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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and David Horn. All opinions are my own.
I like the optimistic feel of children’s books. And I like making my kids laugh.
~David Horn, author of Eudora Space Kid
Book Information
Eudora Space Kid: The Lobster Tale
Written by David Horn Illustrated by Deven Hoover Ages 6-10 | 88 Pages Publisher: David Horn ISBN-13: 9781736677421 Publisher’s Synopsis: Freedom for lobsters! The second in the Eudora Space Kid series: a hilariously funny, early reader sci-fi chapter book perfect for elementary-aged kids. Can Eudora and her best friend, Arnold, rescue her favorite lobsters from becoming the next meal at the spaceship’s New Year’s buffet? Eudora is a normal third-grader who just happens to live on a 36 deck AstroLiner. In SPACE! As a math and science whiz who’s been adopted by what you might call . . . aliens, she has normal ambitions—like being the chief engineer on an AstroLiner. But when her favorite lobsters on board appear on the menu at Chef Franklin’s dinner buffet, Eudora and her best friend, Arnold, hatch a plan to break them out. Will they save their crustacean friends? Or will they end up locked in the ship’s brig? Again . . . Author Interview
I'm excited to share my interview with David Horn. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, and a funny dog named Trixie. He is a huge science fiction fan and loves reading science fiction books from both the old and new greats. His daughters inherited his love of science fiction and love watching sci-fi shows like Star Trek, Babylon 5, Stargate, and Star Wars. The Eudora Space Kid early reader chapter book series started as funny stories he told his daughters at dinner to get milk to come out of their noses. He hopes your children love Eudora’s silly antics in space too and milk comes out of their noses too! For more information, visit https://www.eudoraspacekid.com/
Where did you get the inspiration for the Eudora series? It all started because one day at dinner, for some unknown reason, my kids asked me to tell them a story. They love books and reading, so maybe they thought they could get stories from me too? I’m not really sure. I’ve always been a science fiction fan, so I just started telling them a story about a girl their age living on this weird, but fun, spaceship with alien parents. I wanted the girl to be a positive role model, so the girl loved learning, but I also had to make them laugh. So… Eudora and her cunning plans! What was your writing process like for this book? The writing process for The Lobster Tale started during a subsequent dinner time. My kids asked me to tell a Eudora story again, but by then they would suggest things to me to include in the stories (kind of like writing prompts). And that night they suggested lobster. So… The Lobster Tale. Both Eudora books so far started out as storytelling improv comedy. What is your favorite part about writing books for kids? I like the optimistic feel of children’s books. And I like making my kids laugh. I hope I can make lots of kids laugh and interested in reading. What are you working on now? I’m actually getting the art started for Book 3. That will be exciting! We’ll get to meet some new shipmates in that one. What is your favorite book? The most fun and exciting book I have ever read is a Star Trek: The Next Generation young adult novel called Capture the Flag by John Vornholt. I thought that book was so exciting and the characters were so real, emotional, and colorful. My kids loved it too. Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Eudora Space Kid: The Lobster Tale and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!
One (1) grand prize winner receives
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Bright Lights Books. All opinions are my own.
Oi Gets Lost teaches that you can be friends with someone who is different than you, which is a wonderful lesson for all.
~Ali Dunn, Me Two Books
Book Information
Oi Gets Lost
Written by Lorna Likiza Illustrated by Yevheniia Melnyk Ages 6+ | 124 Pages Publisher: Bright Lights Books ISBN-13: 9781739985318 Publisher’s Synopsis: Set in Kenya, Oi is a naughty kitten who lives with his Mummy and siblings in an outdoor shed. Despite Mummy’s warnings, Oi has a tendency of wandering off and exploring. But one day, after nearly being attacked by a dog, Oi ends up in an unfamiliar neighborhood. And this time, he’s not sure he’ll be able to find his way back home…
Lorna Likiza is a Kenyan writer, tutor of French, and Founder of the Heroe Book Fair. Oi Gets Lost is her first published book. She considers literature as one of her passions and lives in Mombasa.
Me Two books Review
Themes: travel, adventure, friendship, celebrating differences
Get ready to set out on an African adventure with an adorable little kitten named Oi, who gets lost but finds friendship! Even though Oi's mother cautions him about leaving the safety of the shed where he and his brothers and sisters live, the draw of the food at the local market is too strong. But one day, an angry dog turns his usual market trip into an exciting and sometimes scary adventure. During this time he learns how to hunt for himself, gains a better understanding of humans and even makes a new friend. It's an excellent early chapter book with an interesting but gentle story perfect for the budding reader. Oi Gets Lost teaches that you can be friends with someone who is different than you, which is a wonderful lesson for all. It also gives a glimpse into the culture and daily life in Kenya. Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a copy of Oi Gets Lost!
Ten (10) winners receive:
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Purple Butterfly Press . All opinions are my own.
Book Information
Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win!
One (1) winner receives: A classroom set (30 copies) of The Kindness Machine will be sent directly to the winners' school of choice, along with autographed bookplates personalized for each student and the teacher. Five (5) winners receive: A copy of The Kindness Machine, with bookplates autographed by author Christina Dankert The giveaway ends April 22, 2022, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Bruce Nemovitz. All opinions are my own.
Book Information
Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Leaf & The Tree, autographed by Bruce Nemovitz!
Three (3) winners receive: An autographed copy of The Leaf & The Tree. The giveaway ends March 7, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review, K. I. Knight, and Jane R. Wood. All opinions are my own.
The students in this story learn they are more alike than they are different, and the reader will learn this as well.
~Ali Dunn, Me Two Books
Book Information
Finding Family Treasure
Written by K. I. Knight and Jane R. Wood Ages 7 and Up | 142 Pages Publisher: Melting Pot Press LLC ISBN-13: 9781737337102 Publisher’s Synopsis: “Who are we?” Ms. Johansson asks her class of fifth graders. Her perplexed students soon discover the lesson she wants them to learn. While studying the founding of their country, the class is challenged to understand the melting pot that makes up the American people-both past and present. With the help of a genealogist, students learn to navigate websites that introduce them to written records that have documented their families’ histories. One by one, the young people hear family stories connecting them to America’s earliest immigrants and settlers. As the story unfolds, some personal conflicts occur among the students, long-standing family tensions surface, and intergenerational relationships evolve. Complex issues such as privacy, adoption, diversity, immigration, slavery, and antisemitism are addressed in an age-appropriate manner. As a result of their research project, the students not only discover personal connections to the past but also, in some cases, to each other.
Kathryn Knight, who uses the pen name K I Knight, is an international award-winning Author, Genetic Genealogist, American Historian, Keynote Speaker, and Cemetery Preservationist. Over the last thirteen years, Knight has documented more than 20,000 hours researching the first recorded Africans to arrive in the English settlement of Virginia in 1619. Her passion is unrivaled and strongly evident in her published writings.
Her literary work includes Fate & Freedom, a five star – Gold medal historical trilogy detailing the lives of the 1619 Africans, as well as her nonfiction work, Unveiled – The Twenty and Odd, for which she was awarded the Phillis Wheatley Literary Award by the Sons and Daughters of the US Middle Passage. The mother of three adult children, Knight, lives in North Florida with her husband, Tom. Jane R. Wood is the author of five award-winning juvenile fiction books where she weaves history and science into stories filled with mystery, adventure, and humor for young readers ages 8-14. Students like her books because they’re fun. Teachers like them for their educational value. Wood is a former teacher, newspaper reporter, and television producer. She has a BA from the University of Florida and an MEd from the University of North Florida. Wood lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and is the mother of two grown sons and five grandchildren. Me Two Books Review
Themes: adoption, diversity, immigration, slavery, and antisemitism
This educational chapter book begins with a class assignment to learn about American History and ends with a 5th grade class that are bonded by their collective stories. Through genealogical research, the students discover their families' pasts and how the past affects the present. Interwoven into the narrative are historical facts about the founding of America. This book doesn't shy away from issues like slavery, racism, and antisemitism, but instead serves as a jumping off point for conversations with your child. The students in this story learn they are more alike than they are different, and the reader will learn this as well. Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a copy of Finding Family Treasure, along with a 1-hour genealogy consultation!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Jeanne Walker Harvey. All opinions are my own.
Whether you know of painter Alma Thomas or are learning of her work for the first time, this inspiring true story is a celebration of art, joy and determination.
~Ali Dunn, Me Two Books
Book Information
Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas
Written by Jeanne Walker Harvey Illustrated by Loveis Wise Ages 4-8 | 40 Pages Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 9780063021891 Publisher’s Synopsis: Celebrate the life-changing power of art in this inspiring and stunningly illustrated picture book biography of American artist Alma Thomas. Meet an incredible woman who broke down barriers throughout her whole life and is now known as one of the most preeminent painters of the 20th century. Told from the point of view of young Alma Thomas, readers can follow along as she grows into her discovery of the life-changing power of art. Ablaze with Color includes extensive backmatter with photos, an author’s and illustrator’s note, a timeline, and a list of sources and resources, which will be a great tool for parents, educators, and librarians. Perfect for Women’s History Month and Black History Month units.
