THE FRIENDLY MOUSE by Sophia R. Tyler - REVIEW!

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to another bookish day here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Well, we’re almost to the halfway point of June and I’ve got a bit of catching up to do. So, for me that means more typing, and for you...more chances to inspire you to pick up a new-to-you title for your summer reading. Sounds like a fare deal to me! First up, a Picture Book that came to my attention via PR by the Book. It features a friendly little mouse that's having a tough time of things, but despite those obstacles put in his path...he always chooses kindness.  Ready or not, fair readers, here comes today's ebook of choice...

The Friendly Mouse

by

Sophia R. Tyler

9798985057409

Tiger Lily Publishing

About the book…

A SMALL MOUSE WITH A BIG HEART CHANGES THE WORLD ONE FRIEND AT A TIME

The Friendly Mouse is the debut work from talented new writer Sophia R. Tyler and beautifully illustrated by Matthew Sample. This children’s story evokes the tone and style of the beloved Aesop’s Fables and shares with young readers the “Golden Rule” as well as finding true worth through acts of kindness.

The good natured and eager mouse loves his home in the countryside and works in the city. It’s a difficult and arduous journey for the little mouse to travel into the city for work, and because of this he is often terribly late. One morning after the journey into work, he almost falls asleep at his post. The poor little mouse is almost fired when he suddenly makes a bold choice that could cost him everything. 

Despite being overwhelmed by his struggles, he chooses to be kind and learns that, sometimes, your job isn’t your most important responsibility. So much in life can be lost if you allow jobs and responsibilities to overwhelm you. Far more is gained when you take the time to show kindness and to treat others as you want to be treated.

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This was a darling book filled with illustrations that brought a smile to your face while perfectly matching the tone, flow, and intention of the story.  

As the title suggests, it's about a friendly mouse, but not a mouse that is merely friendly, but a mouse that CHOOSES to be friendly.  His circumstances are something many readers can relate to, even if over the intended audience range, and the challenges he faces are certainly not uncommon, but the way he approaches them, conquering them day by day while still trying to gain a leg up, is inspiring.  It reminds us that yes, life may give us trials to pass, and obstacles to overcome, but we are never truly alone in our struggles, and kindness doesn't cost us a thing.  

It's a lesson many learned in their youth, but there's always room for a reminder....TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED. A smile, an acknowledgement, a pat on the back, or a kind word, can all make a world of difference in someone's day.  So the next time you're feeling pressed for time with all you have to do, and you're letting the little things get to you, take a step back and remember, things are never truly as dark or awful as they seem in the moment, if only we keep looking for the light...both from outside and within.

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About the author….

Sophia R. Tyler has been dedicated to helping those less fortunate for as long as she, and her family, can remember. Her favorite books growing up included The Berenstain Bears, The Crippled Lamb, and Franklin, all which instilled in her a passion for supporting under-served communities. Her genuine love for children and their development, growth, and learning inspired her to write The Friendly Mouse. She hopes to reintroduce the timeless message of the Golden Rule to young children, particularly those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently a senior at Hope College, Sophia will begin the Master of Social Work program at University of Denver in Fall 2023. Throughout high school and college, Sophia tutored elementary school students and interned for Ready for Life and Benjamin’s Hope, nonprofit organizations which foster inclusive communities and provide creative and engaging opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. She led creative art classes with Benjamin’s Hope, combining her creative side with her social work. Sophia loves to paint and has an Instagram account dedicated to posting her art.

SITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM

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Special thanks to Erin at PR by the Book for the chance to bring this title to you as well as the ecopy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or their other promotions, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Tiger Lily Publishing, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today!

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

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Cynthia Starts a Band by Olivia Swindler - GUEST POST!

HI there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're teaming up with PR by the Book to shine the BOOK SPOTLIGHT on a debut release that speaks to discovering who we really are, what we want out of life, and having the gumption to present that true self to the world.  Along with the spotlight, we've got a special GUEST POST from the author about the authenticity of the story she's sharing, so, if you're ready, let's get this feature started as we present...

