Virtual Book Tour Tall As the Sun

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Tall as the Sun

Written by Stephanie Henson

Illustrated by Yasmin Akhtar

Ages: 0–12 | 30 Pages

Publisher: Watchful Wizard Publishing (2026) | ISBN: 978-1-969819-01-8

Publisher's Book Summary: Tall as the Sun is a heartfelt story that takes readers on a lyrical journey through the eyes of a child as they discover the magic of perspective during a day at the beach with Dad. As our little hero rises higher and higher on Dad's shoulders, the world transforms into a playground of endless possibilities. From soaring with seagulls to reaching the top of sandcastles, each page brings a new adventure.

Praise: "It's easy to picture grandparents or parents reading this book to a child before bed as they drift off to dream of sunny beaches, lulled by the rhythmic sound of ocean waves." —Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

MY REVIEW

The young narrator describes all the sights she sees perched on her father’s shoulders as they walk along the seashore. With each page turn her perspective shifts and she feels as if she is growing taller and taller, looking down at the people on the beach and their various activities. She notices kids building sandcastles, families on picnic blankets, and it seems to her that she is as tall as the lifeguard tower. By the time a plane pulling a banner passes overhead she imagines, “I can now fly like an airplane, swirling and whirling through baby blue skies.”

Each succeeding illustration shows the father-daughter duo a bit taller and the people around them a bit smaller to accompany the girl’s changing perspective. The language captures the playful feeling as she thinks about how she could “magically soar with the seagulls” or “twirl through the air like a parasail.” When they return home and she is tucked into bed for the night her last thought is, “Can’t wait for tomorrow when we can do it all again.” 

With its soft watercolor palette and the repetitive lines at the end of each spread, this book makes the perfect bedtime story. The soft blues of the sky and water, warm golden sand, and wispy white clouds make a soothing backdrop to the tale of a fun day at the beach.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie Henson lives with her family in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with roots in Central New Jersey. She holds a degree in Communications and a Publishing and Professional Writing Certificate from Rider University, and spends her summers in Ocean City, NJ. An active member of SCBWI (Eastern PA Chapter), Stephanie was a 2024 SCBWI Virtual Conference Scholarship winner, and her work has been featured in both print and online publications.

She is the author of the children's poetry collection In the Right Lane (a #1 New Release in Children's Poetry) and the picture book No School, My Rules! (a #1 New Release in Children's School & Education Books and a Tielmour Press best-seller). Tall as the Sun is her newest picture book, releasing with Watchful Wizard Publishing in May 2026.

Beyond her literary pursuits, Stephanie is a passionate advocate for underrepresented creators living with chronic illness, drawing on her own experience with autoimmune conditions. When she's not writing, she's reading, catching a show, watching Netflix, admiring sunflowers, cheering on sports, or sipping coffee.

To learn more, visit stephaniehensonbooks.com.

Instagram: @stephahenson

X: @stepha_henson

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 The Children’s Book Review Tour Kick-Off for Tall as the Sun

Thursday, May 7, 2026 The Starlit Path Book Review of Tall as the Sun

Friday, May 8, 2026 Deliciously Savvy Guest Post about Tall as the Sun

Monday, May 11, 2026 Country Mamas With Kids Guest Post about Tall as the Sun

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of Tall as the Sun

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 Barbara Ann Mojica’s Blog Book Review of Tall as the Sun

Thursday, May 14, 2026 Crafty Moms Share Book Review of Tall as the Sun

Friday, May 15, 2026 @meghenslittlelibrary Instagram Post about Tall as the Sun

Monday, May 18, 2026 A Blue Box Full of Books Instagram Post about Tall as the Sun

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 The Fairview Review Book Review of Tall as the Sun

Thursday, May 21, 2026 Lisa’s Reading Book Review of Tall as the Sun

Friday, May 22, 2026 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about Tall as the Sun

Monday, May 25, 2026 @MysteryLFL Instagram Post about Tall as the Sun

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 Cover Lover Book Review Interview with Stephanie Henson

Thursday, May 28, 2026 Un Viaje en Libro Book Review of Tall as the Sun

Friday, May 29, 2026 @bored_military_wife Instagram Post about Tall as the Sun

This post is sponsored by Stephanie Henson. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views. 

Virtual Book Tour Orion Fire Storm

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Star Life Keepers: Dragon and Dinosaur Chronicles

Written by Rick Williams Sr. and Brady Williams

Illustrated by Prayan Animation Studio

Ages: 10–14 | 388 Pages

Publisher: Legacy KidLit Press (2024) | ISBN-13: 9798987420010

Publisher's Book Summary: With dragons and elves as allies, three cousins must save two worlds before time runs out. Join cousins Jason, Amanda, and Elisa as their desperate wish to undo family tragedy launches them into the war-torn, mythical realm of Belacamber. Guided by the legendary Star Life Keepers—an extraordinary alliance of elves, shapeshifting dragons, and prehistoric predators—the trio faces relentless foes, including terrifying flying T. rexes and vicious ptero-raptors, while battling to protect their own family back home. A thrilling middle-grade epic blending fantasy with time travel, dinosaurs, and dragon-filled skies.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble

MY REVIEW

You may be thinking Dragon & Dinosaur Chronicles? How can it be both? Fantasy, my friends, that is how you can encounter a five-headed dragon and a flying Tyrannosaurus rex along with elves and even humanized prehistoric tigers and dire wolves all in the same story.

When cousins Jason and Elisa find out their grandfather has what they believe to be a time machine, they both decide to use it and travel to the past to prevent the deaths of their fathers. During their attempt to sneak into their grandfather’s research project they wind up bringing along Jason’s sister Amanda and all three children are transported far from home by a special celestial globe. It turns out they have gone through a portal in Orion's Belt and arrived on a parallel world where their counterparts are members of the royal family. To save the kingdom they find themselves in, they set off on a quest to bring back a cure for the ailing queen.

For readers who enjoy stories of friends and siblings traveling to other worlds (think Chronicles of Narnia and similar adventures), this series would be a good addition to the “to be read” pile. Each of the main characters has obstacles to overcome, such as Jason’s hearing loss, as well as strengths to bring to their quest. Confrontations with villagers who resent the royal family as well as enemies out to cause the downfall of the kingdom itself keep the action moving at a brisk pace. Emotional growth through facing fears and dealing with grief also play a part in the story development, creating more rounded characters. The cliffhanger ending will have readers eagerly reaching for the second book to find out what happens next.

Additional content includes a foreword that explains how writing the series began, a bonus short story, illustrations, an author’s note, a reference list describing characters and locations within the story for helpful reference, a suggested reading list of fantasy books, and a reader’s guide and activities. 

Orion Fire Storm

Written by Rick Williams Sr. with Caleb Williams

Illustrated by Prayan Animation Studio

Ages: 10+ | 417 Pages

Publisher: Legacy KidLit Press (2026) | ISBN: 979-8-9874200-7-2

Publisher's Book Summary: During this time of renewed interest in space travel, Orion Fire Storm follows Jason, Amanda, and Elisa—modern-day teens who travel among the stars and into the past—as they join forces with elves and shapeshifting dragons to save their nations. Continuing the adventures that began in Star Life Keepers, they face even deadlier trials in a medieval world of gryphon-riding wolf guards, roaming dire wolves, and flying raptors. Messengers from Orion's Belt equip the cousins with magical gems to unlock the power beyond the universe. Features original illustrations, detailed maps, and an Encyclopedia of Creatures.

PURCHASE LINKS

Orion Fire Storm: Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rick Williams Sr. is a former biotech executive who writes the Dragon & Dinosaur Chronicles series with his grandchildren and other Story Apprentices. Inspired by a visit to Chapel Hill's Morehead Planetarium—where Apollo astronauts trained—the series features a Star Globe that transports young cousins into a parallel universe where they heroically use astronomy magic to save their nations.

His debut, Star Life Keepers, became a top Amazon children's eBook in Space Exploration and Time Travel. The adventure continues in Orion Fire Storm and the upcoming Young Dragonriders. Companion short fiction—including the Orion Dragons' Holiday Tale and Dragons & Betrayals—explores story origins and expanding worlds in the series.

Through the Creative Writing Lab at thestorymakinghub.com—featuring the Story Writing workbook—Rick provides roadmaps and free materials to equip a growing community of young creators who want to share their own voices.

To learn more, visit www.rickwilliamsbooks.com.

https://www.instagram.com/storymakingwithrickwilliams/

https://www.facebook.com/storymakingwithrickwilliams

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/84161.Rick_Williams

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-williams-31136919/

https://ph.pinterest.com/storymakingwithkids/

https://x.com/storymakinghub

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Prayan Animation Studio is a creative animation studio with an expert team of creators, artists, and designers specializing in custom artwork, mapmaking, and videos.

