. In an effort to help her family she created a story for her children that would entertain them while introducing them to research-based relaxation techniques. That moment began a journey that now includes 8 books, 6 CDs, and 2 curriculums. Ms. Lite's books, CDs, and curriculums are considered a resource for parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, and yoga instructors. Her Indigo Dreams audio book/CD series has been awarded the CNE Award of Excellence. Ms. Lite has been interviewed and written articles for several media outlets, including: Family Circle, NY Times, MSNBC, ABC Radio; CBS News; USA Today; Web MD; Stress Free Living; Mind, Body, and Soul; and Job Club with Tory Johnson. She has also been featured in several publications which include Prevention Magazine, Parent Guide New York, Family Circle, Kiwi Magazine, and Aspiring Woman. Lori is a certified children s meditation facilitator and Sears Manage My Life parenting expert. She gained national attention when she appeared on Shark Tank, an ABC/Mark Burnett production. Lori has just released a relaxation music line. Indigo Dreams: Kid s Relaxation Music and Indigo Dreams: Teen Relaxation Music. Check her Stress Free Kids website, Face Book and Twitter for updates. 

Queen Vernita series by Dawn Menge

Queen Vernita invites twelve wonderful friends to visit with her during each month of the year. Queen Vernita and her friends enjoy fun activities throughout the Oceaneers Kingdom. Parents and teachers will love teaching the monthly calendar, days of the weeks and seasons through the storytelling adventures of Queen Vernita and her friends.

Awards for QUEEN VERNITA'S VISITORS: Evvy-First place
Readers favorite-Honorable mention
Readers Views-Honorable Mention
American Children's Book Society-Scooter Award
American Children's Book Society-A+ rating
Purple Dragonfly-Honorable mention  

Queen Vernita continues her monthly visits with her friends at the Blue Ice Mountains. While visiting the mountains she learns about the local flora and fauna.

Awards for Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains:
Readers Favorites-Finalist
Purple Dragonfly-Honorable Mention

Queen Vernita continues her educational adventures with Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer.

Sir HeathyBean spends twelve informative months in Queen Vernita's castle in the land of Oceaneers. His visit along with Cora the Teacher is centered on learning everything they can about the solar system.

Awards for Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer
Evvy Awards-Merit
USA Best Book Awards-Finalist
Readers Views-First Place
Purple Dragonfly-Second Place


Dawn Menge holds a Bachelors Degree from Washington State University specializing in Human Development. She also holds a Clear Credential and Masters in Special Education from California State University San Bernardino. She is currently entering the dissertation phase of her PHD program at Capella University. She is specializing in Curriculum and Instruction.

As an Education Specialist specializing in Severely Handicapped students she has worked for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for fifteen years. She has worked with severely handicapped students from the age of 3 up to 22 years. She is currently working with the 18-22 year olds in a Young Adult Center. Her students curriculum includes functional/vocational skills in which they work within the community. Her students disabilities have ranged from Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, Seizure Disorders, Orthopedic disorders, Mental illness, legally blind and Cerebral Palsy.

During her career as a teacher/author she has been awarded USA Best Book Award for 2010, first place in the Evvy Award 2009, Readers Views Award 2009, Learning Leader from the Leapfrog Learning company and nominated teacher of the year for SBCSS. She has worked along with the Leapfrog Learning company in a Case Study working with her Autistic students. She has been published in the Exceptional Parent Magazine and various online publications.

Dawn Menge's award winning educational picture book series includes; Queen Vernita's Visitors, Queen Vernita visits the Blue Ice Mountain and Queen Vernita Meets Sir HeathyBean the Astronomer.

Learn more at www.QueenVernita.com

Baby Jaimie Has a Crush with Coloring Book by Jaimie Hope

From the minute she met him everyone thought Baby Jaimie's first crush was Derek. Derek even thought so. That's why he asked her first grade teacher, Mrs. Smith if he could come in to visit her.

The day of the visit didn't go as planned. While Derek was introducing himself a new student, Jack, entered the room and stole everyone's attention. Especially Baby Jaimie's. For that reason Derek took an instant disliking to the new kid.

Baby Jaimie is forced to choose between Derek and Jack, and she doesn't know what to do. Is there a way to combine old friends with new friends? Can't they all just get along? Find out in The Adventures of Baby Jaimie: Baby Jaimie Has a Crush.

About this author

:
"I was born November 3, 1976 in New York. Growing up one of my favorite time of the day was story time. Even at an early age, I became wrapped up in whatever story was being read. At the time, I just wanted to be part of the story. It wasn't until high school that I decided I wanted to be a writer. This is when my ideas for the Adventures of Baby Jaimie started forming.

I was on the newspaper staff for two years in high school and really enjoyed it. We didn't have assigned stories, but we were able to do investigative reporting if we chose to. I was usually more into the freelance style of writing about whatever happened to be on my mind at the time. In my senior year, I took a creative writing course where I got to explore the depths of my creativity.