Cynthia Starts a Band

by

Olivia Swindler

About the book....

EVEN AMERICA’S SWEETHEART POP-SUPERSTAR HAS TROUBLE FINDING THEIR VOICE IN THE HEARTBREAKINGLY HONEST DEBUT NOVEL FROM OLIVIA SWINDLER

Eleanor Quinn lives a life most young girls dream of. She’s the lead singer of a wildly successful band, dating the most beautiful man in America, and in love with her life on tour. She pours her heart into every song she writes and genuinely enjoys connecting with fans. So, when she disappears after her fiance’s fairy-tale perfect proposal on stage, the world is shocked. Worse yet, he starts telling interviewers that Eleanor is crazy -- possibly even a danger to herself and those around her. As the weeks go by, the world wants to know: Who is Eleanor Quinn really?

But Eleanor needs to find that out for herself.

Broken and filled with self-doubt after the proposal, Eleanor embarks on a journey to regain agency in her life. She needs to reconnect with the Ellie Quinn underneath pop sensation “Eleanor Quinn.” Determined to find herself again, she moves in with her cousin in Seattle, picks a new name, and enrolls in a local university’s writing class. But she starts to realize that running away and starting over isn’t as easy as it seems in movies. Crushed by self-doubt and subconscious fears, ghosts from her past refuse to leave her alone. She realizes the only way forward is to share her version of the past.

Olivia Swindler’s debut novel embraces the values of family, empowerment, and healing and draws on the #metoo movement. Reminiscent of Evvie Drake Starts Over (Linda Holmes) and Searching for Sylvie Lee (Jean Kwok), Cynthia Starts a Band tells the story of starting over, discovering who you are when the world isn’t looking, and summoning the courage to be honest with yourself and the world.

AMAZON  |  B&N

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~~~   GUEST POST with Author Olivia Swindler   ~~~

I have always been a storyteller. From the moment I learned that I could keep my sister's attention if I had a good enough story, I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

When I started writing, it took me years to find my voice. No matter what the plot was, for some reason, the story kept falling flat. The words that I was writing didn't feel like me because they weren't me. The stories I was trying to tell were not mine to carry. I knew it. Those who read my words knew it. It was not authentic.

In my mid-twenties, I had an "oh-my-gosh-the-world-is-ending-and-I-will-never-find-love-again" breakup. (Older and wiser now, I wish I was dramatic when I typed those words, but I know that you can find that phrasing verbatim somewhere in a text to my sister). I really thought that my life was over.

I started to tell a few of my friends about my recently ended relationship. After describing something my ex had said to me while we were dating, one of my dearest friends said the words I had been dreading and denying—that he had been emotionally abusive and manipulative.

With the pieces of my broken heart, I refused to believe her. He HAD loved me. I loved him.

A few months went by, and I did my best to forget her words. I moved on with my life. I figured out who I was again. I felt like myself. And then, one morning, I got on Twitter. The #metoo movement had begun, and I found myself absentmindedly scrolling through the tweets. I could relate to almost every tweet. The things these women were calling abuse were things that I had experienced in this relationship.

I fell to the floor and cried.

From my spot on the floor, I wrote what would become the last song in Cynthia Starts a Band, Wasn't Love. I had spent the better half of a year justifying this bad behavior because I thought that the way I was being treated was the way love was supposed to look like. For years, I held onto that song, keeping it as an anthem to myself. It was a reminder of what I had walked through. A testament to my own strength and courage.

And then, after years of writing stories that were not mine to write, the story of Eleanor Quinn, a woman who is escaping an abusive relationship, came to me. The words ultimately wrote themselves.

• I wrote Cynthia Starts a Band as a beacon of hope for anyone trying to find their agency again.

• I wrote Cynthia Starts a Band as a love letter to anyone who has felt alone in their pain.

• I wrote Cynthia Starts a Band to remind myself of the courage it takes to start over.

I hope that through stories like Cynthia Starts a Band, readers feel empowered and remember that they can do hard things. I hope you feel seen. I hope you feel loved.