To learn more, visit www.prayananimation.com

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 The Children’s Book Review Book Review of Orion Fire Storm

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 The Children’s Book Review Book List: 8 Middle Grade Books About Space That Launch Big Adventures

Thursday, May 7, 2026 Life is What It’s Called Author Interview with Rick Williams Sr.

Friday, May 8, 2026 @MaryLanniReads Book Review of Star Life Keepers

Monday, May 11, 2026 Cover Lover Book Review Author Interview with Rick Williams Sr.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Rick Williams Sr.

Thursday, May 14, 2026 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Reviews of Star Life Keepers and Orion Fire Storm

Friday, May 15, 2026 Deliciously Savvy Book Reviews of Star Life Keepers and Orion Fire Storm

Monday, May 18, 2026 The Fairview Review Book Review of Star Life Keepers

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Sybrina’s Book Blog Guest Post about the Dragon & Dinosaur Chronicles series

Thursday, May 21, 2026 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about Star Life Keepers and Orion Fire Storm

Friday, May 22, 2026 Lisa’s Reading Book Spotlight on the Dragon & Dinosaur Chronicles series

Monday, May 25, 2026 Country Mamas With Kids Book Reviews of Star Life Keepers and Orion Fire Storm

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 The Starlit Path Book Review of Star Life Keepers

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 @meghenslittlelibrary Book Review of Star Life Keepers

This post is sponsored by Legacy KidLit Press. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

Virtual Book Tour Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

ABOUT THE BOOK

Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Written by Michael J. Bowler

Illustrated by Pintado (cover); Hanna Boanna (chapter heading illustrations)

Ages: 9-12 | 264 Pages

Publisher: Michael Bowler (2026) | ISBN: 979-8993648606

Publisher's Book Summary: AN INTERNET JOKE. AN EVIL GENIUS. A HERO IS BORN.

Gifted with a brain that works like a video recorder, twelve-year-old aspiring detective Elmo Fitzroy — famous on YouTube, thanks to his mother, as “Muppit Boy” because of really humiliating videos — becomes embroiled in a world-domination plot hatched by an evil scientist out to control humanity with deadly allergies.

Mo's life plan is simple: ditch his dweeby childhood alter ego and fly under the radar to survive middle school. It backfires big time when he helps his Big Brother mentor — a police detective — investigate an old woman in a clown mask who robs people of their hearing aids.

Little does he realize that chasing clues with friends Barney Kettlewick and Kashvi Jindal will lead to a battle with ugly shoes, pursuit by chainsaw-wielding maniacs, an embarrassingly public rescue by a California condor, a meeting with Homeland Security, and his ADHD soaring into overdrive.

The kid who's always been a joke must somehow become a hero to save his family, friends, and, well, the whole world.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

MY REVIEW

Have you ever heard the insult, “You’re ugly and your mother dresses you funny”? Unfortunately, that is how Mo feels his whole life has gone. His name is actually Elmo and his mother dressed him in a red onesie and put him on her YouTube channel when he was younger, so everyone refers to him as Muppit Boy because he resembles the puppet character Elmo. And some things are very hard to outgrow.

Luckily for Mo he has two great friends, Barney and Kash, plus his mom and his mentor from the Big Brothers program, Ari. He needs that support because he is always being teased for his large nose, for the videos of his childhood that are out there on the Internet, and because his ADHD sometimes gets him into uncomfortable situations. But he also has an amazing memory that he can rewind, just like watching a video, and pull out details that others would have missed or forgotten. When an evil mastermind who dresses like a “cross between Darth Vader and Dr. Doom” comes up with a plan to give the world the worst allergies ever, Mo may be the only one who can stop him.

This fast-paced middle grade adventure has danger (chainsaw-wielding senior citizens, crashing rockets, nanites), unusual creatures like a California condor, a group of kids determined to be detectives, and plenty of humor. It will pull readers in and keep them turning the pages to see what happens next.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Michael J. Bowler has been a high school teacher, a volunteer Big Brother to eight boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program, a decades-long volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles and is a single dad to an adopted child.

