BOOK NOOK REVIEWS: Keiko Kasza

**This week's BOOK NOOK REVIEWS shines a spotlight on great books provided by some of the authors participating in my annual FREE AUTHOR PROMOTION event held each May in my city. Help support these new and established authors by checking out their books!***

Title: Badger's Fancy Meal
Author: Keiko Kasza
Illustrator: Keiko Kasza
Publisher: G P Putnam's Sons
Ages 4-8

"Badger's den was full of food, but he was not happy. 'Apples, worms and roots...same old, same old,' he sighed. 'I wish I could have a fancy meal for a change.'"

Synopsis: Poor Badger has all the food he can possible want but it isn't enough. He wants more. He wants a fancy meal and he goes on an adventure to find it. At first Badger thinks Mole, Rat, and Rabbit will make a delicious meal. When each gets away from him, Badger decides to return home but boy, is he in for a big surprise!

Why you should read it: Ms. Kasza is both author and illustrator in this delightful story that children of all ages will love!  I was captivated by the "turned-down" pages artwork which allowed me to peek into another part of the story and kept me fully engaged until the very end.

Like-O-Meter Rating: 5 out of 5...Grab it!

The Awards Are Piling UP...

LG from WRITING OFF THE EDGE ( http://lgkeltner.blogspot.com/ ) has honored me with "The Booker Award". It is given to a blog that spends 50% or more on the craft of writing or talking about books...and I certainly think I qualify for THAT award...lol...so on this Teaser Tuesday I will give you five of my all time favorite books but first...the rules of the award:




1.  This award is for book bloggers only.  To receive this award the blog must be at least 50% about books...either reading or writing about them.


2.  You must share your top five favorite books you have ever read.


3.  You must give this award to 5 other lucky book blogs you enjoy.


So here my top five:


1.  The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  How is it possible for one man to put SO MUCH emotion and spirit into a book with almost stick drawings and a few words?  I should be so lucky as to grow to have a talent like that!


2.  A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.  This story was required reading during my high school years and it left a profound love of the classics on my spirit.


3.  Silas Marner by George Eliot.  Another required reading by my high school English teacher where I would sit in his classroom and follow along as he played a record of the book for us to listen to...it certainly added to my enjoyment of the book to be immersed in the sounds of the actor's voices.


4.  Truly...anything by Mercer Mayer.  I cut my teeth on Mercer Mayer books...I grew up with him, joined in the adventures with him, and felt a little bit better about life in general after having read his books.


5.  Mine-o-saur by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen.  Every summer I read this book to my students at my Summer Adventure Camp as it is a fun lesson in how to be nice and share with others.


and a bonus:


6.  My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza.  I absolutely LOVE this story.  I love the little piglet...his craftiness, how he outsmarts those around him and it's just a GREAT feel good book!


Now...instead of passing out this award to just a few of the wonderful book blogs I read everyday...I thought I would just ask MY readers to give me THEIR top five favorite books.  I just might find a reason to add some more cool books to my collection!

Calling All Authors...Part Two!

I have gotten such a great response so far with the shout out for autographed children's books (PB, MG, YA fiction and nonfiction), that I thought I would run one more post explaining how I am showcasing and promoting other authors' works as my way of saying thank you for being so supportive in this wonderful writing community!

Some of you have heard about the Children's Festival of Reading that is coming to my city on Saturday, May 19th.  If you haven't, you can check out the link here http://knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/portal/page/21676_Childrens_Festival_of_Reading.  I have been invited to have a booth where I am going to showcase any of my author friends who want to send me an autographed copy of their books or anything else they want to autograph...i.e. bookmarks, posters, pictures, etc. as free giveaways. 

I have been receiving packages almost daily and I know some more are on their way, but there is still time to participate if you would like to!  I'm also asking all my readers to help me get the word out to THEIR author friends so that I can have the best booth at the festival!  And if you give this blog post a shout-out, your name will be put in a drawing for some prizes 

( http://www.donasdays.blogspot.com/2012/03/time-for-another-giveaway.html ).  Anyone interested in more information can email me at tkd2lady (at) yahoo (dot) com.  They don't have to be newly published books and e-book authors can autograph bookmarks, posters, postcards, etc for a chance for me to promote their books as well.  

Here is the list of authors so far who have been so generous with their books and swag items:

Susanna Leonard Hill

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Salina Yoon

Tammi Sauer

Keiko Kasza

Heather Newman (illiustrator)

Debbie Bernstein LaCroix

Alayne Kay Christian

Genevieve Petrillo

Nancy Smiler Levinson

Diane Dawson Hearn

Sarah Frances Hardy

Vivian Kirkland

Lisa M Cottroll-Bentley

Teagan Bentley

Jan Wade

Lori Degman
Doreen Mcgettigan

I think the festival committee will be quite surprised when I let them know what I'm gonna have at MY booth...;0)