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About the author...

Olivia Swindler was raised in Spokane, Washington but currently resides in Grenoble, France, as the Communication Coordinator for Young Life in Europe. She spends most of her spare time wandering through the mountains and eating her weight in bread. 

Olivia believes that through fiction we can learn and grow from one another because there is something magical about picking up a book and allowing it to transport you someplace new. Cynthia Starts a Band is her debut novel. She hopes it will create and foster hard, real-life conversations, inspiring readers to have the courage to discover who they are when the world isn't looking

SITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  TWITTER

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Special thanks to Leslie at PR by the Book for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today!

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

YOU ARE REVOLUTIONARY by Cindy Wang Brandt - REVIEW!

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're taking a look at a new PICTURE BOOK title hitting bookstore and virtual shelves TOMORROW via Beaming Books.  It's a title aimed at kiddos to help them think BIG, stand TALL, and enable CHANGE in the world not just for one, but ALL.  Sound like your cup of tea?  Well then, let's get this party started as we take our turn on the PR by the Book Blog Tour starring today's book of choice...

You Are Revolutionary

by

Cindy Wang Brandt

Illustrated by

Lynnor Bontigao

9781506478302

Beaming Books

About the book...

You have what it takes to change the world!

This is the empowering message parenting author and podcaster Cindy Wang Brandt wants every child to hear and embrace. In this inspiring picture book she speaks to every child who sees injustice in the world, revealing that they already have inside themselves everything they need to make big, transformative change in the world--just as they are. Every kid is a revolutionary! You don't need to wait until you grow up. You don't even need any special skills. Kids who are loud, kids who are quiet, kids who make art, kids who are good at math, kids with lots of energy, kids who are good listeners--all kids have what it takes to make a difference.

Lynnor Bontigao's vibrant illustrations feature a diverse group of children taking up a call to action and using their individual gifts to change the world.

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This is a book to EMPOWER.

This is a story to UNITE.

This is a call to readers of all ages to STAND against injustice, and LET THEIR VOICE BE HEARD.  This is a reminder that even the youngest among us can take steps towards CHANGE because that power is inside us all.  It's up to each of us to put it to good use in order to make the world a better place for all generations.  If you choose to be a bystander, simply viewing the world as it is, while complaining about the injustices you see, nothing gets done.  If you choose to bear witness to those things that shouldn't be, and help speak out with those wronged, your voice is multiplied that much more, heard that much more, sparking change that much more.

With wonderful illustrations that depict the beauty of our differences as well as a hardships that will move you, this is a story that will speak to every generation, from the young to the young at heart, while providing a foundation to build and grow upon.  Read it for yourself.  Read it for generations past and those still to come.  Read it for the hope you hold for a brighter future for all, and then spread that message with action steps of your own to see that tomorrow start today.

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About the author...

Cindy Wang Brandt is the author of Parenting Forward: How to Raise Children with Justice, Mercy, and Kindness. She is the host of Parenting Forward podcast and the Parenting Forward conference. She's also the founder of the popular Facebook group Raising Children Unfundamentalist. Cindy writes at cindywangbrandt.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Cindy lives in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with her husband and two children.

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About the illustrator...

Lynnor Bontigao has loved drawing ever since she was a young child in the Philippines. Lynnor is also the illustrator of Jack & Agyu, written by Justine Villanueva. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and won the 2020 SCBWI Tomie dePaola Professional Development Award. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, and one tiny dog.

TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM

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Special thanks to PR by the Book for the chance to bring this review to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the publisher, or the author, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today.

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

Kobee Manatee: Climate Change and the Great Blue Hole Hazard by Bob Regan - REVIEW!

HI there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we've got two great tours making their presence known in the site, and first up, it's an edutainment title, 4th in a series, seeking to raise awareness about the environment and climate change through the sea worthy adventures of Kobee Manatee and friends!  If you've embarked on adventures with him before, great...but if not, just go with the waves because you'll feel right at home in just a moment.  Ready or not, fair readers, here comes today's blog tour guest and ebook of choice...

