Category: chapter books

  • The triplets get charmed by Laura Brown and Elly Kramer

    The triplets get charmed by Laura Brown and Elly Kramer

     The triplets get charmed

    The triplets get charmed (Trillium Sisters #1) by Laura Brown and Elly Kramer, Sarah Mensinga

    Release: June 1st, 2021
    Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
    Publisher: Pixel+Ink
    Source: Rockstar Book Tours
    Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N

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    Three sisters discover that they and their pets have superpowers they can use to protect the world around them in the first book in a fantastical new chapter book series about family, friendship, and environmental responsibility perfect for fans of Mia Mayhem and The Wish Fairy.

    Nothing can stop this triple-team!

    Eight-year-old triplets Emmy, Clare, and Giselle are excited to celebrate Founding Day, the day their dad found them and they became a family. The girls want this year’s celebration to be extra special. And Dad has a big sur¬prise–trillium petal charms that he found with the girls.

    But when the girls’ little brother, Zee, slips into the river while helping them plan a special surprise, something magical happens: The charms are drawn together, forming a glowing flower, and the girls suddenly have super¬powers! Channeling their new abilities, they work together to try to save Zee, but will they be able to figure out how to help in time?

    About Laura Brown

    Laura Brown is an early childhood expert, collaborates with businesses and organizations to create high quality educational media properties and products. She has written curricula and scripts and served as Content Expert and Research Director for series produced by Nick Jr., Disney Junior, Amazon Kids, DreamWorks Animation Television, and many others. A mother of three, she lives in Tenafly, NJ, but in another life, she would happily live in a treehouse in the forest.

    Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

    About Elly Kramer:

    Elly Kramer is currently the VP of Production & Development at Imagine Entertainment in their Kids and Family division. She has created and led the development of numerous award-winning and highly-rated TV shows, online games, and innovative apps. As VP of Production and Development with Nickelodeon, she led the development of long and short-form content. She has also produced and developed over thirty-five shorts. Elly is a frequent speaker at film festivals and industry events. She lives in Los Angeles, CA.

    Website | Instagram | Goodreads

    About Sarah Mensinga:

    Sarah Mensinga is a Canadian who now lives in Texas with her husband and three kids. She has worked in the animation industry as an animator and concept artist. She also once wrote an 800-page graphic novel that she likes to hide away on the internet. And she’s contributed to various comic anthologies, such as Flight 4 & Flight 5. She’s been writing stories of some sort or another since she was eight years old, and has been ruining movies for friends and family ever since by overthinking the plot.

    Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

     The triplets get charmed Review:

    Click to view on Instagram

    “The Triplets Get Charmed” is the first book in the “Trillium Sisters” series and was adorable.

    The series, in general, is the perfect middle-grade chapter book to get young readers to read. The story comprises three charming sisters, Emmy, Giselle, and Clare, and how they discover their newfound powers. I liked how the author portrayed all the three characters and the bond they share. There’s friendship, magic, family bond, cute animals, and an exciting story that would keep the readers engaged. Moreover, I enjoyed the concept of mini-mals and how they use their charms creatively as jewelry. There is never a dull moment in the story as the three girls always find themselves busy with activity.

    Moreover, I liked the smaller moments of how the girls think about the good parts and try to be positive, even if things didn’t work out the way they planned. The second half of the book is the highlight once we find Zee in the railing, and hard to put the book down.

    Similarly, the illustrations are beautiful and complement the book so well. I particularly loved the pictures in the second half, where all the adventure takes place around Zee. Sarah Mensinga did an excellent job with the illustrations, and I loved how expressive the characters are in the drawings.

    Perhaps the only downside to the story is how there is no background as to why they have these powers. There is quite a lot in this short book, but I guess we have to wait for future novels in the series to find out why it does.

    Overall, “The Triplets get Charmed” is a lovely start to the series and would be a great addition to a middle-graders book collection.

