Stanley and Katrina's Blog, page 23

Happy Halloween from our Hermione.

Neighbor Girl as Hermione Granger. She made the time turner two days before Halloween, when she realized that the one on order probably would not arrive in time. 
What did you/your pets/your children dress up as?

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.
Learn how you may Skype with our author.

Almost Wordless Wednesday Writing Prompt: Happy Halloween and vote for Snuffles!

Yay, it is Wordless Wednesday time (a day early) but it is also Halloween week. We were so excited about Sam's Sam-O-Ween celebrations and his costume contest that we entered Snuffles!
Click here to visit the awesome post to vote; go directly to the poll to vote for her and whomever you like in the contest.
The more the merrier and be sure to tell your friends about it!

Hallowtweet it for us: 

#anipals check out Snuffles' entry in a costume contest. Vote for your favorite! http://t.co/DQUBOg8s5l #samoween #ww
— Stanley & Katrina (@StanleyNKatrina) October 29, 2013

Thanks! 
Now back to our regularly scheduled post: Poem? Story? Haiku? Question? What does this picture bring to your mind?
Write it below in the comments and have an amazing day!
A special thanks to Snuffles, the hamster, for assisting us with our writing prompts.

We participate routinely in the following Wordless Wednesday Blog Hops.
We encourage you to visit them as well.
Thank you to all of the fabulous hosts!

Create with Joy's Wordless Wednesday
Amanda's Books & More Picture Perfect Party Linky
That Suburban Momma's Not so Wordless Wednesday
The Jenny's Evolution: Wordless Wednesday
Crafty Spices: Wordless Wednesday


Thank you for reading and sharing,
Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge (& Stanley)**********************************Follow Stanley and Katrina on Twitter  * Join Stanley and Katrina on Facebook How to Purchase our BookCheck out our current special offers.

The Shadow of Atlantis Blog Tour & Book Review

About the Book Title: The Shadow of Atlantis (Shadows From the Past, Book 1) Author: Wendy Leighton-Porter Year Published: 2012 Publisher: Mauve Square Publishing Pages: 196 Recommended Age: 8+Summary (Amazon): Ten-year-old twins Joe and Jemima Lancelot have no idea why their parents have disappeared, but a mysterious old book which had belonged to their father holds the answer… and so begins an unusual quest to discover the truth.
Together with Max, their remarkable Tonkinese cat, and Charlie from next door, the children embark on an epic adventure, travelling back in time to the lost city of Atlantis. Once there, however, they soon run into problems.
Can they save the people of Atlantis from the disaster which is about to destroy their land forever?

And will they find their way back to the safety of their own time before it’s too late?Cool Mom's Review This book is excellent. The Shadow of Atlantis, seriously, is a wonderful book and I look forward to reading the remaining books in the Shadows of the Past series. Wendy Leighton-Porter has crafted an adventurous and magical tale that will capture the reader right from the start.  This book acquaints us with the story of  three friends, and a precocious cat as they journey to a new an old world where they make new friends. Yes, they make a few enemies as well and, oh yeah, they happen to save some people while they are at it, too. 

I am not one to re-summarize a book or give too much away but I will include one of many lines that made me chuckle.

      "Being rather a fastidious cat he hoped they'd soon be going home to civilisation, where he had his own litter tray fitted with a lid and a door. He was definitely of the opinion that cats need their privacy where certain matters are concerned."

I was reminded of The Magic Tree House series as I read this book. I appreciated and enjoyed that the author took the time to include notes at the end, which explained some of her decisions in writing about Atlantis. 
I highly recommend this book to boys and girls ages 8 and up. I also will strongly recommend it to my own, ten-year-old daughter. I am positive that she will adore it. Katrina, I believe, may simply fall in love with Max, should she read this enchanting story.
No doubt about it, this is a five star book. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Wendy!
I look forward to reading the other books in the series. Well done.BOOK BUZZ"Shadows of Atlantis is a well-written story with a collection of likable main characters, a solid plot line, snippets of educational facts about a historically important location and event, and, is filled with mystery, magic, and suspense. This book grabbed me at the prologue and had me hooked until the end."             ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews, 5 Stars

"... Shadow of Atlantis is an imaginative tale that will draw children in right from the get go. The characters are deftly and warmly established, and Wendy shows a sure touch in enabling these characters to interact in a fun but believable fashion, each playing their own part in the plot's development...." ~ 5-Star review from John C., Amazon USPURCHASE Amazon U.S. * Amazon Canada  Amazon U.K. * Book DepositoryGreat Deal!!*** You can buy the all 6 books (electronic copies) in the series ( The Shadow of Atlantis ,  The Shadow of the Minotaur ,  The Shadow of the Trojan Horse, The Shadow of the Pyramid, The Shadow of the Volcano,  and  The Shadow of Camelot ) for only 99 cents each from Amazon between October 14 and 28, 2013. Get hooked on this great series NOW by clicking on the Amazon button below. ***    

About The Author, Wendy Leighton-Porter[image error]
Dividing my time between homes in England and South-West France, I live with my husband Simon and our two beautiful Tonkinese cats. I spent 20 years as a teacher of French, Latin and Classical studies, but now write books for children instead of teaching them. 

