Crack Goes the Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration! by Sara Andrea Fajardo, Illustrated by Rocío Arreola Mendoza - REVIEW!

Tis the season for spring filled holidays, and today we're stepping into the traditions of the Latine community as we explore an EGG-cellent celebration that's definitely all it's CRACKED up to be!  Let's step between the pages of a new Storybook title that shares the story of Tori and his familia as they make preparations to see just who should claim the crown as cascarone king/queen!

Crack Goes the Cascarón

An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration!

by

Sara Andrea Fajardo

Illustrated by

Rocío Arreola Mendoza

9780593805671

Knopf Books for Young Readers

This fun filled and colorful tale shares with us a tradition that I hadn't heard of before, but found rather EGG-citing!  Colored eggs (or this year potatoes considering the prices 🤣) were always something that brought to mind Easter.  We would hard boil them, let them cool and dry, then die them, or draw on them, or use those little shrinky sleeves to make them MORE than what they were.  We'd use the plastic ones to fill with little treasures or candies and place them in baskets for giving, or outside for egg hunts.  THIS tradition, uses the eggs themselves, emptied, dried, and FILLED with all kinds of things...but most commonly, confetti...and Toni has his eye set on being crowned king of the celebration!  He has it all planned out, and ready to go...but his family isn't EGG-actly taking it lying down.  They may have some plans of their own that are going to shove an EGG shaped obstacle in his path to being ruler!  

I love how the family gets in on the fun, and I ADORE who actually becomes the champion...or rather protects their title.  😃  It sounds like a great way to be playful with family and friends, challenge each other to friendly competition, and carry on a celebration that started somewhere back in the 1800's.  The story along with the EGG-cellent illustrations really bring this party from page to life...as does the HOW-TO on how to make your own!  So, this year when Easter rolls around, maybe you'll start a new tradition in your family...or perhaps surprise them with all you've learned about this one!  😉

And now, for a peek behind the INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY from the author herself....

I wanted to write a book that was a celebration of my latinidad without it being centered on identity. Something that felt like both a celebration and invitation to join in on the fun. 

 

I was inspired by my prankster family. As a kid my brothers loved playing jokes on my sister and me, swapping out our cereal for Legos or tying all the spoons together so that when we pulled one out, we'd get 20 clattering ones instead. 

 

And then, there was my grandmother who on Día de los inocentes (Peruvian April Fools Day) would spare no one. Everyone was a target for one of her pranks. She was tiny, barely grazing five feet, and looked so unassuming, she was the last person anyone would ever suspect. That's where the Abuela character came from. In fact the characters are also named after my family members, Toti is my uncle who is the non-stop entertainer, and Carlita, is my cousin who is whip smart, nothing gets past her.

 

In a nutshell, this book is my homage to fun loving Latine families and one of my all-time favorite traditions, cascarones. It's impossible not to have fun when you have a cascarón in your hand.

About the author...

Sara Andrea Fajardo has been on a life-long path of telling stories: first as a photojournalist, then as a multimedia storyteller for humanitarian aid organizations, and now as a children’s writer. She has lived in Peru, Finland, Japan, Kenya and currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, with her husband and two children.

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About the illustrator...

Rocío Arreola Mendoza is a freelance illustrator and co-founder of Cúrcumas Creative Studio. She has worked with Matamoros City’s Government in Mexico, making commercial illustrations for social media and printed campaigns. She lives in Mexico with her husband, child, and cats.

Special thanks to the Alessandra at Random House Children's Books for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the illustrator, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now wherever books are sold.

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

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?: The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko - REVIEW!

Today's WHAT'S THE BUZZ features a Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction title coming to you TOMORROW via Knopf Books for Young Readers. It's penned by author Gennifer Choldenko, whom you may already know from her previous works, and shares the story of a brave and resilient young boy just trying to do the best he can in the worst of times. No, we're not talking apocalyptic times, but it might as well have been for all the tragedy, hardship, and challenges faced. Ladies and gents, make room on your bookshelf for today's BUZZ worthy title...

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman

By

Gennifer Choldenko

9781524718923

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Release Date: Jun 11, 2024

About the book...

When eleven-year-old Hank’s mom doesn’t come home, he takes care of his toddler sister, Boo, like he always does. But it’s been a week now. They are out of food and mom has never stayed away this long… Hank knows he needs help, so he and Boo seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact.

