Reader's Favorite Gold Medal Children's Picture Book Award Winner - Isabella Babysits Baxter

 "Isabella Babysits Baxter" is a 2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Children - Picture/Pop up category! 

Readers’ Favorite is proud to announce that "Isabella Babysits Baxter" by Melissa Perry Moraja is a Gold Medal Winner in the Children - Picture/Pop up category in our 2015 International Book Award Contest.

"Funny, entertaining and educational!"




The 2015 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries.

Readers' Favorite has become the fastest growing book review and award contest site on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

In addition to reviewing for some of the biggest names in the literary industry, as well as the first time independent author, they host a respected award contest which features entries from new authors to NYT best-sellers, as well as celebrities like Jim Carrey and Henry Winkler.

About Isabella Babysits Baxter
Six year old Isabella usually is the one who has a babysitter. But when her enormous puppy named Baxter creates a mess and prevents her mom from working, Isabella's mom asks her to babysit him. And Isabella knows exactly how to do it! Or does she? First, Isabella gets Baxter dressed...TWICE! Next they have a snack, but not without a CRASH and a BANG. And that’s just the beginning. Join Isabella in her very first picture book filled with lots of humor and adventure as she tries to keep Baxter from making a bigger mess. 

Isabella Babysits Baxter has also been awarded:
Mom's Choice Award
B.R.A.G. Medallion Award

$50 Children's Book Blast Giveaway - Caterpillar Shoes

About the Book

Title: Caterpillar Shoes | Author: Angela Muse | Illustrator: Ewa Podles | Publication Date: March 26, 2015 | Publisher: 4EYESBOOKS | Pages: 28 | Recommended Ages: 0 to 8
Summary: Patches is an energetic caterpillar who is trying to decide what activities to do. In the end, she doesn't put any limits on herself and lives her life to the full.

Amazon * Goodreads

About the Author: Angela Muse

Angela was born in California to a military family. This meant that she got used to being the "new kid" in school every couple of years. It was hard trying to make new friends, but Angela discovered she had a knack for writing. In high school Angela began writing poetry and song lyrics. Expressing herself through writing seemed very natural. After becoming a Mom in 2003, Angela continued her storytelling to her own children. In 2009 she wrote and published her first rhyming children's book aimed at toddlers. Since then she has released several more children's picture books and released her first young adult romance series, The Alpha Girls, in 2012. Angela's husband, Ben Muse writes suspense/thriller books that can also be found on Amazon. Check out what else she's working on by visiting www.4eyesbooks.com

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* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: May 6, 11:59 pm, 2015 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Angela Muse and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Children's Book Review - Billy and Monster's Golden Christmas by David Chuka

About the Book:
They're back! 

Discover what new adventures Billy and Monster get up to in the latest episode in this exciting series. 

It's almost Christmas and Billy's looking forward to his present from Uncle Leland from England. On Christmas day, Billy isn't too excited when Uncle Leland gives him a golden pen but gives Cousin Bob a big monster truck. How could Uncle Leland do this to him? Billy's not a happy bunny and his ingratitude makes Uncle Leland sad 
and his Dad mad. 

A game of hide and seeks plunges Billy into a world filled with snow, happy monsters and houses made of chocolate. 

You will love reading this story to your loved ones as they get to learn the most important thing about this special holiday season. Expect funny illustrations, laugh out loud moments and touching moments in this funny book for kids. 

My Review:
Billy and Monster's Golden Christmas is hilariously entertaining and colorful! Kids will be entertained through the imagination of Billy leaving his world and going to his farting friend Monsters world. In the end, Billy discovers a very valuable lesson the true meaning of Christmas! This is the second book I've had the pleasure to read authored by David Chuka and it won't be my last! The first two books are just plain silly. Mr. Chuka has quite the imagination, which kids will love. But he also has a talent for teaching important lessons such as what Christmas is really about! I highly recommend this book if your looking for a fun holiday read with a wonderful Christmas ending!

Make sure to watch the video trailers for his most popular books on this Amazon Page and you’ll get a little taste of why his books have garnered more than 300 glowing reviews.

He has so many stories to tell and can’t wait to share them with you and your loved ones.

