Interview with Sunayna Prasad, author of A Curse of Mayhem

 

Today we welcome Sunayna Prasad to the blog. She's letting us take a sneak peek into her new book A Curse of Mayhem and then answers a few questions so that we can get to know her and her book a little bit better. Be sure to follow the tour for even more and ask her some of your own questions along the way. Best of luck in the giveaway!

History, like magic, has a habit of repeating itself

It’s been six months since thirteen-year-old Alyssa McCarthy left magic behind for good. Or so she thought…

Then the enchanted objects that protected her disappear. Now a skeleton named Errol has cursed her with magical powers that keep getting her in trouble. Suddenly strange things are happening with disastrous effects, and if Alyssa can’t remove the magic, she will lose everything she holds dear.

In order to get rid of her unwanted wizardry, Alyssa will have to boost her bravery and confidence and determine who Errol really is. But every time Alyssa uses an enchantment, Errol is one step closer to getting his flesh back and becoming alive, and he will do anything to achieve his goals…even if it means destroying Alyssa’s happiness.

Originally published in 2016 as “Wizardry Goes Wild” and “The Unruly Curse” in 2019, “A Curse of Mayhem” is book two in the exciting and suspenseful “Magical Missions” series.

Read an excerpt:

Several hours had passed. It was now ninth period, the last one before school ended. Only twenty minutes remained until the bell rang.

However, thanks to the library closing because two classes had occupied it, Alyssa hadn’t gotten to hone her presentation skills. Even the teachers monitoring the hallway had forbidden her to practice there.

Today through Wednesday, the students would present on different literary elements in the last novel they’d read, Angelica: A Whale Princess. Alyssa had been assigned to discuss the themes and morals of the book.

Mr. Godfrey, the teacher, had picked students randomly to read their brief speeches today, tomorrow, or Wednesday. Alyssa had been assigned for today. So, her stomach made several knots as she watched Sydney present on the characters from the book.

Usually, Mr. Godfrey had a more easygoing attitude toward the class. On his birthday last month, he hadn’t given homework. For the first assignment of the year, he’d played a game with the class to help them prepare for a quiz.

Alyssa wished that he’d let her and everyone else pick when they’d wanted to go—or he could’ve at least chosen the bravest speakers for today. She assumed that Mr. Godfrey knew that many children stuttered, hesitated, or got words wrong when having to present in front of crowds.

Book Links

Amazon * B&N * Kobo

Describe your book in one sentence or fewer than 25 words.

A 13-year-old girl is cursed with sorcery that she cannot control and needs to remove.

What was the inspiration behind this book?

A chunk of the inspiration came from the movies, “Frozen” and “ParaNorman”

What kind of research did you have to do for it?

How detention works in schools (since I never had detention… ever!) and a bit about the Puritans, although some of it I already studied in junior high.

Which character was your favorite to write?

My main character’s godfather, Alex, as he is sweet and nurturing. He is developed the way I’d want my ideal caregiver to be.

What was one of your favorite scenes?

Any scene where my MC’s godfather comforts her after something terrible has happened has always been enjoyable for me to write.

Will we see these characters again?

Yes, we will see my MC, her godfather, friends, dog, and mentor in future works.

How do you make yourself stand out in this genre?

The book is a modern-day, American fantasy, where even wizards use modern technology, far more advanced than the regular kind.

Tell us about your other published works.

There is Book 1, “The Frights of Fiji,” where my MC discovers magic’s existence and is abducted to Fiji, where she must fight against dangers in order to leave.

On what are you currently working?

Book 3 of my “Magical Missions” series. I’m hoping to publish it by this spring.

What are you currently reading? Up next on your TBR?

“Mistborn” by Brandon Sanderson. I will probably read another one of his books.

About the author:

Sunayna Prasad enjoys writing fantasy books for children, as well as cooking, creating artwork, watching online videos, and blogging. She has also written The Frights of Fiji, formerly titled as From Frights to Flaws. She is passionate about modern life, fantasy, and world-building. Aside from her website, she also has a blog about different creative and entertaining topics, including fiction and writing, called “Sunayna Prasad’s Blog”.

Sunayna has graduated from college in May 2017. She lives in Long Island, NY.

https://www.sunaynaprasadbooks.com/

https://sunaynaprasadblogs.com/

https://twitter.com/SunaynaPrasad

Sunayna Prasad will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Science Stumpers: Brain-Busting Scenarios Solved with Science! by Keegan Burmark & Kevin Brougher

 

Winner of four awards! Science Stumpers has a game-like quality that kids enjoy both solo and in group settings. It's a fun and engaging approach that excites learners of all ages and covers scientific topics ranging from subatomic to interstellar, with many fascinating peculiarities along the way. Science Stumpers contains well over 100 mini-mysteries and solutions.

Available on Amazon

(affiliate link)

30 years of teaching proved rewarding, challenging and heartbreaking at times. There is only so much a teacher can do when you see over 150 students a day. Still, it was a place for inspiration, creative outlet, and humor.

