Mrs. Springs Garden Virtual Book Tour, Review, and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mrs. Spring’s Garden

Written by Carole P. Roman

Illustrated by Leen Roslan

Ages 4+ | 46 Pages

Publisher: Chelshire | ISBN-13: 9781950080090

 

Publisher’s Book Summary: Snail and Worm are having a dispute.

It’s causing quite a ruckus in their home.

Many of the other inhabitants of the garden are affected by their fight.

Will they be able to put their differences aside when they learn the garden’s existence is threatened?

What’s a bug to do?

Available for purchase on Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Barnes and Noble.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of over fifty children’s books. Whether it’s pirates, princesses, spies, or discovering the world around us, her books have enchanted educators, parents, and her diverse audience of children of all ages.

Her best-selling book, The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes! has reached number one on Amazon in March of 2020 and has remained in the top 200 books since then.

She published Mindfulness for Kids with J. Robin Albertson-Wren.

Carole has co-authored two self-help books. Navigating Indieworld: A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing with Julie A. Gerber, and Marketing Indieworld with both Julie A. Gerber and Angela Hausman.

Roman is the CEO of a global transportation company, as well as a practicing medium.

She also writes adult fiction under the name Brit Lunden and has created an anthology of the mythical town of Bulwark, Georgia with a group of indie authors.

Writing is her passion and one of her favorite pastimes. Roman reinvents herself frequently, and her family calls her the ‘mother of reinvention.’ She resides on Long Island, near her children and grandchildren.

For more information, visit http://www.caroleproman.com/.



REVIEW

Mrs. Spring's Garden shares how bugs in a garden can be beneficial for plants to grow. It explains how each bug has a purpose from collecting pollen and redistributing it to plants, tilling the soil, and eating old leaves and plants. This book explains about bugs in a way that's fun for kids and helps them to realize that different bugs have different purposes to helping a garden flourish. Children will find bugs more relatable and understandable that they have a purpose and aren't necessarily something to be scared of. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and attractive. The storytelling is entertaining and fun. I liked how the author was able to mix educational aspects in her story while making it lighthearted and enjoyable for younger children.  The worm in the book does have teeth (when they don't in real life) and the idea that it's the season, Spring's, garden, may be abstract to younger kids, but overall, I think it's a book that young children will enjoy. It's not only entertaining, but educational and could be easily used in a classroom to help children learn about bugs and how they work together to help the ecosystem flourish. The story could also be used to talk about cooperation and teamwork. I recommend checking this book out.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of Mrs. Spring’s Garden and a $100 Amazon gift card!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• A signed copy of Mrs. Spring's Garden
• A $100 Amazon Gift Card

Nine (9) winners receive:

• A signed copy of Mrs. Spring's Garden

Mrs. Spring's Garden Book Giveaway 

This post is sponsored by Carole P. Roman. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. I received a free pdf of the book to review, however, I gave my honest opinion.

Goobletygok Virtual Book Tour, Author Interview, and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Goobletygok

Created by Richard Bird

Ages 4+ | 24 Pages

Publisher: FriesenPress | ISBN-13: ‎ 9781039143425

Publisher’s Book Summary: Chulippitee. Buckadoodle. Uckeybuckey.

What do these words have in common? Poppy and Freddy invented them!

Freddy and his grandfather, Poppy, love to spend time together. One day, while they’re eating a snack, Poppy says, “Buckadoodle,” to Freddy. What does this mean? Freddy isn’t sure, but Poppy promises he will find out!

Join Freddy and Poppy on this word-game adventure, and maybe invent a word or two of your own that shows your loved ones just how much you care!

Available for purchase on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Bird is a grandfather and avid reader who has spent his career crafting policies and leveraging his love of words into creating beautifully written materials. Now, he brings his two passions together in this children’s book inspired by his relationships with his grandsons.

For more information, visit www.richardbird.ca.

https://twitter.com/richardbird54

https://www.instagram.com/richardbird54/

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - What is the Theme of your book Goobletygok?

Richard Bird - This is the story of the affection between a grandfather and a grandchild. There are two themes. One is the joy of a child expanding his horizons and having fun doing so. The second is that the sharing of love can happen in many ways including making up funny words.

Life Is What It's Called - Why did you decide to write this story?

Richard Bird - I had not seen my grandchild in a while. I decided put to fond memories into words. The writing of the story was a therapeutic process for me.

