Monday, May 19, 2025

Sam by Eric Walters

The blurb on today's read caught my attention. The story is set in a juvenile center with a character, who is temporarily held there. It isn't exactly one I've seen often, especially not for the middle grade audience. I'm hoping it's well done and leaves readers with something to let their brain gears churn about. And not go too far, either, since it is middle grade.

Only one way to find out what this book holds, and so off we go!

Today's post is also part of the weekly MMGM (Marvelous Middle Grade Monday) list, where fans, lovers, and knowers of middle grade literature place their recommendations for the week. If you're looking for literature for this age group (around ages 8 to 12), it's worth taking a look. You'll find that HERE.






SAM
by Eric Walters
DCB Young Readers
Middle Grade Contemporary
208 pages
ages 9 to 12


COMING...
MAY 24th!!!





Redheaded orphan Sam can’t seem to stay out of trouble. His latest incident — defending himself by hitting the high school quarterback in the face with a can of soda — lands him in the Johnson “Blue Gables” Juvenile Center while he awaits trial. Sam needs to keep his nose clean, but can he control his temper when he’s targeted by a long-term Gables resident?

When Sam is given a reading assignment, he thinks he’ll have no interest in a classic book about another redheaded orphan. But he soon realizes that he’s found a kindred spirit in the book, and maybe even an unexpected source of hope.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER


MY TIDBITS


The first few pages had me wondering if this read would be a better fit for the young adult audience, since the main character is in high school and the tale centers around acts of violence, but it slides wonderfully into the middle grade age group (and even younger YA readers) with a powerful message that will bring food for thought. 

Sam's been struggling with life since his parents died in a car accident, leaving him as an orphan in the  foster care system. He's changed homes very often due to his attitude but has managed to keep his record clean. Until three football players from his latest high school cause trouble outside of a store, and Sam breaks the quarterback's nose before they can beat him up. After they target him in the bathroom in a move for revenge, Sam finds himself in court facing all sorts of charges. Despite the entire incidence being in the gray area of right and wrong, the judge places him in a detention center for the several weeks leading up to the trial. Sam has to be on his best behavior to have any chance of doing well at the trial, but his temper, the guards, and the other residents aren't going to make it easy. When his assigned teacher gives him the 'perfect' book to read, he's sure she's picking on him...but the book might be more of a help than he ever suspected.

First off, it was interesting to have a book set in a juvenile detention center, have scenes in the court with a judge, and see talks with lawyers. It lays out the system for the reader in a grabbing way and gives insight into several of the processes and thoughts of those working within the system. And it does this without much bias, keeping Sam's situation and development at the forefront the entire way through. 

Despite Sam's anger issues, he comes across as a likable and understandable character. His past has added baggage to make his attitude understandable, and even when he goes too far, the reasons behind it are laid out to keep him easy to root for. The issues he faces carry enough rawness to grab and add a dash of bite without leaving what is appropriate for the age group. Those around him offer support to add goodness and hope, and other characters bring a few surprising twists along the way. The ending was a bit too perfect for a wrap-up, and that contrasted with the rest of the read, but this also works well with the message of hope and offers inspiration.

The author uses many references to Anna of Green Gables to spice up the plot with a little more wisdom and character arc, which will work better with those, who know a bit about that story (and I'm not sure how many will). However, it's not confusing for those, who don't know about Anna's tale, since the references are explained and are self-explanatory most of the time.

Summed up, this is a grabbing read with sharper edges to draw in and create material for discussions and thought. 



And here he is...

Eric Walters began writing in 1993 as a way to entice his grade five students into becoming more interested in reading and writing. Walters has now published over 130 novels and picture books. His novels have become bestsellers, been translated into sixteen languages, and won over one hundred awards, including ten Forest of Reading awards and the 2020 Governor General’s Literary Award. He conceived of the I Read Canadian Day and is a tireless presenter, speaking to over 100,000 students per year across North America. In 2014, Walters was named a Member of The Order of Canada. He lives in Guelph, Ontario, with his wife, Anita, and they have three grown children — Christina, Nicholas, and Julia — and six grandchildren.

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Happy book birthday, Lady Needed Space by Audrey Weatherstone!