I was fortunate enough to start out in the elementary grades - progress to middle school - then spend some years at the high school level. Fortunate, because it gave me a much clearer picture of the progression of skills, than just reading about it.

Even during my student teaching days, I was intrigued with finding ways to get kids thinking and learning in a fun way. Of course, FUN can be an ambiguous term. But still, I was on the constant look out and constant dwelling on what could hook them just a little bit more and make them THINK just a little bit longer.

What I noticed, too, was that there were activities that were done in school that were good but, would not be replicated or done at home. And, there were some fun activities that were done at home that just didn't quite have enough content or thinking skills involvement that would allow for it to be justified in the classroom. What was MISSING were activities - games - books that families would enjoy enough to play and use together with OUT it being an "assignment" but teachers could use in the classroom.

I eventually went on to start Missing Piece Press, LLC. A publishing company that would publish those types of works. Over the years I have encouraged MANY to create these types of works. Besides books and games that got people THINKING, I also enjoyed writing verse. It probably not only stemmed from inspiration from my mom but, from learning how to play guitar and writing songs in college and later writing songs for the classroom.

I am MOST fortunate and SO blessed to have two wonderful, beautiful and talented daughters. One, happens to now be a graphic design illustrator and illustrated a story that I had written for the girls during my early years of teaching - Reindolphins. She is currently working on illustrating another one of my stories - we are both VERY excited about it.

Thank you SO much for your interest and any support.

More information on my games can be found at: MissingPiecePress.com or KevinBrougher.com

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Review of Sophie Washington: Class Retreat by Tonya Duncan Ellis

 

It's time for another installment of my current favorite middle grade series, Sophie Washington by Tonya Duncan Ellis! This one, Class Retreat, is full of fun and some subtle lessons and discussion topics for kids. Check out an excerpt and further thoughts of mine. Let Tonya know in the comments what you think. And then be sure to follow the tour and enter the great giveaway!

The Story Pirates Prize Package #Giveaway 2 Winners! Ends 12/14

The arts are a great way to inspire your child's creative side. Why not add in a mix of music, adventures, plus a writing guide for young authors? Check out this awesome collection and then enter to be one of two winners in the giveaway!

Sponsored By: Sugar Mountain PR

Hosted By: Love, Mrs. Mommy

2 WINNERS Will Receive: 

A Story Pirates Prize Package!

Includes: 3 Albums, 1 EP, 1 Book,
and a 2 Month Creator Club Membership ($66 TRV)! 

(affiliate links included)

3 Albums

Nothing Is Impossible 

Backstroke Raptor 

Cats Sit on You 

1 Digital EP 

Story Pirates Very Merry Made-Up Holidays, Vol. 1 

1 Book
Quest for the Crystal Crown 

This giveaway bundle has everything to connect the young creators in your life with The Story Pirates! The bundle includes all three Story Pirates albums, an upcoming "made-up holidays" EP, their most recent middle grade reader, and a 2-month membership in the Story Pirates Creator Club. 

About the Story Pirates 

The Story Pirates believe that kids are creative geniuses. All of them. This nationally renowned group of top comedians, musicians, best-selling authors and incredible teachers have 15 years of experience creating content that celebrates the imaginations of kids. Winner of the 2020 iHeartRadio award for Best Kids and Family Podcast, The Story Pirates Podcast is one of the top three kids and family podcasts in the world. Downloaded over 20 million times and featuring songs and sketches based on stories written by kids, their special guests include top talent like Billy Eichner, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dax Shepard, Bowen Yang, Claire Danes, John Oliver, and Lake Bell. The Pirates have released three critically acclaimed middle-grade books with Penguin Random House and two award winning albums, all based on ideas from kids around the world. The Creator Club, their new subscription service, features activities, live streamed classes, a daily radio show, and videos to entertain and encourage creativity for kids at home. 

About Sugar Mountain

Sugar Mountain PR is a public relations agency specializing in 

award-winning music and other media for children.

Open To US and must be 18+ to enter

Giveaway Dates ~ 11/14 9:00AM EST through 12/13 11:59PM EST

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Love, Mrs. Mommy and all participating bloggers are not held responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prize obligations. This giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Facebook or any other social media site. The winners will be randomly drawn by Giveaway Tools and will be notified by email. Winners have 48 hours to reply before a replacement winner will be drawn. If you would like to participate in an event like this please contact LoveMrsMommy (at) gmail (dot) com.

The Infamous Frankie Lorde: Stealing Greenwich by Brittany Geragotelis

 

I'm always on the lookout for fun new middle grade books, because this is the age where we want to keep them reading! And this one definitely looks like fun, almost reminding me a little bit of Artemis Fowl, maybe? But of course, with its own twists to make it its own! Check out an excerpt and download your own copy to read and let us know what you think! Follow the tour for even more, plus a great giveaway.

Launch of a new series for upper middle graders about a girl who has lived as an international thief, now returned to the real world.

