Review: Snakes Smell with Their Tongues by Thea Feldman

I'm having a little shake-up today because books don't always arrive as they should (anyone in the publishing world knows there are snags). Instead, we're hitting non-fiction today, and one I know will fascinate some curious readers out there.

I find snakes intriguing...although I'm not a huge fan of running into the neighborhood copperhead while pulling weeds. Still, most snakes are amazing, and I'm starting off this week with a read all about them. This one is for beginning readers, who are slowly getting a handle on words. It's packed with illustrations and facts.

Ready to slither in? 

SNAKES SMELL WITH THEIR TONUGES!: And Other Amazing Facts

Super Facts for Super Kids

Ready To Read Level Two

by Thea Feldman

Illustrated by Lee Cosgrove

Simon Spotlight

Children's NonFiction

32 pages

ages 5 to 10

COMING...

JULY 13th!!!

Super Facts for Super Kids is a fun, fresh take on animal nonfiction for beginning readers. Filled with engaging photographs, comic-style illustrations, and cool infographics, these Level 2 Ready-to-Reads are sure to flap, flip, and float off the shelves!

Readers will love learning about what makes snakes “super,” like how they can dive deep underwater, can only swallow their food whole, glide through the air, and more! Plus you can learn how snake venom is being used for medicinal purposes!

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MY TIDBITS

These facts will give young readers an entirely new look on the world of snakes and make even snake fearers a tiny bit curious.

This book is all about snakes. It's brightly illustrated with real life photos, which alone are fun flipping through and gazing at. But this book isn't just about introducing snakes, it hits upon a few lesser known facts, which show how interesting and versatile these creatures are.

More than a few snakes are presented as their habits, abilities and unique characteristics are brought to light. There are some things little snake enthusiasts will probably already know, but there are also facts which will surprise them. It's written for readers, who have just gotten a little bit better grasp on words, but still aren't ready to hit 'older' books. The terms are simple and well presented. The text is never overwhelming but sticks to a few lines on each page.

The photos are, of course, lovely to see, but this one also includes other illustrations to perk things up a bit. Comic like illustrations also pepper certain sections, which is something even reluctant readers will appreciate it. And all of this does work to deliver the facts about snakes clearly.

I would have definitely picked this one up as a kid...out of sheer curiosity, if nothing else...and my own children aren't any different. It's a fun way to support beginning readers while giving them a bit of biology along the way.

And here they are...

Thea Feldman, a children’s book writer and editor, has helped develop early reader series for various major children’s book publishers. She is also a lifelong animal lover and has written numerous children’s books about animals, worked at the Wildlife Conservation Society, and is a writer and editor for the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. She especially enjoys the opportunity to write early readers about animals. Her cat, Rose, loves to sleep on anything Thea has written. 

Lee Cosgrove is a children’s illustrator from a small town on the banks of the River Mersey in England. A lifelong doodler, his love of drawing is inspired by a childhood of Saturday morning cartoons, den-building adventures, and an endless supply of crayons. Working as a full-time illustrator for the last ten years, Lee has enjoyed working on a wide range of projects from illustrating picture books, board games, and billboards. He loves to bring humor and lots of character to his illustrations. When he hasn’t got a pencil in hand, he can be found fossil hunting, feeding hedgehogs, or doing flying kicks.

Sneak Peek: Catwalk by Nicole Gabor with Giveaway!

 

CATWALK

by Nicole Gabor

July 6th 2021

YA Coming of Age

 

 

Eighteen-year-old, shy, suburban aspiring model Cat Watson suddenly has it all as the New York fashion world’s new “It” girl and she thinks she has everything she ever dreamed of—until she realizes be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

Leaving her good-girl image behind, Cat quickly learns things aren’t always what they seem on the catwalk, and she’s faced with a decision that will change her life forever.

WILMINGTON, Delaware, May 12, 2021

When 18-year-old Catherine Watson disobeys her parents and ditches her Ivy-league acceptance to start fresh as an aspiring model in New York City, a chance encounter with fashion world bigwigs gives her a world-class agent plus a boyfriend she only dreamed about. But as she navigates the fickle world of modeling, she realizes that to get ahead, she’ll have to leave herself behind—but is it worth it? Catwalk is an expertly written tale of first love, coming of age, and high-fashion, from award-winning author and editor Nicole Gabor, inspired by her own experiences as a runway model.

