Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 24

Help us celebrate The Circus Thief by Alane Adams (+a #Giveaway!)

Popcorn, peanuts, music, jugglers, animals, rides, and games. All things that make the circus the circus!

Imagine living in the 1920’s when a dollar was A LOT of money…almost too much for Papa to let young Georgie and his buddy Harley go and see the sights, sounds and smells when the circus came to town.

But Papa relented and the three of them head for the Big Top and a four-legged surprise that none of them planned on.

The Circus Thief

Beautifully illustrated by Lauren Gallegos, The Circus Thief is the fourth installment of author Alane Adams’ series of heartwarming tales of boyhood set in 1920s Pennsylvania.

The circus is in town, and Georgie has his heart set on going. When Papa agrees to take him and his friend Harley, the boys marvel at the amazing elephants and clowns. But the best act of all is the amazing Roxie, a trained horse who can do all sorts of tricks. When Georgie is invited to ride on her back, he discovers it’s her last show―Roxie is going to be sent to the work farm! When Roxie bolts with Georgie on her back, Papa must come to his rescue.

About Alane

Alane Adams is the award-winning author of the Norse mythology adventure series, LEGENDS of ORKNEY.

When not penning gorgeous picture books, readers can find her writing mythology-based fiction for tweens and young adults. Alane is a professor at a local university in Southern California. Interestingly enough, Alane just returned from an exciting adventure walking the Camino trail in Spain!

You can follow Alane via her website or on Instagram @alaneadamspicturebooks

Circus Thief Giveaway!

Win a Circus Thief Prize Pack! ONE WINNER will win a pack containing The Circus Thief book, a sweet plush elephant, a box of Barnum Animal Crackers, a squishy clown nose and a yummy swirly lollipop!~

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

ONE winner will receive a Circus Thief-themed Prize Pack. Giveaway begins September 9, 2018

Prizing & samples  courtesy of Authors of the above books
Giveaway open to US addresses only
ONE lucky winner will win one copy of each of the above books.
Residents of USA only, please.
Must be 18 years or older to enter
One entry per household.
Staff and family members of Audrey Press are not eligible.
Grand Prize winner has 48 hours to claim the prize pack.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on September 15, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway

–
One More Thing..,

Does your heart long to roam? Find new adventures? Maybe even go on a Pilgrimage?

Evans Bowen’s new book, Pilgrimage: A Modern Seeker’s Guide, speaks to those who crave spiritual travel and soul-seeking adventures.

“A pilgrimage creates a sacred space where your physical body and heart can meet and meld into one. As the sacred space opens more light shines in and new vistas, ideas, languages, and experiences bring you to a new place in your life you could never imagine before.”

A tradition of all religions, Pilgrimage is a journey to sacred sites as an act of devotion and dedication. It is time to expand the definition of Pilgrimage to inform modern life. Taking time to visit a place near home or around the globe, to open the mind and heart to the Divine, brings healing and new meaning to life. Pilgrimage is both an external journey to a place longed for and an internal journey to the center of our most authentic self.

Each part of the journey, from the first desire to visit a holy place, to the return home to integrate the experience, becomes the pilgrimage to expand our world, both body and soul. Combining practical steps for the physical journey and 40 days of inspiration for the spirit, this guidebook gives this time-honored journey to the Divine to inform the whole person in our increasingly fragmented world.

Click here to view deeper details on this beautiful new book.

The post Help us celebrate The Circus Thief by Alane Adams (+a #Giveaway!) appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

Why a Butterfly is Patient (and tips for creating your own Butterfly Garden!)

Today as we were walking on the greenbelt near our home we saw the most beautiful sight; monarch butterflies getting ready to depart for the season. For years now we’ve participated in Journey North and their Monarch Butterfly research.

As we watch the monarchs hatch from their cocoons and make their way north towards us, we enjoy watching the field reports as the monarchs get closer and closer. It also made me recall the really lovely book I discovered some years ago called, A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long.

From the creators of the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, and A Rock Is Lively comes this gorgeous and informative introduction to the world of butterflies. An incredible variety of butterflies are celebrated here in all of their beauty and wonder, from the tiny Arian Small Blue to the grand Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing. Perfect for a child’s bedroom bookshelf or for the classroom!

Using rich colors and a sharing a wide variety of butterflies, A Butterfly is Patient gently and poetically goes through the life cycle of the butterfly as well as shares an astounding array of butterfly facts. Easy to use in the classroom as well as at home with your children. It makes for a great afternoon read.

Once the reading is done, however, it’s time to get outside and experience the world of butterflies for yourself.

Something To Do

Look for Butterfly Eggs on Milkweed

Go outside and see if the butterflies have come to your region. To see maps of their migration have a look here.

 

Raise Butterflies at Home! How fun would it be to create your Monarch raising adventure! Go here and get the gear.

Create a butterfly garden. BackyardBoss.net has wonderful tips on creating your own butterfly garden. Which flowers would you choose that would delight our winged friends?

Looking for more nature-inspired activities?

A Year in the Secret Garden

As parents, we want/need quality books with extension activities to help our young ones unplug and create memories. Pulling books from shelves, and stories from pages is also an important act that will the habit of being life-long readers. Quality books with companion book extension activities are not only working to create special family time, it allows kids to solve the world’s problems without major consequences. A Year in the Secret Garden is just such a book.

This delightful children’s book that is co-written by Marilyn Scott-Waters and Valarie Budyar and it offers original month-by-month activities that allow readers to delve deeper into the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden.

