Merry Christmas, Dragon Virtual Book Tour, Review, and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK 

Merry Christmas, Dragon! 

Written by Bianca Schulze 

Illustrated by Samara Hardy 

Ages: 3-5 | 32 Pages 

Publisher: Clever Publishing (2026) | ISBN-13: 979-8888674895 

Publisher's Book Summary: Dragon is so excited for Christmas that she wants to do every fun activity all at once. But when her well-intentioned enthusiasm for the holiday season ends up causing chaos, will she learn to slow down and enjoy the special moments? This fun story takes readers into a winter wonderland at the kingdom and offers the gentle lessons of being present in the moment and appreciating what you have. This is the 7th installment in the Dragon book series by Bianca Schulze. Check out the latest books, Sharing is Caring, Dragon! and A New Friend for Dragon!

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bianca Schulze is the founder and editor of The Children's Book Review—a resource devoted to children's literature and literacy—and host of The Growing Readers Podcast.

Bianca is also the author of Don't Wake the Dragon (translated into 20 languages), now a seven-book series, and 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up (an Amazon Editors' pick for Best Nonfiction for Kids). A passionate advocate for children's literature, Bianca serves as the Webinar Coordinator for the SCBWI Rocky Mountain Chapter and is an active member of The Authors Guild.

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Bianca now lives near Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and three children, where she continues to be a reader, reviewer, and devoted children's book lover.

Website: https://www.biancaschulze.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancaschulzewriter/


ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Samara Hardy is the illustrator of Don't Wake the Dragon and Who Loves the Dragon? An experienced illustrator and designer, she has created artwork for clients worldwide for greeting cards, stationery, homewares, children's books, and more. She lives in Surrey, England.

REVIEW

Merry Christmas, Dragon! celebrates taking the time to enjoy the special moments of Christmas. This delightful book will delight and entertain young readers with its fun storytelling and eye-catching illustrations. The illustrations are filled with cozy scenes, a diverse cast, and a mouse on every page. Young readers will delight in playful sound words, and the antics Dragon gets into. This is sure to be a Christmas classic that families will want to revisit throughout the season.


GIVEAWAY

Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win some Dragon-sized Christmas cheer! Two lucky readers will each receive a signed copy of Merry Christmas, Dragon! One grand prize winner will unwrap an extra-special holiday treat: a cookie baking kit and the complete collection of all seven Dragon books, signed by the author!

This post is in partnership with Bianca Schulze and The Children's Book Review. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views. 

The Wishkeeper's Daughter Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

After the sudden loss of her mother, twelve-year-old Philippa “Pippa” Rowe feels completely alone—until a mysterious mirror calls her name and pulls her into a hidden magical realm.

At Wishmoor Academy, a school where fairy godmothers are trained to guide—not grant—wishes, Pippa discovers her mother once walked the same halls. Surrounded by new friends—warm, loyal Freya and whimsical, music-loving Lilou—Pippa begins to uncover the truth about her family, her powers, and the strange pull she feels toward magic.

But something dark is watching.

As Pippa struggles to find her place, she realizes her past is tied to a dangerous force that threatens not just Wishmoor, but every realm beyond it. To survive, she must learn to trust herself, embrace her gift, and discover who she was always meant to become—before her story is rewritten forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michele Ashman Bell grew up in St. George, Utah. In fourth grade her teacher wrote on her report card that she had a tendency to daydream and would probably do well with creative writing. Her love for books and learning about people and places has helped her make her teacher's prediction come true. Michele is the author of many books and Christmas stories. She is married and is the mother of four children, and a grandma of ten. Aside from supporting her children in all of their many activities, she loves to travel, do research for her books and eat chocolate.

REVIEW
The Wishkeeper's Daughter starts off with the main character dealing with grief, but over time Pippa discovers peace and learns more about herself. Fantasy readers will enjoy the world-building, the new characters, and the fairy-tale elements to this story. There's a balance of heart and courage in this story as Pippa has to face darkness to keep the light in this new world. Young readers will enjoy the adventurous elements. The story is fast-paced and plot-driven. This book is something I could see my daughter enjoying. To learn more, click here.

Please note that I was given this book to review by the author, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains affiliate links that help support this blog.

Hear Me Roar! I’m a HANUKKAHsaur Virtual Book Tour, Author Interview, and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hear Me Roar! I’m a HANUKKAHsaur
Written by Naomi Gruer
Illustrated by Mel Zohar
Ages: 4-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Kalaniot (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1-962011-19-8

Publisher's Book Summary: Miles is a dinosaur expert with a colossal imagination. When Hanukkah begins, he stomps into action as a whole herd of helpful dinosaurs. Each night, Miles becomes a new Dino—flipping latkes, spinning dreidels, and lighting the menorah—learning that even when things go wrong, he can help make them right. Packed with clever wordplay, Jewish traditions, and irresistible dinosaur energy, HANUKKAHsaur celebrates family, perseverance, and the belief that Dinos can do it!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Naomi Gruer is a freelance writer who has published articles, essays, a column, and a blog. As a Microsoft Guest Educator, she’s participated in World Read Aloud Day by Skyping with schools in Spain, Canada, and the U.S. She’s a preschool teacher in New Jersey, where she’s raised triplets and a younger daughter. This is her first picture book.

Website | X | Instagram | Facebook

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR 

Mel Zohar is an illustrator and visual storyteller based in Rome, Italy. She is passionate about projects featuring expressive characters, inclusive stories, and lots of humor—because she believes there’s nothing better than making kids laugh!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write this story?

Naomi Gruer - I’m a preschool teacher, and I had a class of kids who pretended to be dinosaurs. When one of the preschoolers wore a sweatshirt with a “Menorah-saur,” a dinosaur with Hanukkah candles instead of spikes, the seed was planted.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you think readers will like most about this story?

Naomi Gruer - I think kids will appreciate Miles’ big, dino energy and how he wants to participate in Hanukkah festivities. I hope kids and their families enjoy the book’s search-and-find, flipping back through the pages to look for the dino figurines sprinkled throughout.

Life Is What It's Called - What lessons will readers learn from this story?

Naomi Gruer - Kids love to help and even if messes are made, it’s okay.

Life Is What It's Called - What have you learned from writing this story?

Naomi Gruer - As a writer, I’ve learned how rewarding it is to collaborate with an editor and illustrator. As an author, I’ve learned that excitement over the book’s debut is contagious.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you want readers to know about you?

Naomi Gruer - Just like Miles, I have big, dino energy and make mistakes and messes, too. But once I fix mistakes and clean up, I move on. Big energy is fun energy!



GIVEAWAY

Celebrate all eight nights of Hanukkah with a roaring good giveaway! Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of eight prize packs, each including a signed hardcover copy of Hear Me Roar! I’m a HANUKKAHsaur by Naomi Gruer and a bookmark featuring a fun Dino Hunt game. Each winner will also receive a goodie bag filled with a small toy dinosaur, wooden dreidel, and gelt, plus a handmade plush pillow featuring soft turquoise fleece and custom fabric decorated with dinosaurs from the book’s endpapers.

This post is sponsored by Naomi Gruer. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views. Or: Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to share my opinion.