The Shadow of Atlantis is the first book in a series of 15 planned time-travel stories, featuring 3 children and, unsurprisingly, a rather special Tonkinese cat. Having recently completed number #7, The Shadow of the Norman Arrow (coming soon!), I’m currently working on the eighth book in the series.
As I take my young readers on a magical mystery tour through the past, I’m also hoping that my love of history, myth and legend will rub off on them too. Personally, I’m enjoying the journey so much, I don’t ever want it to end! Why not come along with me for the ride?Website * Facebook * GoodreadsThe Shadow of Atlantis Blog Tour Schedule (2013)October 14
Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch and Author Interview)Charity Kountz (Review)Jay Faulkner / Musings (Book Spotlight)October 15
Once Upon a Time (Review)Houseful of Chaos (Author Interview & Review)October 16
The World of ContestPatti (Review)Snacks for Max (Author Interview)October 17
Stitch Says (Author Interview)BeachBoundBooks (Review)October 18
Magical Middle-Grade Literature (Review)The Owl's Skull (Review & Author Interview)October 19
Mel's Shelves (Review)I am a Reader Not a Writer (Author Interview)October 20
Fiona Ingram (Review & Author Interview)Learning and Growing the Piwi Way (Review)October 21
Jemima Pett (Character Interview)CILLYart4U (Review)October 22
Fantasy Fun With Kirstin Pulioff (Review)Turner's Antics (Review)October 23
Cheryl Carpinello'w Writing Pages (Author Interview)My Devotional Thoughts (Review)October 24
Stitch Says (Review)We are the DinoFamily (Review)October 25
whenIgrowupIwannawriteakidsbook (Review)Reading and Sharing (Review)October 26
Black Words - White Pages Kids (Guest Post/Interview)Sunshine & Mountains Book Reviews (Review)October 27
Leave No Book Behind (Review)Stanley and Katrina (Review)October 28
Dalene's Book Reviews (Author Interview)The Wise Owl Factory Book a Day (Review & Supplement)
*** The Shadow of Atlantis Blog Tour Giveaway ***Prize: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash
Contest runs: October 14 to November 5, 11:59 pm, 2013
Open: WW
How to enter: Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A 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 the 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 author Paul Hewlett 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.


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.
Learn how you may Skype with our author.

[image error]

It is Word of the Week Time: Katrina believes Zorg is an ENIGMA.

You may listen to the live official WOW announcement broadcast each Monday at 7:20AM on WEEU 830AM from "The voice of Berks County and Beyond." Links to broadcasts may be found on the Muhlenberg School District website. Click here to go there. Katrina is using the Words of the Week from the Muhlenberg School District with their permission. They have a wonderful Word of the Week program.

Are you ready for the free printables? Visit Kid Lit Printables to find these free printables:


ENIGMA vocabulary word cubeENIGMA free printable mini bookWord of the Week blank page to fill out
 
Now tell us, how will you use the word enigma this week? Have you seen it used anywhere? Is your school using these words? What fun activities do you have for the word? I want to know and so do my friends - please share your creations and let us know if you are using our printables - that makes us happy! 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!

“Word of the Week with free printables.” (Click to Tweet) 

Word of the Week (ENIGMA) with free #printables! http://t.co/nBSxfFQx3u via @StanleyNKatrina #kidlitwow #wow #vocabulary
— Stanley & Katrina (@StanleyNKatrina) October 25, 2013

===========================
Don't forget to check out our events/giveaways.

As always, thank you for reading and sharing,
Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge

NaNoWriMo is Almost Here! Are you participating?

As we write this, there is only a little over a week until NaNoWriMo begins! We participate in the Young Writers Program, due to our young ages. I wonder if we are the first dog and cat writing team to participate in NaNoWriMo? Hmmmm...

Stanley and I will be working on our second book, "The Animals Will Now Attempt Agility," during this year's NaNoWriMo. 

It all begins on November 1st, and you may sign up, right now, to write your own book. 
What story is inside of you?
Stanley and I, both, enjoyed the pep talks, last year. Check out the great group of authors lined up for this year's set of pep talks. 
NaNoWriMo also has an entire section, just for educators, with plenty of resources for your classroom. Click here to visit the resources now.


Na - National 
No - Novel
Wri - Writing 
Mo - Month

Will you join us in NaNoWriMo, this November?
Are you in? Let us know in the comments below.

“StanleyNKatrina invite you to join in the NaNoWriMo fun this November:” (Click to Tweet) 
NaNoWriMo Site * NaNoWriMo's YWP Site
NaNoWriMo Blog * NaNoWriMo on Twitter
NaNoWriMo on Facebook * NaNoWriMo on Pinterest



NanoWriMo 2013 Countdown

Thank you for reading and sharing,

Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge


**********************************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.
Learn how you may Skype with our author.

Almost Wordless Wednesday Writing Prompt: Yay, it is fall!

Poem? Story? Haiku? Question? What does this picture bring to your mind?
Write it below in the comments and have an amazing day!

A special thanks to Snuffles, the hamster, for assisting us with our writing prompts.

We participate routinely in the following Wordless Wednesday Blog Hops.
We encourage you to visit them as well.
Thank you to all of the fabulous hosts!

Create with Joy's Wordless Wednesday
Amanda's Books & More Picture Perfect Party Linky
That Suburban Momma's Not so Wordless Wednesday
The Jenny's Evolution: Wordless Wednesday
Crafty Spices: Wordless Wednesday


Thank you for reading and sharing,
Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge**********************************Follow Stanley and Katrina on Twitter  * Join Stanley and Katrina on Facebook How to Purchase our BookCheck out our current special offers.

It is Word of the Week Time: EMPOWER!

Yippee! We are able to get you the Word of the Week early, this week. Our goal is to have them posted by Friday going forward. We'll see how we do with that. Have a GREAT weekend, all! You may listen to the live official WOW announcement broadcast each Monday at 7:20AM on WEEU 830AM from "The voice of Berks County and Beyond." Links to broadcasts may be found on the Muhlenberg School District website. Click here to go there. Katrina is using the Words of the Week from the Muhlenberg School District with their permission. They have a wonderful Word of the Week program.

Are you ready for the free printables? Visit Kid Lit Printables to find these free printables:


EMPOWER vocabulary word cubeEMPOWER me free printable bookWord of the Week blank page to fill out
 
Now tell us, how will you use the word empower this week? Have you seen it used anywhere? Is your school using these words? What fun activities do you have for the word? I want to know and so do my friends - please share your creations and let us know if you are using our printables - that makes us happy!

For extra fun, Cool Mom created this video for us.  Click here if you are unable to view it in today's post. 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!
“Word of the Week with free printables.” (Click to Tweet) ===========================Don't forget to check out our events/giveaways.

As always, thank you for reading and sharing,
Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge ( & Stanley, too!)

Almost Wordless Wednesday: What is in my basket?

Poem? Story? Haiku? Question? What does this picture bring to your mind?
Write it below in the comments and have an amazing day!

A special thanks to Snuffles, the hamster, for assisting us with our writing prompts.

We participate routinely in the following Wordless Wednesday Blog Hops.
We encourage you to visit them as well.
Thank you to all of the fabulous hosts!

Create with Joy's Wordless Wednesday
Amanda's Books & More Picture Perfect Party Linky
That Suburban Momma's Not so Wordless Wednesday
The Jenny's Evolution: Wordless Wednesday
Crafty Spices: Wordless Wednesday


Thank you for reading and sharing,


Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge**********************************Follow Stanley and Katrina on Twitter  * Join Stanley and Katrina on Facebook How to Purchase our BookCheck out our current special offers.

Pictures from our Author Visit at the Oley Valley Library

We had a great time! 


Thank you to everyone who came out for our author visit; participated in the creative writing activity; and bought our book. You are the best! Thanks for having us, Oley Valley Community Library!

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.
Learn how you may Skype with our author.

It is Word of the Week Time! Who do you know that is VALIANT?

It is word of the week time!. Yippee! We would like to remind you that this Monday, October 14th, Neighbor Girl will be at the Oley Valley Community Library for an author visit. Pick up a copy of our book, ask her questions, and participate in a creative writing activity.

Now for my fabulous word of the week post: Click here to listen to the official WOW announcement for HOMAGE from “the voice of Berks County and beyond,” WEEU 830AM. You can listen to the live broadcast each Monday at 7:20AM.Katrina is using the Words of the Week from the Muhlenberg School District with their permission. They have a wonderful Word of the Week program. Are you ready for the free printables? Visit Kid Lit Printables to find these free printables:


VALIANT vocabulary word cubeVALIANT attribute printableWord of the Week blank page to fill out  Now tell us, how will you use the word valiant this week? Have you seen it used anywhere? Is your school using these words? What fun activities do you have for the word? I want to know and so do my friends - please share your creations and let us know if you are using our printables - that makes us happy!



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!
Share this post with your friends on twitter: 

Word of the Week Time! Free #printables for the word VALIANT http://t.co/cDkhhRrViD #kidlitwow #wordoftheweek #kidlit #literacy
— kidlitprintables (@kidlitprintable) October 12, 2013

As always, thank you for reading and sharing,

Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge ( & Stanley, too!)
===========================
Did you see the new cover of our book? 
Don't forget to check out our events/giveaways.