Review: The Secret Lives of Animals by Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer + Giveaway

The Secret Lives of Animals

Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer

Children's Nonfiction

Falcon Guides

October 1, 2015

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s | IndieBound | Books-a-Million | Falcon Guides

The Secret Lives of Animals is the perfect mix of field guide know-how and armchair entertainment. In addition to the standard field guide notes and range maps, the meat of the book will offer up “spark moments” in nature—something fascinating or memorable that catches your attention and sets you on a path of lifelong learning. The Secret Lives of Animals will feature more than 100 North American animals and over 1,000 tidbits in a fun, colorful, illustrated format.

Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

The Secret Lives of Animals is a fun reference guide with lots of great facts and nice illustrations. I loved that it concentrated on North American animals. It encourages kids to head outside and look around nature to see what they can spot.

Each animal, bird, sea creature and insect is presented with an illustration and interesting facts in an easy to read and understand format. Some feature "Science Q and A" and others have a "Go Outside" box that explains how to find the creature in the wild. I thoroughly enjoyed the "little-known facts" presented on each animal, and I'm sure children will enjoy this feature as well.

The sections are well-organized, featuring invertebrates up to large mammals. There is also an index in the back to make finding a particular animal a snap. I liked the section in the back, "Animals by State and Province", with a quick breakdown of where to find each animal.

Any book that encourages children to head outside for some fresh air is aces in my book. This is a great book for fun and for school projects.

About the Authors

Website  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Pinterest  /  YouTube

Stacy Tornio is an Oklahoma girl at heart, though she’s lived in Wisconsin for the last 10 years. As editor of Birds & Blooms Magazine, Stacy is able to share her love of backyard nature. Her first book, Cathy’s Animal Garden, takes readers on a picture journey into the neighbor’s scary backyard in search of a homerun baseball. Project Garden, her recent book, is a monthly guide filled with activities to keep the whole family gardening all year long. Along with her husband, Steve, Stacy enjoys watching her two children explore nature in their Milwaukee backyard and on trips up north.

Ken Keffer was born and raised in Wyoming.  A vagabond naturalist, he’s done a little bit of everything, from monitoring mice and vole populations and picking up carnivore scat in Grand Teton National Park to researching flying squirrels in the Tongass National Forest of southeast Alaska, and monitoring Bactrian camels in Mongolia’s Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area. He’s also worked as an environmental educator in Wyoming, northern New Mexico, coastal Maryland, and along the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio. Ken enjoys birding, floating on lazy rivers, and fly fishing in the mountains out west.

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Review: Inspector Dewey by Kristen Heimerl + Giveaway

Inspector Dewey

Written by Kristen Heimerl

Illustrated by Irene Bofill

Children's Picture Book

3 Norwegians

August 2015

My name is Dewey--Inspector Dewey.

I live in the big green house on Hampshire Avenue with my family: Thumper, Lily, and Anna. I am the Big Cat—responsible for keeping everyone safe and in order. I do this quite well, in spite of the fact that managing my family is like, well, herding cats!

Mostly our life is peaceful. But one night it wasn’t. That was the night the bad guy showed up on our block. Of course, I knew exactly how to outsmart the outlaw, but—miserable mullet!—would Anna and the police understand my instructions?

To find out how the adventure ended, you’ll have to read my book. But I’ll give you a hint: there’s a reason I’m called Inspector Dewey.

Fifty percent of the profits from the sale of this book will fund veterinary care for pets whose families are in financial need, so that the animals can remain in their homes and out of the shelter system.

BECAUSE PETS BELONG WITH THEIR PEOPLE™

To learn more, visit threenorwegians.com

Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Absolutely adorable. Yep, that describes Inspector Dewey to a tee. Charming characters, a fun plot, and beautiful illustrations make this children's story a winner in my book. The copy I received for review is huge and very high quality-- and this is a galley copy. I'm assuming the read deal is even nicer.

The story was fun and exciting. I loved that the kitties' owner helped them stop the crime. How cool is that? So many books have the animals working together, but the adults are always in the dark. Not in this story. Owner Anna crawls right along with Dewey, Thumper, and Lily to help the police catch a criminal.

I loved the illustrations. They were soft and beautiful. The cats just looked so happy :) I love reading a book that leaves me smiling!

About the Author

Kristen Heimerl

Marketing Officer, Strategy Expert, Innovator and Brand Builder, Kristen’s business career spans 20+ years serving the biggest brands in industry and the biggest hearts of start-ups and entrepreneurs. Kristen revels in bringing compelling products and services to life and helping leaders and individuals with big dreams realize their big goals.