In her suburban hometown, Catherine had what most would consider a charmed life: a 4.0 GPA, a good-guy boyfriend who had his whole life planned out down to the two kids, two dogs, two-car garage—and it scared her to death. She wasn’t ready to follow a traditional path to a paint-by-numbers existence. She longed for adventure, for a life less…ordinary. When Catherine moves away to pursue her modeling dream in New York City and moves in with Jon-Michelle “Jonnie” who tackles the newly-named “Cat” as “her next project,” she revels in her newfound career, thinking “this is what it’s like to be young and beautiful in the greatest city in the world.”

“At that moment, it hit me. I was a mere mortal in a room full of demigods: actors, actresses, bygone legends of the stage and screen; men and women who had traipsed down red carpets all of their lives, whom the rest of the country, no, the world, had pined for, had paid to know the secrets of. Here I was standing among them, cavorting with twenty-first century royals.”

Cat meets Seth, a beautiful and kind but troubled New York scenester, the son of a ‘70s fashion model icon who fatally overdosed during her prime, and she feels strangely protective. She wants to save him like he saved her on her first night out on the town in New York City’s gritty yet swanky meatpacking district club scene.

When Cat is “discovered” by the one and only Philippe Borghetta, the hottest fashion designer in the pages of Vogue magazine, she thinks she has it all. Her life is thrust into an alternate universe, where star-studded cocktail parties, casting calls, go-sees, and nightclub openings revolve around her like constellations. She tries to play the part. Her former self, “Catherine,” was now a shadow of who she was and what she was becoming.

Cat thinks she’s finally gotten what she wanted all along—a chance to start over, a redo, a refresh. But as the lines blur between who she once was and who she wants to be, she’s reminded of her mother’s words, “Sometimes the things that are most worth fighting for are the things you already have.” Cat finds she has to make a decision that will change her life—and possibly the modeling world—forever.

Drawing on her own experiences in the fast-paced fashion model industry, former model and author of more than twenty children’s books, Nicole Gabor masterfully weaves a timeless story of self-discovery, coming of age, and the heartache of first loves. Catwalk is her debut young adult/new adult novel, available July 2021 wherever books are sold.

Goodreads / Amazon

SNEAK PEEK

My parents stared at me from across the kitchen table, stunned. They looked as though I’d just told them that our 12-year-old lab, Holly, had died.

I watched the wrinkles on my mother’s forehead get deeper and darker, and it seemed like she was aging right before my eyes. Was her hair turning gray? I once heard that former First Lady Barbara Bush’s hair turned gray overnight from the shock and grief of losing her baby daughter.

But I was not dead, or even dying. I was alive, and in the flesh. And I had just told my parents that I, Catherine Watson, their only daughter — the one with the 4.0 grade point average who my stay-at-home mother hoped would become a successful career woman, and my father secretly wished would follow in his footsteps as a lawyer — was not going to college after all.

I was, in fact, moving to New York City. To be a fashion model.

As I spoke, my letter of decline to the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Sciences was signed, sealed, and on its way to the admissions office. My mother cried and said that I was breaking her heart. My father yelled and said that I was ruining my life. Part of me feared they were right. To be honest, I couldn’t believe I’d actually gotten up the nerve to send that letter. I’d always listened to my parents, did the “right” thing. Never cut class. Been teacher’s pet. Made curfew. But I was sick of following the rules.

With my high school graduation just behind me, the idea of more school — only to be followed by an office job that would imprison me within four gray walls — was something that I couldn’t succumb to yet, if ever.

I was ready for adventure, for excitement, for a life less … ordinary. And I had a hunch that plenty of people stuck to the safe roads, so maybe, just maybe, I could make it on a path where everyone else wasn’t taking up so much space.

Of course, it did seem an odd choice. I’d always been so ashamed of the attributes that could, quite possibly, make me a model. Lanky and lean at 6 feet tall, I had a way of sticking out in the hallways, towering over most of the female (and many of the male) teachers. Growing up, I’d tried everything I could to blend in, to bulk up, to deny my stature: I drank milkshakes. Dressed in layers. Only wore flats. Avoided stretching in gym glass. Never stood next to the short boys in line.