Discover more from the author at michaeljbowler.com.

https://www.instagram.com/michaeljbowler/

https://www.facebook.com/michaeljbowler.author

https://x.com/michaeljbowler

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 The Children's Book Review Tour Kick-Off for Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Thursday, April 30, 2026 The Starlit Path Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Friday, May 1, 2026 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Michael J. Bowler

Monday, May 4, 2026 @meghenslittlelibrary Instagram Post about Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 The Fairview Review Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Thursday, May 7, 2026 Country Mamas With Kids Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Friday, May 8, 2026 icefairy's Treasure Chest Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Monday, May 18, 2026 ALWAYS in the MIDDLE Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Book Zone Reviews Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 @avainbookland Instagram Post about Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Thursday, May 21, 2026 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Friday, May 22, 2026 Sybrina's Book Blog Guest Post about Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

This post is sponsored by Michael J. Bowler. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views. 

Virtual Book Tour T-Rex Tiki

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Written by Creator JJ

Illustrated by Fates

Ages: 6-8 | 58 Pages

Publisher: Tiki Toons Publishing, LLC (2026) | ISBN: 979-8-9941608-2-4

Publisher's Book Summary: In this sequel of the Tiki Time series, Tiki, a boy with magical powers, is joined by a precocious group of friends who travel back to prehistoric times in their search for the evil time traveling sorcerer, King Lauia. King Lauia has escaped from present-day TikiTown with the sacred Toku mask, leaving its citizens in a frozen state.

Tiki and his friends set out on this perilous quest. Tiki must find King Lauia, take back the mask, and travel back to present-day to unfreeze TikiTown and its people — all while avoiding getting eaten by a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex! Time is ticking! If Tiki doesn't succeed, TikiTown will remain frozen forever!

Tiki and the audience continue to learn valuable lessons in this adventure about self-confidence, friendship, proper behavior, and the true meaning of character and integrity.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mR1trr

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tiki-time-creator-jj/1149774772

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/2078/9798994160824  

MY REVIEW

A boy trying to reclaim his nobility travels through time to defeat an evil time-traveling sorcerer in this second installment of the Tiki Time series. Will he and his friends be successful and recover the sacred mask the sorcerer King Lauia has stolen?

I must admit, I had missed the first adventure of Tiki and his companions, so I read it before jumping into prehistoric times with them all. It seems that Tiki had not been the best version of himself and his sister suggested he take a walk and think about things. He encountered a magical spirit named Fetu who granted him powers to help him battle King Lauia and in this trip he uses them all - time travel, super speed, and super strength. His friends also have amazing skills in construction, science, and math. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a group that is working to defeat the bad guy and save their home? Vibrant illustrations give the story the feel of an animated movie about young superheroes as they face off against dinosaurs, an evil army, and the sorcerer himself. Their abilities allow them to overcome obstacles, solve puzzles, and rescue each other when needed. The tale has a cliffhanger ending as their pursuit of the sorcerer sends them to ancient Egypt.

If you know a young reader who enjoys action adventure with super powers, an evil villain and his minions, and a team of brave friends battling to save their world, then you should share T-Rex Tiki with them. And be prepared to buy the rest of the series.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Creator JJ and Fates are the creative duo bringing you this fun and magical adventure. Fates has been making cartoons for over 30 years, bringing stories to life through drawing and imagining. Fates wants the world to draw and dream just a little more every day. Creator JJ is the creative writer who dreamed up the storylines and characters in their stories. He believes that, by using their imagination, everyone can create characters, worlds, and stories of their own. Together, the goal is to use their creative talents to create fun stories and ignite the hearts and minds of young children for both educational and self-development purposes.

Discover more about the book at www.tikitimebook.com.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556348460287

https://www.instagram.com/tikitimebook/

https://www.youtube.com/@TikiTimeBooks

https://www.youtube.com/@CreatorJJ-d2k

 

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, April 27, 2026 The Children's Book Review Book Review of Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 The Starlit Path Instagram Reel about Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Thursday, April 30, 2026 The Fairview Review Book Review of Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Friday, May 1, 2026 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Monday, May 4, 2026 Country Mamas With Kids Book Review of Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Creator JJ

Thursday, May 7, 2026 @meghenslittlelibrary Instagram Post about Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Friday, May 8, 2026 Cover Lover Book Review Book Review of Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Monday, May 11, 2026 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 icefairy's Treasure Chest Book Review of Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Thursday, May 14, 2026 Sybrina's Book Blog Guest Post about Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

Friday, May 15, 2026 Lisa's Reading Book Review of Tiki Time: T-Rex Tiki

This post is sponsored by Creator JJ. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.