Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway of Vivienne in Paris by Maria Castellucci Moore

 

Book Title:  Vivienne in Paris by Maria Castellucci Moore
Category:  Children's Fiction (ages 5 to 9), 38 pages
Genre:  Children's Book
Publisher:  Mascot Kids
Release date:   May 2, 2023
Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for everyone.

Book Description:

Vivienne in Paris follows a young Parisian girl on a journey through Paris to find what makes her tick. Join Vivienne as she discovers the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of the city that make her feel alive. What better place to explore, observe, and delight in her senses than Paris?

This book tells a story of mindfulness and insight into how the surrounding world can really move you. It unites curiosity, wonder, and marvel to enlighten, surprise, and tickle your deepest spirit. Sometimes it’s the smallest things that bring you the greatest joy.

Buy the Book:
Mascot Books
Amazon ~ B&N
add to Goodreads

My thoughts:

    Vivienne in Paris is a beautifully illustrated children's book.  It follows a little girl Vivienne as she visits all of her favorite places in the city of Paris.  Her grandfather challenges her to pay close attention to her surroundings and really experience her day.

    I thought this was an adorable story.  The joy that Vivienne feels in everything she experiences really comes off the page.  Her descriptions are rich and made me feel like I was right there with her.  I loved that there were phrases in French sprinkled throughout the book (with translation).  It added to the experience and I think kids will love learning a few phrases in another language.  The illustrations were colorful and just wonderful.  They really enhanced the reading experience.  I highly recommend this book.

Meet the Author:

Entrepreneur, first-generation American, writer, and mother to four children, María strives to bring passion and enthusiasm to all her endeavors. A lover of all things European, María has found great passion through her travels to Paris, Italy, Spain, and South America. Her affection for winemaking, foreign languages, the arts, ballroom dancing, and traveling has given María a unique and grateful perspective on life. Her love for her family and helping others through charitable giving has enabled María to thoughtfully curate purposeful life adventures.

María Castellucci Moore earned her bachelor of arts degree in finance from Dominican University on a tennis scholarship, and later pursued studying at New York University and the London School of Economics with a focus on global affairs. In 2016, with her siblings, María founded Castellucci Napa Family, a luxury wine and real estate brand. María runs her wine label and a family real estate development company in the greater Bay Area. She is a board member of the San Francisco Opera Guild and is enthusiastic about building opportunity and community through the arts.

connect with author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

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Enter the Giveaway:

Vivienne in Paris by Maria Castellucci Moore Book Tour Giveaway

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway of My Cat is Blue by Sarah Sommer

 

Book Title:  My Cat Is Blue by Sarah Sommer
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7),  36 pages
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Mascot Books
Release date:  October 2021
Content Rating:  G - Children's picture book featuring feelings of sadness and grief (loss of a pet), but no explicit content or language.

When someone you love is feeling down in the dumps, you try everything to help. But sometimes, you don't have the cure, and those blues can even become contagious. It just might be the unexpected that allows you both to shed your blues and move toward a bright and colorful future.

 

 

Buy the Book
Mascot Books
 Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Chapters Indigo ~ Books-A-Million

 

My thoughts:

I know that we don't do a lot of children's book reviews on here, but I saw this cover and couldn't resist signing up for the tour.  My Cat is Blue is a very sweet story about dealing with the loss of a pet.  The narrator is a little girl telling us about the loss of her dog and how it has affected her cat.  Through help from the vet, the girl, her family and her cat learn to be happy again and heal from the pain of their loss.

This is totally a book I would have read to my kids when they were little.  It's very sweet and tackles the subject in a gentle manner through the eyes of the little girl and her cat.  It's very easy accessible for children of all ages and easy to digest.  Along with the story, the book is filled with beautiful drawings that enhance the story. One thing I noticed and loved was the use of muted blues and greys during the sad scenes that changed to bright colors as the family finds happiness again.  The book is a perfect blend between story and illustration.  I highly recommend this one.

 

Meet the Author:

Sarah Sommer is an award-winning children's picture book author who blends her love for music, animals, and positivity in her books. Having trained in classical music and performed internationally as a professional clarinetist, rhymes and lyrics are an important part of her writing style. She is an advocate for animals, as seen in her work fostering German shepherds, and as a result, animals are always a central part of her stories. Sarah aims to include encouraging themes, such as helping others, in all of her narratives because we all need a little help sometimes.

connect with the author:  website ~ facebook ~ goodreads ~ instagram

 

Tour Schedule:

Oct 5 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Oct 5 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Oct 6 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Oct 6 - Kam's Place – book review
Oct 7 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Oct 7 - Pick a Good Book – book review / giveaway
Oct 8 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Oct 8 - Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – book review / giveaway
Oct 11 – The Adventures of a Traveler's Wife – book review / giveaway
Oct 12 – Lisa's Reading – book review / giveaway
Oct 12 - icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Oct 13 – From the TBR Pile – book review / giveaway
Oct 13 - The Momma Spot – book review / giveaway
Oct 14 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / giveaway
Oct 14 - Laura's Interests – book review / giveaway
Oct 15 – Locks, Hooks And Books - book review / giveaway
Oct 15 - Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Oct 18 – I'm Into Books – book review / giveaway
Oct 18 - Rajiv's Reviews – book review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

MY CAT IS BLUE Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

Throwback Thursday: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Author: Madeleine L'Engle
First published in 1962 by  Farrar, Straus and Giroux

It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger. 

"Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me be on my way. Speaking of way, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract".

Meg's father had been experimenting with this fifth dimension of time travel when he mysteriously disappeared. Now the time has come for Meg, her friend Calvin, and Charles Wallace to rescue him. But can they outwit the forces of evil they will encounter on their heart-stopping journey through space?

I first read A Wrinkle in Time when I was in junior high school.  I remember really enjoying the book.  With the upcoming release of the movie, I decided to give it a second read to refresh my memory.  The story involves Meg who is considered a problem student despite being a whiz at math.  Her father has been missing and she has held out hope he will be found alive and well.  She embarks on an adventure with her little brother and a friend to find him and bring him home.

Reading this as an adult was just as magical as reading it was a child.  I really enjoyed the book the second time around.  The characters were fun.  The atmosphere was mysterious and the writing was phenomenal.  I also noticed a few underlying themes that I'm sure I caught as a child.  Conformity, accepting your uniqueness, and parents don't always have the answers.  I've never been a fan of movie versions of books.  So far, the trailers that I've  seen have look fairly good.  Although, Reese Witherspoon isn't how I pictured Mrs. Whatsits.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  Regardless, this is a wonderful story and one that should be treasured.

Kosmos Christmas Delivery by Deb Kalmbach

Author: Deb Kalmach, Joey Palmberg (llustrator)
Publisher: Chiwalla Press
Date of publication:September 2016

Kosmo, the king of troublesome terriers, takes trouble to a whole new level! He's a one-of-a-kind, corn-on-the-cob nibbling, ice cream licking, always-into-mischief dog. Kosmo's Christmas Delivery is told from the point-of-view of an older, but not necessarily wiser dog, Kramer, who laments the acquisition of Kosmo by his family, especially his girl, Emily Jean. When the inquisitive Kosmo jumps on board the Yellow Package delivery truck a few days before Christmas, Kramer, secretly wishes the pup will be lost forever. He reluctantly agrees to help Emily Jean search the snowy streets of their small town for Kosmo. Through a series of unusual events, the missing terrier finally comes home, but not a moment before his older sibling realizes how much he cares about his young friend.

Christmas is just around the corner! What better way to get ready than a cute Christmas story? Kosmos's Christmas Delivery is about a dog who has to learn how to get along with a new member of the family.  Kramer is not too happy when the family gets a new puppy that they name Kosmos.  He is all too happy when Kosmos disappears, but once the reality settles in, he finds himself missing his new friend.

I don't have small kids anymore, but I know that this would be just the type of story that would have appealed to them when they were little.  The story is adventurous and amusing.  It also has a great message. The illustrations really bring the story to life and fit the scenes perfectly.  I would definitely recommend this one to parents and grandparents of young children.  It would make a great Christmas gift!

Purchase your copy at Amazon!

About the author:

Deb Kalmbach considers herself an "expert" in not-so-perfect marriages. She's passionate about helping other women take one step forward, then another to find healing and wholeness in their lives. Real hope for real life is what Deb strives to communicate to her readers. 

Deb and her husband Randy can see the half-century milestone (a miracle!) for their marriage on the horizon. They live in a tiny town in rural Washington state with Kosmo, their Jack Russell Terrier, who has inspired a new children's book series.

2 in 1: The Pajama Diaries & Seriously, Just Go to Sleep

I have 2 family friendly books for you today.  One is perfect for the moms out there and the other is perfect for the kiddos.

The Pajama Diaries 

Author: Terri Libenson

Publisher: TJ Studios Ltd

Date of Publication: June 2011

The nationally syndicated comic strip, Pajama Diaries, details the personal life of Jill Kaplan, a contemporary working mom trying to juggle it all-work life, family life, and sex life (or lack thereof)-without going completely bonkers. The characters age in real time so readers can enjoy and relate to each new challenge that awaits Jill and her family. The Pajama Diaries: Déjà To-Do! is the author's first book collection to mark the strip's fifth year of syndication. It contains all-time favorite full-color daily and Sunday strips. Multitasking families everywhere will certainly see themselves in this funny, contemporary cartoon.

