Meet Luis Rodriguez, Author of The Klampie Mystery

Luis Rodriguez is the director of a childcare facility in New Jersey. He has lots of time to observe children and watch the imagination in their play. The Klampie Mystery was tested many times to various groups of children and changes were made until everyone loved the story. Now Rodriguez looks forward to sharing the story with many more children. He is married and they have one young child.

Visit the author's website for more information.

Winners of the Birthday Giveaway!

The big birthday giveaway ended earlier this week! Thank you to all of the authors who donated their books. And thank you all who entered the contest! All of the winners were chosen at random via Rafflecopter, which is powered by Random.org. Winners will be notified by me via email and their information will be forwarded to the author, if necessary.

Crystal C. - Green Meadow series by Jennifer Walker & Miro the Dragon ebook

Carrie S. - Baby Jaimie book and coloring book & Miro the Dragon

Shanna R. - Queen Vernita series & Miro the Dragon

Katie R. - Lori Lite/Stress Free Kids ebook & Miro the Dragon

Rose H. - $10 gift card & Miro the Dragon

Congratulations, everyone!

Benefits of Adopting an Adult Pet: Guest Post by Valerie Lee Veltre

Valerie Lee Beltre wrote her children's book Moo Kitty Finds a Home after she rescued the real Moo Kitty. In this guest post, reprinted with permission, she speaks to the importance of adopting adult animals as pets.

=================================================================

Benefits of adopting an adult pet

reprinted with permission from Moo Kitty Finds a Home © 12/11

If you are considering getting a new pet, don't automatically decide to buy from a breeder or pet store. Consider adopting from a local shelter.

Some of the unique advantages of mature cats and dogs are:

* What you see is what you get. You can judge the animal's temperament ahead of time.

    - You know pretty well what you're getting with a grown cat's or    
      dog's-activity level, sociability and health.
    - Given time in a loving environment, a grown cat forms just as
      tight a bond with his new people as any kitten can.
    - Most kittens and pups are cute, cuddly, and passive--some will
      grow up and stay that way, and others will grow up to be little
      terrors.
    - An adult animal's personality is pretty much set, giving you a
      better handle on how well he'll fit into your household and
      whether or not she'll get along with any other pets.

* Less expensive. The cost of adopting a pet at an animal shelter is usually inexpensive compared to buying one from a breeder or pet store since they have already been neutered, wormed and vaccinated.

* Already trained. You don't have to go through the demanding stages of training a new kitten or puppy. Raising and training kittens and puppies require a lot of time and know-how.

* An adult animal is likely to be socialized to be around people and other animals.

* The animal will be litter/house trained.

* It will be less likely to engage in destructive behaviors.

* Adult animals are more sedate, making them a practical choice for the elderly and families with children.

* An adult animal can be left alone for longer periods of time than a kitten or puppy when needed.

More tips can be found in Moo Kitty Finds a Home and at mookittyfindsahome.com.

Review of Seriously, Just Go to Sleep

Adam Mansbach rocked the social media world with his now classic picture book for adults called Go the F*ck to Sleep. Anyone who has had to put a child to bed could relate to that bone tired, desperate exhaustion of the adult whose child simply refuses to go to bed, no matter what. You can anticipate every argument the child has to give. One of my favorite parts is when the child is finally asleep and the parents prepare to sit down with their microwave popcorn to watch a movie. As soon as the microwave beeps that the popcorn is done, the child is up again. The parent just gives up and they all try again to go to sleep.

That original version, of course, as not appropriate to read to children, considering its language. So, Mansbach decided to clean up the language and republish his tale as a children's story. The illustrations by Ricardo Cortes are vibrant and just as much fun as in the original, as they are the same.

My only issue with reading this book to children is the fear that it could encourage them to not sleep. A skilled reader, though, would be able to turn it into a challenge for kids and trick them into going to sleep quickly. This is a fun one. 

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review of Moo Kitty Finds a Home by Valerie Lee Veltre

Moo Kitty Finds a Home is a picture book by Valerie Lee Veltre that is based on a true story.

Moo Kitty loves his human. She is an elderly lady who adores him. They spend a lot of their time snuggling together. One day, she passes away and goes to Heaven. The people who clean out her home take away Moo Kitty's favorite belongings and then throw him to the curb. Bewildered and alone, Moo Kitty realizes he is going to have to fend for himself. He has faith that he can do it, thanks to three guardian kitties who keep watch over him.