Kobee Manatee:  Climate Change and the Great Blue Hole Hazard

by

Bob Regan

Illustrated by

Lauren Gallegos

9780997123999 

Thompson Mill Press

Release Date:  09/28/21

About the book...

Kobee Manatee® and his seafaring pals, Tess the seahorse and Pablo the hermit crab are swimming from the Cayman Islands to Belize to help his cousin Quinn clean up plastic litter at her new, all-veggie underwater bistro called Quinn’s Seagrass Café. On their Caribbean journey, they encounter harmful effects of climate change and plastic pollution, along with several other unforeseen problems - a distressed loggerhead turtle, a giant Portuguese man-of-war, and a venomous scorpionfish. Then the friends discover the amazing Great Blue Hole. Their adventure takes another surprising turn when Pablo plunges into its huge abyss! Can Kobee and his buddies save Pablo?

AMAZON

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This is a wonderful story ruled by the amazing full color, two-page spreads, and filled to the brim with not only adventure through the deep blue sea, but also knowledge.  At every turn of the tale, you'll learn something new, whether it be about coral bleaching, the hazards of plastic in our oceans, ways that you can make a difference, or the Great Blue Hole itself. It was hard to see Kobee's friends get tangled up in the rubbish of mankind, but wonderful to see them work together to overcome it.  Following this group through the waters presents many obstacles they weren't expecting, but they grow together in friendship from the things they overcome, and in knowledge on what to avoid in the future...all the while making their way to help another friend clean up their part of the ocean for their new cafe!

I think little ones will be enraptured by the illustrations and the bright, colorful palette used to portray all of these under-the-sea dwellers.  I think slightly older kiddos will see the struggles of the sea and the creatures in it, sparking action to change it not only for tomorrow, but today.  I think that adults sharing in the reading adventure will be reminded of the steps we can take in our daily lives to help with conservation efforts to slow climate change and help restore some of the balance the earth needs to survive for generations to come.  I think...no, wait, I know that I will be seeking out more information on some of the topics raised and from some of the organizations mentioned to see how our smaller individual steps may be paired with others to make an even bigger impact.

All in all, a Picture Book with not only a good story and wonderful characters, but a mission...and anything that helps us take steps in the right direction, or even gets us thinking about what else we can do, is A-okay in my book!

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Catch up with Kobee Manatee and friends online...

SITE

Author Bob Regan...

TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM

Illustrator Lauren Gallegos...

TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  SITE

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Special thanks to PR by the Book for the chance to bring this review to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, or the author, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today.

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

LOVE, ONLY BETTER by Paulette Stout - REVIEW!

HI guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today's review post is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY, or at the very least, the book featured is, as we close out the month of September with a timely title. First, September is Self-Care Month as well as Sexual Health month, and while I won't dive into either topic very deep, I will say that our title on deck definitely does, and in rather healthy way, at least to this reader. It presents us with a problem that we know is out there, but even in today's wide open world, is still considered taboo by many, and shameful to those that suffer from it.  Have I peaked your interest?  Great!  Then let's turn down the lights, and get the mood music playing because today's blog tour guest and title of choice have arrived...

Love, Only Better

by

Paulette Stout

About the book...

For Rebecca, sex is a joke missing a punchline. No crashing waves. Only pangs of inadequacy. At twenty-eight, shouldn’t she have had one by now? Her snickering ex thought so. His taunts echo in her ears as he rolls out of her bed. Then out of her life.

Lost, Rebecca seeks expert help, joining a study for women who can’t “finish” in the bedroom. There is such a thing? It’s unconventional, for sure, but she’s desperate for answers. The no-sex mandate is a no brainer. Who’d want to be with her anyway?

Then Kyle moves in. Her blue-eyed, black motorcycle-riding dream of a neighbor lives a heartbeat away. Sparks flew immediately. But could the timing be any worse?

If he learns her secret, she’ll lose her best chance at love. But if her lessons fail, she’ll be left eternally broken. Unlovable.

What started as a search for fulfillment, has suddenly become a quest for something far greater.