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Gerbs in the House $50 Book Giveaway

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  Title: Gerbs in the House: The Dilly Dally Bedtime Routine 
  Published: September 15, 2014Author:  Lydia LukidisIllustrator: Heather Cook
  Photographer:  Bailey Thompson 
  

  • Publisher: Gerbil Meets Mouse Publishing 

  • 44 page children's picture book

About Book:
Mocha (daddy) says it’s bedtime, but Petri (son) wants nothing to do with it!  Reading books, singing lullabies and juggling plates are only a few of the things Mocha does in an attempt to tire his son out. Although Petri is entertained, he still refuses to sleep. He just wants to dilly dally! Worn out by his son’s shenanigans and silly antics, will Mocha ever get Petri to bed before losing his marbles?

My Review:
**I was provided a PDF copy of this children's book for my honest review. My review is not from a writer's critique, but from a kid-friendly review.

This children's picture book is truly a creative rhyming piece! The colorfully illustrated front cover drew me in, and the illustrated pages combined with photos of two real live gerbils makes this children's picture book very entertaining and quite hilarious. It reminded me of when I was a child and dressed my cats up. 

My three year old enjoyed the pictures. My ten year old daughter enjoyed the rhyming story. It was a little longer (44 pages) compared to other children's picture books (32 pages) they've read. But the photos and illustrations were entertaining enough to keep their attention!

If your kids are gerbil lovers, they'll definitely be inspired and entertained by this children's book.

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Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf (Santa's Izzy Elves #4) Book Review

I was given an e-copy of this children's book for my honest review, which I've shared below.

Title: Frizzy the S.A.D. Elf (Santa’s Izzy Elves #4) |  Author: Dorothea Jensen  |  Illustrator: Shayne Hood  |Publication Date: August 2, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 34 | Recommended Ages: 4 to 10

My Book Review:
The author did a wonderful job with creating such an entertaining holiday rhyming story for children to enjoy! The illustrations are simple and compliment the story. 

I'm not a hundred percent sure what lesson the author was trying to teach. At first, I thought it was how easy it is for people to get attached to their creations. I know I do! I have the hardest time selling my hand painted wine glasses. But once I do, it brings so much joy to me to see someone else really appreciating my creative art piece. In this story, the solution in the end, didn't reflect that. Instead, Frizzy got to keep one of her dolls.

Even though there wasn't a clear learning lesson, it still is such a cute rhyming story that brings a different spin to one of Santa's elves lives. Kids love Christmas stories! Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf is a great Christmas gift!

Santa’s Izzy Elves have won a number of literary awards.  Dizzy, the Stowaway Elf received Honorable Mention in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards and has been Story Book Approved.  Plus, the e-book editions of Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf and Blizzy, the Worrywart Elf both received the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award, honoring “the best in family-friendly media”.

Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf is available for purchase

Amazon (Paperback)  | Amazon (Kindle) |  Barnes & Noble

Sing-Along Construction Song Book Review

  

I was given a copy of this children's book for my honest review, which I've shared below.

Author: Louise Lintvel
Illustrator: Julie Sneeden
Publication Date: August 11, 2014
Publisher: Independent
Page Count: 32
Recommended Age: 1 to 5 years old

Free audio download of the construction song available at www.louiselintvelt.com





My Book Review:
This children's book is colorfully illustrated and fun to read! And the audio song that accompanies it is such a wonderful compliment. 

I read the book first, and then listened to the audio song that came with it. Right after, I shared it with my two year old daughter. It kept her fully entertained. In fact, within seconds of the audio song playing, she got up and started to dance (smiling from ear to ear). Once it was finished, I had her sit by my side, listening to me read the story to her and allowing her to look at the pictures on each page.  Both kept her attention.

The song reminds me of Thomas the Train. It's fun and simple, with a catchy beat. The illustrations were perfect for this age. They were colorful and kid-like.

There was one part of the book which I wasn't a huge fan of and that was the way the text was shown (mom view versus a kid view). On every page, the text was placed within a box that was supposed to look like it was underground. However, it actually made me think of ancient scroll paper, giving it an ancient time feel. That being said I don't feel it has any affect on any boy and girl construction enthusiasts enjoyment of the story and illustrations. 

As such, I give this book a 5 Star! 