Actually, today's read hits the shelves on the 20th, but since that's only two days away, it totally falls into the birthday category in my book. This tale is about a dog...yep, pup-fans get ready for this one...
and hits themes such as animal shelters and dog's needing space for themselves. I'm hoping this is well done and relatable. 

Let's take a peek and find out how it does!





LADY NEEDED SPACE
by Audrey Weatherstone
Illustrated Natalia Logvanova
Belle Ilse Books
Picture Books
34 pages
ages 3 to 7

COMING MAY 20th!!!

When Lady is brought home from the animal shelter, she feels overwhelmed by the busy world around her, full of unfamiliar dogs, people, sounds, and smells. She doesn't know what to do with her big feelings! But with love and patience from her human, April, Lady learns tricks to help her feel safe, and even makes a new friend. Some days she feels brave, and some days she just needs space.



MY TIDBITS


Learning to respect those who need to step back from life's hustle-bustle comes across with finesse and care in these pages.

Lady waited in the animal shelter for someone to adopt her, and when the time came, she found a perfect home. Everything was great, but going outside for walks among people, cars, and other dogs quickly grew overwhelming. Luckily, her owner might know exactly how to handle the situation.

There are several aspects about this read, which let the goodness flow. Firstly, it wakes awareness for animal shelters and reminds readers/listeners that there are wonderful pets waiting to be discovered in these shelters. Second, it takes on the problem of feeling of being overloaded by the world, and learning how to deal with it. Third, it helps others to understand why animals (and people) sometimes need to take time for themselves and slide back for short periods of time from the rest of the world. And all of this is brought across, while following a cute dog as it settles into a new home.

The illustrations are well done and let each scene come across naturally and understandably. The dog's angst is obvious and makes it easy to sympathize with the various situations. But the wonderful, happy moments aren't forgotten either, and that keeps the read from becoming too pointed or feeling preachy. Especially one scene, with the girl and dog lying in the park, lets good feelings flow. 

The text is age appropriate and keeps the tale flowing to keep boredom away. Each moment brings something interesting, which makes this a nice read-aloud for groups. It can be read alone by those who have a good grip on their words. 



And here she is...

Audrey Weatherstone is a singer-songwriter, author, and dog lover based in Richmond, Virginia. After graduating from Shenandoah University, she now works as a music therapist in neurologic rehabilitation and hospice care, as well as advocating for rescue animals, reactive dogs, and positive reinforcement dog training. Her music and writing are inspired by her work as a music therapist and her reactive rescue dog, Lady. Lady Needed Space is her first book.

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Don't Wake Up the Tiger by Britta Teckentrup

While yesterday's read hit upon night time and the stars (a lovely bedtime read), today's circles around the idea of not waking a sleeping creature up. Especially when it's a tiger...and that sounds like good advice to me. I'd pray a tiger would sleep and sleep and sleep if I stumbled across one.

I expecting today's read to be humorous and bring a few giggles, too. Let's see what these pages hold!





DON'T WAKE UP THE TIGER
by Britta Teckentrup
Candlewick Press
Picture Book
ages 2-3
30 pages

COMING AUGUST 2nd!!!

Tiger is fast asleep. But — oh dear! — she’s completely blocking the way. Just how will the animals get past without waking her up? Luckily, Frog has an excellent idea. Holding his balloon, he floats right over sleeping Tiger! Fox is next, followed by Tortoise, Mouse, and Stork, but it will be tricky for them all to get past without Tiger noticing. It’s good that the reader is there to help keep Tiger asleep, but where exactly are the animals going with all those big shiny balloons?



MY TIDBITS


Be careful because no one wants to wake up the tiger!

This is a fun book for the youngest end of the reading scale. It centers around a sleeping tiger, who just happens to be in the way of a group of animals. They need to deliver balloons to the party but need to get over the tiger without waking it up. That's not an easy task, and the reader/listener of the book might need to help out a little, too.

The illustrations are colorful and stick to the animals, the balloons, and the sleeping tiger. No one wants to wake the tiger, and readers will easily sympathize with the animals as they do their best to get past it without waking it up. This promises giggles and smiles galore, since the animals are really struggling to get past the sleeping beast. The interaction with the reader adds a new level of fun and makes the book personally connect for even more giggles. 