Frankie Lorde and her dad have been a team for as long as Frankie can remember. Being a tutor under the man responsible for some of the world's biggest heists has given Frankie a unique perspective on the world. And a special set of life skills. Frankie can spot an FBI agent in a second. Pick a lock in two seconds. Steal a Bugatti in three. Then dad is arrested.

Frankie is sent to live with her uncle, her dad's brother who she barely knows, and is, ironically a cop. Now Frankie has to go to middle school, learn what suburban kids wear and eat. But also ironically, Frankie is in Greenwich, CT, one of the richest towns in America. Seeing the starkness of super rich and the super not rich who support the community gives Frankie an idea. How to use her skills for doing good, to even the score. . . .

Read an excerpt:

Let me draw you a picture of my life with Dad. This is what happened during our last daddy/daughter outing:

Dad and I were in Paris, hanging out at a hip local spot, drinking café crèmes—a fancy term for milky coffee, in case you didn’t know—and people-watching. It’s one of our favorite things to do. We take turns coming up with backgrounds and stories for strangers who walk by.

Trust me, it’s a lot more entertaining than it sounds. I’d just dug into the most delicious chocolate croissant when Dad discreetly pointed to a lady crossing the street. She was wearing a smart-looking trench coat and sporting a short, boyish haircut.

“So, Frankie, what’s her deal?” Dad asked me.

I studied her like she was a work of art, noting her appearance and the way she moved and then taking in any other details she was giving away. If you know what to look for, it’s easy to tell exactly who a person is within the first fifteen seconds of meeting them.

And who taught me this cool superpower? My dad. See, I told you he’s awesome.

“She’s American. That’s obvious. Look at her shoes,” I said, gesturing at the boringly practical black flats the woman was wearing. “She’s trying to act like she’s not in a rush, but she is. And she’s nervous about something. Maybe she’s meeting someone for the first time? Her trench coat isn’t a fashion statement. It’s there to hide what’s underneath, which appears to be . . .”

I squinted in the midmorning sun in an attempt to see better.

“ . . . very unstylish and poorly fitting pants,” I finished. “She’s a professional of some kind, though her appearance doesn’t seem to be a concern of hers, so I’d guess she’s not in media or entertainment, or any field where she has to sell things to people, for that matter.”

Buy on Amazon

(affiliate link)

Brittany Geragotelis is living the dream. After 10 years of rejection from the publishing industry, she began to post her original novel, Life's a Witch, on the online writing site, Wattpad, hoping that others would enjoy reading her book. A year after the first upload, the book had received 19 million reads, which caught the attention of Publisher's Weekly, The Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

After building up some buzz in the industry, she hooked up with her agents who instantly received interest from publishers and movie/tv producers. Within weeks, Life's a Witch went into auction between four major publishing houses, and in the end Brittany landed a 3-book deal with publishing powerhouse, Simon & Schuster.

http://www.brittanygeragotelis.com

http://www.facebook.com/BrittanyGeragotelis

http://www.twitter.com/TheBookSlayer

http://www.youtube.com/TheBookSlayer

http://www.pinterest.com/TheBookSlayer

http://www.instagram.com/TheBookSlayer

The author is giving away a print copy of the book (US only). Follow the tour for more chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read an exclusive excerpt from Nine Ways to Empower Tweens #LifeSkills by Kathleen Boucher

 

Ah, the tween years. Not a time I would necessarily want to revisit! But it's a time that really needs some extra help and guidance, because it is such a confusing time in life. Here's one book that aims to do so. Check out an exclusive excerpt before you get your own copy. Be sure to follow the tour for even more! Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Nine Ways to Empower Tweens #LIFESKILLS is a self-help book for tweens. Fraternal twins Emma and Elliot teach tweens practical life strategies that they've learned from their parents and teachers. These life skills include how to have more confidence when presenting in class, the importance of work ethic, a simple writing technique to help deal with anger, and more. There are exercises at the end of each chapter that tweens can use to integrate what they've learned.

"Engagingly written and well-designed, NINE WAYS TO EMPOWER TWEENS #LIFESKILLS by Kathleen Boucher should be required reading for teenagers and even older readers interested in building personal strength, developing a positive mind-set and achieving goals throughout their lives."
- Andrea Karen Hammer for IndieReader

Check out an excerpt:

BUY LINKS

AMAZON US * AMAZON CA * KINDLE *  BOOKSHOP * INDIGO CHAPTERS * BARNES & NOBLE * BOOK DEPOSITORY * RAKUTEN KOBO * SMASHWORDS 

(affliate links included)

Excerpt text:

Chapter 1: How to Speak Confidently


"Here is how to be confident in just about anything: Write down on a piece of paper what you already do well. Are you an amazing writer, singer, or guitar player? Are you great at tying your shoes, making your bed, keeping your room neat, washing dishes, singing in the shower, feeding the dog, zooming around in your wheelchair, hugging your parents, doing schoolwork, or riding a bike? Remember that list. Each time you try something new, first remember something you are really, really good at doing. Remember something that makes you confident. Then, take that confidence and associate it with whatever you are trying that is new. It's as simple as that."