Jeanne Walker Harvey has been a longtime docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Just like Alma Thomas, Jeanne believes that art brings us joy. Her other picture books include Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines and My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden’s Childhood Journey. Jeanne studied literature and psychology at Stanford University. She lives in Northern California.
Loveis Wise is an illustrator and designer from Washington, DC. They are currently based in Los Angeles and their work often speaks to themes of joy and liberation. Their work can be found through the New Yorker, Google, Adobe, and the New York Times. Me Two Books Review
Themes: breaking down barriers, art, real-life story, female empowerment
How does a young nature-loving girl born in the segregated South become the first African- American woman to have a painting displayed in the White House? Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas is a biographical picture book that beautifully answers this question. Alma learned early in life that helping others is important as her family and community provided the education and support that she was denied outside of her home. After her family moved to the North, she studied art and devoted her life to helping children through art education programs and opportunities. It wasn't until she was 70 years old that she switched her focus to her own work. Work that was inspiring, uplifting, and ablaze with color. Whether you already knew of painter Alma Thomas or are learning of her work for the first time, this inspiring true story is a celebration of art, joy and determination.
This book was a joy to read and a joy to look at. The illustrations by Loveis Wise capture the colors and happiness that are a hallmark of Alma's work beautifully. Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a classroom set of the picture book Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas!
Three (3) winners receive: A classroom set of Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas, autographed and personalized for each student and the teacher by Jeanne Walker Harvey (no more than 30 books per set).
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Blossom Children's Media Group, LLC . All opinions are my own.
Book Information
Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Friendly Bookshelf!
(7) Seven winners receive:
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Lindy Nelson. All opinions are my own.
With rhythmic, rhyming text, and simple phrasing, this is the perfect book for emerging readers and those learning English alike.
~Ali Dunn, Me Two Books
Book Information
Lindy Nelson is an American who has spent most of her adult life teaching English in China after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She enjoys arts and crafts, funny memes, eating candy, and of course, spending time with her greyhound, Clarence.
Me TWo Books Review
Themes: emerging readers, cultural awareness, animals, kindness
This is Clare is a fun, enjoyable picture book for all new readers. Spend the day with Clare the greyhound as she interacts with friends (both human and animal), prays at a temple, and gets into mischief at the market. Not only will children love Clare’s many adventures, but they will also learn about Chinese culture and kindness. In addition, This is Clare reinforces many of the fundamentals of reading instruction like phonemic awareness and repetition. With rhythmic, rhyming text, and simple phrasing, this is the perfect book for emerging readers and those learning English alike. Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a copy of This Is Clare, along with a virtual Questions and Answers session with the author!
One (1) grand prize winner receives: A copy of This Is Clare A virtual Questions and Answers session with the author via Skype Nine (9) winners receive: A copy of This Is Clare The giveaway ends December 2, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and David Horn. All opinions are my own.
Finding an early chapter book with an engaging story and without mature or scary themes can be difficult. But David Horn has done it, with his relatable and entertaining book, Eudora Space Kid: The Great Engine Room Takeover.
~Ali Dunn, Me Two Books
Book Information
David Horn is a huge science fiction fan. While his wife sometimes feels like they live in outer space, they really live in New Jersey with their two human daughters and one doggy daughter named Trixie.
Eudora Space Kid started as stories he told his daughters at dinner. They loved Eudora’s antics in space. So now The Great Engine Room Takeover is his first book in the Eudora Space Kid early reader chapter book series. He can’t wait for you to love Eudora’s stories too. For more information, visit https://www.eudoraspacekid.com/. Me Two Books Review
Themes: STEM, Strong female lead, adoption, accepting differences, science fiction
Finding an early chapter book with an engaging story and without mature or scary themes can be difficult. But David Horn has done it, with his relatable and entertaining book, Eudora Space Kid: The Great Engine Room Takeover. If you have a budding astronaut or sci-fi loving kid, they will enjoy reading about the antics of Eudora Jenkins. This humorous story is told in the authentic female voice of a 3rd grader who dreams of being the chief engineer of an AstroLiner spacecraft. However, she just might need to break a few rules to get there. Eudora’s interest in a STEM career field and her skills in math and science make her an inspiring role model. With easily digestible chapters, and pleasing illustrations young readers will be engaged throughout the story. This book also celebrates differences. Many of the characters are a different species from their friends and families. This teaches the reader that accepting each other’s differences is a rule that should never be broken! Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a copy of Eudora Space Kid and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!
One (1) grand prize winner receives: A signed copy of Eudora Space Kid and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card. Three (3) winners receive: A signed copy of Eudora Space Kid. |
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