

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

It's This Monkey's Business by Debra Mares

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2014/10/19/pump-up-your-book-presents-its-this-monkeys-business-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

PUYB Inside the Book


It's This Monkey's Business 2Title: It’s This Monkey’s Business
Author: Debra Postil
Publisher: Justicia House
Pages: 32
Genre: Children’s Books
Format: Hardback/Kindle

“Cabana,” a young spider monkey is brought to life to tell her story It’s This Monkey’s Business to help children who are affected by domestic violence and divorce. Cabana, who lives with her parents in a treehouse high up in a rainforest canopy, becomes startled one day from her Mama’s scream, when she is waiting atop a tree branch for her Papa to teach her how to swing. After falling to the forest floor, Cabana frustrated from her parents’ fighting, decides she will search for a new family to be part of. Her persistence is cut short when she braves the river to play with a pink dolphin, unaware she cannot swim. The tragedy brings her parents together to realize they can no longer live together. Cabana reconnects with her Papa, realizing he is the only one that can teach her how to swing.

It’s This Monkey’s Business is an approximately 756 word children’s book targeting ages 4-8, which is set in a rainforest and featuring “Cabana,” a young female Spider Monkey, her parents and rainforest animals. The book is approximately 30 pages long and features full spread color illustrations.

For More Information

  • It’s This Monkey’s Business is available at Amazon.
  • Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Debra Mares spins a great teaching tool in her book It's This Monkey's Business. It is a sad thing, but many families today are affected by domestic violence and divorce.  Mares uses rhyming verse to help families deal with this topic.  It's This Monkey's Business is a wonderful resource.  The illustrations are big, bold and very colorful for youngsters.  However, I was somewhat disappointed in the quality of the book make up.  I don't know if it was just because my book was an ARC (advanced readers copy) but the first time I opened the book the binding snapped and by the end of reading the book I had two pages completely out.  I don't like writing bad reviews and maybe it was just the way the ARC was made.  It is a wonderful story, message and book.﻿

PUYB Meet the Author


Debra PostilFor Independent Author Debra Mares, violence against women is not only a topic in today’s news, it’s a topic in her crime novels, cases she handled as a county prosecutor, and now it will be the topic in her first children’s book It’s This Monkey’s Business.  Debra is a veteran county prosecutor in Riverside currently specializing in community prosecution, juvenile delinquency and truancy.  Her office has one of the highest conviction rates in California and is the fifteenth largest in the country. You name it – she’s prosecuted it – homicides, gang murders, domestic violence, sex cases, political corruption, major fraud and parole hearings for convicted murderers. She is a two-time recipient of the County Prosecutor of the Year Award and 2012 recipient of the Community Hero Award.

Debra is the granddaughter of a Mexican migrant farm worker and factory seamstress, was born and raised in Los Angeles, was the first to graduate college in my family, and grew up dancing Ballet Folklorico and Salsa. Her own family story includes struggles with immigration, domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse and teen pregnancy, which she addresses in her novels. She followed a calling at 11 years old to be an attorney and voice for women, and appreciates international travel and culture. Her life’s mission is to break the cycle of victimization and domestic violence.

Debra is also the co-founding Executive Director of Women Wonder Writers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization implementing creative intervention and mentoring programs for at-risk youth.  In 2012, Debra self-published Volume 1 of her debut legal thriller series, The Mamacita Murders featuring Gaby Ruiz, a sex crimes prosecutor haunted by her mother’s death at the hands of an abusive boyfriend. In 2013, Debra released her second crime novel, The Suburban Seduccion, featuring “The White Picket Fence” killer Lloyd Gil, who unleashes his neonatal domestic violence-related trauma on young women around his neighborhood.

To bring to life “Cabana,” Debra partnered with 16-year-old Creative Director Olivia Garcia and Los Angeles based professional illustrator Taylor Christensen.

