Cassie Hoyt's Hatch! Awareness Tour

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win the Hatch! prize pack.

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• A paperback copy of Hatch, autographed by author Cassie Hoyt

• A canvas tote printed with artwork from Hatch

• A $100 Amazon gift card for purchasing books to fill your new tote

Two (2) winners receive:

• A paperback copy of Hatch, autographed by author Cassie Hoyt

Giveaway begins October 5, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends November 5, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

OFFICIAL LINK

www.cassiehoyt.com

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hatch!

Written by Cassie Hoyt

Illustrated by Amanda Crawford Brown

Publisher’s Synopsis: Hatch! is a picture book exploring the animals that hatch from eggs. Colorful, captivating pictures paired with singsong rhyming text make this book a perfect fit for curious babies and toddlers.

Ages 2-5 | Publisher: Cassie Hoyt | ISBN-13: 978-1735401102

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cassie Hoyt is a children’s author and perfusionist. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two sons. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. Inspiration for her books typically comes from her silly boys or fond memories of her childhood. Learn more about Cassie’s upcoming works on www.cassiehoyt.com.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Amanda Crawford Brown is an artist in the greater Nashville, TN area. She has been creative her whole life but began working on her art career seriously in 2017. She specializes in watercolor and fluid art mediums but has recently been recreating those mediums in digital format. Creating children’s book art has been a dream of Amanda’s since she was very young! Amanda also makes digital artwork and is a marketing director for a Professional Twitch streamer, has shown her work in galleries and has had award-winning booths at art and craft shows all around Tennessee!

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ROvF91

MY REVIEW

Cassie Hoyt's new book Hatch! invites readers to guess what will emerge from each egg that is shown. Watercolor illustrations provide clues to the identity of each new animal. The color and size of the egg, as well as the details of the background (plants, nesting materials, location, animal parents), hint at what sort of baby creature is waiting within.

The repetitive nature of the text, along with the rhyming words, will have young readers chanting along and quickly reading the story themselves without help. The variety of animals portrayed - birds, reptiles, amphibians, spiders - will amaze youngsters. Curiosity about these small hatchlings may also lead to requests for further books about animals to discover more interesting facts.

Perfect for fans of titles such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear or I Went Walking, this book is sure to be a favorite addition to book collections in the home or classroom. Preschool or primary classes might even create their own version featuring animals native to their school's area.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Oct 5	The Children's Book Review	https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/	Tour Kick-Off
Oct 6	Word Spelunking	http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com/	Book Review
Octr 7	Tales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero Mom	http://wannabesuperheromom.blogspot.com/	Beyond the Book Activity
Oct 8	Heart to Heart	https://tynea-lewis.com/	Book Review
Oct 9	A Dream Within A Dream	http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com/	Book Review
Oct 12	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com	Book Review
Oct 13	Confessions of a Book Addict	http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.com/	Giveaway
Oct 14	icefairy's Treasure Chest	http://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com/	Book Review
Oct 15	Life Is What It's Called	http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/	Interview
Oct 16	Library Lady's Kid Lit	https://janemouttet.wordpress.com/	Interview
Oct 19	Fairview Elementary School (Library)	https://fveslibrary.blogspot.com/	Book Review
Oct 20	J.R.'s Book Reviews	https://jrsbookreviews.wordpress.com/	Book Review

The Fairview Review is participating in the blog tour in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Cassie Hoyt.

What To Do About Your Monsters Awareness Tour

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a copy of What to Do About Your Monsters, autographed by Jessica Woo.

Two (2) winners receive:

• A signed copy of What to Do About Your Monsters

Giveaway begins October 6, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends November 6, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT. See complete giveaway rules here.

OFFICIAL LINKS

For more information, visit https://www.acornpublishingllc.com

SYNOPSIS

WHAT TO DO ABOUT YOUR MONSTERS

Created by Jessica Woo

Publisher’s Synopsis: Meet Kinzie. She has a bunch of fun-loving, slightly smelly, Monsters that live in her room. They never let her sleep at night. But that’s ok, her parents always help her out. Until one day they decide it’s time she learns to sleep on her own. What will Kinzie do about her Monsters?

What To Do About Your Monsters is a heartfelt story about a girl who has sleep issues. At its core, however, the story is not just about having problems sleeping, but about being afraid to try something new.