I had a hard time reading The Pajama Diaries without bursting out with major giggles.  For anyone who is a mom, working or stay at home, you will appreciate this book!  While I enjoyed the entire book, I would have to say two of my favorites are "Contents of a Child's Lunch box: Morning vs Afternoon" and  the one with the checklist for figuring out if a child is sick enough to stay home from school.  I have that same checklist that I use often!

I can't imagine that any mom would be able to read these strips without finding something they can relate to as well. Several of the strips resemble my life so much it is scary.  There are even some strips that the dads out there will be able to nod their heads at while they are reading. I haven't seen the author's comic strip in the paper, but I will be looking for it in the future. This would make a great birthday gift or even a just thinking of you gift for that special hardworking mom.  If you are in need of a good laugh pick this one up!

Seriously, Just Go to Sleep

Author: Adam Mansbach & Ricardo Cortes

Publisher: Akashic Books

Date of Publication: April 2012

Critical success for the original Go the F*** to Sleep, a #1 best seller at: New York Times, Amazon.com, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and many more!Seriously, Just Go to Sleep is the G-rated, traditional-sized, children's version of the book every parent has been talking about. Go the F*** to Sleep, the picture book for adults, became a cultural sensation by striking a universal chord for parents. Now, Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortes do a companion volume that lets kids in on the fun."

Last summer, I reviewed the adult version of the book, Go the Fuck to Sleep. While I thoroughly enjoyed that one, I was curious to see what the kid version would look like.   I can safely say that Seriously, Just Go to Sleep is very kid friendly and one I think all kids will enjoy.  The illustrations are done really well and really help enhance the story.  I read this to my son, who has a lot of trouble staying in bed at times and he got a kick out of the book.  If you are looking for a good bedtime story, pick this one up and read it to the kids.  I think you will both enjoy it.

Blog Tour: What are You Afraid of? by Kiki Howell

Publisher: Dancing with Bear Publishing
Date of Publication: October 2011


“Why does the night have to be so dark?” the big dog named Drake gave a low bark. Not everyone likes Halloween. In fact, the big dog named Drake is afraid of the costumes, the decorations, and the dark. He really only likes the candy his boy drops. Lucky for Drake, the old dog named Zoe is there to help him forget his fears with a fun game. Drake and Zoe can’t wait for you to play along.

Along with YA and adult fiction, I do read a fair amount of children's books.  Why?  Because I have 2 children, of course.  Books are a wonderful way of conveying information and solutions to problems to small children.  What Are you Afraid Of? is a great books for kids who have fears.  All children have fears at one time or another.  I read through it first and while I really enjoyed it, I decided to put it to the "kid" test.  My kids really enjoyed it.  The photos of the dogs were amusing and  added great visual aids.  They loved the idea of the game that Zoe teaches Drake. I definitely recommend this book to any parents with children.  

About the author:

Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.

“After a long break having my boys, I finally just had to write again. And, as soon as I gave the stories the space, they entered it. It’s both awesome and humbling to find the words in my mind become characters on a page and create their lives.”

She has now had over twenty stories published between seven different small presses.  She could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. Please look around. Although, a bit of caution, most of her stories tend to hang out on the graphically sexy side of town.

In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder. 

Kiki resides in the Midwest with her incredibly handsome and talented, singer/songwriter husband and two children. When she is not writing, she is spending time with her family, reading, baking or knitting.

Her biggest dream is to have a novel she writes be made into a movie that her husband creates the soundtrack for, and then cruise to Alaska with her family on the money they make.

A Winter Solstice Celebration

Author: Didi Lemay
Publisher: AuthorHouse

From the author's site: A Winter Solstice Celebration” helps children and adults alike to understand how the animals feel about their planet, how humans can help and how and how humans and animals can live together in harmony. A Winter Solstice is warm story that relates to all who read it.

A Winter Solstice Celebration takes young readers deep into the forest, where they discover how seemingly harmless human activities can wreak havoc on the natural world.

This was a cute story that I think most kids will like to read. It teaches a good environmental lesson. It also shows how one person's voice can make a difference. I think my kids will enjoy the book. The illustrations were really nice, and I wish there had been more of them.

One thing I didn't like about the book was the format. I'm a bit picky, but the white lettering on blue background made it hard to stay focused. I also didn't like the use of all capital letters. But, I think this is just a personal preference.

To read more about the author, Didi LeMay, visit her website: Didi LeMay

* I have been provided a complimentary copy of A Winter Solstice Celebration for review by Author DiDi LeMay through an e-mail from The YP Publishing. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me. - Kari*