Life Is What It's Called - Is there a lesson learned from the story?

Richard Bird - Good question. Helping to grow a child’s mind can be fun for everyone. The joy it brings in doing so is priceless.

Life Is What It's Called - What will readers most like about this book?

Richard Bird - The funny words. The rhyming words that follow. The laughter it will produce for who is reading the story and who is hearing the story.

Life Is What It's Called - Why do you think it is important for kids to spend time with their grandparents?

Richard Bird - The grandparents have been through all of life’s tribulations while they were parents. Now they want to just kick back have fun and enjoy life. Kids that have the benefit of being around grandparents with that kind of approach to life, all the better. There is a lot to be said for having a second childhood.

Life Is What It's Called - How is this book different from anything else in the market?

Richard Bird - There are so many different kid’s books in the market now. All I can say is that this book will make adults and kids laugh, it will probably produce fond memories and maybe even bring a tear to your eye.

Life Is What It's Called - What is your background in writing?

Richard Bird - I am retired now. However, most of my work life revolved around writing up business plans and policies. In a sense, I have been writing stories my whole life. The only difference between then and now is that those stories were non-fiction.

Life Is What It's Called - What should readers know about you as an author?

Richard Bird - There is still a kid in me. I hope that kid never leaves.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for the chance to win an autographed paperback copy of Goobletygok and a 3-pack of lined spiral notebooks with a pen holder—perfect for writing down your favorite words!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• An autographed paperback copy of Goobletygok
• A 3-Pack Lined Spiral Notebook Kraft Paper Cover Notepad with Pen In Holder

Four (4) winners receive:

• An autographed paperback copy of Goobletygok

Goobletygok Book Giveaway

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Richard Bird. The questions presented in this post are my own. The giveaway is managed by The Children's Book review. There are no affiliate links in this post.

Famous Seaweed Soup Virtual Book Tour, Author Interview, and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK 

Famous Seaweed Soup

Written by Antoinette Truglio Martin

Illustrated by Penny Weber

Ages 5+ | 32 Pages

Publisher: Purple Butterfly Press | ISBN-13: 9781955119405

Publisher’s Book Summary: Beach days are the best days and Sara loves everything about the beach. Her favorite part is making her Famous Seaweed Soup. Collecting all the ingredients is a tough job but Sara thinks she’s up to the task!

Can she make it all by herself or will a busy family foil her recipe?

Available for purchase on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Antoinette Truglio Martin is a retired speech therapist and special ed teacher, who now enjoys life as an author and nonny. She finds wonder in children’s play and captures the magic with her stories. Antoinette lives in her hometown, Sayville, New York, where she writes and plays on the Long Island seashore with her beach-loving family and friends.

For more information, visit: https://antoinettetrugliomartin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AntoinetteTruglioMartin2017/

https://www.instagram.com/storiesserved/

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - Why did you decide to write Famous Seaweed Soup?

Antoinette Truglio Martin - It all began with playing on the beach. Famous Seaweed Soup was born from scribbled observations in my journal while my child played. I had always been writing. I took a slice of time watching my daughter, Sara, play on the beach, and created a charming story. For weeks, Sara and I recited the story lines while commuting to daycare/work and laughed at the smelly parts. It was so much fun writing the story, “testing” it out on my daughter and later with my preschool students. Sara drew pictures. I had other stories ready to submit, but I felt so strongly about Famous Seaweed Soup. It should be a real storybook for kids to love as much as Sara and I love the story. So I pushed it ahead and here we are!

Life Is What It's Called - What will readers like most about Famous Seaweed Soup?

Antoinette Truglio Martin - Young readers will first like the silly icky things, like tasting toes, the slimy seaweed, and snails that ooze their bodies out of their shells. They will enjoy Sara, a character who knows what she wants to do and is determined to do it even if she has to do it by herself. Stories that tap a playful and independent spirit are appealing to readers and listeners of all ages.

The beach is also a big draw. I don't know anyone who does not at least like the beach. All kinds of natural discoveries and surprises are found on the shores. Readers will recognize their familiar beach treasures and perhaps learn new ones. 

Life Is What It's Called - What makes your book stand apart from what's on the market?