16-year-old Creative Director Olivia Garcia attends high school in Panorama City, California, is the Los Angeles youth delegate for the Anti-Defamation League’s National Youth Leadership Mission in Washington D.C., an ASB member and AP student and enjoys reading, crafting and knitting.

Taylor Christensen is a Los Angeles-based illustrator holding a BFA from Otis College of Art & Design, focuses on fantastical creatures and surreal imagery, and produces artwork for illustration, character and concept design.

Her latest book is the children’s picture book, It’s This Monkey’s Business.

For More Information
http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2014/10/19/pump-up-your-book-presents-its-this-monkeys-business-virtual-book-publicity-tour/


a copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by....
Pump Up Your Book


 photo gbifalllinelvspumpksqrls_zpseee441fd.gif

Monday, November 24, 2014

Small Talk by Amy Julia Becker with giveaway


Every day, one of Amy Julie Becker’s children says something that prompts her to think about life in a new way. “Mom, does Santa love me?” William asks, after his mother explains the meaning of Christmas…In a chat with her dad about the children who died in the Sandy Hook shootings, Penny asks, “Did they go to heaven?” …”You was a jerk, Mommy?” asks Marilee one morning in the car.

These conversations deepen Amy Julia’s relationships with her children, but they also refine her understanding of what she believes and what God is doing in her own life.

In Small Talk, Amy Julia draws from the wisdom and curiosity of those young voices to reflect on beauty and kindness, tragedy and disability, prayer and miracles. As she moves through the basic questions her kids posed when they were very young to the more intellectual questions of later childhood, she invites us to learn from our own day-to-day conversations with the children in our lives.

This eloquent parenting memoir is about the big questions little hearts ask, the thoughts their words provoke, and the laughter and soul-searching their honesty brings—to adult and child alike.

You are never to old to learn from those younger than you.  Author Amy Julie Becker has first hand experience of learning from children and she's penned that knowledge in her book Small Talk.  Becker shares inspiring refelctions from the small voice(s) in her life, her children.  You laugh, cry and relate with her at every turn of the page.  If you are a mom, more times than not you'll probably say, "Oh, Yeah, I've been there."  You'll be able to relate.  You'll even find a reflection and discussion guide in the back of the book.  The guide is designed to be used personally or in a group setting. 

 
 I have a copy to giveaway to one of my faithful followers.  This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only please.  I will draw a winner for this book on Saturday, Dec. 6th.  Now how to enter... just leave a comment and a way for me to contact you.  In your comment tell me a family traditon during the holiday season you have in your household.  ﻿

﻿
Amy Julia Becker writes about faith, family, and disability for Parents.com, the New York Times Motherlode blog, TheAtlantic.com, The Huffington Post parents page, Christianity Today, The Christian century, and numerous other publications. Her first book, A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny, was named one of the Top Ten Religion Books of 2011 by Publishers Weekly. Amy Julia lives in western Connecticut with her husband and three children.

Amy’s Website: http://amyjuliabecker.com
Follow her on Twitter here!
Check out her Facebook page here!
 



 
 
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”


A copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by ...
 photo gbifalllinelvspumpksqrls_zpseee441fd.gif

Friday, November 21, 2014

Adventure of Nutty and Twittles OH Nuts! I lost my little sister by Dennis Marcoux



 


Adventures of Nutty and Twittles is a cute story about the forest animals and their adventure playing a game of hide n seek.  When one animal friend comes up missing in the dark forest and the other forest animals set out looking for her.  Marcoux has written this book with  3-8 year olds in mind.  Beginning readers will find this book fun to read on their own.  The illustrations are adorable, big, bold, colorful and cheery.  In the end the reader gets to infer where they think Twittles was hiding out?  The author doesn't come out and tell you in the story where she was.  And the last sentence of the story is....Do you think you know where Twittles was hiding?  Good discussion, infering and opinion use of this book.  On the back of the book cover you'll also find a cute poem on Why read? 

Visit the book spot light here for more information about Adventures of Nutty and Twittles.

