Get BOOKISH this Halloween with... MONSTER MOVIE! by Chuck Wendig - REVIEW!

HI there, readers!

Closing out the month with a SPOOKY read I finished recently that's also newly available via Little Brown Young Readers.  Nothing like instant satisfaction, am I right?  😉  Anywho, most of you are probably all celebrated out for the evening, tucking away costumes for another year, scarfing down the treats you gathered from tricking through the neighborhood, and perhaps...setting in to watch a SCARY movie?  Ah, yes...same here, at least the last part, but the thing is sometimes LIFE is much scarier than any movie you could imagine.  Ladies and gents, let's get between the pages of today's spooky story that'll hit closer to home than you might think...

Monster Movie!

by

Chuck Wendig

9780316572590

Little Brown Books for Young Readers

About the book...

Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don’t mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school’s house, Ethan’s friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the “scariest movie ever made” reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).

With his signature balance of kid-friendly horror and humor, Chuck Wendig crafts a spookily heartfelt novel about anxiety, friendship, and finding your unique voice and inner strength.

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Looks like a fantastical tale of HORROR, SCARINESS untold, and things that go BUMP in the night...right?  Ah, and while that IS true because HELLO...a television (among other things) turns into a head eating monster with a TERRIBLE appetite that is virtually UNSTOPPABLE...there's just something a bit MORE to the story as well.

Aside from the terror, unimaginable circumstances, and utter how-in-the-world-did-this-come-to-pass-and-how-can-it-be-stopped moments, this story has A LOT of heart...and I don't mean the freshly taken from a person's chest and still beating variety.  No, what I mean is the characters are relatable....from the rich kid that has everything (yet doesn't) to the overly eager to please to the scared of anything and everything...readers will easily find bits of themselves and their friends in each of them.  Ethan was the PERFECT person to experience the story through because his challenges became ours, his setbacks and triumphs as well.  He wasn't your typical hero type, and yet he proves just how ANYONE can be their own hero.  I admit, I got lost along the way for a little, trying to figure out what exactly was going on, but once I stepped back again, and let the camera roll, the truth revealed itself in brilliant colors.  The story...yes, it's over the top and monster filled, but it also shows us that real monsters DO exist (in a way), and we are totally capable of facing them head on to reach our own wins.  

A great CREEPY pick for the season, but an equally perfect fit for readers trying to find their way in this crazy mixed up world while trying to follow their dreams.

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About the author...

Chuck Wendig is the author of the New York Times bestseller Dust & Grim, as well as numerous bestselling novels for adults and young adults. He invites you to find him online at terribleminds.com.

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Halloween Pumpkin GIFfrom Halloween GIFs

Special thanks to the publicity team at Little Brown Young Readers for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or their complete catalog of works, 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!

BOOK BIRTHDAY wishes and FANTASTICAL reads - KID LIT Edition!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're shining the BOOK BIRTHDAY spotlight on a title releasing TODAY via Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. It's a Children's Fiction book featuring a retelling of the Japanese Cinderella filled with MAGIC, DREAMS, and DRAGONS! Sound like your cup of tea? Yeah, MINE TOO! It's coming up next on my TBR, but I couldn't let it's big day pass by without a celebratory post, so ready...set...here we go!

Alliana, Girl of Dragons

by

Julie Abe

9780316300353

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

About the book...

Once upon a time, Alliana believed in dreams and fairy tales as sweet as spun-sugar clouds. Alliana wished on shooting stars, sure that someday she and her grandmother would be able to travel to the capital city to see the queen. Then her grandmother passed away—and those dreams disappeared in a disenchanted puff.

Now Alliana’s forced to attend to the whims of her wicked stepmother—with long days of cleaning her stepfamily’s inn as her skin burns raw or staying up until the crack of dawn to embroider her stepsister’s ball gowns. Until she meets two beings who change her life forever—the first is a young nightdragon who Alliana discovers she can magically talk to. And the second is Nela, a young witch.

