Category: Giveaway

Beagles and Books is excited to be part of the blog tour for Juniper Kai: Super Spy written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Alexandra Neonakis.  Special thanks to Two Lions/Amazon Publishing and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review:
Super spy Juniper Kai is the only kid on her street.  Her parents are usually always willing to play with her but suddenly her mom is too tired and her dad is too busy. And they keep whispering to each other.  Using her keen detective skills and cool spy gadgets, Juniper is determined to uncover her parent’s secret.  Clues include mom’s phone conversation with grandma about a big change, dad putting together a piece of furniture in the guest room, and a note full of names.  Will Juniper solve the case?

Juniper Kai: Super Spy is a story with a lot of kid appeal.  Young readers will enjoy piecing the clues together to solve the mystery.  Kids will also love all of Juniper’s neat spy tools. The expressive illustrations of Juniper show her range of feelings from curiosity, resolve, concern, and at the end, excitement.   Look for Juniper Kai on September 3, 2019!

Meet the Author and Illustrator:

Beagles and Books is excited to be part of the blog tour for A Tiger Like Me written by Michael Engler and illustrated by Joelle Tourlonias.  Translated by Laura Watkinson, A Tiger Like Me is published by Amazon Crossing Kids, a new imprint for children’s books in translation.  Special thanks to Amazon Crossing Kids and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review:
Parents and teachers know the importance of imagination-driven play in building a child’s developmental skills.  A Tiger Like Me tells the story of a little boy engaging in pretend play as a tiger from morning until night. 

Narrated by the little boy, he shares his actions, thoughts, and feelings as he moves through typical daily activities in the body and mind of a tiger.  When he wakes up, he yawns, stretches and lets out a loud roar. At breakfast, he leaps up to his feeding spot to eat. When he plays, he jumps and pounces. Spying a cake on the kitchen table, he lurks and prowls so he will go unnoticed.  And tigers refuse to brush their teeth or take baths so the little boy shows he can be not only quick but also headstrong. 

Although tigers are usually solitary animals, this tiger enjoys time with his family, for he and his parents engage in arts and crafts making tigers of course! And when it is time for the little tiger to go back to his den, he decides that it is more fun to cuddle and snuggle with mom and dad. 

Young children will roar with delight when listening to a read aloud of A Tiger Like Me.  What I especially liked about this story is while the text conveyed the little boy’s imagination, the illustrations showed reality.  I also appreciated that the boy’s parents accepted his extended pretend play. When he made a poor choice, he was sent to his room as a consequence but they never squelched his imagination. 

A Tiger Like Me publishes on September 1, 2019.

Meet the Author, Illustrator and Translator:

Beagles and Books is excited to be part of the blog tour for What If Everybody Thought That? written by Ellen Javernick and illustrated by Colleen Madden. The third book in the What if Everybody? series, it will release on August 27, 2019.  Special thanks to Two Lions Publishing and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Publisher’s Summary:
If you see someone in a wheelchair, you might think he or she couldn’t compete in a race. But…you might be wrong. What if you see a child with no hair? Do you think she is embarrassed all the time? How about a kid who has a really hard time reading? Do you think that means he’s not smart? You might think so. But…you might be wrong. With clear prose and lighthearted artwork, this companion book to the bestseller What If Everybody Did That? explores the preconceived notions we have about the world and encourages kids to be more thoughtful.

Review:
Everyone has thoughts about us that we never hear.  These preconceived opinions are based on our stature or appearance and while never vocalized, silence and body language can still affect our self-esteem.

Rather than dwell on these negative thoughts, we should believe in our abilities and show them that they are wrong.  

What If Everybody Thought That? does more than just foster inner confidence.  The story has a higher goal of challenging children (and adults) to stop making negative assumptions.  For example, instead of presuming that individuals who are short can’t excel at basketball, we should not form an opinion before seeing them on the court.   In another scenario, children all balk at eating foods that are new to them.  By opening themselves to a new opportunity, kids discover that unfamiliar foods can be delicious.  

My school district has adopted Conscious Discipline, which is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary self-regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning, school culture, and discipline.  One of Conscious Discipline’s seven skills is positive intent.  Having positive intent means seeing the best in others.  What If Everybody Thought That? teaches that if we think the best of others, everyone has the potential to be their best self.  

While the theme of support and encouragement is conveyed clearly through the text, the illustrations drive the message home.  Hidden in each spread are uplifting and motivating words and phrases.  Children will love searching for these messages after a read aloud.  With the new school year beginning in a few weeks, I can’t wait to share What If Everybody Thought That?  with teachers and students to remind us to think positively about ourselves and others.   

One lucky winner will receive all three books in the What If Everybody? series: What If Everybody Did That?, What if Everybody Said That? and What If Everybody Thought That?, courtesy of Two Lions (U.S. addresses).  Enter the giveaway below by Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 8 p.m.  U.S. addresses only.

Praise for Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves!

When Charlie goes to the shelter to adopt a pet, he did not plan to come home with a dragon.  Rosie does fit his criteria, for she is silly, active, and playful.  Rosie and Charlie quickly bond enjoying outdoor activities such as flying kites, playing soccer or skateboarding.  Being a responsible pet owner, Charlie wants to ensure an enjoyable and safe pool outing which means a lot of preparation (swim gear, sunblock and snacks), rules (no drinking, no running, no diving or belly flops) and close supervision of Rosie (no eating of gummy skunks until after swimming).

A good teacher, Charlie provides lessons on blowing bubbles and practicing flutter kicks but teaching these skills to a dragon can be problematic especially when other swimmers are in the pool.  Ever patient, Charlie is encouraging as Rosie embarks on her first solo swim.  When Rosie shows trepidation and concern, Charlie is right there by Rosie’s side to be her support.  

Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves is an amusing laugh out loud picture book with a lot of heart.  Amid the giggles, it is a story about the genuine love between a boy and his pet.  Charlie is caring and responsible and Rosie is determined to make her boy happy and shows remorse when she makes mistakes (gummy skunks are just so tempting).  The colorful, eye catching artwork will appeal to young readers and adorably illustrates Charlie and Rosie’s sweet relationship.

As a reading specialist, it warmed my heart when I saw Charlie reading to Rosie and his friends at the end.  Now that Rosie has conquered swimming (well, sort of), perhaps, Rosie’s next adventure is learning to read?  When you have a best friend who believes in you, anything is possible (even if your best friend is a dragon)!