Within the 120 pages (with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities)families will find many activities inspired by The Secret Garden that encourages them to step away from technology and enjoy getting hands and feet into the black earth of a family garden. This book will make a great gift and be the catalyst of many hours of family growth, learning and FUN!

Grab your copy ASAP and “meet me in the garden!” More details HERE!

The post Why a Butterfly is Patient (and tips for creating your own Butterfly Garden!) appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

Quirky National Holidays you can Celebrate with Kids’ Books

Recently, I stumbled upon a marketing article about the fact that holidays are the best time to sell/celebrate children’s books.  As an author, I know this for a fact but I also know the major gift-buying holidays like Christmas and Easters tend to be a busy and noisy place online!

Then is happened upon the site DaysoftheYear.com and my eyes were opened to the existence of fun and quirky “other holidays!” Here is a handful Quirky National Holidays you can Celebrate with Kids’ Books that are occurring in September . All of these are a great excuse to introduce a book into your young reader’s life. Enjoy!

4th September 2018 will be…Wildlife Day

Every year we lose numerous species to the growth and expansion of human holdings, but through the effort of zoos, sanctuaries, and preservation organizations that rate is being slowed. On this day in 2006, the world suffered a terrible loss. Steve Irwin, known colloquially as “The Crocodile Hunter”, died in an encounter with a stingray that went ended his life. I love this book, Who Was Steve Irwin by Dina Anastasio!

Steve lived for protecting animals and educating others so it only fitting that I share this wonderful book that is a tribute to his life and work.

6th September 2018 will be…Read a Book Day

So, on this day, what book will YOU read? The possibilities are endless! As I look at my Books to be Read pile, I’ve decided that on Read a Book Day I will dive into the pages of this intriguing non-fiction biography For Young Readers fro Ohio Press; Count The Wings: the life and art of Charlie Harper.

When you look at a bird, do you see feathers and a beak? Or do you see circles and triangles? Artist Charley Harper spent his life reducing subjects to their simplest forms, their basic lines, and shapes. This resulted in what he called minimal realism and the style that would become easily recognized as Charley Harper’s. Art fans and nature lovers around the world fell in love with Harper’s paintings, which often featured bright colors and intriguing nature subjects. Count the Wings is the first book for middle-grade readers about Harper’s life and work. Author Michelle Houts worked closely with the Harper estate to include full-color illustrations, plentiful supplemental materials, and discussion questions that will intrigue and engage young readers. Count the Wings is part of our acclaimed Biographies for Young Readers series, which brings smart, expertly researched books about often overlooked but exceptional individuals to school-age readers.

You can grab your copy (and read with me!) at Ohio University Press or on Amazon.

9th September 2018 will be…Teddy Bear Day

Who doesn’t love a soft, fuzzy and comforting teddy?!  The American toy bears were named Teddy, in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, who had refused to shoot a small captured bear on a hunting trip. Many teddy bears have become famous over the years, including Paddington Bear, Rupert Bear, Pudsey Bear and, of course, Winnie the Pooh.

Speaking of Winnie the Pooh… if you had $20, would you buy a bear? Well, in 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear on the train platform. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war. Did you know that Winnie-the-Pooh was fashioned after a real-life bear and that Christopher Robin really existed? Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl!

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear  is a wonderful children’s picture book by Lindsay Mattock and illustrated brilliantly by Sophie Blackall is not only charming in every way but completely captivating.

15th September 2018 will be…International Red Panda Day

Known as Children of the Forest, Red pandas roam the Eastern Himalayas. These rust-colored creatures are experiencing a loss of nesting trees and bamboo, leading to a decline in the population. With less than 10,000 in the wild efforts are doubled every year to help these little firefoxes! Take this day to learn all you can about these endangered treasures including their vibrant personalities in the Red Pandas book from National Geographic Kids!

18th September 2018 will be…International Read An Ebook Day

Years ago there was a giant push to encourage reading among youth and adults alike, and that push has entered the modern age with International read an eBook day. No more are we tied to reading books in the old format with two covers and hundreds of pages, no more do hundreds of trees have to die each year to bring literature to people from every walk of life. With the invention of the eBook we have reached the point where the wonder of reading is available to anyone with a computer or portable electronic device. It’s become a huge industry, with devices like Kindle, Nooks, and apps available on many types of devices like cell phones and tablets.

If I was to suggest an exceptional ebook to share with my readers, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this ebook: Multicultural Children’s Book Day ebook: Fundraising for Teachers and Readers

By now kids are back to school and teachers and librarians are beginning another year of sometimes one of the hardest jobs on earth.

MCBD has always worked very hard to support teachers with free resources, free classroom kits and free diverse books, but now we want to give YOU a way to help them as well! In 2017, MCBD has published their first ever ebook filled with multicultural book resources and recommends.

Read Your World: A Guide to Multicultural Children’s Books for Parents and Educators is a “Best Of” list of diversity books lists for children contributed by 20 bloggers and 2 authors:

19th September 2018 will be…Talk Like A Pirate Day

Yar harrr! Ahoy there ye lily livered blaggards! It be Talk Like A Pirate Day, and that means it’s time for pillaging and imbibing of rum!

Pirates have been all the rage in recent years, and out of that rage came an insane and completely piratical idea. There should be a day dedicated to keeping the piratical language alive, and more importantly the piratical tradition. And there is! Go HERE to view my list of 22 Non-fiction Pirate Books for Kids!

30th September 2018 will be…Pony Express Day

The Pony Express existed for 18 months between the days of April 3, 1860 to October 1861. In these days there was no air mail, no great American Highway, all there was was hundreds of miles of wide open spaces with not much in between but animal filled wilderness and bandito filled hollows.

