Ginny Louise and the School Showdown Giveaway & Interview with Tammi Sauer

Ginny Louise and the School Showdown
by Tammi Sauer; Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Disney-Hyperion (June 16, 2015)
Audience: Ages 3-5
Fiction * Social Issues * Friendship
IndieBound | WorldCat

About the book: 
The Truman Elementary Troublemakers are a bad bunch. Especially these three: Cap'n Catastrophe, Destructo Dude, and Make-My-Day May. But they are no match for Ginny Louise, the new hedgehog in school. Her unwavering cheerfulness in the face of their bullying will make young readers holler with glee. Full of rhymes, wordplay, and comic misunderstanding, this book will lend itself well to reading aloud as well as discussions about peer dynamics.

My thoughts on the book:
How can you not love a group of scallywags with monikers such as Cap'n Catastrophe, Destructo Dude, and Make-My-Day May. I just might want to borrow that last one. 

And then in comes Ginny Louise, who seems to be everything that the others are not. 

When Make-My-Day May tells Ginny Louise: "Yer gonna pay." Ginny Louise replies: "I'd love to stay! Thanks, new best friend!" Well maybe Ginny Louise is onto something. Hear what you want to hear, and ignore the rest. 

These classroom troublemakers cannot seem to figure out what to do with Ginny Louise, who has a way of charming herself into everyone's life, especially Make-My-Day May.

However, just in case you thought that Ginny Louise was too perfect for stirring up a wild ruckus, guess again.

Though this book is filled with a number of things that will make you smile and charm even the most cantankerous listener, there are a number of lines and actions in this book that can provide a way to talk with students about welcoming new students, and how to work with others and maybe even a way to be brave in the face of bullies. 

Look for Ginny Louise and the School Showdown at your local indie bookstore or public library.

Interview with Tammi Sauer: 

If you could describe your book in 2 sentences, how would you describe it to someone?

The Truman Elementary Troublemakers are a bad bunch, but they are no match for Ginny Louise, the new hedgehog in school.  Her irrepressible cheerfulness has what it takes to turn even the scowliest, growliest crowd around.

Ginny Louise and the School Showdown has an element of friendship, belonging, or the hope for something very special, what did you draw on to get the emotional element just right in the story?

No one is 100% bad or 100% good. Make-My-Day May is the ringleader of the Truman Elementary Troublemakers. I wanted to show that underneath her rough and tough exterior is raccoon who appreciates moments of kindness, too. I also wanted to show that Ginny Louise isn’t perfectly sweet. In the end, it’s clear she has a touch of orneriness as well.

Any new projects that you are working on that you can share with us?

Next summer, more mayhem takes place at Truman Elementary in Ginny Louise and the School Field Day.

I also have two new titles coming out soon. Your Alien (Sterling), illustrated by Goro Fujita, hits shelves on August 4, and Roar! (Paula Wiseman Books/S&S), illustrated by Liz Starin, arrives on the scene on September 29.

Summer and vacations go hand-in-hand. If you could go on vacation with your favorite book character (either in your own book or from someone else's book) who would you vacation with and what would you do?

Hmm! I would like to travel to Hawaii with Crocodile from The Watermelon Seed. I love his energy. I love his personality. And, truth be told, I LOVE watermelon. The two of us would spend our days on the beach eating big slabs of (seedless) watermelon. At night, we would attend various luaus (preferably ones that served watermelon).

About the author:
Tammi Sauer grew up on a farm and graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education. She has ten kid-friendly picture books to her credit, including Nugget & Fang, Me Want Pet! and Oh, Nuts!. In addition to being a writer, she has taught summer school, pre-kindergarten, and the middle school electives Creative Writing and Storytelling; she also spent two years serving as a library  media specialist. Tammi lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with her husband, son, and daughter. You can find her here: website | twitter | facebook  Photo credit: Dana Lang Photography 

Thank you to Disney Hyperion for offering a giveaway of this very special book. To enter the giveaway, please complete the rafflecopter below. Winners must be 13 years or older and have an US mailing address.

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WISH Giveaway and Interview with Author/Illustrator Matthew Cordell

WISH
By Matthew Cordell
Disney-Hyperion (3/03/2015)
Audience: Ages 3 – 5
Indiebound | WorldCat

About the book: 
As an elephant couple embark on a life together, thoughts of children are far away–at first. But as the desire for a child grows, so do unexpected challenges. And it's only after thwarted plans and bitter disappointment that their deepest wish miraculously comes true.