**My thoughts**

Self-help and self-empowerment are hot topics for us adults right now. It's good to start implementing some of these skills in kids, so that ideally, they can grow up to be healthier adults. And the tween years are horribly difficult. Any positive guidance at this age is fantastic.

This book is told from the point of view of fraternal twins Emma and Elliot. My guess is that's to make it seem like it is coming more from peers than an adult. And then, of course, you have one boy and one girl sharing their stories. As an adult, I didn't buy that tweens wrote this book, or at least not without a ton of adult help. But perhaps kids won't quite catch on to that as easily. 

I think this is the kind of book that tweens, and even older teens, should slowly work through and process. It is a lot to take in, especially when you are already in a time of great change and growth. It could work for individuals with a trusted adult with whom they could discuss their situations and progress. I think it could also work for some small group discussions, with individual follow-up.

It reads quite similarly to some of the current adult empowerment articles and books, though the example situations are more geared toward some that tweens and teens might encounter. This is where I think the small group and/or individual discussions could come in handy, to better help the tweens apply the different chapters to their own lives. They still need to do the work in themselves, but some guidance would be good.

I'd actually love to sit down with some of my tweens and teens with whom I am still in touch from when I taught them in their younger years and work through some of these chapters with them. We already have some of these conversations, but perhaps this book could provide some further talking points.

Honestly, I think that adults would also benefit from reading this. A lot of the referenced works for further reading would also be good for adults to read.

I received a requested review copy from the author and Goddess Fish Promotions. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Kathleen Boucher is an award-winning children's book author, a certified lifestyle coach, a certified neurocoach, a certified stress and wellness consultant, and a registered nurse. Her mission is to inspire kids to follow their dreams. Nine Ways to Empower Tweens #LIFESKILLS gives tweens strategies that empower them.


CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Great-kids-and-me-661472150542382/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodoutstanding

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-boucher-7b6b0246/

Website: https://www.boucherbooks.com/

Kathleen Boucher will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Wonders of the Peculiar Parasol (A Dragonstone Story) by Mark M. Even

Welcome to the Name Before the Masses tour for The Wonders of the Peculiar Parasol, the first book in a series about Mandy Mandez and her extended family's special magic. Check out an excerpt from this book and a special preview of the next book in the series! Be sure to follow the tour for even more. And then enter the giveaway for a $20 gift card at the end!

The Wonders of the Peculiar Parasol is an outstanding fantasy that shows how Mandy discovers her magic under strange circumstances. It focuses on how Mandy will get home and how she'll discover her real purpose in coming to this land, providing the basics of how this new world operates in a manner that elementary-level readers can readily understand: "The parasol and the dragonstone work together to sense the presence, or lack of presence, of the inner magic of the person holding the parasol. The dragonstone uses the infinite power of the sun to tap or channel or access that magic. And one way it does that is to transport an individual to Storyworld.”

As Mandy harbors a secret, puzzles out how to use the dragonstone, and interacts with her family while battling lizards and building an army, young readers will relish the blend of real-world family dilemmas and fantasy world encounters.(D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review)

Read an excerpt:

She opened the parasol and placed it on her shoulder. Just as she started twirling it, she heard the creak of the back door to the house open. Grandma rushed out, waving her arms and shouting, “Mandy, wait! Don’t!”

Too late, it’s my turn! Mandy thought.

A blue glow fell across her. Her vision blurred in the blue light. She felt like she was standing still… and spinning at the same time. Indistinct, blurred images appeared and disappeared in front of her, quickly fading away. She felt frustrated; she couldn’t quite make out what the images were.

Finally, she found herself standing on a desolate hillside. Below spread an open vista of hundreds of acres of land covered in boulders. Across this landscape, large and small vents spewed steam, which condensed into shimmering silver, white, and blue water vapor rising into the stark blue sky.

Turning to her right, Mandy saw a large unevenly formed mountain some distance away. On top of the mountain sat what appeared to be an old stone castle with massive parapets and what Mandy thought was… a drawbridge.

There were some… creatures flying around the castle and in between the fortifications and towers.

“I wonder what those are,” Mandy said aloud, squinting her dark hazel eyes to try and make out their shapes.

Behind Mandy, a deep bass voice loudly said, “Oh… no! How did we get to Talon?”

 Available on Amazon

(affiliate link)

Take a sneak peek at the next book:

The Wonders of the Peculiar Parasol is the 1st book of a 4 (currently) book series. The subtitle of the book, “A Dragonstone Story”, identifies the ongoing story of Mandy Mandez and her extended family as they deal with the magic they can wield through a dragonstone.

The 2nd book, The Power of the Emerald Ring, continues the story and tells the reader how the family copes with using magic in the real world rather than within the fantasy worlds that the magic parasol had provided. While they struggle with hiding their powers from the authorities, they also decide that they want to use their powers to help mankind. And in doing so, they discover that they are not alone – that there are others that are also magical, but that use magic for their own personal benefit.