Nela needs Alliana’s help navigating the mysterious abyss, filled with dangerous beasts, a place Alliana knows by heart. Alliana sees Nela’s request as a chance to break free of her stepmother’s shadow and to seize a chance at a life she’s barely dared to hope for—but there’s a risk. If caught, Alliana will be stuck working for her stepmother for the rest of her life. Can Alliana truly make wisps of dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy-tale happily ever after?

Inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story and set in the same world as the Eva Evergreen series, this story can be read as a standalone.

NOW...while I catch up on this read, here's a few titles that I have recently finished that fall along the same lines of FANTASICAL reading, perfect to kiss the last days of summer goodbye...

Race for the Escape

by

Christopher Edge

9780593486016

Delacorte Press

This story begins as an escape room challenge and somewhere along the way morphs into a REAL quest to save the world. Honestly, I can't say too much about it because it would spoil the revelations made as the story progresses and you start to put the pieces together, but there's certainly more here than meets the eye. It's a story that will draw you in with the action, the danger, and the quest, but keeps it's hold on you even when things start to turn upside down. Readers will get lost, but willingly so in the challenge, and yet walk away with a new understanding of how even one person can affect change. Ami really gets this, even though she technically shouldn't. She sees that the real challenge is in getting people to think differently, and realize how big a part they really play. Trust me on this, just read it.

The Light Hunters

by

Dan Walker

9781912979103

UCLan Publishing

So I've been sitting on this one for a while, not because it wasn't AMAZING, but for lack of time because it's not a story that you can rush. There is so much going on here and in the world created by the author that you really have to focus in to capture it all. There's monsters and light that isn't just something that escaped from the sun, there's dark that isn't just an absence of light, machines that can do bewildering things, and people that do things you could only imagine. There's teamwork and truth, mysterious pasts revealed and dark futures that could await them...and this is only BOOK ONE! Lux is a great character, easily related to and hard not to feel for, but so is his best friend, his grandpa, and the new members of his team. It's a story that readers will walk away from amazed by the ideas suggested, dazzled by the story unfolded, and desperately wanting to see where things go next!

Dance Magic

Autumn Moonbeam, Book 1

by

Emma Finlayson-Palmer

Illustrated by

Holly Cannon

9781912979769

UCLan Publishing

This delightful first installment of the Autumn Moonbeam series is perfectly timed for the upcoming reading season, though the magic is equally potent outside this spooky fun reading season. Autumn has a big heart, a kind streak a mile long, but she also wants to DANCE, and the opening with Sparkledale Dance Academy is the PERFECT fit. She'll be with friends doing something she loves, and what could make a little witch's heart sing more, am I right? Only problem, we've got a bully in our midst, who seems to think a little less of themselves, seeing how they act out against out girl Autumn, but the tricks on her. The outcome isn't what she was expecting, and could have been much worse than how it played out, all thanks to Autumn reminding us that two wrongs don't make a right, and turning the other cheek is just as gratifying, perhaps even more so, as you reach for your dreams on your own measure. I can't wait to see what's in store for this trio of friends in the next release!

Mr. Penguin and the Tomb of Doom

Mr. Penguin, Book 4

by

Alex T. Smith

9781682634592

Peachtree

This series has always been SO MUCH FUN and this installment is certainly no different. Mr. Penguin, Colin, and friends are at it again, but this time there's a kidnapping, a relic, a thief (or multiple?), a kid with a one eyed cat, and a pigeon that won't lay off consuming a particular book. Yep, it's an EPIC story, and if you're of a certain age, or a fan of the series, your fan heart and mind will be screaming "the whip for the idol". That's right! The play on word title...has a play on story, story with Mr. Penguin playing the intrepid professor with the iconic hat, and having just as many danger filled adventures, all while strongly craving a good fish finger sandwich. It's a series great for kiddos, but equally wonderful for older readers that should not be missed!

Many thanks to the publishers and publicists involved with the titles listed above. Your reach outs, review copies, and heads up notifications are beyond appreciated in keeping us all apprised of the latest and greatest must know stories out there! All titles listed are available now, even some of the sequels, so grab your wish list and get to adding...or better still, you were making a trip to the bookstore later, right?