The Pony Express consisted of relays of men riding horses carrying saddlebags of mail across a 2000-mile trail. The service opened officially on April 3, 1860, when riders left simultaneously from St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. The first westbound trip was made in 9 days and 23 hours and the eastbound journey in 11 days and 12 hours. The pony riders covered 250 miles in a 24-hour day. To celebrate this bold time in our Country’s history, see if you can locate a book or two to share within this The Pony Express Booklist.

Something To Do

Get Artsy! American artist Charley Harper is known for his unique style of  creating art inspired by simplified nature into basic shapes; a style which he called “Minimal Realism.” Elements of the Art Room has a wonderful “Harper inspired” Cardinal activity that will be fun for any age.

Want to know more about the Pony Express? Have a look here. There are many fun activities to do such as stamp making and a communications game to play as well as printouts and word games. Map Out the Pony Express

Get your pirate-on! For a limited time, I am offering my pirate-theme Treasure Island Day Adventure Guide! 50+ pages of Treasure-Island inspired fun like pirate crafts, how to talk like a pirate, special pirate games and much, much more. This guide is FREE simply by signing up below. Ahoy matey!

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:300px;}
/* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */



Grab Your FREE Pirate-Themed Treasure Island Adventure Guide!
* indicates required
Email Address *




First Name


Last Name

Email Format

html
text
mobile

var err_style = '';
try{
err_style = mc_custom_error_style;
} catch(e){
err_style = '#mc_embed_signup input.mce_inline_error{border-color:#6B0505;} #mc_embed_signup div.mce_inline_error{margin: 0 0 1em 0; padding: 5px 10px; background-color:#6B0505; font-weight: bold; z-index: 1; color:#fff;}';
}
var head= document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];
var style= document.createElement('style');
style.type= 'text/css';
if (style.styleSheet) {
style.styleSheet.cssText = err_style;
} else {
style.appendChild(document.createTextNode(err_style));
}
head.appendChild(style);
setTimeout('mce_preload_check();', 250);

var mce_preload_checks = 0;
function mce_preload_check(){
if (mce_preload_checks>40) return;
mce_preload_checks++;
try {
var jqueryLoaded=jQuery;
} catch(err) {
setTimeout('mce_preload_check();', 250);
return;
}
var script = document.createElement('script');
script.type = 'text/javascript';
script.src = 'http://downloads.mailchimp.com/js/jqu...
head.appendChild(script);
try {
var validatorLoaded=jQuery("#fake-form").validate({});
} catch(err) {
setTimeout('mce_preload_check();', 250);
return;
}
mce_init_form();
}
function mce_init_form(){
jQuery(document).ready( function($) {
var options = { errorClass: 'mce_inline_error', errorElement: 'div', onkeyup: function(){}, onfocusout:function(){}, onblur:function(){} };
var mce_validator = $("#mc-embedded-subscribe-form").validate(options);
$("#mc-embedded-subscribe-form").unbind('submit');//remove the validator so we can get into beforeSubmit on the ajaxform, which then calls the validator
options = { url: 'http://jumpintoabook.us6.list-manage1...?', type: 'GET', dataType: 'json', contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
beforeSubmit: function(){
$('#mce_tmp_error_msg').remove();
$('.datefield','#mc_embed_signup').each(
function(){
var txt = 'filled';
var fields = new Array();
var i = 0;
$(':text', this).each(
function(){
fields[i] = this;
i++;
});
$(':hidden', this).each(
function(){
var bday = false;
if (fields.length == 2){
bday = true;
fields[2] = {'value':1970};//trick birthdays into having years
}
if ( fields[0].value=='MM' && fields[1].value=='DD' && (fields[2].value=='YYYY' || (bday && fields[2].value==1970) ) ){
this.value = '';
} else if ( fields[0].value=='' && fields[1].value=='' && (fields[2].value=='' || (bday && fields[2].value==1970) ) ){
this.value = '';
} else {
if (/\[day\]/.test(fields[0].name)){
this.value = fields[1].value+'/'+fields[0].value+'/'+fields[2].value;
} else {
this.value = fields[0].value+'/'+fields[1].value+'/'+fields[2].value;
}
}
});
});
$('.phonefield-us','#mc_embed_signup').each(
function(){
var fields = new Array();
var i = 0;
$(':text', this).each(
function(){
fields[i] = this;
i++;
});
$(':hidden', this).each(
function(){
if ( fields[0].value.length != 3 || fields[1].value.length!=3 || fields[2].value.length!=4 ){
this.value = '';
} else {
this.value = 'filled';
}
});
});
return mce_validator.form();
},
success: mce_success_cb
};
$('#mc-embedded-subscribe-form').ajaxForm(options);

});
}
function mce_success_cb(resp){
$('#mce-success-response').hide();
$('#mce-error-response').hide();
if (resp.result=="success"){
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(resp.msg);
$('#mc-embedded-subscribe-form').each(function(){
this.reset();
});
} else {
var index = -1;
var msg;
try {
var parts = resp.msg.split(' - ',2);
if (parts[1]==undefined){
msg = resp.msg;
} else {
i = parseInt(parts[0]);
if (i.toString() == parts[0]){
index = parts[0];
msg = parts[1];
} else {
index = -1;
msg = resp.msg;
}
}
} catch(e){
index = -1;
msg = resp.msg;
}
try{
if (index== -1){
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(msg);
} else {
err_id = 'mce_tmp_error_msg';
html = '

'+msg+'

';

var input_id = '#mc_embed_signup';
var f = $(input_id);
if (ftypes[index]=='address'){
input_id = '#mce-'+fnames[index]+'-addr1';
f = $(input_id).parent().parent().get(0);
} else if (ftypes[index]=='date'){
input_id = '#mce-'+fnames[index]+'-month';
f = $(input_id).parent().parent().get(0);
} else {
input_id = '#mce-'+fnames[index];
f = $().parent(input_id).get(0);
}
if (f){
$(f).append(html);
$(input_id).focus();
} else {
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(msg);
}
}
} catch(e){
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').show();
$('#mce-'+resp.result+'-response').html(msg);
}
}
}

Here’s a few more books to inspire reading!

