Holiday Review: Native American Night Before Christmas by Gary Robinson

 I have another holiday read for you today, and this one takes a swing in the direction of Native Americans. When I found out about this one, I had to read it because...well, how could I pass up such a wonderful twist on the very well known Christmas poem? And I wasn't disappointed. It's one I really think many of you might enjoy, too.

NATIVE AMERICAN NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

by Gary Robinson

Illustrated by Jesse T. Hummingbird

7th Generation, Native Voices Book

Picture Book / Holiday

39 pages

ages 4 to 8

2010 Silver Winner, Moonbeam Children's Book Award An innovative re-telling of the classic Christmas tale, this full-color picture book takes a whimsical look at what Christmas Eve might be like for an American Indian family when Old Red Shirt (the Indian Santa Claus) comes a-calling with his team of flying white buffalo to deliver fry bread, commodities and other goodies. This delightful and very amusing rewrite of the traditional "A Night Before Christmas" is sure to be a hit with Native Americans and children everywhere as well as with people of all ages interested in Native customs and art. With full-page colorful, humorous paintings by renowned Cherokee artist Jesse T. Hummingbird.

B&N / WALMART / AMAZON / BEARPOND BOOKS / ABEBOOKS

MY TIDBITS

This is a well done twist on a very familiar Christmas poem and will have you snuggling up in your tipi dreams, wishing Old Red Shirt might stop by.

Simply said, I enjoyed this one. Not only is it refreshing to visit the entire poem from the view of Native Americans, but the retelling is also nicely done. The author does a great job of changing the atmosphere to slide right into the Native American view point, while still holding the fun and humor the original tale also includes. It's light hearted, educates, and is still packed with holiday joy. 

The book begins with a note, pointing toward a glossary at the end, where several unfamiliar terms are explained. This section held the same lightness as the rest of tale and really added in help when needed with a handful of terms. The author really kept the age group in mind, and I appreciate that.

The illustrations are bright, cheerful, and pack the necessary details to not only keep listeners coming back and peeking at the scenes themselves, but also sneak in information. The scenes allow the life of a Native American in a tipi to peek through, and there is something to discover on each and every page.

I found it fun to see how the author kept to the old rhyme and found myself smiling more than once as, for example, 'choke cherries danced in their heads'. While the retold poem and illustrations stick to a more historical direction, I did stumble a bit when a sudden dash of modern slipped in twice. Part of me was disappointed and wished the historical end remained constant, but another part wonders if this is more enlightening. Either way, it's a lovely book, which adds a great twist to the Christmas story end of things, and I'm sure readers will enjoy this one. 

Happy Book Birthday, Gabriel is Cursed by Julia Goldhirsh with Giveaway!

GABRIEL IS CURSED

by Julia Goldhirsh

Nymph’s Revenge, #2

YA Fantasy

Rose and Gabriel have to stop the nymphs from destroying the city forever.

Even though Nightshade’s gone, his plan is still unfolding. The nymphs want to destroy one of the biggest cities in Pennsylvania, a place full of factories.

Rose needs to learn how to use her nymph powers if she wants to have a fighting chance. When she learns she’s no average human, Rose starts to question her loyalty to humanity.

Gabriel’s connection with reality is fading. He hides his condition to help Rose, but at what cost?

Can they stop the nymphs, or will this battle be their last?

Trigger warnings: Domestic abuse. Rose’s father is abusive and makes an appearance in the beginning and at the end of the book.

Goodreads / Amazon

SNEAK PEEK

She’s not your wife?

As they continued into the hotel, Rose trailed close behind. He peered back at her as she dragged her bags along. She deserves a good night’s sleep by herself.

While he’d relish the company, they’d both needed sleep, and he didn’t want to risk her seeing him hallucinate in case that happened again.

He ran a finger through his hair, mentally calculating how much of his savings he had left. The extra room would cost him, but she deserved some goodwill after everything she’d been through. With a sigh, he pushed open the heavy, wooden doors that led into the hotel lobby.

Sparkling chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the dim light of the candles, and a few stray bulbs illuminated the spacious room. A large spiral staircase descended into the center of the room, and vivid emerald green walls complemented the dark wooden floors. Scatterings of tables and chairs sat near the staircase.

A woman with mussed, brown hair awaited them at a dark wooden desk in the room’s corner. With a perky smile plastered on her face, she chirped out, “Welcome,” as they entered the building.

Gabriel walked over to the desk with Rose in tow and said, “I’d like to book two rooms for tonight.”

The woman gave him a blank look. “You won’t be rooming with your wife?”

Rose coughed beside him, and she clutched his arm in a vice grip as she got nose to nose with the woman. “His what? Surely you must be joking?”

She’s definitely awake after that comment, he thought. Gabriel chuckled at Rose’s shock. As his hand came to his mouth to cover his laughter, he saw the glint of his old, silver wedding band on his finger and slipped it in his pants pocket.

He must have put it on at some point absentmindedly. With a wave of his hand he said, “This lovely woman isn’t my wife, but she’s an excellent travel companion.” He winked at Rose and relished the blush that colored her face.

The woman’s brows knit together. “But you were just wearing a-”

He cut her off, holding up the hand without the ring. “I think you were mistaken, although she is rather stunning.”

The woman blinked at his now bare ring finger. “Sorry. I must have been mistaken.” She handed separate keys to Rose and Gabriel in a daze.

Rose’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?” Gabriel waved her off with a smile.

“We leave early in the morning and you’re…unpleasant when you haven’t slept enough. You can thank me by getting a good night’s rest.”

She shoved his shoulder. “See. She’s quite capable of stunning when angry.”

Rose huffed and headed up the stairs just ahead of him. He thought that was the end of their conversation for the night, but once they were out of the innkeeper’s prying gaze, she pulled him close. She planted a brief kiss on his lips and whispered “Thank you,” before they went to their rooms.

The unexpected peck made his face flush.

And here she is...

Julia Goldhirsh was born and raised in Coconut Creek, Florida. She spent one year working in Japan as an ESL teacher and loves traveling and teaching. She has been writing ever since she was in elementary school, and her favorite stories to read and write were always fantasy and mythology books.

She started out writing on writers cafe and all poetry. RPG writing became her favorite past time in high school. She has won a short fiction award in high school from the Broward County Lit fair for her short story "Night Sprite."

She loves to talk about lesser known mythological creatures. Her most recent obsession is with Nymphs, Enchantresses, and the Encantado. Known as wanderingteacher on her travel blog and adventuringwriter on her author blog, she also writes about traveling, adjusting to different cultures, and the process of self-publishing.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

Holiday Review: Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott

It's time for another Holiday Review! Today's book isn't really centered around the holiday season...not directly, anyway. The wintery landscape, however, fits right in (at least, for those of us in the northern hemisphere). But I also loved the way the author brings in light and uses the simple lanterns. Not only does this offer a great crafting project for those dimming days for young readers. And I bet a few might even want to take them on a venture out into the evening or night. But the visual idea of light and kindness is simply lovely. 

SHARE SOME KINDNESS, 

BRING SOME LIGHT

by Apryl Stott

Simon & Schuster

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

A little girl and her friend Bear learn the true meaning of selfless kindness in this sweet, stunningly illustrated debut picture book.

Bear is sad. All the other animals think he’s mean because he’s so big. But his human friend, Coco, offers to help him. Coco shares her grandmother’s advice: “When life gets dark as winter’s night, share some kindness, bring some light.”

They decide to bake cookies to “share some kindness” and make lanterns to “bring some light.” But when the cookies and lanterns don’t work, they must look for another way to win over the other animals. And while they’re at it, Coco and Bear just might discover that kindness is a gift that only comes from the heart.

GOODREADS / B&N / AMAZON / BOOK DEPOSITORY / KOBO

MY TIDBITS

This is one of those books, which sneaks in and warms the heart.

Bear and Coco are the oddest pair of friends, and while they get along splendidly, bear isn't happy. None of the animals understand him and are afraid of him. Coco wants to help and thinks of a way to show the animals how kind bear really is. But despite their efforts, nothing seems to turn the prejudice around. 

Firstly, I love the illustrations in this tale. They carry so much detail and make the characters along with the setting really come through with tons of atmosphere. The snowy landscape and cold seems to radiate from the pages thanks to the wonderful color choices. Plus, the atmosphere is just right to let the light shine. It's fun to flip through them and get lost in the wintery forest and animals, especially since there's a wonderful mix of realistic aspects and imaginative ones.

The tale has a more traditional direction and tells a story without rhyme...which I appreciate. Coco and Bear's dialogue fits well to a little girl and shows the comfort the two share between each other. There is a very important message in all of this, and it's a very universal one. It leaves off with a smile and a bit of food for thought, and definitely has the reader wishing they could visit this forest and stomp through the snow right along with Bear and Coco. 

And here she is...

Author-illustrator Apryl Stott grew up drawing and making delightful creative messes. Her first story, “How to Get Rid of My Baby Sister” was written in third grade. Since then, she has learned how to be kind to her sister and how to clean up after herself. Mostly. She spends her days working in her studio, listening to podcasts, and picking up after her daughter’s delightful creative messes. Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light is her first picture book. Learn more at AprylStottDesign.com.

Sneak Peek: Welcome to Velvet, AZ by Sherry Rossman

 

WELCOME TO VELVET, AZ

by Sherry Rossman

YA Fantasy/Sci Fi/Romance 

Darwin House Press

 

For the past eighteen years, the town of Velvet has been under a holiday curse. For them, Thanksgiving is not about turkey and family. It's about the Nightmares. This year, the curse arrives early—a full five days before Thanksgiving—sending a menagerie of characters on a search for answers. It begins with Boone, a seventeen-year-old who was raised by an ageless eccentric; Nick, a man in the midst of a breakdown; and Toni, a girl who won't let any man get closer than three feet. As answers unfold, suspicions arise, and the power behind the curse is a surprise no one could have imagined.

SNEAK PEEK

From: Chapter One 
Boone/Saturday Night

My best friend is no girl next door. She's a one-person parade sitting against the antiquated phone booth, barely visible in the eight o'clock twilight. Gray hooded coat, blood-red shirt ending in two violent points past her cuffs, trying so hard to look like anything but the china doll inside.

Wait ‘til Toni sees what this town will offer her during the holidays. She'll think no more of her idle masquerade, poor girl. Unless she follows instructions. But I know she won't.

Maybe she'll think more of me. On second thought, I may become the thing of her nightmares. I'm the last person to want to mark her with that kind of fear. Anything but that. I slow my stride, not wanting to startle her.

In a snap, a stream of light catches her. She springs to her feet, her eyes squinting at the approaching headlights. Must be the new guy. He's early.

And here she is...

Before I found the awesomeness of writing in the YA realm I dabbled in children's stories and short works for adults. My first YA novel became an Amazon bestseller shortly before my publisher decided to close their doors. But I forged on, exploring fantastical ideas and discovering that our world is more magical than we give it credit for. These musings inspired The Water Man, which earned a spot in the anthology Mythic Orbits 2016.

I live on the sunny-yet-piney side of Arizona with my family and sweet boxador, Bella. 

Website: https://sherryrossman.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4455392.Sherry_Rossman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sherry-Rossman-155850011109024

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherryrossmanauthor

Book Blitz Organized By:
Ya Bound Book Tours

Review: The Adventures of Sugamama by Shaneisha Dodson

THE ADVENTURES OF SUGAMAMA

by Shaneisha Dodson

Brilliant Girl Books

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

The Adventures of Sugamama is about a little girl who wakes up in the middle of the night to find out that she is a superhero. This picture book is suitable for small children between the ages of 3 to 7.

B&N / AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Imagination shoots off into super directions in a fun read with a girl, who is a born heroine. 

A little girl wakes up and looks in the mirror to find that she's changed. Not only is her hair pink, but she's gained super powers. Well, there's only one thing a fresh, new superheroine can do...and that's to fight evil and help those who need it.

Kids who dare to dream will enjoy this tale. This girl is spunky, full of energy, and simply a wonderful child, who embraces her sudden powers and let's her heart of gold shine...while fighting evil, of course. Not only does her sudden hair change grab attention (love her hair!), but the story has her flying here and there...and let's readers/listeners imagine they could do that too. Yep, it's empowering to the core. They'll connect with Sugamama immediately. The adventures are exciting but tame enough for the age group, and concentrate more on the fun of being a superhero than on really battling against evil. 

The illustrations are as bright and bold as Sugamama herself, making them great for gazing even when a reader isn't nearby. This is simply a story with lots of encouragement, empowerment, and smiles.

And here she is...

Shaneisha Dodson is the founder of Black Girlz Productions and an award-winning playwright. She is a native of Arkansas and currently resides in California. Dodson has received numerous awards for her literary works. She has written, directed and produced three full length productions. Her one act play debuted off-Broadway in NYC at the Strawberry One Act festival and won best theatrical presentation by NYC Success in the Arts. Her children's play Dog, Cat & The Red Bird was published in Drama Notebook. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing and spending time with loved ones.

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Sugamama-Shaneisha-Dodson/dp/0982795084

Barnes&Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-adventures-of-sugamama-shaneisha-dodson/1137708375