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

STORYBOOK SATURDAY: The Christmas Owl by Ellen Kalish & Gideon Sterer - REVIEW!

Hi guys and gals!

Happy holidays and welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

We're celebrating another day of bookish fun with Storybook Saturday...the holiday edition! 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 Saturday and/or Sunday! It crops up from time to time when the feeling is right and boy does this one ever!  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's selection came to my attention via Wunderkind PR.  It was a Storybook released this October that tells the tale of a little owl that found his home suddenly mobile, becoming the center of attention and holiday cheer in our very own New York City.  Ring a bell?  Okay, sad to say, it didn't for me (was I under a rock?!), but apparently it all played out LAST YEAR because this GORGEOUSLY ILLUSTRATED storybook is based on the TRUE STORY of none other than a little owl appropriately dubbed, Rockefeller.  So, sit back, get cozy, and prepare to be entertained, delighted, and educated, as we explore today's holiday title in the spotlight and book of choice...

The Christmas Owl

by

Ellen Kalish & Gideon Sterer

Illustrated by

Ramona Kaulitzki

9780316299121

Little Brown Books for Young Readers

About the book...

A New York Times bestseller! Experience the beautiful story that captivated the country about a little owl found in the world's most famous Christmas tree. When Little Owl’s home is cut down by people saying it will make a beautiful Christmas tree, she’s not sure she wants anything to do with Christmas, whatever that means. But then she is saved by a woman named Ellen, whose house is merrily decorated for the holiday, and filled with birds who need someone to care for them. Surrounded by kindness and helpful new friends, Little Owl begins to wonder if Christmas might not be such a bad thing after all….

Co-written by Ellen Kalish, caretaker of the real owl found inside the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, The Christmas Owl is a charming story of friendship, compassion, and the true meaning of this special time of year

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This is a BEAUTIFUL book, in both story and images, that shares a tale of unexpected adventure, holiday spirit, and the kindness of strangers.  

Our little owl friend wasn't expecting to go to sleep one night and wake up to a road trip far from home, nor was she to know that the holiday her and her animal friends were contemplating was about to be revealed in all its splendid magical glory.  She'd come to understand Christmas just THAT much more as she journeys from woodlands to city to rehabilitation center and back home once again.  With her new moniker that would forever earmark her story in our hearts, Rocky was returned to where she belonged thanks to the help of perfect strangers turned newly made friends that saw an animal in need an made it their mission to help her.  

If the story itself wasn't enough to bring a gleam to your eye, the illustrator does a wonderful job of visually bringing the story to life.  Page after page of woodland beauty, cityscapes, and that gloriously lit up Rockefeller tree, not to mention our little Rocky herself, appear right before you eyes as the tale unfolds, bringing you to the touching conclusion AND your chance to explore the full real life story on your own!  That's right.  At book's end, it includes a section that details Rocky's story with real life pictures of her fluffy feathered self, and a bit about the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center that helped our young owl friend recover fully in order to return to her wilderness friends.

All in all, it's a wonderful chance to indulge both your fiction and your nonfiction sides this holiday season, while sharing that love of reading with even the youngest amongst your family and friends.  It imparts beautiful messages that touch the heart, while perhaps also sparking that interest in wildlife recovery in the next generation for further exploration off the written page.

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Rocky's Official Ornament

(all proceeds go to the Ravenbeard Wildlife Center)

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About the authors and illustrator....

Ellen Kalish is the Executive Director of Ravensbeard Wildlife Center, a rehabilitation and educational center that focuses on rescue and release for wild birds. She served on the board for the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, and is the recipient of the William R. Ginsberg Stewardship Award from the Woodstock Land Conservancy and the Appreciation Award from the Catskill Exotic Bird Club. She invites you to visit her online at ravensbeard.org.

Gideon Sterer is the author of From Ed’s to Ned’s, Not Your Nest!, The Night Knights, and The Midnight Fair, among others. Gideon grew up in the woods of upstate New York where his parents owned a little zoo, in which he would run around after-hours and let the animals out. He now lives in the Hudson Valley and invites you to visit him online at gideonsterer.com and @gideonsterer.

