Two Little Golfers Being Positive Awareness Tour 2019 | Hosted by The Children's Book Review

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Jenn Holt's Two Little Golfers Being Positive and one dozen pink golf balls and pink tees!

One (1) winner receives:

• An autographed copy of Two  Little Golfers Being Positive
• A set of one dozen pink golf balls and pink tees
  

Two (2) winners will receive:

• An autographed copy of Two  Little Golfers Being Positive

Giveaway begins June 10, 2019, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends July 10, 2019, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Giveaway open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 17 and older.

Jenn Holt is responsible for prize fulfillment.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Two Little Golfers Being Positive

Written by Jenn Holt

Illustrated by Harry Aveira

Publisher’s Synopsis: Coach Jenn takes Alice and Izzy on the golf course to show them the value of positive self talk,  a positive attitude, and to never give up, no matter how hard it gets. The story is told with some cute illustrations, and is great for all sports kids.

Ages 0-7 | Publisher: Outskirts Press | October 29, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1977201263

MY REVIEW

Many youngsters want to try new activities, but all too often become discouraged when they make mistakes. Jenn Holt has written a book about two young friends who go out to enjoy a round of golf, but with two very different attitudes. Izzy takes everything in stride, laughing at her mistakes and certain that her next shot will be better. But Alice becomes downcast whenever a shot goes astray and has to be reminded by Coach Jenn to keep a positive outlook and enjoy the game rather than giving up. Readers will see that maintaining optimism has an impact on the enjoyment of activities and personal performance.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

IndieBound

TOUR SCHEDULE

The Children's Book Review	https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com	Tour Kick-Off & Giveaway	June 10
Word Spelunking	http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com	Book Review	June 11
Barbara Ann Mojica's Blog	https://bamauthor.me	Book Review	June 12
Tales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero Mom	http://wannabesuperheromom.blogspot.com	Book Review	June 13
A Dream Within A Dream	http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com	Book Review	June 14
The Fairview Review	http://fveslibrary.blogspot.com	Book Review	June 17
Confessions of a Book Addict	http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.com	Book Giveaway	June 18
icefairy's Treasure Chest	http://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com	Book Review	June 19
Jrsbookreviews	https://jrsbookreviews.wordpress.com	Book Review	June 20
Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com	Book Review	July 5

OFFICIAL LINKS

Jennjgolf.com: http://jennjgolf.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennholtgolf/

DISCLOSURE

The Fairview Review is participating in the blog tour in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Jenn Holt. If you post on social media about the blog tour, please use #TwoLittleGolfersBeingPositive.

Spring Reading 2019 The Warehouse

The setting of The Warehouse reminds me of the setup for indentured workers in Ready, Player One. (In the book, not the movie.) Parzival's description of the locator anklet and the monitoring camera attached to each worker's ear falls into the spooky techno-surveillance that we were warned of in 1984. The workers at the Cloud facility in this novel are also monitored, although with smart watches that track their job performance, health, location, everything. Which makes it really hard for corporate spies to sneak in and complete a mission, but not impossible.

The book toggles back and forth between Gibson, the owner and founder of Cloud, who is blogging as he makes a final tour of facilities around the country before he hands over the reins to his successor; Paxton, whose small business was driven into bankruptcy by Cloud and now has to go to work for his rival; and Zinnia, who has ulterior motives for getting a job inside the MotherCloud facility. Readers hear Gibson's view of how his policies and innovations have "saved" America; Paxton's view as a security guard working in the facility and dealing with drug dealers, suicides, and his own feelings about Cloud's destruction of his own business; and then Zinnia's view as a worker on the floor of the shipping hub and her interactions with other workers and management.

Needless to say, there is much more going on that what corporate headquarters and all their PSAs are willing to share with the public. And just when you think you have it all figured out, there is a twist (of course), that makes it even more convoluted. When you reach the end you will be questioning how close to reality and the present day that some of these scenarios really are. (That doesn't make you paranoid.)

For fans of dystopian fiction, near-future cautionary tales, and espionage thrillers.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Spring Reading 2019 The Book Charmer (Dove Pond, #1)

Sarah Dove lives in the small town of Dove Pond, just like her family has for generations. And like many of those other women in her ancestry, Sarah has a gift, a special power. In Sarah's case the power is the ability to hear books speak to her and tell her who needs to read them. Once she becomes the town librarian, that ability really comes in handy. Just imagine - you're emptying the book return bin and the books are telling you which patron you need to give them to next. Talk about readers' advisory services!

Sarah may have met an immovable object when it comes to the newest resident in Dove Pond. Grace Wheeler moves to the quiet town in an effort to help her adoptive mother and her newly orphaned niece. Mama G grew up in Dove Pond and Grace hopes the move will help them all heal in various ways, but she does not have time for the odd librarian who seems to have conversations with stacks of books, or the motorcycle-riding neighbor next door with his long hair and gruff manner. Can the charms of the books, the neighbors, and the town itself work their magic on Grace and her family?

This is a book perfect for readers who enjoy stories revolving around relationships and small town settings, but also for those who already know the power of the right book at the right time and want to see that power in action (in the hands of the book charmer). Recommended for fans of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend or The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Spring Reading 2019 I Really Love You

This book series from Tatsuya Miyanishi, features a fearsome dinosaur in each book that learns to love through unexpected events. The latest book stars a Tyrannosaurus who mistakenly trusts a Tapejara and winds up starving and nearly frozen in the far north. Three small Homalocephales find him and bring him food. Even though it is his instinct to eat the smaller creatures, the T-Rex befriends them instead. Although they speak different languages, they come to understand one another and he even saves them from a hungry Albertosaurus. 

