Stanley and Katrina's Blog, page 10

Word of the Week (9/1/2014): We have ECLECTIC video guests such as Sara Eastler #KidLitWow

Yippee, we are in the second week of our Word of the Week program. We have an ECLECTIC range of guests in our videos. This week's guest is the lovely Sara Eastler, a soon-to-be-published     children's book author. The eloquent video she made of her ECLECTIC collection is paw-some - be sure to watch it (link below). 
Guess what, our second book is about to be published! Don't miss the news by signing up for our Newsletter: Yes, sign me up for your newsletter!Email Address View previous campaigns.


Don't forget that we have free printables to go along with the Words of the Week. Visit Kid Lit Printables to download them now.

If you and/or your family completes an activity, we would love to see a picture of it, or hear all about it. You may do this in the comments below; on our Facebook page; on Twitter (use the hashtag #kidlitwow); Pinterest; Google+ - truly, anywhere you want to tell the world with gusto!  Take a moment in the comments below to tell us how you will use the word ECLECTIC this week. Did you catch the introductory episode of The Write Chat ? Thank you for reading and sharing,Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge (and Stanley)  **********************************Follow Stanley and Katrina on Twitter  * Join Stanley and Katrina on Facebook 
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Finding Fuzzy $30 Book Blast Hosted by Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Ends 9/19/2014)

While Stanley & I work on editing our second book, this summer, we'll be sharing these fun book blast giveaways, courtesy of the lovely Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Enjoy!  ~Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge


Title: Finding Fuzzy: A "You-Decide Tale" of a Lost Friend (Sweet T Tales) | Author: Cat Michaels | Illustrator: Irene A. Jahns | Publication Date: March 26, 2014 | Publisher: 2101 Ink | Pages: 44 | Recommended Ages: 5 to 10 | Reviewed by: Renee (Mother) Summary: Illustrated chapter book for early readers (Gr. K-3) Blue sky ... Warm sea ... Sugar-sand beach ... The perfect family vacation on the Carolina coast ... Except the trip takes a nosedive when Jenna loses Fuzzy, her plush blue rabbit pal. Jenna learns to carry on without him. But when she stumbles across a secret, she faces the toughest decision of her young life. And YOU, the reader, will help her make that choice and come up with the ending of this You-Decide tale. Don't worry. Cat shows you how in her book and on her website. So, slip on your flip-flops and join Jenna at the shore. It's time to decide YOUR ending for Finding Fuzzy. Caution: Irene A. Jahn's ocean-themed watercolors have been known to cause beach fever.
"Finding Fuzzy" placed second in the Purple Dragonfly Writing contest, a national contest for children's book authors, in the category of chapter books.
 