    Giveaway Details:

    1 winner will receive a finished copy of FASHIONABLE DISASTER, US Only.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Fashionable Disaster

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The triplets get charmed (Trillium Sisters #1) by Laura Brown and Elly Kramer, Sarah Mensinga   Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

    Book Tour Schedule

    Week One:
    Two Chicks on Books-Excerpt-3-14-2022
    @jaimerockstarbooktours-IG Post-3-14-2022
    Mythical Books-Excerpt/IG Post-3-15-2022
    Lady Hawkeye-Excerpt/IG Post-3-15-2022
    #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog-Excerpt-3-16-2022
    Rajiv’s Reviews-Review/IG Post-3-16-2022
    @jael_and_jenessa_reads-Review-3-17-2022
    BookHounds YA -Review/IG Post-3-17-2022
    One More Exclamation -Review-3-18-2022
    Little Red Reads-Review-3-18-2022

    Week Two:
    The Reading Wordsmith -Review/IG Post-3-21-2022
    The Momma Spot-Review/IG Post-3-21-2022
    @coffeesipsandreads-Review-3-22-2022
    Wottaread-Excerpt-3-22-2022
    Two Points of Interest-Review-3-23-2022
    RavenzReviewz-Review-3-23-2022
    Books a Plenty Book Reviews-Review-3-24-2022
    More Books Please blog-Review-3-24-2022
    @enjoyingbooksagain-Review-3-25-2022
    Nerdophiles -Review-3-25-2022

  • Hide and Go Beak by Nancy Krulik

    Hide and Go Beak by Nancy Krulik

    Hide and Go Beak

    Hide and Go Beak by Nancy Krulik, Charlie Adler

    Release: January 18th 2022
    Format: Hardcover, eBook
    Publisher: Pixel+Ink
    Source: Rockstar Book Tours
    Find it at: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

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    A new young chapter book series about a chicken who loves math, science, and learning new things–by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Krulik for fans of Unlimited Squirrel and Bumble and Bee.

    Chirpy is a young chicken stuck in the family coop. But she’s not like the other chickens who just sit around peck peck pecking all day. She gets curious about the children who come home from a place called school. They always look so happy! (Well, most days.)

    So Chirpy sneaks onto the bus one morning, hides in the classroom . . . and discovers a true love of math. When she shares what she’s learned with the other chickens, they think she’s one kernel short of a cob.

    Even so, Chirpy decides to find a formula for fowl success by pecking away. But when a hungry fox tries to attack the coop, can she find the equation for a simple solution?

    With lively two-color art throughout and a fun hands-on simple machine activity, this eggs-ellent hilarious young chapter book series starter is a Grade-A pick for emerging readers to get them eggs-ited about science and math

    About Nancy Krulik:

    NANCY KRULIK is the international bestselling author of more than two hundred books for children. Her series, including Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo; George Brown, Class Clown; Magic Bone; Princess Pulverizer; and Ms. Frogbottom’s Field Trips, are beloved around the world. She lives in New York City.

    Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon |BookBub

    About Charlie Adler:

    CHARLIE ALDER has written and illustrated many books for children, including Daredevil Duck and Chicken Break! When not drawing chickens, Charlie sits in her studio drinking coffee, arranging her crayons, and inventing more accidental animal heroes. She lives in Devon, England.

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    Hide and Go Beak Review:

    “Hide and Go Beak” is an adorable children’s book that will make the reader fall in love with math, science, and chickens.

    Let me begin by saying how much I loved the concept of the story. The author beautifully highlights how what we learn in school can be applied in real life. Although Physics concepts like the wheel and axle, levers, and pulleys might seem tedious, the author creatively illustrates how these principles help the characters with their mission in the tale. Some moments also made me laugh, like with Clucky and the bird wire or when Chirpy’s feathers fall in the soup.

    Also, the characters are all adorable. I loved Chirpy and her curiosity to learn about the school and why kids like Andy and Randy loved to go there. Even the supporting characters of the coop like Buck Buck, Squawky, and Clucky were hilarious and stood out.

    The book also feels interactive as we get a DIY activity to make our machine using Chirpy’s skills. I thought this brilliant idea encouraged kids to get interested in science with hands-on experience.

    Moreover, the illustrations by Charlie Alder are whimsical and funny. I loved the color palette of yellow and grey and felt the drawings eye-pleasing and entertaining.

    Perhaps the only minor criticism I have of the tale feels a bit long for the target audience. The book is pretty big for a child to read, with many things happening. Perhaps it would have been nice had the author split the story into two books or shortened it.

    Overall, “Hide and Go Beak” is a beautiful children’s book that encourages readers to learn, and I can see it span as a series with many stories.

