Review: Nighty-Night, Sleep Tight by Jennifer Berne

Follow the setting sun and say good night to sleepy animals all over the world.

Say “nighty-night”—it's animal bedtime all over the world! From the moose in Maine to a Bahama iguana, from the kangaroos in Australia to the pandas in China, sleepy creatures everywhere are ready to rest under blankets of stars. But before they drift into dreams, they send a special kiss to an adorable child—“YOU”—curling up in bed, too. Written in lyrical, soothing rhyme, this endearing bedtime story will lull youngsters to sweet dreamland.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review
Journey around the world with this colorful and cute, rhyming book for children. It's time for sleep and a little tot and her puppy are tucking in other animals. From the moose in Maine to the tigers in Malaysia, the soft pastel colors and the whimsical characters on the pages will appeal to all. 
Stars shine above us,
we're cuddled and curled.
And it's animal bedtime
all over the world.
 The soothing cadence is a sweet addition to bedtime reads. I know the little ones in my family enjoyed it!
  Author
Illustrator

Thank you to Sterling Children's Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 3/5/13
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Pages: 24 (hardcover)
Type: children

Review: The Big Bad Wolf Goes On Vacation by Delphine Perret

The BIG BAD WOLF is back—and funnier (but not scarier) than ever!
 




Doesn't a wolf deserve a vacation, too? Bernard, the clever, cookie-munching hero of Delphine Perret's award-winning book, certainly thinks so. So when he learns that his pal Louis is vacationing by the sea with his grandpa, Bernard wants to go too. Soon they're off on a wacky road trip that ends with the perfect day on the beach. This much-anticipated sequel to the award-winning The Big Bad Wolf and Me is every bit as delightful as the first…and well worth the wait.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review

This story is just in time for warm weather and vacation season. Told in short chapters by a little boy who is taking a trip with his secret best friend (a wolf) and his grandfather. The Big Bad Wolf isn't quite so scary when he's going to the beach! In fact, in this book he's full of all kinds of surprises. Almost every page has multiple illustrations - line drawings in comic book style.  The text is fairly simple and silly describing their adventurous day. Somewhat long by children's book standards (64 pages) this book is enjoyable for the young and young at heart. It made my granddaughter and I both giggle!

Author Delphine Perret has numerous books published in France. Her first book in the U.S. was published seven years ago. I'm happy she decided to do a sequel!

The Big Bad Wolf and Me
 




Author-illustrator
Thank you to Sterling Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.

Release date: 3/5/13
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Pages: 64 (hardcover)
Type: children

Blog Tour: Lisa Loeb's Songs for Movin' and Shakin'

The air band song
 and other 
toe-tapping tunes

This spectacularly fun songbook will get kids off the sofa—guaranteed!

Singer Lisa Loeb will have kids movin' and groovin' with her sparkling second collection of songs and activities—plus a CD with five all-time children's favorites and another five original tunes. It's sure to stir up some fun, as budding musicians discover the joys of playing in an air band (“Turn it Down”); see how to face down scary creatures (“Monster Stomp”); and practice relaxing yoga poses (“Hello, Today”). Ryan O'Rourke's whimsical illustrations light up Lisa's lyrics—and will delight young readers, movers, and shakers.

Songs include:
Turn it Down (The Air Band Song)* •  Father Abraham  •  Miss Mary Mack • Monster Stomp*  • Going Away* •  Do Your Ears Hang Low? •  Everybody Wake Up* • Hello, Today* •  Peanut Butter and Jelly  •  Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.
(*original song)

(Goodreads.com)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review

This book and CD have plenty of "toe-tapping tunes", some I was familiar with and some were new to me. All of them get you moving! The book has the lyrics and whimsical, colorful illustrations to go with each song. They can be enjoyed together or apart. My five year-old granddaughter recognized some songs from preschool and sang along. My one year-old grandson loved to dance to all of them and their little cousins joined in too! 

