Review: Original Recipe by Jessica Young

ORIGINAL RECIPE

Finley Flowers

by Jessica Young

Illustrated by Jessica Secheret

Picture Window Books

Chapter Book

ages 6-8

128 pages

Finley's best friend Henry is about to turn nine, and Finley has a major problem: she has no idea what to give him for his birthday. He already owns all of her best creations! The school cook-off might be the perfect solution. The grand prize is a year's worth of Flying Pie Pizza ― Henry's favorite. But coming up with something original and tasty is harder than it looks. As one crazy concoction leads to another, Finley discovers that cooking is just like the rest of life ― things don't always turn out as planned and friendship is the real prize.

MY TIDBITS

This book is simply fun to read! Finley is a girl full of spunk, determination and ideas. She wants to do something special for her best friend's birthday and goes all out. I found this inspiring, and her ideas humorous as well as adventurous.

The story is broken down into chapters, making it easy for kids to take breaks. The lovely illustrations in between are a real treat and add a nice touch to the entire thing. I, personally, find the length a bit heavy for early readers and was glad to see that things were broken down a bit. Still, this isn't something to throw at reluctant word fans.

There are two recipes introduced into the story, which if nothing else, will inspire kids to maybe try cooking something on their own--so parents watch out for your kitchens! These sort of inspirations are always wonderful and a delightful chance for kids to try something new and possibly find a new hobby or two.

Summed up, this is a nice read, which is sure to make kids smile. The character is unforgettable and full of life. Although I wouldn't recommend this to reluctant readers or those really just starting out, it's a great read for those ready to attack words or slightly older kids (more on the age 8 end of things). I'm sure readers will enjoy diving into the rest of the series as well.

Cover Reveal: Dare to Shine Anthology

Dare to Shine Anthology

Authors- E.C. Hibbs, Donna Milward, Mystell Oshay, Rose Titus, Bobbie Palmer, Mari Brown, Lilly Rayman, MP Ashman, Allana Kephart & Melissa Simmons, Fiona Maher

Expected Publication Date- May 22nd, 2016

In August 2007, Sophie Lancaster was viciously attacked and later passed away from her horrendous injuries. The only reason she was targeted was because she looked different.

Now, authors from across the world have come together to present an anthology of stories inspired by the joy of individuality.  From science fiction and paranormal to fairy tale reimaginings, fall into a celebration of life and difference, all to benefit ​The Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

Review: Birds of a Feather by Vanita Oelschlager

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

a book of idioms and silly pictures

by Vanita Oelschlager

Illustrated by Robin Hegan

Vanita Books

Picture Book

32 pages

Children are innately curious about words, especially phrases that make them laugh ("Ants in your pants!"), sound silly ("Barking up the wrong tree" or "Goosebumps") or trigger images that tickle a child's sense of the absurd ("Like a bull in a china shop"). Birds of a Feather introduces children to the magic of idioms - words that separately have one meaning, but together take on something entirely different.
Birds of a Feather introduces idioms with outlandish illustrations of what the words describe literally. The reader then has to guess the "real" meaning of the phrases (which is upside down in the corner of each spread). At the end of the book, the reader is invited to learn more about these figures of speech.

MY TIDBITS

As a kid, one of my favorite books to get from the library was a picture book about idioms. So I was more than glad to get my hands onto this one and share something similar with my own children.

This book takes every day idioms like 'raining cats and dogs', displays the literal meaning in funny illustrations, and then offers the reader a short explanation of what is understood with the phrase...the abstract meaning.

The most alluring thing about this book. . .at least, from a kid's point of view. . . is not the educational aspect but the pictures. (It was for my kids and for me as a child as well). The illustrations in this book are not only bright and funny, but they--for the most part--catch exactly the nonsense behind the idioms which makes them so strange and ridiculous. There were a couple images, which I didn't find quite fitting. . .but that's why I pulled my children to my side. They enjoyed each of them and laughed at them.

As to the explanations - these are given in one corner of the picture upside down so that the kids have time to guess at the abstract meaning first. These single, sentence explanations come right to the point. However, I found that my 8 yr. old daughter still had difficulty with a couple of them (ones she hadn't heard in 'real life') and needed a little more explanation in order to really understand them. There's also an example sentence after the explanation.

Summed up, this is a fun book for kids to take a dive into the world of idioms, and they'll get a kick out of the illustrations. Although there are explanations, parents might need to expand and explain more themselves. But getting parents involved is by no means a bad thing! Even youngest readers will enjoy the pictures, but I don't think kids will really start to grasp the concepts until they are ages 4+ (probably more 6+).

Cover Reveal: Kisses on a Paper Airplane by Sarah Vance-Tompkins

Kisses On A Paper Airplane

by Sarah Vance-Tompkins

Inkspell Publishing

YA Romance

Coming. . . May 14th 2016!

Drama student Hannah Evans isn’t kissing any frogs on her path to find Prince Charming. She’s determined to share the perfect first kiss — with the perfect boy — in the perfect place — or she’s not kissing anyone at all. When Hannah meets a cute ginger-haired boy in first class lounge in the London airport, she knows he’s ‘The One.’
Pop star Theo Callahan is on the road to get as far away as possible from his back-stabbing best friend, and his supermodel girlfriend who broke his heart. Until one shy smile from Hannah has him rethinking all of his travel plans.
Theo is smitten, but he’s worried she’s just a groupie in search of the ultimate selfie. Can Theo learn to trust Hannah in time to share one perfect first kiss, or will Hannah be forced to kiss a frog?

And here she is. . .

SARAH VANCE-TOMPKINS!!! 

Sarah Vance-Tompkins was born in a small town in northern Michigan. She spent every summer exploring the sugar sand beaches near Sleeping Bear National Park. She left her heart behind when she moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California. She received an MFA in Film Production and went on to work in feature film development in Hollywood. She has worked as a reporter for a weekly entertainment trade publication, and been paid to write obituaries, press releases, the directions for use on personal lubricant bottles, and breathless descriptions of engagement rings for an online jewelry store. She lives in a small town north of Los Angeles with her husband and three cats.

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Cover Reveal: Noir by Grayer Vaughan

The Silent Violent Few: Noir

The Silent Violent Few # 3

By- Grayer Vaughan

Genre- Romance, Fiction, 16+

"How will he still want me once he finds out what I've done?"

Alabama Crowne thought she had finally secured her freedom when the life she was destined to live came to a halt. Despite everything she left behind, there was one constant she would never be rid of as death claimed who she was in order to become who she was meant to be all along:  Cash Zachary Calloway.

 Leaving one life to create another didn't seem so bad until Finn Haines, the man she thought she knew, begins to become unhinged when secrets, lies and betrayal tempt them both into an epic end game of "name that Submissive".

Thinking she chose the right Calloway, Alabama takes a chance to build a life worth living as she is set to give birth to the next Calloway heir until facts about Finn's past lead her down a dangerous path filled with devious deviants of epic proportions.  

Unsure of who the father of her unborn child is, Alabama begins to struggle with her sanity, keeping her pregnancy hidden while she soon realizes that the only way out of the mess she created might be to return to the life she left behind as visions of her dead best friend Frankie lead her down a dangerous path of becoming the one thing she never thought she would: Mrs. Calloway.

Will the darkness she created claim the life she must live to be free or will her static inspiration become the dominant Noir she will need to save her from the violent death Goddess has planned?