    Giveaway:

    3 winners will receive a Finished Copy of HIDE & GO BEAK, US Only.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Hide and Go Beak

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Hide and Go Beak by Nancy Krulik Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

    Book Tour Schedule

    Week One:
    Mythical Books-Excerpt/IG Post-1-17-2022
    #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog-Excerpt-1-17-2022
    YA Books Central-Excerpt-1-18-2022
    Two Chicks on Books-Excerpt-1-18-2022
    The Phantom Paragrapher-Excerpt-1-19-2022
    Nonbinary Knight Reads-Review/IG Post-1-19-2022
    Bookhounds YA-Review-1-20-2022
    Rajiv’s Reviews-Review/IG Post-1-20-2022
    One More Exclamation-Review/IG Post-1-21-2022
    Nerdophiles-Review-1-21-2022

    Week Two:
    The Momma Spot-Review-1-24-2022
    Locks, Hooks and Books-Review-1-24-2022
    Pick a good book-Review-1-25-2022
    @curlygrannylovestoread-Review/IG Post-1-25-2022
    For the Love of KidLit-Excerpt-1-26-2022
    perusewithcoffee-Review-1-26-2022
    Coffee and Wander Book Reviews-Review/IG Post-1-27-2022
    Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog-Review/IG Post-1-27-2022
    two Points of interest-Review-1-28-2022
    @jypsylynn-Review/IG Post-1-28-2022

  • The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp by Jonathan Auxier , Olga Demidova

    The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp by Jonathan Auxier , Olga Demidova

    The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp

    The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp by Jonathan Auxier , Olga Demidova
    Release: October 20th 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Abrams Kids / Amulet Books
    Source: Netgalley
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    The first book in a magical chapter-book adventure series by the Governor General Award-winning author of Sweep.

    Auggie Pound is eight years old and has the greatest job of all time: he cares for all the animals in the Fabled Stables. The Fabled Stables house the rarest creatures in existence–all of them one-of-a-kind. Auggie’s job is to care for these creatures, as well as track down and safely capture endangered magical beasts in the wild. Some mornings, he arrives to find an empty stall with the name of a new creature to rescue. One day, the Stables rearrange themselves out of the blue, creating a new stall. The sign over the gate says, “Wisp.” But what is a wisp and where is it? All Auggie can see is a moonlit swamp stretching out before him. Then a hungry HOWLLLLLLL rings out in the darkness. It’s up to Auggie to go into the swamp to find the wisp before it’s too late.

    About the Author

    Jonathan Auxier is the New York Times–bestselling and critically acclaimed author of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic EyesThe Night GardenerSophie Quire and the Last Storyguard, and Sweep. He lives with his family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can find him online at thescop.com.

    Website || Facebook || Instagram || Twitter

    Olga Demidova has illustrated many books for children around the world. She studied at the Moscow Art Institute of Applied Arts. Find her online at olgademidova.ru.

    Website || Behance || Facebook || Instagram

    The Fabled Stables: Willa the Wisp Review:

    What a cute, whimsical story! I read The Night Gardener (by the same author) a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Even though The Fabled Stables is a read-along for children, it still highlights how talented the author is. He manages to make this short tale unique and creative. Moreover, I loved all the quirky, mutated creatures on the Island like ‘the Hippopotomouse’ and the ‘Bush Squid’. Auggie and Fen have a very adorable friendship. Auggie is upbeat and positive, while Fen is grumpy and pessimistic. But they still look out for each other when needed.

    As I read the advanced copy, few of the artwork was still in progress and not included. However, the sketches included were whimsical and beautiful. I love the colors Olga Demidova uses for her illustrations in children’s books. Similarly, I feel the artwork would be breath-taking (like the cover) in the published version.

    The only reason I didn’t give this book 4.5 instead of 5 star rating was because I felt the story missed a few details. For instance, we don’t get to know who Professor Cake is and how the Island came into being. Perhaps it would be mentioned in the future books, but I got curious about the island while reading, and was hoping for a tidbit of its history.

    Apart from that, Willa the Wisp is a wonderful start to this children’s series. I hope to see the duo add many more books to it.

  • Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business (Mindy Kim #1) by Lyla Lee

    Mindy Kim Swaweed

    Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business (Mindy Kim #1) by Lyla Lee
    Release: January 14th 2020
    Format: Kindle
    Publisher: Aladdin Books
    Source: Amazon



    Synopsis:

    Fresh Off the Boat meets Junie B. Jones in this first novel in an adorable new chapter book series about Mindy Kim, a young Asian American girl who is starting a snack business!

    Mindy Kim just wants three things:
    1. A puppy!
    2. To fit in at her new school
    3. For her dad to be happy again

    But, getting all three of the things on her list is a lot trickier than she thought it would be. On her first day of school, Mindy’s school snack of dried seaweed isn’t exactly popular at the lunch table. Luckily, her new friend, Sally, makes the snacks seem totally delicious to Mindy’s new classmates, so they decide to start the Yummy Seaweed Business to try and raise money for that puppy!

    However, when another student decides to try and sabotage their business, Mindy loses more than she bargained for—and wonders if she’ll ever fit in. Will Mindy be able to overcome her uncertainty and find the courage to be herself?

    Mindy Kim Book#1 Review:

    This was a cute chapter book to read and a good beginning to the Mindy Kim series. I thought Lyla Lee did a great job for a children’s book as her debut novel. Firstly, the author introduces new Korean words like “Unni”, “Kimchi” and “Appa” to get familiarized with the language. The author does this in a simple but effective manner that blends well with the dialogues. Similarly, the illustrations by Dung Ho are very cute and compliment well to the story. Moreover, I liked how the author encourages readers to know more about how businesses works, where she introduces terms like trading, selling and marketing to younger readers.

    However, when it came to the characters, I felt the author could have written Mindy a bit better. She appeared to be a bit snobbish in some cases where she would not trade her seaweed with Brandon, or how she thought it was still Sally’s fault even though she was at fault. Even though she is the new kid at school and has to make new friends, she could have behaved better with the students. I liked Sally more as a character as she goes out of her way to befriend Mindy and also doesn’t mind trying out new things before judging them.

    Also, I felt like the author provided no resolution to Mindy’s father to overcome his sadness. The story ends in a happy note, but I felt bad for the father as nothing happened to him. Perhaps there will be more to his character in the following books of the series.

    Overall, I thought this was a good start to the series and interested to see how it progresses.

    Purchase this book from: [Amazon]

  • Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi , Hatem Aly

    Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi , Hatem Aly

    Yasmin

    Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi , Hatem Aly
    Release: August 1st 2018
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Picture Window Books
    Source: Netgalley

    Yasmin



     

    Meet Yasmin Synopsis:

    Meet Yasmin! Yasmin Ahmad is a spirited second-grader who’s always on the lookout for those “aha” moments to help her solve life’s little problems. Taking inspiration from her surroundings and her big imagination, she boldly faces any situation, assuming her imagination doesn’t get too big, of course! A creative thinker and curious explorer, Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family will delight and inspire readers.

     

    Review:

    A special thanks to Netgalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read and review. Even though I read it initially, due to personal reasons, I couldn’t review it prior to the publication. So here it is now 🙂

    The main thing that I really appreciate about “Meet Yasmin!” is having a Pakistani American family as the theme. Considering how there is so much hatred towards people from different cultures, religious, orientation etc. it is refreshing to see a children’s tale featuring a Pakistani American girl. It is important to teach future generations to be accepting of one another, and any small contribution, even if it is in the form of a children’s book, is always an added value to the society.

    I particularly liked how the author shows how creative Yasmin can be under any circumstances, in all the four stories. My favourite story was “Yasmin the Builder”, where Yasmin cleverly builds her own town by connecting the other models. Saadia Faruqi has done a terrific job in creating Yasmin, and making the stories equally fun to read. Hatem Aly has also done a wonderful job in the illustrations, making Yasmin and her family stand out. The book also provides interesting facts about Pakistan, how to make a refreshing Lassi, and dos and don’ts when you are faced in a similar situation to Yasmin.

    The only thing I didn’t quite like about in the stories was how Yasmin does not get a warning or punishment for doing something bad. Yasmin tears out her mother’s clothes and the parents are happy. Yasmin gets lost in the market and her mother doesn’t get angry. It might send out a wrong message to young readers thinking it is okay to behave the same way in reality.
    Overall, “Meet Yasmin” is a cute children’s book which schools should encourage younger readers to pick up.