Doesn't it look like fun? This is enjoyable for all ages and will get everyone moving! We look forward to reading and dancing to these for years to come. We'll also be looking for more from this artist. Join the party and get this set for your family!

Excerpt - Monster Stomp

Lisa Loeb

Author

Illustrator

Publisher

Purchase from Barnes & Noble

Release date: 4/2/13

Publisher: Sterling Children's Books

Pages: 24 (hardcover)

Type: Children (ages 4-7)

Blog Tour - Horten's Incredible Illusions

Sterling Publishing is doing a blog tour of Lissa Evans second book in her Stuart Horten series. I was thrilled to participate since I loved these books!

My review Horten's Incredible Illusions (book #2)
My review Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms (book #1)




The characters are so much fun! Horten is a ten year-old boy who moves to a new town. He discovers his next door neighbors are ten year-old triplets who are junior reporters for their own newspaper and appear very odd. Before long, April becomes a good friend and a loyal and valuable sidekick. Her sister also become assets in Horten's adventures to discover the secrets of his great uncle's (Teeny Tiny Tony Horten) illusions.

Triplets -

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is back at Mailbox Monday this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

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Last week was all about children's books. Those are just as much for me as they are for the kids in my life! What goodies came your way?

Oddkins by Dean Koontz
For review from NetGalley (ebook)

The Elves and the Shoemaker by Deanna McFadden
For review and giveaway from Sterling Children's Books
(I also received seven other fairy tales in the Silver Penny Series)

Yalu and the Puppy Room by Brain T Yates
For review from Bookmasters

Review and Giveaway: The Elves and the Shoemaker told by Deanna McFadden

Elves make magic for a poor shoemaker and his wife in this much-loved tale originally told by the Brothers Grimm. 







Review
 This is the classic retelling of the popular fairy tale The Elves and the Shoemaker. Author Deanna McFadden keeps the story simple but true to the original theme using 40 pages in a cute, little book (5"x7"). The characters convey the importance of hard work, helpful hands and gratitude. There are enough details to delight every age but it is also short enough for little ones to relate to and enjoy.

Marcos Calo has added beautiful illustrations to every page. The soft hues, clothing choices and architectural detail add to the old fashioned style of the book. This charming story has always been a favorite at our house and now I look forward to sharing it with the grandchildren!
  
Author
Illustrator
Thank you to Sterling Children's Books for a book to review.

Release date: October, 2012
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Pages: 40 (hardcover)
Type: children's fiction
 
From the adorable, little Silver Penny Series, a set of eight fairy tales from a variety of author and illustrators.
Puss in Boots

Rapunzel





 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Giveaway
Thanks to the publisher I have one copy to give away!

Rules:
- Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.
- U.S. and Canada only (sorry everyone else!)
- Extra entries available
- Ends 10/26/12, 11:59 pm EST


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Horten's Incredible Illusions by Lissa Evans

Magic, mystery and a 

very strange adventure

This magical follow-up to Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms continues Stuart's amazing adventures--with more enchantment, more surprises, and more thrills. When we last left 10-year-old Stuart, he had just recovered his great-uncle Tony's long-lost magic workshop. Now all the priceless tricks are on display in the Beeton Museum--and Stuart is junior curator of the exhibit! But another mystery awaits Stuart: Where did the great magician hide his will? Only by entering the magic world of the workshop can he find the answer. But as the mechanisms whisk him off on increasingly incredible adventures, the puzzles become harder and harder to solve…and the stakes higher. With even more page-turning action, this second book in the exciting middle-grade series does a magic trick of its own: it's even better than the first!

(Goodreads.com)

~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Review

This sequel was another delightful journey into the magical world of Stuart Horten. I was so impressed with the first book and was thrilled to see the creativity continued here. In Stuart's previous adventure he was able to discover the location of his late uncle's magic tricks but now he is trying to uncover how they work and where the will is hidden. His neighbor and friend, April, is again his loyal sidekick. And he is lucky to have her because he cannot solve these mysteries alone. The puzzles are complicated and dangerous. Stuart has more to learn but more to lose. 

