Zebra's Day Out by Susan Polites and Gabrielle Scully (Spotlight, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

 

 

Zebra's Day Out

by 

Susan Polites and Gabrielle Scully 

 

Illustrated by Rex Patrick

 

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GENRE:   Children's

 

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BLURB:

 

Zebra is excited when he hears that he will be going out to the cafe with Gabrielle and Gran. But there is a lot that Zebra still has to learn about days out. Is a cafe anything like the circus in the picture book? Will he like the food there? Will there be playing?

 

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EXCERPT

 

 

Zebra sprang from his seat and snatched the glass that the waiter was about to put on the table. After all, the waiter was holding out the glass towards him.

 

“Come back, you naughty Zebra!” shouted Gabrielle.

 

Everyone in the café turned and stared. Zebra threw the glass in the air. The waiter caught it again, just in time. He gave Zebra a very cross look. Zebra didn’t know why. He looked at his milkshake and wondered what it would taste like. He took a sip – quite nice at first – YUK! Zebra spat his mouthful across the room.

 

“I do NOT like milkshake!” he shouted. “And I don’t like coffee. Or muffins. All I want is grass!”

 

The café owner turned red with anger. Gran turned red with embarrassment. She quickly paid, and marched everyone out before the café owner could say anything. She looked very cross.

 

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS             

 

AMAZON.COM

 

AMAZON.CA

 

BOOKSHOP

 

INDIGO CHAPTERS

 

BARNES & NOBLE

 

BOOK DEPOSITORY

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Susan Polites is a freelance story-writer, and her ten-year-old granddaughter Gabrielle Scully likes writing stories too. When they spend days together they often share in the adventures of Gabrielle's toy-friends. During the pandemic lockdown in Melbourne they were unable to meet in person, so they decided to work together remotely and write down some of the toy-friends' adventures. Gabrielle's great-grandfather Rex Patrick, an architect and artist, had done a series of illustrations when he first heard about the adventures, and Gabrielle added some of her own drawings to make the story into an early-childhood picture book, and a family project.

 

 

 

 

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 GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The tour dates can be found here

 

 

 

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My review:

 

3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Zebra’s Day Out by Susan Polites and Gabrielle Scully is a whimsical children’s story about an outing that Grandma and Gabrielle went on, acccompanied by Zebra, Rainbow, and Lucy. Zebra was a bit naughty, but Gabrielle worked out a compromise so that everyone was happy.

 

The illustrations are vibrant, but an unusual combination of realistic-looking objects and impressionistic characters, and the story makes me think it’s an ongoing tale and this is just a quick snapshot of an adventure this group had together. I love that this book is a family collaboration and I think this book will help stimulate the imaginations of small children.

 

 

A copy of this title was provided for review

 

 

How Old is Grandma? by Antoinette Simmonds (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

How Old is Grandma

by

Antionette Simmonds

Illustrated by Ian Dale

A humorous family mystery about a Grandma’s big secret! Kendall and Kayson love going to visit their grandparents and their Grandma’s birthday means CAKE, but how many candles to put on it? As the story unfolds, and misunderstandings abound, inquisitive Kendall is surprised to find out more than he bargained for. “How Old is Grandma?” joyfully illustrates the interactions amongst a loving African American family; children, parents, and grandparents and the learning experiences they share. Warm story-telling with a humor and charm that illustrates an understanding of the funniness and peace of mind that is so commonly found in children. The first in a series of books written for children ages 4 and up.




Buy links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Antoinette Simmonds has more than 25 years’ experience as a teacher. She is an Adjunct Professor at two community colleges and has worked in the past as a teacher of software and a high school business teacher. She holds a BA in Business Education and a master’s degree in Instructional Technology.
As an African American woman, mother of 3, and grandmother of 3, over the years she has found fun, joy and shared experiences sharing books with children. Now as a grandmother and an emerging voice in writing, her goal is to produce a memorable series of humorous family-oriented stories featuring people of color to share, “Teaching is my passion and I am thankful that I am sharing my joy and passing it forward.”












Website | Facebook | Instagram

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GIVEAWAY



a Rafflecopter giveaway


The tour dates can be found here

The ABCs of Living Green by Theresa A. McKeown (spotlight and review) PUYB

THE ABCS OF LIVING GREEN 

by 
Theresa A. McKeown

Picture Book/Tweens

56 pp.

$17.95 (Hardback) 

 THE ABCS OF LIVING GREEN
by
 Theresa A McKeown

Publisher: The ABCs of Everything, LLC

Pages: 56

Genre: Picture/poetry book for children and tweens

Blurb:

“The ABCs of Living Green” completes the ABC trilogy of picture books focused on raising happy, healthy, conscious children in body, mind and spirit. Written from the voice of Mother Earth, every letter of the alphabet and corresponding word gives readers a multitude of fun ways to be mindful not only of the planet we all share, but of the people with whom we share it. A book that focuses on the beauty and fulfillment of stepping up and doing our part in taking care of the environment and each other, “The ABCs of Living Green” is truly a book for the enlightened child of the 21st century.

Order Your Copy!

Book Trailer:

Theresa McKeown spent over two decades in the entertainment arena before embracing her true passion of writing children’s books. After producing hundreds of hours of television for a host of cable and network outlets, Theresa is now on the path of what she considers her highest calling.

Theresa and her sisters have created “The ABC’s of Everything, LLC”, a family endeavor solely focused on publishing several series of children’s books, digital content, and educational curriculums.  All will be written and produced with an awareness of the true possibilities that children of the 21^st century can realize.

As an author, Theresa is dedicated to estimating rather than underestimating the wisdom of children. Her philosophy is that kids are fully adept at understanding nuance and meaning and it’s not necessary to talk down to them.  She is dedicated to creating a new paradigm in the children’s book world by introducing work that fully embraces the insightfulness, perception and unlimited intellectual potential of today’s youth.

Her books are meant to plant the seeds of education and awareness early in a child’s development, knowing full well that children will ultimately blossom into the best versions of who they are meant to be.

In her role as producer, Theresa traveled worldwide, filming from locations as diverse as the White House, NORAD, the Pentagon, FBI headquarters, maximum-security prisons and from the top of the World Trade Center.  Along the way she “tail-hooked” onto an aircraft carrier in the Pacific, yachted through South America with jet setters and chased bad guys with the LAPD in a helicopter.  She survived both OJ Simpson trials, shot live from heart of the LA Riots and drove through a wall of flames during the Laguna fires.  Yet, with a background like this, building a community to celebrate children promises to be the most exciting adventure of all.

As George Elliot once said, “It’s never too late to become who you might have been”.
…Words this author has taken to heart.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Visit us at Pump Up Your Book!

 

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My review:

3.75 stars

The ABCs of Living Green by Theresa A. McKeown is illustrated by Arisbet Sandoval Cantu. This thought-provoking book is aimed at encouraging people to look at themselves and find a way to improve the world around them. Each letter is represented by a word that is expounded upon in verse with a message to look within, make a conscious effort to unite with those around us, and act to conserve the world. There are lovely illustrations with a watercolor feel accompanying each poem, and I am delighted that there is a mixture of ethnicities represented.

I think this is a book for older children or young adults, who will be more likely to appreciate the poetry, although I daresay a bit of vocabulary review will be needed. The language is a bit esoteric and didactic in places and there are only a few specific examples of what should be done but the encouragement to do something positive and work together to husband and maintain the world around us is inspiring and praiseworthy.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

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