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PurchaseAmazonThe Buzz About the Book" Finding Fuzzy is an early chapter book featuring the opportunity for children to create their own ending to a sweet, summertime story. The main character, Jenna, has a decision to make when she discovers that her beloved stuffed bunny she had lost is now being used to protect a litter of kittens. After weighing out all of the possible outcomes, it is up to the reader to decide what happens next in the story. I thought this was a unique concept that will interest children, especially ones who are interested in writing their own stories (like my daughter!). I recommend this book to parents, homeschoolers, and teachers with children between the ages of 5 and 10." ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews
"The story is sweet, and suitable for all children. The book is set up to get kids to think and discuss what they would do in a certain situation--in this case, giving up a precious friend (the stuffed bunny.) I could see using this in either a classroom setting or as a bedtime story. The watercolor illustrations really capture a beachy mood and create a great visual for kids as well.. " ~ 5 Star Review, Nikki B., Goodreads
"Cat Michaels has put young readers in a position to solve the dilemma. Readers must brainstorm and utilize their critical thinking skills to write the ending to Jenna's story. This quick to read chapter book has small colorful illustrations that help readers imagine the beach. Readers will also find that the author has created a world where they use all five senses. The back of the book has tips for parents and teachers to help their readers.. " ~ 5 Star Review, Kristi B., Goodreads
"This is a book with a difference. The space where the ending should be is blank, leaving readers with the opportunity to take a far more pro-active role in the unfolding of the story. It's time to get creative. It's time to give the story your own ending! There's room for a picture as well, so the budding author can test out their illustration skills too!" ~ 5 Star Review, Peachy Emma, Amazon
"The genius here is that Cat has picked the perfect storyline to make your would be writers put themselves into Jenna’s shoes and truly understand how she feels.It’s the stuffed animal, every child has one and every child is very attached to it. This is a great book for it's educational value as far as letting the kids use their imagination to come up with their own conclusion. ----5 stars for this one!" ~ Bookroom Reviews, AmazonAbout the Author: Cat Michaels
CAT MICHAELS started writing stories in fourth grade and hasn’t stopped since. After earning an M.S. degree in special education from the University of Kansas, she spent two decades helping students from kindergarten to college reach their potential. She also managed communication and resource development programs for an international high-tech company that included writing press releases and articles for trade journals. After recession and downsizings, she returned to her education roots, serving at a community college as a writing coach and learning specialist for students with Asperger’s syndrome and learning disabilities. Cat spins tales of everyday life, with a twist of magic or twinge of mystery, that open young minds to new ways of thinking and looking at the world. Illustrations by watercolor artist Irene A. Jahns help bring that world to life. Cat and her family live in North Carolina where she designs playful gardens, dabbles in all things digital, and writes.
* Download free pdf of chapter 1 and You-Decide pages by visiting http://www.catmichaelswriter.com/finding-fuzzy-a-you-decide-tale-of-a-lost-friend.html *Website | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Google+FREE Short Story OfferSubscribe by email to Cat's Connections to receive updates, special offers, and to be among the first to hear about new releases by Cat Michaels. PLUS, when you sign up, you will receive a short story penned just for adults, Driving Down to Dillon: A Very-Short Story of Love and New Beginnings by Cat Michaels. Click on the cover below to subscribe to Cat's Connections. PLUS... email subscribers to Cat's Connections will also receive 5 extra in the giveaway below.  
* Giveaway * Prize: One winner will receive a $30 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash prize Contest ends: September 19, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. One winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Cat Michaels and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Word of the Week (8/25/2014): This word COMMENCES this year's Word of the Week program.

Yippee, the Word of the Week Program COMMENCES today. We will have poster printables of the words available each week, and videos available (as often as possible) throughout the school year. Neighbor Girl created the guest spot for this first video for the 2014-2015 school year. Guest spots are filling up fast. Don't wait to sign-up! 

In other news: Did you catch the  RIVETING introductory episode of "The Write Chat?" 
 Don't forget that we have free printables to go along with the Words of the Week. Visit Kid Lit Printables to download them now.

If you and/or your family completes an activity, we would love to see a picture of it, or hear all about it. You may do this in the comments below; on our Facebook page; on Twitter (use the hashtag #kidlitwow); Pinterest; Google+ - truly, anywhere you want to tell the world with gusto!  Take a moment in the comments below to tell us how you will use the word COMMENCE this week. Thank you for reading and sharing,Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge (and Stanley)  **********************************Follow Stanley and Katrina on Twitter  * Join Stanley and Katrina on Facebook 
Click here to find out how you may purchase our fun book now!
Check out our current offers/giveaways.
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Paw-tastic News: Neighbor Girl & Erik of This Kid Reviews Books are the co-hosts of The Write Chat

 Our paws are dancing over this exciting news. Neighbor Girl and her talented friend, Erik, have been busy planning over the summer months. They created a video interview project titled, "The Write Chat." 
 In the video below, Erik and Felicia introduce their project. We invite you to take a few minutes to watch their first video, and check out their website. 
 We know you won't want to miss a single episode, so be sure to sign-up now to receive future show updates.
Yes, please remind me about upcoming shows.Email Address



“★BIG NEWS★ Neighbor Girl is co-hosting a new web #video show with @ThisKid_Erik...” (Click to Tweet) Thank you for reading and sharing,
Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge (and Stanley)


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A Lovely Review of Our Book, and Sign-ups for Specific Word of the Week Videos are Now Available

What a lovely surprise, our book received a review on author Kristen Mott's blog. Click here to read it now. Thank you, Kristen! 
In other news, we just opened the sign-ups for specific words in Katrina's 2014-2015 Word of the Week videos. Sign-up now to get the best choice of words. 
Thank you for reading and sharing,

Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge (and Stanley)  **********************************Follow Stanley and Katrina on Twitter  * Join Stanley and Katrina on Facebook 
Click here to find out how you may purchase our fun book now!
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Adventures in Book Reviewing (Video Review): The Krazy Kinzy Kapers by Eva Ridenhour

Kinzy's Second Book is Available!Title: The Krazy Kinzy KapersAuthor:  Eva Ridenhour Year Published: 2014Publisher: The Kinz BooksPages: 73Summary (Lulu): Kinzy is back, and this time, he is enjoying eucalyptus, supposedly terrible movies, dragons, fishing, and eating eucalyptus. Meet such Krazy friends as Stacy B. Burd, Mark W. Wumpbutt, Zummers L. Lamb, and, of course, the famous Master Jake.
The Krazy Kinzy Kapers Book Review Disclosure: We received a print copy of "The Krazy Kinzy Kapers" from the author. We were not asked to review the book publicly and we received no monetary or in-kind compensation for our   honest   review. This post does NOT contain affiliate links.