About Author Louise Lintvelt  

I am from South Africa and I live in a city called Pretoria. I am a Chemical Engineer by day and a children’s book writer by night. I am married to a wonderful man and we have a beautiful two year old daughter called Allegra. I love writing stories for my daughter, who is a constant inspiration. 
I have always loved reading. My childhood was filled with books and you would often find me crouched the corner of my room devouring the pages of my favourite book. I lived for Tuesday mornings as this would bring with it the excitement of a trip to the local library for story hour and the opportunity to take home a new book. I was the local librarian’s worst nightmare. I would arrive a few minutes early to check that she had not mistakenly chosen a book that had already been read in story hour.
  
I was a very bossy three year old with an insatiable appetite for books! This has not really changed much in the last twenty seven years. Dr. Seuss was my absolute favourite and to say that my copy of One, Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish was well read would be an understatement.

When it comes to writing, my daughter is my biggest inspiration. I love seeing her face light up with excitement when we sit down to read a book before bedtime. My daughter was fascinated by giraffes after we went on a safari trip in late 2012. This planted the seed for my picture book called How Andrew Got His Spots which is a rhyming adaptation of a story I originally wrote in the third grade. My daughter has since grown into a healthy two year old with a passion for aircraft which was the inspiration for writing Goodnight, Sleep Tight, What a Wonderful Flight.

I am sure that there are many parents in the world (myself included), who are quite decidedly sick and tired of reading the same favourite picture book night after night. I believe that the words of Oscar Wilde best describe how children should feel about picture books when he said, If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.
Happy Reading!

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Amazon Author Page  |  Author Blog  |  Google+

Prince Iggy Children's Book Blast and $50 Cash Giveaway

About the Book

Title: Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer | Author: Aldo Fynn | Illustrator: Richie Vicencio | Publication Date: November 5,2013 | Publisher: Boa Press, LLC. | Pages: 156 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12 Summary: All Iggy Rose wants is for the kids at the Naysayer Academy to like him, and one special girl in particular. But instead, he gets teased and taunted. Every day, he eats alone in the cafeteria and gets beaten up after school on the playground. But when a cruel prank leads to Iggy's escape from the academy, a wild, unimaginable adventure begins. Why is King Naysayer offering a hefty reward for Iggy's capture? When Iggy joins forces with an eclectic cast of characters, he discovers the answer. But before he can escape from the kingdom of Naysayer, Iggy must first reclaim what is rightfully his. Does this sad, lonely boy have the courage to battle the biggest school bully, a mean headmistress, and a greedy, cruel king? Will Iggy finally believe in himself and discover his true destiny?  

Purchase

Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Print)

 

The Buzz

“An entertaining fantasy with a quirky, inventive storyline that shows how things invariably turn out badly for bullies.” Kirkus Reviews

“The book is going to be devoured by readers of any type, whether they're looking for some fun fiction, a comical read, or a page-turner.” 5 Star Review, San Francisco Book Review

"Fynn's book reminded me a bit of Harry Potter, but he adds his own cast of characters and a boy (Iggy), fun dialogue, and an amazing story that you can't help but root for. If you are looking for a great book to get your kids hooked on, then I recommend the Prince Iggy series." 5 Star Review, The Pen and Muse Book Reviews, Amazon

“Has the flavor of a Dickens and a Harry Potter story while remaining wholly original. It just shares those characteristics that make it such an enjoyable read. This book should be on every child's must read list and if I'm to be perfectly honest it should be on every adults list too. It has enough subtle adult humor well within its boundaries to make it an entertaining read for the parents too. It certainly has a modern message. It shows just how heartbreaking bullying can be by children as well as adults. It's a story about losing yourself and finding yourself. It shows being a bully doesn't pay off but believing in yourself does." 5 Star Review, April S., Amazon

 

About the Author: Aldo Fynn

Aldo Fynn enjoys writing wacky, fantastical stories. Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer is his debut novel. It's the first book in the Adventures of Prince Iggy Series. He's also written two wacky, laugh-out-loud picture books. He lives under his desk and promises he won't come out until Book 3 in the series is complete. Which is a shame because his desk is based in Los Angeles, where it's sunny and 70 degrees most of the year.

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* $50 Book Blast Giveaway

Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: July 4, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, Boa Press, LLC. and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway