Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack

Why hello again, everyone!

Hope your day is going rather well.

Mine?  Well, let's just say I'm trying to get back into the swing of things for the next three days so it's a bit trying but next week, oy!  Now THAT will be the real challenge.  A full week back in action with no extra days off or holidays to look forward to...le sigh.  I do believe many of you know just what I'm talking about...as do the characters of today's book feature.  How so?  Ah, patience is a virtue my friend, but I won't make you exercise it just yet.  Today's book of choice is...

Snow Day!

by

Lester L. Laminack

illustrated by

Adam Gustavson

A winter wish held by young and old alike...snow.  Its beauty is wondrous and all at once we have our very own snow globe world minus the perpetual shaking.  A covering of this fluffy white magic in any serious amount leads the hopes of every child (and adult) right to the news station.  Why there you ask?  Simple!  That is where the two words they all long to hear would be broadcast before they start out on their wintry trek for the day; the two words that hold so much meaning and the key to endless possibilities.  The two words that they all wait with baited breath to hear each year around this time...SNOW DAY.

This is the story of one family as they hear the promise of a great snowfall overnight leading to what they can only hope to be an official "snow day".  Their imaginations run wild as their dreams are filled with sledding, hot cups of cocoa and general relaxation in a wintry wonderland.  A day off from all the obligations of day to day life and the perfect excuse to frolic in winter time fun.  Will Mother Nature cooperate?  You'll just have to wait and see...

Now this is a situation that the folks up north right now can certainly see themselves in.  Seriously, some places have received 30 inches of snow so far and we're talking cities, not mountains.  Crazy stuff...but I'd love to see it nonetheless.  Once upon a time, my Mom and I lived up north and the most snow I remember seeing on the ground at once was a whopping....5 inches.  Yeah, woo-hoo and all that...not really.  It was still beautiful but not enough to write home to anyone about.  The winter after we left...10 inches.  O_o  *grr*  Anywho...

The dreams this story conjures are fast flying and fun.  Snowball fight anyone?  A bit of sledding perhaps?  You can't help but be drawn into their wishes for the following day as the illustrations bring to life everything they would love to be doing....instead of another day at school or work (go figure); I know I kept my fingers crossed that it would turn out at least half as blustery as they dreamed.  Though Mother Nature may (or may not) have had other ideas for their daily activities, by book's end you'll be smiling if not due to the final outcome than at the very least thanks to the unexpected twist regarding the revelation as to why the parent was joining in with the children's wishes so vehemently.  (Really, too funny...and makes perfect sense!)

In short, a book that is sure to please audiences young and young at heart.  Anyone that could stand to have a few more snow days in their yearly schedule will certainly appreciate this smile inducing winter time wish.  Review copy received courtesy of Erin at Peachtree Publishers.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this book as well as their full catalog, feel free to visit them online, stop by their blog, or follow along on Twitter (1 or 2).  But wait!  The fun is not over just yet.  It's time for YOU to create a "snow day" of your own! 

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Thanks to the generosity of Peachtree Publishers, I have the pleasure of offering you a chance to win a copy of this blustery tale of winter fun all your own...plus a little audio fun too!  Ready for the details?  Here we go!

The prize...

(1) copy of Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack

WITH

Audio CD featuring the story read by the author!

 

How to enter...

Fill out THIS FORM.

*BONUS ENTRY*

(You'll have a few options on the form but to get you started...)

Riddle me this....

If you could call a snow day of your very own, what would YOU do first? Leave your answer in the comments for one extra entry...but remember you MUST fill out the form as well in order for it to count.

The rules...

*Open to US/Canada mailing addresses only!  No P. O. Boxes please.

* Entries will be accepted from Tuesday, December 28th, 2010 through Monday, January 3rd, 2011 at midnight CST.  The entries will be tallied and entered into the random.org randomizer, after which a random number will be picked by their number generator.  (This way all the entries are mixed up nicely.)

* All entries must be submitted using the form accessible through this post.  You MUST include your email address in order to be counted as well as contacted should you be chosen as the winner!

*The winner will be announced and contacted via email by Tuesday, January 3rd, 2011 and will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.  Should they fail to respond in the given time frame, a new winner will be chosen.  If you choose to include your full name and mailing address in your contest entry, no worries....the time frame issue is erased.

*Winner's name and address will be used by me for prize send out only and then discarded.

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Until next time...happy holidays...and happy reading!