Cheryl Rainfield's Blog, page 86
November 18, 2011
Mal Peet's Tamar ebook on sale for $0.99 today only
YA novel Tamar by Mal Peet is today's Amazon daily deal at $0.99 (89% off). It is a Carnegie Medal winner.
Review of I Want To Do It Myself! by Tony Ross
I Want to Do It Myself!: A Little Princess Story
by Tony Ross
Reading Level: Ages 3 and up
Publisher: Andersen Press/Lerner USA (January 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0761374121
Source: Review copy from publisher
My rating: 4/5 stars
If you have kids, have been around kids, or remember being a kid, you'll know that at some point kids really want their independence, even if they're not entirely ready for it. I Want to Do It Myself! speaks to that stage so well, and will be enjoyable for both parents and children.
In I Want to Do It Myself!, the Little Princess wants to go camping–all by herself. Her parents and staff try to help her in every stage of the way–offering to pack her bags, transport her, carry her bags, etc, but the Little Princess refuses help each time. However, her caring family keeps managing to help her out without her realizing she's being helped–though the reader can see that she is. It's funny to see the Little Princess' rationalizations of how things she needs keep appearing, so she can think that she did it or brought it herself. Kids will love being in on something that the Little Princess isn't, and will delight in the funny ending.
Tony Ross' artwork is immediately recognizable; he has his own unique style.The illustrations are expressive and child-like, which will appeal to readers, and the text works well. The text and illustrations work together to tell the story; neither tell the complete story on their own.
This is a funny, enjoyable book.
November 17, 2011
I just found out–I have an author Wiki page!
WOW! I just found out that I have a Wiki author page! (beaming) How cool is that??
How did I find out, you ask? Why, through Google Alerts. They are so helpful! And this was a delight to read. I love that my books are reaching people!
November 16, 2011
YA & children's ebooks on sale or cheap, week of Nov 16
There's some interesting and appealing YA and children's ebooks on sale or cheap this week, as well as others.
A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones – A Paranormal Romance) by SL Baum is FREE right now on Amazon.
Deadly Little Secret (Touch) by Laurie Faria Stolarz is on sale today only for $1.99
Dragon Keepers #1: The Dragon in the Sock Drawer by Kate Klimo is on sale for $3.99. I remember enjoying this middle-grade fantasy when it first came out.
Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones is on sale for $3.49
Circle Nine by Anne Heltzel is on sale for $2.99
Life As We Knew It (The Last Survivors) by Susan Beth Pfeffer is on sale for $3.28
Powerless by Matthew Cody is on sale for $3.99
Merlin's Harp by Anne Elliot Crompton is on sale for $2.27.
Gawain and Lady Green also by Anne Elliot Crompton is on sale for $3.29
Soul Screamers Volume One: My Soul to Lose\My Soul to Take\My Soul to Save: 1 (Harlequin Teen) by Rachel Vincent (pre-order) is on sale for $6.39. With 3 ebooks in the collection, that works out to $2.13/book.
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain is on sale for $3.99
Pirates! by Celia Rees is on sale for $1.99
What Comes After by Steve Watkins is on sale for $3.49
Pastworld by Ian Beck is on sale for $1.24. It's a horror/time travel book.
Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley is on sale for $2.99
Captive! (Gary Paulsen World of Adventure) by Gary Paulsen is on sale for $3.99
November 15, 2011
Maine Librarians! A chance at a free author visit from Cynthia Lord
Maine librarians/teachers–you have a chance to win 1 of 2 free author visits from author Cynthia Lord! (Rules, Touch Blue).
Just email Cynthia Lord privately with your name, your email address, and the name of your school (and whether it's in East or West Maine), and she'll enter you in the drawing. There will be no cost for you–you just have to make sure that the students, if they're grades 4-8, have read one of her books. Check out all the details on her post. Sound good? Contact Cynthia to enter!!
November 14, 2011
ebook for adult sexual abuse survivors is currently free
Survivors! The ebook The Wounded Heart: Hope for Adult victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse is currently free on Amazon I haven't read it yet, so I don't know if it's good or not, and it looks like it may involve some Christianity, but it sounds like something to get now while it's free if it interests you. I hope it will be helpful.
Hunger Games Trailer
Have you seen the Hunger Games trailer? It looks like it's very fitting/close to the book, which makes it appealing to me. I hadn't been sure if I could watch the violence (though I can read it–it's in context and so beautifully done) but now I'm interested….
November 13, 2011
Win 1 of 5 copies of HUNTED (YA Paranormal fantasy/Dystopian)
Enter to win 1 of 5 *signed* copies of HUNTED on GoodReads! Open to US, Canada, & UK.
Like Scars? Want to try a panarormal fantasy/dystopian YA novel by the same author? Then enter!
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Giveaway ends December 12, 2011.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Comics for writers, readers, and librarians
I love books (reading them and writing them) and comics. And to find the two together is a delight. Check out these great comics–and if you know of any other comics about books, reading, or writing, let me know.
UnShelved, a comic strip about librarians.
InkyElbows (Debbie Ohi's) Will Write For Chocolate
This is one of my favorite comic strips, and my top-favorite writing and book comic strip!
Will Write For Chocolate comic, written & illustrated by Debbie Ohi (illustrator of I'm Bored!)
The Writer At Work, a comic about the struggles and life of a writer.
Comic Critics, a webcomic about comic.
You can also find a selection of individual stand-alone comic strips about reading by Randy Glasbergen
Alex The Librarian on FaceBook….
And then there's the funny Apostrophe Man comic by Judy Horacek. I wish it was more than a one-off!
November 11, 2011
Preparing for the NCTE/ALAN Panel on Banned & Challenged Books
I'll be on a panel about banned and challenged books: "Tiles That Challenge and Are Challenged" on Monday, Nov. 21 from 2:05-2:50 with a group of fantastic authors: Lauren Myracle, Paul Yee, Andrew Smith, and facilitator David Gill.
I've already got my 3-minute speech down pat (I think, I hope–I get nervous doing public speaking), and was just preparing a short handout on banned and challenged books, so I thought I'd share it here.
Some of my favorite banned and challenged books:
And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Blubber by Judy Blume
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Deenie by Judy Blume
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
Don't Look Behind You by Lois Duncan
My responses to SCARS being challenged, and some community support:
My Response To the Specific Challenge
Some great community support on SLJ
Authors rarely hear about their own books being challenged, so, after all of this process, I am grateful that I learned about Scars being challenged AND experienced the wonderful support of the book and writing community.
My banned and challenged books video (encouraging readers to read challenged/banned books).