 

An ecopy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by World of Ink
http://www.worldofinknetwork.com/

 photo gbifalllinelvspumpksqrls_zpseee441fd.gif

Thursday, November 20, 2014

When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart

Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Jack s (Daniel Lissing) relationship blossoms into romance in Change of Heart, the fifth installment of the When Calls the Heart series. Finally winning Elizabeth over, Jack is devastated to learn of his Constable reassignment. When Elizabeth s sister, Julie, arrives in Coal Valley with the new Constable, Jack reluctantly tells Elizabeth the news and must leave town. Julie, ever the curious one, stumbles upon a mysterious wounded man and rushes him to Abigail s (Lori Loughlin) for care, unknowingly putting herself, Abigail and Elizabeth in grave danger at the hands of the infamous Tolliver gang. Hearing of their distress, Jack rides back to Coal Valley to save the women in a desperate race against time.

I was so excited to receive the next video of this exciting and romantic series from When Calls the Heart.  Change of Heart is another awesome installment of this Janette Oke book/movie.  This movie has  a compelling story line with great action and mystery.  It also moves at a great pace; isn't too slow or fast.  It is what I would consider a chick flick, but clean and family geared.  Many life lessons are brought out in this series:  faith, friendship and family.  Good old fashion values are seen in these movies.  This is such an amazing series and, again, if you haven't had a chance to see the series, please check it out!  You will not be disappointed!


visit here for more details about the When Calls the Heart movie series. 



*I was given a complimentary copy of this DVD for my review.  All opinions are my own.*

http://www.edifymedia.com/
 photo gbifalllinelvspumpksqrls_zpseee441fd.gif

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

A Year in the Secret Garden Book Blast & Blog Tour

A Year in the Secret Garden - Blog Tour Button  

About the Book

A Year in the Secret Garden - cover Title: A Year in the Life of the Secret Garden
Author: Valarie Budayr
Illustrator: Marilyn Scott-Waters
Publication Date: November, 2014
Publisher: Audrey Press
Pages: 144 
Recommended Ages: 5 to 99  

Book Description: Award-winning authors Valarie Budayr and Marilyn Scott-Waters have co-created A Year in the Secret Garden to introduce the beloved children’s classic, The Secret Garden to a new generation of families. This guide uses over two hundred full color illustrations and photos to bring the magical story to life, with fascinating historical information, monthly gardening activities, easy-to-make recipes, and step-by-step crafts, designed to enchant readers of all ages. Each month your family will unlock the mysteries of a Secret Garden character, as well as have fun together creating the original crafts and activities based on the book.Over 140 pages, with 200 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together. A Year In the Secret Garden is our opportunity to introduce new generations of families to the magic of this classic tale in a modern and innovative way that creates special learning and play times outside in nature. This book encourages families to step away from technology and into the kitchen, garden, reading nook and craft room.

Amazon * Audrey Press * Goodreads

 
Oh, I can't say enough about A Year in the Secret Garden.  This is an excellent resource and a beautiful book to compliant the actuall reading edition book.  Each month there are many activities to do and things to explore: paper dolls to build, games to play, recipes to try out and character's from the book to investigate.  I was given the month of MAY  to  EXPLORE for my review. 

Here is a run down of what you'll find for the May activities: 

May
  • Freezer Strawberry Jam
  • Planting a Rose Bush
  • Wheelbarrow Race
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Spot-Sitting
  • Character Study: Lilias Craven
As a child I remember playing the Wheelbarrow Race.  There is a paper wheelbarrow to make and us as a decoration for this month.  I loved the Spot-Sitting activity.  It brings nature and writing together.  However, in North Dakota it might be hard for me to try this activity outside in the winter time.  ;P  It sounds like a most lovely summer garden activity though.  Just find a favorite beautifully covered journal, writing pen and a spot to sit and observe nature. 

This would make such a nice Christmas gift for a young one to grow up with.  Why not add a copy of the reading book and maybe even the DVD and some supplies to do an activity or two. 