But then, one day, something happened. My mother took me to Victoria’s Secret in Philadelphia to pick out my first fancy grown-up bra for my birthday. I was eying the “extreme lift” padded pushups (which I was sure would jumpstart my love life), when a woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted to be a model. Just like that.

“She just turned 14,” my mother said, looking a bit puzzled and slightly irritated. “I think she’s a little young, don’t you?”

“She’s perfect,” said the older woman, who was in her sixties and dressed far more fashionably than my 45-year-old mother.

She couldn’t possibly be talking about me, I thought. Is this some sort of practical joke? A sick, twisted joke? I looked around expecting to see some mean girls from school, but the place was virtually empty. I turned back around, feeling my face flush.

“You … you think I could model?” I stammered.

“I think you’re wasting your talent if you don’t,” she said. “Here’s my card. Call me when your mother changes her mind.”

But she never did. And neither did my father. Despite all my begging and pleading. My parents said that high school was more important, that getting into college was more important. That anything was more important than “aspiring toward such a frivolous pursuit.”

So I did what any girl in my situation would do. I stomped up the stairs, slammed the door, and screamed and cried into my pillow. But for the first time in my life, I felt like something special. Someone special. And my parents were not going to take that away from me.

And here she is...

Nicole is a published author of more than 20 children's picture books and an award-winning health writer and editor. Her debut young adult/new adult fiction novel Catwalk is inspired by her experiences living and working in New York City as a model. She's also a freelance writer at Highlights for Children and a senior editor at KidsHealth.org, the web's most-visited site for children's health. She lives in Delaware with her husband, three children, and their Goldendoodle named Ginger. Learn more at www.nicolegabor.com

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Review: The Whole World Inside Nan's Soup by Hunter Liguore and Vikki Zhang

Nothing beats a warm bowl of soup, especially on a cold day...and absolutely nothing is better than a soup cooked with love. Just seeing the cover on this one lead to all sorts of memories shooting through my head, which surprised me. But after reading this book, I knew why and will probably never look at soup as a simple thing again (if I ever did)

Ready to try a taste?

 

THE WHOLE WORLD INSIDE NAN'S SOUP

by Hunter Liguore

Illustrated by Vikki Zhang

Yeehoo Press

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING...

AUGUST 21st!!!

There's something special bubbling in Nanni's big metal pot. And it smells delicious! What ingredients might be inside? When Nanni lifts the lid on her soup, she reveals the whole world inside: from the seeds that grew into vegetables, to the gardeners who lovingly tended to the plants, to the sun, moon, and stars that shone its light above them. And, of course, no meal is complete without a recipe passed down generations of family, topped and finished with a Nanni's love.
In this tender tale by award-winning author Hunter Liguore and artist Vikki Zhang, readers will marvel in how a community and world can come together to put on an unforgettable meal between a granddaughter and her Nanni. Perfect for fans of Thank You, Omu and Fry Bread.

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BOOK BLINK

                                    * gentle Grandmother and Granddaughter relationship

                                    * working together

                                    * shows the wonders of preparing a meal together

                

MY TIDBITS

With illustrations, which whisk readers away and capture the attention from beginning to end, this is a tale packed with the truth of what goes into a bowl of soup.

When a little granddaughter asks her grandmother what's in the big pot on the stove, she opens the door to an answer she never suspected: seeds. From here, the grandmother reveals all of the work, effort, and things needed from beginning to end to create a pot of soup. And it's quite a bit.

This book held even more than I expected. While I figured it'd be about a caring grandmother and her love for her grandchild, these pages don't stop there. Instead, this book continues on to explore the entire journey of a seed, growing, being harvested, and finally ending up in the pot of soup. And it does this in a delightful way, which never feels like a lesson or lecture. 

The dialogue between the grandmother and grandchild drive this one forward and create a personal as well as warm atmosphere. It is ideal as a read -aloud and while there is sometimes a bit more text, it flows wonderfully and is great for the age group. The message is very clear and the pathway from seed to pot is easy to follow. 

The illustrations are a treat. They are placed in the Asian culture and still are very familiar and easy for young listeners to explore and recognize the various scenes. One half of the page is in tones of blue, while the other is full color. The illustrations hold tons of details, and while they bring across the grandmother's points very clearly, there is even a few humorful things tossed in. Listeners will enjoy flipping through this book over and over again because there are quite a few things to discover.

I can highly recommend this one. It not only presents a warm relationship, but teaches young readers about all the things and people involved in getting something as soup to the table.

And here they are...

Hunter Liguore is a gentle advocate for living in harmony with the natural world and with one another. An award-winning author, professor, and historian, when you support her work, you’re partaking in an equal exchange that supports compassion and peace in the world. When not making soup, she is often roaming old ruins, hillsides, and cemeteries. For more, visit: hunterliguore.org

 

Vikki Zhang is an illustrator and fashion designer of over 50 books and numerous films, toys, fashion, and advertising. She is the winner of The 63rd Society of illustrators NYC (book category), and The 16th CACC Best Illustration. She held her solo exhibitions in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. To learn more, visit www.vikkizhang.com.

Review: The Goblin Pitcher by Paul Lonardo

We're kicking off July with an original and fun baseball tale. While my librarian friends have constantly insisted that sports reads are always a favorite among middle graders, I wonder what these readers will think of one, which even includes a bit of high-tension fantasy. Baseball and stopping goblins? I was intrigued, and I'm betting I'm not the only one.

Let's take a pitch....I mean peek.

THE GOBLIN PITCHER

by Paul Lonardo

PL Publishing

Middle Grade Sports Fantasy

134 pages

ages 8 to 12

The one thing eleven-year-old Jake Lupo loves more than anything else is baseball. However, despite his father being a professional pitcher, Jake's fear of failing has kept him from competing against children his own age. When his father, who has recovered from a serious arm injury, is invited to pitch for an independent team, Jake and his parents move to Pine Barrows, a far flung forested mountain outpost. Jake is excited about his father's chance at a comeback, but he soon learns that he is not the only one in Pine Barrows who loves baseball. Goblins love to play baseball, too, and Pine Barrows happens to be chock full of them. Then Jake discovers that the region is occupied by two factions of warring goblins.

Seeking to take control of the goblin kingdom, the leader of the evil goblins kidnaps Jake's mother and bans baseball, a game which itself is a natural source of power for the goblins.

It turns out that Jake has a secret kinship with the legendary beings, and he is the only one who can save them, their kingdom and his mother. However, Jake must believe in himself and play a winner-take-all game against the best goblin players in Pine Barrows.

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MY TIDBITS

Baseball gains an original and intriguing twist as it collides with a imaginative fantasy world.

Jake breathes baseball. When his dad, a professional pitcher, finds a new position for a team in Pine Barrows after healing from an injury, Jake's not thrilled, but it's not only for the usual reasons like weaker internet, friends or such. Jake has a secret. He's always heard voices, but now, in Pine Barrows they are clearer and he sees beings no one else can. Of course, this goes way beyond baseball. It's an entirely different world, and a danger is arising...one that will destroy everything he loves if he doesn't find a way to stop it.

Baseball is the first main theme in this one. Jake loves the sport, and it shows. Not only does he play baseball (of course), but he dreams of it. The author builds in baseball terminology, a little bit of history, and even creates the chapters in a way, which more than hints at the game. So, this is one for baseball fans. But it's more.

Fantasy trickles in quickly and allows the imagination to take flight. Goblins and other creatures create a world, which usually has nothing to do with baseball. It's a fun mix. There were a few spots which pulled a bit out of the world, but all in all, the tale moves right along and keeps the reader invested in the pages. Tension mounts as Jack has to save everything he loves, builds unexpected friendships, and shows the wonderful warmth of family bonds. In other words, it's an entertaining read.

Find out more at...

https://www.thegoblinpitcher.com/

What's Coming in July?

It's summer time!!! Which means reading on the beach or near the pool or on the deck or during a hiking break...or anywhere. As always, I've got an interesting line-up on reviews this month. While putting this post together, I was surprised to find that I have a handful of contemporary reads...a genre, which I don't usually like to dive into too much. Guess, that will change this month. (I'm surprised there aren't more fantasy...huh.) 

The rest is an even balance of picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult reads, and the genres are all over the place. Yes, I do mean all over.

Yep, we'll be hitting everything from spooky tales to camping trips and fantasy worlds to deep-contemporary thoughts.  And even a summer romance? Possibly?

Ready for a glimpse? 

THE WHOLE WORLD INSIDE NAN'S SOUP

I was a sucker for covers again. Doesn't this little girl look so precious? This one is about soup and everything that goes into it. It sounds like it mixes a little imagination and tons of love...one to snuggle up with, read, and enjoy the warmth involved just like a cup of soup. Enjoy it with me on the 3rd.

Picture Book

OUT OF MY HEART

This is the sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Out of My Mind. (Shh...I didn't read the 1st one. I have a habit of doing that, don't I?) Anyway,  this is a  read, which should pack tons of emotion and heart. Lay out in the sun and discover more with me on the 5th.

Middle Grade Contemporary

BEA'S WITCH

This one comes from an award-winning, British author and mixes themes such as adoption and entering teen years (yep, it's a tweeny!), while gliding in elements from fantasy and magic. It's a shorter read with under 170 pages, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it holds. Peer in with me on the 8th.

Tween Fantasy

LIFE AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS

I'm not an avid reader of contemporary/relationship novels, but every now and then, one catches my attention, and I agree to take a peek. This one has a young girl, who, due to some convincing circumstances, dances between truths and lies. See what I think on the 15th.

Young Adult Contemporary

IN THE MEADOW OF FANTASIES

Coming from the Persian/Iran realm, this translated picture book circles around a physically disabled girl, who loves to use her imagination. Telling by the reviews, this one has a different view than us 'westerners' are accustom to...which makes me all the more excited to dive in. You can learn more with me on the 16th.

Picture Book

RAT RULE 79

The author of this one was chosen as one of the top '20 under 40' by the New Yorker. It's a graphic novel, which is suppose to be pretty quirky with a very spunky and original heroine. It's packed with all sorts of imaginary creatures and a bit of mystery (I believe)...oh, and tons of adventure. I'm taking a glimpse at it on the 21st.

Middle Grade Fantasy

THE PLACE BEYOND HER DREAMS

Isn't the cover neat and original? That's not the only thing which intrigued me, though. This one is a modern day fable about a teen, who's pulled into a parallel, fantasy universe and has the chance to fulfill her greatest dream. Of course, there's a ton more—wars, magic, a task she must fulfill and the entire idea that dreams may not be what we expect. See more about it on the 23rd.

Young Adult Fantasy

WHERE THERE'S A WHISK

The moment I read the blurb on this one, I had to have it. A girl, working as a waitress (my heart goes out to my daughter here!), wants so much more and takes a chance by entering a TV cooking contest. Doesn't that set the perfect stage? I'm really hoping this one holds as much as it possibly can (tons of potential). Find out with me on the 26th.

Young Adult Contemporary

IT'S OK, SLOW LIZARD

Translated from Korean, this should be a beautiful picture book about....yep, you guessed it!.. a very slow lizard. I'm looking forward to the illustrations and am excited to see where this takes the reader. Gaze with me on the 27th.

Picture Book

THE LIST OF UNSPEAKABLE FEARS

The cover caught my attention again...and the title. Set in the 1910's, a girl's mother marries a physician, who is treating typhoid. She discovers strange happenings and needs to figure out what's really going on. I'm honestly curious what this one will be like. Find out with me on the 25th.

Middle Grade Historical

Of course, that's only a peek at all the goodness to come. I have at least one more graphic novel, some fantastical YA, some more emotional reads, and even a few, which head out to the salty sea. 

This month's joker is growing, multiplying, and emerging as a joker combo! I've got 2 books, which work so well together (although they are as separate as separate can be). So, I'm making a Camping Day! When? Well, that's the question, isn't it?

We're going camping! While the 1st book should be a humor-packed adventure to guarantee laughs and amazement, the 2nd gets down and gritty as real camping and adventure take place. I thought it was perfect for the summer and all those young campers out there.

Middle Grade Humor /  Middle Grade Nonfiction