Check out the official book trailer:

Quick thoughts on the book:
I have been a fan of Matthew Cordell's work for quite awhile. I love his style and the books that he chooses to create or work on. I had an opportunity to see WISH as a folded and gathered (an advanced copy of the book). It was charming and you could feel the depth of emotion felt by the elephant couple in the story. 

Here are some glimpses of the inside interior of the book:

The planning, and hoping, and waiting and passage of time. 

The text and the illustrations compliment and reach out and touch the heart of those who read this book. 

WISH is a personal story (see the interview below) and one that couples in your own life may relate to on various levels and have different meanings for each reader. WISH is an inspirational book. I was super impressed in how it inspired Margie Myers-Culver, a Michigan Librarian, to donate 200 copies of WiSH to her community hospital to giveaway to families of newborn babies in memory of her mother. Here is a link to the letters she exchanged with Matthew, click here.  Matthew followed up with a blog post of his own, here. And here is a link to a final post with a special video created by Margie to capture the process. 

Now if all of this hasn't convinced you to find a copy of WISH and read and share it, I am not sure what else will. :-) So what are you waiting for? You can pick up a copy of WISH at your local indie bookstore or public library. 

Interview with Matthew Cordell:

If you could describe your book in 2 sentences, how would you describe it to someone? 

Wish tells the story of the incredible, emotional journey that is welcoming a child into the world. The inexplicably amazing moment of first meeting a child, but also the very highs and lows that can turn up along the way.

WISH has an element of friendship, belonging, or the hope for something very special, what did you draw on to get the emotional element just right in the story?

This book is very a personal one for me. My wife and I struggled for years before becoming pregnant with our first child. And again with our second. It was a difficult and, at times, very heartbreaking road. It can be a very grim and isolated place to be. As time went on, we realized that so many couples everywhere are dealing with the same struggles that we were. I wanted to share our story in a picture book so that parents who had endured similar challenges could share with their children just how meaningful and important it was that these children--these families--could become a reality.

Any new projects that you are working on that you can share with us? 

I'm currently working on illustrating a picture book by authors Audrey Vernick and Liz Garton Scanlon titled BOB NOT BOB with Disney-Hyperion. Also writing and illustrating my first wordless picture book with Feiwel and Friends.

Summer and vacations go hand-in-hand. If you could go on vacation with your favorite book character (either in your own book or from someone else's book) who would you vacation with and what would you do? 

Hmm... since the elephants in WISH are based on my wife and myself... There's no one else I'd rather go on vacation with than my wife. And we couldn't leave without our kiddos. I'd love it if we all got to go to Australia. (We could even be elephants!)

About the author: 
att Cordell personally knows what it's like to wish. In fact, this book is the heartfelt windfall of him waiting for his wish come true a second time.  Other books Matt has written and illustrated include hello! hello!, Another Brother, and Trouble Gum. He lives in Chicago with his wife, a young daughter, and an even younger son. Visit matthewcordell.com to learn more.

Thank you to Disney Hyperion for offering a giveaway of this very special book. To enter the giveaway, please complete the rafflecopter below. Winners must be 13 years or older and have an US mailing address.

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Penny & Jelly Blog Tour & Giveaway: Interview with Author Maria Gianferrari

Thank you Maria Gianferrai for including Kid Lit Frenzy in your Blog Tour for Penny & Jelly: The School Show. My niece and I really enjoyed the book. Also, thank you for answering some of her questions as part of your stop.

KK to Maria:   How did you come up with the idea for the story?

Maria:  Penny and Jelly was literally inspired by my daughter, Anya, and her dog sister, Becca. Anya’s very artistic and creative, like Penny, and as an only child, Becca has been her best friend and playmate. We adopted Becca as a rescue when Anya was 4 (now she’s 13), so they’ve grown up together. Here’s an early cute picture of them together.

KK:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Maria: I don’t think I was really inspired. In a way it chose me. I’ve always loved expressing my ideas in words, but I was initially afraid of failing at it—I liked the idea of being a writer, but it took awhile to actually commit to the hard work of day-to-day writing, and all of the rejections that are involved in wanting to become a published one. But, I persisted and persevered, and I’m proud of myself that I didn’t give up when I easily could have.

KK: Did you ever participate in a Talent Show in school and what did you do for the talent show? If so, were you successful?

Maria: I’ve never participated in any kind of public talent show. I was quite shy as a child (still am), so I definitely would not have enjoyed it. When I was a kid, we used to make up plays and perform in our garage for our friends and neighbors. We also used to do a holiday play at one of our neighbor’s houses for our parents. It was a lot of fun to pretend, and it was a more comfortable environment.

KK: Will there be any more Penny & Jelly stories? And are you working on any other books that you can tell us about?

