STORYBOOK SUNDAY: How the Squid Got Two Long Arms by Henry Herz

HI guys and gals!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


We're celebrating another day of bookish fun with Storybook Sunday! For those not up to speed on the post, I read a lot of great storybooks and thought, why not give them their own day in the sun. Hence, Storybook Sunday! Feel free to join the fun and create a post on your own site with the same name. I'd love to see any linked up in the comments! Anywho...back to the matter at hand.

Today, we're shining a light on yet another title from the rather prolific Henry Herz!  It's a new Picture Book release via Pelican Press that tells a rather curious story about a particular sea creature and how exactly it came to look like we know them to be today.  Curious?  GOOD...because here comes today's title in the spotlight...

How the Squid Got Two Long Arms

by

Henry Herz

Illustrated by

Luke Graber

9781455623884

Pelican Publishing Company

Once upon a time, a squid had ten arms of equal length, until one day...he didn't. Why? Well now, that's a story unto itself and one that is told with full color illustrations RIGHT HERE that will enchant readers just as much as the fanciful tale!

Outside of the seemingly scientifically charged title, it's a FUN reminder to be thankful for what we have, to avoid envying another, and to never take what isn't rightfully ours...lest YOUR hand be caught in the proverbial cookie jar and have its length adjusted too!  Seriously though, there is much fun to be had between these pages and even when the verbal adventure is through, all of the beautiful illustrations really make this one stand on its own two, err, rather eight legs (arms?) all on its own.

AMAZON

About the author...





Henry Herz writes fantasy and science fiction for children. He is represented by Deborah Warren of East/West Literary Agency. [While being a prolific writer, Henry is also] a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). He participates in literature panels at a variety of conventions, including San Diego Comic-Con and WonderCon. Henry reviews children’s books for the San Francisco Book Review and the San Diego Book Review.


SITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Special thanks to author Henry Herz and the Pelican Publishing Company team for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now in "e" and "tree" formats, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Reading BEFORE Wonderland: Alice's Magic Garden by Henry L. Herz

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a NEW RELEASE title from author Henry L. Herz.  Recognize the name?  As you should, seeing as we've featured several of his past works right here on the site...but today's title in the spotlight introduces us to a character we're familiar with BEFORE a certain trip down the infamous rabbit hole...and let me tell you now, it was SO GOOD!  So, if you're ready, take a small bite of cookie and a big swig from the "DRINK ME" bottle, as we welcome...

Alice's Magic Garden

by

Henry L. Herz

Illustrated by

Natalie Hoopes

About the book...

In this imaginative prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice finds herself at a gray, dreary boarding school that is decidedly up the rabbit hole. From the relentless clocks to the beastly students, Alice's world is void of color and cheer--until Alice finds a secret garden and begins tending its wilting inhabitants. When Alice's love touches an ordinary caterpillar, a lorry bird, and a white rabbit, magical things will happen--and that, as you know, is just the beginning of the story. Filled with literary allusions and clever nods to its classic roots, Alice's Magic Garden is a delightful prequel that begs an escape to the whimsy of Wonderland

This was a wonderful imagining of little Alice's even younger days and shows us just how kindness, love, and understanding has the power to transform. Readers will be delighted with the abundance of illustrations depicting her black and gray world filling in with more color than the biggest rainbow, while cherishing the story that takes our fair leading lady from mere bystander to active participant in her happily ever after...no matter how wacky it may end up.  Familiar faces can be seen throughout, thus engaging even the most reluctant reader, and helping to introduce the next generation to the classic of old.

About the author...

Henry Herz writes fantasy and science fiction for children. He is represented by Deborah Warren of East/West Literary Agency.  [While being a prolific writer, Henry is also] a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). He participates in literature panels at a variety of conventions, including San Diego Comic-Con and WonderCon. Henry reviews children’s books for the San Francisco Book Review and the San Diego Book Review.

SITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

Special thanks to author Henry Herz for the ebook for review.  (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or his other works, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Familius, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to grab your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!



What big TEETH you have?!: Little Red Cuttlefish by Henry, Josh, and Harrison Herz

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're taking a trip under the sea for a unique rendition of that wolfish tale starring a particular young lady that loved her red riding hood.  You know the one.  ^-^  This time around, little red is a little less human but just as spunky (if not more!) than the original inspiration, and combined with the writing talent of the trio we've featured before, we're in for a real treat.  So, if you've no cause to disagree, I'm ready to introduce today's Picture Book of choice...

Little Red Cuttlefish

by

Henry, Josh, and Harrison Herz

Illustrated by

Kate Gotfredson

9781455621460

Pelican Publishing Company, LLC

This is the story of Little Red, a bit familiar and a bit not.  Here, Little Red is a cuttlefish and a cute one at that!  She's on a mission from her mother to take Grandma some of her favorite crab cakes.  All she has to do is traverse the sea swells to Grandmother's house...err, cave...to deliver the goodies and perhaps partake of her famous krill cookies.  Easy peasy, right?  Yes and no.  You see, even in this underwater world, there are those that would love to relieve Little Red of her basket of tasty goodness, as well as those that would do her harm.  Lucky for us and for Grandma, Little Red doesn't shy away when the going gets tough, she gets going...and though she promised to not ink any strangers, I think an exception can be made for this toothy non-friend.

We've sampled this creative trios work previously on the site with much success and this one does not disappoint.  It falls into that edutainment category we love to talk about because although one can purely enjoy the fantastical tale spun, you can't help but pick up a few bits of knowledge and info along the way.  For example, did you know that male and female cuttlefish have a different number of arms?  Or how about their amazing ability to camouflage themselves in the blink of an eye from predators by changing color, pattern, and skin texture?  Let us not forget about that portable ink cloud they can shoot as a last resort!   So much amazing info to spare AND an enjoyable new take on a tale we've grown up with...I'd call that a win for all parties.

Recommended read for all ages from the tall to the small.  The story is rather enjoyable, the characters entertaining, and the illustrations the wonderful icing on the krill cookie.

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

About the authors...

Henry Herz writes fantasy and science fiction for children. Henry is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). Henry participates in literature panels at a variety of conventions, including San Diego Comic-Con and WonderCon. Henry created KidLit Creature Week (www.birchtreepub.com/kcw/), an annual online gallery of monsters, creatures, and other imaginary beasts from children’s books. Henry writes articles about children’s literature for TheWriteLife.com. He reviews children’s books for the San Francisco Book Review and the San Diego Book Review.

Like their father, both boys are big fans of fantasy, science fiction, and San Diego Comic-Con. They have an entrepreneurial bent too. They’ve started three web-based businesses selling LEGO party favors, custom cast bases for Warhammer, and painted concrete yard sculptures.

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

Special thanks to the authors three for the access to the ebook for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the authors, the publisher, or those titles on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title just released earlier this month via Pelican Publishing Company, LLC, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!