Amazon Native Ad –Animal picture books

The post Quirky National Holidays you can Celebrate with Kids’ Books appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

5 Inspiring Biographies for Young Readers

I’ve always been attracted to books that share the life and accomplishments of this world’s unsung heroes and heroines.

I also think it’s important for kids to read about the lives of extraordinary people through biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Their stories not only share information but inspire and challenge readers as well. One of the many things I appreciate about biographies is that there are so many to choose from. Here are some of my tops picks-some are newer releases and some are old favorites. Enjoy!

Inspiring Biographies for Young Readers

Ohio University Press has two recent or forthcoming titles in its Biographies for Young Readers series. Dolores Huerta Stands Strong: The Woman Who Demanded Justice (August), about pioneering labor and immigrant rights activist Huerta—whose rallying cry of Si, se puede! directly inspired Obama’s use of its English translation (“Yes, we can!”)—is by veteran children’s author Marlene Targ Brill.

Today, we know Dolores Huerta as the cofounder, with Cesar Chavez, of the National Farmworkers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America. We know her as a tireless advocate for the rights of farmworkers, Mexican American immigrants, women, and LGBTQ populations. And we know her as the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2012.  Grab your copy on Amazon.

The second book is, Count the Wings: The Life and Art of Charley Harper by Michelle Houts, is about Cincinnati nature artist Harper, who may not be a household name, but his iconic stylized birds and insects will surely be familiar.

When you look at a bird, do you see feathers and a beak? Or do you see circles and triangles? Artist Charley Harper spent his life reducing subjects to their simplest forms, their basic lines, and shapes. This resulted in what he called minimal realism and the style that would become easily recognized as Charley Harper’s. Art fans and nature lovers around the world fell in love with Harper’s paintings, which often featured bright colors and intriguing nature subjects. Grab your copy from Amazon or Ohio Press.

Hidden Women by Rebecca Rissman

Tells the gripping story of four female African-American mathematicians who literally made it possible to launch US rockets–and astronauts–into space. Tells the thrilling tale of how each woman contributed, the struggles and resistance each experienced, and the amazing results. Consultants currently works for NASA.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

What we love about Brown Girl Dreaming is that not only is it an autobiography (written in free verse) but it’s also a tale of the civil rights movement told through the voice of a child. Even the youngest child will understand the meaning of the behaviors described in the book. For example:

Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.

In the stores downtown

we’re always followed around

just because we’re brown.

A National Book Award Winner

A Newbery Honor Book

A Coretta Scott King Award Winner

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World  by Malala Yousafzai

When she was 10, Malala’s region was taken over by the Taliban. One of their many rules was that no girls should go to school. Malala disagreed and stood up, fighting for her education. Taliban fighters shot her as she traveled home from school. No one thought she would live, but she did. Now she is a symbol of peace. In fact, she is the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Who inspires YOU?

–
One More Thing..,

Does your heart long to roam? Find new adventures? Maybe even go on a Pilgrimage?

Evans Bowen’s new book, Pilgrimage: A Modern Seeker’s Guide, speaks to those who crave spiritual travel and soul-seeking adventures.

“A pilgrimage creates a sacred space where your physical body and heart can meet and meld into one. As the sacred space opens more light shines in and new vistas, ideas, languages, and experiences bring you to a new place in your life you could never imagine before.”

A tradition of all religions, Pilgrimage is a journey to sacred sites as an act of devotion and dedication. It is time to expand the definition of Pilgrimage to inform modern life. Taking time to visit a place near home or around the globe, to open the mind and heart to the Divine, brings healing and new meaning to life. Pilgrimage is both an external journey to a place longed for and an internal journey to the center of our most authentic self.

Each part of the journey, from the first desire to visit a holy place, to the return home to integrate the experience, becomes the pilgrimage to expand our world, both body and soul. Combining practical steps for the physical journey and 40 days of inspiration for the spirit, this guidebook gives this time-honored journey to the Divine to inform the whole person in our increasingly fragmented world.

Click here to view deeper details on this beautiful new book.

The post 5 Inspiring Biographies for Young Readers appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

Middle Reader Adventure : Discovering the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt series

In the tradition of historic explorer journals kept by explorers such as Lewis and Clark, Dr. David Livingstone, and Captain James Cook, the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt series takes us around the world in grand explorer style. When discovering the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt series, you’ll never know where twin brothers Gannon and Wyatt will end up next or what they’ll encounter on their next adventure.

I’m a huge fan of this series because it opens up new worlds, cultures, and adventures all of which is manageable by the reader. It’s a how-to-live an exciting explorer’s life guide which inspires its readers to look for an adventure wherever they are.

“These books highlight the best parts of the different cultures and open readers minds to new ways of life. Even though we may dress different, talk different, live differently, we all the same inside. We have seen this universally from Botswana to Egypt. My goal is to inspire the next generation to open their minds to explore and the possibilities and plants seeds of curiosity to learn more about these places.”~ Adventures of Gannon and Wyatt author, Keith Hemstreet

Over the years I’ve reviewed several of the Adventures of Gannon and Wyatt books and am excited to share the details of the latest books in the series,

But first, let’s recap:

In this past review, I joined in the Spirit Bear with twins Gannon and Wyatt in the Great Bear Rainforest up in Alaska.

