Virtual Book Tour Mimi & Ary

Mimi & Ary: Book Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mimi & Ary

Written by Rashad Mirzayev

Illustrated by Ken Sheykh

Ages: 3-12 | 74 Pages

Publisher: MindStir Media (2025) | ISBN: 978-1966074847

Publisher’s Book Summary: Mimi & Ary is a whimsical and heartfelt story about a curious girl named Mimi and Ary, a wise, protective blue bird who finds her lost in a magical jungle. As they journey together in search of her parents, Ary teaches Mimi life lessons about fear, trust, awareness, and love. Along the way, they meet a glowing ladybug, a majestic horse named Sema, and a witty, misunderstood cat – each adding charm and insight to their adventure.

Through meaningful conversations and shared experiences, Mimi learns to overcome fear, embrace gratitude, and trust herself. The jungle becomes a space of growth, where she gains confidence and forms strong bonds.

“Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space.” – Dr. Brand, Interstellar.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

MY REVIEW

Ary is a bright blue bird who lives in a fantastic jungle. One day he spots a young girl alone on a log floating down the river. He decides to help her and swoops down to introduce himself and offer to lead her to safety. The girl, Mimi, accepts his help and listens to the advice he gives her as they travel through the jungle. Along the way she learns many important lessons and makes some new friends.

Ary helps Mimi to overcome her fear by breathing deeply and concentrating on pushing through to do what needs to be done. He talks to her about eating fruits and vegetables to be healthy, although he agrees with her that he does not like broccoli. Mimi learns the importance of paying attention to her surroundings and noticing things like changes in the weather. Ary introduces her to other friends like the ladybug Ella and the horned horse Sema. They meet mischievous Cat, whom the others mistrust, but Mimi decides to be kind to him. And they even rescue a lost puppy.

Although it seems that Mimi’s adventure was only a dream since she wakes in her own bed the next morning, readers can see Ary perched on the balcony keeping watch over her. Perhaps they have more adventures in store. Mimi & Ary  could be a good choice for young readers who like stories with a hint of danger, but nothing too scary, or who enjoy characters who have animal friends with whom they explore the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rashad Mirzayev is a father, writer, and entrepreneur based in Azerbaijan. Born and raised in Baku, he studied in England, France, and the United States, earning his Bachelor’s degree from City University London & CASS Business School. Over the past decade, he has founded companies across industries, including consumer electronics, education, and technology. He began writing in 2019 and describes himself as “a peaceful warrior holding a flashlight,” sharing his journey of personal growth and entrepreneurship. His debut children’s book, Mimi & Ary, reflects his passion for helping children navigate life’s challenges with courage and wisdom through meaningful storytelling that transcends cultural boundaries.

For more information, check out www.rash.ad.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 The Children’s Book Review Book Review of Mimi & Ary

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 @FroggyReadTeach Instagram Post about Mimi & Ary

Thursday, October 2, 2025 @avainbookland Instagram Post about Mimi & Ary

Friday, October 3, 2025 The Starlit Path Book Review and Instagram Reel about Mimi & Ary

Monday, October 6, 2025 The Children’s Book Review Booklist Featuring Mimi & Ary

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of Mimi & Ary

Thursday, October 9, 2025 The Fairview Review Book Review of Mimi & Ary

Friday, October 10, 2025 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of Mimi & Ary

Monday, October 13, 2025 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about Mimi & Ary

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 The Children’s Book Review Author Interview with Rashad Mirzayev

Thursday, October 16, 2025 Me Two Books Author Interview with Rashad Mirzayev

Friday, October 17, 2025 Country Mamas With Kids Book Review of Mimi & Ary

Monday, October 20, 2025 A Blue Box Full of Books Instagram Post about Mimi & Ary

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 @thechildrensbookreview Instagram Reel about Mimi & Ary

Thursday, October 23, 2025 Crafty Moms Share Book Review of Mimi & Ary

Friday, October 24, 2025 Cover Lover Book Review Book Review of Mimi & Ary

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

Virtual Book Tour The Last Apple Tree

The Last Apple Tree: Book Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Last Apple Tree

Written by Claudia Mills

Ages: 9-12 | 264 Pages

Publisher: Holiday House (2025) | ISBN: 978-0823461882

Publisher’s Book Summary: Twelve-year-old Sonnet’s family has just moved across the country to live with her grandfather after her nana dies. Gramps’s once-impressive apple orchard has been razed for a housing development, with only one heirloom tree left. Sonnet doesn’t want to think about how Gramps and his tree are both growing old—she just wants everything to be okay.

Sonnet is not okay with her neighbor, Zeke, a boy her age who gets on her bad side and stays there when he tries to choose her grandpa to interview for an oral history assignment. Zeke irks Sonnet with his prying questions, bringing out the sad side of Gramps she’d rather not see. Meanwhile, Sonnet joins the Green Club at school and without talking to Zeke about it, she asks his activist father to speak at the Arbor Day assembly—a collision of worlds that Zeke wanted more than anything to avoid.

But when the interviews uncover a buried tragedy that concerns Sonnet’s mother, and an emergency forces Sonnet and Zeke to cooperate again, Sonnet learns not just to accept Zeke as he is, but also that sometimes forgetting isn’t the solution—even when remembering seems harder.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

MY REVIEW

Books told from alternating viewpoints aren’t too uncommon, although some are more well written than others. This book strikes a delicate balance between the thoughts and experiences of Sonnet, Zeke, and the apple tree in the backyard of Sonnet’s family home.

Zeke is trying to fit in with the other students at middle school after being homeschooled by his father for years. It isn’t easy. Classwork seems boring in comparison to the work his father had him complete. He doesn’t know how to get along with peers like everyone else does. And he is very worried that everyone will find out his father is a “tree hugger.” Having to work with the prickly neighbor girl is just one more thing to endure and get through as quickly as possible.

Sonnet is just trying to help her family be happy. She and her mother and younger sister have moved in with her grandfather after her grandmother’s death. Her mom is trying to become a published writer. Her little sister invents rules for new countries like “Socker,” where everyone must wear a sock on their head. And Gramps is trying not to give in to the sadness of missing his wife. When a class assignment has her and Zeke interviewing Gramps about his life, they discover there are family stories that even Sonnet’s mother doesn’t know - but the apple tree does.

The book delves into a lot of different themes. What makes a good friend? What makes a good parent? Should families have secrets? Do children have to believe exactly the same things as their parents and support exactly the same causes? How important is honesty? There will be a lot of reflection and discussion at the end of this story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Claudia Mills is the author of over 60 books for young readers, including most recently the verse novel The Lost Language and the middle-grade novel The Last Apple Tree, as well as two chapter-book series: Franklin School Friends and After-School Superstars. Her books have been named Notable Books of the Year by the American Library Association and Best Books of the Year by the Bank Street College of Education; they have been translated into half a dozen languages. Claudia is also a professor emerita of philosophy at the University of Colorado and a faculty member in the graduate programs in children’s literature at Hollins University. She has written all her books in her faithful hour-a-day system while drinking Swiss Miss hot chocolate.

For more information, check out claudiamillsauthor.com.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, September 22, 2025 The Children’s Book Review Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Tuesday, September 23, 2025 @nissa_the.bookworm Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 The Children’s Book Review Author Interview with Claudia Mills

Thursday, September 25, 2025 The Starlit Path Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Friday, September 26, 2025 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Monday, September 29, 2025 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Claudia Mills

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 The Children’s Book Review Book List Featuring The Last Apple Tree

Thursday, October 2, 2025 Country Mamas With Kids Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Friday, October 3, 2025 Crafty Moms Share Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Monday, October 6, 2025 Crafty Moms Share Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 Writer with Wanderlust Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Thursday, October 9, 2025 The Fairview Review Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Friday, October 10, 2025 Un Viaje en Libro Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Monday, October 13, 2025 Life Is What It’s Called Author Interview with Claudia Mills

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Froggy Read Teach Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 Spring Falls Chronicle Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Thursday, October 16, 2025 A Blue Box Full of Books Book Review of The Last Apple Tree

Monday, October 20, 2025 Literary Rambles Guest Post about The Last Apple Tree

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