As Stuart becomes more acquainted with his new home the reader also discovers more about his new surroundings. All of the characters are quirky and interesting. Stuart's parents are a bit odd but loving. The triplets are very odd but much more likeable and involved in this book. And of course, every adventure needs a villian! This one has a few and they keep our heroes on their toes. The mysterious magic tricks are another character all by themselves. With names like the Cabinet of Blood, the Reappearing Rose Bower and the Book of Peril the reader knows that Stuart and friends have a rough journey ahead. 

Filled with action, intrigue and more danger than the first book, this story is sure to challenge the mind of young readers and provide entertainment for all ages. I truly hope this charming series continues! 

My review of Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms (Book 1)
Thank you to Sterling Publishing for an ARC to review.

Available at:
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

Release date: 9/4/12

Publisher: Sterling Children's Books

Pages: 352 (hardcover)

Type: middle grade fiction

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at Mrs. Q Book Addict this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy,toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

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Another hot week here but not as bad as many places across the country. And I'll take the heat over the snow! It was a busy week too so I didn't get all the reading done I would have liked to, but it sure didn't stop me from getting more! I hope you had time for both and lots of goodies made it to your house.

Horten's Incredible Illusions by Lissa Evans
For review from Sterling Children's Books (arc)

The Two by Will Carver
Free from Audible (audio)

Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake
Free from Sync (audio)

Jessamine by Eugenia O'Neal
Free from author's blog (ebook)

Review: Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms by Lissa Evans

 Magic, mystery &  a

very strange adventure

The exciting launch title of Sterling's middle-grade fiction list:
HORTEN'S MIRACULOUS MECHANISMS Enter a wonderful world filled with real magic, mystery … and danger.
As if being small for his age and also having S. Horten as his name isn't bad enough, now 10-year-old Stuart is forced to move far away from all his friends. But on his very first day in his new home, Stuart's swept up in an extraordinary adventure: the quest to find his great-uncle Tony--a famous magician who literally disappeared off the face of the earth--and Tony's marvelous, long-lost workshop.  Along the way, Stuart reluctantly accepts help from the annoying triplets next door… and encounters trouble from another magician who's also desperate to get hold of Tony's treasures.
A quirky, smart, charming page-turner, Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms will enchant young readers--as well as teachers, librarians, and parents. 
(Goodreads.com)
~~~~~~~~~~~
Review
This was such a fun story! Stuart is a curious, intelligent but bored young boy who is alone in a new town. Since it's summer vacation he doesn't even have school to meet new friends. With nothing to do and no one to do it with anyway, he is thrilled when a small mystery turns into an amazing adventure. The blurb on the book describes it as "Willy Wonka-like" and I agree that it has the same delicious flavor but is it's own, more sinister, tale. 

The setting is a combination of modern England and fifty years prior during the highlight of great-uncle Tony's career. The Great Hortini (Uncle Tony) was famous for his clever gadgets and illusions but he disappeared without a trace. Now Stuart seems to be chosen to piece together the clues of this family mystery. As he becomes more involved, the adventure becomes dangerous and the pages fly by. This may be a children's book but I was caught up in it from the beginning and I enjoyed every minute. This is the kind of story I craved as a child. The characters are eccentric, humorous and  interesting with the perfect mix of heroes and villains. And the whimsical black and white drawings at the beginning of every chapter add the perfect touch. The ending is very satisfying and answers several questions while nicely setting up the next book.

Delightful, creative and magical - so cliche but so true! This is just the beginning of a new series that I can't wait to continue. The sequel is coming in the fall of 2012.

Thank you to Sterling Children's Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
 facebook.com/StuartHorten 

Release date: 4/3/12
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Pages: 272 (hardcover)
Type: middle grade fiction