Below you will find a sample of a May page in this lovely book.
A Year in the Secret Garden - Inside Pages 84 85

About the Author: Valarie Budayr

Valarie BudayrValarie Budayr loves reading and bringing books alive. Her popular website, www.jumpintoabook.com, inspires children and adults alike to experience their books through play, discovery, and adventure. She is founder of Audrey Press, an independent publishing house, as well as an Amazon and iTunes best-selling author. She has written The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden and The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Valarie is passionate about making kid’s books come alive and encouraging families and schools to pull books off the shelves and stories off the pages.  

Book Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Pinterest | Google+ | Goodreads

 

About the Illustrator: Marilyn Scott-Waters

Marilyn Scott-WatersMarilyn Scott-Waters loves making things out of paper. Her popular website, www.thetoymaker.com, receives 2,000 to 7,000 visitors each day, who have downloaded more than six million of her easy-to-make paper toys. Her goal is to help parents and children spend time together making things. She is the creator of a paper toy craft book series The Toymakers Christmas: Paper Toys You Can Make Yourself (Sterling), and The Toymakers Workshop: Paper Toys You Can Make Yourself (Sterling). She is also the co-creator with J. H. Everett of the middle grade nonfiction series, Haunted Histories, (Christy Ottaviano Books / Henry Holt Books for Young Readers). Ms. Scott-Waters illustrated The Search For Vile Things (Scholastic), and created paper engineering for Pop & Sniff Fruit (Piggy Toes Press).

Website | Facebook | Google+

A Year in the Secret Garden Blog Tour Schedule (2014)

EXPLORING SEPTEMBER
November 1
Coffee Books & Art (Guest Post)
WS Momma Readers Nook (Book Review)
November 2
Hope to Read (Excerpt)
November 3
Eloquent Articulation (Book Review)
EXPLORING OCTOBER
November 4
BeachBoundBooks (Excerpt)
November 5
Monique's Musings (Book Review)
November 6
SOS-Supply (Book Review)
EXPLORING NOVEMBER
November 7
Randomly Reading (Book Review)
November 8
Adalinc to Life (Book Review)
EXPLORING DECEMBER
November 9
100 Pages a Day (Book Review)
November 10
Edventures With Kids (Book Review)
EXPLORING JANUARY
November 11
November 12
Girl of 1000 Wonders (Book Review)
EXPLORING FEBRUARY
November 13
Seraphina Reads (Guest Post)
November 14
Juggling Act Mama (Book Review)
EXPLORING MARCH
November 15
Pragmatic Mom (Author/Illustrator Interview)
November 16
Stacking Books (Book Review)
EXPLORING APRIL
November 17
Oh My Bookness (Book Review)
November 18
EXPLORING MAY
November 19
The Blended Blog (Book Review)
November 20
All Done Monkey (Book Review)
November 21
Geo Librarian (Book Review)
Grandbooking (Author/Illustrator Interview)
EXPLORING JUNE
November 22
November 23
Christy's Cozy Corners (Book Review)
November 24
Bookaholic Chick (Excerpt)
EXPLORING JULY
November 25
Ninja Librarian (Guest Post)
November 26
Jane Ritz (Book Review)
Rockin' Book Reviews (Book Review)
November 27
EXPLORING AUGUST
November 28
Deal Sharing Aunt (Book Review)
November 29
Mommynificent (Book Review)
November 30
This Kid Reviews Books (Book Review)
Java John Z's (Author/Illustrator Interview)
 

* $100 Blog Tour Giveaway *

Amazon 100 gift card 
 Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
 Contest ends: December 7, 11:59 pm, 2014  
Open: Internationally
 How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the authors Valarie Budayr and Marilyn Scott-Waters and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway


An ecopy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by.....