Ramona Kaulitzki is the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestseller Sisters First, as well as Wonderful You, Badger’s Perfect Garden, and several others. She enjoys creating characters and breathing life into them while imagining the worlds in which they live, and her love of animals and nature is a major inspiration for her work. She invites you to visit her online at ramonakaulitzkiart.com and @ramonakaulitzki.

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Special thanks to Elena and Evalyn of the Wunderkind PR team for the chance to bring this to you and to Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the authors, the illustrator, Ravensbeard Wildlife Center, or Rocky herself, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now for your reading and gifting pleasure, so stop by your local brick and mortar, or order your copy online today!

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

Rockstar Book Tours presents... TRICK OR TREAT, CRANKENSTEIN by Samantha Berger - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the TRICK OR TREAT, CRANKENSTEIN by Samantha Berger & illustrated by Dan Santat Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. It's never too early for some Halloween fun, so check out my review and make sure to enter the giveaway before you go!

 

Title: TRICK OR TREAT, CRANKENSTEIN

Author: Samantha Berger & Dan Santat (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: August 17, 2021

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 40

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

Even the grumpiest kiddos will cheerfully gobble up this the delicious follow-up to Crankenstein and A Crankenstein Valentine! 

This year, Crankenstein's favorite day of all—Halloween—has gone rotten! Creepy-cool costumes, super-scary jack-o'-lanterns, and loads of candy have been RUINED by costume disasters, pumpkin-carving nightmares, and a terribly untimely toothache! MEHHRRRR!!! Can Halloween be saved, or will today turn into the crankiest Halloween in history?

Samantha Berger's beloved "crankster" character confronts all the wicked tricks and treats of Halloween in this bucket full of laughs, illustrated by bestselling, award-winning artist Dan Santat.

Grab the other books in the CRANKENSTEIN series now!

CRANKENSTEIN

CRANKENSTEIN VALENTINE

 

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Once upon a time, it was Crankenstein's favorite time of year...HALLOWEEN!  Except this year was different...and it turned everything from his favorite time to his not so favorite time when the weather didn't cooperate, the ghastly act of having the same costume is committed, and someone decides to invade his candy stash.  The horror!  I mean, it's enough to turn anyone's frown...well, bigger...at least until he's faced with something that makes the whole over-reactions, the whole absurdity of the situation...something else.  Have you ever had someone point out just how out of character YOU were acting?  Maybe you were overly tired, or HANGRY, or just plain fed up with everything, and your behavior was so LARGER than life that your friends simply had to make you see that 2 plus 2 equals 4?  Yeah, same here, with riotously fun and funny results!

A great read for the Halloween season or anytime someone might just need a reminder of how ridiculously large they blew something out of proportion and need a moment to regroup!

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About Samantha Berger:

Samantha Berger has written many picture books, including Crankenstein and A Crankenstein Valentine, What If...,and Rock What Ya Got. She is a three-time Emmy-nominated television writer and former editorial director and vice president of animated shorts for Nickelodeon. When she isn't writing, she's doing voice-overs and helping rescue dogs. Samantha lives in sunny California, and she invites you to visit her at samanthaberger.com.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

About Dan Santat:

Dan Santat is the Caldecott Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, Are We there Yet?, and After the Fall. He has also illustrated many other picture books, including Crankenstein and A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger, as well as Lift and Drawn Together by Minh Lê. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and various pets, and he invites you to visit him online at dantat.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

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Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a Finished Copy of TRICK OR TREAT, CRANKENSTEIN, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/16/2021	YABooksCentral	Excerpt
8/17/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
8/18/2021	BookHounds YA	Review
8/19/2021	Little Red Reads	Excerpt
8/20/2021	The Momma Spot	Review

Week Two:

8/23/2021	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review
8/24/2021	@minnesota_mailer	Review
8/25/2021	@curlygrannylovestoread	Excerpt
8/26/2021	She Just Loves Books	Review
8/27/2021	@kristens.reading.nook	Review

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