June McCrary Jacobs's Blog: ~ Author June McCrary Jacobs ~, page 87

~ MMGM NON-FICTION FEATURE ANIMAL ARCHITECTS ~

~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADEMONDAY NON-FICTION FEATURE ~ --  'ANIMAL ARCHITECTS'  -- AUTHOR LIBBY ROMERO



LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS  
ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:

Independent readers will learn all about nature's most amazing builders in this new leveled reader from National Geographic Kids. Meet brilliant birds, inventive insects, ocean architects--and more!

Ever wondered why beavers build dams? Or how spiders weave their intricate webs? In this reader, you'll meet brilliant birds inventive insects, and amazing mammals that all share a special skill. Packed with beautiful and engaging photos, this leveled reader introduces kids to the most extreme engineers of the animal kingdom.

National Geographic Readers' expert-vetted text, along with brilliant images and a fun to approach to reading, have proved to be a winning formula with kids, parents, and educators. Level 2 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information for kids ready to read on their own, perfect to encourage the engineers and explorers of tomorrow!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR {from Goodreads}:

Libby Romero worked as a teacher and a journalist before dedicating herself to becoming an author.

MY THOUGHTS:

I like the National Geographic Kids books because they are colorful, factual, and well-organized. When I saw the cover of this book I chuckled because I thought of the old saying, 'Busy as a beaver'.

This book is divided into nine chapters including Master Builders, Busy Birds, Spinning Spiders, Ants and Termites, Bees and Wasps, etc. Each chapter includes several of the types of color photographs National Geographic is known for presenting in their magazines and books. There are sidebars with vocabulary words, statistics, 'Weird But True' facts, and some fun Q & A puns, riddles, and jokes.

I'm not a huge fan of insects and spiders, but I was fascinated by the net-casting spider and the trapdoor spider's architectural abilities! The ants and termites and bees are likewise master architects. The Ocean Architects chapter was of special interest to me because I've been watching a series on PBS titled, 'Big Pacific'. Some of the same amazing architects on the show are included in this book--the male pufferfish, decorator crabs, and corals.

Back matter includes a 'Quiz Whiz' quiz about the facts in the book, a picture Glossary, and an Index. The back cover includes a website listing for so learns can join in the National Geographic Kids Super Reader club.

Recommended for teachers, librarians, parents/grandparents, science clubs, zoo camp leaders, and adults {such as I} with an insatiable interest in learning things about the world around them that they missed {or forgot} when they were a middle-grade student!

I borrowed a copy of this hardcover book from the non-fiction New Books shelves in the children's collection of the local public library.

~ RES-Q TYLER STOP GIVEAWAY ENDING SOON! ~

~ COVER REVEAL SPINSTER AND SPICE ~

~ COVER REVEAL ~
-- 'SPINSTER AND SPICE' --
AUTHOR REBECCA CONNOLLY
~Post Includes: Book Spotlight,
Author Bio, Cover Reveal & Giveaway~    About the Book
Series: The Spinster Chronicles 
Genre: Adult, Regency, Romance  
Publisher: Phase Publishing  
Publication date: May 1, 2019 

Spinster, sweet Spinster Isabella Lambert is a nice person. She is biddable, polite, soft-spoken, and eager to please. She also happens to be a spinster, and one of the writers of the infamous Spinster Chronicles, where she is less polite, more outspoken, and may not please anyone. Izzy also has a secret that only one person knows, and that one person may hold the key to its success. Sebastian Morton finds Izzy Lambert fascinating. She is the perfect mentor for his younger sister as well as a capable and charming friend for him. When opportunity strikes to spend more time with her, her secret becomes his. But will this secret, and others, ruin their connection? 

GOODREADS | AMAZON About the Author
Rebecca Connolly writes romances, both period and contemporary, because she absolutely loves a good love story. She has been creating stories since childhood, and there are home videos to prove it! She started writing them down in elementary school and has never looked back. She currently lives in the Midwest, spends every spare moment away from her day job absorbed in her writing, and is a hot cocoa addict.
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE Cover Reveal
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway HERE. Giveaway ends May 1 at 11:59 MT. Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.Blog StopsFollow along at SLB Tours for a full list of stops!
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~ BOOK BLAST REFUGE AT PINE LAKE ~

~ BOOK BLAST ~ --  'REFUGE AT PINE LAKE'  -- AUTHOR ROSE CHANDLER JOHNSON~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight, 
Author Bio & Giveaway~

About the Book
Series: Pine Haven  
Genre: Christian, Contemporary  
Publisher: Chanson Books  
Publication date: March 7, 2019 

