Rockstar Book Tours presents... Pei's Pineapple Cakes by Crystal Z. Lee , Illustrated by Allie Su - REVIEW!

Hi gang!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. In case you've noticed, my activity on the site has been a little hit and miss this year, but I'm not out of the game. I'm simply trying not to over BOOK, and stress myself out trying to capture everything, and share everything at once. While I appreciate your visits here, definitely stop over to my Instagram feed to catch me on the daily! Anywho, let's get back to today's tasty bookish treat making its way here thanks to Rockstar Book Tours...

Pei's Pineapple Cakes

by

Crystal Z. Lee

Illustrated by

Allie Su

About the book...

While visiting her grandmother in central Taiwan, Pei finds herself in the middle of a mystery. The pineapple cakes from her grandmother's bakery have disappeared! Soon Pei is collecting clues as she embarks on a quest to find the missing pineapple cakes.

From traditional Taiwanese artisan craftsmanship to picturesque villages of central Taiwan, Pei discovers the beauty of her grandmother's hometown. This is a charming story of courage, adventure, and the love between grandchildren and grandparents.

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This wonderful, fully illustrated, and colorful tale, shares a day in the life of Pei as she spends time with her grandmother, and unravels a tasty secret. Her journey to solve the mystery takes her through the town and places us in the lives and culture of the Taiwanese people. We get glimpses into the tightly knit community, the beautiful countryside, the remarkable crafts and trades practiced... and just how tempting the missing pineapple 🍍 cakes truly were because the sneaky little culprit was all ready to strike again! It's a wonderful way for readers to dip their toes in another place that seems like another time, allowing the imagery and information to open the doors of curiosity for further exploration... just like Pei and her mom!

A great pick for wee readers and beyond! Side note... though not an option for me to read, I loved the inclusion of what I can only assume us the story text in the given language. It's beautiful to see, and provides just another spark for that cultural immersion. 

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Special thanks to Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours for the heads up regarding this title, and much thanks to the author for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the illustrator, feel free to click through the links above. 

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

AWARENESS TOUR: How to Make a Sandwich by Lorena M. Proia - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

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

For all of those that celebrated the holiday yesterday, I hope you had an amazing day.  For those that just wanted to make it through the day, I feel you...*hugs*.  With that said, today's title plays into the holiday in a way as it focuses on family, and those connections to the ones we hold dear, only it makes it easier to understand...like our favorite sandwich.  Curious?  Well then, pull up a chair as we gather our ingredients, and take a closer look at today's ebook of choice...

How to Make a Sandwich

Written and Illustrated by

Lorena M. Proia

Ages 4+ | 32 Pages

9798988573005

PnM Publishing

About the book...

Making a sandwich is fun and easy! And Rae knows just how to do it. The bread is like the parents, it keeps the sandwich safe and happy. The turkey is the love, the lettuce is the fun. But every time Rae adds an ingredient, it disappears, and she soon realizes there is a sandwich-stealing thief intent on eating her creation! Will Rae ever get to eat her lunch? Suddenly making a sandwich isn’t so easy after all!

AUTHOR SITE  |  AMAZON

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This was a darling book with such a heartfelt message.

The little girl was exploring another side of her many interests thanks to a bit of hunger, so in lieu of her scientist hat, or artist cape, it was time to don her chef hat.  The perfect snack...a sandwich...but not just any sandwich.  This was a work of art that came from the heart as she explained how each layer of the sandwich was like a feeling or a family member, and how they were all important for making it a "meal".  Her lesson is put to the test when ingredients start disappearing, as they will when you have mischievous pets, and sneaky family members about, but it turns out just fine in the end when we learn what the most important part of that sandwich really was...and if you find out, and you don't have a smile on your face, I'd be mighty surprised.  💓 

A tender tale that reminds us that family comes in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, but together they make a delicious masterpiece fit for a king...or kid, or mom, or dad, etc.  With illustrations that don't overwhelm with their color palette, but pile on the details within the image, you can't go wrong with this delightful story for a classroom or family library.

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About the Author/Illustrator...

When Lorena M. Proia graduated with a BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology in Graphic Design and Painting, she never imagined she’d become an Information Architect in high-tech. She thought her creativity was lost until she was rescued by an Australian Shepherd named Phebe. Inspired by Phebe’s antics, her drawings became Phebe-n-Me, a t-shirt company, which grew up to become a children’s book! How to Make a Sandwich is her first picture book.

You can find out more about her, Phebe, and her books at www.lorenaproiabooks.com.

