Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Play Like An Animal Review & Giveaway

Play Like An Animal! Why Critters Splash, Race, Twirl, and Chase
by Maria Gianferrari, Illustrated by Mia Powell
Millbrook Press (April 7, 2020)
Nonfiction * Animals
Audience: Ages 4 to 8
Indiebound | WorldCat

Description of the book from GoodReads: Dash! Hide! Splash! Ride! Exuberant text celebrates all the different ways animals play, from rhinos taking mud baths and parrots somersaulting through the air to kangaroos boxing and dolphins diving through the surf. Additional text explains how playing benefits animals. Fascinating back matter gives more information about the featured animals in the book and encourages readers to make time to play every day!

Quick thoughts about the book:
First, I just want to wish Maria and Mia a Happy Book Birthday! Yesterday (Tuesday, 4/7/20) was the officially book release for Play Like An Animal! Why Critters Splash, Race, Twirl, and Chase. I am excited that this book is finally out in the world and can be shared with young readers.

Play Like An Animal! is definitely a fun read aloud and I am bit sad that I can’t read it aloud in person to a group of children right now, but I am certainly going to keep it in my pile of books to share when school re-opens.

In addition to be an entertaining read aloud, I enjoy finding books that have layers of text. Gianferrari includes fabulous action words to describe how all of the animals in the book play. This is a great way to introduce new vocabulary to children and get up and get moving by acting out the various actions.

The book also includes simple text that when added to action words provide a sense of rhythm to the book. The final element of the Play Like An Animal! is the orange boxes that introduce children to facts about the animals on the pages of the book. These different layers allow the book to be read in different ways. Pull each layer apart for three separate reads or focus on just the flowing text or spend some time with each of the animal facts. However, you choose to read this delightful book, don’t forget to engage in some of your own spirited play.

Gianferrari concludes with several pages of endnotes and back matter, including information about “why play is important” and further information about all of the animals included in the book. There are also several recommendations for further reading.

In this time of “stay home, stay safe”, consider supporting an indie bookstore and purchasing a copy or enter below for a chance to win a copy.

About the author: Maria Gianferrari’s childhood playground was nature: climbing trees, playing hide and seek in the cornfield and slapping cow patties for fun! Nowadays she tries to keep the spirit of play alive in her writing. She enjoys playing Dominion with her family sans the curse cards, and her late dog, Becca, was always ready for a game of “catch the flying biscuit.” Find Maria online at mariagianferrari.com

About the illustrator: Mia Powell is a mixed media illustrator based in the United Kingdom. She draws digitally but likes to incorporate handmade textures and elements into her artwork as well. Mia loves to play with her dog, and she has drawn him in the pages of this book. He is black-and-white and loves to chase, especially squirrels. Find Mia online at mia-powell.co.uk

Don’t forget to link up your nonfiction reviews…

Here is a chance to win a copy of Play Like An Animal by Maria Gianferrari, Illustrated by Mia Powell. You must be 13 years old or older and have a US mailing address to enter.

Book Review and Giveaway: Honey, The Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln

Honey, The Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln
by Shari Swanson, Illustrated by Chuck Groenink
Katherine Tegen Books (January 14, 2020)
Nonfiction * Biographies * Presidents
Audience: Ages 4 to 8
IndieBound | WorldCat
Curriculum Guide & Activity Kit

Description from Goodreads:
Based on a little-known tale from Abraham Lincoln’s childhood, this charming picture book written by debut author Shari Swanson and illustrated by acclaimed artist Chuck Groenink tells a classic story of a boy, his dog, and a daring rescue.

Deeply researched and charmingly told, this is the true story of one extra-special childhood rescue—a dog named Honey.

Long before Abraham Lincoln led the nation or signed the Emancipation Proclamation, he was just a barefoot kid running around Knob Creek, Kentucky, setting animals free from traps and snatching frogs out of the jaws of snakes.

One day, young Abe found a stray dog with a broken leg and named him Honey. He had no idea that the scruffy pup would find his way into Abe’s heart, become his best friend, and—one fateful day—save his life.

Quick thoughts about the book:
There is nothing more relatable to a young child than a story about a young child and a pet. Shari Swanson’s Honey, The Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln is exactly that story. When Lincoln was a very young boy, he had the task of bring home grain from the miller. Of course, Lincoln’s natural sense of curiosity, often slowed him down and on one particular walk home he encountered an injured dog.

Lincoln did what he could to help stabilize the animal’s leg and the dog then followed him home. Though the dog’s injured leg never properly healed, it didn’t stop the two from becoming close companions and finding adventures. It isn’t surprising that one of those adventures resulted in Honey helping to rescue young Abe by leading Lincoln’s family to a cave where he was stuck.

In a world where children are often limited in where they can wander without adult supervision, it is fun to be transported back to a time where children were able to have large areas to play. Swanson’s engaging text perfectly captures the relationship Abe and Honey shared and makes this a perfect read aloud. Chuck Groenink’s illustrations are a beautiful compliment to the text.

At the end of the book, Swanson includes a timeline of Abraham Lincoln and His Animal Encounters, and an author’s note. I love timelines and found this one to be particularly interesting. Young Abe was only 6 or 7 years old when he found Honey.

Look for a copy at your local indie bookstore or community library.

About the Author: Shari Swanson is a debut author who has been a middle school language arts teacher as well as an appellate lawyer. She received her MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where she wrote her thesis on musicality in picture books. She lives in Southern California with her husband and their dog, Honey. To learn more, and to download a free curriculum guide and activity kit, visit her website: shariswanson.com. Twitter: @ByShariSwanson Facebook: Shari Swanson, Author

About the Illustrator: Chuck Groenink hails from an overgrown village among the peat bogs in the north of the Netherlands, where he spent his formative years climbing trees, drawing, reading, and cycling. He’s a history buff who attended the ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design in Kampen and now lives in Kinderhook, NY, with his wife, dog, and two cats. Look for him at www.chuckgroenink.com.

Enter the Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive a copy of Honey, The Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln, courtesy of Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins Children’s Books (U.S. addresses only).

The Year of More Books Blog Hop 2020

Thank you to Aletha from Read Now Sleep Later for organizing this Blog Hop. It’s been so long since I have participated in a Blog Hop and I am excited to kick off the year celebrating books.

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Let’s face it, even if you’re into that “New Year, New You” mode – you know the one: clear out the clutter, save more money, be better in general – if you’re a book lover, every year is The Year of More Books. More new titles hitting the bookstore shelves. More books that are new (even if they’re just new to you) entering your library. More used books getting donated or loaned to friends, making room for – you guessed it – More Books. So we’re celebrating 2020, The Year of More Books, with a giveaway from a few friendly book bloggers.

The Prize: A book of the winner’s choice, with a list price of up to $25.00 USD (to be shipped from an indie bookstore to a winner residing within the US, or bookdepository.com if the winner resides outside the US).

How to Participate: Enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Everyone gets at least 2 entries for agreeing to the rules. Earn extra entries by sharing, following, and commenting. We encourage you to visit each of the blogs on this hop and show them some love. On Feb 1, 2020, we'll use the Rafflecopter widget to randomly pick 1 lucky winner.

The Blog Hop Hosts:
1. Read Now Sleep Later – readnowsleeplater.org
2. Kid Lit Frenzy - kidlitfrenzy.com
3. The Windy Pages – thewindypages.com
4. What a Nerd Girl Says - whatanerdgirlsays.org

Rules:
1. This giveaway is open worldwide, except where prohibited by law, until 1/31/2020.
2. The winner may not provide a PO Box as a mailing address.
3. 1 winner will be chosen on 02/1/2020, who will specify a book for their prize, with a list price that is no more than $25.00 USD.
4. We (the blog hop hosts) are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
5. One set of entries per household, please.
6. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian’s permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
7. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget on the day after the contest ends (02/1/2020).
8. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email with their book of choice and shipping address, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
9. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
10. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the CAPS, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments.

Good luck!

Book Review & Giveaway: Who Eats Orange?

Who Eats Orange? 
by Dianne White; Illustrated by Robin Page
Beach Lane Books (August 14, 2018)
Fiction * Animals * Colors
Audience: Ages 3 to 8
Indiebound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: Who eats orange—a chicken? A bunny? A bear? Find out in this unique exploration of colors and animals’ favorite foods.

Animals eat a rainbow of different foods. Gorillas in the mountains eat green, octopi in the ocean eat red, and toucans in the canopy eat purple. Young animal enthusiasts will love digging into this lively journey around the world to explore the colorful diets of many animals, from the familiar to the exotic.

Quick thoughts on the book: 
There is something about the use of a question and answer text structure that I really enjoy and one that also makes for a book that young children will enjoy. 

I suspect part of why I love these books is that they work so well with young readers. The predictability of the the text patterns allows children to begin "reading" the book during the read aloud and then later as they share it with a friend. 

The pattern repetition helps young readers understand what will come next. It also fosters children's curiosity and encourages their making predictions about what may be on the next page of the book. 

Page's big, bold, colorful illustrations engage the reader and adds another level of understanding and support for new readers. 

Additionally, if teachers are seeking mentor text for a question & answer text structure, this provides students with a clear example that they can play with in their own writing.  

Who Eats Orange? will be a fun read aloud with students and also a book that children will enjoy sharing with a peer. At the end, White includes further information on the animals included in the book and their diets and groups them by their habitats. This section can provide more information for teachers looking for ways to take this book to the next level with students. 

Photo credit Bridgette Balmes

About the author:  Dianne White has written several picture books, including the celebrated Blue on Blue, illustrated by Beth Krommes. This summer she also released Goodbye Brings Hello: A Book of Firsts, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman. She lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with her family.  For more information, and to download a free activity kit, visit diannewrites.com. Twitter @diannewrites

About the illustrator: Robin Page has written and illustrated several picture books, including the 2003 Caldecott Honor recipient What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?, which she created with her husband Steve Jenkins, and A Chicken Followed Me Home! and Seeds Move!, which she both wrote and illustrated. Robin and Steve live in Boulder, Colorado.  Check out the fun activities here.

Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a copy of Who Eats Orange?, courtesy of Simon & Schuster (U.S. addresses).

Fiona the Hippo Review & Giveaway

Fiona the Hippo
by Richard Cowdrey
Zonderkidz (August 7, 2018)
Audience: Ages 4 to 8
Fiction * Animals * Hippos
GoodReads | WorldCat | IndieBound
 

Thank you to Zonderkidz for partnering with Kid Lit Frenzy to host the giveaway! For details, please see the rules below.

About the book:
Fiona the Hippo, by New York Times bestselling artist Richard Cowdrey of Bad Dog, Marley fame, tells the story of Fiona, the adorable internet sensation from the Cincinnati Zoo who captured hearts around the world with her inspiring story and plucky personality.

Born prematurely, at only 29 pounds, Fiona was not expected to live. But her spunk and determination helped her thrive and become a happy, healthy hippopotamus. With every challenge she faced, Fiona let out a snort, wiggled her ears, and said "I've got this." And she did! In this delightful story, inspired by the real adventure of this heroic hippo, join Fiona and her lovable animal friends at the zoo as she is introduced to the world in this whimsical and inspiring tale of perseverance and friendship.

Quick thoughts on the book: 
Yep, I am one of those suckers for a baby animal defies the odds to survive story. The story of the grieving Orca mother who carried her dead calf for 17 days had me sobbing. The before and after pictures of rescued dogs choke me up. The tiny kitten that requires constant feeding and an incubator to survive has me cheering for a success story. So, of course a premature baby hippo would certainly catch my attention. 

Fiona the tiny hippo caught the attention of many people who cheered on each milestone that she accomplished. Cowdrey's fictionalized tale of Fiona's spunky determination will draw in and entertain young readers. As Fiona is cheered on by the other animals in the zoo, children will join in and celebrate the tiny hippo's journey. 

For videos of Fiona from her home at the Cincinnati Zoo, check out the video below. 

Cincinnati Zoo: Baby Hippo Fiona's Special Moments: Never-before-seen Video

Pair Fiona the Hippo with Saving Fiona for a fiction & nonfiction pair up. Look for this book at your local indie bookstore or community library. 

About the Author: Richard Cowdrey's favorite things to draw and paint are the common things seen everywhere in nature. He especially enjoys capturing the expressions, eyes, and gestures of both humans and animals. Drawing and painting Fiona was challenging as the hippopotamus is a very unique yet beautiful creature! Richard's bestselling children's books include Legend of the Candy Cane, Bad Dog, Marley, and A Very Marley Christmas.

Enter the Giveaway:
Fiona’s Pool Party! Throw the best pool party ever for your little zoo animal!

Winner receives:
a copy of Fiona the Hippo,
a Hippo pool toy and all the zoo friends —just be careful not to get your new book wet!

Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Zonderkidz.