The Power of the Emerald Ring is in the final stages of editing by Cresting Wave Publishing and will be available September 2020.

Here is a preview of the cover art for The Power of the Emerald Ring:

About the author:

I retired from almost 40 years working for IBM in Mar, 2017. I’ve been married for 43 years to my wife, Joyce and have 3 children and 8 grand-children. I enjoy golfing, fishing, bird-watching and travel.

Shortly after retiring from IBM in 2017, I was at a small-town celebration in northern Wisconsin and noticed that a number of the little vendor booths were people selling children’s books that they created and self-published. I looked at these and told myself that I could write something like that. And I did, but these were the type of books that were targeted at small kids and needed vibrant pictures and artwork.

In the spring of 2018, I was visiting my niece and her family, and she told me of this wonderful idea for a story for a children’s book and after talking with her about it, we agreed to collaborate and I took on the task of writing the story. After many iterations, The Wonders of the Peculiar Parasol became a reality.

www.dragonstonestories.com (Mark Even website)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Even-Books-106679040686753/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19679689.Mark_M_Even

www.gocwpub.com (Cresting Wave Publishing)

Mark M. Even will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Case of the Missing Holy Grail (The Penny Pendleton Mysteries) by C. Francis Carnicelli

She's an ace detective and she's only nine! Penny Pendleton, and her teenage body-guard, friend, and assistant Moose McGillicutty, find out that going to the annual Comic-Con in their hometown of Crab Apple Cove is anything but boring! Looks like someone has stolen a Holy Grail movie cup prop and it's up to Penny, Moose, and a gathered team of misfits to find the Grail! There's action, deception, revenge, and all done with a comedic flair.

Available on Amazon

Follow the author on Amazon!

Find the Penny Pendleton series on Facebook!

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Review of Beijing: A Symmetrical City

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**
What I loved about this book: The illustrations are intricately detailed to really give you a feel for how the city looks even today. There is so much wonderful information in the text, including translations of the names of places. As you're reading it, you're given directions that make you feel like you are right there walking around with the author. I want to go visit the city in person, and likely use this book as a guide while doing so, like my own personal tour guide as I am walking around. Fun facts also give more insight into the history of the city. We also learn about traditional ceremonies and everyday life.

In the back, the city is presented again, this time going from the south to the north, with different drawings to give a different perspective and diagrams showing the different talking points. A full glossary is helpful for vocabulary.

What I didn't like about the book: To me, the print is awfully small, at least in my review copy. It reminded me more of a footnote-sized print. I understand that there is a lot of information to be shared with each picture, but it made it very difficult to read and follow along.

Other than the really small print, I did find this book to be overall quite informative and interesting.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for fulfilling my request for a review copy.

Review of SUPER Science Experiments: Build It by Elizabeth Snoke Harris

With more than 80 fun experiments, SUPER Science Experiments: Build It is the ultimate lab book for kids who want to build cool stuff!

This fact- and fun-filled book includes tons of simple, kid-tested science experiments, many of which can be done with items from around the house, and require little-to-no supervision! That’s right—no adult help needed. That means no grownups doing all the fun stuff while you watch. You can do lots of messy, cool, mind-blowing experiments all by yourself! All the supplies you need are probably already in your home. No fancy gadgets or doohickeys needed!

Whether you want to build your own catapult, lava lamp, rocket, or even a light bulb, this book has something for everyone. Each experiment features safety precautions, materials needed, step-by-step instructions with illustrations, fun facts, and further explorations.

With SUPER Science Experiments: Build It, kid scientists like you can:

• Make a chair with newspapers
• Erupt a ketchup volcano
• Send a rocket into the air with the stomp of your foot
• See which direction you’re facing with a homemade compass
• Race little cars made from toilet paper tubes
• Build an electromagnetic motor
• And complete many other SUPER science experiments!

At once engaging, encouraging, and inspiring, the SUPER Science Experiments series provides budding scientists with go-to, hands-on guides for learning the fundamentals of science and exploring the fascinating world around them. Also in this series, check out: Cool Creations, At Home, and Outdoor Fun.

There’s no better boredom-buster than a science experiment. You will learn something and astound and amaze your friends and family. So, what are you waiting for? Get experimenting!

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

(affiliate link)

**My thoughts**

This is another great collection of experiments that older kids can do pretty independently from adults. And younger kids can do them with some adult supervision. I've done some of these with the older fours and fives in my class. We had fun with bouncing balls, different kinds of rockets (like the balloon ones), and a volcano. So many more are waiting to be tried, though!

A lot of these items can be found around the house, but you may need to go shopping for some. It's another book that is going to provide weeks of entertainment while learning and a great part of this series.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of Gidget the Surfing Dog by Elizabeth Rusch

Meet Gidget, a small but mighty pug who overcame a life-threatening illness to become a world-champion surfing dog. Her story is told with beautiful, eye-catching photography that features adorable canines on and in the water.

