The Fairview Review

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Virtual Book Tour Sophie and the Swans

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sophie and the Swans

Written by Holly Peppe

Illustrated by Aeron Cargill

Ages: 3+ | 36 Pages

Publisher: Lincoln Square Books | ISBN: 978-1947187146

Publisher’s Book Summary: Sophie is a little girl who lives beside a lake and makes friends with a pair of swans who visit her every day. One day, when a bully starts to torment the swans, Sophie rushes to defend them not by attacking the bully but by showing him kindness when he gets into trouble on the lake.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

MY REVIEW

Sophie loves her home by the lake, the “magical cabin” her father built for her (a cozy looking playhouse), and the beautiful swans that she feeds every day. She has even named them - Romeo and Juliet. When she hears the swans in distress one day and runs outside to see what is wrong, she finds a boy she doesn’t know throwing rocks at the birds. Sophie immediately tells him to stop and corrects him when he calls the swans dumb. Later she meets Sam, the brother of that boy, and learns that they have recently moved to the area and that his brother Ned used to be different, but has become a bully after being teased by kids at school. Sophie befriends Sam and they feed the swans together. Ned had told Sam that the swans were dangerous, but Sophie says that isn’t true. “If you’re kind to them, they’ll remember you forever!” One evening as the new friends are out by the lake they see Ned calling for help from a stranded boat. Sam is so frustrated with his brother he suggests leaving him out there on the lake. “Serves him right,” he says. Although Sophie sympathizes with Sam, she shares this advice, “My mom says we should always try and treat others with kindness, even if they aren’t kind to you.” They rescue Ned and he actually thanks his brother and agrees with Sophie that the swans are beautiful. Author Holly Peppe has created a tale that features a strong yet compassionate young woman. When she sees the swans in trouble, she stands up for them and even calls Ned out, telling him “Swans are really smart - and they don’t like bullies!” She listens to Sam’s descriptions of Ned’s behavior and understands why he is upset with his brother, but also gives him good advice. Her rescue of Ned helps to mend things between the brothers and gives Ned a fresh start on a friendship with her and an appreciation for his new home. Sophie doesn’t call names, or let the behavior of others stop her from doing what she knows is right. We could all use a role model like her. There is also a list of anti-bullying resources in the back of the book, helpful for parents and teachers as well as young readers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Holly Peppe is a writer and editor who lives near a lake full of colorful ducks, noisy gray geese, and elegant white swans who take to the sky when they feel like flying. Her published writing includes essays about the Jazz Age poet Edna St. Vincent Millay; a memoir, Mum’s the Word: The High-flying Adventures of Eve Branson; and two Young Adult books about Barrington Irving, the first Black pilot and youngest person to fly solo around the world.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

The Fairview Review

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Friday, October 4, 2024

icefairy’s Treasure Chest

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Monday, October 7, 2024

Cover Lover Book Review

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Confessions of a Book Addict

Book Spotlight of Sophie and the Swans

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

Instagram Post about Sophie and the Swans

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Deliciously Savvy

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Friday, October 11, 2024

One More Exclamation

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Monday, October 14, 2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

Instagram and TikTok Post about Sophie and the Swans

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Crafty Moms Share

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Shooting Stars Mag

Book Review of Sophie and the Swans

Friday, October 18, 2024

Me Two Books

Book Activity of Sophie and the Swans

Monday, October 21, 2024

Book Q&A’s with Deborah Kalb

Interview about Sophie and the Swans

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

The Growing Readers Podcast

An interview with Holly Peppe

This post is sponsored by Expound Publicity. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Virtual Book Tour Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas

ABOUT THE BOOK

Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas

Written by Nicole Oke

Illustrated by Richard Hoit

Ages 4-10 | 32 Pages

Publisher: Oke Publications | ISBN-13: 979-8-9870396-3-2

Publisher’s Book Summary: Get ready to dance into the world of emotions in Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas!

Izzy is gearing up for the big talent show, but she’s feeling a lot of big emotions – excitement, nerves, and everything in between! With her trusty friend Penny Panda by her side, Izzy embarks on a journey to understand the colorful cast of emotion ninjas that reside within her.

From the energetic Excitement Ninja to the protective Fear Ninja, Izzy learns to embrace her feelings and harness their power as she takes center stage. With each step, she discovers that every emotion has a role to play and that she’s the boss of her own emotional journey.

Join Izzy and Penny as they dance through a story filled with laughter, friendship, and the magic of self-discovery. “Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas” is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the power of emotions and the joy of being true to yourself.

Get ready to twirl, leap, and pirouette with Izzy and Penny in this enchanting adventure that will leave you cheering for more!

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

MY REVIEW

Izzy has been practicing her dance routine for weeks to participate in the talent show so she thinks she should only feel confident. Although her toes tingle with the urge to dance - she also has butterflies fluttering in her stomach. To help her make sense of the confused emotions, Izzy turns to her special stuffed friend. Penny Panda tells her, “Emotions can be very sneaky. You never know when or how many will appear.” “Like ninjas!” Izzy exclaims. Penny advises her to be the boss of her emotions, to accept that they each have a function, and fear especially “wants to keep you safe from anything that can hurt you.” Izzy chooses to let only excitement accompany her on stage Illustrations show Izzy in her pink tutu peeking from behind the stage curtains, brightly colored butterflies flit around her. The images of the other participants in the show also reveal their nerves through frowns, shaky hands, and nail biting. When Penny speaks of the emotions, Izzy pictures them vividly. Each one is dressed in a different colored ninja outfit with different accessories and a different expression. Excitement practically glows and vigorously shakes pom-poms. And at the last, a new emotion appears with a pleased smile - pride. This story of dealing with conflicting emotions is an easy way to help young readers who may be wrestling with being the boss of their own feelings, even the really sneaky ones. Young fans of “Inside Out” especially will find the idea of emotional avatars a familiar idea.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nicole Oke is an award-winning children’s book author, mother, and member of the wildland firefighting community. She is based in Boise, Idaho, where she works at the National Interagency Fire Center and spends her spare time as a Girl Scout leader, helping to build tomorrow’s leaders.

Nicole is a champion of social-emotional intelligence. As the parent of two girls with big emotions, she understands the importance of teaching children the skills they need to identify, process, and regulate emotions.

Her debut bestselling book, Penny Panda and the Gift of Possibility, was the first in a series of books that provide children and parents with the tools to talk about emotions and emotional skills that will last them a lifetime!

For more information, visit https://nicoleokeauthor.com.

https://www.instagram.com/nicole.oke.author

https://www.facebook.com/nicole.oke.author

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-oke-1b38521a4/

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, September 23, 2024

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

@pagesforpaige

Book Review of Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas

Wednesday, September 25, 2024