For some extra fun, we made a video that includes behind the scenes and bloopers from our video shoots. Enjoy!This post has been added to the  Thank you for reading and sharing,Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge (and Stanley)  **********************************Follow Stanley and Katrina on Twitter  * Join Stanley and Katrina on Facebook 
Click here to find out how you may purchase our fun book now!
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Book Recommendation Video: Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

This is a fantastic book!  Flora & Ulysses Book Recommendation 
Title: Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
Author: Kate DiCamilloIllustrator: K.G. CampbellYear Published: 2013Publisher:  CandlewickPages: 240Format: We listened to the AudioBook.Reader: Tara Sands - AMAZING!
Age Level: ages 8-12Winner of the 2014 Newbery MedalSummary (Amazon):Holy unanticipated occurrences! A cynic meets an unlikely superhero in a genre-breaking new novel by master storyteller Kate DiCamillo. Click to read more ...

Disclosure: We borrowed the audio book copy of "Flora & Ulysses:The Illuminated Adventures" from our local library. We received no monetary or in-kind compensation for our   honest   review. This post does NOT contain affiliate links.
This post has been added to the 
Thank you for reading and sharing,

Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge (and Stanley)
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We just finished our first round of edits. The cover for our next book is in the video!

We have big news!



We are out and about much of this week so we'll be hopping in as we can. Have a paw-riffic week, friend.
Thank you for reading and sharing,

Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge (and Stanley)
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Click here to find out how you may purchase our fun book now!
Check out our current offers/giveaways.
Learn how you may Skype with our author.

Do you know that we have an Activity Book to go along with our first book? We also have brand new coloring pages!

We do, we do! Visit KidLitPrintables to view all of the printable activities that go along with our book, The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets! 


Don't have our book yet? Buy it now on Amazon. :0)

Thank you for reading and sharing,

Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge (and Stanley)
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Click here to find out how you may purchase our fun book now!
Check out our current offers/giveaways.
Learn how you may Skype with our author.

Hero's Sword $25 Book Blast Hosted by Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Ends 8/29/2014)

While Stanley & I work on editing our second book, this summer, we'll be sharing these fun book blast giveaways, courtesy of the lovely Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Enjoy!~ Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge About the BooksBook 1: Title: Power Play (Hero's Sword Book #1) | Author: M.E. Sutton | Year published: November 20, 2012 | Publisher: Delabarre Publishing, LLC | Number of pages: 64 | Recommended age: 8 to12
Summary: All Jaycee Hiller wants to do is survive eighth grade. Mostly that means hanging with her friend, Stu, avoiding the cheerleading squad, secretly crushing on Nate Fletcher, and playing her favorite video game, Hero’s Sword.When she receives a new video game controller, Jaycee finds herself magically transported into the Hero's Sword video game world. Survival takes on a whole new meaning. No longer battling with a plastic joystick, Jaycee picks up a real sword and bow & arrow and readies herself for battle. Can she save Lady Starla's rule in Mallory, keep herself in one piece, and maybe even learn something about surviving middle school? Kids will love this fast-paced adventure novel and will cheer along with Jaycee's thrilling adventures. What kid hasn't dreamed of actually fighting and battling the villains in their favorite video games? Jaycee finds out if she has what it takes - and what she learns in the fantasy realm of Mallory impacts her mundane, middle school life in unexpected ways. Purchase: Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * iBookstore * GoodreadsBook 2:
Title: Storm Clouds (Hero's Sword Book 2) | Author: M.E. Sutton | Publication Date: November 7, 2013 | Publisher: Delabarre Publishing, LLC | Number of pages: 76 | Recommended age: 8 to 12
Summary: Eighth-grader Jaycee Hiller is beginning to fear she only imagined her trip to Mallory. But when a rainy afternoon leaves her with hours of playing Hero's Sword, her favorite video game, she finds herself drawn back into the game - literally.STORM CLOUDS is the exciting second volume of the HERO'S SWORD saga - chronicling Jaycee Hiller's trials in eight grade, and her exciting adventures in Mallory, the setting of her favorite video game. Jaycee enters the video game realm via a special controller and is caught up in the action of this fantasy realm. In STORM CLOUDS, a valuable jewel belonging to the neighboring estate of Devin, the Sapphire Star, is missing, stolen at the Spring Consortium. Lady Starla stands accused of the theft. Devin's demands are clear: return the Star or they will take it back by force. Now it's up to Lyla Stormbringer to find the Star and the thief. before Mallory finds itself at war. Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * KoboiBookstore * Createspace * GoodreadsBook 3:
Title: Wedding Bliss (Hero's Sword Book 3) | Author: M.E. Sutton | Publication Date: July 17, 2014 | Publisher: Delabarre Publishing, LLC | Number of pages: 74 | Recommended age: 9 to 12
Summary: Jaycee Hiller (aka Lyle Stormbringer) has long sensed that Roger and Lady Starla belong together. When handsome and noble Perry Goodhaven shows up and wins Lady Starla's affection, at first glance it seems a more fitting match.However, those close to Lady Starla notice alarming changes after Perry's arrival - Starla sleeps more often, is often lethargic when she is awake, and begins to defer important decisions to Perry. With Roger falsely imprisoned, it's up to Lyla Stormbringer to uncover the truth about the man positioning himself to rule Mallory with an iron fist. WEDDING BLISS is the exciting third adventure of the HERO'S SWORD saga - chronicling Jaycee Hiller's trials in eighth grade, and her exciting adventures in Mallory, the setting of her favorite video game. Purchase: Amazon The Buzz About the BooksBook 1: " Power Play: Hero’s Sword (Vol. 1) features a relatable main character, fast-paced action, devious enemies, and an exciting plot that will absolutely capture the intended audience’s imagination. I think (and my daughter fully agrees!) that M.E. Sutton has hit on a winning series. I highly recommend Power Play: Hero’s Sword to all tweens, but to reluctant readers in particular, due to the ease of language, the video game setting, and the fast pace and physical length of the book at 64 pages." ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews
Book 1: "This is a fantastic read to inspire kids against giving up as well as keep their imaginations going because I totally see my son imagining this happening to him as he runs through the house with his sword (could be anything from wrapping paper roll to a stick) noises like he is in a sword fight. I can't wait to finish reading it with him & continuing the series." ~ Cassandra Lost in Books
Book 1: "This is a quick and fun read. The language is simple, so it is perfect for the intended audience of a middle grade child. It is full of action and I think kids will love the concept of falling into their favorite video game and living out the fantasy. "~ Bookworm Lisa
Book 2: "This second installment is even better than the first. The storyline has more depth, and more imagery to go along with this tale of adventure, drama, and even a little bit of fairy tale romance. I became more fascinated by the main cast of characters, cementing my interest in this awesome series. The writing style is spot-on for a middle grade adventure, and there is enough action, suspense, and mystery to keep the reader flipping the pages to find out what happens next. I highly recommend this series to fans of middle grade fantasy and video games. I definitely look forward to reading more by this author. " ~ Toni @ My Book Addiction
Book 2: "This is such a fun series! My ten year old and I thoroughly enjoyed reading these together. I think it’s really special when you can find something worthwhile to read together. " ~ Brooke Blogs
Book 2: "I think many middle grade kids will enjoy reading about a kid their age falling into their favorite video game and living out the fantasy. It is perfect for kids who enjoy using their imaginations to escape the real world at times (and better to read about video games than to spend all day playing them!)" ~ Susan @ Mom Loves 2 Read 
About the Author: M.E. Sutton
Mary Sutton has been making up stories, and creating her own endings for other people's stories, for as long as she can remember. After ten years, she decided that making things up was far more satisfying than writing software manuals, and took the jump into fiction. She writes the HERO'S SWORD middle-grade fantasy series as M.E. Sutton and finds a lot of inspiration in the lives of her own kids. A lifelong mystery fan, she also writes crime fiction, including THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS MYSTERIES, under the pen name Liz Milliron. Her short fiction has been published at Uppagus.com, Mystericale.com (Fall 2013), and in LUCKY CHARMS: 12 CRIME TALES (December 2013).   
Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Google+ 
* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: August 29, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Mary Sutton and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Click here to find out how you may purchase our fun book now!
Check out our current offers/giveaways.
Learn how you may Skype with our author.