Review of The Sad Tree and Pronuba by Christina Steiner!

 Written by: Christina Steiner Illustrated by: Mary Manning

Published by: Outskirts Press  Publish Date: October 29, 2012

Age Group: Elementary

About:
A Lonely Tree and a Special Friend... The desert is a lonely place for Joshua, a tree who has never seen another tree like him. He asks everyone in his environment to help him find a companion...but although the desert loves him, nobody can help. Things change for Joshua one beautiful spring night when a tiny moth comes to visit. This exquisite story about the life-cycle relationship between the Joshua Tree and the Pronuba Moth will delight readers of all ages


Our thoughts of The Sad Tree and Pronuba:
We read this book as a family. It's a beautiful story of science and life.

I will admit it, we did shed some tears when I explained the cycle of life a little further when asked why Pronuba didn't come back. But the relationship between Pronuba and Joshua shows children that although we are different, we can help each other.

Joshua was lonely and there wasn't any other trees around that looked like him. The wind told him that there was another tree that looked like him around the rock but the wind couldn't stay to help him. Pronuba came along, as she was looking for a place to lay her eggs and they work out a deal. This is where the science lesson really gets working. Children don't realize that they are learning about science until they reflect back on the story. The story and lesson draws you in. 

I would recommend this to read in a classroom or at home!

"Thank you, moon and stars, for watching over all of us." ~Joshua
5 from Dane, Hunter, and I!

*We did receive this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the author:
Christina Steiner lives in Southern California. She is the mother of two daughters, who loved illustrated children’s books when they were growing up. The Sad Tree and Pronuba was inspired by Christina’s visit to the Mojave Desert, where she became fascinated by the Joshua Tree and the desolate environment in which it flourishes.

 

  The Sad Tree and Pronuba

Review of Kurt, Gert, Jazmine, and Bagel by Irene Dolnick!

Written by: Irene Dolnick Publisher: Outskirts Press

Published: October 15, 2013 Ages: 6 to 8

Dane: I really liked this story. It reminded me that I need to make sure to include all my friends so they don't feel left out. And it's okay for me to make new friends. I liked the pictures of the dogs.

Mama Anna: This was a cute story. I love that it had the phonics help included in book. That extra step makes it friendlier for the younger reader. I liked the corky graphics. They didn't take away from the story. The only problem I had with the book, and I think it's because I'm an editor, was the speaking punctuation. If that was corrected, it would be perfect. It's a great story for kids.

4.5 from Dane and I!!
*We did receive a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author
Irene Dolnick has four beagles, whose love is the inspiration behind her creativity and who have taught her that dogs are as adventurous as people. Irene lives in El Paso, Texas, a warm climate that allows her to share in the dogs' craziest schemes.

Kurt, Gert, Jazmine, and Bagel

Cover Reveal: True Colors by Melissa Pearl!! (YA)

Cover Designer by: Kate Strawbridge of Dwell Design & Press

Hosted by: Mrs Potter's Book Publicity Services

Blurb:

Caitlyn Davis always cruised through life, not being the type to ruffle feathers or involve herself in high school drama…until a chance encounter with a strange, homeless man changes everything.

Suddenly, Caitlyn has the ability to see behind people’s masks. She discovers that her life isn’t as simple as she imagined and her high school is filled with secrets…some very sinister ones.

Unable to ignore her new gift, Caitlyn embarks on a mission to learn why one of her friends now appears terrified, but masks her fear behind a bright, smiling veneer. Will Caitlyn’s new ability lead her into hot water? Or is her new found vision a blessing that will expose her friends’ true colors?

Her quest will lead Caitlyn to lose friends, stand up for those in need, and even find love.

At Palisades High School every face tells a story…

Book Link:

Goodreads

Author Bio:

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 - True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.

"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."

Author Social Links:
Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Melissa Pearl Blog and YAlicious Blog

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

Smashwords Author Page

Newsletter Subscription

Website

Pinterest

Other Titles by Melissa Pearl:

The Time Spirit Trilogy
Golden Blood - Black Blood - Pure Blood

The Betwixt Series
Betwixt - Before - Beyond

The Mica & Lexy Series
Forbidden Territory
Forbidden Waters (due for release: 2014)

The Masks Series

Book 2 (due for release: 2014)

Book 3 (due for release: 2014)

Book 4 (due for release: 2015)

I Know Lucy Series
I Know Lucy (due for release: 2014)
Set Me Free (due for release: 2014)

The Song Bird Series

Fever (due for release: June 2014)

True Colors Masquerade Ball Facebook Event

The True Colors Masquerade Ball is happening on February 16th to celebrate the release of True Colors. All party-goers will be entitled to purchase a copy of True Colors for only 99c. There will also be competitions, giveaways and guest appearances from other authors who will be unveiling their own secrets. So come and join in the fun and help us welcome True Colors into the world with style.

Book Blitz: Net Riders by Giorgio Marino!!

adventure/science fiction novel for middle graders.

