Armchair BEA 2013: Day Five

Design Credit: Nina @ Nina Reads
Keeping It Real

Today we're supposed to discuss how we "keep things real" on our blogs and how we keep people coming back for more. Honestly, I don't know how to answer that question. I haven't been a very good blogger over the past year, and nothing short of awesome sauce and loyalty have kept my readers coming back for more. Yes, there are occasional giveaways, but I don't think they are of such a magnitude that anyone would say "OMG, MOAR!!!"

I hope the small snatches of myself that I'm able to insert in my posts keep my readers interested in what I'm doing here on Bibliophilia, Please. I've cut down on blog tour obligations and filler posts quite a bit, and I hope to have more crazy coming straight out of my own brain for you guys. We shall see.

Children's/Young Adult Literature

I love children's literature, though I didn't stay with it long when I was a child myself. However, I do have a few favorites at my house that I would like to share, but I won't go through too much silly business of posting long love letters for them since you have many other posts to visit if you're an Armchair BEA participant.

Wheedle on the Needle by Stephen Cosgrove
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Zero the Hero by Joan Holub
Knuckleheads by Joan Holub (In fact, anything by her!)
When it comes to YA, I'm at a bit of a loss. There is so much quality work out there, I don't even know where to begin to name favorites. I can honestly say that I wish there had been a greater selection when I was the target audience's age. I went straight from picture books to Tolkien, Piers Anthony, Anne McCaffrey, Stephen King, and the like. I'm not complaining at all about my reading material because I loved it wholeheartedly, but it would have been nice to have characters to connect with that were going through some of my same teen issues. Yes, there was Lurlene McDaniel, but that wasn't really an option. Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine had some YA, but you just got watch your favorite characters die brutally. So, if you're a teen and reading this post, please take a moment to realize how lucky you are to have the genre. We adults are incredibly jealous, and this is why so many of us keep stealing your books.

Book Blast (Giveaway): Your Mommy Was Just Like You by Kelly Bennett

Your Mommy Was Just Like You
Kelly Bennett
Once upon a time-according to Grandma-Mommy loved getting messy, wearing kooky costumes, and dragging out bedtime with just one more story. She collected bottle caps and dandelion fluff, and didn’t know how to tie her shoes. Sometimes she was a terror, but most of the time she was a sweet potato. Just like her own little girl today. Kids love to hear about what their parents were like as children, and this celebration of moms and the little girls they were will inspire lots of laughter and memories.

Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository


About the Author

J is for Julia Dweck

I discovered Julia Dweck when she gifted me an ecopy of her children's book, Caarina the Cooking Fairy a while back. Since then, I have had to read the book to my six year old daughter, Bug, at LEAST once a week. I have also bought each of her ebooks as soon as they are released. The books have fantastic illustrations from great artists, and Julia is a rockstar in my house. Bug and I love her so much, hence my sharing her with you.

About Julia Dweck

Julia writes children’s stories for digital and traditional publication. Her stories span the spectrum of humor, fantasy, and edutainment in rhyme and in prose. Julia’s background in elementary education affords her the opportunity to be in touch with what children want to read about and what makes them giggle. Julia collaborates with some of the leading artists in the world of children’s literature. Julia is also a designer of educational adjuncts for children’s literature, and has worked with such notable publishing houses as Penguin Young Readers.

Find Julia Online
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Giveaway

If you are able to receive an Amazon ebook, I invite you to enter to win a copy of your choice of book by Julia Dweck. (Find them here.)
Ends at 12:01am EST on April 19th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
While you're here, you should enter my GIVEAWAY that has special entries for both A to Z Participants and BP followers!

Blog Tour (Review): There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere by Howard Temperley

Title: There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere! A Rhyming Romp Through Dinosaur History
Author:Howard Temperley and Michael Kline (Illustrator)
Publisher: KWS Publishers
Release Date: August 1, 2012
Acquired Via: JKS Communications



The phenomenon of the dinosaur is one that continues to fascinate people of all ages. A fun-filled history of the many species of dinosaurs, their eras, and interesting facts about them, this book is not only informative, but funny and captivating as well. Featuring amusing and attractive illustrations, this unique edition discusses a variety of topics, from the Velociraptor and Pterodactylus to the Jurassic Era and dinosaur extinction.





