Early Reader Review: Mr. Squirrel and the Moon by Sebastian Meschenmoser

Mr. Squirrel and the Moon by Sebastian Meschenmoser
Publisher: NorthSouth Books Inc.
Publication Date:  January 1, 2015

 

Format: ebook
Source: Netgalley and NorthSouth Books Inc. in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book in no way effects my opinion or review.

Rating:

 




Goodreads Synopsis: 

When Mr. Squirrel awakens to find that the moon has landed on his tree, he frantically tries to get rid of it before someone suspects him of stealing it and puts him in jail. But when he rolls the moon off of his tree, it's gets stuck on Mrs. Hedgehog's bristles and when the billy-goat arrives and butts it with his horns . . . Will the moon ever be the same again? Sebastian Meschenmoser's hilarious illustrations and rollicking tale will be a bedtime favorite.

 Review: 


What would you do it you found the moon? In this adorable tale, a squirrel awakes to what he believes is the moon on his branch. From there he tries to get rid of it in case it was stolen and runs in to all sorts of problems along the way.

I love reading children's books. They are fun and imaginative and I really love the artwork that goes into them. As is the case with this one. Meschenmoser's does a wonderful job creating this world - the animals, the moon, the incidents - all with very little prose and an abundance of elegant and charming sketches as visuals.

The story is funny and captivating and will appeal to children who love animals. A very fun tale.



 

Recent Reads: Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper

Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper 
Illustrated by Raul (The Third) Gonzalez 
Series: Lowriders in Space Book 1
Publisher:  Chronicle Books
Publication Date:  November 4, 2014

 

Format: Paperback ARC
Source: From Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Lupe Impala, El Chavo Flapjack, and Elirio Malaria love working with cars. You name it, they can fix it. But the team's favorite cars of all are lowriders—cars that hip and hop, dip and drop, go low and slow, bajito y suavecito. The stars align when a contest for the best car around offers a prize of a trunkful of cash—just what the team needs to open their own shop! ¡Ay chihuahua! What will it take to transform a junker into the best car in the universe? Striking, unparalleled art from debut illustrator Raul the Third recalls ballpoint-pen-and-Sharpie desk-drawn doodles, while the story is sketched with Spanish, inked with science facts, and colored with true friendship. With a glossary at the back to provide definitions for Spanish and science terms, this delightful book will educate and entertain in equal measure.

Review:
Lowriders in Space is a middle grade graphic novel about Spanish culture, cars and space. In the advanced copy that I received, the illustrations were only in black, white, and grey but I am told that the final version will be in full color – either way the drawing was a wonderful sketched style. The characters included a fox hybrid, a mosquito, and an octopus. It was a fund but strange tale about how these three friends want to open their own car shop and find that if they enter and win a car show they will have enough money to do so. The novel is about just that, finding the car, fixing it up, and the car show – only that is not all. It turns out that their car is so amazing it can go into space, and they do.

I think this is a wonderful graphic novel for kids. The story was cute and the whole book is interspersed with Spanish and a lot of cultural references. I thought they were interesting although maybe at times a little too stereotypical. Overall this was a quick read, the illustrations were marvelous and it was a lot of fun to read.

Building the Book Pile #120

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

What's Happening?! 

How was your week ? Let me know in the comments.

Happy Holidays everyone! I hope your holiday celebrations have been wonderful. As per usual we visited my dad and family for Christmas eve and spent the night until Christmas Day. It was a lot of fun, we had a wonderful dinner with the family and did family gifts on the eve and Santa gifts in the morning with the kids.

My hubby and I made off with a bunch of awesome clothing items and lots of body wash -- apparently my family thinks I need to shower more :/ but that is fine now I have all my body washes for the next year (serious there were like 5 of them and Andy got his own man body scrub stuff). Andy got my 6 months of Lootcrate - the nerdy subscription box, it is so much fun. Here is a link if you wanna join: LOOTCRATE GET IT HERE!

Did you do anything special for the holidays? Did you get books? (I didn't but that is good - too many to read already)
 

Giveaways Going on Now!!

 

GO ENTER!

 

Coming up on the Blog... 

Review: Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper (Graphic Novel/ MG)

Review: The Hazards of Sex on the Beach (Hazards #3) by Alyssa Rose Ivy (New Adult)

Books Received this Week 

No Books this Week.
Links go to Goodreads and/or Publisher Site.

Have you missed anything lately?

• Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop
• Cover Reveal: The Way of the Wombat by Adriann Strickland (MG)
• Double Review: Diaries of Robin's Toys -- Carlos the Cod and Donkey Hoo-Tee by Ken and Angie Lake (MG) - 4 stars/ 4 stars
• Double Review: Diaries of Robin's Toys -- Clarence the Camel and Taffy the Rabbit by Ken and Angie Lake (MG) - 4 stars/ 4 stars

  Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

 Happy Reading!

Double Review -- The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Clarence the Camel and Taffy the Rabbit by Ken and Angie Lake

The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Clarence the Camel by Ken and Angie Lake
Series: The Diaries of Robin's Toys
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing 
Publication Date:  December 10, 2013

 

Format: Paperback from box set
Source:Sweet Cherry Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Clarence the Camel dreamed of being a top racing camel! But he was very big-headed, and thought he was the fastest camel in the desert. He didn't tire of boasting to his friends about how good he was, and he was so proud when he got selected for special racing training! But he told Robin what happened next, and how he learnt to be more modest and not show off to his friends, who might not be as lucky and talented as himself! Clarence the Camel is one part of the lovely series, The Diaries of Robin's Toys! Robin and his Grandad buy a new toy from the car boot sale every weekend, and with the help of Grandad's magic spell, they bring them to life! Each toy has a fascinating new story to tell Robin, and helps to teach him some very important life lessons!

 Review: 
After boasting about how he could beat everyone then losing a race, Robin is feeling down. Clarence's story helps him to realize that boasting is not cool and that he should be more humble about what he can and cannot do, and that sometimes something better can come out of being bad at something else.

Clarence the Camel's story about wanting to be a racing camel related directly to Robin's issues this week, which made the plot easier to understand than some of the other connectiona made in this series of books. 

I actually learned about camels from this installment as well, another highlight of the book.

The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Taffy the Rabbit by Ken and Angie Lake
Series: The Diaries of Robin's Toys
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing 
Publication Date:  August 8, 2013

 

Format: Paperback from box set
Source:Sweet Cherry Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:



 

 
Goodreads Synopsis:

Taffy was a Welsh rabbit and like all Welsh rabbits, his dream was to watch Wales play England at rugby! But Taffy did not know how he would ever save up enough to buy the ticket! He told his great story to Robin and taught him the importance of working hard for something, and that if you do, you will get what you deserve! Taffy the Rabbit is one part of the lovely series, The Diaries of Robin's Toys! Robin and his Grandad buy a new toy from the car boot sale every weekend, and with the help of Grandad's magic spell, they bring them to life! Each toy has a fascinating new story to tell Robin, and helps to teach him some very important life lessons!

 Review: 
In this installment, Robin's boy scout troops camping trip has been cancelled and all the boys are bummed. Taffy's story about hard work and combining resources to achieve a goal was very helpful for Robin and his situation. Aside from that, readers will also learn about Rugby and Wales a bit from this book. 

Taffy's tale about trying to go to a Rugby match wasn't exactly the same as Robin's need for camping equipment but the overall goal was there. 

After reading a few of these books, I realize that the toy's stories all start the same - Who are you? followed by - Are you sitting comfortably? ... which is starting to get a bit redundant, but I am still enjoying these cute tales.

Special Thanks to Sweet Cherry Publishing for these copies. 

More reviews to come.

Double Review -- The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Carlos the Cod and Donkey Hoo-Tee by Ken and Angie Lake

The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Carlos the Cod by Ken and Angie Lake
Series: The Diaries of Robin's Toys
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing Publication Date:  December 10, 2013

 

Format: Paperback from box set
Source:Sweet Cherry Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Carlos the Cod lived in a deep part of the ocean, and was always warned by his parents not to go near the surface, where the humans tried to catch you. But a shoal of older fish turned up one day and told Carlos to swim to the top with them. Read what happens to Carlos and his new friends, and learn the same lesson Robin did that you should not rise to peer pressure and do things you know are wrong! Carlos the Cod is one part of the lovely series, The Diaries of Robin's Toys! Robin and his Grandad buy a new toy from the car boot sale every weekend, and with the help of Grandad's magic spell, they bring them to life! Each toy has a fascinating new story to tell Robin, and helps to teach him some very important life lessons!

 Review: 
Carlos the Cod was another cute story in the Diaries series. In this installment Carlos helps Robin realize that listening to parents is a good idea, especially when it comes to hanging out with the wrong crowds. There is also a side note about those wrong crowds possibly getting kids that are too young into smoking and does a good job at trying to deter it. 

Carlos' story is very fun and I think it will interest young readers - what would it be like to live as a fish inside an aquarium and be looking into peoples lives through the glass. I found it very enjoyable and a fast paced and easy read.