But asking for help has consequences. It means social workers, and a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he’s been trying to keep secret. And if they can’t find his mom soon, Hank and Boo may end up in different foster homes–he could lose everything.

Gennifer Choldenko has written a heart-wrenching, healing, and ultimately hopeful story about how complicated family can be. About how you can love someone, even when you can’t rely on them. And about the transformative power of second chances.

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When I say this book had me in tears, I mean it quite literally, frequently, and without apology. The author held my heart in their hands completely. The depth of Hank's character, the connection between him and Boo, the heartbreak that was his family life, his resourcefulness though born of necessity, the challenges faced because what else was there to do, and triumphs celebrated because gosh darn it, he more than earned those moments. It was everything, and yet still he deserved so much more... every kid does.

The ending, oh that ending...it was bittersweet and yet PERFECTION for the story as written. The sad part, things like this happen. It may be a fictitious story, but there are lives affected in ways exactly or very similar, and there are those that overcome, and those that fall short. I hope this heartbreaking, yet beautiful story finds a home with readers that want to delve into intense stories that pull you in and won't let go, but also for those that NEED it to see that the cloud's silver lining isn't a myth...it's just really hard to find sometimes.

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About the author...

Gennifer Choldenko was the youngest in a family of four kids, where her nickname was “Snot-Nose.” Her quirky sense of humor made its debut at the dinner table when Gennifer was a very little kid. She is the author of seven children’s books, including Notes from a Liar and Her Dog, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period; and Al Capone Shines My Shoes.

SITE

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Special thanks to Tracey at Media Masters Publicity, and the Knopf Books for Young Readers team, for the copy 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 celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY tomorrow, June 11th 2024, so mark your calendar to snag your copy ASAP!

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

STORYBOOK SUNDAY... takes a walk on the wild side!

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 appears every now and then!

Today's roundup of titles takes a walk on the wild side with THREE selections out now (or coming soon!) that all feature animals. So if you're ready for lions and tigers and... wait, wrong animals. 😳  *ahem* If you're ready for dogs 🐕, and cats 🐈, and... whales 🐋 (oh my!), then KEEP READING because today's trio was made for you (and me!)...

Don't Trust Cats

LIFE LESSONS FROM CHIP THE DOG

By

Dev Petty

Illustrated by Mike Boldt

9780593706787

Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Release Date: JANUARY 2024

This darling book is the second installment in the LIFE LESSONS series featuring our canine pal, Chip. He's a lean, not mean, puppy dog full of knowledge, and while he has a lot of wisdom to spare, his biggest emphasis is to not trust feline counterparts. Sounds like a single focus story then, right? It's actually not because while imparting that strong sentiment, Chip also tells of all the wonderful things to be friends with, try out, play with, etcetera...to the point that he might actually kinda sorta forget his own words of wisdom in the process and... you can see where this is going 😳.

Suffice it to say that I'm a big fan of CHIP, and his exuberant life choices, for better or worse! A great pick for the wee ones and those simply young at heart with artwork that never fails to dazzle, conveying humor, joy, and even second thoughts with ease. 

🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 

This Little Kitty in the Garden

By 

Karen Obuhanych

9780593435175

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Release Date: JANUARY 2024

This book was a much an adorable feline frenzy celebration of cuteness as it was a beginning gardening guide for wee readers! It shows the kittens at play as they go about their day while they also accomplish seeding, weeding, watering, and more with their two human counterparts lending a hand with a paw simply won't do. I loved the gentle instructions used because I think it'll spark an interest in how our gardens grow, and even lead to conversations about the importance of continuing that circle of life. I adored the curious little kitties, and their helpful little ways that not only got the job done, but added (if possible!) to their innate cuteness. 

A great pick for feline fans of all ages, and a wonderful way to introduce the next generation to the concepts of food sustainability!

🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 

Soren's Seventh Song

By 

Dave Eggers

Illustrated by

Mark Hoffmann

9781951836733

Cameron's Kids

Release Date: FEBRUARY 6TH, 2024

This one was a big surprise to me, and not just because of leading fellow is rather big himself! It's a storybook, but it has a lot more story, and a lot more reading than your average pick, so I'd definitely suggest this one as a read along with a more experienced reader, or solo for a kiddo in the same boat to avoid any frustrations. That being said, I really liked this whale of a tale! It emphasized whether what it was imparting was fact or fiction, had great big full size illustrations, made a ginormous point of saying BE YOURSELF no matter what the world may say, and still reminded us of how far a great friendship can really take us. I really felt for this little, well... big guy, and totally respected what he was trying to do! Following the same old same old because it's the status quo... where's the appeal, especially when following your dreams is TOTALLY an option!