In Great Bear Rainforest we go in search of the mythical spirit bear. Surviving in the unforgiving wilderness of British Columbia Canada can prove more challenging than both Gannon and Wyatt could ever have imagined. When members of the expedition go missing, the brother bravely set out on a search and rescue mission. Soon they find themselves lost in a forest teeming with grizzly bears, wolves, and mysterious gunmen. Guided by a very wise and smart Native American teen, Gannon and Wyatt uncover a sinister plot and must risk everything to save those who are missing and restore balance to the Great Bear Rainforest.

This time Gannon and Wyatt are teaming up with fellow explorer Alana Aukai on their book Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Hawaii. When an ancient map is found on a drowning archeologist, the explorers shift their focus to the secrets the map holds and go on an adventure to rarely visited parts of the islands of Hawaii. As the story takes a turn when they discover that the secret the map holds is to the secret burial site of King Kamehameha the Great. The adventure takes a turn as they learn that someone is after the map at any cost, even to them and their lives.

 

Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Ireland

While on vacation in Ireland, Gannon and Wyatt visit medieval castles, climb the Cliffs of Moher, and explore the ancient Newgrange monument. But after Gannon kisses the Blarney Stone their adventure takes a dramatic turn. While volunteering on a farm to connect with their Irish roots, they learn that a deadly blight is wreaking havoc on the Irish farmland. Determined to uncover the true cause, the courageous explorers embark on a secret mission to gather evidence against a ruthless suspect but soon find themselves running for their lives. Ultimately, they must rely on their wilderness survival skills and Gannon’s ”gift of gab” if they hope to bring justice to their ancestral home.

Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana

When Gannon and Wyatt arrive in Botswana for an African safari, they find themselves tangled up in much more than a family vacation. After receiving word that a poacher has shot and wounded a lioness, they set off into the wild in the hopes of saving the mother and her cubs before the poacher finishes the job. While on this amazing journey, they encounter Africa’s Big Five–elephants, rhinos, cape buffaloes, leopards, and lions–only to discover that the most dangerous predator in the African bush is not the king of beasts, but man himself. In the tradition of the historic journals kept by explorers such as Lewis and Clark, Dr. David Livingstone, and Captain James Cook comes the adventure series Travels with Gannon and Wyatt. From Africa to the South Pacific, these twin brothers have traveled the world. You never know what they will encounter as they venture into the wild, but one thing is certain–wherever Gannon and Wyatt go, adventure is their constant companion.

Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Egypt

After winning a prestigious fellowship from the Youth Exploration Society, Gannon and Wyatt set off on a journey to Egypt. There they study with world-renowned archeologist Dr. Mohammed Aziz, joining him on a quest to find the long lost tomb of the Pharaoh Cleopatra, rumored to hold priceless treasures and secret scrolls containing answers to some of ancient Egypt’s greatest mysteries. But Gannon and Wyatt aren’t the only ones interested in Cleopatra’s secrets. Ruthless tomb robbers are hot on their heels, and the brothers must brave venomous snakes, deadly booby traps, and ancient curses as they find themselves on the verge of a magnificent discovery that could rewrite history.

Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Greenland

Gannon and Wyatt Something To Do

Get to know King Kamehameha The Great of Hawaii

In ancient Hawaii, legends told of a day when a great king would unite all the Hawaiian islands. The sign of his birth, kahuna (priests) claimed, would be a comet. And so it goes that Kamehameha was born in 1758, the year Halley’s Comet made an appearance over Hawaiian skies. Kamehameha was born in Paiea on the Big Island of Hawaii. His father was said to be Keoua, a grandson of Keaweikekahialiiokamoku, who once ruled a large portion of the island. Translated, Kamehameha means “the lonely one.”

Another legend tells of a kahuna who prophesized that the man who moved the 7,000-pound Naha Stone would become the greatest king of Hawaii. When Kamehameha was 14, the story goes, he moved the massive rock, and then lifted it and turned it completely over.

Kamehameha grew up in the court of his uncle, Kalaniopuu. When Kalaniopuu died in 1782, his power was divided between Kamehameha and Kalaniopuu’s natural son, Kiwalao, who inherited his father’s throne. Civil war broke out, however, and Kamehameha emerged as the Big Island’s ruler.

Where is the Great Bear Rainforest?

The Great Bear Rainforest is a remote region of temperate rain forest in Canada, on the British Columbia Coast between Vancouver Island and Southeast Alaska.The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled temperate rainforest left in the world.

.

Great Bear Rainforest Wildlife

The Great Bear Rainforest is home to some very impressive wildlife both on land and in the sea. The area is home to species such as cougars, wolves, salmon, grizzly bears, and the Kermode (“spirit”) bear, a unique subspecies of the black bear, in which one in ten cubs displays a recessive white colored coat.

Getting Ready for Botswana

When you are about to embark on an African adventure, one thing you need to know is what wild animals are in the same area as you! Use the study chart below and see how many wildlife signs you can spot.

Ancient Egypt for Kids: Hieroglyphic Examples and Alphabet

When archeologists first studied Egyptian hieroglyphics they thought that each symbol represented a word. However, it turns out that the writing is more complex than that. A symbol can represent a word, a sound, a syllable, or a concept.  The Ducksters.com has a great tutorial on the symbols and concepts that make up this ancient Egyptian language. Use this information to create your own secret code!