Synopsis: 

When Zane and Megan crack the Secnet, they stumble across Project Net Rider. It’s an awesome Cyber Warfare program with a virtual netbike to infiltrate any computer in the new global network. But the software is dangerous—and in the wrong hands—capable of unlimited destruction. So when the notorious Haxta steals a copy, the entire world is threatened. And the two hackers have to risk everything to stop him.

iTunes | GoodReads | Amazon | Kindle

About the Author:

Giorgio Marino has degrees in Engineering and Business and has worked in Technical, Sales and Marketing roles all over Australia. He has traveled extensively around the world to research his novels, and now lives in Adelaide, South Australia with his wife and two young children. His main interests are reading, writing, movies, illustrating, web design, travel and of course, exploring playgrounds. He writes full time and when not running after children, is working on a new novel. Net Riders is his first published book.

Website | Amazon | GoodReads

In The Hall of the Mountain King by Allison Flannery Illustrated by Vesper Stamper

Written by: Allison Flannery Illustrated by: Vesper Stamper

Published: April 2013 Ages: 4-9

What we thought of In the Hall of the Mountain King:

Dane: I thought it was adventurous and it went to different scenes that had cool animals. I liked the pictures and the music that came with the book. Peer was curious and kind of naughty. I'd recommend to my friends.

Mama Anna: I really enjoyed reading this book with Dane. Hunter said she was too old to read with us, she is 11. We read the book without the CD the first time. We read it later again with the CD and it fits in perfectly with Peer's actions. The illustrations are fun and full of color. They draw the reader in to the scene. We stopped several times to look at the pictures instead of reading. 

I would highly recommend this as a read at home or even in the classroom! It is a wonderful adaptation from Henrik Ibsen and it really gets the reader engaged with the story! Also, the website is full of fun accompaniments to the story! 

5stars from Dane and I! 
*We did receive a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Q and A session with Ms. Allison Flannery:

Tell us a bit about your book and where it’s available:
In the Hall of the Mountain King is a picture book that loosely follows the story line from Norwegian playwright Henrik Isben’s Peer Gynt written in the 1860's. I modified it into a kid-friendly story of a young boy on an adventure, which ends in the mysterious Mountain King’s castle. The story’s action mirrors the music that Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg wrote for this scene of the play. I include directions in the book on how to make story and music an interactive experience for children that helps them learn about musical dynamics in a fun way.

It is available through my website and through Amazon.

What was the inspiration for your book?
I was asked to write this book by one of my Kindergarten students two years ago. Five year olds really believe anything is possible and he was no exception. I had told this story orally to my classes, and he kept insisting to see the "book that goes with that story." At that time, there was no book, but because of his persistence, I started the process that led to the book getting published. It is dedicated to that student!

What was your aim for this book? What did you want readers to think and feel when reading it?
I wanted my students to appreciate and enjoy classical music—to notice its movement and variations—and, for this piece, to visualize the action mirrored by the sounds. As a teacher it is my aim to make learning fun as well as to impart beauty, truth, and goodness in my teaching. I hope that readers will enjoy the story and the music and be inspired by its power and beauty. I love engaging young readers with whole body movement and to try to make the music come alive for children physically as well as emotionally. Through it all, I hope they will gain appreciation for the great composers and writers that left of these classic works of art and not overlook them as "boring."

Do you have any other books currently available?
No, this is my first book.

What will you be working on next?
I would like to write stories based on other scenes from the Peer Gynt play, based on other pieces by Edvard Grieg. There are several interesting possibilities, so I am not sure where I will go next, but it will likely be a story that accompanies one of the other pieces on the CD included with my current book.

How did you originally get into writing?
I have always been an avid reader, staring in my elementary school years. Books were my best friends. I think writing is just an extension of reading. I feel privileged to have gotten to write this book.

What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
I really still don't consider myself a writer. I am more of a discoverer. I discovered this book more than I wrote it.

What do you find hardest about being a writer?
Writing a picture book is challenging because most of my words in the original manuscript ended up on the cutting room floor. The illustrator did such an amazing job of saying what I wanted with the illustrations that my editor and I deleted much of what I had originally written. But I do miss some of those words!

Who or what would you count as your main influence?
My mother and my paternal grandmother. My mother read to me constantly in my early childhood. My grandmother always sang to me and took me on long walks on the family farm where I grew up. I think the combination of these two women created a love of the written word and the beauty of adventure in nature. I am grateful to have had them shape my life in such profound ways.

What do you enjoy reading?
I love reading biographies and learning about people – how they think, what drives them to be successful, why they make the choices they do, and how that influences them and the world around them. I also love children’s books. They were and still are such a big part of my own children’s lives. Some of our most precious times have been reading and entering in to stories together. There are books that I’ve read over and over to each of my children or whole series that I’ve read to each of my daughters at certain ages that very special to me—and to them to.

Who is your favorite author?
Laura Ingalls Wilder. I read all of her books 13 times by the time I was in the fifth grade. Her books are one of the series I referred to above that I’ve read to each of my daughters as well. They let you experience a different world and a different time, while helping to instill values that are as relevant today as ever.

What would be your ideal writer’s haven for creating your book? Would you have a desk in a quiet cabin somewhere or an iPad on the beach?
Probably a classroom full of kindergarteners. I would love to have a whole day with them to hear their ideas, listen to great music, and interact with their responses to it. They are so uninhibited by the world around them and see life so purely. They would give me great ideas and inspire me to make them happen!

Hi!

Hunter and I thought this would be a great way to spend more time together: reviewing books together. It will probably be a few days before we start posting our reviews! I can't wait to share with you!

<3 Anna and Hunter and probably Dane, too!