Maria:  Yes! A second book, PENNY & JELLY SLUMBER UNDER THE STARS, is slated for release in June 2016. See if you can find the character that illustrator Thyra Heder modeled after me. I just love Thyra’s expressive illustration style. It has such warmth and humor.

I’m working on several different fiction and nonfiction picture book manuscripts at the moment. The one I’m currently having the most fun with is a nonfiction book about rats called RAT-tastic!

This is a photo of our rat sisters, Lucia and Nera (Lucia is white, Nera is black). Nera died on Christmas day last year which made it impossible to celebrate.

And this is our first pet rat, Sky.

We really miss Nera and Sky. Rats are very sweet and affectionate creatures, and they make great pets.

Thanks Maria for letting us also chat with Penny. 

KK to Penny: What are you plans for the summer break? And do you have any books that you are looking forward to reading?

Penny:  Lots of swimming in the lake with Jelly and my friends. Playing in my treehouse and catching frogs and fireflies and butterflies (don’t worry, I always let them go).

I love to read! I want to read the new biography on Jane Goodall called Untamed, and the new Penderwicks book. And Jelly keeps asking me to read his favorite picture book, Gaston.

KK: I really like doing gymnastics. Do you have any favorite sports?

Penny: I like to play soccer—it’s fun!

KK: What kinds of things do you like doing with your friends?

Penny:  We like to play games outside, like hopscotch and tag. We also like to climb trees.

**Penny has a question for KK:  Is KK your nickname? What does it stand for?  Penny’s my nickname, but my real name is Penelope. But Jelly is just Jelly. 

KK: KK is a nickname and stands for my first and middle initials. My first name is Kayla but everyone at home calls me KK.

Thanks for interviewing us, KK & Alyson!   ~Penny & Maria 

Hey Maria, This is Alyson. Guess what?! I saw on your website that you grew up in Keene, New Hampshire. What a small world since I went to college at Keene State College.  

About the author: Maria writes both fiction and nonfiction picture books from her sunny, book-lined study in northern Virginia, with dog, Becca as her muse. Maria’s debut picture book, Penny & Jelly: The School Show, illustrated by Thyra Heder, will be released on July 7th, 2015 (HMH Books for Young Readers). A second Penny & Jelly book titled, Penny & Jelly Slumber Under the Stars, will be released in June 2016. Maria has five additional books forthcoming from Roaring Brook and Boyds Mills Presses as well as Aladdin Books for Young Readers in the coming years. To learn more about Maria, visit her website: www.mariagianferrari.com or on facebook. 

And you can visit Penny & Jelly at their website: pennyandjelly.com, and on Instagram: @pennyandjelly.

Check these blogs for more fun with Maria, Penny, and Jelly:

Friday, June 26th: Kidlit411/Sylvia Liu & Elaine Kiely Kearns
Monday, June 29th: Miss Marple’s Musings/Joanna Marple
Tuesday, June 30th: Pragmatic Mom/Mia Wenjen
Wednesday, July 1st: Watch Connect Read/Mr. Schu
Thursday, July 2nd: Kidlitfrenzy/Alyson Beecher
Friday, July 3rd: Writing for Kids While Raising Them/Tara Lazar
Monday, July 6th – Friday, July 10th: Emu’s Debuts virtual book week launch
Monday, July 13th: Bildebok/Cathy Ballou Mealey
Tuesday, July 14th: HMH Picture Book Parade

Enter to win a copy of PENNY AND JELLY by completing the rafflecopter below. Winners must be 13 years or older and have a US mailing address.

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To the Sea Giveaway & Interview with author, Cale Atkinson

To the Sea
by Cale Atkinson
Disney Hyperion (June 2, 2015)
Audience: Ages 3 to 5
Fiction * Friendship * Perseverance
Indiebound | WorldCat
 

About the book: 
Sometimes Tim feels invisible at school-until one day, when Tim meets Sam. But Sam isn’t just any new friend: he’s a blue whale, and he can’t find his way home! Returning Sam to the sea is hard work, but Tim is determined to help. After all, it’s not every day you meet a new friend! This picture book about the power of friendship by new talent Cale Atkinson is brought to life by charming, dynamic illustrations.

Quick thoughts on the book:
A few months ago, a bookseller friend placed the F&G (folded & gathered) version of TO THE SEA into my hands and told me how much she loved this book and that I must read it. I sat down right there in the store and read the story of a little boy and a big blue whale and a dilemma. When I got to the end, I had fallen in love with the characters, the story, the illustrations, and everything about this book.

Don't you just love the image here of Tim offering Sam a glass of water? 

There are so many moments and emotions that children will relate to in this story. 