Facts About Greenland

If you have ever been to Greenland, you know that it does not live up to its name. Instead of being a beautiful, green island Greenland is icy and cold. There have been many theories about how the island, along with nearby Iceland came to be named what they were. The secret lies with the Vikings who settled in Iceland and in many different areas of Northern Europe.

Modern-day Greenland has new issues to contend with; one of which is climate change. As Arctic sea ice extent hits a record low, a new study shows how melting changes Greenland’s weather, with far-reaching consequences. The culture that has spend decades adapting to their icy conditions is now having to contend with the rapidly melting Greenland ice sheet. In 2016, satellite observations published by the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center on Tuesday reveal that Arctic sea ice covered an area of just 4.63 million square miles (12 million square kilometers). That’s about 5 percent lower than the previous record low, set in May 2004, and more than 10 percent lower than the average sea ice extent from 1981 to 2010. According to National Geographic, in a century or two, it could very well be that the globe will make more sense and Iceland and Greenland will better resemble the names they were given a thousand years ago.

Happy adventuring!

–

Did you know that 70% of all kids quit organized sports by the age of 13, with girls quitting at 6x the rate of boys?



Alison Foley, Boston College’s Women’s Head Soccer Coach, and Mia Wenjen, parenting blogger at PragmaticMom.com, help coaches — both parent volunteer and professional — crack the code of how to keep girls in sports. As a mother of two daughters who played a lot of sports, Mia provides personal accounts to illustrate issues discussed throughout the book. Alison, also a mother of a young female athlete, has hands-on advice from coaching young women professionally for more than two decades.



Volunteer parents and experienced coaches alike will find invaluable advice on creating a successful team that motivates girls to stay in sports beyond the middle school years. Twenty-two chapters cover major issues, including how to pick captains, the importance of growth mindset, issues around body image and puberty, as well as the challenges of coaching your own daughter.

In addition, fifteen professional coaches from a range of sports, including former Olympian athletes, give their advice on what girls need from a coach to allow them to flourish in sports, and most importantly, have fun. This is a hands-on manual to help coaches keep girls in sports! Go HERE to read more about this much-needed resource for parents and coaches.

The post Middle Reader Adventure : Discovering the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt series appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

Weekend Links: A Round-up of Non-fiction Biographies for Kids

When Jump Into a Book gets sent nonfiction children’s biographies,  I always try to read them with a few things in mind;  good writing, historical accuracy, and an informative story woven in a way that makes us want to keep reading and learning!

I know I am not alone in this thought process either so, without further ado, is a great Round-up of Non-fiction Biographies for Kids that includes stories about notable

Inventors and Scientists
Writers
Activists
Artists and  Musicians
Famous Americans
Athletes
And more!

Latest Nonfiction Children’s Book Biographies from Imagination Soup

Nothing Stopped Sophie

Nothing Stopped Sophie is a biography about a brave young girl who loved math and followed her dreams even when this was taboo for women.

The Ultimate Abe Lincoln Booklist

Abraham Lincoln has always been one of my favorite presidents. When I was 9 I became obsessed with him and read every book I could get my hands on. Many years later, I had the honor of giving birth to the sweetest little boy on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Today my sweet boy is 19, and nearly as tall as President Lincoln! Enjoy!

Allie at No Time for Flashcards shared a wonderful booklist of Picture Book Biographies Of Brave Girls and Women You Should Read To Your Sons and Daughters

Telling an Unknown Story | Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School

Author Janet Halfmann, author of Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School was always bothered that some individuals in our Nation’s history have dozens of books written about them, while others from minority groups who have accomplished amazing things might not have a single book.

So with that mind, Janet set out on a mission to tell the stories of amazing, but unknown, heroes and heroines. That effort resulted in her first book, Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story, published by Lee & Low Books in 2008.

“While researching black accomplishments, I read a lot of stories about how enslaved people learned to read even though it was against the law. I wanted to somehow tell that story. That led me to search out early teachers who taught the enslaved at great risk to their lives. One of those people was Milla Granson, who historians later discovered was actually Lilly Ann Granderson. This discovery inspired my book, Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School” 

Read the full review of this wonderful story HERE.

Who inspires YOU?

The post Weekend Links: A Round-up of Non-fiction Biographies for Kids appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

Big Books about Big Bears (A Bear-y Good Bear Booklist for Kids!)

**A huge THANK YOU to the Ortners and Jane Yolen for their partnership on these reviews**

Last week, as I sat at my desk and observed the ever-growing pile of books to be reviewed, I noticed something.

I noticed something BIG.

The word “BIG” in fact on a handful of the beautiful children’s picture books within my reach. SO, I had a BIG thought and decided to do a booklist review of Big Books about Big Bears. The result was a “bear-y” good booklist for kids! Enjoy.

A Bear-y Good Bear Booklist

A Bear Sat on my Porch Today by Jane Yolen

What to do if a rather insistent bear squats on your porch today? Followed in short order by a shaggy squirrel, a spraying skunk, a playful possum, and a bevy of forest critters large and small? This hilarious cumulative tale of reluctant hospitality and generous inclusivity will leave readers chanting, “OKAY. OKAY! YOU CAN STAY.” But watch out! That porch is starting to sway. . .