Love, Only Better is an intimate quest full of heart, blending a fun next-door romance with steamy dates-for-one. Perfect for fans of Helen Hoang (The Kiss Quotient), Jennifer Weiner (Good In Bed), Jojo Moyes and fans of women's fiction full of wit, spice and soul.

AMAZON  |  B&N

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Rebecca may not think she was a brave woman, but she was, really and truly.  It takes a lot to admit you have a problem, but to own it and do something about it, that's where the real winners are uncovered.  She was treated badly in her relationships in the past, and over something that really had no baring on the other person, but it did directly affect her...and if she wasn't complaining, who were they to?  Watching her feelings get hurt by even those she called friend, seeing her try medical advice, and then undertaking a place on that unusual study, understanding that while her interactions with Kyle stoked something, she was still far from where she wanted to be...all of these steps and missteps went into creating a character WITH character; someone that readers could feel a connection with, even if they didn't relate to her struggles, and ride the emotional rollercoaster by her side.  

I admit, I couldn't do it.  I mean, that study...talking to those people, even if I didn't really know Adam from Eva, the things shared were just beyond the boundaries of what I feel I'd be comfortable broaching.  I get where she was coming from, and where her mother was coming from.  Growing up a generation or two back, throw in the Catholic background, and you just didn't talk about these things.  You might get a crash course when you hit your first cycle, but the standard 'birds and bees', the late night relationship discussions, the curious questions about what happens when and what to do...it just wasn't done.  You picked up things from either doing them, those that did do them, or read about them...and that was that.  It wasn't to be close minded, or prudish, just simply more private.  Bedroom talk was for the bedroom, not the living room.  So you see, her surprise, later on in the story, with her mom, didn't surprise me in the least because yeah, as time goes by and you've reached a more mature or elevated adult age in their eyes, some things get shared that you weren't privy too, but it still wouldn't be open season or an open bedroom discussion.  Anywho...

All in all, the story does well not only to entertain as any Contemporary Fiction, or Women's Fiction title should, but it also informs, and brings awareness to an issue that has long been there and still is, but remains shuddered behind closed hearts and minds.  There's no harm in seeking help for anything that ails you, so why should there be when you have a mental or emotional block keeping you from fully experiencing everything love has to offer?  Rebecca is a character that certainly champions this issue for women, and her relationship with Kyle, though it had its disastrous moments, felt realistic enough to root for.  I still feel that the book is better aimed at adult readers due to content as there are frank sexual discussions and some between the covers scenes, but once you've hit the age of majority, I'd say it's fair game.

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About the author...

Paulette Stout is the fearless author of Love, Only Better, a contemporary novel and bedroom rallying cry for women everywhere.

Born in Manhattan, Paulette is the gold-star wordsmith and owner of her content marketing agency, Media Goddess Inc., where she crafts content for her list of global clients. Prior to MGI, Paulette led content and design teams at several tech companies, and one educational publisher where her elimination of the Oxford comma caused a near riot.

Paulette’s prior career as a media buyer/planner in New York earned her three industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Cornell University and her MBA in Marketing from the Lubin School of Business, Pace University.

You can usually find Paulette rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts.

SITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  TWITTER

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Special thanks to PR by the Book for the chance to bring this review to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, or the author, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today.

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

Breakfast is served!: THE GRUMPY FRUMPY CROISSANT by Mona K - REVIEW!

HI there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're starting the day right with the most important meal...or rather, characters that are a part of the most important meal...and now it sounds A LOT more sinister than it should've so Ill stop while I'm ahead. *ahem* Anywho..today's spotlight falls on a title perfect for breakfast or any other time of day and passes on a message good for all ages. Ladies and gents, tie on your bib and get ready for today's ebook of choice...

The Grumpy Frumpy Croissant

by

Mona K

Illustrations by

Korey Scott

9781951490966

9781951490973

Canoe Tree Press

About the book...