If all of this wasn't fun enough, the ending adds the last surprise, and it isn't what readers will most likely expect. The result is good vibes through and through. In other words, it's a fun book to pick up for even reluctant listeners and creates an interactive read the entire way through. It fits very nicely to the intended audience level as well.


And here she is...

BRITTA TECKENTRUP has written and illustrated over seventy children’s books, which have been published in over twenty countries. Her books include TreeBeeOcean, Moon, and Home in the Peek-Through Picture Book series, plus Big Smelly BearGrumpy Cat, and The Odd One Out. Born in Hamburg, Germany, and educated in London at St. Martin’s College and the Royal College of Art, she lives with her family in Berlin. See her work online at brittateckentrup.com and follow her on Instagram at @britta_teckentrup.

Friday, May 16, 2025

My Love for You is Like the Night Sky by Laura Smetana

Today's post is part of a tour, and I decided to jump in because it sounds like a lovely bedtime read. Plus, it should hit some STEM goodness and take a peek at space. But that's about all I know, so let's take a look!

(This post is sponsored by Flying Cardinal Press. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.)




MY LOVE FOR YOU IS LIKE THE NIGHT SKY
Written and Illustrated by Laura Smetana
Flying Cardinal Press
Ages 0+
34 Pages

ISBN: 978-1737140993


With vivid watercolor collages, My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky, is the stunning companion to the award-winning book, My Love for You Is Like a Garden, named a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2023.
Say “I love you” at bedtime or anytime with this lyrical story that celebrates love with bold, colorful illustrations of stars, planets, and galaxies. As they look up at the stars, a child’s mother explains that her love is like the night sky. It glows with pride like the full moon, is as radiant as a meteor shower, and as vast as our solar system.
Readers of all ages will be inspired to step outside to marvel at the wonders of the night sky together—and maybe even spot a shooting star. Children will delight in learning the names of the planets in our solar system, the phases of the moon, and more in the glossary. A beautiful book to share with anyone you love!

Amazon   /    B&N    /   Bookshop.org



MY TIDBITS


Stars, the galaxy, and love all come together to create a warming read.

This book is a lovely read to snuggle up with and enjoy while learning a bit about our solar system, stars and more. The illustrations are created with cut-out images to give a layered effect, while the watercolor hues add a gentle touch to blend in nicely with the night sky. This works nicely with the night-time atmosphere. The text matches the mood thanks to its lyrical flow and invites to dreams with its lovely descriptions. All of this stays very age appropriate and creates a tale to lead to dreams.

While the illustrations and words flow together in a calming and loving way, there's also a bit of STEM goodness. While things such as moon phases and asteroids are mentioned during the story, the author touches upon them again at the very end of the book. Here, a glossary gives short but clear descriptions of certain terms to help listeners expand their 'space' vocabulary. The phases of the moon as well as the basics line-up of our solar system are portrayed clearly and marked with the names, so very curious young listeners can begin to learn their basics on that end, too.

It's a enjoyable balance between a tale and information, and perfect to pick-up as an evening read.



And here she is...

Laura Smetana is an award-winning author and illustrator. She loves creating bright, joyful cut-paper watercolor collages inspired by nature. Her author-illustrated book, My Love for You Is Like a Garden, was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2023, received a starred Kirkus review, and numerous other awards. She is also the author of Ice Cream with Grandpa: A Loving Story for Kids About Alzheimer’s & Dementia, (illustrated by Elisabete B. P. de Moraes), which won a Northern Lights Book Award. Laura co-authored her debut children’s book, Little Squiggle’s Lake Adventure, with her son. When she isn’t writing or painting, Laura can be found inspiring kids to create their own books at school author visits, teaching collage art to adults and children, stargazing, and going on walks to find the moon with her family. Laura lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and son. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Downers Grove Artists’ Guild, and the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.


GIVEAWAY


Enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky, signed by Laura Smetana. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a special bundle that includes a signed hardcover edition of the book, a mini original framed watercolor collage by the author, a lined journal, a set of colored pencils, a tube of glow-in-the-dark paint, and a wooden star craft kit.