This is the inspiring true story of Gidget, a world-champion surfing pug, who grew from a hyperactive handful of a pup to a poised and impressive surfer whose efforts are devoted to charity.

As she and her owner Alecia find their way through challenges including a life-threatening illness, Gidget's story becomes not only about a dog learning to surf and compete in dog surfing competitions but also about making the most of the life you are given and giving back to your community.

Gidget the Surfing Dog is filled with fun and informative science sidebars that help kids understand how waves are formed, how to identify different types of waves, and other aspects of the science of surfing. The book also covers the problem of trash in the ocean--an issue that Gidget and Alecia work together to address.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

(affiliate link)

**My thoughts**

I admit I almost squeed when I saw the picture of this adorable pug in a suit on a surfboard. I absolutely adore pugs and would love to have one, only my allergies would not allow me to have one full-time. 

But this pug is not your ordinary pug. In fact, she seems to want to defy all of the rules. She is super active and she actually loves water. And eventually, she becomes a surfing dog, even having success after a massive setback. You get to see her story play out in real photographs. They are so CUTE!

You also get to learn a lot about surfing. I do not do well in deep water, so I have never learned much about the sport. Now I know a lot more! And you get to learn about the problems of beach pollution. So you get some good education thrown in with all of the cute.

It would be an interesting read for a kid who is into surfing. And it's a must-have for one who loves pugs.

Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of Lucy the Bee and the Healing Honey by Alessandra Macaluso

Lucy the honeybee lives a buzzy and bee-a-utiful life with her bee buddies from the red hive--painting her home with propolis, collecting pollen, and playing with her best friend, Molly. That is, until members of the red hive fall sick and not even their delicious red honey will heal them. As the bees struggle with how to help their hive, Lucy has an idea: could the other, forbidden hives in the forest hold the cure her friends so desperately need? Although she knows it's forbidden, Lucy devises a plan to travel across the forest in search of help, hope, and healing honey.

Join Lucy on a high-flying adventure in this sweet and educational chapter book. Complete with colorful illustrations by Thais Damiao, Lucy the Bee and the Healing Honey is certain to get everyone buzzing.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**

Lucy is a sweet bee who is determined to help those around her, even though they have prejudices against the other bees around them. As she goes on her quest, she gets help from these other bees and finds out that they really aren't so bad after all. Even though their honey isn't the same color, it is still good. It's a good lesson for kids to learn. Plus there are some educational pieces in the back about bees, so a bit of science is in there as well.

Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of How to Make a Better World: For Every Kid Who Wants to Make a Difference by Keilly Swift

This fun and empowering guide to making the world a better place is packed with inspiring ideas and tips for kids who want to know how to make a difference.

Full of positive encouragement to find something you're passionate about and how to get started on making a big difference through small actions, this brilliant fact book for kids is a treasure trove of information and great advice.


There's a lot that can be changed by just one person, if you know what to do.

If you are a kid with big dreams and a passion for what is right, you just might be a world-changer in the making! Through ideas as small as creating a neighborhood lending library to as important as public speaking and how to talk about politics, How to Make a Better World is a practical guide to activism for children.

Well-written and divided into sections on You, Community, Environment and more, this educational book helps children to look at what they might like to achieve, and the logical approach makes it easy to navigate if you want to tie topics up with school projects.

Brightly illustrated inclusive art makes this fact book as visually appealing as its message. You can easily jump around without any loss of comprehension and dip in for short or longer periods. Learn about tricky social interactions like friendship fallouts, or bullies and how to handle them, or find out how to go about creating activist campaigns to tackle climate change or social injustice.

If kids are to think positive thoughts and be part of movements for positive change, they need to be encouraged to do it. This book is full of wonderful facts about the world, presenting such positivity as cool, sensible, exciting, and achievable. The perfect starter book to activism for kids.

Make A Change – Change The World!

If you want to create a better world that is equally awesome for everyone, this book is for you.

It's packed with tips for how to change the world, one step at a time. You could be an amazing environmental campaigner or a fantastic equal rights champion.

Anyone has the power to make a change. Start today, and who knows where your mission to make a better world will lead!

Authored by Kelly Swift, the Managing Editor of First News, an award-winning weekly newspaper for children.

This kid’s educational book teaches children about injustices of the world in a positive way covering topics like:
- Finding your cause, discrimination, and spotting fake news
- Conservation success and the plastic problem
- Animal activism and green living

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**

Remember when Michael Jackson told us to start with the Man in the Mirror if we wanted to see change in the world? That's how this book starts out. Kids learn about self-care, how to be kind, how to recognize their own emotions and harness the power of positive thinking. Once you are taking acre of yourself, then you can start to branch out to others around you, friends and family, in your community, and beyond. You also learn about lots of famous activists and their causes. Bonus points for the special section on spotting fake news, which is a rampant issue we all should be thinking about.

There's a lot of information on these pages and lots of ideas for activities that you can do. Some of the pages feel a little busy because there is SO much information on them with the pictures. But it is a lot of good information. You can start with one or two small activities and build up to the bigger ones. Plus there's a whole list of resources and organizations in the back.