Robin Lancaster, a twenty-six-year-old former kindergarten teacher, has her summer and her life all figured out. She’s ready to be on her own, writing and illustrating her children’s stories at her family’s beloved lake house. Once there, she intends to rekindle a romance with Caleb Jackson, the area’s top hunting and fishing guide, and bag him for herself. Complications arise from the start when Robin finds out her mother has rented the lake house to a man they know nothing about. Matthew McLaughlin, forty-year-old widowed university professor and author from California, shows up at Pine Lake in crisis. A sabbatical might be his only hope to save much more than his career. He needs a place of refuge. Sharing the lake house with a lighthearted young woman and her dog is the last thing on his mind. Caleb Jackson has his own plans. He’s used to things going his way, but a man staying in Robin’s house presents unforeseen challenges. When paths unavoidably entangle for these three, hearts are on the line.
GOODREADS | AMAZONAbout the Author
Rose Chandler Johnson is known for her heartwarming, inspirational writing. In addition to works of sweet contemporary, Christian fiction, Rose has written an award-winning devotional, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea: Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments.

GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB | BLOG  Giveaway
Enter the giveaway HERE. Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.Blog StopsFollow along at SLB Tours for a full list of stops!
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~ MMGM BOOK RELEASE DAY CELEBRATION ~

~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADEMONDAY BOOK RELEASE DAYCELEBRATION ~ --  'RES-Q TYLER STOP'  --
 ~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight, Author
Bio, Unique Excerpt & Giveaway~ 
 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for RES-Q Tyler Stop by June McCrary Jacobs with JustRead Publicity Tours!


ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: RES-Q Tyler Stop  
Series: Tyler Stop, Book 1  
Author: June McCrary Jacobs  
Publisher: JMJ Story Stitcher Books  
Release Date: April 22, 2019  
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction

It's the summer of 1968 in Sonoma County, California, and eleven-year-old Weston Gregg and his nine-year-old sister, Wendy, are looking for fun things to do during their summer break from school. When they discover some abandoned rabbits, they hatch an idea to make a positive difference for animals and people in their small town of Tyler Stop.

They decide to form 'Rescue Each Species-Quickly', or RES-Q Tyler Stop.

There are challenges to face as they move forward into their new venture, including standing up to someone who is targeting Weston's friends for being different and a painfully bad decision.

Will Weston have to handle these issues on his own or will he learn to accept the advice and wisdom shared by some important people in his life? Join Weston and his family and friends as they share some adventures and learn and grow together in RES-Q Tyler Stop.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

"Adventure has no end in this tale, where a heart for animals inspires and surprises await around every bend. . . . The characters and the situations they face come across realistic, and the scenes develop naturally. Not only does the author keep a nice paced plot rolling along but adds interesting and practical information about animals and ways to handle certain situations along the way. It makes for a fun mix of fiction and fact.

This appears to be the first book in the series, and I’m eager to see where the RES-Q Tyler Stop adventures will head to next." ~ Tonja Drecker, Author of Music Boxes

~ AS SWEET AS CHOCOLATE E-BOOK PROMOTION ~

~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~ --  AS SWEET AS CHOCOLATE SWEET ROMANCE PROMOTION  --

Head over to sweet romance Author Grace Roberts's blog to check out the 'As Sweet as Chocolate Easter Promo'.
The promo includes over two dozen sweet romances from a variety of authors priced for $.99 from today through Monday, April 22nd.
Two of my inspirational romances, 'Robin's Reward' and 'Handmade Hearts' are on this list! {Note:  The price of 'Robin's Reward' has been cut from the regular price of $4.99 down to $.99 for this promotion! Sale on this book will run through Thursday, April 25th.}
Click on this link to visit Grace's blog to view the covers and blurbs about the participating books.   LINK TO SWEET AS CHOCOLATE EASTER PROMO

~ COMING SOON ~

~ COMING SOON ~

~ MMGM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CLOTHES ~

~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADEMONDAY NON-FICTION FEATURE ~ --  'THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CLOTHES'  -- AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR EMMA DAMON


  LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS
ABOUT THE BOOK {from Amazon}:
Playful, informative, with every page a visual delight, Emma Damon explores the amazing range of ways in which we dress ourselves, all over the world.

See what children wear in Siberia, in the Sahara desert of at the Vietnamese Moon Festival...

Learn how to wear a sari or kimono...

Find out about the special clothes worn by astronauts, firemen and deep-sea divers, and see amazing hats, shoes and jewellery from all around the world.

Then look to the future, with recycling, 3D printers and space-age fabrics. 

Come and explore the wonderful world of clothes - and be inspired to design your own!

MY THOUGHTS:
This is a colorful oversized book with beautiful watercolor illustrations painted by the author. 
Each page is jam-packed with information and illustrations which answer the folowing questions about clothes around the world: 
Who?What?Where?When?Why?How?
The author covers important topics such as clothing worn by people doing special jobs--firefighters and astronauts, clothing worn to wear to play sports and games, clothing worn by six world religions, and clothing worn for special occasions and festivals. 