After graduation in 1995, I put writing aside for a while. I went to college and did what most people try to do, "try to find myself". I got my Associates degree in 1999.

In 2002, I moved to Florida. I did quite a lot while I was there. I was an active volunteer in the local historical society. I also did volunteer work at the local library. During this time, I also sang on a few demos at the local studio, tried my hand at songwriting and ran a book club. It wasn't until 2005, when I picked up The Adventures of Baby Jaimie and started working in earnest to get it done. I finished the text of my manuscript within a month. I submitted it to a handful of publishers, only to be rejected.

Again, I shelved The Adventures of Baby Jaimie, temporarily, when I moved back to New York in the spring 2006 that I even thought about picking it up again. I had lunch with a friend one day in the summer of 2006 who told me about a friend of hers who was also an author. She put me in contact with him, and he gave me advice on how to go about making my dreams of becoming a published author come true.

In November of 2006, AuthorHouse released The Adventures of Baby Jaimie. After the release, I got busy trying to promote it, and as they say, life happened. I began to try my hand at writing a novel. This proved to be a slow process as well, but not as slow as my first book. In July of 2008, PublishAmerica released my first short novel, Who Says You Can't Go Home.
You may be asking yourself what's next. Only time will tell." 

-Jaimie Hope 

Miro the Dragon by Theresa Berg

Drakonia…. Land of the dragons, ancient and proud creatures. Drakonia…. Home of Miro, a tiny and frightened red dragon who is still trying to find his place in the world. On his journey to become a “real” dragon, he makes some unusual new friends and discovers that friendship can overcome the greatest fears. Miro’s stories tell of courage and friendship without boundaries or prejudices.






My children's books about Miro, the little dragon who is afraid of everything, were originally written in German and then translated into English. I reasoned that since I am bilingual, my little dragon should become bilingual too.

I am mostly writing in English, though; you can find those books when you look for my pen name Saoirse O'Mara.

Apart fromw writing and reading, I love learning new languages. So far, I have read books in six different languages, and I plan to add a few more languages to that list in the future.

The Green Meadow Series by Jennifer Walker

Thirteen-year-old Leslie Clark has loved horses for as long as she can remember and has been riding since she was six. Although her widowed father cannot afford to give her everything she desires, she works hard to get what she wants. When what she wants, a great horse to show, is taken right out from under her by her rival, Kate Wellesley, Leslie thinks her whole world has been turned upside down--until she finds Lucky (nicknamed Bubba by her father, who thinks he is funny). Then, everything changes.

Readers of Bubba Goes National will be touched by an inspiring story, but they will also learn about the care and showing of horses while they read about Leslie's adventures. Sandwiched in is a lesson that if one is willing to work hard, they can make their dreams come true. Bubba Goes National is the first of the Riders of Green Meadow series, which will showcase horses that are unwanted by one person but are another's dream come true.

What starts out as a leisurely trail ride turns into a terrifying afternoon when Alex and Leslie see a plume of smoke rising in the trees. After saving the neighbor's horses from a horrible fate, the two teens must run through the burning woods and get back to Green Meadow before it's too late. On the way, they encounter a strange horse wandering through the woods by itself, and it follows them home. Leslie soon becomes attached to "Spark", when she can't find his owner... but will she get to keep him, or will someone come forward to claim the horse she has come to love?

BUBBA TO THE RESCUE is the second book in Ms. Walker's series of Green Meadow Riders fiction teen, tween and children books. BUBBA GOES NATIONAL is the first book in the series. The books are not dependent upon each other, but they do tell a continuing story as well.

When Leslie and her friends encounter a mountain lion during a trail ride on their horses, they run for their lives. Unfortunately, they soon find themselves hopelessly lost--and getting more lost with every turn. Can they find their way out of the woods and back to Green Meadow before it gets dark or the mountain lion comes back?

Jennifer Walker is a full-time freelance writer, editor and novelist, owner of Walker Author Tours (www.walkerauthortours.com), and President of Your Document Professionals (www.yourdocumentpros.com). Her work has appeared in numerous magazines, including Modern Arabian Horse and Sierra Style Publications, as well as websites like RateMyRiding.com. Although horses are her specialty, she enjoys writing on a variety of subjects.

Jennifer has published two books in the Green Meadow Series: Bubba Goes National and Bubba to the Rescue. She has two more started for the series, as well as several other books in various stages of planning and completion. Her short stories earned their place in the first-ever Accentuate Writers Anthology, Elements of the Soul, by placing first and second place in monthly contests. She also has a story in the anthology The Ultimate Horse Lover.

Jennifer lives in Northern California with her husband, dog, and cat, and she enjoys trying to do dressage on her Arabian stallion, Capt Han Solo+ (www.capthansolo.com).  

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway