Maddie World by Kimberly Kinrade - Review

Maddie World 
by Kimberly Kinrade
The Three Lost Kids Trilogy, #3
June 26, 2012
Evolved Publishing

Too scared to stand up to the bullies or tell her teachers, 9-year-old Maddie decides she's never going to school again. Too bad her parents don't agree.

Depressed and feeling hopeless, she doesn't expect to discover the secret door to her magical world in an old box in her bedroom. Only Maddie World isn't the beautiful paradise she's always imagined. When Maddie, her two sisters and her dog TayTay are thrown into the middle of a Fairy War, Maddie has to learn to stand up for herself and face her fears, or her sisters will be stuck in a Fairy dungeon forever!

Will Maddie find the courage to do what she must, without becoming a bully herself? Find out with the this third book in the The Three Lost Kids Special Edition Trilogy. 

Add on Goodreads.

Darian's Review:

Maddie World is the third book in the series, and I’ve had the privilege of reading them all. Kinrade is a talented writer, and this last book didn’t fall short of the high expectations I’ve come to have when reading her work. True to her style, Kinrade has again painted a vivid picture of an amazing world for kids to become a part of.

Maddie is being bullied at school, and she decides the best solution is to never go to school again. While her sisters try to cheer her up, the girls are once again pulled into a magical world; a world that’s in trouble. The world is at war, and it’s up to Maddie to stop it. In this book, Maddie is faced with a choice, become a bully, or fight the bully. It’s a story of bravery and standing up for yourself (in the right way).

Again, like the other two books in the series, Kinrade has weaved a good lesson into wonderful story. While kids read, they’re shown good ideas on how to deal with a big problem they face in their own lives; bullies. It’s a tough subject to tackle on any level, kids can be so easily swayed, and saying “just ignore it” doesn’t work today. I think it’s the way in which Kinrade approaches the tough subjects the series handles that I appreciate the most. While most books give cut and dry, “Do this…” advice, Kinrade doesn’t. Like the old saying goes, it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. And how Kinrade shows solid advice, is through a fun adventure kids will enjoy reading.

Overall, this was a great finish to an already strong series. Kinrade is a very talented author who tackles issues on a level kids not only will understand, but a way in which they’ll enjoy. I would recommend this series to any child who loves the chance for adventure, and any parent looking for a way to help their kids understand, and deal with tough emotions.

Also see Darian's reviews on the first books in the series, Lexie World and Bella World.

About the author:
Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes fantasy and paranormal stories for children, YA and adults and still believes in magic worlds. Check out her YA paranormal novels Forbidden Mind and Forbidden Fire and her illustrated children's fantasy chapter books Lexie World, and Bella World, all on Amazon.

She lives with her three little girls who think they're ninja princesses with super powers, her two dogs who think they're humans and her husband, also known as the sexy Russian Prince, who is the love of her life and writing partner. 

Find out more at KimberlyKinrade.com, ThreeLostKids.com, on Twitter, and Facebook.

 

 

Never Doubt the Power of Social Media - Gregory G. Allen, author of Chicken Boy - Kindle Fire Giveaway

Chicken Boy: The Amazing Adventures of a Super Hero with Autism by Gregory G. Allen
March 7, 2012 by MeeGenius

"I have a superhero inside my head. I call him Chicken Boy" proclaims our hero.

What others may see as odd "quirks", a child living with autism explains as all a part of his being a superhero. Told in the first person perspective, Chicken Boy offers a small glimpse into the mind of one child who wants others to understand they shouldn't fear someone simply because that person is a little different.

Add on Goodreads, and buy on Amazon. 

Never Doubt Power of Social Media

by Gregory G. Allen 

To say I owe much to social media for the publication of my children's book would be an understatement. But let me just give a little backstory first on how Chicken Boy was born.

The story was based on my ten year old godson who I spend every Wed. night with going to his favorite restaurant with his mother and sister. Because of him, I became much more aware of autism over the years. His sister and I started making up a story one night about our little 'superhero' and that grew into this book. It was important for me to tell it from the child's perspective and I'm so aware this is but one story (one small story) on the large line that is autism. Yet it still felt important for me to share it.

After writing it, a friend told me about the MeeGenius author challenge and I joined 400 other manuscripts that were entered last fall. I had no idea what I was in store for. All the stories were put up online and the next thing I knew, it became a contest for votes. I only know so many people in the world, but boy did they work hard to spread the word. Before I knew it, I was getting wonderful comments all through the voting process with the MeeGenius Author Challenge from people in the autism community that read the story. It was sometimes overwhelming and yet humbling to hear how the story was touching all of these people…these strangers.

People tweeted about the book to get votes. Strangers. Famous people. Autism organizations. It was an incredible feeling. And then the winners were announced and the book won because of social media. Winning the People's Choice Award came with publication of the digital book by MeeGenius, a $1500 prize and a library of the MeeGenius books being donated to my godson's school in New Jersey in the US. 

So many people were asking me if they could get the book in print, I knew it was important to do just that. So I went to an indie publisher (who has published my adult books), took my prize money and used it to get the illustrations and layout design fixed to create a 32 page picture book that I could hand over to this publisher (as they had yet to go down the road of publishing children's books). But now I can give readers the choice between digital and print. And I'm so grateful to MeeGenius for the social media platform they gave me during the voting to come in contact with so many autism organizations. I dubbed my friends #TeamChickenBoy as they took to social media and were able to make contact with so many wonderful people.

About the author:
Gregory G. Allen was raised in Texas, but now calls New Jersey home. His mother (an avid reader) passed on the love of written words to Gregory. He is an award-winning author & composer, a playwright, and manages an arts center on a college campus. He has had several short stories published, a musical theater writer with over ten original musicals produced, and contributes articles and blogs to online sources.

Find out more at Gregory-G-Allen.com, on Twitter, and Facebook.

Click here to find out more about the giveaway and the sponsors. 

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi - Giveaway

Flying the Dragon 
by Natalie Dias Lorenzi
July 1, 2012 by Charlesbridge

American-born Skye knows very little of her Japanese heritage. Her father taught her to speak the language, but when their estranged Japanese family, including Skye's grandfather, suddenly move to the United States, Skye must be prepared to give up her All-Star soccer dreams to take Japanese lessons and to help her cousin, Hiroshi adapt to a new school. Hiroshi, likewise, must give up his home and his hopes of winning the rokkaku kite-fighting championship with Grandfather. Faced with language barriers, culture clashes and cousin rivalry, Skye and Hiroshi have a rocky start. But a greater shared loss brings them together. They learn to communicate, not only through language, but through a common heritage and sense of family honor. At the rokkaku contest at the annual Washington Cherry Blossom Festival, Hiroshi and Skye must work as a team in order to compete with the best.

Add on Goodreads and buy on Barnes & Noble.

Giveaway:

One winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi, a bookmark and a set of chopsticks.

How to enter:

Be a follower of Krazy Book Lady in whatever way you choose. Then fill out the form below.

Additional optional entries:

+1 Follow Natalie on Twitter.  

+1 Like Flying the Dragon on Facebook.

+1 "Fan" or friend Natalie on Goodreads. 

Giveaway Details:

This giveaway is open US only. Giveaway is open until midnight EST on June 28. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to reflect the winner. Winner will have three days to respond, or a new winner will be selected.

Sorry! This giveaway is now over.

Winner: Krista B.

Bella World by Kimberly Kinrade - Review

Bella World by Kimberly Kinrade
The Three Lost Kids Trilogy, Book 2
Published: April 2012
Publisher: Evolved Publishing

Bella is tired of getting blamed every time her sisters lose something. It's not her fault they misplaced something important, so why does everyone assume she took it? It makes her blood boil that no one appreciates all the things does to help and protect people. Sometimes her anger makes her do things she regrets later.

When she, her two sisters and and their dog TayTay find a watery portal to Bella World, they are surprised to discover a town ravaged by Dragon attacks. But not all is as it seems, a lesson Bella learns when they are sent to stop the Dragon.

Together, Bella and Emerald the Dragon learn to control their Dragon Fire, make amends to those they have wronged and in the process find the appreciation and acceptance they sought all along.

Add on Goodreads or buy on Amazon.

Darian's Review:

Bella World is the second book in the series, and after reading Lexie World, I was happy to jump right into this book.  Bella World is about Bella, and her two sisters, who now know of magical realms hidden in a path in the woods.  Much like in Lexie World, once the girls find themselves in Bella’s world, they’re quickly met with amazing creatures and people.  They find a quaint town, now ravaged by a dangerous dragon, and it’s up to Bella to save the town and its people. 

Again, Kinrade has done a superb job of weaving valuable lessons into an entertaining story.  Lessons that are good for both kids and parents.  The timing of reading this book couldn’t have been better for me, dealing with a daughter on the cusp of ‘tween’, and helping her learn how to deal with her emotions. 

This book does a wonderful job of teaching how to handle feelings, how to make the right choices, and how our choices create circumstance.  It’s a hard lesson to teach, to children and us (often stubborn) adults, but Kinrade has managed to tap into strong core values and paint them into a beautiful story.

As I said after reading the first book in the series, I would gladly pick up any of Kinrade’s books and share them with my kids.  Because they’re not only interesting stories, they’re wonderful lessons for us both.  And what better way to learn them, than by reading it together as a family.  Kinrade is again worthy of applause for an amazing book added to the series.  I would be happy to read the next in the series, and highly recommend it to kids and parents alike.

A copy was provided by the author for review.

About the author:

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. As a child, where others saw shapes in clouds, she saw words. But she was also an entrepreneur at heart. So when her business arrangement with the Tooth Fairy ended, she went pro with her writing. Her stories sold better than any lemonade stand and even beat out her museum of fossilized rocks in revenue.

Fast forward...um...many years and many college degrees later...and she is now an award winning author and reformed journalist. 

You can find out more at kimberlykinrade.com and the ThreeLostKids site. 

Check out Darian's review of Lexie World, the first book in the Three Lost Kids Trilogy.

Nate Rocks the Boat by Karen Pokras Toz - Review

Nate Rocks the Boat 

by Karen Pokras Toz

Published April 2012 by Grand Daisy Press

The Adventure Continues...
With fourth grade finally winding down, 10-year-old Nathan Rockledge is looking forward to a fun and relaxing summer at home with his friends. That is, until his mom decides he has to go to overnight camp with his annoying older sister. When his best friend, Tommy, decides to tag along, Nathan thinks maybe his summer won’t actually be so bad. After all, he does get to be away from his mom's awful cooking for an entire six weeks. Amongst Color War competitions, a flaky counselor, and a bully named "No-Neck,” Nathan turns to his trusty sketchpad, transforming himself into Nate Rocks: 10-year-old extraordinaire. His speedboat ready for action, Nate saves the day time and again from the perils of floods, snakes, ghosts, and even the most wanted criminals. Join Nathan, Tommy, Abby, and a whole new cast of characters as Nate Rocks once again proves nothing can hold him back.

My Review:

Nate Rocks is back and at it again. This time he is at summer camp, and he is experiencing a lot of new, real-life adventures along with his imaginary adventures.

It is rare to find a book directed toward middle grade boys, and Karen Pokras Toz has done an excellent job bringing Nate to life once again. The trials and triumphs of summer camp are described perfectly and with a lot of humor. Kids will easily lose themselves in this book and feel like they are right there at camp with Nate. Along with all of the imagination and adventures, Karen also portrays a beautiful message of friendship. I would definitely recommend this book and this series, and I am looking forward to Nate's next adventure.

A copy was provided by the author for review.

About the author:

Karen Pokras Toz is a writer, wife, and mom. Karen grew up in the small town of Orange, Connecticut and graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Finance. She also attended the University of Richmond, where she studied law and business, receiving both a JD and an MBA. Karen is a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Karen lives in Montgomery County, PA with her husband and three children.   

You can find out more about Karen Pokras Toz and how to connect with her on her website.  

Check out my review of the first NATE ROCKS book, Nate Rocks the World. 

Giveaway: Nate Rocks by Karen Pokras Toz

This giveaway is part of the Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, KidLitFrenzy, Classic Children's Books, and Mymcbooks. There are a lot of great blogs participating in this hop. After you enter here, hop over and enter their giveaways too.

While you are here, please check out my other giveaways. They can be located in the right sidebar.

My Giveaway:
One winner will receive both books in the NATE ROCKS series by Karen Pokras Toz!

Nate Rocks the World
Book #1 

Ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge cannot catch a break. After all, life as a fourth-grader can be hazardous - what with science projects to deal with and recess football games to avoid. Everyone, including his best friend Tommy, seems to have bad luck when hanging around Nathan. Throw in an older sister who is a royal pain, a dad who is stuck in the past, and a mom who keeps trying to poison him with her awful cooking, and poor Nathan's life as a fourth-grader appears to be completely doomed. Armed only with his sketchpad, his imagination, and his wits, Nathan Rockledge navigates the perils of the fourth grade in style, to emerge heroic, as Nate Rocks, proving that even a ten-year-old can accomplish great things. 

Please see my review of Nate Rocks the World.

Nate Rocks the Boat

Book #2 

The Adventure Continues...With fourth grade finally winding down, 10-year-old Nathan Rockledge is looking forward to a fun and relaxing summer at home with his friends. That is, until his mom decides he has to go to overnight camp with his annoying older sister. When his best friend, Tommy, decides to tag along, Nathan thinks maybe his summer won’t actually be so bad. After all, he does get to be away from his mom's awful cooking for an entire six weeks. Amongst Color War competitions, a flaky counselor, and a bully named "No-Neck,” Nathan turns to his trusty sketchpad, transforming himself into Nate Rocks: 10-year-old extraordinaire. His speedboat ready for action, Nate saves the day time and again from the perils of floods, snakes, ghosts, and even the most wanted criminals. Join Nathan, Tommy, Abby, and a whole new cast of characters as Nate Rocks once again proves nothing can hold him back.

Please see my review of Nate Rocks the Boat.

How to enter: 

Just be a follower of Krazy Book Lady in whatever way you choose. Then fill out the form below.

Additional optional entries (for a total of 6 entries):

+1 Follow Karen Pokras Toz on Twitter.

+1 Like Karen Pokras Toz on Facebook.

+1 "Fan" Karen Pokras Toz on Goodreads.

+1 Add Nate Rocks the World and Nate Rocks the Boat to your shelf on Goodreads.

+1 Leave a comment on any blog post. ("Thanks for the giveaway" type comments will not count as an entry.) 

Giveaway details:

Giveaway is open internationally. Winner will receive print books if in the US or Canada or will receive e-copies if international. This giveaway will run until midnight EST on May 13th. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to include the name of the winner. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected. 

Sorry! This giveaway is now over.

Winner: Melissa C.