Kristen’s life joys include her 2+ year obsession creating the most beautiful self-published picture book possible, the breathtaking forests and lakes of her Minnesota birthplace, the family that really does love her no matter what, and her three magnificent Norwegian Forest Cats who together, with Kristen, helped catch the bad guy on their block that inspired her upcoming book (stake out and high speed chase included!)

She holds a master of science in eCommerce from Carnegie Mellon University, an MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, and a BA from the University of St. Thomas. As the great transformer in her life, Kristen supports others’ education and literacy as an adjunct professor of business and strategy and, more recently, through her children’s book, Inspector Dewey (Available September 2015).

Kristen’s site for her work “Inspector Dewey” will be premiering on May 31st, 2015. In addition, you can read more about Kristen’s work at threenorwegians.com, also live on May 31st.

Connect with Kristen:   Website  ~   Facebook Author  ~   Facebook Inspector Dewey 

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Meet the Characters: Ennara and the Fallen Druid by Angela Myron

Ready to meet more characters? Today Angela Myron, author of Ennara and the Fallen Druid, joins us to share more about her pre-teen novel's chracters.

Ennara and the Fallen Druid won a silver medal at the 2013 Moonbeam Chlidren's Book Awards for best pre-teen ebook!

Meet the characters of Ennara:

​Ennara

She's more than a little annoyed that she's been singled out as "special". Being special, thus far, has meant that she isn't allowed to visit interesting places, like the city, that she has to cover the stupid tattoo on her hand, and study texts when she'd rather be outside. When she's asked to help a wizard find a sword, she's pretty sure she can't help. And the whole bringing the dead back to life thing just creeps her out.

Kithe

He's the hero who hasn't grown into it quite yet. A boy with an incorruptable heart and a wisdom beyond his years. Thankfully, he follows Ennara when she mysteriously leaves town, and helps her get out of a heap of trouble. Also, he's kind of funny.

Smoos

What would an adventure be without a giant cat? Smoos would be the most beloved pet on the pirate ship Cissonius, if she wasn't so moody and did anything more than catch fish for herself. When she gets a chance to leave the gold grubbers, she jumps to it, lands squarely in Ennara's adventure, and becomes one of the story's favorite heroes.

Gevin

A lost prince of a long-forgotten kingdom, Gevin adds the intelligence, resources, and strength of a teen to the group. He's a bit mysterious, and might have a thing for Ennara...

I bet you can guess my favorite character! Isn't Smoos adorable?

Ennara and the Fallen Druid

Angela Myron

Middle Grade/Young YA Fantasy

A witty and charming book written for young readers, ages 11-14.

October 31, 2014.

Amazon

Won a silver medal for best pre-teen ebook at the 2013 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards

Eleven year-old Ennara Gaern has a serious grudge against the dragon on her right hand.

Born with a mask that foretold magical powers, she was immediately inked with the fiendish, fire-breathing tattoo that forces her to study boring texts, cover her hand continuously, and worst of all, keeps her from visiting the beautiful capital city, Dordonne. But her quiet life changes when one night she is attacked by a shadowy demon.

Tork, an old friend and wizard, is enlisted to help. But when he arrives, he informs Ennara's parents that she is her world's only hope of finding the legendary Sword of Gisilfrid, which is needed to destroy the curse that is creating the demons. Ennara doesn't want to leave on the dangerous quest, but when she learns the curse threatens her world, she reluctantly agrees.

Ennara and the wizard begin a perilous journey to the Sunken City, pitting them against dangerous oceans and pirates intent on claiming Ennara's magic as their own. With only her friends at her side, including the intelligent, aquatic cat Smoos, Ennara must defeat monsters guarding the sword and servants of the Fallen Druid. When her world is covered in darkness, will she know how to dispel the curse?

Praise:

“What a charmer of a book! The author does a wonderful job portraying this world and the dangers that lurk. She does an equally good job in making all the characters live--not just the main characters, but the secondary characters as well are fully developed. There are some laugh out loud moments when Ennara first starts working her magic. I'm very glad this is the first book of the series. I'm looking forward to Ennara's next adventure!” —Librarian Judith at Straight from the Library

“Great story. Ms. Myron has a fantastic way with words that just easily picks you up and drops you in the middle of this magical place. Fun for that awkward age of 8-12 where finding good, clean books is hard. If you're looking for a take-me-away story, you've found one here. ” —Autumn at The Bearded Scribe

Angela Myron

Ollie the Orca by Laura Maw

Ollie the Orca

Bubba n' Buddies

Laura Maw

Artwork: Mike Motz

Children's Picture Book

October 2014

Amazon

Come along and join Bubba the Bottlenose dolphin as he makes a new buddy while sharing a day they won't soon forget. Grade 1-2 Reading Level

Bubba is out on one of his undersea adventures when he finds a frightened Orca trapped by a fishing net! In this attention gripping yet comical tale, Bubba works with his buddy Sammy the Seagull to free Ollie. Come along and join Bubba the Bottlenose dolphin as he makes a new buddy while sharing a day they won't soon forget.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Ollie the Orca is a sweet story about new friends working together. The illustrations are adorable and will appeal to younger children. I liked the message of working together to help someone in need. While I noticed one mistake, I think most children will read right past it. I read the pdf version and was pleasantly surprised that the illustrations were so crisp even in ebook form.

About the Author

When Laura Maw was a child, her favorite activities were going to the ocean and picking out another stack of books from the library. She loved reading from a very young age and could never seem to satisfy her craving for another new adventure, another new imagination landscape. Writing is a passion that seemed to come naturally with her love of reading. She too wanted to be able to help someone through a bad day, or to have a unique and thrilling experience on a good day, through the written communication of a story. She has a very vivid imagination that often takes her on wondrous adventures in her dreams. In fact, the idea for Bubba’s Balloon came to her in the form of a very funny dream. She woke up laughing and felt that it was a story that must be shared with others. The character of Ollie was even developed through daydreaming about Bubba’s adventures.

https://www.facebook.com/BubbanBuddies

A City Full of Santas by Pooja Sardana - Giveaway

A City Full of Santas

Ranked as #1 BestSeller on Amazon India

This Christmas is special; really special for Santa. Read this lovely Christmas tale that would re-define the meaning of Christmas. A must read for everyone. Just like Pooja's other books, this book brings love, warmth, and a special message. A story that parents would love to read to their children.

Just .99 cents on Amazon.com

Author Pooja Sardana

Pooja Sardana, is a mother, a teacher, an illustrator, an author, a visionary and the co-founder of PictureBookTree. Her books and her initiative - PictureBookTree have been widely covered in Indian media and abroad. Titled as one of the Unsung Hero in 'Saga of the Unsung Heroes of India" , she continues to touch lives of many through her books and her work. Her picture books for children can be availed free of cost by NGOs or individuals working with Under-privileged children. If you work with under-privileged children, you can drop an email at Picturebooktree (AT) GMAIL (DOT) COM to receive your free copy.

Goodreads * Twitter * Facebook

Praise for the Book

"Such a lovely story that brings back the meaning of Christmas, one that many will want to read." 

"Parents/teachers will enjoy reading this story to their children. The children will be full of questions and want to discuss Santa's surprise."

"Artwork "pops" off the pages pleasantly and storyline has a great message. A fine addition to any Christmas collection and it is a children's book that I would recommend!"


Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/4/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Book Blitz: Black Cats and Ballet Slippers by Iva Valentino - Excerpt & Giveaway

Black Cats and Ballet Slippers - Week Blitz

By Iva Valentino

Middle Grade Humor

Date Published: March 7, 2014

Gemma Mayfield feels like middle school is a lot to bite off and chew. School, ballet classes, and planning on how to get Trevor Davis to ask her to the Halloween Dance are a tough balancing act. On top of that, Gemma is convinced that her science teacher, Ms. Pruett, is a witch.

When things start getting fishy at school, Gemma knows that Ms. Pruett is behind it all! Students are getting spells placed on them and start to go missing. Gemma and her best friend, Izzie, vow to stop Ms. Pruett from doing any more damage. Will they be able to save Middleton Middle School from witchcraft?

EXCERPT

Okay, so something REALLY strange is going on. Boys are from a different planet, but right now a few of them at Middleton are acting like they’re from a different universe. (Wait. Does this make sense? Is there more than one universe? Ugh. Maybe I should have paid more attention last year in Astronomy.)

So, by the time I got to Ms. Pruett’s class, I had already worked myself into a super version of “I Don’t Wanna Go To Class Because I’m Creeped Out!” mode. I walked into the Science Laboratory, and I swear I felt the cold of Building 400 smack me right in the face. I’m not kidding.

Of course Ms. Pruett was at the door, acting like her sweet old lady self (ha ha, I know better), and was welcoming all the kids into the classroom. I just kept my head down and muttered a hello as I passed. Staying below the radar was the goal. Then I sat down at my lab table and shivered a bit.

