BLOG TOUR: Nalah and the Pink Tiger by Anne Sawyer-Aitch

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the place the encourages the reader in you to be active at least once a day, but really suggests you let them out to play AS LONG AS YOU CAN EVERY DAY....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  

What can I say?  Time with a great book is time well spent and today's blog tour guest courtesy of Pump Up Your Book is no different.  We're featuring a children's picture book that utilizes all the colors of the rainbow in full flamboyant displays to tell the tale of one little girl and her VERY active imagination.  Yep...if I had to guess, she's a reader.  We have been proven to have rather active imaginations after all.  ^_^  Please join me in welcoming today's blog tour guest and book of choice...

Nalah and the Pink Tiger

by

Anne Sawyer-Aitch

If the title didn't catch your attention, than the cover surely had to...if not, adjust your monitor because trust me, it's definitely something to see (more on that later).  The story itself invites readers to set free their imaginations as Nalah shares her world of interesting critters.  You should feel honored because it's not often she shares them with the world...for some reason or another her parents (friends, and relations in general) can't see them.  *blink*  _rubs eyes_  Well, I'm not sure what they are looking at because they are as plain as day to me!  (^_^)

We start out with Mad Tooth the Mouse, a perpetual sock eater and force to reckon with despite his small stature, continue with Percival Prong.  He's a bit hard to sum up in a few words, but I love his character!  He's a polka dotted piggy that prefers not to go to market but to lounge around in the bath all day singing pork-ified tunes and reading (Yay!) novels we know (well sorta...though I do believe that the author's last name of "Thickens" may not be accurate...hehe) and love.  What's not to like?  Next up is Ernestina the Emu, who loves nothing more than to help Nalah with her vegetables (interesting coincidence seeing as how they aren't her favorite thing), and then finally we meet Tico...at the zoo of all places!  Let's just say things get pretty interesting (if they weren't enough already) when you you introduce a pink tiger to the mix. The adventure that follows, tops the cake!  But that's not even the BEST part of the book...

Author Anne Sawyer-Aitch

The piece de resistance though is actually at book's end when you learn about the author's process for creating the imaginative, fun and beautiful illustrations throughout the book.  In it's most basic form, it can be summed up as paper art.  She utilizes two copies of the same drawing with similar colors/shading, separates the details from one and allows a source of light to back-light the whole creation while snapping picture for all the world to see.  It's quite intricate and the results are astounding.  The layered look of each 2D drawing makes each page POP with color and unexpected texture.  Fabulous touch!  I love'd just about every page but especially the one at the zoo of the roller coaster.  It resembles a Chinese Dragon in all its glory and the coloration of the image is just wonderful!

In conclusion, a great story about the power of imagination that showcases the artistic talents of the author herself.  From puppet creator to illustrator and stilt-walker according to her bio, she's certainly a creative mind that has many things to share with the world...so glad she's chosen picture books to be one of those outlets.  The images will delight young and old while the story encourages readers to use their imaginations to explore their world...with a gentle reminder to not let them get TOO out of control, like when Tico wreaks havoc upon coming home.  (*-*)  All good things in moderation.

Review copy received courtesy of Tracee at Pump Up Your Book.  (THANKS!)  To discover more about this tour as well as those forth coming, be sure to visit them online, friend them on Google+, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter. To learn more about author/illustrator Anne Sawyer-Aitch, stop by her official site, or like her Facebook page.  To extend the creative fun even further, be sure to check out the worksheet options on the book site for such goodies as coloring pages and a make-your-own Tico Mask.  Then, for a little more digital fun, check out the app for this title - according to the author's site it's interactive AND bilingual!  This book was released last year via Scarletta Press and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you.  Now this tour has only just begun, so be sure to check out yesterday's stop over at Sincerely Stacie and tomorrow's visit to My Book Addiction for even more fun!

Until next time...happy reading!