This author also includes accessories in the book, so young readers will get a peek into the what and why of jewelry and decorations and an assortment accessories such as hats, belts, shoes, and clothes fasteners {snaps, buttons, zippers, etc.}.

I especially enjoyed the 'Fabulous Fabrics' section where the author explains the likes and differences between natural fibers such as wool, cashmere, Alpaca wool, cotton, and silk. There is also a brief blurb about man-made/synthetic fabrics such as nylon, polyester, and Lycra.

Toward the end of the book, she illustrates the life cycle of a pair of jeans, which I happen to think middle-graders would find fascinating. She moves on to a section about recycling clothes and shares several different examples from around the world of the ways in which recyclable materials such as tires are being made into sandals in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia. She points out that shiploads of old clothing from India are sent to countries which make the clothes into fabric and then into new clothes.

The author finishes the text with a thought-provoking section on how technology is being used in the 21st century to design and make new fabrics and designs. She mentions a dress made from a 3D printer--something which I personally have trouble wrapping my mind around!

The back matter is a Glossary, which I believe learners will find helpful.

This author/illustrator does an exceptional job of including a diverse group of cultures, religions, and people with disabilities in her artwork. Her illustrations reflect our world's various cultures, religions, and traditions. 

Highly-recommended for middle-grade readers, teachers, parents/grandparents, librarians, and those interested in learning about this subject matter.

I borrowed this book from the non-fiction New Books shelf in the children's section of the local public library.

******************** Learn about more great middle-grade reads by visiting Greg Pattridge's 'Always in the Middle' blog to find the links to other blog posts celebrating Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

~ BLOG TOUR 'THE UNEXPECTED CHAMPION' ~

~FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE~BLOG TOUR STOP --  'THE UNEXPECTED CHAMPION'  -- AUTHOR MARY CONNEALY~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight, Excerpt,Author Bio & Giveaway~
 
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Unexpected Champion by Mary Connealy with JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Unexpected Champion  
Series: High Sierra Sweethearts, Book 3  
Author: Mary Connealy  
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers  
Release Date: March 5, 2019  
Genre: Historical Romance / Western  

They’re as Different as Could Be.  
But They’ll Need to Trust Each Other to Survive the Wilderness . . . and the Dangers Chasing Them.

City dweller John McCall never expected to be out in the High Sierras of 1868 on a wild-goose chase to find the Chiltons’ supposedly lost grandson. But now that he’s out here, things have gotten even more complicated, mostly due to wildcat Penny Scott. She’s not like any woman he’s ever met–comfortable in the woods, with a horse, and with a gun.

When Penny and John are taken against their will by a shadowy figure looking for evidence they don’t have, both realize they’ve stumbled into something dangerous. With their friends and family desperately searching for them, Penny and John must make a daring escape.

When they emerge back into the real world, they discover their kidnapper just won’t stop. This city man and country woman must bring a powerful, ruthless man to justice, all while fighting a very inconvenient attraction to each other.

EXCERPT:

He’d never before been this close to a woman like Penny Scott. A woman in boots and trousers who knew the frontier, who truly was closer to an untamed creature than a civilized, proper woman.How could a man not find her fascinating?
She didn’t move, and he sure didn’t tell her to.
It went on far too long before the cry of an owl, the whisper of the breeze, and the rustling of branches from far overhead broke the trance. He straightened away and her fingertips, cold from the cloth, slid down his face and his neck, then dropped to her side.
He cleared his throat and said quickly, “This plan to quit leaving tracks made sense up on that trail, but down here, with these banks hanging high over our heads and the stream just beginning from springs out of solid rock, there’s nowhere else we can walk, so if they follow us this far they’ll pick the same direction.”
Miss Scott sighed. “You’re right. But we still don’t want them to know where we break off. How long do you think we should walk? Should we try and get out of this canyon? Or look for a sheltered place down here?”
She was consulting him. It was a proud moment. “The stars are out now, let’s keep pushing. And if a place to stay pops up, we’ll rest a while.”
“It’s a decent night, not too cold, but the water must be runoff from the snowcaps. It’s nearly as cold as ice. I’ve got some beef jerky in my bag here.” She fished it out and handed him a couple of pieces. “But no blanket, certainly no dry clothes. I can’t hunt, the noise would give us away. We’ll be none too comfortable.” 
She kicked into the icy water and began wading knee-deep. “Watch for a bank that has a stony surface. We’ll need to get out of this water now and then, or our feet will freeze.”
He couldn’t help but notice her lovely figure right in front of him, despite those outrageous trousers she had on. A man had to be very careful of his mind wandering off, thinking thoughts he ought not to ponder. Instead, he thought about whether to take up their talk of Ronnie again but decided to opt for peace, at least for a time. What became of that little boy needed to be settled, and yet John had accepted money to complete the job.
But he wouldn’t steal a child away except to protect that child. “Since I’ve met you, you’ve threatened to shoot me, you’re wearing disreputable clothes, and you’re traipsing through the wilderness alone with a man you only met today.”
And he’d decided to keep his mouth shut, hadn’t he? And yet here he was, yammering. “I’m not sure Ronnie is safe with you.”
Even in the dark, with her a few paces ahead, he saw her shoulders square. He’d bet her chin just jutted out and her eyes flashed fire.
Well, at least he was getting to know her.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christian Book |ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography
Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

