Teaser Tuesday

Vampirina Ballerina

Author: Anne Marie Pace

Illustrator: LeUyen Pham

Publisher: Hyperion

Ages: 4-8

ISBN: 10 1423157532            

What do you do when you like to wear pink and can only hang out at night?  Why, join an evening ballet class, of course.  But it isn't easy for Vampirina to make new friends when she looks like she's out for blood.  And if she could just stop poofing into a bat every time she gets nervous.  Will she have what it takes to make it through the ballet recital?

Teaser Tuesday

The Library Gingerbread Man

Author: Dotti Enderle

Illustrator: Colleen M Madden

Publisher: Upstart Books

Ages: 4-9

ISBN: 9781602130487

I've read different versions of the Gingerbread Man but this one is by far my favorite.  If you've never read a gingerbread man story, you will enjoy the basic plot and will wonder if the baked confection will ever be caught.  If you HAVE read at least one version of this story, you will delight in how Dotti Enderle travels through the aisles of the library to discover the magic waiting to unfold within the pages of a good book.  Either way you come out the winner when you discover if this gingerbread man can make it back to the safe pages of his own book in time!

Goldie and The Three Hares
Author: Margie Palatini
Illustrator: Jack E Davis
Publisher: HarperCollins
Ages: 4-8
ISBN: 13 9780061253140

Goldie just THOUGHT she was safe when she ran away from the Three Bears.  But what really happened when she left the bear's cottage?  How did she manage to get tangled up with three rabbits?  And how are those three hares gonna get rid of their unwelcome guest?

Teaser Tuesday

Magic Beach

Author: Alison Lester

Illustrator: Alison Lester

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Ages: 4 to 8 years

ISBN: 9781741144888

With visions of one day retiring to Maine, I went in search of a great beach book and found this one.  This Aussie tale gives readers a glimpse of all the wonderful adventures to be had at the beach.  From building sandcastles to riding the waves, what is more magical than a day at Magic Beach?

Teaser Tuesday

Leaf Trouble

Author: Jonathan Emmett

Illustrator: Caroline Jayne Church

Publisher: The Chicken House

Ages: 3-8

ISBN: 9780545160704

You would think that the changing of the leaves wouldn't be such a big deal for a pair of squirrels.  But when the leaves start to turn red, yellow, and brown...well, they all fall down.  One squirrel and his sister try all kinds of ways to put them back on the trees until someone explains just how the seasons work.

Teaser Tuesday

The Night Shimmy

Authors: Gwen Strauss & Anthony Browne

Illustrator: A E T Browne & Partners

Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre

Ages: 4-8

ISBN: 9780552549363

Eric doesn't like to talk so he lets the Night Shimmy do it for him.  And when Eric doesn't want to eat his peas for supper, the Night Shimmy explains why he shouldn't.  The Night Shimmy even helps fight off the terrible licking lizards of Eric's dreams.  But how will the Night Shimmy handle a little girl named Marcia and her big parrot kite?

Teaser Tuesday

FANDANGO STEW
Author: David Davis
Illustrator: Ben Galbraith
Publisher: Sterling Publishing
ISBN: 9781402765278
Ages: 4-8

The trail is dusty and the West is wild, but the going really gets tough when you're hungry and all you have is one lone bean.  Slim and his grandson Luis visit the town of Skinflint with nothing but two rumbling stomachs and an idea to get something to eat.  Now if they can just convince  the local sheriff to let them set up camp and boil some water, maybe the town folk will show a little down home generosity.  Time to kick up your heels and sing along, "Chili's good, so is barbecue, but nothing's finer than Fandango Stew!"

Teaser Tuesday

• SUBSTITUTE CREACHER
• Author: Chris Gall
• Illustrator: Chris Gall
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• ISBN: 13 9780316089159
• Ages: 5 - 8 Years

Misbehaving students of Ms. Jenkins' class think they have it made when they refuse to stop their monkey business.  But they are in for a surprise one day when the new substitute creacher comes to the classroom!  Keth the glue-eater, Hank the prankster, and Zach the daydreamer are only some of the mischief makers who quickly find out what happens to kids to don't want to follow the rules.  

Teaser Tuesday

Nathaniel Fludd Beastologist: The Flight Of The Phoenix

Author: R L LaFevers

Illustrator: Kelly Murphy

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books

Ages: 6-9

ISBN:  13 970547408453

Nathaniel's world should have come to an end when he discovers his parents have been lost at sea.  But his life is only beginning when he has a chance to meet the world's last beastologist and Nathaniel soon finds himself in the mysterious land of Arabia.  Can he save the phoenix from extinction?  Is he brave enough to fight a Bedouin and rescue his guardian?

Teaser Tuesday



Down By The Cool Of The Pool

Author: Tony Mitton

Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees

Publisher: Orchard Books

Ages: 3-8

ISBN: 13: 9781841210988

Where's the best place to hang out when the sun is high?  Join Frog and his barnyard friends as they flip, flop, splish and splash all on a summer's day.  Who joins the dance in this silly animal parade?





Teaser Tuesday



Deep Sea Farm

Author: Dahlov Ipcar

Illustrator: Dahlov Ipcar

Publisher: Alfred A Knopf

ISBN: 13 978039490793

What would you do with a farm under the sea?  Would you herd the cowfish with your dogfish to keep them away from the sea lions?  Would sea horses pull the cultivator to harvest the sea grass and pull up the seaweeds?  And when the animals are caught in the fisherman's traps, what is a sea farmer to do?

A Stick Is An Excellent Thing

Author: Marilyn Singer

Illustrator:  LeUyen Pham

Publisher:  Clarion

Ages: 3-8

ISBN: 978-0-547-12493-3

In this age of electronic gadgets, what are children to do when all they have is the great outdoors and a stick?  Maybe there are adventures to be found by going back in time and joining in the fun of simple children's games requiring no batteries and just a wonderful imagination?  Do YOU know how to make mud soup?

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!

Teaser Tuesday

The Bossy Gallito

Author: Lucia M Gonzalez

Illustrator:  Lulu Delacre 

Publisher:  Scholastic

Ages: 4-8

ISBN: 10 043906757X

A bossy little rooster runs into trouble on the way to his uncle's wedding.  Should everyone stop what they are doing to help?  Will he make it to the wedding?  Does he figure out the magic word which can solve all his problems?

***Bilingual picture book***

Teaser Tuesday

My Little Sister Hugged An Ape

Authur: Bill Grossman

Iluustrator: Kevin Hawkes

Publisher: Knopf Books For Young Readers \

IBSN: 13: 9780517800171

Teaser: Little Sister isn't scared by wild animals so she decides to hug them all, from Ape to Zebra.  What will Little Sister hug next? A newt, an octopus, a porcupine?  What kind of trouble will all that hugging get her into?

News Flash!

When I began my blogging career last year, I really had no idea where this journey would lead me.  I have tried hard to entertain, amuse, and hopefully inspire some of my readers in regards to all things writing.  I love writing these posts and have come to the realization that I would like to change things up just a bit in the coming months.  Beginning in June, I will offer a variety of blog themes to maybe entice new followers to my site, but more importantly to keep providing quality posts to all the people who have been so supportive of my efforts thus far...

Sundays I am going to reserve for This & That...a mixture of poetry and/or writing quotes to inspire and uplift just when you might need it the most.  Feel free to chant any of the quotes as often as necessary in order to get the full effect of the inspirational boost!

Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays I will still attempt to inspire others with my thoughts on the writing life.  Writing is a lonely profession and hard enough without us beating ourselves up about the twists and turns on this path to publication...better to gather all the positive energy around us that we can!

During the A to Z Challenge I tried my hand at the traditional "book review". but with a little bit of a twist.  I enjoyed uncovering books with an engaging plot and passing on the news to fellow readers, so I will be continuing the tradition with Teaser Tuesdays.

At one of my other daytime jobs years ago, I attempted to increase employee moral by providing unusual tidbits from around the world on a variety of topics to amuse and astound everyone.  I discovered my friends in the writing community are interested in those types of tidbits as well,  so I will attempt to amaze and amuse you on my Wild Wednesdays!

Susanna Leonard Hill gave me the idea for this one.  I am trying to find time to work on my YA fantasy novel and she suggested maybe I needed to do installments on this blog.  I liked the idea as a way to keep me moving forward with the story so on Fridays I will attempt to tease you with the continuing saga of Lunadar:  Homeward Bound.  I'm not writing the full story on my blog because then you would never want...nor need...to buy the book when I get it published, but hopefully I can create enough interest in what happens in Lunadar that you will tell your friends to come by every week to check out the latest installment...;0)

There you have it...my new writing schedule...and true to my nature it is challenging and will keep me on my toes! Please give me your thoughts about what you think you might like about the new posting schedule or aren't too sure of...

And while some changes are a good thing...some things are best left alone...

You Be The Judge...

I enjoyed the challenge and fun of the "double header" theme of the A to Z Challenge so much that I got to thinking about my every day blog.  I love the wonderful comments that so many of you leave...letting me know you find my uplifting posts a highlight of your day.  I've thought about at least two other ways I can add to your reading enjoyment and thought I'd let YOU be the judge as to whether you would like me to add these tidbits to my blog...

In addition to my regular Tuesday posts, I could end by giving one of my "teasers" about a children's book I have come across.  Many people seemed to enjoy the ones I talked about during the challenge and I thought my readers might like me to continue doing this...YOU be the judge as to whether I add this feature or not...

Life can be a little crazy at times and humans tend to do some bizarre, funny things at the oddest moments.  I thought about adding some strange, kooky, funny tidbits on Wednesday as a way to help some of my readers get over "hump day".  Who knows, maybe one of you will turn a "Wild Wednesday" idea into an award winning story!  As I said, YOU be the judge as to whether I add this feature or not...

Thank you again for being the wonderful followers that you are and while I'm not trying to drastically change the way I do my blog, I'm also trying to avoid THIS...