As he wanders around, he meets a man named George who takes him in long enough to feed him a solid meal. George's friend can't possibly adopt any more stray cats and his wife is very allergic to them, so he takes him to the shelter. Moo Kitty watches as all of his friends are slowly adopted, leaving him behind.

Finally one day a family comes to visit the shelter. Their little girl falls madly in love with Moo Kitty, so they adopt him and take him home. Now Moo Kitty is well-loved again and happy.


This book is really sweet. My cats have always been adopted from people abandoning them nearby. My life would not be complete without them. Not all cats are as lucky, though. Many end up in shelters, some for the rest of their lives. Reading this book made me want to drive out to the local adoption shelters and rescue as many as I can, though that is not a practical idea.

Kids love animals and they are sure to fall in love with Moo Kitty as they read about his adventures. The book feels a little long to read to really young ones, like three years old. At the same time, the charming illustrations and a desire to know what happens to the poor kitty are sure to keep them interested.

The end of the book contains an essay about the benefits of adopting an adult pet versus a baby. Veltre also offers suggestions for preparing your home for a new pet, how to select the right one and how to help him settle into your home. These practical suggestions are great advice to be shared in the home, as well as offering fodder for lessons at school. Perhaps Moo Kitty will inspire a family to provide a new forever home to an abandoned pet!

Visit the Moo Kitty website.

Review of Grandma Rose's Magic

Grandma Rose's Magic is a beautiful story that clearly demonstrates the power of karma and doing good for others. It is also a sweet story about the magic of family and friends.

Grandma Rose is able to create magic with a piece of cloth and thread. She sews clothes for her children and blankets for babies, doll clothes. People are so impressed with her work and gush over it. Grandma Rose always says it must be magic. As she gets paid, she sets the money aside. She is saving up for a special set of dishes that are like the ones she had as a little girl for Shabbos. She goes to the store and the dishes are gone. A little sad, she decides to instead go grocery shopping for a feast. When she comes home, everyone is there, each with a piece of the set to say thank you. They ask how she knew they would all be there to buy the food. Must be magic!

The lesson here is that if you treat others well and do kind things for them, they will also take care of you and do kind things for you. It's a lesson that needs to be reinforced in today's society. This is one to add to my classroom collection.

I received an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Meet Valerie Lee Veltre, Author of Moo Kitty Finds a Home

Valerie Lee Veltre is the author of the children's picture book Moo Kitty Finds a Home.

Fond of creatures great and small, Valerie believes each deserves love, compassion, adequate care and admiration. After having lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from 1993-­‐2011, she currently makes her home at Bee Tree Farm, in the heart of Kentucky’s bluegrass horse country.

Valerie makes the most of this location as an equestrian, spending time riding her two horses. She shares her home with a variety of four-­‐legged creatures, including a dog and five cats.

She’s a fan of the outdoors in general, and enjoys making connections with the Earth through gardening. Along with her love of animals, she deeply appreciates the occasional good laugh with human friends and family.

Having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from East Stroudsburg University, Valerie concentrated in Creative Writing and has always wanted to be a writer. An avid reader, she was inspired to write and illustrate her first book, Moo Kitty Finds a Home, after she rescued real-­life Moo Kitty and gave him a forever home. She believed the resulting children’s book would help educate young readers about the importance of animal rescue, and especially adult pet adoption.

The real Moo Kitty is alive and well, enjoying making daily excursions to inspect the flower garden at Bee Tree Farm. He can often be found in his favorite chair, napping on his mint green blanket. Along with so much else about the bucolic setting, Moo Kitty inspires his human to further pursue her writing career.

Now aspiring to be a full-­time author, Valerie is currently planning her next book. She speaks to libraries, classrooms, church groups and community and civic organizations about adult animal rescue, sheltering and adoption. To learn more about her availability as a speaker contact her publisher at editor@lifereloaded.com.

'Captivate Children With Stories That Include Poetry' - Guest Post by Thomas Weck

Captivate Children with Stories that Include Poetry

By Thomas Weck

Young children can learn so much from reading their favorite books with a loved one. They learn by listening and participating in a way that actively encourages their imagination. If a child sees reading as a fun activity from the start, he will usually enjoy reading as he gets older.

