Double Blog Tour: A Letter to My Teacher by Deborah Hopkinson

Just in time for National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8-12, 2017)....

A Letter to My Teacher
by Deborah Hopkinson; Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
Random House/Schwartz & Wade (April 4, 2017)
Fiction * School * Education
Audience: Ages 4 to 8 years old
Indiebound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: 
Dear Teacher, Whenever I had something to tell you, I tugged on your shirt and whispered in your ear. This time I'm writing a letter. So begins this picture book about a girl who prefers running and jumping to listening and learning and the teacher who gently inspires her. From stomping through creeks on a field trip to pretending to choke when called upon to read aloud, this book's young heroine would be a challenge to any teacher. But this teacher isn't just any teacher. By listening carefully and knowing just the right thing to say, she quickly learns that the girl's unruly behavior is due to her struggles with reading. And at the very end, we learn what this former student is now: a teacher herself.

Quick thoughts on the book: 

We all have one. The one teacher that made a difference in our lives. The one teacher who saw us and really got us. Not just as one of 25 students but as a unique and special individual. 

Deborah Hopkinson's new book is out just in time for Teacher Appreciation Week. It is the perfect reminder of how a teacher can make a difference in our lives. One that may even influence our choice of careers in the future. 

Maybe it's time to write a letter to a special teacher and celebrate the important work teachers do every day. Pick up a copy of A Letter to My Teacher at your local bookstore and consider a second copy to gift to a special teacher in your life. 

Thanks again to Deborah Hopkinson for appearing.  For other stops on the Hopkinson Double Blog Tour please check deborahhopkinson.com.  #DoubleBlogTour.

Share, Big Bear, Share! Review and Giveaway

Share, Big Bear Share!
by Maureen Wright; Ilustrated by Will Hillenbrand
Two Lions (April 25, 2017)
Fiction * Sharing * Attention
Interest Level: Ages 4 to 7
Amazon | WorldCat
Book Activities

Description from GoodReads: 
Big Bear’s forest friends eye his berries hungrily, but he doesn’t notice as he digs into his delicious snack. When the old oak tree says, “Share, Big Bear, share,” he thinks the tree has said, “Hair, Big Bear, hair!” One comical scene follows another as Big Bear keeps misunderstanding the old oak tree’s message until things finally get sorted out. Whimsical illustrations highlight the humor in this gentle story about the importance of sharing something special with friends.

Official Book Trailer:

Quick thoughts on the book:

Maureen Wright and Will Hillenbrand are back with a new Big Bear book. I have a soft spot for bear stories and I definitely have a special place in my "book love heart" for Will Hillenbrand's art.  If you check out the video below you will get a little glimpse of Will Hillenbrand's creative process in creating the book:

In this Bear story, our friend Bear has a large pail of sweet, wonderful berries. The wizened old tree makes attempts to get Bear to share his berries but each time they are misheard. 

These messages become a familiar, and humorous chorus throughout the story and young children listening will quickly pick up on the pattern and chime in with their own call out to Bear.

With the attempts of the Old Tree to encourage Bear to share, more and more forest animals gather around hoping for a taste of the sweet berries. Readers can predict what will happen with Bear and his berries as the story progresses, and celebrate in the end with Bear and his friends. 

Click on the game above to go to an activity page that Will has created for the book. 

About the illustrator: WILL HILLENBRAND has written and/or illustrated over 60 books for young readers including Down by the Barn, Mother Goose Picture Puzzles and the Bear and Mole series. He has lived almost all of his life in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he grew up as the youngest of four boys. He now lives in Terrace Park and was recently honored as Author/Illustrator in Residence at Kent State University.

Information about his books, selected readings, art process videos and activity ideas can be viewed at www.willhillenbrand.com. Connect with Will at www.facebook.com/willhillenbrandbooks.

Giveaway: One lucky winner will receive a copy of SHARE, BIG BEAR, SHARE!, courtesy of Two Lions. (U.S. addresses) Participants must be 13 years old or older to participate.

Henry and the Chalk Dragon Review & Giveaway

Henry and the Chalk Dragon
by Jennifer Trafton
Rabbit Room Press (April 4, 2017)
Fiction * Imagination * School Children
Audience: Ages 8 to 12
Indiebound | Worldcat
Curriculum Guide

Description from GoodReads: 
In the town of Squashbuckle, just about anything can happen, and when Henry Penwhistle draws a mighty Chalk Dragon on his door, the dragon does what Henry least expects--it runs away. Now Henry's art is out in the world for everyone to see, and it's causing trouble for him and his schoolmates Oscar and Jade. If they don't stop it, the entire town could be doomed! To vanquish the threat of a rampaging Chalk Dragon, Sir Henry Penwhistle, Knight of La Muncha Elementary School, is going to have to do more than just catch his art--he's going to have to let his imagination run wild. And THAT takes bravery.

Quick thoughts on the book:

"Dragons can only eat you, but people can laugh at you, and that is like being
chewed to death by a smile." - Henry Penwhistle from Henry and the Chalk Dragon

First, would it be completely terrible to judge a book by it's cover? Henry and the Chalk Dragon has a fabulous cover. Not only because of the chalk drawing on the black background, but because the cover is soft. Not squishy soft but a smooth soft. 

Okay, I am moving on and beyond the cover. Jennifer Trafton has created an enjoyable, imaginative read in Henry and the Chalk Dragon. Within pages, I was caught up in the beauty of her writing. It has a timeless, classic feel. Additionally, what child hasn't imagined a painting or their drawing coming to life? In this case, a mighty dragon that runs away and causes all sorts of chaos leaving Henry, Oscar and Jade to deal with it.