A great story to read and share with those you love that might need a little boost to keep reaching for the stars 🌟, as well as a fun animal story that'll have wee ones excited about imaging each new song!

🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 

Special thanks to the dream team at Blue Slip Media for the chance to bring this title to you and to the publishers for the copies for review. (THANKS!) For more information on these titles, the authors, illustrators, or publishers, feel free to click through the links provided above.

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

Do you hear what I hear? THE SONG OF THE SWAN by Karah Sutton, Illustrated by Pauliina Hannuniemi - REVIEW!

It always seems like the latter part of the year holds so much untapped MAGIC when it comes to book releases, and I gotta say, this year is no exception!  Grant it, the books that have been released thus far hold some AMAZING stories, and POWERFUL writing, but it almost seems like publishers try to do a "saved the best for last" type moment with their catalogs.  Or is it just me?  🤔  But I digress...

Today's second SURPRISE post features a Middle Grade Fantasy title releasing TOMORROW, bright and early, and gives a new look at the somewhat familiar, while spinning a web of interest you won't be able to ignore.  Allow me to present, today's book of choice...

The Song of the Swan

by

Karah Sutton

Illustrated by

Pauliina Hannuniemi

9780593121696 

Knopf Books for Young Readers

About the book...

A magical retelling of Swan Lake, featuring a clever orphan, a castle filled with enchanted swans, and a quest to unearth the secrets of the past.

Olga is an orphan and a thief, relying on trickery and sleight of hand to make her way in the world. But it’s magic, not thievery, that could get her into trouble.

When Olga and her partner-in-crime Pavel learn of a valuable jewel kept in a secluded castle, Olga sees an opportunity to change their lives: a prize so big, they’d never have to steal again. But the castle is not as it seems, ruled by an enchanter who hosts grand balls every night, only for the guests to disappear each morning, replaced by swans. Guided by cryptic clues from the palace spiders, Olga soon realizes she’s in over her head—torn between a bargain with the enchanter, loyalty to Pavel, and determination to understand how the enchanted swans are linked to her own fate.

One thing is certain: there is dark magic behind the castle’s mysteries, and Olga will stop at nothing to unmask it.

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Everyone is made of dark and light.

Every place can hold both as well.

There is said to be nothing that is inherently good or evil...it simply becomes one or the other more so based on the path it follows.  The same can be viewed here.

At first glance, Olga is a thief, or at the very least the apprentice to a thief, and while she does have magic to wield in her own way, she uses it to sparkle the eyes of others to meet the ends she seeks.  HOWEVER, if you take a CLOSER LOOK, we find out that Olga is an orphan that was taken in by someone that was a thief, shown how to use her natural born skills to survive, while she kept reaching for the day she'd not have to worry about where her head would rest or her next meal would come from.  Two different viewpoints, yielding two very different feelings...now which one is right?

This story spins a tale, quite literally as the teller is technically a spider, but you'll learn more about that when you take your own journey through the pages, and it keeps you hooked from start to finish.  The mystical beginnings of our "heartstrings", the way they could be "played" in order to release the magic within, how corrupting power can be, and the tragedy of ignoring the beauty and happiness right in front of you.  Now, I realize some of that sounds mighty dark, and while it's true, for both the soul that inhabits the mysterious castle as well as the creatures that surround it, there is darkness to go through, it's not without its hope.  Hope for reaching the end Olga sought from the start, but perhaps in a new way.  Hope for the chance to end the curse that plagues this valley, while still saving those that can be saved.  Hope for starting a new chapter in life with a full heart, no matter the melody it might be playing, and living each day to its fullest.  

If you know the story behind Swan Lake, congrats...I did not, despite knowing of the infamous ballet, so, for me, it was curious and magical.  I'd imagine the same for those going in with familiarity at the very least because of the twists and turns the story takes, while the black and white illustrations give us something to set our sights on as we eagerly anticipate how the story will end, unraveling each thread of questions along the way.

A great pick for Middle Grade readers and beyond, filled with mystery, danger, fantasy, and heart!

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Special thanks to Cate at Nicole Banholzer PR for the chance to bring this title to you and to  Random House Children's Books for the copy 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 TOMORROW via Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

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