On Writing: Why Kids are the Best Inspiration - Guest Post by Karen Pokras Toz, Author of Nate Rocks

On Writing: Why Kids are the Best Inspiration

Guest Post by Karen Pokras Toz, author of Nate Rocks the World and Nate Rocks the Boat

I love hearing about where authors get their inspirations for their work. Often it’s something they’ve heard on the news or something that is happening with a friend or at work. One thing that most authors agree on: inspiration is all around us.

For me, inspiration comes mostly from my children. I tell people all the time that Nate Rocks is basically my three kids all rolled into one. But where do I come up with the ideas for the actual stories?

If you have read my blog, or know me personally, you know I spend the first few weeks of June packing and labeling in preparation to send my two oldest children to overnight camp for a month. I think we are going on our fifth summer of this routine - honestly, I’ve lost count, but let’s just say I’ve labeled a lot of underwear over the past few years!!

When it came time to start thinking about the second Nate Rocks book, I had to make a decision - did I want to keep going with 4th grade theme or did I want to try something different? I was in the process of the above-mentioned folding and labeling when I thought: Nate should go to camp too!

I began the process of remembering all of the stories I had heard over the years, as well as my own experiences at camp (although, mine were limited to day camp, not overnight camp.) Before I knew it, I had a book full of fun camp adventures – staring Nate Rocks, of course! Thanks kids for all the great stories – keep them coming!

About the author:

Karen Pokras Toz is a writer, wife, and mom. Karen grew up in the small town of Orange, Connecticut and graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Finance. She also attended the University of Richmond, where she studied law and business, receiving both a JD and an MBA. Karen is a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Karen lives in Montgomery County, PA with her husband and three children.

You can find out more about Karen Pokras Toz and how to connect with her on her website.

Please see my reviews of Nate Rocks the World and Nate Rocks the Boat.

You can also check out Karen's previous guest post.

The Golden Pathway by Donna M. McDine - Review

The Golden Pathway 

by Donna M. McDine

Illustrated by: K.C. Snider

First Published: August 2010

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing

Raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily, David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David leads Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa. Suggested age for readers: 8-12

Darian's Review:

The Golden Pathway is about a young boy, David, in a time when having slaves was commonplace.  Almost every night, David hears the screams of Jenkin's coming from the barn, as his Pa in another drunken stupor beats the poor sixteen-year-old slave boy.  While David knows he could catch a beating from his alcoholic father, he takes the risk and sneaks into the barn to help treat Jenkin's wounds.  But just trying to heal wounds doesn't feel enough to David, he knows that being beaten every night is no way for a person to live - black or white- and sets out to help Jenkin's be free.

To say this was a touching story wouldn't do it justice.  It brings back to life part of America's shameful past, and the hero's within it.  You're on edge as the two boys journey toward freedom for Jenkins, hoping every second that they're not caught by David's hateful Pa.  But through determination, strength they didn't know they had, and compassion, they press on to The Underground Railroad; the golden pathway to Jenkins freedom.

The author was masterful at touching upon an era that should not be forgotten, yet in a simple enough manner for kids to not only understand, but feel.  Through this book they can learn what true compassion means, and that anyone can be a hero if they have the courage to stand up for what's right.

The water-color illustrations in this book are beautiful, mirroring the essence of the scenes impeccably. 

Overall this was a fantastic read.  It amazed me how a children's book could bring so many emotions to the surface as I read; fear, anger, shame, hope, strength, compassion.  The author did a superb job handling such a dark subject on a level for both kids and adults alike - instilling the memories of our past into you, showing you what a true hero looks like, and that those traits can be found in anyone.  I would recommend this to anyone with children over 8, and I would recommend that the parents read it as well.  It's a beautiful, touching story sure to hold onto your heart and breath through every page.

A copy was provided by the author for review.

About the Author:
Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writers Digest Writing Competitions. Her stories have been published in many print and online publications and her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna has two more books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, The Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey. She writes, moms and is the Editor-in-Chief for Guardian Angel Kids and Publicist for the Children's Writers' Coaching Club from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI and Musing Our Children."

You can find out more about Donna McDine on her website. 

The Little Engine That Could - Books That Made Me Love Reading

The Little Engine That Could

by Watty Piper

The story of a train filled with toys and gifts for little boys and girls that breaks down before reaching the children. After asking several passing trains for help over the hill, a little blue train agrees to help the stranded toys. Even though she is small, the blue train tries her best to bring the toys to the children on the other side of the hill.

My short but sweet "re-review"

I loved this book when I was little, and I still love this book. This is just a timeless classic. It has the sweetest little train as the main character, and it is such a beautiful story of perseverance and determination. This is an excellent way for children to learn to believe in themselves and to work hard for what they want to accomplish. This book quite possibly contributed to my stubborn steak as a child, but maybe that is a story for another day. 

"I think I can. I think I can." Excellent motto to live by.

*Read for The Books That Made Me Love Reading Challenge*

The Boxcar Children - Original & Graphic Novel - Books That Made Me Love Reading

The Boxcar Children 

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny, four orphaned brothers and sisters, suddenly appear in a small town. No one knows who these young wanderers are or where they have come from. Frightened to live with a grandfather they have never met, the children make a home for themselves in an abandoned red boxcar they discover in the woods. Henry, the oldest, goes to town to earn money and buy food and supplies.

Ambitious and resourceful, the plucky children make a happy life themselves--until Violet gets too sick for her brothers and sister to care for her.

This story will delight any child who has fantasized about being on his or her own and overcoming every obstacle.

My review:

Once again, when I signed up for the Books That Made Me Love Reading Challenge, I knew I would be reading The Boxcar Children. I remember reading and re-reading this book many times when I was a child. I loved the whole dangerous, adventurous aspect of the children being on their own, and I thought it would be amazing to live in a boxcar like they did! Now when I read it, I think how sad it is that they were on their own in the first place and were barely getting enough food to survive. I still enjoyed reading it now as an adult, even though I most certainly didn't experience the same emotions while reading. After all these years, it still remains an excellent book for young children.

While in the library, my son was looking through their section of graphic novels for kids. I happened to see the graphic novel copy of this book. Since I had planned on reading it for the challenge anyway, I decided now would be a good time, and I also picked up the graphic novel. Now, I should point out here that before now I haven't been the biggest fan of graphic novels. (But that's a story for another day.) Upon reading this graphic novel, I was pleasantly surprised by how true it is to the original. Obviously, the story is somewhat condensed, with parts being combined or left out, but the main point of the original story still comes through in the graphic novel. Plus, it is beautifully illustrated, much like a comic book, to help bring the imaginations of young kids alive. The Boxcar Children graphic novel would be a perfect book to give to a young, reluctant reader.

*Read for the Books That Made Me Love Reading Challenge*

Lexie World by Kimberly Kinrade - Review

Lexie World by Kimberly Kinrade

The Three Lost Kids Trilogy

Published: December 20, 2011

Publisher: Evolved Publishing

5-year-old Lexie is tired of getting in trouble for leaving her stuff and trash outside. She doesn’t mean to litter or ruin her shoes, but it’s just so hard to remember sometimes.

When she, her two big sisters and their dog TayTay find a portal to Lexie World, Lexie discovers the consequence littering has had on her special world. Garbage Goblins have taken over and are destroying the Earth!

To save Lexie World, the girls (and TayTay) must travel with their new Unicorn friend through the Waters of Waste and over the Mountain of Lost Clothes to retrieve a piece of the Mirror of Ice in order to remind the Garbage Goblins of their true form and break their curse.

On this journey, Lexie learns about courage, love and the importance of taking care of her world.

With full color illustrations, Lexie World bridges the gap between picture books and chapter books, offering children 4-9 years old a new, exciting reading journey.

Darian's Review:

Lexie World is about 5 year old Lexie, her sisters, Bella, Maddie, and their dog TayTay.  Lexie is like most 5 year olds, she’s in limbo between being a little and a big girl, a little unsure, sometimes forgetful and leaves her belongings strewn about the backyard and house.  Until one day while venturing in the woods with her sisters, they enter a magical world, Lexie World.  But Lexie World is in danger, the Garbage Goblins are running a muck and ruining the beautiful world with trash that others have left on earth.  And it’s up to Lexie to break the curse, and save Lexie World.  With her sisters and dog by her side, Lexie learns that she’s much braver than she thought she was, and just maybe she can save her world.

Lexie World is written from Lexie’s perspective, through the eyes of a five year old girl, who is like most 5 year olds.  She adores her big sisters, thinks her parents are the best in the world, but doesn’t quite get the big deal about forgetting to put her things away sometimes.  I think the author did a wonderful job keeping the dialogue and thoughts at an appropriate level, staying true to the average youngster of Lexie’s age range, yet not keeping it so simple that kids a few years older would be bored by it.

One of the things I liked about this book was how Lexie had to eat gluten free food. For different health reasons, a few people I know are now in the position of having to eat only gluten free foods (including the son of the "KrazyBookLady"). I liked how it was added nonchalantly, yet in a way that it could help other kids who need to eat gluten-free feel more normal and secure about it. Even Lexie the hero has to deal with it too! This was not a huge aspect of the story, a mere mention here and there, but it was a nice touch I thought for the growing numbers of kids who need to eat gluten-free foods.

The descriptive writing was worded beautifully. Kinrade paints magical, clear pictures in an easy to understand way – which really helped bring the story to life. But it didn’t bog down the story by being too much; kids like dialogue, action, and this book has plenty of it.

The lessons weaved throughout the story are great for kids of any age, Kinrade did a great job working it into the story, instead of a blunt ‘lesson’ being plopped right into it. Kinrade made it fun, an adventure, made it seem exciting to be more responsible and take care of your things and your world. Through the journey to save Lexie World, Lexie learns about bravery, self-confidence, and of course, the importance of picking up after herself. Because, as she discovers, leaving messes ruins many worlds, ours, and Lexie World, and both are too beautiful for that.