CONNECT WITH MARY: website, facebook, twitter, instagram

You can also find Mary at these sites: Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols

TOUR GIVEAWAY

 (1) winner will win
a complete set of all three High Sierra Sweethearts books (print, US only)$20 Barnes & Noble gift cardEnter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 8, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 15, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.


a Rafflecopter giveawayFollow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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~ MMGM FOREST FAIRY CRAFTS ~

~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADE
MONDAY CRAFT BOOK FEATURE ~
-- 'FOREST FAIRY CRAFTS
THROUGH THE SEASONS:MAKE 25 ENCHANTING FOREST FAIRIES,
GNOMES & MORE FROM SIMPLE SUPPLIES' --
AUTHORS: LENKA VODICKA-PAREDES
and ASIA CURRIE


LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS 
ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:
Sew a menagerie of felt fairies, gnomes, and forest friends from supplies you have on hand. 
Back with all-new projects approved by crafty kids, the best-selling authors of Forest Fairy Crafts teach kids how to stitch and personalize charming fairyland characters and toys. Make every season more fun when you adorn your friends with colorful felt, threads, yarn, buttons, sequins, and more. These 25 crafts appeal to boys, girls, and the young at heart!
FROM THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
"Childhood is a journey to be enjoyed and celebrated. Slow down. Spend time together. Make things. Laugh. Build Fairy Houses. Sew. Create. Dream. Play. Imagine. Believe in magic." — Lenka Vodicka-Paredes
MY THOUGHTS:Charming, clever, appealing, engaging, whimsical, and magical are words I would use to describe the projects in this book. I have not previously spent a lot of time thinking about fairies and their magical world of fantasy, but I certainly worked with a lot of students who loved this type of creative play and literature. Therefore, I was pleased to find this book on the non-fiction shelves in the local library's children's collection. 
The authors make a point of including boys and girls in their projects and in their narrative. Further, they encourage both genders to make fairies and gnomes of whichever gender they wish. They are very inclusive of diversity in skin tones, hair, and eye color, which I believe makes this book accessible, applicable, and appealing to all children. 
As  you may have noticed, I read and review a lot of children's craft and sewing books. I began drawing and making crafts, gifts, and doll accessories when I was even younger. I learned to sew by hand when I was around eight years old. 
When I read a craft or sewing book written for children I try to view it from a child's perspective and an adult's perspective. Does it teach good foundational skills? Is it fun and engaging? Are the projects appealing and attractive? Does the author stress safety? Are the materials easily sourced? I can enthusiastically answer 'yes' to each of these questions when I think about the contents of this book.
As I was reading this book I found the authors' feeling tone to be warm and welcoming and nurturing. These women have a child-centered attitude and it comes through in their narratives, instructions, and project designs. I give them a lot of credit for encouraging readers to use their imagination and to be patient with themselves when learning these new sewing skills.
The first almost 50 pages are dedicated to blurbs about materials, tools, sewing lessons, and making a basic fairy family. The authors use a unique system of teaching several sewing stitches by naming the particular stitch after an animal. For example, the running stitch is called the DOLPHIN Running Stitch because a dolphin jumps in and out of the water the same as the threaded needle pierces the fabric. What a great memory tool for children to cement the stitch into their minds.
Another page is dedicated to 'Fixing Mistakes' such as tangled thread, loose buttons, and scrunching. The first sentence on this page, 23, reads, "All crafters make mistakes, even grown-ups!" A great encouragement for new sewers which empowers them to give sewing a try. I love it!
The projects are divided into four chapters each named for one of the seasons. At the beginning of each chapter a blurb tells about what typically happens in the garden or in nature during that particular season. A suggested color palette is presented, and then a few fairies, gnomes, and themed-accessories are included with stepped-out instructions including a material list, finished size, and project difficulty rating, lovely photos, and side bars with 'creative ideas'.
My favorite projects in the book include the Fairy Baby, Bride and Groom Fairies with instructions for how to make a wedding cake topper, Lavender-Scented Mouse, and Chubby Critters--a Cat and a Fox. There are even three winter ornaments which could be made to decorate a tree or home. 
The back matter includes a thorough essay entitled, 'Notes for Adults:  Tips and Tricks for Crafting with Children', which includes tips for how to begin at the beginning with teaching children how to sew. There are several pages of blackline patterns for the projects in the book.