Category: Book Reviews

Reading to Big Kids..Don’t Stop, Be Readin’…Hold on to that Feelin’

Published on by macjam473 Comments

Michelle Eastman weighs in on the importance of reading to your older children.

Michelle R. Eastman's avatarMichelle Eastman Books

I posted this piece a while back…

With my son’s 4th grade year coming to an end, I find this information more timely than ever.

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I love picture books, and I often write about them.  In my post, Top 10 Reasons Picture Books Rock, I touch upon the importance of continuing to read aloud to your child even AFTER he/she is able to read independently. Please note that although children may be ready for early readers and chapter books, I implore parents to continue reading picture books with/to your children. There is no better way to connect at the end of a hectic day than to get lost in a picture book together. This ritual is one you can continue well into their teen years (yes, really, I promise). A child should not be denied this sacred time with you, just because he has “grown up”. Reading and/or…

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Award-winning Monarch Butterfly Picture Book only 99¢—AMAZING MATILDA teaches life lessons

Published on by macjam474 Comments

A delightful book for all the young ones in your life, AMAZING MATILDA explores the life of a Monarch butterfly while teaching children valuable life lessons.

Bette A. Stevens's avatarBette A. Stevens, Maine Author

Celebrate Earth Month 

April is Earth Month and April 22nd is Earth Day. This week is a perfect time to celebrate with a copy of AMAZING MATILDA by Maine author/illustrator Bette A. Stevens’s award-winning children’s picture book for only 99¢ from April 20 – 26. Download this “Gem of a tale” at YOUR AMAZON today http://bit.ly/19Qr3Y0 

AM EARTH MONTH 2 promo 99¢ Apr 20-26Words from a reviewer

“I immediately fell in love with Matilda, an amazing, sweet, curious character. What a lovely story with a subtle and yet deep and understandable message for young (and those who are not so young ) readers. This book is one of “must have” books in your library. I already purchased a Kindle version for myself and I ordered two more copies in print for my library.” ~ Vida Zuljevic

Already have your copy?

Matilda says “It would be great if you would share this post with…

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As if..?

Published on by macjam479 Comments

a very insightful post by Sue Vincent.

Sue Vincent's avatarSue Vincent's Daily Echo

Sculpture by Rob Mulholland

“You should write about it,” said my son. “It would make a good subject for a blog post.” He was right, but it wouldn’t make for a  comfortable one. We had been discussing the assumptions people make based upon appearances. It is not an uncommon topic when my son faces the world from the level of a wheelchair. The variation in the way he is spoken to by strangers is wide, ranging from those who just speak to the human being, to those who feel they have to treat a 32 year old man as a backward child.

We all experience this instant assessment every day, both as its focus and as the assessor. Most of us give little thought to such casual interactions, from either perspective. It is just the way we are built and probably stems from a very early mechanism for survival. For…

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4 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Mailchimp

Published on by macjam4711 Comments

Do your emails and newsletters end up in someone’s spam folder? Do you spend too much time writing and sending newsletters? Check out these tips on Sacha Black’s blog.

Sacha Black's avatarSacha Black

Mailchimp mistakesIf you try something new for the first time and you don’t fuck it up, you’re probably not doing it right. Mistakes are natural, normal and help us learn to get better. I’m doing a monthly newsletter full of even more writing tips, competitions, handy writer hacks and news on my progress towards publishing. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can tick that off your list by clicking here. HINT!

I made mistakes. But I’m a writer. So standing up, dusting myself down and picking up the proverbial pen again is in my blood.

When I wrote the post on creating your perfect Author Newsletter I’d already found Mailchimp hard to set up and master. But SO many people said the same thing I knew I had to regroup and share some of the lessons I’d learnt doing my own newsletter.

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12 signs you have a book addiction and why it matters #mondayblogs

Published on by macjam477 Comments

Do you have a book addiction?

Sue Vincent's avatarSue Vincent's Daily Echo

There is a strange urge to turn into that scruffy looking shop… a calling that drags at your gut until you succumb.Dust and grime covers everything; there is nothing in there that you would touch without a hazmet suit and yet… there in the corner is a rusting metal basket full of foxed and battered paper. You spot a title you have been searching for since your youth. Suddenly the world is a beautiful place.

You may have a problem…and there are other signs…

  1. Waiting in queues becomes quality time with your mobile phone. The Kindle app is a godsend…
  2. You hope the appointments are running at least two chapters late.
  3. Flu is welcomed as a six-book-a-day event.
  4. Decluttering means throwing out the TV to add another bookshelf.
  5. Getting an early night means a few extra hours reading and even less sleep. (Well, you only had another couple of chapters…

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Fairy Tale Freebie…

Published on by macjam475 Comments

I love fairy tales, and this is one you don’t want to miss.

Michelle R. Eastman's avatarMichelle Eastman Books

April is Rhyming Picture Book Month, so I thought I’d celebrate by giving away my newest picture book, Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie.

Download the ebook for FREE, this week, on Amazon. Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0155J4Q7I/

I just discovered that UK Amazon customers are eligible for the free offer as well.

Happy Reading!

aggie_cover_front_r-1Here are some other literacy celebrations going on this month:

National Poetry Month

This April marks the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month, which was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, National Poetry Month has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.

National Library Week  April 10-16, 2016

http://www.ala.org/nlw

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It…

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Alexander Pig Goes Camping (Volume 1)

Published on by macjam4711 Comments

By Eva B. Kids

Alexander Pig Goes CampingMy Review

Alexander Pig Goes Camping is the story of three friends from the Little Green Forest who decide to go off on an adventure to Dog-Rose Camp.  Alexander Pig, Mycroft Zebra, and Pim Hedgehog set off.  They all agree to meet at the train station after going home to pack.  Alexander, who thinks he is the bravest pig of all and exceptionally clever, packs nearly everything he owns and is late, almost missing the train.  Alexander likes to talk in singing rhymes. So he makes up a song about going camping.  Pim is afraid of m-m-monsters. He is actually very timid and doesn’t like traveling, nor does he like anything scary. Mycroft always has the answer to everything.

According to Mycroft, an adventure is “when you experience something new and different or go somewhere you have never been before. Some place that is perhaps just a bit scary.”  What adventure will these three friends find at Dog-Rose camp? 

This enchanting story of friends sticking together is perfect for children ages 4-6.  The beautiful illustrations are beautifully done in watercolor and include maps of the Little Green Forest. Character and story development are written as though through the eyes of a child, ensuring that children will love Alexander Pig Goes Camping. I know I did.

Alexander Pig Goes Camping is an enjoyable book for parents to read to young children.

My Ratingfivestarts

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the AuthorEva B. Kids

Eva B. Kids resides in a bohemian paradise with her wonderful husband, adventure-loving son and an eccentric dog.

Connect with the author on

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

 

Buy Alexander Pig Goes Camping on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Smorgasbord Health – Heart Attack warning signs and symptoms men vs. women.

Published on by macjam474 Comments

Valuable information that everyone needs to know about heart attacks explained for both men and women.

Learning to Speak Greek

Published on by macjam472 Comments

Author Linda Fagioli-Katsiotas tells a humorous story about learning Greek, as well as a few anecdotes of the misunderstandings some of her non-English speaking students had.  Check out her blog post at http://truestorythenifi.blogspot.com/2016/04/learning-to-speak-greek.html.

Linda’s books, Your Own Kind (you can read my review here) and The Nifi, are available in paperback and ebook. And for a short while, Your Own Kind is featured in a 99 pence book promotion on Amazon.co.uk.