Jane Yolen’s uproarious chant-aloud story is brought to life by Rilla Alexander’s dazzling retro-hip illustrations in an exuberant collaboration sure to take its place alongside such cumulative classics as This is the House that Jack Built and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

Gorilla Thumps and Bear Hugs: A Tapping Solution Children’s Story by Alex Ortner

Annabel dreams of one day being a scientist, but teasing from other kids at school has hurt her confidence and left her feeling sad and alone. Join her as she learns how to use the Magical Tapping Technique to quickly release her sadness and regain her confidence. Through the book, you’ll learn about the scientifically proven technique commonly known as “Tapping” and how you can use it for both yourself and your child to overcome stress, anxiety, negative emotions, and much more. Your child will love the fun descriptions and illustrations for each point, such as the Super Eagle Eye Point, Lion Cry Point, Dragon Fire Point, Wolf Point, and more. Your child will be having a blast as they howl, hug, thump on their chest, act like a monkey, and more . . . all while learning how they can use Tapping to help themselves in real life!

According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, almost one-third of kids suffer from stress that manifests physically in the form of headaches, stomach aches, and more. Tapping is the most powerful and effective technique available for helping our children (and us as parents) to release and overcome the everyday stressors of life.

Tapping, otherwise known as EFT, for Emotional Freedom Techniques, is a combination of Ancient Chinese Acupressure and Modern Psychology. You can read the full details of this unique process on www.thetappingsolution.com. I learned of this wonderful option for parents after I received two delightful books; one written by Nick Ortner and one by Alex Ortner; founders of The Tapping Solution.

The Big Book of HUGS; A Barkley the Bear Story by Nick Ortner and Alison Taylor

Barkley the Bear is now ready to continue his family’s business, which involves taking care of everyone in the forest. What a job! Barkley worries that he will not be able to provide the care necessary for everyone, but he soon finds out how easy it is to help others, and how much you can get in return. New York Times best-selling author Nick Ortner, along with Alison Taylor, take you on a memorable journey of what’s most important in life: Kindness, hugs, and a little bit of work.

 

Something To Do

Wouldn’t it be fun to have a bear on YOUR porch? Author Jane Yolen has created a free and downloadable activity pack for young readers to enjoy HERE.

Have you tried Tapping as a way to calm nerves and relieve stress? One in five kids struggle with anxiety related issues at school. Tapping may be the solution you are searching for.

 

The Bear Facts!

Did you know that when a bear ‘hibernates’ it is really in a deep sleep?  It’s body temperature drops but not drastically and it does not wake up…not even to go to the bathroom or get some food.  The one exception is that a mother bear will wake up to give birth to her cubs in January or February.

Did you know that bears are omnivores just like people?  They will hunt animals such as baby deer, caribou, and elk but they are also scavengers, which means that they like leftovers and are happy to eat carrion. Carrion is the decaying flesh of an animal that was killed and left behind by other predators or an animal which died of natural causes.

Get more “bear facts” by grade at KidZone.com and learn more about this fascinating mammal.

The post Big Books about Big Bears (A Bear-y Good Bear Booklist for Kids!) appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

August Kidlit Book Giveaway from Jump Into a Book!

**A huge “thank you” to Zonderkidz, Happy Fox, Chronicle Books and Mokum Media for partnering with me on this giveaway!**

When you have too many beautiful children’s books…you give them away! Reviewing and sharing the beauty of these great books makes me happy, but what really makes my heart sing is giving them away! Enter to win my August Kidlit Book Bundle Giveaway and win BOOKS!

 

August Kidlit Giveaway | 5 Books You can WIN

Secret Scouts and the Lost Leonardo by Mr. and Mrs. Kind.

It’s like The Goonies meets The Da Vinci Code, and even the book cover has a Stranger Things feel to it!

About Secret Scouts and the Lost Leonardo

This  incredible book trailer brings the whole story to life:

Tom, Lisa, Sophie, and Jack stumble across the find of a lifetime — Leonardo da Vinci’s codex full of sketches, writings, and calculations. Now they have a choice: do they sell it and become richer beyond their wildest dreams, or do they try to decode the journal and figure out what Leonardo was up to? Tom and Jack want to sell the book, but sisters Lisa and Sophie have other ideas. What they discover within the codex is the science behind time travel. But when they put the calculations to the test, they find out just how dangerous this secret can truly be.

Say Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site | Cement Mixer’s A-B-C


This product has not yet been released. It will be available after October 02, 2018. BUT, you can pre-order now so you can snag a copy as soon as its available!

Three books from Happy Fox Publishing that celebrate animals and other wildlife, The Lonely Polar Bear, Snowy: The Leopard of the High Mountains, and Giant: The Panda of the Enchanted Forest also come with an inspirational message.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

ONE winner will receive a copy of each of the 5 above books. Giveaway begins August  21, 2018

Prizing & samples  courtesy of Authors of the above books
Giveaway open to US addresses only
ONE lucky winner will win one copy of each of the above books.
Residents of USA only, please.
Must be 18 years or older to enter
One entry per household.
Staff and family members of Audrey Press are not eligible.
Grand Prize winner has 48 hours to claim prize
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on Sept 1, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post August Kidlit Book Giveaway from Jump Into a Book! appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

Weekend Links: #Kidlit Books about Endangered Animals

What if our world had no more beautiful pandas to appreciate? What if the only elephants and white rhinos on the earth were the ones left in zoos? What if our tropical rainforests disappeared and took all of the unique and precious wildlife with it?

Unfortunately, this is not pretend thinking. All of this things are on the brink of happening within the next 20 years.

So how can we help? We can educate the next generation and the best way to do that is through books. For this weeks’ Weekend Links, I’d like to share all of the wonderful picture books available that honor endangers animals in the world. Happy reading!

#Kidlit Books about Endangered Animals

Candlewick Books proudly offers their book, Endangered Animals: A 3D Pocket Guide Illustrated by Sarah Young

Humans are increasing the rate of extinction by up to 10,000 times — and here is a compelling look at some of the most endangered animals. What if the world had no more giant pandas? Or Siberian tigers, Asian elephants, or Sumatran orangutans? Would the ocean be the same without leatherback turtles or Hector’s dolphins? Explore these and six more species in a guide with a helpful glossary in this book. Grab your copy here.