Joey sat down at the table just a second later. Normally he is really loud and obnoxious, cracking jokes, and calling to the other Soccer Jocks across the room. Today he was quiet.

“Hey,” I said, trying to be friendly. I thought maybe we could commiserate on us both having spells cast on us. Joey responded with a “hey” but didn’t say much else. Hello? Was this the Joey I knew?

“So, Joey, are you feeling okay?” I asked. “You know, after yesterday…”

Joey didn’t say anything, but began writing on a piece of paper. He folded up the piece of paper and passed it to me. I gave him a questioning look. He gave me a weird look back that I couldn’t decipher. The note was as follows:

     Hey Gemma,

     Sorry I gave you a hard time yesterday about the “Cute Boy” list. It was kind of rude of me.

     Joey

That’s when it hit me that Joey hadn’t recovered from Ms. Pruett’s spell. For me it was just temporary, like a few minutes. But Joey was acting weird. It had to be the spell.

“Um, thanks,” I said. “Don’t worry about it.” I then started taking out all my school stuff so that I could look busy and not have any more awkward moments with Joey until he felt better. He was taking longer to recuperate.

After class I headed straight down toward the lunchroom. On the way there, I saw Trevor going in the opposite direction past me. Our conversation went like this:

            Me: “Hi Trevor!” (with a big smile and enthusiasm)

            Trevor: “Oh, hi Gemma.” (with zombie-like attitude)

            Me: “Okay, have a good lunch!”

            Trevor: “Okay, thanks. Bye.”

            I wondered where he was going, in the opposite direction from the lunch room when it was lunchtime. It took me another couple of moments to realize that the ONLY classroom in that part of campus was Ms. Pruett’s room. He was headed back toward Building 400!

            Yikes! I turned myself around in mid-stride and turned back the way I came. I knew there was no way possible that Trevor would be going to Ms. Pruett’s. Why would anyone in their right mind be going there by themselves?

            I didn’t want Trevor to think I was stalking him, because of course I would never do that. But just in case that’s what it appeared to be, I used as much stealth as possible. I walked in the shadows and stopped to peek out behind bushes and building walls. I saw him up ahead…just before he ENTERED MS. PRUETT’S CLASSROOM.

            My mouth fell open, and I just sort of stared at the door for a while.

            Weird things are going on here at Middleton. And I think Ms. Pruett’s behind it all!

Iva Valentino

Iva Valentino lives in Arizona with her husband and their dog, Lupo. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Education. She thinks visiting cold places is fun, but she loves living year-round in the warm desert.

Iva spent many years as a middle school teacher, where she enjoyed doing cool science experiments with her students. She currently works as a science editor at an educational publishing company. She loves travel, yoga, and photography. There is nothing that brings her more happiness than a good dance class!

Author Links

Website | Facebook

Buy Link

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | MuseIt Up Publishing

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Book Blast: A Bad Mad Sad Day for Mama Bear by Mayra Calvani - $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

A Bad Mad Sad Day for Mama Bear

 

On a very bad day, Little Bear offers Mama Bear various items to make her feel better, but she's too busy to notice-until he gives her his super, so good, so very special dolly. Silly humor, alliteration, repetition, and onomatopoeia make this a fun read-aloud story. Suggested age range for readers: 3-7.

 

Amazon Kindle * Amazon Paperback

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Praise

"Mayra Calvani magically intertwines two generations perspectives of one's bad mad sad day through caring efforts and that together difficulties can be overcome. A Bad Mad Sad Day for Mama Bear is sure to be a delightful time shared by parents and their young muses." --Amazon reviewer

 

"The humor of the story, married with the artwork, leaps off the page. After seeing the illustrations, you can't imagine the story any other way. With so much to read and see on every page, it is truly captivating - a delight for eye and ear." --Amazon reviewer

 

"Enter Mayra Calvani's world with this sweet and funny story about a little bear that wants to help his overwhelmed mom, who is having a bad, sad and mad day. A great story teaching the little ones, in a fun way, that adults aren't perfect and can have bad days too. Children will enjoy the illustrations. A wonderful gift for this upcoming Christmas!" --Amazon reviewer

 

 

Author Mayra Calvani

 

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications like The Writer, Writer's Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review, and others. She lives in Belgium with her husband of 25+ years, two wonderful kids, and her two beloved pets. When she's not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. She's represented by Serendipity Literary.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Blog 

 

 

 

 

Book Blast Giveaway

 

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/9/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

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