Kids today are even more interesting in becoming activists than before. Or at least it is getting a lot more attention than when I was a kid. This book is definitely going to appeal to those kids who want to make a change in this world. My inner tween/teenager flashed back and started feeling a little ramped up to start implementing some of these changes and activities even now as an adult. 

Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dwarf Story by Professor W.W. Marplot

Arty has many adventures awaiting him in his very own backyard, with plenty of fairy tale characters and his own friends. Read an excerpt from this middle grade fantasy and then download your copy to achieve your own adventure! Be sure to follow the tour for even more. Remember to leave comments and questions for the author along the way! And best of luck entering the giveaway.

For Arty to miss a day of school, either he is very, very sick or a fairytale-character turf-war has begun in his backyard — such as what begins this particular Wednesday. First, he finds an ax-swinging, bearded, sweaty warrior Dwarf scaring his dogs. Soon enough, Emma, Cry and other middle-school friends also find fairy creatures — Elves, Spriggans, Pixies, and a hoped-for Dragon — crashing into their normal homework-doing, backpack-carrying, phone-charging schooldays.

Why are these magical beings here? What should be done? Is that axe sharp? Can Pixies be given aspirin? Arty with his friends — and spying jerks, and questionable strangers with long names — follow the clues and try to find out, even as things turn dark and dangerous.

The mythical beings are taking sides. The Gwyllion, that legendary Old Woman of the Mountains, has a sinister plan, turning the neighborhood into a fantasy battleground. One that awaits young heroes.

Read an excerpt:

CHAPTER 10 - EMMA

I can’t be sure about everything Arty just told you. I wasn’t there. Our stories will join soon, and it’ll be fun to see Professor Arty try to use black-and-white, Courier-font science facts to make sense of a fantasy realm character landscaping his backyard. He’ll have to admit that he’s just a kid and was awfully afraid during that whole Dwarf-in-the-woods episode, even though fear is not part of the “scientific method” that he brags about all the time. I’m much more normal than he is and much more unique at the same time. And more popular. So, my version will be different, more colorful, more alive, and more imaginative—which is the way fantastic things deserve to be treated. They need to be drawn, believed, written about in long poems.

Especially with what happened next...

Available on Amazon 

(affiliate link)

Professor Welkin Westicotter Marplot, of Coillemuir, Scotland, is a collector of esoteric tales of global wisdom and curator of ancient manuscripts. He is a recluse and, as he claims, has been collecting and collating adventure and fantasy stories for over a century.

Professor W. W. Marplot will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of Bark Park by Brandi Dougherty

Scout's a little dog with a big appetite for solving mysteries with her friends! From Epic! Originals, Bark Park is an adventure-filled series about the strange things that happen at Scout’s local dog park.

With a little sleuthing and a lot of blueberries, Scout follows her nose to help her friends Maggie, Rocky, and Gus solve the mysteries of the popped ball, the cone of shame, and the missing bone!

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

**My thoughts**

This cute set of three stories revolves around a dog named Scout and her friends at the local dog park. There's nothing they love more than a good mystery. And in these three stories, they have little ones to solve. I think my favorite one is the second one, "Cone of Shame," where Rocky is wearing a cone to keep him from licking the sore on his paw. Of course, he doesn't know why he has it on and isn't sure how it got on him in the first place. It's amusing to read about them trying to get it off of him, and exactly the kinds of conversations and antics I think dogs may actually be saying, thinking, doing whenever one of them is wearing one of these!

Each story has a reason for why it is being told. At the end of the book, each of the "mysteries" is explained with the facts about it. For example, in the "Cone of Shame" story I mentioned earlier, the author explains why dogs sometimes need to wear cones. I really like this part.

The illustrations are really cute and very colorful. This is a fun read for chapter book readers!

Thank you the the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of Jasmine Green Rescues: A Piglet Called Truffle by Helen Peters

Meet Jasmine Green — an aspiring veterinarian who adores animals! Can her kindness and know-how save a piglet in trouble in this delightful series debut?

Jasmine Green loves animals. Her mother is a veterinarian. Her father is a farmer. And her brother and sister are . . . well, they’re mostly annoying. But being in the Green family means seeing and taking care of animals all the time. While helping her mom on a house call, Jasmine visits a new litter of piglets and discovers a forgotten runt hidden underneath its brothers and sisters. Poor little piglet. It is so tiny that it can’t even drink! Its owner refuses to rescue it. So it is up to Jasmine to save the pig . . . secretly. What will happen if anyone finds out? Author Helen Peters and illustrator Ellie Snowdon introduce the irresistible pair of clever, caring Jasmine and lovable Truffle, while capturing the beauty and bustle of a family farm. A kind of James Herriot for a new generation, this first book in the Jasmine Green series is for anyone who loves helping animals.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**

Hello, Charlotte's Web flashbacks! (At least in the beginning.) I was struck by the first illustration of the piglets at the farm that Jasmine visits with her veterinarian mother, noticing immediately that it reminded me of the pictures from my beloved childhood copy of Charlotte's Web. And then, of course, Jasmine discovers this little runt of a pig. To save it from being killed, she decides to keep it and raise it on her own. 