Celebrating animals and other wildlife, The Lonely Polar Bear, Snowy: The Leopard of the High Mountains, and Giant: The Panda of the Enchanted Forest also come with an inspirational message.

Teaching children about environmental awareness issues can be challenging, especially when dealing with complex issues. Three new children’s picture books from Happy Fox Box introduce important environmental issues in a gentle fashion.

These books captured my heart immediately. Not because they are beautiful picture books, but because they share colorful stories of deforestation and how it affects Giant Pandas, Polar Bears, and Snowy Leopards. Illustrator/authors Xuan Loc Xuan and Khoe Lee provide absolutely stunning images filled with bold colors and movement. Read the full review of these beautiful books here.

Follow the Moon Home: A tale of one idea, twenty kids, and hundred sea turtles by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson maybe a long title, but the book is a quick and delightful read for kids.

The book also have some great suggestions on learning more about Loggerheads and other sea turtles.

Read the full review here.

National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP ) has a downloadable Save Our Species Endangered Species Coloring Book

Melissa Ringstaff has a wonderful post that shares 10 Books About Endangered Animals

Small and Tall Tales of Extinct Animals by Hélène Rajcak (Illustrator), Damien Laverdunt is a fascinating journey around the world of extinct animals, combining cartoons with naturalist drawings, and mythology with science.

World Wildlife Fund, in collaboration with the London Zoological Society, recently published a study entitled, “Living Planet Report 2014,” that addresses the fact of global species loss. Overall, the report deduced that in the past 40 years, the world has lost a stunning 52 percent of wildlife.

Learn more at http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/wildlife-lost-in-forty-years-graphic/

What can YOU do to protect our world’s vanishing animals?

–
One More Thing..,

Does your heart long to roam? Find new adventures? Maybe even go on a Pilgrimage?

Evans Bowen’s new book, Pilgrimage: A Modern Seeker’s Guide, speaks to those who crave spiritual travel and soul-seeking adventures.

“A pilgrimage creates a sacred space where your physical body and heart can meet and meld into one. As the sacred space opens more light shines in and new vistas, ideas, languages, and experiences bring you to a new place in your life you could never imagine before.”

A tradition of all religions, Pilgrimage is a journey to sacred sites as an act of devotion and dedication. It is time to expand the definition of Pilgrimage to inform modern life. Taking time to visit a place near home or around the globe, to open the mind and heart to the Divine, brings healing and new meaning to life. Pilgrimage is both an external journey to a place longed for and an internal journey to the center of our most authentic self.

Each part of the journey, from the first desire to visit a holy place, to the return home to integrate the experience, becomes the pilgrimage to expand our world, both body and soul. Combining practical steps for the physical journey and 40 days of inspiration for the spirit, this guidebook gives this time-honored journey to the Divine to inform the whole person in our increasingly fragmented world.

Click here to view deeper details on this beautiful new book.

The post Weekend Links: #Kidlit Books about Endangered Animals appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

Back to Hogwarts Day is Coming!

September is looming. And it’s the sort-of-official milestone to the ending of yet another fun summer. So as your family scurries about gathering up school supplies and picking out new school clothes, just know that the Students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are doing the exact same thing!

You see, 9/1 is the day that all the students go back to Hogwarts in Harry Potter’ World. Needless to say, this day will be a popular day all across the Internet and Twitter in honor of the #backtohogwarts celebration. There were huge giveaways, J.K. Rowling herself was interacting with Tweeters and I personally had a ball interacting, reading and tweeting all of the wonderful “Harry-related” stuff.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, shortened to Hogwarts, is a fictional British school of magic for students aged eleven to eighteen and is the primary setting for the first six books in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Even though this school is fictional, fans of the series still have loads of fun with the fictitious day!

One of my favorite tweets was from Professor Snape with a word of caution to students. Anyone remember when Ron Weasley missed the Hogwarts Express and took the car instead? Bet he won’t do that again!

Ever wonder what a Hogwarts Student’s Supply List looks like? I can say with the utmost certainty that Keds, jean jackets, Papermate pens and TI calculators are NOT on their list!

So, wonder no more! Here’s HOGWARTS Back to School Kit (first-year students)

How about Curriculum? BuzzFeed has some great ideas on potential Hogwarts classes.

I have had so much fun these past few days exploring the craziness connected to the #BacktoHogwarts hashtag on Twitter and finding exciting new Harry Potter-themed activities on Pinterest. Here are some of my top picks for things your family can do to bring the magic of Hogwarts to life.

Something to Do to Celebrate Back to Hogwarts Day

Visit Pottermore! Pottermore is the official Harry Potter site created by JK Rowling along with Sony. A unique and free-to-use website which builds an exciting online experience around the reading of the Harry Potter books. We enter inside the wizarding world book by book via scenes that we unlock which correlates with the writing.

Head on over to Pottermore and have a ball. You’ll see all the regulars there!

Learn More About Discovering Harry Potter’s Scotland

Did you know that Scotland is filled with Harry Potter lore and actual sites of interest? I was lucky enough to travel there not long ago and was amazed to be able to visit some of the landmark sites including the cafe where J.K. Rowlings penned this epic series. Read the full story HERE.

From Golden Snitch Pops to a “Dementor Relief Kit,” BusyMomsHelper.com has 101 Harry Potter-inspired activities for kids!

The post Back to Hogwarts Day is Coming! appeared first on Jump Into a Book.