The use of simple poetry can bring a story alive in a way that an "only prose" story cannot. A repetitive poetic refrain can captivate. A child will often take "ownership" of a short verse and want to be the one who "reads" it. The clever use of fonts (different size letters, color and shape) also can enhance a child's enjoyment of the story (with a request for a re-read the next storytime or bedtime).

Anything from making flashcards to acting out the new words can be fun ways for children to learn and remember the new vocabulary. Searching for synonyms and antonyms in the poem can be turned into a fun scavenger hunt. For example, draw attention to an unusual or new word and talk about words with similar or opposite meanings. See how many words the child can find that she doesn't know and do the same thing. It can be fun to search for nouns, adjectives, and verbs in the child's favorite poems as well.

In my newest children's book, The Labyrinth, I incorporate a small verse that is repeated five times at key points in the story. This delights children.                     "Oh, Mean Ol' Bean,                   How he did scheme.                   To be rid of the Queen,                   That was his dream."

For young children, the rhyming and natural rhythm draws them into a story. Adults get caught up in the fun of it as well. Who doesn't still remember, "red fish, blue fish, one fish, two fish," or "a person's a person no matter how small?" Seuss and many other wonderful authors offer children so much. So, join in the fun and find books to read that include poetry and rhymes.

Thomas Weck is a creative and captivating national award-winning author of children's books, including the popular Lima Bear Stories: The Megasaurus, How Back-Back Got His Name, The Cave Monster and The Labyrinth. Learn more at  LimaBearPress.com.







 More About the Author and the Lima Bear Stories

Thomas Weck is the creator and co-author--with his son Peter--of the Lima Bear Stories. Originally made-up bedtime stories he told his four children, the Lima Dear tales resurfaced when Weck's son Peter had children. Peter remembered the stories and wanted to have his father write them down so that he could share them with his children. Father and son took it one step further and created Lima Bear Press to produce the stories as books that children everywhere can enjoy. The first three titles in this award-winning series were released in2011: The Megasaurus, How Back-Back Got His Name, and The Cave Monster. The Labyrinth will be released in August 2012. The books are not only fun and funny with great illustrations, they also have an underlying message such as tolerance, honesty, courage, forgiveness, etc. Additionally, each book has an extended the Learning and an Activity section at the end where children can become active participants in the story experience. Learn more at LimaBearPress.com.

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

Review of The Labyrinth, a Lima Bear book

The Labyrinth is the latest in the Lima Bear series of books by the father-son team of Thomas and Peter Weck. From the very beginning, this book is quite different from their other ones. It opens with a poem and has more verse spread throughout. Good rhymes are lacking in modern children's literature. Rhyming is so important to help with their phonemic awareness and reading skills. Also, the print is different, actually looking like the words. For example, "twists and turns" is printed in squiggly letters. "Cheered" is printed in an arch. I like how it is adding a visual component, to help the children better understand the feelings implied by those words.



In this story, King Limalot is getting too old to continue ruling his kingdom. He has no sons, so he decides to crown his daughter, Belinda Bean, Queen of Beandom. Mean ol' Bean isn't happy, though, because he wants to be king. So, he quickly hatches a plan to lure Queen Belinda into the nearby labyrinth to see the magic flower garden at its center. Once there, he would quickly flee, and leave her behind to be lost forever.

Unfortunately for him, our hero from other books, L. Joe Bean, uncovers the dastardly plot and flips the tables on Mean ol' Bean. Belinda is saved from the labyrinth, but Mean ol' Bean gets stuck there. After a few days, L. Joe Bean takes pity on him and promises to rescue him if he can promise to be good again.

This book is cute, as are all of the other ones in the series. I love the illustrations. Everything shows a great deal of imagination, which children will love. One particular aspect I like about this book is that L. Joe Bean is nice to Mean ol' Bean, even though he is a despicable creature. It shows that you still need to be kind to those who are awful. Sometimes they just need a little kindness to help them remember how to be kind, themselves.

I haven't yet had a chance to share this with my students. Unfortunately, my complimentary review copy appeared on my porch on our last day of school. I know, however, that when we reconvene in the fall, they will love this one as much as the first three in the series.



I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review of It's a Big World, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi

Poppy is a pig who has dreams of being a star on the ice. All of her friends and family encourage her to do so and she gets invited to the World Games. Poppy is nervous to go all the way around the world. When in the Athlete's Village, she is worried that she isn't going to be able to make any new friends nor understand all of the different languages. She quickly befriends a Chinese skater named Li. She meets all kinds of different animals from around the world, sharing their customs and exchanging phrases in their native languages. It's all about being supportive of children's dreams and making friends around the world. The message is, “We all smile in the same language!” 

You can feel Kristi's passion for her sport and love for people all around the world in her book. This is one that would go well with my multicultural collection. 

The adorable illustrations remind me of Richard Scarry at times. They are simple and sweet.

I received in eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Excerpt from The Labyrinth, a Lima Bear book

The Labyrinth is the fourth book in the Lima Bear series. I can't wait to get back to school to share this installment with my students.

Blurb:

Princess Belinda Bean has just been given the throne by her elderly father, and she is now the Queen and Ruler of Beandom. . Everyone in the kingdom is happy about this except jealous Mean ol' Bean who wants to be King.

After luring Belinda Bean into a tricky labyrinth, Mean ol' Bean runs into a problem. L. Joe Bean, the Wiseman of Beandom, has discovered his scheme! What will happen to the Queen, L. Joe Bean, and Mean ol' Bean?


Excerpt from The Labyrinth:

Oh, Mean ol' Bean
How he did scheme.
To be rid of the Queen
That was his dream.  

 About Lima Bear® Press
 
Lima Bear® Press has a very straightforward mission: to publish children’s stories that are engaging, imaginative, and humorous while each carries an important life message such as tolerance, honesty, courage, etc.

For children who are not yet readers, these stories are an easy read by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and family friends. Lima Bear® Press strives to make the stories entertaining and meaningful both to those who listen as well as to those who read them aloud.

For children who are readers, the authors crafted the stories, through both text and illustration, so that they are fun to read, while, at the same time, striving to introduce young minds to new expressions and new vocabulary in a way that is readily understood. 

Lima Bear Press feels they will have achieved their mission when they help children who listen to and/or read their books become eager readers throughout their lives. 

In the Lima Bear stories, the basic characters appear and reappear. Each character has a distinct
personality that shines through in every story.

Learn more at LimaBearPress.com. Their books are distributed to bookstores and libraries nationwide
by Small Press United (from IPG). Or call 800-888-4741 for more information. 

'Reading WITH, Not TO, Your Child' Article by Thomas Weck

Thomas Weck is the author of the Lima Bear series of books that my students so adored reading over the past year. In this article, he shows parents how to productively engage their children in the reading experience.


Reading with, Not to, Your Child

By Thomas Weck

Reading a book to your child is a great way to help your child learn. Sometimes, though, simply reading the words on the page may not be stimulating enough. Some of the time your child might be perfectly content to sit and listen; on other days, he may not be able to keep one foot still! Do not fret. Your child can get his learning and keep his energy at a high level, too!  The trick is to read with your child.

Start with the old standby--reading. Once the story has begun to unfold, ask your child some questions before moving onto the next page. Use questions that will encourage interaction. For example: * Point to some of the pictures on the page and see if your child can describe what the illustrations show. Is the main character revealed on the first page? Can you tell where the story takes place? Is it daytime or nighttime as the story begins? Do you think it will be the same at the end of the story? (And no peeking ahead is allowed!) * Have your child try to reason how a picture on the page relates to the story. For example, you could ask, "Why does the candle droop?" Could it be that it is because it has been burning for a long time? * Identify specific words used in the story as a teachable moment. Are some words written in a different way from the rest of the words? Are some bigger? Smaller? In a different color? Ask your child to guess why. Have your child say the special words in the story in the way he thinks the author intended for them to be read. Talk about how the words could be said differently to express a different emotion.

Are you getting a sense for how easy reading interactively can be? By reading in this way, your child is part of the reading time, too! Enjoy watching your child's excitement as he/she figures out the answers to your questions and comes up with unique ways to add to or change the story. Encourage your child to ask questions of you too. Prompt your child to come up with the questions for you by announcing, "on the next page, it is Daddy's turn to answer YOUR questions." The possibilities are endless for ways that you can read interactively with your child.

If it isn't naptime or bedtime, have your child act out part of the story, or make up a song or dance to retell the story to you after you have finished. If your child has a lot of stuffed animals and they are the same type as in the story, let the teddy bear dance around or climb up the pillows and let the dog bark, etc. Try to come up with new ways every time you read a book. Happy reading!

Thomas Weck is the author/creator of the *Lima Bear Stories. Originally made-up bedtime stories he told his four children, the Lima Bear tales resurfaced when Weck's son Peter had children. Peter remembered the stories and wanted to have his father write them down so that he could share them with his children. Father and son took it one step further and created Lima Bear Press to produce the stories as books that children everywhere can enjoy. The first three titles in this award-winning series were released in 2011: The Megasaurus, How Back-Back Got His Name, and The Cave Monster. The books are not only fun and funny with great illustrations, they also have an underlying message such as such as tolerance, honesty, courage, etc. Additionally, each book has an Extend the Learning and an Activity section at the end where children can become active participants in the story experience. More books in the series will be released in 2012. Learn more at  LimaBearPress.com.

Help me celebrate my birthday with a giveaway for kids!

My birthday is coming up in one week. My father died a few weeks before my birthday last year, so I didn't feel much like celebrating. This year, I am determined to make up for it a bit! (And it is kind of a significant number.) Therefore, I am going to have a big giveaway across my blogs!

One giveaway is going to be geared toward children through teens. One is going to be for adults. And a third will be geared toward parents and teachers.

Each one is going to include a gift from me, in the form of a gift card. I am also including a couple of books that I will donate to each blog. My fellow writer friends are also chipping in and sharing ebooks and swag and hosting the giveaways on their blogs and pages.

Would you like to be a part of this? You can let me know if you want to donate a book, swag or whatever. In exchange, I will profile your product and give you one or two entries on the Rafflecopter. This way we all get something out of it! The fun begins on July 19th!

Contact me via my profile page or by emailing books(at)montessoriwriter(dot)com.

Thanks!

Photo by Brandon Rittenhouse on SXC.

Guest Post by Kevin Glavin and Sarah Grepo

Today's guest post comes from Kevin Glavin and Sarah, who are the author and illustrator of the children's book All the Things You'll Do. 

On the inspiration behind the book:

I wanted to write a book for my children, and for all children, that would be very positive and helpful in encouraging their dreams. The first half contains the story and wonderful illustrations by Sarah, with the parents singing to their child—imagining together all the great things he’ll do. The second half is a metaphorical “canvas,” where children can actually plan specific dreams and celebrate accomplishments. I felt it was important to provide space where young readers, their family, and friends can draw their own illustrations, place photos and mementos, plan out, and reflect upon their goals. ––KG

On the educational approach:

Educational research supports the writing and reflection upon goals in the accomplishment of them. There has been much written about the relationship between language and thought, and the idea that thought is completed in the word. That is, writing crystallizes thinking, giving amorphous ideas shape. The interactive function of the book aspires to reflect the root of the word education––educare (to draw out, or bring out from within). This Vygotskian, constructivist approach offers crucial scaffolding for developing a healthy, positive, and focused child. So many children’s books are read a few times and discarded. This one will hopefully be returned to again and again, in an effort to serve the utilitarian purpose of helping children accomplish their greatest hopes with the support of friends and family. ––KG

On some details that might otherwise be missed:

The different colors of the rainbow are purposely reflected upon the cover of the book in the flowers. This is part of a concerted effort throughout the book to include children of many ethnicities (all the colors of the rainbow, so to speak). It is also an allusion to Rock Star’s Rainbow, my first novel. A special needs child (in a wheelchair) is also included. I thought this to be very important, as I have noticed that in most children’s books they are not. The high school-aged boy is reading Hamlet, and feeling inspired, is writing a song called “Hamlet Omelette” (you have to look very closely). In the ebook, this song will be playable. When the boy is acting “so cool,” the 1950s motorcycle illustration is an allusion to The Wild One. ––KG

On illustrating digitally vs. drawing:

Illustrating digitally does not require any paper, and so it saves a lot of trees. This is great, in case mistakes are made and work has to be redone, and sometimes numerous designs must be made before a final decision is made as for how one illustration will look, which would have used up a lot of paper. Working on illustrations digitally also saves more time, as work will already be in the computer and ready to be e-mailed at any moment for feedback or approval. Drawings done on paper, though, would need to be scanned into the computer or photographed and uploaded if they are to be e-mailed. Or if not e-mailed, then mailed or taken over in person. With our busy schedules and working cities apart from each other, there would be times when Mr. Glavin and I wouldn't have been able to meet up the moment I finished something and needed feedback immediately, so being able to e-mail a concept the moment it was done without having to scan, mail, or physically bring over, was wonderful. ––SG

On how to encourage kids to write or to draw:

As a child, some of my most significant experiences have been when I've recorded something special that's happened in my life in a diary. While this book is not a day-by-day diary, I feel it gives a similar feeling of reminiscence if a child were to look back as they are growing older. Remembering what goals or accomplishments you had as a child, and seeing proof of that written somewhere by you, is very special. In terms of how this book may inspire children to draw, I hope this book goes to show that it doesn't matter how young or old you are to go out and draw a children's book. What matters is the time, effort, observation, and teamwork you put into reaching your goal. :) ––SG

Review of The Cave Monster, a Lima Bear book

The Cave Monster is the third book in the Lima Bear series. Again, I shared this with my students, ages 3-6, who greatly enjoyed it. It is recommended for children ages 4-8.

In this book, Lima Bear is eagerly waiting for his cousin, L. Joe Bean to arrive for a visit. Before he makes it, though, he is kidnapped by a cave monster! The other animal friends, Whistle-Toe, Maskamal and Back-Back vow to help Lima Bear rescue his cousin. They work together on their plan to overcome the cave monster and get back their friend. The lesson in this book is that when individuals are afraid, they can band together to find courage.


Out of the three books, I like this one the least. Some of my younger students were frightened by the cave monster, which is why this book is recommended for those just a little older. My students found it amusing, though, even those who were a little scared. I do like how the characters work together to find their courage and to solve their problems. Teamwork is always a good lesson for kids. It is still a cute story. The illustrations are adorable.

As in all of the other books, there are discussion questions and activities for adults and children to share. This book can lead to another thematic unit.


I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review of What to Expect When You're Expecting Hatchlings

I love this book. Information within What to Expect When You're Expecting Hatchlings is a parody of the famous What to Expect When You're Expecting series of books for human mommies and daddies. This book focuses on the crocodilian family. Alligators have the opportunity to ask the experts all kinds of questions about having their hatchlings and get expert answer. They learn how to safely lay their eggs and how to care for them once they hatch. They also learn about the stages of development of the unhatched reptile through drawings of the inside of the eggs. Kids will be excited to learn all of this information, as well.

It also includes a glossary at the end of the book, as well as resources both in print and online for further information. I can see kids eager to learn even more.

I received a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Excerpt from The Cave Monster, a Lima Bear book

The Cave Monster is the third book in the Lima Bear series by Thomas Weck and his son Peter Weck. This series was a big hit in my early childhood classroom.

Blurb: 

Oh no! L. Joe Bean, Lima Bear's cousin, has been captured by the Cave Monster. Lima Bear and his friends must enter the Black Cave to try to save L. Joe Bean.

Venturing into a new place, especially if it is potentially scary--like a dark basement or somewhere unknown--is not something most children would choose to do, and certainly not alone. That is the situation the animal friends face in The Cave Monster.

All 4-8 year olds will love following along as Whistle-Toe (the rabbit), Maskamal (the raccoon), Back-Back (the opossum), and Lima Bear (a tiny bean-shaped bear) come up with a plan to save Lima Bear's cousin. Bringing along the thing each one thinks might be the most useful--a tiny sword, a rustic bow & arrow, a red flag and a canteen of water--the band of friends tentatively approaches the scary cave.

Will their ideas go according to plan? Will they get to L. Joe Bean in time? Will they save themselves?

The take-away message of this book is friends, individually afraid, find courage when acting together.  


Excerpt from The Cave Monster

Back-Back stood next to a tree. He waved the red flag at the tree pretending it was the Cave Monster. Maskamal stood a few steps away, pulled the string of the bow as far back as he could and took aim.