Can you imagine pedaling a tricycle fast enough to move a whale? 

You can pick up a copy of TO THE SEA at your local indie bookstore or public library. Hope you enjoy this friendship story as much as I did. 

Interview with Cale Atkinson: 

If you could describe your book in 2 sentences, how would you describe it to someone?

TO THE SEA is about a boy named Tim who feels alone, until one day he meets Sam, a big lost whale outside his school. The two see each other for who they really are, and soon become friends, with Tim promising to help Sam get back to the sea.

TO THE SEA has an element of friendship, belonging, or the hope for something very special, what did you draw on to get the emotional element just right in the story?

For the emotion and feeling I wanted in the story I mostly drew from my own personal experiences in the past feeling ‘unseen’ or not fitting in. I think we all yearn for that connection of feeling seen for who we are and how heavy it can feel if we don’t have it. I tried to think back to how that really felt and how much it all can change once you find that connection or friend.

Any new projects that you are working on that you can share with us?

Yes indeed! I have a second book coming next year with Disney Hyperion titled ‘Explorers of the Wild’, which I wrote and illustrated.

Also in 2016 look out for a book I illustrated with Tundra Books titled ‘If I had a Gryphon’ (With writing by Vikki VanSickle) as well as a book I illustrated and wrote called ‘Maxwell the Monkey Barber’ with OWL Books. Woo hoo!

Summer and vacations go hand-in-hand. If you could go on vacation with your favorite book character (either in your own book or from someone else's book) who would you vacation with and what would you do?

Tough Question!

I’m going to go with a more recent character that I adore from Emily Hughes’ book ‘Wild’.  The main character is an untameable girl raised by animals who belongs out in the wild, not cooped up in a house. For vacation we would go run around the wild outdoors, hang out in giant tree branches and play with all the animals!

About the author: 
Cale Atkinson wanted to be a whale when he grew up, but chose to be an artist and animator once he realized it was impossible. This is his first book. Visit Cale online at www.cale.ca or on Twitter @2dCale.

Thank you to Disney Hyperion for offering a giveaway of this very special book. To enter the giveaway, please complete the rafflecopter below. Winners must be 13 years or older and have an US mailing address.

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The Princess and the Pony Blog Tour & Giveaway

The Princess and the Pony
by Kate Beaton
Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine (June 30, 2015)
Audience: Pre-K to 3
Fiction * Ponies * Princesses
Indiebound | WorldCat

About the book: 
Princess Pinecone knows exactly what she wants for her birthday this year. A BIG horse. A STRONG horse. A horse fit for a WARRIOR PRINCESS! But when the day arrives, she doesn't quite get the horse of her dreams...

From the artist behind the comic phenomenon Hark! A Vagrant, The Princess and the Pony is a laugh-out-loud story of brave warriors, big surprises, and falling in love with one unforgettable little pony.

My thoughts on the book: 
Princess Pinecone is no ordinary princess and definitely no ordinary warrior. I had a chance to first get a look at this book in January at the American Library Association MidWinter meeting. I loved the twist on the "princess and pony" theme. Often times, books depict a princess and a horse/pony in a predictable way. However, Kate Beaton throws a twist into her story. Maybe it is the comfy sweaters or maybe it is the adorable and sort of round pony that draws you in but you can Princess Pinecone's desires and frustrations. 

I love this spread where the other warriors get presents worthy of their warrior status. And then you have the comfy sweater....

I really enjoy Kate Beaton's illustrations. Does this look like a Warrior's horse? (below) Princess Pinecone wants a "big horse" worthy of being a Warrior Princess's horse. This was her present. Not exactly what she had in mind. 

However, Princess Pinecone and her pony certainly found a way to be accepted and find their place in the world. 

This is such a fun picture book and perfect for kids who like humor and also enjoy a book with a bit of a twist. Look for a copy of The Princess and the Pony at your local indie bookstore or public library. 

About the author: 
Kate Beaton is the author of Hark! A Vagrant, her #1 New York Times bestselling collection of comics which began as a webcomic in 2007. The Princess and the Pony is her first picture book. She is the recipient of multiple Harvey awards, and her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Harper’s, and The Best American Comics Anthology. Kate lives in Toronto, and you can find her on Twitter as @beatonna.  0r learn more at Scholastic.com  Visit the author at BeatonTown.com  Social Media: #PonyTime

Don't forget to enter into the giveaway: 

NOT YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESS prize pack
Two (2) winners each receive a copy of The Princess and the Pony.

Giveaway open to US addresses only and be 13 years or older.
Prizing and samples provided by Scholastic.

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