The Grumpy Frumpy Croissant is a children’s picture book with fun and colorful hand-drawn illustrations that teach a lesson about misunderstandings any child can grasp. Croissant learns how to let anger pass, and that yelling hurts others’ feelings. It's a simple story for parents to introduce ideas of managing feelings to children, illustrated by Korey Scott.

The book also features a delicious croissant recipe that parents can make with their children, and full-page coloring activities featuring the characters in the book (kindle and e-reader compatible too!).

"A quirky and engaging breakfast tale that stresses conflict resolution." - Kirkus Reviews

AMAZON | B&N

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The story tells about an accidental upset at breakfast while plating, and how hurt feelings turn into something so much bigger than it ever had to be. A cool head is kept by the fire dousing beverage in attendance, and once things settle enough to see through the smoky haze of anger, all is well. Simple enough, and yet much like the way the issue blows up in the first place, a whole lot more.

It's a way for kids to relate to hurt feelings like being slighted, displaced, or just plan put out. It gives them a grumpy croissant to see themselves in, or at least what their potential actions can have them looking like, minus the butter content, and shows them a better way to handle those spikey feelings. It can be hard enough to navigate that minefield of emotions as an adult and we're suppose to understand it...for kiddos just starting out in life, it can be extra confusing, so giving them techniques to deal with those moments that are bound to crop up throughout their lives is both beneficial now and later on for a happier, healthier, emotionally comfortable kiddo.

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About the author...

Mona K is a statistician by training and loves to weave stories with numbers in her day job as a health services researcher. She is also a children’s book author who believes that picture books are a source of both wisdom and silliness. Mona loves to bake in her free time, and her love for croissants and meditation inspired her to write this debut children's picture book. She lives in New Jersey with her seven-year-old son and husband.

SITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

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Special thanks to PR by the Book for the chance to bring this spotlight to you. (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 via Canoe Tree Press, a division of DartFrog Books, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today.

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

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Teensy Weensy Virus Book and Song by Sherri L. Rose

Hi there! 

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. 

Today, we’re shining the spotlight on a title released in the middle of the pandemic that aimed to help make the big scary a little easier for kiddos to get a handle on, while also trying to lighten the mood. Hey, there’s no reason why even with something as big as this that you can’t learn more and have a little fun too! With that being said, I give you today’s title AND song in the spotlight… 

The Teensy Weensy Virus Book and Song

by 

Sherri L. Rose 

Illustrated by

Megan E. Brawand

About the book… 

COVID-19 is a big deal—but with all that adults have to worry about, it’s easy to overlook the pandemic’s impact on children. The Teensy Weensy Virus Book and Song for Preschoolers provides a way for parents and caregivers to reinforce the importance of safety measures (like wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing) to children, while giving kids the opportunity to ask questions and share their feelings. Embracing the latest science and backed by medical professionals, The Teensy Weensy Virus pairs simple, kid-friendly explanations with bright, colorful illustrations, while offering additional resources for adults and an informative song (sung to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider) to help lighten the mood as families engage with this serious topic. 

AMAZON | B&N 

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Learn THE TEENSY WEENSY VIRUS song at home! 

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About the Author & Songwriter... 

Sherri Rose grew up in Richmond, Virginia. As a retired pediatric and family nurse practitioner, as well and a hospice and palliative care nurse, she recognizes the critical importance of helping children understand what is happening during this pandemic that is currently sweeping our globe. COVID-19 has created so much stress, anxiety, grief, and loss for adults—imagine what children must think but be unable to express! 

Inspired by her concerns for the smallest among us—as well as by her own significant grief over not being able to hug her children and grandchildren during quarantine—Sherri began to write this book to help preschoolers understand what is going on and why all of us must follow new rules. As a mother of three daughters and three stepdaughters, as well as a grandmother to many, she hopes that the resources found in this book will be useful to all the readers all over the world. Sherri is having six translations created to spread the importance of basic safety guidelines with this very smart virus. She wrote the lyrics to the little song at the end of the book to have something light and happy after reading about a serious topic. 

SITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM 

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Special thanks to PR by the Book for the chance to bring this spotlight to you. (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, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today!

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

WHAT'S THE BUZZ: One, Two, Follow Through! Starring Polly Pivot by Mary Jacobs - REVIEW!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're spreading a little pre book birthday BUZZ!

Summer has arrived and with it the need for something to do! Some kids go to camp, some go to summer courses, some like to read, and some like to play sports. Whatever sparks their interest, gets them motivated, and moving during those holidays, is exactly what we aim to discover to keep them happy, healthy, and entertained, but as with anything enjoyable, a grumpy gus that thinks they know everything can spoil the fun. Check out exhibit 'A' in today's featured title...

One, Two, Follow Through! Starring Polly Pivot

by

Mary Jacobs

Illustrated by

Ron Noble

Triumph Books

RELEASE DATE: June 8th, 2021

About the book...

Polly Pivot is a young girl who loves to play golf. She faces an overwhelming issue when her instructor at camp, Greenskeeper Greenie, tells her and the other students there is only one way to swing her club. While following her gut instinct and being clever and brave, Polly is able to find her way back to her swing. She overcomes obstacles with her forward-thinking and passionate heart, which inspires her friends and teacher, showing them how important it is to stay true to yourself. 

With bright and lively drawings from Emmy-award winning illustrator Ron Noble, One, Two, Follow Through! carries both a universal and timeless message for all ages. Children will learn the importance of following their gut instinct and being their best selves through Polly’s eyes. Readers will be moved to see Polly's passion and forward thinking, which helps her overcome the obstacles that overwhelm her. The story will make readers ask questions, think outside the box, and be creative, while also highlighting the inclusiveness of children’s sports. There is no formula to success, however, trusting your natural abilities is the best place to start!

AMAZON

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This is the story of Polly Pivot. She's a young lady with a passion...for golf! Yep. She gets it from her family and she loves every swing, every club, every divot, and birdie...or at least she did. When she went to camp, SOMEONE that was suppose to be teaching these young golf enthusiasts was less about guiding and more about the Red Queen's method (“never YOUR way, only MY way”). Thing is...they are KIDS. Yes, perhaps you've got a future Tiger Woods, or Mary Jacobs, in your midst, but no two techniques are EXACTLY alike, and when they are learning, when they are already succeeding the way they have always been playing, THAT should be something to celebrate, to cultivate, not coach into oblivion in the most obstinate ways possible. Someone needed to show that grumpy gus what the game was all about...and leave it to our girl Polly to be the one to do it.

It's a tale that speaks of reaching for your dreams, come what may. It reminds young readers that anything worth having is worth putting forth the effort, but it doesn't have to all be an uphill battle. FUN is a three letter word not four, and should always be a part of the game, otherwise it becomes the four letter word (WORK in this case) and can zap all the good times to be had down the last hole. With summer upon us, it's a very timely release that I think will help kiddos feel more confident about new things they are showing an interest in, while reminding older readers to keep the FUN in the game.

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About the author...

MARY JACOBS grew up in Southern Illinois, the youngest of six with five older brothers. She received a full golf scholarship to Tulane University, and transferred to The University of Arizona in 2005 where she became an All-American golfer. She won a Bronze Medal while representing the USA in the world Olympic Games, and briefly thereafter finished her playing career. She is now a highly esteemed LGPA Teaching and Club Professional in Southern California where she resides with her partner.

Learn more about One, Two, Follow Through! by connecting with Jacobs on Instagram, Facebook, and her website.

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About the illustrator...

RON NOBLE is an Emmy Award Winning Animation Director and lifelong cartoonist. After graduating from Syracuse University and creating an award-winning animated short Living in Ridalyn, he moved to Los Angeles to work as a storyboard artist for Klasky Csupo Studios. He served as a supervising director on Nickelodeon’s The Wild Thornberrys, Rocket Power, As Told by Ginger, All Grown Up, and Rugrats, where he won an Emmy for directing. He joined Cartoon Network in 2005 as lead storyboard artist by day while creating Nobletown Studios at night. With Nobletown, he has created dozens of animated videos and shorts, and continues to work as a storyboard artist for TV shows such as Space Racers and Legends of Chamberlain Heights. In addition to illustrating One, Two, Follow Through!, he is also working on a series of his own called Letter Beasties. Learn more on his Nobletown’s website and IMDB page, and connect with Noble on LinkedIn.

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Special thanks to PR by the Book for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title list, the author, or the illustrator, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is set to celebrate its BOOK BIRTHDAY tomorrow, June 8th, 2021 via Triumph Books, so mark your calendar or pre order your copy today!

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

Celebrating National Audiobook Month with FORGIVE US By E.T. Gunnarsson - SPOTLIGHT!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. 

Did you know that June is National Audiobook Month? Yeah, seriously! So let’s LISTEN all about today’s title in the spotlight as we focus in on a NEW AUDIOBOOK that just hit ear-waves this May. It sets us in post-apocalyptic times where survival is definitely for the fittest of mind, body, and heart. Ready or not, HEAR...I mean, here comes today’s featured title... 

Forgive Us 

by 

E.T. Gunnarsson 

About the book...

Earth Has Become Asphyxiated by Man’s Drive for Energy and Technology 

In this page-turning post-apocalyptic thriller, the fight for survival is tantamount as characters dodge mutant creatures, armed militant groups and earth-scouring Doomstorms ... 

Set nearly 100 years into the future, the earth has been decimated by pollution and civilization has fallen into ruin. The war between nature and humanity has no winner. Humanity's drive for energy and technology was its downfall. In this polluted world, survivors fight on and endure the world destroyed by their ancestors. From what was left, they will rebuild and struggle to make a better place for their descendants. 

Four characters in three intertwining time periods fight for survival on a toxic planet: 

2099: Oliver: A lone survivor, raising civilization from the ashes. 

2154: London and Rose: Nomads caught between warring factions. 

2185: Simon: A space station technician initiating a revolution. 

Together they may be the last hope for humanity. 

A compelling and action-packed novel where nothing less than humanity is at stake. For those who have read The Gunslinger and Mad Max, Forgive Us presents a similar ride that spans three generations of a destroyed earth. 

AMAZON  |  B&N

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📣   Praise for Forgive Us   📣

“Readers seeking a solid work of social evolution, technological advancement, and dystopian power struggles will find Forgive Us a compelling piece that draws the reader with realistic characters and a satisfyingly complex series of subplots.” — Midwest Book Review 

“Author E. T. Gunnarsson delivers a powerhouse of post-apocalyptic prose in this highly engrossing and cinematically styled novel...For its edge-of-your-seat thrills, inviting character work and deep conceptual realism, I would highly recommend Forgive Us to fans of dystopian worlds, suspenseful horror and for survival fiction fans everywhere.” — Readers’ Favorite 

“The world-building was phenomenal in this brilliant and entertaining novel. The author gave readers exceptional characters that drove the story forward and allowed them to form a relationship with each of them...Forgive Us is an incredibly complex yet refreshing story!” — Readers’ Favorite

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About the author...

E.T. Gunnarsson is an 18-year-old post-apocalyptic thriller author who suffers from dysgraphia and cannot write by hand easily. He grew up on a horse-rescue ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. He is a home/ online schooler and will soon pursue college online. 

He is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a brown belt in Judo, and trained with the Judo and Grecco-Roman Wrestling Olympic teams at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Knowledgeable in Norse mythology and religion (he writes in Futhark!), he manages an online community for Norse pagans. Forgive Us is his first book. Abandon Us, the prequel to Forgive Us, is scheduled for release early 2022. 

FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  YOUTUBE  |  INSTAGRAM

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About the audiobook narrator...

 Craig Bowles is a graduate of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where he gained a BA in Acting. His talents are focused on the creation of audiobooks and other voice work. He likes nothing better than getting totally immersed in a great story. The winning combination of superb acting skills and a love of literature, allows him to create high quality audiobooks with his rich, silvery, properly British voice.

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Special thanks to Leslie at PR by the Book for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today!

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