But this story is different and really sweet and subtly educational. I never knew all that would be involved in rescuing a runt pig, but now I do. And I learned it just by the way the story was told, not as a scientific lesson, which I really liked. It was a fun way to learn something new about pigs. You also get little tidbits about other animals.

And Jasmine's relationship with her new pig is so sweet, plus how she works at training Truffle and acclimating her to the farm life. Jasmine is also an enterprising young woman and will go far in achieving her dreams, I think!

I really enjoyed this chapter book, and I know that I would have devoured it and the others in the series when I was girl. I probably also would have been begging to go to the farm and/or get another pet. I hope to read more in this series.

Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of What's the Point of Math? by DK

You may not realize it, but math controls just about everything in our world.

From cracking codes to winning game shows, from predicting comets to solving crimes, this unique book reveals where our most important math ideas came from (you'll be surprised!). It might change your mind about math forever!

What's the Point of Math? explains really simply how essential math ideas work and identifies the extraordinary things you can do with them. It's full of crazy facts, magic tricks, and mathematical brainteasers, along with beautiful illustrations that bring math to life. It will amuse and entertain even the most reluctant of math students.

From measuring a pyramid to becoming a trillionaire, this book is perfect for those who need some inspiration when it comes to numbers - in the classroom and in the real world. You'll find out why an hour has 60 rather than 100 minutes, what it takes to catch a cheat, and how math keeps our secrets safe.

Hands-on "Try it out" examples show readers how to solve everyday math challenges, while colorful and uncluttered illustrations throughout make mathematical explanations easy to grasp in seconds.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

(affiliate link included)

**My thoughts**

Kids often want to know why they have to learn math, because they think they won't have to use it when they are older, or that they can just use a calculator as an easy shortcut. This book takes a look at the history of the various aspects of math, from counting to probability to shapes and more. And then it tries to apply it to how we use it today in a way that kids should be able to understand. For example, one part discussing proportion and percentages shows how you can apply that knowledge to getting a bargain at the store. Quite practical, right? And the patterning section gets into code breaking, which is going to also appeal to some kids. There are even some fun activities to try out to explore the different concepts.

I love history and I love math, so this book is a perfect combination for someone like me. It has an overwhelming amount of information in it. It is not going to appeal to all kids, though. They will likely have to already have somewhat of an interest in history and/or math to actually pick this up and start paging through it. But they can learn a lot if they do. 

Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review of The Vegetarian Cookbook by DK

Full of tasty and filling recipes, this vegetarian cookbook for kids offers up a range of more than 60 dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacktime.

Budding young cooks will be excited by the variety of healthy and fun vegetarian meals that are incredibly easy to make. Each recipe is carefully put together by an expert author and there is a nutritionist on board to check there's a balance of vitamins, minerals, protein, and carbohydrates throughout the book. Studies have shown that lowering your meat intake can be incredibly beneficial for you and your child's health as well as helping the environment. Food fact files and helpful tips throughout the book give advice on how to achieve a balanced diet, ensuring every nutritional need is covered for growing young minds and bodies. The pre-teen and teenager categories are often forgotten, but this all-encompassing vegetarian cookbook fills that gap by suggesting foods that will help with concentration, developing hormones, and overall mental well-being.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * BN * IndieBound

(affiliate link)

**My thoughts**

You can always count on DK books to be full of information and gorgeous illustrations. Or in this case, also beautiful photographs. This one starts out with an in-depth look at the kitchen, tools, and safety rules for being in there. And there is a thorough discussion of how to eat properly on a vegetarian diet. A lot more people are going the vegetarian or vegan route, so kids need to be educated on that and have ideas for foods they can make for themselves. I love the descriptions of the different foods and why each one is good for you to include in your diet. (Psst! Parents could learn a lot from this, too!)

The first recipe is Avocado mash on sourdough toast. People like to scoff and call that a Millennial breakfast. I'm here to tell you that I'm far from being a Millennial and this has been one of my favorite breakfasts since before it became super trendy. But I haven't tried this version, yet. 

I defy you to not get hungry as you page through this book. Every single recipe has a huge photo of the finished product that is so vibrant, you just want to reach right into the page and grab it to try. Some of the recipes also have the individual ingredients pictured along the edges to help kids identify those components. Each recipe includes clear instructions about how to make each one.

A lot of the recipes do require some cooking and baking, plus a lot of cutting and chopping. So your child should be older and used to the kitchen if preparing independently. I would still recommend being close by while they are working. Younger children can easily help with some aspect of each of these recipes, though.

You're covered for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack times. A couple of these could also double as a healthy dessert. And then there is a delectable dessert section at the end.

Even if you are not a vegetarian or a child, you're going to want to add this cookbook to your collection, because these recipes are fantastic.

Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.