Friday, February 21, 2020

Ghost Hunters by Susan McCauley with Giveaway!



Ghost Hunters: 
Bones in the Wall 
by Susan McCauley 
MG/YA Horror 





Twelve-year-old Alex may have lost his ability to play sports, but he gained the ability to see ghosts. Now he must figure out how to put an evil spirit to rest—or die trying. 

Once an athlete and popular kid, Alex is in a terrible car accident that severely injures his hip and leaves him with a rare power: he can hear and see ghosts. All Alex wants is to be normal. But when a malevolent spirit begins haunting him, Alex must accept his unwanted psychic powers and work with his best friend, his paranormal investigator cousin, and two friendly spirits to solve the mystery of the bones in the wall and put the vicious ghost to rest. If he fails, he’ll lose his family and friends to a gruesome fate. 

“An inventive, fast-paced tale brimming with chills, thrills, and heart. Perfect for fans of Lockwood & Co.”— Henry H. Neff, author of The Tapestry series 


**On Sale for only .99 cents Feb 11th – 15th!!**



Book Trailer 





Susan McCauley was born and raised on the gulf coast of Texas, not far from Houston. She spent several years in Los Angeles, California acting, writing, and teaching college English. In 2002, she moved to London to further explore professional theater. While in London, her stage adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's "The Nose" was performed at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art's George Bernard Shaw Theatre; and, scenes from her play The Prisoner: Princess Elizabeth were performed at HMS Tower of London. She returned to the U.S. in 2005. In 2007, she was the line producer of the Emmy Award nominated Civil War short film Now & Forever Yours: Letters to an Old Soldier. She has had short stories published in several anthologies, and her short story, "The Cask," was made into an award winning short film. 




Everyone should check-in with voice actor Maxwell Glick (who did the audiobook for Ghost Hunters). Max will be doing a giveaway (or two) on his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJOsLGRR6_Y0X4LfDxBoaTg)
and/or his Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mrcheezypop/)!!


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Giveaway#1



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Thursday, February 20, 2020

Review: Tiny T. Rex and the Very Dark Dark by Jonathan Stutzman


TINY T. REX
AND THE VERY DARK DARK
by Jonathan Stutzman
Illustrated by Jay Fleck
Chronicle Books
48 pages
ages 4 to 8

COMING...
MARCH 3rd!!!

The adorable and indomitable Tiny T. Rex from the critically acclaimed Tiny T. Rex and The Impossible Hug is back in a tale about friendship and overcoming your fears.

Tiny T. Rex and his friend Pointy are having a campout in the backyard! It is what best friends do. But without their nighty-lights, the dark outside suddenly seems VERY dark . . . and very full of spooky things. Good thing Tiny has a super-secret plan to keep the dark at bay! Full of warmth and plenty of laughs, this new adventure starring Tiny T. Rex shows that friends will always find a way to face their fears together—even when those fears are not what they seem!

• A great read-aloud book for parents and children
• Hip, colorful art and delightful text make Tiny T. Rex an instant favorite of any dinosaur-loving toddler.
• A perfect book to help toddlers and children overcome a fear of the dark

Fans of silly picture books like Dinosaur vs Bedtime, We Don't Eat Our Classmates, and Llama Destroys the World will love the sweet spirit and continuing adventures of Tiny T. Rex.

Meet Tiny T-Rex! He may be a small dino in a BIG world, but that won't stop him from making friends, conquering his fears, and stomping his way into your heart.

• Read-aloud books for ages 3–5
• Dinosaur picture books for kids
• Friendship books for toddlers

       



MY TIDBITS

Even monsters can be afraid of the dark dark, and tiny T Rex brings the message across the the sweetest way.

Camping outside is tons of fun...if there were nighty-lights outside. With his friend's help, T. Rex plans the best means to keep scary Grumbles and Nom-bies away. Even with the best constructions and ideas, the dark dark doesn't disappear. So, T Rex has to come up with another solution.

T. Rex is a sweet little rex. It's impossible not to like him as he prances around in his pajamas and tries to be brave when faced with something most kids don't care for—the dark dark. The support of his friend is inspiring and warming as the two of them try to come up with ideas. The entire situation will be easy for listeners to identify with, and they'll be able to put themselves into T. Rex's shoes and feel for him.

The illustrations are simple but carry the needed impact. T. Rex's predicament and the emotions surrounding it come across loud and clear. And yet, there's a tiny bit of humor and lightness built in, to ensure a few smiles along the way. It's hard not to like T. Rex as he drags his 'squish' around with him and is determined to overcome his fear to enjoy the fun of camping outside.

Summed up, this is a sweet book which attacks a fear many young listeners face themselves. It demonstrates that through friendship, determination and remembering a loving parent's wise words, the dark dark isn't hard to defeat after all.


And here he is...

 Jonathan Stutzman is an award-winning filmmaker and writer. His short films have screened at film festivals all over the world and on television. He lives in Palmyra Pennsylvania.
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Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Review: Nerp! by Sarah Lynne Reul


NERP!
by Sarah Lynne Reul
Sterling Children's Books
Picture Book
32 pages
ages 3 to 7

COMING...
MARCH 3rd!!!


What’s for dinner? How about skizzle klumps n’ gizzardlumps? A hilarious look at mealtime with a pair of persnickety eaters, in the most fun made-up language ever!
 
Would you like a bite of frizzle frazzle hotchy potch? How about a plate of mushy gushy bloobarsh? NERP, says our hero. Nerpity nerpity nerp! (That’s “NO” to you!) With nonsense language and humorously expressive illustrations, this delightfully silly picture book tells the story of two picky eaters—one child, one pet—of indiscriminate species, a multitude of supposedly tasty goodies, and one surprising solution to a familiar childhood situation.

         


MY TIDBITS

Monsterly fun radiates bright and bold in this catchy tale, which will have listeners spouting monsterly vocabulary of their own.

Some eaters are simply finicky, and that's definitely the case for this little monster. The parents bring out all sorts of delcious...ummm, interesting?...morsels. Yet, this little monster turns its nose at every single one.

This is a read-aloud that will have listeners quickly wanting to repeat every word themselves...and invent a few along the way. Each dish and response is a whimsical basket of nonsense, which slides right along into monsterly fun. And yet, it all makes sense-ish.

Thanks to the colorful illustrations, reactions and emotions are no problem to guess and make ga-gobbled word as clear as day. The monster baby is cute and stuffed full with emotion as he shakes his head and hides from every dish brought out to him. And these dishes are sure to catch some gasps, groans, and 'huhs?' along the way.

The ending is sweet as can be and offers a solution. Sort of. In any case, listeners will get the point and probably be nerping themselves the rest of the day.


And here she is...

 Sarah Lynne Reul is an illustrator, award-winning 2D animator, and the creator of several books ofr children, including Allie All Along. Originally from Brooklyn, she now lives just outside of Boston. Visit her online at reuler.com and on Instagram @thereul
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Sneak Peek: Forever Summer by Nicole Bea with Giveaway!




Forever Summer
by Nicole Bea
The Wild Rose Press
YA Contemporary, Romance

COMING...
FEBRUARY 24th!!!






Morrigan Westhaver isn’t convinced anything could make her forget her abusive ex-boyfriend—not even if she travels all the way from her home in Michigan to her father’s ranch in Alabama. Saved text messages and voicemails haunt her life with poisonous words and crippling self-doubt, but she can’t seem to let them go. On the ranch, much to her surprise, she immediately takes to a rescued horse, Stormy, as well as Levy, an attractive ranch hand. Will their understanding and gentle support help her heal, or is the damage too deep?
Goodreads   /   Amazon    /    Barnes & Noble


SNEAK PEEK

“We could have texted if you wanted to talk,” I remind him, patting the spot on the bed where my phone has slipped down to.
He pulls an elastic band from his wrist and snaps it into place around his hair, making a perfectly small bun before taking the towel, squeezing the excess water from the style, and taking a seat at the edge of my bed.
“You’re trying to make it sound like you don’t want me here, but I know you do. You wouldn’t have let me in otherwise, and you wouldn’t have kissed me this afternoon.” There’s a pause, the night dripping in and our faces drawing closer. “Do you believe in love at first sight, Morrigan?” His voice hangs heavy and warm in the bedroom air.
The question might be a rhetorical one, but I feel compelled to answer because I think I gave a shit answer the first time he asked me the question.
“I used to,” I reply softly, a whispered lilt to my voice that matches his own. “You know, before.” I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“That’s interesting.” He clasps his hands together and rests them between his thighs. His eyes tell me that isn’t the answer he wanted. “You stopped believing in love at first sight when I finally started.”




And here she is...
 
NICOLE BEA is a short story author and novelist who primarily focuses on contemporary teen fiction. An avid storyteller since childhood, she has honed her skills through a variety of educational programs including management, sociology, legal studies, and cultural diversity in the workplace, most recently engaging in coursework about communication for technologists. In addition to writing for young adults, Nicole is also a technical writer for a global manufacturer of CPAP masks, machines, and other products that manage sleep-disordered breathing.
When she isn't busy updating her manuscript portfolio or catching up on her To Be Read pile, Nicole can usually be found gardening, horseback riding, or pursuing her new hobby of learning to cook. She and her husband share their home in Eastern Canada with a collection of multi-colored cats and a lifetime's worth of books. 


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Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Review: Let's Dance by Valerie Bolling

COMING...
MARCH 3rd!!!

LET'S DANCE!
by Valerie Bolling
Illustrated by Maine Diaz
Boyds Mills Press
Picture Book 
32 pages
ages 3 to 7

This rhythmic showcase of dances from all over the world features children of diverse backgrounds and abilities tapping, spinning, and boogying away!

Tap, twirl, twist, spin! With musical, rhyming text, author Valerie Bolling shines a spotlight on dances from across the globe, while energetic art from Maine Diaz shows off all the moves and the diverse people who do them. From the cha cha of Cuba to the stepping of Ireland, kids will want to leap, dip, and zip along with the dances on the page!



MY TIDBITS

Get ready for energy and excitement because these pages are chucked full of just that!

Every page celebrates dance from every corner of the globe. From Cuba to Ireland and around the world, dance has everyone tapping their toes, clicking their heels and snapping fingers with contagious energy. Each culture displays a different background and dance form. And this even reaches across time and religion. But one thing is always clear—dance is fun no matter where you're from or what dance you do. It's simply a great and joyful activity.

The text is kept very simple with just a few words of action like snippity snap. These invite and flow right along with the bright and gleeful illustrations of kids dancing a certain style. Not only do the characters, their clothing and their poses fit perfectly, but the surrounding backgrounds also add the right amount of cultural flavor...and help young listeners guess what the dance might be and where it might come from. At the end of the book, each dance form is quickly revealed along with a very short and easy to understand explanation surrounding it.

This will make a great read-aloud for groups as well as at home. And the illustrations even make it tons of fun to flip through and discover the different dances again and again. It's definitely a read that will leave a smile on the face and good feelings flowing...and maybe even a few feet itching to dance right along.



And here she is...

Valerie Bolling has been an educator for over 25 years and a writer since age 4. She is a graduate of Tufts University and Columbia University, Teachers College and currently works as an Instructional Coach with middle and high school teachers.

In addition to writing picture books, Valerie writes a Monthly Memo for teachers that she publishes on Twitter, and she has been published in The National Writing Project’s Quarterly (“The Family Writing Project Builds a Learning Community in Connecticut”) and NESCBWI News (“Microaggressions Don’t Feel ‘Micro’”). Recently, she had a poem accepted for publication by Cricket Media. 

Valerie is a member of NCTE, SCBWI, the NESCBWI Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Authors Guild, the WNDB Mentorship Program, #12X12PB, 2020 Diverse Debuts, 20/20 Vision Picture Books, and a picture book critique group.

Valerie and her husband live in Connecticut and enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, going to the theater, and dancing.

The book is available on Indiebound, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. 



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