The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Donkey Hoo-Tee by Ken and Angie Lake
Series: The Diaries of Robin's Toys
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing 
Publication Date:  December 9, 2013

 

Format: Paperback from box set
Source:Sweet Cherry Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:



 

Goodreads Synopsis:

Before Robin first chose Donkey Hoo-Tee he could not imagine what life was like for a donkey on the Plains of Spain. Listening to Donkey's story, he found out just how much hard work it was. Donkey Hoo-Tee told Robin how his life was changed forever and that he decided to use his situation to help a kind, old man with a familiar name! Robin learnt all about the benefits of helping others from Donkey Hoo-Tee's heart-warming story! Donkey Hoo-Tee is one part of the lovely series, The Diaries of Robin's Toys! Robin and his Grandad buy a new toy from the car boot sale every weekend, and with the help of Grandad's magic spell, they bring them to life! Each toy has a fascinating new story to tell Robin, and helps to teach him some very important life lessons!

 Review: 
Donkey Hoo-Tee's name is what you think, a play on Don Quixote, who also makes an appearance in the story as well. Donkey's story is about helping others and this story helps Robin to realize that he can help the new girl in town. Donkey's story of Spain and his job was insightful and I loved the appearance of Quixote.

Special Thanks to Sweet Cherry Publishing for these copies. 

More reviews to come.

Cover Reveal w/ Giveaway!: Way of the Wombat by AdriAnne Strickland

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The Way Of The Wombat: The Quest for Gray Ironbark by AdriAnne Strickland
Publisher: WhomBatz, LLC
Release Date: February 2, 2015
Reading Level: Middle Grade

About the Book:

Which Way would you follow?

When Laz, a young wombat, goes from playing a game with his friend Kita in their idyllic tribal village to witnessing the nightmare of a Tasmanian devil attack, he reacts in the only way he can: he fights back. He accidentally kills a devil while trying to save his sister, but his sister is still taken captive. To make matters worse, the tribal elders banish Laz, Kita and Zeeg—the three youths who fought back—for failing to follow the way of the wombat.

Frustrated and adrift, the three friends embark on a quest through red rocky deserts and deep eucalyptus jungles to discover their own way. With a cheerful koala warrior as a guide and a wise platypus as their trainer, they hope to survive long enough to find a legendary weapon that could save their tribe and Laz’s sister from the devils. But danger lurks around every tree…

Find your own Way at WhomBatz.com!



About The Author:

AdriAnne Strickland was a bibliophile who wanted to be an author before she knew what either of those words meant. She shares a home base in Alaska with her husband, but has spent two cumulative years living abroad in Africa, Asia, and Europe. While writing occupies most of her time, she commercial fishes every summer in Bristol Bay, because she can't seem to stop. 

Her debut YA sci-fi/fantasy, WORDLESS, launched in 2014 from Flux Books. THE WAY OF THE WOMBAT is her first foray into the world of middle grade fantasy adventure. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or over at her website.

Prize Ships to US Only.
Must be 13+ To Enter

1 Winner will receive a finished copy of the The Way Of The Wombat: The Quest for Gray Ironbark and a WhomBat Thorn in their choice of color, red, blue or black.

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Building the Book Pile #119

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

What's Happening?! 

How was your week ? Let me know in the comments.

As you can probably see, nothing happened on the blog this past week. Since I have about two weeks off from work for the holidays, there has been a lot of things happening at work so I have been busy... that means lacking on the blog front - sorry :(

This week should be a bit better. I have some fun things happening - like the Midwinter's Eve Giveaway, a cover reveal, and I am hoping some reviews- we shall see.

Giveaways Going on Now!!

 

GO ENTER!

 

Coming up on the Blog... 

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop
Cover Reveal: The Way of the Wombat (MG)

Books Received this Week 


     

The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs from Librarything Early Reviewers Program  
 Breaking Angelina (Paranormal Investigation #1.5) by Rita and TJ Webb for Blog Tour
Eliza Bluebell by AJ York from the Author for review
A Promised Fate (Beautiful Fate #3) by Cat Mann from the Author for review

Links go to Goodreads and/or Publisher Site.

Have you missed anything lately?

Sadly you haven't because there weren't any posts :/ sorry...

  Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

 Happy Reading!

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop!

Cover2CoverBlog is giving away a mystery pack. It will include one YA or MG book, book swag, and some holiday goodies :)

US Only. Sorry Int. folks - shipping is so expensive :(
Must be 13 with a parents permission or older.
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Linky to the other Giveaways!


Thank you for entering!