Ages 0-8 | Publisher: Acorn Publishing | October 2020 | ISBN-13: 978-1-952112-10-2

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Woo is an author-illustrator and a mom of two wild things. Her debut children’s book, What To Do About Your Monsters, was inspired by her oldest child. Very quickly after Jessica became a mother, she found that while adults like to sleep, kids are way too busy to ever go to bed. 

Other than convincing her little ones to sleep at night, Jessica’s talents include professional animation, art direction, and illustration. In Illustration, Jessica most recently worked on a concept art piece for Universal. In art direction, her recent project, Dinner Party, was accepted in the exclusive Sundance film festival. Finally, in animation, her work is featured in movies such as Kung Fu Panda, Monster vs Aliens, Shrek 4, Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special, Kung Fu Panda 2, The Croods, and Turbo. 

An active member of SCBWI and 12 by 12, Jessica currently lives in Toluca Lake California with her family

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/308MBM0

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/2078/9781952112102

TOUR SCHEDULE

October 6	The Children's Book Review	https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/	Book Review
October 7	Over Coffee Conversations	https://gmarciano.blogspot.com	Giveaway
October 8	A Dream Within A Dream	http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com	Book Review
October 9	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	https://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com	Book Review
October 12	Word Spelunking	http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com/	Giveaway
October 13	icefairy's Treasure Chest	http://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com/	Book Review
October 14	Barbara Ann Mojica's Blog	https://bamauthor.me	Book Review
October 15	Library Lady's Kid Lit	https://janemouttet.wordpress.com/	Book Review
October 16	Fairview Elementary School (Library)	https://fveslibrary.blogspot.com/	Giveaway
October 19	Jrsbookreviews	https://jrsbookreviews.wordpress.com/	Book Review
October 20	Confessions of a Book Addict	http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.com	Giveaway
October 21	Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk	https://glassofwineglassofmilk.blogspot.com/	Book Review
October 22	Heart to Heart	http://tynea-lewis.com/	Giveaway

The Fairview is participating in the blog tour in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Acorn Publishing.

Summer Reading 2020 A Deadly Education: Lesson One of the Scholomance

 

If you have read any of Novik's other books such as Uprooted or Spinning Silver, then you know that she writes complex characters and gratifyingly complex plots. In this case you might try to imagine that Hogwarts meets The Maze Runner. That wouldn't begin to cover it, but would at least give you an inkling of the setting. 

The Scholomance is a school for young magic users. Once you are inside, you do not come out until unless you graduate. There are no teachers, no adults at all, so you may want to add a dollop of Lord of the Flies to your mental recipe. Since the presence of so many magic users draws the mals (maleficaria - "nasty things that routinely come after wizards looking for a meal"), students get plenty of practice on their offensive and defensive spells. They also form alliances, figure out who they are going to throw to the mals to make their own escape, etc. 

The character El is the narrator. She is smart, snarky, and not good at social skills. One of the students finally explains that El makes others feel as if they are out in their best outfit without an umbrella and suddenly realize it is about to rain. That would put a damper on forming any friendships, you must admit. El's mother lives in a yurt in a commune in Wales and actually named her daughter Galadriel. El jokes that she is "the 'love me and despair' version" of Galadriel from the movies.

Without giving away any spoilers, let me just say that this book takes place in the junior year of El and her classmates. They deal with mal attacks in the hallways, library, shop class, even the dining hall. Those who come from large magical enclaves (yes, those are as ritzy and posh as they sound), have a head-start on the alliances and power brokering that will help them to survive past graduation, while El and the other who are loners or from smaller groups must be especially clever to stay alive.

The characters are from around the world - London, New York, Bangkok, Shanghai, and Dubai are just a few of the enclaves represented in the student body. The descriptions of the coursework, physical structure of the school, and how magic works are all well done and consistent. The maneuvering within and between the groups is like high school cliques on steroids. And along with the danger and deception, there are also really funny moments. An example would be the snack vending machine that randomly gives out items that are "usually aged, and sometimes inedibly ancient. Once I (El) got a military ration from World War I...Aadhya got ...a completely fresh salmon onigiri dated this very morning." How do you deal with something that randomly absurd? 

If you enjoy stories of young wizards, especially if they are still learning their craft and trying to survive school (quite literally in this case), and figuring out friendships and relationships in general - then pick this up when it hits the shelves on September 29. You will be in for a treat.