Overall this was a good read, and I’ll be passing it along to my daughter. Not only does Lexie World send the message of believing in yourself, but it teaches responsibility, all wrapped up inside an amazing adventure. I think writing children’s books can be one of the most difficult genres to write, but Kinrade has nailed it with true talent. The story is fun, thrilling, written at a child’s level – but written well enough for a variety of ages. Two thumbs up from this Mom, and bravo to Kinrade!

A copy was provided by the author for review.

About the author:

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. As a child, where others saw shapes in clouds, she saw words. But she was also an entrepreneur at heart. So when her business arrangement with the Tooth Fairy ended, she went pro with her writing. Her stories sold better than any lemonade stand and even beat out her museum of fossilized rocks in revenue.

Fast forward...um...many years and many college degrees later...and she is now an award winning author and reformed journalist. 

You can find out more about Kimberly Kinrade and how to connect with her on her website and the ThreeLostKids site.

The Day No One Played Together by Donalisa Helsley - Children's Book Review

The Day No One Played Together: A Story about Compromise

by Donalisa Helsley

Illustrated by Sarah Harky

Published by Mirror Publishing

First Published in September 2011

For ages 3-9. Jadyn and Genesis want to play together but neither one wants to play what the other wants to. What will they do? Will they be able to brainstorm and find a way to play together? Will they play alone? "The Day No One Played Together" teaches an important lesson in a fun way. Join these sisters in the first of their series.

Darian’s Review:

The Day No One Played Together is about two sisters, both wanting to play, and neither agreeing on what they should do. In a huff, they storm off in separate ways to play by themselves, but that isn’t any fun sitting by yourself with no one to talk to. Then Mom teaches them the word ‘compromise’, and soon the girls have lots of ideas of ways to play together.

This was a very sweet read with adorable illustrations. This is a perfect book for parents to introduce the idea of compromise to your children, or to give them that gentle reminder slightly older kids sometimes need.

I have two kids, seven years apart from the other, so you can imagine that I hear, “Mom, I want to sing but he wants to play cars!” a lot, with both of my kids storming toward me to whine their tale of woes. And today was no exception. I sat them down, and we read the book together.

It was just the little reminder my daughter needed that it’s more fun to play with her brother, than it is to sit in her room alone. And a great introduction of compromise for my son, that girls don’t always want to play cars and robots. Not long after, they were peacefully playing together, having compromised, and Mommy could get back to work.

My son loves being read to, and my daughter loves to read, and this book is wonderful for them to do together and sends them a good message while reading. Two thumbs up from this Mom who, thanks to this book, is now listening to giggles instead of whining!

A copy was provided by the author for review.

About the Author:

Donalisa is an award winning children's author. Donalisa lives in Oklahoma with her husband, David, her daughters, Jadyn and Genesis and their miniature schnauzer, Shadow. She is "Wild About Reading." Donalisa has written many stories since she was a child. She is a social worker and has worked with children for over 12 years. Donalisa is finishing her Masters in Social Work so that she can be a therapist for children and adolescents.

You can find Donalisa on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Velveteen Rabbit - Books That Made Me Love Reading

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
*Read for the Books That Made Me Love Reading Challenge*

This was not the book that I had planned to read first for the challenge, but it suddenly hit me that it is almost the end of the month and I haven't read my book for this month yet. Since I didn't even have time to go the library, I searched for books from my childhood that I could get downloaded to my Kindle for free. So the picture shown isn't the actual edition that I read.

My review:
I loved this story as a child, and I still think it is very sweet. I think reading this when I was younger may have been part of the reason I never wanted to throw away any of my toys. My only complaint now is that I read the Kindle version, which is not illustrated. But that has nothing to do with the beauty of this classic children's story. There is a reason this story has been popular since first published in 1922.

About the challenge:
The Books That Made Me Love Reading Challenge is hosted by Emlyn Chand. She has challenged participants to read one book from their childhood each month in 2012. You can find out more about this challenge and prizes available by visiting Emlyn's site. 

Review: Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks by K.D. McCrite

Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks by K.D. McCrite
Series: Confessions of April Grace, Book 2
Age Range: 9-12
Published: December 2011
Published by: Thomas Nelson Publishers

Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks is about April Grace and her life growing up in a small town in Arkansas during 1986. April's mom announces there is going to be a new addition to the family, and she has complications that force her to take it easy. Since her mom can no longer run the church play like she usually does, Isabel St. James, drama queen, is asked to help put on the church play. When April had the idea, she had no idea she would be recruited to help Isabel. She isn't happy as it means she has to spend so much time with her older sister, Myra Sue, and Isabel. On top of all of that, she has to deal with the cliques in her new junior high. The main leader of one clique is her former friend, Lottie, who suddenly changed over the summer break. 

I really enjoyed reading this. K.D. McCrite stayed true to character and created a funny but touching story. Many of the characters are called by their first and middle names, such as April Grace, Myra Sue, Melissa Kay. This was common practice in the South back then, especially in the smaller towns. I think this is one of few books I have read that effectively shows language in the South but is still written grammatically correct. Phrases such as "lick of sense," "bought more yarn than you can shake a stick at," "like cow doodie over the vegetable garden," "happier than two pigs in slop," and "put on the dog" may not be considered proper English but they are true Southern slang. Children who are in the recommended age range will still easily relate to some of April's difficulties with a new school, problems with cliques, new baby, and dealing with her older sister. I think anyone who was raised in the South will easily relate to April Grace. Anyone who wasn't should enjoy getting a glimpse of what it was like to grow up in the South.

This book is recommended for ages 9-12, but I think it is a good read for anyone 9 and above.

About the author:

I’ve been writing since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I’ve always loved to read, and books became my best friends.

Of course, growing up on an Ozarks dairy farm meant that most of our time was taken up by farm work. When I wasn’t taking care of the calves, or mucking out the barn, or helping my dad in the hayfield, I’d tuck a book under one arm and hoist myself into the hayloft, where the scent of the hay was warm and sweet. Or I’d scoot up my favorite tree in the backyard where the breeze swung the branches gently. When I began writing stories, I’d sneak off into the woods, or down to the pond with my notebook and pen and hope my mother didn’t call me to come help cook supper. These days I spend most of my time at the computer spinning tales that I hope will entertain my readers.

April Grace Reilly, the spitfire heroine of the “Confessions of April Grace” series, shares a lot of things with me, from our love of books to our red hair. But, April Grace sticks her foot in her mouth a lot more than I ever did. And she has a lot more adventures. I hope you’ll read her confessions, because I think you’ll laugh out loud.

You can find out more about K.D. McCrite, the Confessions of April Grace series, and other books written by the author, as K.D. McCrite and under the name Kathaleen Burr, at her website. You can also connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

This book was provided by the publisher for review.

Guest Post by Karen Pokras Toz, author of Nate Rocks the World

Karen Pokras Toz, author of Nate Rocks the World, has been so kind as to provide us with a guest post about a day in the life of an author.

The smell of hot coffee wafts through my bedroom. I slowly open my eyes to see him standing next to the bed – tray in hand.

“I had cook prepare some crepes and coffee for you this morning,” he says lovingly – his blue eyes fixated on my every move. “I know you have a busy day today, so I also
scheduled a massage for you just after you get back from your lunch meeting at the Four Seasons.”

What? Your day doesn’t go like this? Oh wait – mine doesn’t either!

My mornings usually involve child and pet wrangling. I used to try to get up an hour before everyone else to get some writing in, but now that my youngest is in Kindergarten, I’ve been able to move my writing schedule to later in the day.

8:30 am is my magic number. That’s when the youngest of my three children get on the bus. It is then that I pour myself my second or third cup of coffee and sit down in front of my laptop – ready to temporarily hang up the mom hat and work as a publisher, author, and marketer. I hadn’t intended to be all three. I really only
intended to be an author, but somewhere along the way, I decided the other two were necessary, like it or not.

And so, for the next seven hours or so – I spend my time answering emails, tweeting, catching up on blog work, tweaking my website, making new contacts, advertising my book, taking care of the business end, and oh yeah – writing. There are days when I just have to stop everything else and remind myself that first and foremost – I need to write. After all, writing is what got me here in the first place.

When I first realized I would have seven hours to myself every day, I thought: Wow! I am going to get so much done! I’ll write books, I’ll get caught up on laundry, I’ll make fancy dinners every night – it’ll be great! The truth is (much to the dismay of my family) very little of that gets done. In the three months since I started my new schedule, I’ve woefully neglected the laundry and served my family the same old standby meals they’ve been eating for years.

Somehow – this little writing thing, turned out to be a lot of work - - - and I love every minute of it! So while there are no expensive lunches or spa appointments in my daily life, I wouldn’t trade what I do for anything. Dream big and rock on!

About the author:
Karen Pokras Toz is a writer, wife, and mom. Karen grew up in the small town of Orange, Connecticut and graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Finance. She also attended the University of Richmond, where she studied law and business, receiving both a JD and an MBA. Karen has spent the last several years working as a tax accountant, writing in numbers. She recently discovered a passion for writing with words. Karen enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time with her husband and three children.

You can connect with Karen on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

Please see my review of Nate Rocks the World.

Giveaway Hop - Nate Rocks the World & The Doll Violinist

This giveaway is part of the Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and Kid Lit Frenzy. There are many great blogs participating in this hop. After you enter here, you can hop over to some of the other blogs listed below and enter their giveaways too.


There are 2 giveaways as part of this hop. There will be 2 winners. In honor of this hop being co-hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy, we have two great children's books for you. And in the spirit of the holiday, one of them is a Christmas book.

Giveaway # 1:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Nate Rocks the World. 
This part of the giveaway is only open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. 