MDBR Book Promotion Services


 photo gbifalllinelvspumpksqrls_zpseee441fd.gif

Monday, November 17, 2014

Noah by Mark Ludy with giveaway



A hundred years before the Great Flood, a man named Noah came home talking crazy. God wanted him to build the biggest ship the world had ever seen. The future of humanity depended on it. How would his wife respond? What would the neighbors think? Was it even feasible?
 
This lavish reimagining of one of the greatest stories of all time will fascinate children and adults alike. Nuanced and playful, yet meticulous in following the biblical narrative, Mark Ludy’s world-class art digs deeper than the Sunday-school tale of cuddly animals, exploring noah’s relationship with his family, the natural world, God - and a formidable engineering challenge.
 
Immerse yourself in this stunning wordless epic. Whatever your age, you’ll never read this story in the same way again.
 
Bonus: Find Squeakers the mouse on every page!

Noah is a beautifully, detailed illustrated wordless book.  A book with no words must make up for it in detail and this book has.  The illustrations are awesome.  The fun part about it is not only looking at the detail, but also looking for the hidden mouse, Squeakers, on every page.  You can get so caught up in looking for the mouse that you have to relook at the book many times to finally read the story.  ;P  A wonderful way to just have open discussion and dialogue.  A book that take one's mind in all sorts of directions. 

I have just the oppotunity for you to win a copy of your own.  This would make an awesome Christmas gift.  So just leave a coment telling me your favorite Bible story.  On Dec. 1st I'll draw a winner from all those that leave a comment.  Please this is open to US & Canada residents only. 


 

Mark Ludy has written or illustrated eight children’s books including The FarmerThe Flower Man, The GrumpWhen I Was  a Boy I DreamedWhen I Was a Girl I Dreamed, and Jujo the Youngest Tribesman. When he’s not immersed in his sketchbooks, you’ll find him in schools promoting art and literacy. He lives in Colorado with his wife, daughter, and two sons.

Mark’s website: http://www.markludy.com


 
 
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”


A copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by...

 photo gbifalllinelvspumpksqrls_zpseee441fd.gif

Friday, November 14, 2014

Where Treetops Glisten by Goyer, Putman, and Sundin



Where Treetops Glisten

The crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime

Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In Cara Putman’s White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and His plan for a future?

Where Treetops Glisten is 3-in-1 romances that can't be beat.  Three wonderful authors have come together to write this awesome Christian romance. What a wonderful time to spend just snuggled by the fire this winter season with these excellent authors.  Theme:  Christmas, romance, WWII -need I say more.... what better book.  They have you turning the page from beginning to end and forgetting about all else (like my wallpaper that needs removed. UGH!).  You just get lost in the pages of Where Treetops Glisten

﻿

TRICIA GOYER is a prolific author of nearly forty books, including "Chasing Mona Lisa," and a speaker and blogger.

CARA PUTMAN is the author of twenty books including "Shadowed by Grace." She is the winner of the 2008 Carol Award for historical fiction.

SARAH SUNDIN is the critically-acclaimed author of the Wings of the Nightingale series, the Wings of Glory series, and the forthcoming Waves of Freedom novels.

A copy of this book was provided for in exchange for my review and hosting this tour by...

Join the Flock! LitFuse Publicity Group blogger

 photo gbifalllinelvspumpksqrls_zpseee441fd.gif
 
http://abis-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/
abis-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com
crawl=CC-MAIN-2014-49
313538
application/http; msgtype=response
sha1:AOSF6OI7IH3TNMELFJXGQG6BKECEF34Y
<urn:uuid:a90a2ef4-f882-4ad3-8911-460173345784>
2014-11-26T00:05:09Z
74.125.228.76
sha1:24BHMXQ4TTVMGD5RJBEAH5GYCYTKU3C4
<urn:uuid:880fe461-2c05-4080-b4df-2f6252de2222>
http://abis-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/
length
response
<urn:uuid:e155c9ec-7304-4ec1-9807-c48475a680f0>
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-235-23-156.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2014-49
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for November 2014
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf