Review: It's OK, Slow Lizard by Yeorim Yoon

Today's review greets from South Korea and packs tons of heart and warmth. While I thought this one might be about a lizard, who needs to learn to like himself due to his slowness...I was so wrong. 

Great messages about enjoying life and friendship abound....and isn't that cover gorgeous?

So, why don't we just dive right in and enjoy?

IT'S OK, SLOW LIZARD

by Yeorim Yoon

Illustrated by Jian Kim

Translated by Chi-Young Kim

Restless Books

Picture Book

ages 3 to 6

COMING...

SEPTEMBER 28th!!!

In a lush, sun-dappled forest, animal friends discover the advantages of living slowly, in this soothing picture book from beloved South Korean author and illustrator Yeorim Yoon and Jian Kim.

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MY TIDBITS

With lovely illustrations, tons of warmth, and even more heart, this book shines in friendship and the secret to truly enjoying life.

Slow Lizard isn't as hectic as the other animals around him and takes one day at a time, remembering to enjoy even the little things around him. As his friends hurry to finish their tasks or become frustrated with situations, Slow Lizard is there to help them calm down and get a glimpse of the calmer side of life. And sometimes, this ends in a tiny adventure of its own.

I'm going to start with the illustrations because these are beautiful. There's a calm to each and every one, while lovely details give so much for listeners to gaze time and again. The colors hang toward cheerful yellows and light greens, allowing the atmosphere of sunshine and joy radiate from every page. And that's exactly what this book is—joyful. 

Slow Lizard holds nothing negative about him, but rather, demonstrates how life is amazing when it isn't always hectic and filled with distractions or things to do. He's not lazy, but rather knows how to spread a healing calm to his friends and those around him. And when a little adventure does arrive, the positive attitude keeps them bonded and can even help possible stress float into fun. 

It's a wholesome book, great as a read-aloud or to snuggle up in a chair together and read.

And here they are...

Yeorim Yoon is from Ulsan, South Korea. She is a former editor of children's books at various publishers as well as the Samsung Children's Museum in Seoul. She currently lives in San Diego, where she leads a life that is both busy and slow as a mother and author of children's book.

Jian Kim is an artist and illustrator of children's books from Seoul, South Korea. She studied animation in college and became interested in picture books after encountering the work of Anthony Browne. She lives in Incheon.

Chi-Young Kim is an award-winning literary translator and editor based in Los Angeles. A recipient of the Man Asian Literary Prize (2011), she has translated more than a dozen books, including works by Kyung-sook Shin, You-jeong, Young-ha Kim and Ae-ran Kim.

Review: Good Dog: Home Is Where The Heart Is by Cam Higgens

Ready to start the new day with energy? If you're like me, this question off is answered with a groan. Maybe that's why today's book caught my attention. This little guy beams fun, energy, and adventure from morning to night. Set for the early reader audience, this is the first book in a series of...as of today..5 books!

Ready to take a glimpse? 

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Good Dog #1

by Cam Higgens 

Illustrated by Ariel Landy

Simon & Schuster

Chapter Book

127 pages

ages 5 to 9

Meet the loveable and rambunctious puppy, Bo Davis, in this first book of the Good Dog series! When Bo loses something important, his search takes him all over the farm.

Springtime has arrived at the Davis Family Farm! Spring showers lead to muddy hijinks for a young pup named Bo. But when Bo loses his dog tag, he gets serious and enlists all of his barnyard pals to help him find it. From horse stalls to chicken coops to grazing fields and beyond, Bo’s adventure takes him all over the farm, introducing a cast of friends and frenemies.

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Good Dog chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

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MY TIDBITS

Adventure, fun, and friends make this a read to create a smile, but it's Bo, who steals the heart and show.

It's been raining on the farm, which gives Bo the chance to roll in mud with one of his farm friends. His human siblings decide to take him in for a bath, which he enjoys almost as much as mud. But after toweling him off, they discover that his name tag is gone. It's the perfect mystery for Bo, and off he goes across the farm to find it.

This is the first book of an easy-to-read series and builds a wonderful base for all sorts of adventures to come. The tale starts with an introduction of Bo, his life and several of his friends on the farm. All of this is told from Bo's point-of-view and swings a little bit of wit and humor right in. This way, the author builds a great foundation for the story and, still, keeps it interesting. After this, Bo rolls into the first muddy step of his adventures.

The writing is directed toward those, who have a pretty good handle on their words but still need time before hitting 'larger' books. The font is larger for easy reading purposes, and there is an illustration on every page, keeping the entire thing from becoming overwhelming. Plus, the illustrations are fun and really make Bo adorable.

The adventure rolls along in a wholesome, exciting, and grabbing way. Bo's all over the place, and his energy beams off of every page. 

And here they are...

Cam Higgins wrote her very first book about a cat who lived in an alleyway when she was eight years old. As a child, she loved visiting a neighboring farm and seeing all the animals. Now Cam has a pup of her own, who is very mischievous, and she still loves writing about animals. Cam lives in New York City with her two children, her husband, and Laila the dog.

As soon as Ariel Landy learned how to draw a sky beyond a blue scribbled line, she knew she wanted to be an illustrator. Raised on coloring books and crayons outside of Boston, she now lives in France with her husband and dog. Visit her online at ArielLandy.com.

AND FRESH OFF THE PRESS TODAY!!!

In the charming fifth book of the Good Dog series, Bo learns to swim with his family!

One hot summer day, Bo and his family decide to cool off. They take Bo to a swimming hole on their farm. But Bo hasn’t gone swimming before. Can he learn how in time to join in on the fun?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Good Dog chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

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Happy Book Birthday, On Mission by Aileen Erin with Giveaway!

On Mission

by Aileen Erin
Off Planet, #3
Ink Monster LLC
YA Dystopian

“Action adventure, space drama, political schemes, and just the right hit of romance has this series turning into an absolute must-read. Whether you think you’re a fan of sci-fi or not I’d urge you to give this series a try….” – Angela, Pooled Ink Reviews

From USA Today Bestselling Author Aileen Erin comes the fourth book in the Aunare Chronicles

Amihanna di Aetes has finally accepted her place in the Aunare world. In a matter of weeks, she’ll be their High Queen, but no matter how hard she tries, she finds that she’s always doing the wrong thing. At least that’s what the High Council keeps telling her…
There’s only so much rejection a girl can take, which means she’s spending her afternoons trying to get out of High Council meetings. And yet, every time she leaves the council room, she sees the disappointment on her father’s face, and worse, on Lorne’s face. It pains her, but she can’t say what they want her to say.
The council is refusing to see the truth. War isn’t just upon the Aunare – they’re about to lose.
Training her guards to invade Earth is a much better use of her days. She spent too much time hiding, obeying, forcing herself to do what she had to do to survive.
She’s used up all her pretending and can only be who she is. A fighter. A leader. A warrior.
When SpaceTech attacks the Aunare colonies, she’ll do what needs to be done –she’ll fight to defend the Aunare alone if she has to. Because Amihanna is a di Aetes. She’ll never give up. Not until SpaceTech is dismantled and Jason Murtagh is dead.
Amihanna isn’t the queen the Aunare want. But she is the queen the Aunare need.

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SNEAK PEEK

“Go, but leave knowing that I’m okay. Earth didn’t kill me. I didn’t die on Abaddon. And SpaceTech? They’re not going to get me while I’m here. I’m going to win.” I brushed a quick kiss against his lips. “I hate that you’re having nightmares about what I played in that interview with Himani, but if you’re having them, that means that you’re forgetting that I survived. All of it. Everything. And I’ll survive whatever comes next, because I’m a di Aetes, and I never—”
“—give up,” my father said with me. “Not ever.”
I glanced at him. How did he know that’s what I always told myself to keep going? “Right.”
“I’m glad to hear that my teaching stuck with you despite everything.”
I blinked a few times. His teaching?
It made sense that my secret motto—the rallying cry that I gave myself to get through everything—came from him, but I’d never thought about it before. I don’t know why. It was obvious. Of course it came from my father. “It really did stick. Telling myself that over and over got me through a lot of tough times. When I was scared or hurt or burning to death on Abaddon, I told myself that and it made me keep going. Keep fighting. If I wasn’t dead yet, then I wasn’t going to give up. I couldn’t quit. Because I’m a di Aetes.”
“Good.” My father considered me for a moment and then his skin lit, just ever so slightly. “Good.”
There was approval and pride and respect for me in that second good that made me feel like I’d done something really right.

And here she is...

Aileen Erin is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd–from Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek (TNG FTW), she reads Quenya and some Sindarin, and has a severe fascination with the supernatural. Aileen has a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, and spends her days doing her favorite things: reading books, creating worlds, and kicking ass.

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Review: Where There's A Whisk by Sarah J. Schmitt

If you're a fan (or sometimes fan) of cooking shows, today's review might just be for you. I saw the title and read the blurb, and had to get my hands on this one. It's a young adult novel (teen cooking competition), so that seemed original to me.

Grab those aprons and let's take a peek! 

WHERE THERE'S A WHISK

by Sarah J. Schmitt

Running Press Kids

Young Adult Contemporary

400 pages

COMING...

OCTOBER 5th!!!

Life is what you bake it.

Peyton Sinclaire wants nothing more than to escape her life as a diner waitress in her small, North Florida town and attend culinary school. Top Teen Chef, Food TV's new show that pairs reality TV drama with a fast-paced culinary competition, is her ticket out of her boring future. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make her dreams come true and Peyton is determined to prove to herself, and the world, that where you're born does not determine where you can go. However, once on the show, Peyton quickly discovers that there is more to the competition than just a well-seasoned dish. 

As things start to heat up on and off the set, Peyton will have to prove to the judges that she deserves to win while trying to untangle what is real and what is scripted drama, and decide what she is willing to risk to win before her dreams end up on the chopping block. 

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MY TIDBITS

Mix several cups of drama with a tablespoon of showtime pizzazz and a pinch of romance to get a mix of nerves, concerns, mistrust and simple fun.

Peyton can't believe she was chosen to participate in the first Top Teen Chef cooking show. The prize, a scholarship to a culinary university, is the only way she believes she can escape her otherwise difficult life. But not only her past becomes a part of the show's scripted drama, but the relationships with the other contests are throwing loops she'd rather avoid. Still, she may not be able to if she wants to win the show.

I grabbed this one up with very high hopes, and while this wasn't quite as good as I was wishing it might be, it still held its own. The novel starts at the cooking show, a few moments before Peyton makes her first walk out into the spotlight. Her confusion and nerves are clear as she meets her contenders one by one for the first time. That this isn't only a cooking show but a reality show, the cameras follow them everywhere, the contestants live together, and scenes (faked as also real) play a role. It's cooking with a huge heap of drama...and that's why it wasn't as I'd hoped.

In the first part of the book, we do see Peyton cooking a bit and hear her thoughts as she chooses her recipes. The actual cooking is summed up pretty fast (which it needs to be to avoid boredom), and it is fun to picture her working through the kitchen with the different themes and difficulties. Unfortunately, the cooking only stays front and center during the first part of the book and slowly fades into the background as the drama of the set takes over. Now, drama is necessary to hold the plot. But there are so many plot threads weaving along...or possible plot threads is a better term.

There a many characters, which each bring a different background and twist, but they pop in and out without ever gaining much depth. Peyton has a tough past, but it's basically ignored. Her 'enemy' during the show is never fleshed out or the problem really addressed. The romance is superficial. Friendship is a glance. Even the difficult judge is there as required but without reason. This book could have gone in so many directions and it took none of the paths. What was left was an entertaining read but it lacked any depth...which is too bad because it could have been an awesome read.

Still, I wouldn't say this one isn't worth picking up. It's an easy read with a very quick pace, tons of humor, enough tension to keep those pages turning, and Peyton is a character to like. I did enjoy reading this one and read it in one sitting. It just that it was good when it could have been great.

Mommy and Daddy's Day, A Vampire's Sin by Marie-Claude Bourque with Giveaway!

Every so often, here on Bookworm for Kids, we have a Mommy and Daddy's Day, where I present a book for parents. After all, parents like to read too. 

A Vampire’s Sin

by Marie-Claude Bourque

The Order of the Black Oak – Vampires, #2

Paranormal, Romance

A VAMPIRE’S SIN: A Slow-Burn Urban Fantasy Romance

Meet the Order of the Black Oak: a powerful order of modern-day warriors fighting evil to protect the ones they love.

Son of an ancient vampire and a legendary French witch, Mont-Royal Immortal Magnovald St-Amand has lived for so long that nothing matters except his ruling over the Montreal’s sultry nightlife. But when he chooses to help an ambitious real estate tycoon rescue her kid sister from a pack of daemons, he finds deep yearnings in his soul that he thought were buried forever.

If you love loyal tough guys with hearts, satisfying slow-burn paranormal romance and safe Happily Ever Afters, the Black Oak World is for you.

***** Fantastic series of action, magic and awesome romance. You will fall in love with the characters and feel you are right with them.

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Sneak Peek

She’d come to the club to talk to him countless times in the last three months, but today was different. Today, her quest was personal.

The one she was coming to see was the most infuriating man of her acquaintances—as if nothing serious ever touched him. Keeping her persona at the highest level of professionalism was the best way to approach him.

And there he was.

She watched him work at his usual corner booth beside the bar.

Magnovald St-Amand. Owner of this trendy Montreal nightspot, his actual wealth a secret, even to her. No doubt its origin tethering between both sides of the law, some legitimate and some probably criminal.

And this time—even though it killed her to have to do this—it was the latter she had come for.

Mag, as they called him, was pouring over a pile of ledgers spread across the table and punching numbers on a printing calculator, his demeanor unusually focused on the menial task.

A nudge of respect rose with a flutter in her stomach to see him work on his own accounts.

Such a contradiction. Nothing in his laid-back facade indicated a thriving business owner. As always, his dark hair brushed his neck, the curls a little too long above the plain black t-shirt emphasizing the defined broadness of his shoulders and arms. His skin—a tad too pale to be healthy—contrasted gently with the sculpted cheekbones and dark determined brows.

And as she watched him check his calculations, she knew she had mere seconds before needing to brace herself from his immense charm.

Once his dark gaze hit her, when his lips curled into that constant amused expression he had every time they met, she would have to fight hard her attraction for the man who was nothing like her.

His life was far from the world she came from. His was late evenings and sensual pleasures. Dubious connections all over the city and the lording over its luxurious nightlife.

Hers was pondered and orderly. Charity balls and business bureaus. A continuous quest to keep her tight hold on the Montreal’s real estate power.

As she looked at him now with a slight weight lodged in her chest, in those few seconds before he would become aware of her presence, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was perhaps a possible place where they might be alike.

But that small hopeful moment was soon over.

He knew she was here.

Magnovald St-Amand slowly lifted his head. With a profound inhale, she took hold of herself as the dark undercurrent of his gaze seized her and threatened her very soul.

And here she is...

Marie-Claude Bourque is a Montreal-born Seattle-based author of gothic paranormal romance and the winner of the American Title V award with her first novel ANCIENT WHISPERS.

Her writing features modern-day fantasy skillfully weaved into infinitely romantic supernatural stories between smart strong women and complex passionate heroes.

Happily Ever After always absolutely guaranteed!

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