This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Stephen Bowling. All opinions are my own.

Winslow Scarecrow: Scarecrows are Supposed to be Scary
Written by Stephen G. Bowling
Illustrated by Vitali Dudarenka
Ages: 4+ | 34 Pages
Publisher: Valley of Mexico | ISBN: 978-1-950957-32-3
Publisher’s Book Summary: He’s friendly as can be! But when his kindness causes a stir, can this cornfield guardian use his noggin to make everyone happy?
Winslow, the scarecrow, wouldn’t hurt a fly. Full of song and wearing a silly hat, the bespectacled fellow stretches out his arms and welcomes the crows to rest their weary wings. But he’s shocked when the other straw-filled-scarers get upset because they think he’s falling down on the job. Listening to his brightly dressed pals argue over what is proper; he thinks hard to come up with a better way. And hoping to find an agreeable solution, he spies the fallen corn on the ground going to waste, and the kernel of an idea begins to sprout. Can Winslow protect the farmer’s crops and still welcome the rascally rooks?
Winslow Scarecrow is a charming children’s picture book. If you or your child like resolving conflict, seeing problems from all sides, and bringing people together, then you’ll adore Stephen G Bowling’s beautifully illustrated tale. Buy Winslow Scarecrow to be a ray of sunshine today!

Enter for a chance to win one of six prizes! Four people will win a paperback of Winslow Scarecrow: Scarecrows are Supposed to be Scary and two lucky winners will win the grand prize of Winslow Scarecrow, Grandma’s House is Haunted, and Calvin the Christmas Tree!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Ryan Cowan. All opinions are my own.

Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal
Written by Ryan Cowan
Illustrated by Halo Rife
Ages: 9-12 | 252 Pages
Publisher: For the Northern Star Publishing (2022) | ISBN-13: 9788351181905
Publisher’s Book Summary: Elliott attends his third-grade class like any other boy, except that Elliott isn’t like any other boy. Endowed with magical powers, Elliott belongs to a secret world called Moonstone—and trouble is brewing. When the evil witch Noir steals The Halloween Crystal, it’s up to Elliott and his third-grade teacher, Mr. Moonbeam, to stop Noir from invading the non-magical world on Halloween night. But can Elliott learn to master his powers in time?

Ryan Cowan works as an educator in Los Angeles. He received his Master of Education in Urban Teaching degree (EdM) from UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. For more information see https://www.instagram.com/sloanmoonbeam/

Where did you get the inspiration for Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal?
Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal was inspired by several things: my love of
Halloween, my career as a teacher, and the popular 80s cartoon, He-Man and the
Masters of the Universe. I wanted to write a story with magic and mystery that also
taught valuable lessons to kids because that’s what the He-Man cartoons did for me
when I was a kid.

What was your writing process like for this book?
It is very hard for me to remember the writing process for Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal because it happened in spurts. I started writing the book during the summer of 2011, and I remember that there was no plan for the book. In other words, the story just came out of nowhere – including the characters. I would sit each weekend and write a chapter and out of nowhere I’d
think of a character. I remember creating the ghost Ginny and being very pleased –
crediting it to good luck. Then, around 2013-14, I got writer’s block. Frustrated, I
stopped writing and resume the story until summer of 2017. I used graphic organizers
to construct the last 25% of the book and began writing again. Within a year, the book
was finished, and I was pleased with the ending. I felt a sense of accomplishment that I
had never felt before. Writing a book is a hard journey but worth the effort!

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
When someone tells me they loved my story, I’m on cloud nine. I also love seeing it hit #1 on Amazon!

What are you working on now?
I have finished the sequel, Mr. Moonbeam and the Legends of Moonstone. Currently, I’m editing the sequel and soon I’ll send it off to a professional editor. Then, it will go through illustration, design, and finally publishing!

What is your favorite book?
I think Gone with the Wind is a descriptive masterpiece and The Alchemist is full of wisdom. Those books have inspired me greatly. Charlotte’s Web is my favorite children’s book. I try to read as much as I can!

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal and an exclusive, limited-edition themed T-shirt!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and W.W Norton.  All opinions are my own.