My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky: Book Giveaway




TOUR SCHEDULE


Monday, May 12, 2025

The Children’s Book Review

Tour Kick-Off for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

The Fairview Review

Book Review for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Confessions of a Book Addict

Book Spotlight on My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Un Viaje en Libro

Book Review for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Friday, May 16, 2025

Bookworm for Kids

Book Review for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Sunday, May 18, 2025

avainbookland

Book Review for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Monday, May 19, 2025

The Starlit Path

Book Review for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Monday, May 19, 2025

Deliciously Savvy

Book Review for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

icefairy’s Treasure Chest

Book Review for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Cover Lover Book Review

Book Review for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Lisa’s Reading

Book Spotlight on My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Friday, May 23, 2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Book Review for My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Monday, May 26, 2025

Q&As with Deborah Kalb

Author Interview with Laura Smetana

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Me Two Books

Author Interview with Laura Smetana

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Froggy Read Teach

Instagram Post about My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Thirsty Ground by Kimber St. Lawrence

 It's time for another sci-fi read! I'm convinced there's more of this genre hitting the market than there has been during the last few years. Not only do I have several this month, but they've been popping up in my emails, new release lists, and such, too. Today's read heads into the future and space, while taking an environmental twist and romance. It should center around the loss of water on Earth...I wonder how that happens...and the search for the resource through the galaxy. And then, they return to Earth?

I'm not quite sure on the details, but I'm about to find out. So, let's shoot off into space and beyond...or just turn the pages and see.



THIRSTY GROUND
by Kimber St. Lawrence
Union Square & Co
YA Science Fiction
336 pages


COMING...
MAY 20th!!!






They call it Tsimmaon. Thirsty Ground.

It’s been thirteen decades since Tsimmaon left the Arid Planet in search of water, carrying only 1 percent of the human race in a bid to keep the species alive. There’s no one thirstier on that space ark than the young recruits eager to earn their spot on the elite Hydroseeker League and find the next water source. Seventeen-year-old Conway 12-1, the strongest moto-rover rider among his cadre, is just weeks from Hydroseeker initiation. Until one failed mission changes everything. 

Left for dead on the fabled Arid Planet with a life-altering injury, Conway is taken in by the citizens of Mayanah, a community no one knew had survived the Dry Death. But these people have a Their water is deadly if you don’t follow its rules. Mayanah’s beautiful young sovereign Selah is the key to safe water and, Conway realizes, to the survival of his spacenation. If he can bring this revelation back home, he might still have a shot at being a Hydroseeker. He just needs to convince himself that betraying Selah is worth it, which gets harder the closer they become . . . and the more he learns about his own people.

Kimber St. Lawrence conjures an exhilarating world in this moving postapocalyptic sci-fi novel. Featuring cinematic action and a love against all odds, Thirsty Ground will leave readers breathless.


GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER


MY TIDBITS


Fast-paced adventure meets intrigue, secrets, high-stakes, and romance for a grabbing read from beginning to end.

Conway is on his way to being a Hydroseeker, an elite group of space adventures, whose sole mission is to find water. He's been training for years and is about to enter the last tests, which will decide who makes the cut and which will head into other jobs. He also has a very good shot at making it...if he can stay focused, that is. Hormones almost lead him to a huge mistake with a girl he's been crushing on, and that puts him in an odd position as the tests begin. But that is only the beginning. The test leads him to something that shouldn't exist—a tree. And beyond that tree aren't only dangerous secrets, but a real test to discover who he truly is and where he really wants to belong.

From the first pages, this read grabs with tension and action and...later...heart. Conway is easy to root for as he strives to reach his goals, but it's the unexpected choices he faces, which force him to decide what kind of person he really wants to be, that make him a great character to follow. It's never obvious what decisions will be made, and even the characters around him are often hard to predict. That keeps the readers in the pages, especially when Conway learns that everything isn't necessarily the way he thought it was and fumbles to figure out what path he wants to take.

Every scene drives the story forward, and this makes it hard to set the book down. Each moment holds importance, whether it be hints of intrigue, deepening of character arc, or food for thought surrounding humanity, environment, and more. While it is a space opera, it's not only for sci-fi fans but will delight fans of action and more.