Nate Rocks the World by Karen Pokras Toz
Ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge cannot catch a break. After all, life as a fourth-grader can be hazardous what with science projects to deal with and recess football games to avoid. Everyone, including his best friend Tommy, seems to have bad luck when hanging around Nathan. Throw in an older sister who is a royal pain, a dad who is stuck in the past, and a mom who keeps trying to poison him with her awful cooking, and poor Nathan’s life as a fourth grader appears to be completely doomed. Armed only with his sketchpad, his imagination, and his wits, Nathan Rockledge navigates the perils of the fourth grade in style, to emerge heroic, as Nate Rocks, proving that even a ten-year-old can accomplish great things. Follow the quirky and imaginative adventures of ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge as his cartoons come to life. Recommended for ages 7 - 12.

Please see my review of Nate Rocks the World.

Giveaway # 2:
This part of the giveaway is open internationally.  1 winner will receive a PDF of this book sent by the author.

The Doll Violinist by Mayra Calvani
Five days before Christmas, Emma is captivated by a doll in a shop window. Each day, she sneaks out of the orphanage to check if itís been sold, but the shopkeeper, Madame Dubois, sends her away. Will the magic of Christmas bring Emma, Madame Dubois, and the doll violinist together? Suggested ages for readers: 4-8

Please see my review of The Doll Violinist.


How to enter:
Follow Krazy Book Lady with GFC or Twitter or like on Facebook. Then fill out the form below.

Additional optional entries: (for 4 total entries)
+1 Follow Karen Pokras Toz on Twitter or like her page on Facebook.
+1 Follow Mayra Calvani on Twitter or like her page on Facebook.
+1 Leave a blog post comment.

Giveaway will close at midnight on December 6. Winners will be selected using Random.org. Winners will be notified by email and announced on the blog, Twitter, and Facebook. Winners will have 3 days to contact me, or a new winner will be selected.

Thank you for entering and good luck!

Sorry! This giveaway is now closed!

Winners:
Signed copy of Nate Rocks the World: Darian Wilk
The Doll Violinist: Vicki

Review: The Doll Violinist by Mayra Calvani

The Doll Violinist by Mayra Calvani
Published: September 2011
Published by: Guardian Angel Publishing
Illustrated by: Amy Cullings Moreno

Five days before Christmas, Emma is captivated by a doll in a shop window. Each day, she sneaks out of the orphanage to check if it's been sold, but the shopkeeper, Madame Dubois, sends her away. Will the magic of Christmas bring Emma, Madame Dubois, and the doll violinist together?

Suggested for readers 4-8; 26 pages

My thoughts:
Emma has a special connection to a beautiful doll with a violin. Every day she checks to make sure the doll is still in the shop window. Emma is an orphan and has no way to buy the doll, but she still hopes that she will get it. This is a heartwarming and inspiring story about the true meaning of Christmas. It is beautifully written and illustrated. This will appeal to all little girls, who will probably want this read to them over and over. Definitely one to add to your reading list for Christmas.

About the author:

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Multicultural Review, and Bloomsbury Review, among many others. Her love for the violin has inspired her to pen three “violin” children’s picture books: The Magic Violin, Frederico the Mouse Violinist, and now the latest, The Doll Violinist.

Visit her website, MayrasSecretBookcase, join her mailing list and receive the first two lessons of her popular Walking on a Rainbow Picture Book Workshop free!

You may also visit Mayra at MayraCalvani.com, join her mailing list and receive her FREE ebook, Reviewers Talk About Their Craft, as well as the first lesson from her Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Workshop.

You can also connect with Mayra Calvani on Twitter and Facebook.

This book was provided by the author's publicist.

Review: Nate Rocks the World by Karen Pokras Toz

Nate Rocks the World by Karen Pokras Toz
Published: 2011
Published by: Grand Daisy Press

Ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge cannot catch a break. After all, life as a fourth-grader can be hazardous what with science projects to deal with and recess football games to avoid. Everyone, including his best friend Tommy, seems to have bad luck when hanging around Nathan. Throw in an older sister who is a royal pain, a dad who is stuck in the past, and a mom who keeps trying to poison him with her awful cooking, and poor Nathan’s life as a fourth grader appears to be completely doomed. Armed only with his sketchpad, his imagination, and his wits, Nathan Rockledge navigates the perils of the fourth grade in style, to emerge heroic, as Nate Rocks, proving that even a ten-year-old can accomplish great things. Follow the quirky and imaginative adventures of ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge as his cartoons come to life.

My thoughts:
Poor Nathan. He has a big sister who is a pain and a mom who cannot cook or sew but still insists on making his lunches and his Halloween costumes. He also has to put up with a science project partner who tells her mom everything, who then in turn tells his mom. Is it any wonder he likes to lose himself in his imagination and his sketching? Unfortunately for Nate, he doesn't always get good ideas when his cartoons come to life.

I found Nate Rocks the World to be cute and funny. It reminded me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but without the illustrations. There is a surprise ending that I did not see coming. This book is geared for approximately ages 7 to 12. In some places, it may be just a little too detailed for the attention spans of the younger ones, and they may lose interest. However, overall, this is a great book to read with the kids in the younger range and for the older kids who enjoy chapter books. It would be very easy for kids this age to relate to Nate. Especially if they also have big imaginations. Wait, what kid doesn't?

You can connect with Karen on her website, Twitter and Facebook. 

A copy of this book was provided by the author.