Summer Reading 2020 For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World

 

Michael Waters shares in his author's note that this story arises from experiences of his own family and his own son's questioning of events. In the book, Jeremiah hears about incidents of racism and gun violence and is not ready to talk. But he watches and listens, and when he does finally come to his parents with questions, they are there for him. The things Jeremiah plans to do - march, pray, donate money, stand up to stop bullies - are all things that children can do.

The discussion guide provided in the back matter will be useful to both teachers and parents as they try to help children make sense of what they see in the news or in their neighborhoods. Young people reading the book may have questions about the various incidents mentioned in the story, which are all real events that can be researched. Adults should read the book first and make use of the discussion guide to be sure they are ready when those young readers come to them with questions.

Summer Reading 2020 Paola Santiago and the River of Tears

Any book from Rick Riordan Presents probably needs no introduction or book-talking to make it appealing to readers. Here are my thoughts anyway. Paola's story deals with Mexican and Southwestern folklore such as chupacabras and the legend of La Llorona (the Crying Woman). But it also deals with racial prejudice, differences between economic classes, immigration services, and the difficulty of growing up.

Paola relies on science because she dislikes and distrusts her  mother's Tarot cards, incense, candles, and other "superstitious garbage that didn't work." Focusing on hard facts and researching scientific phenomena help Pao to feel in control and as if she is standing on her own, separate from her mother's beliefs. But when her friend Emma disappears and Pao's off dreams seem to give her clues to what happened, she might have to be more open-minded about spiritual things.

With some help from her friend Dante (despite their recently weird boy/girl awareness messing up their comfrotable friendship), Pao decides she will have to rescue Emma. After all, the police are notorious for not taking Latinx kids seriously, so they are on their own. Well, except there may be other forces trying to put an end to the creepy happenings along the Gila River. Can Pao and Dante trust these strangers with their friend's safety?

The story perfectly captures the way teens (and even preteens) try to distance themselves from their parents by embracing different values. With Pao it is science versus spiritualism, but it can take many forms. It also shows the awkwardness that can slip into boy-girl friendships as the friends realize they may also have romantic feelings. And there is the pain and resentment of friends that are growing up and beginning to find interests and new friends outside that tight bond that has always been there. 

Mejia has perfectly captured that rocky area of middle school when kids are stuck between the childhood years and the teen years, still trying to hang onto what is comfortable but also wanting to strike out on their own. Trying to deal with all of that would be hard enough, but then there are the recent kidnappings in the area, Emma's disappearance, La Llorona and the other supernatural creatures, money problems, ICE raids on their neighbors, and it seems too much even for someone of Pao's determination.

Those who are new to the imprint will want to try out the other authors in Rick Riordan Presents. Those who are already fans will welcome this new addition and eagerly await the next book in the series. 

Summer Reading 2020 Kind of a Big Deal

Josie was kind of a big deal in high school. She sang the lead in all the musicals and her drama teacher convinced her that she could make it on Broadway. But life in New York is harder than senior year in Arizona, and the directors weren't casting her for any parts. So she took a job as a nanny and moved with the child and her mother to Montana. Isn't that what everyone does when their life falls apart? Okay, maybe not. 

As things continue to spiral out of control...best friend having a great time in college and not always available with a shoulder to cry on, boyfriend acting distant and not answering his phone, mom no help at all, credit card bills to pay...Josie just wants to feel in command of her destiny again. So when a book recommended by the sales clerk at the local bookstore actually pulls her into the story and lets her become a character, is it a mental breakdown or magic? 

The sense of life spiralling out of control is familiar to many of us, even in the teen years. Trying to decide on college and career, friend and dating drama, money problems, it can all add up. But imagine that combined with the gut-wrenching fear that you have peaked in high school and it is all downhill from there. Somehow, becoming the lead character in a tawdry romance or a post-apocalyptic adventure might seem tempting, especially if you can use your will power to steer the course of the story and affect its outcome. It might even be tempting enough to make you want to stay in the story permanently.

As we read along and watch Josie floundering to figure things out, we want her to make all the right choices and stay in the real world to face her fears. Somewhere along the way, we realize that we have been pulled into the story - Josie's story. And we don't want to leave it until we know how it will end.

Be prepared to read this in one sitting.