Antoinette Truglio Martin - Famous Seaweed Soup can shine over the crowded market. The story tells a story in a compelling and relatable way. Repetitive lines act as a refrain from a song everyone knows. The predictable sentences encourage young readers to read and hear the story again. I consciously worked the story so that each word carried meaning. The language is not bogged down with unnecessary phrases and details.

The illustrations also set Famous Seaweed Soup apart from the crowded market. Penny Weber's style captures beautiful facial expressions and body postures. The shrugs, the wonder in the eyes are authentic. You cannot help but smile at them.  Although computer generated pictures have their place in children’s books, this story needed the personalities and settings illustrated in this artful style.

Life Is What It's Called - How has your background helped you to develop this book?

Antoinette Truglio Martin - Write what you know is the writer’s mantra. I know my home. 

I grew up on the south shore of Long Island where the Great South Bay, Fire Island

Beaches and the Atlantic Ocean are within sight. I managed a boat before learning to ride a bicycle. The beaches and the sea remain part of my writing palate.  My career as a speech therapist and special educator also shape what and how I write. I spent most of my forty-plus years treating young children and their families in Early Intervention programs. Acquisition of language and play were the primary goals. From modeling and scaffolding skills, I witnessed how amazing language develops. I appreciate the fine nuances of language and play development. The author's trick was to craft stories that respects readers’ and listeners’ developmental process and challenges the next step. 

I believe Famous Seaweed Soup achieves a great combination depicting my love for the shore and the sea and celebrating play in a story that is developmentally appropriate for readers and listeners.

Life Is What It's Called - How are reading and speech development connected?

Antoinette Truglio Martin - Reading and speech and language development are interconnected. It is a magical phenomenon. Reading is a skill built upon language, speech and cognitive development. Language acquisition, including expressive speech, develops before reading happens. Reading development encompasses more than recognizing letters, symbols or signs. There are specific readiness markers that must be met before reading is ready to emerge. Auditory and visual attention, memory, and integration are the foundations. One must be able to sequence the symbols, and process the sequence
into words, phrases and sentences. Then there are the sensory and motor components to master—ocular tracking, proprioception, and motor planning for speech responses. The brain must coordinate, practice, and remember millions of codes and responses. When a pre-reader wants a story, the body calms and (hopefully) remains focused. It is quite magical.  

Life Is What It's Called - How would your book help speech therapists, schools, parents, readers/listeners?

Antoinette Truglio Martin - Famous Seaweed Soup is a must have in classroom, school, and community libraries and home bookshelves. The illustrations engage attention, the repetitive text invites listener participation, and the underlying story structure fosters pragmatic language (facial reading, emotion identifications), short-term memory, and inferential observations. The story is fun and the illustrations are beautiful. Famous Seaweed Soup is the complete package for home, school, speech therapy, and reading intervention settings. 

Life Is What It's Called - How will

Famous Seaweed Soup help children develop their "s" words?

Antoinette Truglio Martin - Famous Seaweed Soup is well suited for phonemic awareness activities. As the student listens to the story, instruct the student to identify words with /s/ sounds, (or any other target sound) and where the sound is positioned in the word. As students' proficiency improves, Famous Seaweed Soup would serve as a read aloud to assess the student’s carryover as he/she reads the story. The pages where all the beach finds are listed would be a wonderful challenge.

Life Is What It's Called - What activities would go along with reading Famous Seaweed Soup?

 Antoinette Truglio Martin - So glad you asked!  After the story is read, close the book and ask the children to name the items Sara found on the beach. Can you name the items in story order?  Look at the facial expressions. Can the children identify how the characters are feeling? Don’t forget to look at the seagull.  Play the memory game (similar to “We’re going on a picnic…”) "We are going to the beach and I will bring...”. Each player repeats the growing list and names a new item to bring to the beach. How many items can you remember in sequence? Can you do this game in alphabetical order?  Take a sand pail on a beach walk. Collect shells, crab parts, seagull feathers. Perhaps you will find beach glass. Sort and compare your treasures to Sara's finds. How many are the same/different? Make a Venn diagram on a whiteboard or class easel. Compare and contrast setting, character, plot between Famous Seaweed Soup and Little Red Hen.

I have other printable activities available on my website.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for the chance to win a 30-book classroom set of Famous Seaweed Soup!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• A 30-book classroom set of Famous Seaweed Soup

Five (5) winners receive:

• A paperback copy of Famous Seaweed Soup

Famous Seaweed Soup Book Giveaway

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Purple Butterfly Press.