These stories are great for reading aloud with very young children, but also good for early elementary ages. Those who are reading on their own will enjoy the struggles that the T-rex and his small friends have in trying to communicate. If they look closely, they will see that the Homalocephales actually speak backwards! "KO UOY ERA?" one of them asks their new friend as he reels from hunger.  

Children who love dinosaurs may enjoy the stories for the characters alone, but adults will be glad to see the life lessons that are gently conveyed in each of the books in this series. Even for young readers who are not dino fans, the illustrations are colorful, and the sound effects are fun - boom, chomp, clap! Highly recommended for all ages.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Spring Reading 2019 Serafina and the Seven Stars

Once again Robert Beatty has our favorite heroine in the thick of the action. This time her best friend and ally, Braeden, has been sent off to school. As she tries to adjust to life at Biltmore without him, Serafina senses danger. Is it real, is she suffering from PTSD (possible, considering all she has been through in previous books), or does home just not feel the same without Braeden? We will all have to wait for a few more weeks to find out.

This series is so enjoyable for so many reasons. Serafina is vulnerable and yet incredibly strong and resilient. She is also fiercely loyal and has a belief in right and wrong that serves her friends well. The setting is beautiful with the stately Biltmore mansion, the mountains, and the natural beauty of the area. But the distance from more populated areas also makes the inhabitants easier to prey on by evil that depends on secrecy and concealment.

Readers may have started off as middle grade students, following Serafina as she matures and comes into her power, and grown into young adults along with her. There is a reason that crowds fill the bookstores where the author makes appearances to celebrate the release of each book - it is a well-earned fan base. Don't be surprised if there is a bit of a scrum at the bookshelf on July 9th.

Spring Reading 2019 Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and Momentous Events in the life of a Cactus

                 

Insignificant Events:
Aven Green was born without arms, although she enjoys making up stories about losing them to alligators or other equally terrifying accidents. Her parents have encouraged her to be independent all her life and she has done well in school and on the soccer team with her friends. But now her parents have decided to take over the management of a rundown theme park called Stagecoach Pass. Suddenly, Aven has to leave the classmates that have known her since kindergarten and move to Arizona. There are so many adjustments to make with the new home, new climate, and then there is the awful fate of being the new kid at school - the new kid without arms. So...yeah.

Thankfully Aven has her awesome parents, a couple of the adults who work at the park, and she slowly begins to make friends at school. Her friends also have issues they are dealing with like weight and Tourette's. Together they support each other, argue with each other, and generally act like 13-year-olds. While Aven is figuring out how she fits into life around Stagecoach Pass, she is also trying to uncover a mystery at the park. Who was Aven Cavanaugh and why does the man at the ice cream shop keep confusing the two Avens?

I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Aven really does have awesome parents who are determined that she will "grow up to be a totally self-sufficient, problem-solving expert." She accepts other people for who they are and expects the same in return. The title refers to a saguaro cactus that grows near the park. When she learns it is almost 200 years old, Aven decides that with all it has seen in that time, what happens in her life must seem pretty insignificant. Imagine having a cactus help you put your life into perspective!

I had heard about the book, but didn't read it until a supervisor from our district office gave me a copy. Then I saw an ARC of the sequel at ALA Midwinter and picked up a copy. After I read it, I returned the favor and sent it to him.  :-)

Momentous Events:
In this sequel, Aven faces the scary prospect of starting high school without her best friend Connor, although she will still have their friend Zion there to share their freshman year. Even a new friend she met through soccer is going to a different school this year. But despite being targeted for bullying by a complete jerk, Aven and Zion manage to be themselves. Along the way they both get a crush on someone (not each other), attend a school dance, and face other milestones of teenage life.

This book does a good job of showing how being bullied can suck all the joy and energy out of your life. Aven ponders how she is dealing with the situation and decides, "High school was stealing everything away from me - my courage, my confidence, and my determination." Of course it isn't high school that is doing those things, but the bullying. She lets it undermine her happiness until the bully turns on a friend, and then she becomes her usual problem-solving self. (Can't tell you how that works out, it would spoil the ending.)

You need to read these books. And read them in order - this is not a series that order doesn't matter. Highly recommended for middle grade readers who enjoy stories of friendship and facing the hurdles life puts in your way. 

Spring Reading 2019 The Wayfinder

For readers interested in fantasy stories set in worlds with plenty of challenges, the Heartland Tales are a good choice. In The Wayfinder, a young man with the skill of finding locations and guiding others to them suffers a tragic loss that shakes his confidence. But when a plague comes to his town along with word that it is spreading throughout the Heartland, Winchal must leave the safety of his home and travel down into the Rift to find a cure. The only person known to have survived such a trip is his mother, although he has always thought that was a legend. Together with a Tazi, a special gazehound that communicate with him, Win takes on the quest - hoping to find a cure for the plague and perhaps a remedy for his own pain.

The setting has a variety of locations that offer different challenges. The characters are a mix of ages, genders, and dispositions. There is contrast between the townsfolk and the people that Win encounters in the Rift. The abilities of the wayfinders, the gazehound, and the hunters and beasts they come across all take the story out of the everyday. Besides the quest, this is also a coming of age story. Winchal is on the verge of moving from apprentice to full member of his trade, he is also moving from the care of his parents to being independent, and learning to accept his great loss in and move on with his life.

Recommended for YA readers who enjoy fantasy adventure. The Wayfinder was  first published in 2000 and is being reissued on June 11, 2019. A brand-new companion book, The Falconer, will follow on July 9. 

I read a copy provided by the publisher for review purposes.