Sea Without a Shore
Written by Barb Rosenstock
Illustrated by Katherine Roy
Ages: 4+ | 32 Pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton | ISBN: 9781324016076
Publisher’s Book Summary: A single piece of seaweed buoys a fascinating ecosystem in this nonfiction picture book from award-winning creators Barb Rosenstock and Katherine Roy.
From bryozoans and snails to shrimps, eels, swordfish, and whales, the Sargasso Sea provides a home to countless types of marine life, thanks to the prevalence of microalgae called sargassum. Following a single blade of this extraordinary seaweed as it grows and spreads, readers see what it provides for the sea’s organisms: a base for hydroids and tube worms to filter and feed, shelter for anemones and nudibranchs and their nutritious waste, hunting grounds for crabs and amphipods, and a source of nourishment and protection for the fish, birds, whales, and reptiles that feed on these smaller creatures.
Through a widening scope on this intricate interdependence, Barb Rosenstock celebrates one of our planet’s most diverse and important ecosystems and the unassuming seaweed that sustains it. Gorgeously illustrated with Katherine Roy’s rich, eye-catching artwork, Sea Without a Shore is as fluid and rhythmic as the currents that shape this tidal home.

Enter for a chance to win a hardcover edition of Sea Without a Shore, autographed by both Barb Rosenstock and Katherine Roy.
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and David Horn. All opinions are my own.

Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother
Written by David Horn
Illustrated by Judit Tondora
Ages: 6-10 | 96 Pages
Publisher: David Horn | ISBN: 979-8-9885430-3-9
Publisher’s Book Summary: Fairytale Land’s baddest girl is about to head to a prince’s ball. A modern, twisted retelling of Cinderella. Once upon a time in Fairytale Land, there lived Sylvia Locke—the baddest girl around. So bad that her grandparents have shipped her off to live with her uptight Aunt Marjorie and two goody-two-shoes step-cousins. When an invitation to the prince’s ball arrives, Sylvia is determined to attend at any cost, even if it means enlisting the help of an evil fairy godmother (against Fairytale Land laws, but has that ever stopped her?). Along this chaotic quest, Sylvia stumbles into some unexpectedly imperfect friends. But will she also learn to appreciate those who truly care for her?
The second book in the Tairy Fails series of modern, twisted retelling that puts a hilarious, rebellious, new spin on the classic fairy tales. Perfect for elementary school kids and early chapter book readers.

David Horn lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, and a funny dog named Trixie. He is the author of the popular Eudora Space Kid early reader humorous sci-fi chapter book series. He enjoys making kids laugh.
Learn more at https://www.eudoraspacekid.com/.

Where did you get the inspiration for Sylvia Locke's Cinderella and the Evil
Fairy Godmother?
Sylvia Locke started out as stories I told my kids when they were at chapter book age
during dinner or on dog walks. I started with Eudora Space Kid stories, my first series,
but then they asked for a fairy tale, and I couldn’t just use Eudora, so I told a story about
what happened after Goldilocks and the Bears had set all these traps for the next
intruder which ended up as the first Sylvia book, Sylvia Locke and the Three Bears.
Sylvia Locke ended up being even more poorly behaved than Goldilocks!
And then my kids wanted to hear more about Sylvia Locke. So, in the next story I told
them, it just factually made sense that after breaking into a neighbor’s house her
grandparents would send her away to live with other family who could actually watch
over her, and it just became Sylvia Locke's Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother.
I still tell my kids stories sometimes, and they’ve even heard ridiculous crossovers of
Eudora and Sylvia.

What was your writing process for this book?
Because all my stories start as improv oral storytelling, I have a rough outline before I
start writing. Then I have to start fleshing out a couple of paragraphs into a chapter
book. So, then I have to start fleshing out some more ideas. Like, in the original told
story, Sylvia’s step cousins or even the neighbor/narrator guy didn’t have as big a part,
but I sort of have some more fun with them during the writing process.

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
My favorite part is making kids laugh and hopefully getting them to love reading. Getting
hooked at an early age is so important.

What are you working on now?
I’m actually working on a few young adult novels that I wanted to try. They should be out
first half of 2024. And then there are some more Sylvia and Eudora books in the works
as well!

What is your favorite book?
I was recently reminded of the “One Saturday” series by Barbara Baker and re-read
them recently and I think this is such an amazing early chapter book series (One
Saturday Morning, One Saturday Afternoon, and One Saturday Evening). They are so
funny and poignant for kids and adults alike.​

Enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother and a $25 Amazon gift card!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Erika Lewis. All opinions are my own.

The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts
Written by Erika Lewis

A 2023 Teacher Favorites Winner (6th-8th Grade) for the Children's Book Council
Brimming with Celtic mythology, action, and danger, Erika Lewis's Kelcie Murphy and The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts introduces readers to a new kind of magical school and a warrior who must choose with which side of an epic battle her destiny will lie.

The Otherworld is at war. The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts trains warriors. And Kelcie Murphy―a foster child raised in the human world―is dying to attend.

A place at AUA means meeting Scáthach, the legendary trainer of Celtic heroes. It means learning to fight with a sword. It means harnessing her hidden powers and―most importantly―finding out who her parents are, and why they abandoned her in Boston Harbor eight years ago.

When Kelcie tests into the school, she learns that she’s a Saiga, one of the most ancient beings in the Otherworld. Secretive, shunned, and possessed of imposing elemental powers, the Saiga are also kin to the Otherworld's most infamous traitor.

But Kelcie is a survivor, and she’ll do whatever it takes to find her parents and her place in their world. Even if that means making a few enemies.

Erika Lewis is the author of the Kelcie Murphy Series from Starscape, The Color of Dragons from HarperTeen, Game of Shadows from Tor Books, Firebrand from Legendary Comics, and more, many of which have been published around the world.
She grew up in Virginia before going off to Tennessee for school. While at Vanderbilt University, studying Math and Theatre, she spent a semester abroad, visiting haunted ruins and magical forests that would forever spark her imagination and leave behind an insatiable need to travel.
An internship at CNN led to exciting years working in television, developing scripted and reality shows for various studios and networks. Then, one day, Erika knew it was time for her to write on her own, to build fantastical worlds that stayed with her after every return from a trip, and also to play her part in inspiring the next generation of readers and writers.
For more information, visit erikalewis.com

Where did you get the inspiration for KELCIE MURPHY and the RACE for the
REAPER’S KEY?
The Race for the Reaper’s Key is the third book of the Kelcie Murphy trilogy. The
original inspirational for the series came from a passion for Celtic mythology and a trip
to the isle of Skye, to the real location of the school that was the launching point for The
Academy for the Unbreakable Arts. In the lore, the Irish teaching warrior goddess,
Scáthach taught Ireland’s most formidable heroes how to fight with magical weapons
and extreme martial arts. Her school was called The Fortress of Shadows. The ruins are
called Dunscaith Castle
I visited the Isle of Skye and stood on the Bridge of Leaping (if you’ve read book one or
two then you know what that is.) I knew when I was standing there, waiting for the
bridge to toss me off, that I wanted to recreate Scáthach’s school in the Otherworld. To
create a school that trains soldiers with weapons and martial arts, who possess powers
inspired by Irish mythology. Things like shapeshifting, controlling the elements,
telekinesis, telepathy, etc.
The main story for the Race for the Reaper’s Key specifically involves the big bad villain
from Book One, King Balor, who is also a figure in Irish mythology. The Never-Ending
War is going to end once and for all, either with the complete annihilation of both sides,
and everyone Kelcie loves, or with peace.

What was your writing process for this book?
Step 1: Research! This entire series necessitated a lot of research, which I love.
Of course, I let my imagination travel off the mythological descriptions of
creatures and events from the legendary pasts, but my first step was to discover
whatever I could about the Irish Mythological Cycle.
Step 2: World-Building for the two lands in the Otherworld, the Lands of Summer
and Winter, and the Never-Ending War.
Step 3: Character Development: Who was going to take the reader into the
Otherworld? Somena from the Otherworld or someone who discovers it? In the
end, Kelcie was abandoned in the human world, but originally from the Lands of
Summer, something she discovers early on in Book 1, The Academy for the
Unbreakable Arts.
Step 4: Write the books. That took 5 years.

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
My favorite part of writing for children is when I am on school visits, and I see their excited
faces when I hand them a book. Reading is a gift. Comprehending the words on a page, letting
imagination create the scenes playing out on the page rather than a director telling you what it
should look like, it’s an experience that can only be had through reading. When I see the love and
desire all children have to read, even if they’re struggling learning how, and see the inspiration
from my visit, that’s the best part. I had a hard time learning to read and have some techniques
that can help with that. If I can even get one child diving in for another chance at loving books,
then, to me, I’ve won the lottery.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on something NEW! I can’t believe I get to do that. I’ve been on deadline with
Kelcie for five years. It’s exciting and scary too. My next project is a middle grade fantasy
mystery. Can’t tell you too much, but it’s so much fun. I’m also on sub with a graphic novel
series that got its beginnings from Salem, Massachusetts and the witch trials.

What is your favorite book?
This question is SO hard. I have so many. In the children’s space, I loved J.C. Cervantes fantasy
Storm Runner series. I also loved Janet Fox’s contemporary Carry Me Home. C.S. Lewis’s The
Chronicles of Narnia was a favorite of mine when I was the age I’m writing for now. I love
wandering through lands I’ve never heard of, in both real life and my imagination.

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a signed hardcover set of all three books in the Kelcie Murphy series, including the final installment: Kelcie Murphy and the Race for the Reaper's Key! 
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Expound Publicity. All opinions are my own.

A Tall Tale- How the Ostriches Got Their Long Necks and Long Legs
Written by Scott Sollers
Illustrated by Alejandro Echavez
Ages 4+ | 38 Pages
Publisher: Stephanie’s Stories (2024)
​ISBN-13: 9781637557730
Publisher’s Book Summary: This is the story of two rival communities living in valleys separated by a ridge. The Have-Alls live in a fertile, beautiful valley with their leader, Chief Somebody, and their prized pets, the Squatz. In the other valley, one more desolate and barren, live the No-Haves and their leader, Chief Nobody.

​Where did you get the inspiration for A Tall Tale?
This and all of my 13 stories were conceived by me from scratch from thinking and visualizing a setting where a group of characters interacted in a way that promoted an interesting story line that presented a conflict or challenge of sorts, a resolution and a successful outcome.

What was your writing process for this book?
I would visualize the story line and tell the story to my daughter at bedtime. She always liked my stories and after telling her the story, I would write an outline of the story so I would remember it and eventually bought a blank hardback book and hand wrote thirteen of them out longhand and did simple illustrations for myself as a keepsake.

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
The joy and laughter they promote!

What are you working on now?
I am working with my publisher and marketing consultant to complete various books. Two have been published, a third is in production and the fourth has been edited and the artwork has commenced.

What is your favorite book?
Ever? Probably “Blindside” by Michael Collins. I love all his writing!

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a copy of A Tall Tale: How Ostriches Got Their Long Necks and Long Legs and a $25 Amazon gift card!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Expound Publicity.  All opinions are my own.

Willard DoGooder and the Trail of Friends
Written by Jen Kirkley
Illustrated by M. Brayer
Ages: 0+ | 38 Pages
Publisher: Palmetto Publishing | ISBN: 979-8-82292-014-9
Publisher’s Book Summary: Willard DoGooder has trouble making friends in his new class. Things are just … different. One day, he spots a magical trail and sets out on an adventure, where he meets four new friends along the trail. Through these friendships, Willard remembers his teacher’s advice on how to think through differences and appreciate each other just as we are.

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Willard DoGooder and the Trail of Friends!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review.  All opinions are my own.

A New Friend for Dragon
Written by Bianca Schulze
Illustrated by Samara Hardy
Ages 3+ | 32 Pages
Publisher: Clever Publishing (August 20, 2024)
​ISBN-13: 9798888670934
Publisher’s Book Summary: In this most recent tale in Clever’s beloved Dragon series, a new knight has come to town! Sir Fiero wears smooth, shiny armor and has a sparkling silver sword. Dragon wants to be friends with him and invites him to play. But Sir Fiero doesn’t believe that dragons and knights can be friends—or can they? A sweet tale of friendship and challenging stereotypes.

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a signed copy of A New Friend for Dragon, two Hydro Flask cups (one for a child and one for an adult), and Dragon stickers to decorate them.
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Jennifer Nestor.  All opinions are my own.

Webster the Beagle and Webster the Beagle and His Adventures at the River
Written by Frank Payne
Illustrated by Romney Vasquez
Ages 4+ 40 Pages
Publisher: Mascot Kids | ISBN-13: 9781637556733
Publisher’s Book Summary: This is the story of Webster the beagle and his adventures at the Rappahannock River, whose tale of hope will inspire you to never give up on your dreams. Sometimes, we think we’re lost when, really, we’re just hoping to be found.

Frank Payne’s energy and enthusiasm are contagious, so dog breeds such as beagles and Labradors are a perfect fit for him. He is an avid hunter, tennis player, and fan of all things James Madison University. Frank is also active in his community and enjoys exploring new ventures—from owning racehorses to oyster farming.
Frank is vice president and a minority owner of PD Brooks Company Inc., a traffic control company in Richmond, Virginia. He lives in Richmond with his wife, Caren, and their two dogs: Billy, the beagle, and River, the black Labrador retriever. On July 1, 2022, Frank adopted Billy the beagle from Richmond Animal Care Control (RACC). Billy was one of over four thousand beagles rescued from Envigo and adopted across the country. RACC was instrumental in protecting and fostering many of the beagles in Virginia.
For more information, visit https://www.websterthebeagle.com/

Where did you get the inspiration for Webster the Beagle and His Adventures at the River?
I wanted to carry on the legacy of Webster and since the river is one of my favorite places to be with my wife and dogs, it was the perfect continuation of his story. The river was also a big part of Webster’s life since we spend so much time there and some of our best memories with Webster happened there.

What was your writing process for this book?
I thought about the hobbies I have at the river combined with the interesting wildlife of living on the river and wanted the reader to experience them thru Webster.

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
I have a chance to think about what I enjoyed reading and how I learned as a child. But mainly having the opportunity for children to experience the love of a dog and the adventures you’ll have through reading about mine with Webster.

What are you working on now?
I do not have any current plans at the time for another book… but I didn’t preplan having a second book when I wrote Webster the Beagle but my wife and I did adopt a beagle puppy, Billy, so you never know!

What is your favorite book?
Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss

Enter for a chance to win a free signed copy of Webster the Beagle and Webster the Beagle and His Adventures at the River. ​

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Leona Cobham. All opinions are my own.

Flying Circus Through Thick and Thin
Written by Leona Cobham
Illustrated by Timothy O’Brien
Ages 7+ | 144 Pages
Publisher: Cobham Wings | ISBN-13: 9781739407032
Publisher’s Book Summary: A group of anthropomorphized airplanes encounter extreme weather while training at a mountain base. The Spitfire and the biplane, Woody, discover a suspicious mining operation. Tom, the F-14, accidentally gives their radio frequency to the antagonists at the mine. A snowstorm causes more problems. Tom makes amends by rescuing an F-117 Nighthawk.
The second story is a comic tale of mistaken identity. Spif feels responsible for the smooth running of a historical commemoration, but his plans are hampered by a series of hilarious errors involving statues of Wellington and Napoleon.
In the final story, when the friends are invited to an air show in the height of summer they become impatient with a Chinook who is garnering attention. They take to the sky, and the Tomcat lights his afterburners. When a fire starts, he assumes it was his fault. He overcomes his shame to help with the firefight. Spif must put his pride aside and accept assistance from the popular Chinook. Each aircraft contributes to the effort with its own unique skill set. When they save some scouts who have been camping, it turns out it was the scouts who started the fire. They realize through making mistakes, we learn.

I'm excited to share my interview with Leona Cobham. She was immersed in the world of aviation from a young age; her grandfather, Sir Alan Cobham, made many first-time flights as well as pioneering the invention of air-to-air refueling. Leona absorbed this love of flying and travel. While working in a forest recuperation project in Brazil, Leona volunteered to teach in a shanty town. Here, a lifelong interest in understanding different learning styles began. On return to the UK, she began to write children’s fiction and worked part-time as a classroom reading assistant. Believing happy children learn best, Leona infuses her writing with humor, adventure, and a big feel-good factor. Her endearing characters overcome personal as well as technical challenges to succeed.

For more information, visit: www.cobhamwings.co.uk

Where did you get the inspiration for Flying Circus Airplane Adventures series?
Children are reading less than any previous generation; a third of children surveyed
reported being unable to find things to read that interest them. Yet research shows that
strong reading skills are a key predictor of successful learning. So, I felt inspired to
combine exciting fiction, which is enjoyable to read, with facts. Many children groan at
the thought of learning, but I honestly believe it’s possible to enjoy the process. If a child
feels happy, they learn so much better. By combining feel-good adventures with
technical information about aviation, my books put readers in this happy space where
they see how the airplanes pull off the feats they do. I’m passionate about aviation and I
want to share that excitement.
For example, in Dangerous Elements (Book 2), an airplane is lost and her pals on the
ground use radar to look for her. The lost airplane is a stealth plane, so she has a very
small radar return. My reader now has a visual on how radar works in the real world. I
believe it’s this combination of fact with fiction that can be effective in getting youngsters
back into reading.

What was your writing process like for this book?
I work out the driving question behind the story before anything else. This is embedded
in the plot. For children’s adventure books, I believe this has to take the form of a
physical challenge, a hero’s journey. Emotional challenges then arise on the back of this
physical challenge. I write an outline with the inciting incident, the motivating aspect that
locks the protagonist in, plot points for the unfolding action, and finally the resolution:
the new truth. Only then do I begin writing the book.
Early on, I decided I didn’t want to write for a traditional publisher but instead, write for
me and my readers! That means I can retain my integrity and write what I believe in. It
also means I have to take time out from writing for marketing. It’s well worth the price.

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
I write about the awesome nature of flight! I hope I inspire readers to follow careers
which push the boundaries of technology. The character arcs in my stories allow
readers to see the value of emotional intelligence and the benefit of collaborating with
others. And at the end of the day, my readers may develop a love of reading simply
because they felt good when they were engrossed in the world inside the book.
I think there’s a metaphor inherent in flight: my readers can get themselves off the
ground and fly high. They are in the pilot’s seat. By learning, they become empowered.

What are you working on now?
Book 3 in the Airplane Adventures series.
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What is your favorite book?
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach.

Enter the giveaway below for your shot at nabbing a copy of Flying Circus Through Thick and Thin.
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