BLOG TOUR: Stay Close to Mama by Toni Buzzeo

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place where we celebrate reading every day and wave our bookish flag PROUDLY.  (If you haven’t gotten yours yet, we’ll have to talk about ordering you one…^_^)

This week (if you haven’t already heard) is Children’s Book Week and I intend on bringing the bookish party to you each and every day; from BABY to YOUNG ADULT, we’ve got the spectrum covered.  So far this week, I’ve given you a chance to win a favorite or two of my own (see the giveaway hop to enter), and teased you with a Young Adult series that makes its mark and makes it high.  So, what’s in store for today….what’s in store indeed…. ^_^

Today’s post takes us back to the drawing board, with a storybook that’s equal parts story and pictures creating a blend appealing to both the eye and the imagination.  It stars an adorable lead character (trust me, he’s ADORABLE) and who else but his Mom…kinda perfect if you think about a certain holiday coming up this Sunday (*ahem*…Mother’s Day!).  Let’s take a closer look at this recent release, shall we?  Today’s book of choice and blog tour guest courtesy of Blue Slip Media is….

Stay Close to Mama

By

Toni Buzzeo

Illustrated by

Mike Wohnoutka

Cuteness abounds with this one.  From cover to close, my eyes were drawn to this adorable pair of giraffes while my heart was enveloped in the story.  Little Twiga is curious and wants to explore the world around him on his own terms.  Gutsy little guy that he is he doesn’t always see the inherent danger he places himself in by consistently ignoring his mother’s words of caution.  “Stay close.  Stay safe.”  With the wide world just over that next horizon, how can he resist?  Needless to say, he doesn’t but that doesn’t mean that his Mama has forsaken him.  She’s always just a few steps behind ready to give aid when needed, comfort when sought, and security when fearful. 

It reminds me of my own Mom, but only just.  You see, I was never Twiga in regards to reaching out beyond my surroundings, physically at least; I was always the curious one though when it came to thinking and understanding things.  My Mom knew better than to simply answer my inquiry of “why” with a “because I said so” or “it just is”…and the one time she did, curiosity got the best of me and like Twiga I ended up in trouble.  Let’s just say that to a child of a non-smoking parent, a car lighter doesn’t make any sense.  It’s function, why their there, how it works…can you see where I’m going with this?  Yeah, let’s just say lesson learned and when Mom discovered what happened (because of course I didn’t immediately tell her, but my tear stained cheeks did the talking for me), she didn’t get angry or scold me….she took care of me and helped wash the hurt away with a hug and a kiss (and first aid…yeah, not one of my brighter moments… *-*).

The love of a Mother is truly unique; there is no substitute.  Perhaps that’s why so many of us stay by their sides as a youngster until our need to explore gets the better of us…and even then, many still foster a loving relationship across the miles.  When asked to host a stop on this tour, I was given the option of having the author answer a question or two of mine to share with all of you.  In lieu of the usual “where did the idea for this book come from”, I went a different route and asked if by chance they wouldn’t mind sharing a favorite moment or memory they have of time spent with their Mother.  The request was met with an open heart and the following is the gracious reply I received…..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUEST POST:  Author Toni Buzzeo

One of the lovely things about being an adult is looking back over the long sweep of years of your life, almost as though you were looking down at a gorgeous afghan stitched in multi-colored and textured yarns, and identifying the moment each life thread was woven in. The “writer” thread was woven into the blanket of my life when I was very, very small. My mother and my grandmother, who both loved books, were the weavers. They were the ones who took me with them to the library throughout my early years.

I wasn’t much like Twiga when I was growing up and heading off on those library trips with my mother. I was timid and shy and not nearly so curious as he is. My mother would take me to the children’s room at the Dearborn Public Library on

Michigan Avenue

and help me to select a stack of picture books. Then, when we were done, she’d accompany me to the huge dollhouse there and leave me to dream—for as long as she was busy selecting her own books. No doubt, I got my writer’s start spinning stories of the family living there behind the glass front, in the parlor, in the kitchen, in the many bedrooms.

Unlike Twiga, I never wandered off and was only comfortable away from my mother’s side there in front of the dollhouse because of the company I imagined the house held in those dolls. I think, perhaps, surrounded by the safe and inviting smell of books lining wooden shelves, before a fictional world of dolls in their home, the writer in me was born.

I am certain, though, that my mother had no need to admonish me, as Twiga’s mother does, “No little Twiga/Toni. Stay close. Stay safe.” It would never have occurred to me to do otherwise!

---------------------------------------

About the author…

Toni Buzzeo is the author of several picture books for children, including The Sea Chest, illustrated by Mary GrandPre, Dawdle Duckling, illustrated by Margaret Spengler, and most recently No T.Rex in the Library, illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. A School Library Media Specialist, Toni lives on an old farm in Buxton, Maine with her husband. Visit her at http://www.tonibuzzeo.com/.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A wonderful memory indeed filled with a mother’s love and the beginnings of your love affair with books.  It looks like I’m not the only one that didn’t stray far from my mother’s guiding hand.  Thank you so much, Ms. Buzzeo, for sharing that with us as well as the touching photograph….and thank you for bringing the Twiga’s world to life for us!

Today’s tour stop is one of many as this book makes its way through the blogosphere.  Tomorrow, be sure to stop by Cracking the Cover to discover more about this great title.  Recommended read for all ages.  Between the lovely illustrations, the adventurous spirit of one little giraffe and the story of caution and wonder, there’s a little something for everyone.  This book released March 2012 from Disney Hyperion.  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to visit them online.  Review copy received courtesy of Barbara at Blue Slip Media.  (THANKS!)  For more information on their services, feel free to visit their official website or like them on Facebook.

SPEAKING of Mother’s Day…it’s time to get your presents all lined up for dear sweet Mom whether they be a peck on the cheek, a fun day just you and her, her favorite book or breakfast in bed; you know it’s the thought that counts when it comes to this cherished woman in our lives.  If by chance you or a little one you know is still in need of a greeting card for the big event, you HAVE to check out this FREE downloadable Mother’s Day card from Hyperion featuring artwork from the book!  Just click HERE to get your copy.

Now, since we’re bringing the party to you extra heavy this week, how’s about another chance to win?  In addition to the giveaway hop already running, the great folks at Blue Slip Media and Disney Hyperion have agreed to give you a chance to win a SIGNED copy of this very book!  Excited?  I thought you might be.  Here’s all the details…

The prize…

(1) SIGNED hardback copy of Stay Close to Mama by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

How to enter…

Just fill out the form below and BAM…you’re in to win!

For 5 BONUS points, in the comments below share with us a memory of time spent with your Mom and help start the celebration of her holiday a few days early.  ^_^

The rules…

Open to U.S. and Canada residents only; no P.O. Boxes please.

Entries accepted beginning today through Sunday, May 13^th, 2012 at midnight C.S.T.  Winner will be drawn and contacted no later than Tuesday, May 15^th, 2012 and have 48 hours to respond with their FULL NAME and MAILING information.  If response is not received within the time frame given, a new winner will be chosen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there you have it.

A blog tour stop complete with motherly love, memories, reading and a chance to win; what more could you ask for?

Until next time…GOOD LUCK….and happy reading!