"You're a nut," said Oscar.
"I am not a nut."
"Hey, I've got an idea. If we can find out what kind of a roar a dragon's mother makes, then we can sneak into Principal Bunk's office and use the intercom to broadcast dragon-mother sounds around the whole school. and the dragon will miss its mother and come looking for her, and then we can catch it."
"No, I've got a better idea," said Henry. "You can keep being a knight, but I need to become a superhero for a minute." 
Oscar looked doubtful. "What is your superpower?" he said.
"I can read minds but only on Fridays. And only when I'm wearing my supersocks."

Imagination and humor and adventure balance out one another to make an engaging read for children and adult. This is one of those books that makes for a wonderful read aloud in the classroom. Look for Henry and the Chalk Dragon at your local indie bookstore or community library. 

About the author: Jennifer Trafton is the author of The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic (Dial, 2010) which received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal and was a nominee for Tennessee’s Volunteer State Book Award and the National Homeschool Book Award. Henry and the Chalk Dragon arose from her lifelong love of drawing and her personal quest for the courage to be an artist. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where, in addition to pursuing her love of art and illustration, she teaches writing classes, workshops, and summer camps in a variety of schools, libraries, and homeschool groups in the Nashville area, as well as online classes to kids around the world. To learn more, and to download free materials, visit jennifertrafton.com.

Giveaway: One copy of Henry and the Chalk Dragon. Winner must be 13 years old or older and have a U.S. mailing address.

How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea Review & Giveaway

How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea
by Kate Hosford; Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
Carolrhoda Books (March 1, 2017)
Fiction * Culture * Friendship
Audience: Ages 5 to 9
Curriculum Guide
Indiebound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
Each day when the Queen wakes up, three maids dress her, two more style her hair, and her butler James makes her tea. But when she grows dissatisfied with her brew, the Queen and James set out in search of the perfect cup. With each stop on their hot-air balloon journey, the Queen encounters new friends who expand her horizons in the kitchen and beyond.

Check out the official trailer: 

My thoughts on the book:
I am a tea drink. I keep trying coffee but I really like tea. During winter break, I had a cold and a constant cup of warm tea with honey and a warm blanket were probably just as healing as any medicine out there. As much as I enjoy warm tea, I love iced tea. Several years ago, I searched out how to make the best iced tea. Iced tea that was not bitter, but smooth. So, a book about finding the perfect cup of tea is just my kind of book.

In Hosford's new book, a finicky and proper queen is on search of the perfect cup of tea. However she finds so much more than a cup of tea.  

As the queen searches the world for the perfect cup of tea, she discovers new friends, new activities, and how tea rounds it all out. Additionally, readers learn about how people in various countries make their tea in slightly different ways. The ending was a wonderful celebration of friendship and tea.  

Look for a copy of the book at your local indie bookstore or public library and share it with a friend over a cup of tea.

About the author: 
Kate Hosford is the author of several picture books, including Infinity and Me, which won the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book award and was named an ALA Notable Children's Book. Her books have been translated into Chinese, Korean, French, and Romanian. Kate grew up in Waitsfield,  Vermont, where she enjoyed many cups of tea.  She now drinks tea with her family in Brooklyn, New York. To learn more, and to download a free curriculum guide, visit her website: khosford.com Twitter: @khosford_author

Making friendship and fun count
In the spirit of the book's message, Kate Hosford will donate $1 (up to $500) for every retweet of a review or interview from her blog tour to First Book. (Be sure to include . @khosford_author.) Established in 1992, First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need.

Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a copy of HOW THE QUEEN FOUND THE PERFECT CUP OF TEA (U.S. addresses).

I Am (NOT) Scared Review & Giveaway

I AM (NOT) SCARED
by Anna Kang; Illustrated by Christopher Weyant (Two Lions, March 21, 2017)
Fiction * Emotions * Friends
Audience: Ages 4 to 7
Amazon | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: 
Two fuzzy friends go to an amusement park. They try to convince each other that there are much scarier things than the roller coaster. Hairy spiders! Aliens! Fried ants! They soon discover that sometimes being scared isn’t as “scary” as they thought. With expressive illustrations and simple text, this giggle-inducing tale about (not) being scared features the endearing characters from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Small.

Thoughts on this book:  
It is no secret that I love these two furry creatures and the stories created by Kang & Weyant. Since I had an early copy of I AM (NOT) SCARED, I decided to read it with kindergarten and first grade students for READ ACROSS AMERICA. 

We talked about the way you could read the emotions on the face of the characters in the book. 

We laughed at the tub of hairy spiders and pan of fried ants. 

And the snake just took us over the top. 

Kang and Weyant are fabulous at capturing the emotions of fear and exhilaration as our furry and not so furry friends move from the trepidation of riding a roller coaster to the electrification of a successful ride.  Readers will delight with this new book adventure and want to hear it over and over again.

And now, readers get to enjoy the book along with the new plush furry friends created by MerryMakers. 

About the author & illustrator: Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant are the creators of two other books featuring these characters: Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Small and That’s (Not) Mine. Christopher’s work can be seen regularly in The New Yorker magazine and his cartoons are syndicated worldwide. This husband-and-wife team lives in New Jersey with their two daughters and their Bich-Poo. Visit them at www.annakang.com and www.christopherweyant.com.

Twitter: @annakang27 @chrisweyant05
Instagram: annakangbooks; christopherweyant   
Facebook: Anna Kang - Author; Christopher Weyant

For more information, and to download a free activity kit, visit annakang.com, or download at: http://bit.ly/2mKbFWi

Enter the Giveaway: 
One lucky winner will receive a set of squeezable stress balls, two adorable plush characters, and a copy of I AM (NOT) SCARED courtesy of Two Lions (U.S. addresses).