The bow went 'Twa-a-a-ang'. The arrow fell out and landed on Maskamal's foot. "Um...," said Lima Bear, "you are going to have to be awfully close to the Cave Monster to hit him with that bow and arrow."

About Lima Bear® Press
 
Lima Bear® Press has a very straightforward mission: to publish children’s stories that are engaging, imaginative, and humorous while each carries an important life message such as tolerance, honesty, courage, etc.

For children who are not yet readers, these stories are an easy read by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and family friends. Lima Bear® Press strives to make the stories entertaining and meaningful both to those who listen as well as to those who read them aloud.

For children who are readers, the authors crafted the stories, through both text and illustration, so that they are fun to read, while, at the same time, striving to introduce young minds to new expressions and new vocabulary in a way that is readily understood. 

Lima Bear Press feels they will have achieved their mission when they help children who listen to and/or read their books become eager readers throughout their lives. 

In the Lima Bear stories, the basic characters appear and reappear. Each character has a distinct
personality that shines through in every story.

Learn more at LimaBearPress.com. Their books are distributed to bookstores and libraries nationwide
by Small Press United (from IPG). Or call 800-888-4741 for more information. 

Meet Thomas Weck, Peter Weck, and Len DiSalvo, Creators of the Lima Bear Series

The Lima Bear series of books is an award-winning series that has become a favorite in my classroom. Meet the father-son author team of Thomas and Peter Weck, as well as illustrator Len DiSalvo.

Meet the Authors

Thomas Weck is a creative and captivating national award-winning author of children’s books. He has traveled extensively in the U.S. and in foreign countries including teaching children through the Peace Corps. With four children of his own and a passion for observing children’s behavior, he has distilled these  observations into stories that excite the imagination of young minds amidst peals of laughter and learning. The Megasaurus was the first title in the exciting Lima Bear Series, which was followed by How Back-Back Got His Name, The Cave Monster, and The Labyrinth. Watch for more.


Peter Weck grew up enjoying the wonderful stories his father told about Lima Bear and his friends. Now that he is the father of three young girls, he has teamed up with his father to capture these and other stories in print. Peter’s goal is to help children foster a love for creating, reading, and listening to stories. He currently serves on the board of the Menlo Park Library Foundation and is CEO of StoryJumper, a web-based company that enables anyone to create and illustrate children’s stories.




Meet the Illustrator

Len DiSalvo is an illustrator and animator for a wide range of print projects
and award-winning computer games. He currently teaches illustration and
animation at the Art Center Design College in Tucson, AZ.








About Lima Bear® Press

Lima Bear® Press has a very straightforward mission: to publish children’s stories that are engaging, imaginative, and humorous while each carries an important life message such as tolerance, honesty, courage, etc.

For children who are not yet readers, these stories are an easy read by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and family friends. Lima Bear® Press strives to make the stories entertaining and meaningful both to those who listen as well as to those who read them aloud.

For children who are readers, the authors crafted the stories, through both text and illustration, so that they are fun to read, while, at the same time, striving to introduce young minds to new expressions and new vocabulary in a way that is readily understood.

Lima Bear Press feels they will have achieved their mission when they help children who listen to and/or
read their books become eager readers throughout their lives.

In the Lima Bear stories, the basic characters appear and reappear. Each character has a distinct personality that shines through in every story.

Learn more at LimaBearPress.com. Their books are distributed to bookstores and libraries nationwide by Small Press United (from IPG). Or call 800-888-4741 for more information.

Review of How Back-Back Got His Name, a Lima Bear book

How Back-Back Got His Name is the second book in the Lima Bear series. It's yet another picture book that I shared with my students, who range in age from 3-6. They loved this one, too!


Plumpton, the opossum, wakes up his friends because he is having an EEE-mergency! He was brushing his fur and all of a sudden, his back was gone! Lima Bear and Whistle-Toe, the rabbit, go find Maskamal, the raccoon, to help them find Plumpton's back.

The friends come up with all kinds of ways to try to find Plumpton's back, managing to just get themselves into all kinds of trouble. They have to work together to solve their own EEE-mergencies. They learn the importance of teamwork. A more valuable lesson is that people who appear to be different, often have their own special talents.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the lessons being taught about teamwork and how it is okay to be different. There is also a lesson about it not being okay to hunt and trap animals.

The end of the book has activities for adults to do with children, whether in the classroom or at home. It includes several discussion questions, as well as a fun science lesson and several language arts lessons. Reading this simple children's book for ages 4-8 can easily turn into a thematic unit. Check it out.


I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review of All the Things You'll Do!

All the Things You'll Do is the first children's book by author and educator Kevin Glavin. It's a rhyming journey through all of the wonderful firsts in a young child's life, being sung to him by his parents. He is their first child and they can't wait to celebrate all of his wonderful firsts with him. They talk about the first time he rides a bike, learns how to cook, reads a ton of books, and so much more.


Illustrations by Sarah Grepo show the child at various stages of life. For some of his accomplishments, she demonstrates how he will do them again and again, such as running carefree through the grass, reading lots of books, and more. I like how it shows that some of these things happen many times as lifelong habits. Sometimes, it feels like the child's age in the illustrations is a little out of chronological order. Then again, children do not always master activities or have experiences at the same age.

The back of the book has pages for the child to make a list of his goals and to document whether or not he has met them each year, for ten years. He can add photos and any other bits of memorabilia. He can also then reflect on how much he was able to accomplish over a ten-year span. Part of the reasoning is that if you write down your goals, you are more likely to actually achieve them. This makes this more than just a picture book for kids; it's a scrapbook and keepsake that they can cherish for years to come.

Readers can also visit the website at allthethingsyoulldo.com to report on accomplishments, check out the upcoming activities section, or to learn the song that accompanies the book.


I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Excerpt from How Back-Back Got His Name, a Lima Bear

Thomas Weck and Peter Weck created an award-winning series about a group of adorable creatures known as the Lima Bears. My students, ages 3-6, absolutely loved this series when I shared it with them. The second book in the series is How Back-Back Got His Name.

Blurb:

Can you imagine what it would be like to lose your back!!? Well, that is exactly what happens to Plumpton, the Opossum. Lima Bear and his clever friends become detectives searching for this missing back.

Follow them as they try new and different ways of thinking to solve the mystery. See how they band together to protect each other in times of danger! Will they ever find Plumpton's back?

The take-away message: The tolerance of differences in others yields benefits 







Here is an excerpt from How Back-Back Got His Name.

One cool autumn morning, Lima Bear lay sleeping in his tiny walnut-shell bed in the hollow of an oak tree.He looked a bit like a lima bean with his round green belly and short arms and legs all snuggled up in his bed.

"Wake up, Lima Bear! Wake UP!!!"

"Oh my!" Lima Bear exclaimed. He jumped out of bed and ran to the door.

Whistle-Toe the rabbit held out a note for Lima Bear to read.

Help! I have an EEE-mergency! Plumpton

Whistle-Toe and Lima Bear rushed to see their friend, Plumpton the opossum.

At Plumpton's house, Lima Bear asked, "What's the EEE-mergency?"

"I've lost something," Plumpton sobbed. "I...I was brushing my fur this morning and when I turned around to look in the mirror, my b-b-back was GONE!"

Plumpton turned around, and disappeared!

"Aaaa-MAAAY-zing!" Whistle-Toe gasped.

Plumpton sniffled loudly, and turned back toward his friends.

Lima Bear said, "Don't worry, Plumpton. We'll help you find your back! Hmm... I think we'll need more help. Let.s get Maskamal, too."...

About Lima Bear® Press
 
Lima Bear® Press has a very straightforward mission: to publish children’s stories that are engaging, imaginative, and humorous while each carries an important life message such as tolerance, honesty, courage, etc.

For children who are not yet readers, these stories are an easy read by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and family friends. Lima Bear® Press strives to make the stories entertaining and meaningful both to those who listen as well as to those who read them aloud.

For children who are readers, the authors crafted the stories, through both text and illustration, so that they are fun to read, while, at the same time, striving to introduce young minds to new expressions and new vocabulary in a way that is readily understood. 

Lima Bear Press feels they will have achieved their mission when they help children who listen to and/or read their books become eager readers throughout their lives. 

In the Lima Bear stories, the basic characters appear and reappear. Each character has a distinct
personality that shines through in every story.

Learn more at LimaBearPress.com. Their books are distributed to bookstores and libraries nationwide
by Small Press United (from IPG). Or call 800-888-4741 for more information.