My Review

This was another review that I did with my six year old daughter, Bug, and it was a hit. The Writing of There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere is both informative about dinosaurs and catchy to an easily distracted ear with its masculine rhyme. Bug is a big fan of books with rhyming stories (I used to only be able to read Dr. Seuss books to her), and she adored this one. The book provided a wealth of information about nearly two dozen different dinosaurs (in rhyme!), as well as explained about paleontologists, fossils, and the evolution of dinosaurs. There are also laugh-out-loud parts that are sure to win over even some of the most reluctant readers. The table of contents is specific enough to take kids of all ages back to their favorite dinosaur, and there is a lovely timeline of dinosaurs at the end of the book. Even though I'm not dinosaur expert, I was surprised to learn something from There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere. I never knew that the names of dinosaurs were in ancient Greek. It made me excited to learn something new!

Blog Tour (Review): The Big Field by Anne Morddel

Title: The Big Field: A Child's Year Under the Southern Cross
Author: Anne Morddel
Publisher: KWS Publishers
Release Date: August 1, 2012
Acquired Via: JKS Communications
Beautifully illustrated, this is the charming story of a girl who spends a year with her grandmother on a farm at the edge of the South American Atlantic Rainforest. The child is from the city, but the time she spends with her grandmother teaches her about the seasons of the Southern Hemisphere and the beauty and transience of the rainforest—from the plant, animal, and insect life to the cycles of nature. Following them as they spend their days walking through the forest, lying on their backs under the trees, eating dinner outside, collecting seeds, and learning about the wildlife, this entertaining narrative is also environmentally sensitive in its approach. An illustrated, child-friendly glossary with sections dedicated to butterflies and moths, birds, bugs, and trees and plants concludes the book.

My Review

The Writing of The Big Field is great for a very young audience. The story is simple, and it slyly inserts a science lesson to its readers. Granny teaches her three grandchildren - the narrator, Chloe, and Baby - about nature around her farm. The various insects, birds, and plants of Paraná, Brazil are highlighted and discussed. As the book takes the reader through each month and the corresponding season, Anne Morddel weaves the flora and fauna that is active or in bloom into the story. At the back of the book is a glossary of the plants and animals that were featured.

Guest Post: Jennifer Turner (My Name is Jake)

My Name is Jake is a colorfully illustrated, rhyming book for kids centered around a boy named Jake. Each page leads the reader through an activity that rhymes with Jake. Rhyming books for kids are perfect for young children, or early readers just beginning to put letters into words and rhyming them together.





The Importance of Reading to Children

by Jennifer Turner
As a parent, you have probably heard – on more than one occasion – it is good to read to children. There are many benefits cited. Some are more subjective: helping parents and kids bond and calming children down before bedtime. Potential academic benefits include increased vocabulary and a greater familiarity of reading and learning in general. Depending on your economic circumstances, easy access to children’s books may be taken for granted. However, there are many community resources available which can help bridge the gap so children’s books are more readily available to all. One group working to increase availability of books for all young children is Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit organization.

Blog Tour (Review): Let's Hear it for Almigal by Wendy Kupfer

This fun and original picture book introduces Almigal, a spunky little girl with hearing loss who is now determined to hear every single sound in the universe thanks to her new cotton candy pink cochlear implants. These sounds include a baby's funny giggle, the robin's chirps outside the window, the soft song played during ballet class, and especially her best friend Chloe's teeny-tiny voice. But most of all, Almigal wants to hear her parents whisper to her when they tuck her into bed every night. Almigal's spirit will have both children and parents alike rooting for her, while the story delivers a positive message about accepting and celebrating differences.

Title: Let's Hear It For Almigal
Author: Wendy Kupfer, Tammie Lyon (Illus.)
Publisher: Handfinger Press
Release Date: April 16, 2012
Acquired via: JKS Communications
When Let's Hear It For Almigal arrived in the mail from JKS Communications, my five year old daughter immediately snatched it up and ran to her bedroom to look at the book. Since I received the book for reviewing purposes, I had to negotiate with Bug (my daughter) in order to have a turn with the book. The end result - I got a turn to read the book, but I had to read it aloud to her. Being as it is a children's book, I think reading it in this manner was best for the review.

Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop

It's Children's Book Week! In celebration of all things children's literature, I am featuring children's books at my library branch and participating in this giveaway hop. As always, I am grateful to our wonderful hosts: KidLitFrenzy, Classic Children's Books, Mymcbooks, and the extraordinary Kathy @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer!

Children's Book Week is the national celebration of books and reading for youth.

Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!

Administered by Every Child A Reader and sponsored by the Children's Book Council, Children's Book Week celebrates the transformative power of literacy.

This information was gathered from Children's Book Week's Website, which you can visit for more about the history and various events occuring this year.