INSTAGRAM  |  FACEBOOK

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~~~   GIVEAWAY   ~~~

Enter for your chance to win this amazing prize package:

A signed copy of How to Make a Sandwich

A set of Phebe-n-Me t-shirts (1 child and 1 adult size)

A gorgeous set of 12 blank note cards featuring Phebe-n-Me designs

How to Make a Sandwich: Book Giveaway

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Special thanks to Bianca at The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you and for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This post is sponsored by Lorena M. Proia. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, April 22, 2024

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Me Too Books

Book Activity for How to Make a Sandwich

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

Instagram Post for How to Make a Sandwich

Thursday, April 25, 2024

icefairy’s Treasure Chest

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Friday, April 26, 2024

Mrs Makes Reading Fun

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Monday, April 29, 2024

The Fairview Review

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

One More Exclamation

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Pages for Paige

Instagram Post for How to Make a Sandwich

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Cover Lover Book Review

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Friday, May 3, 2024

Ava in Book Land

Instagram post for How to Make a Sandwich

Monday, May 6, 2024

Deliciously Savvy

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Book Zone Reviews

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Confessions of a Book Addict

Book Spotlight of How to Make a Sandwich

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Crafty Moms Share

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Friday, May 10, 2024

Froggy Read Teach

Instagram Post for How to Make a Sandwich

Monday, May 13, 2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Stargirls Magical Tale

Instagram Post for How to Make a Sandwich

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

The Momma Spot

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Country Mamas with Kids

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Life is What’s it’s called

Author Interview

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Twirling Book Princess

Book Review of How to Make a Sandwich

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

Rockstar Book Tours presents... SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS by Jenna Evans Welch - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

For our second post of the day, I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS by Jenna Evans Welch BLOG TOUR hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my review post, make sure to enter the giveaway, and then click on over to the other sites participating for more bookish fun!

 

Title: SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS

Author: Jenna Evans Welch

Pub. Date: September 27, 2022

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 368

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato comes a poignant and romantic novel about two teens trying to find their place in the world after being unceremoniously dragged to Salem, Massachusetts, for the summer.

Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

 

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This was a magic infused story about family, acceptance, forgiveness, and moving forward.  It was a reminder that we can't forget the past because it affects us even in the present, but if we LEARN from it, it was never in vain.  Willow has A LOT to learn about her mother, her family heritage, and the true desires of her heart.  Mason has A LOT to learn as well about his path in life, accepting the things he cannot change, and being open to the possibilities of tomorrow.  Signs may not always come in threes, nor direct us on the straight and narrow, but they are all around us to take as we wish, decipher how we need, and contemplate as we turn another page.  

I loved the magical aspect built into Willow's family history, and the setting chose couldn't have been any more perfect.  The sense of being lost that she's kept close to her heart unsettles when she arrives at the "estate", and it was heartwarming to see her open to the new experiences around her, while being unable to resist uncovering the secrets of the past.  I felt for Mason and his heartfelt desire to be with his mom again.  He never wanted to give up on her, always knew that she was working on getting better, and couldn't wait to see the day that she and he would be back together to stay.  Sometimes though, what looks like giving up is actually someone else's way of ensuring we are cared for.  

In the end, it had its ups and downs, but what family doesn't?  Leaning into their past allowed them to brighten their futures, and find the solution to an age old curse that was something much more than what it seemed on the surface.  

 

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About the author...

Jenna Evans Welch was the kind of insatiable child reader who had no choice but to grow up to become a writer. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato, Love & Luck, and Love & Olives. When she isn’t writing girl abroad stories, Jenna can be found chasing her children or making elaborate messes in the kitchen. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and two young children. Visit her online at JennaEvansWelch.com. 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

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~~~   GIVEAWAY  ~~~ 

1 winner will receive a physical copy of SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS, US Only.

Ends October 15^th, Midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Special thanks to the Rockstar Book Tours team for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the publisher for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, wherever books are sold. Catch the rest of the tour for more!

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/12/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
9/13/2022	Kayl's Krazy Obsession	Review
9/14/2022	Just Another Teen Reading Books	Review/IG Post
9/15/2022	Stacialovestoread	Review/IG Post
9/16/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Review/IG Post
9/17/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

9/18/2022	booksaremagictoo	Review/IG Post
9/19/2022	Mom with a Reading Problem	Review/IG Post
9/20/2022	wiltedpages	Review/TikTok Post
9/21/2022	Lisa Loves Literature	Review/IG Post
9/22/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
9/23/2022	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
9/24/2022	My.Bookish.Mind	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Three:

9/25/2022	popthebutterfly	Review/IG Post
9/26/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
9/27/2022	onemused	IG Review
9/28/2022	pluvioreads	Review/TikTok Post
9/29/2022	@booksrn_rashi	IG Review
9/30/2022	Novel Novice	IG Spotlight
10/1/2022	Star-Crossed Book Blog	Review/IG Post

Week Four:

10/2/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
10/3/2022	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review
10/4/2022	Book-Keeping	Review/IG Post
10/5/2022	Momfluenster	IG Review/FB Post
10/6/2022	Celia's Reads	Review/IG Post
10/7/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
10/8/2022	@jacleomik33	IG Review

Week Five:

10/9/2022

The Moon Phoenix

Review/IG Post

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

What's In A Name: Keeper by Kathi Appelt

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  To those of you new to the site, I hope you enjoy your visit and decide to stick around for a while!  For those that have stuck around...you rock, you know it and THAT is how you show it!  (LOL)  Anywho...a small blip of information before we delve into the meat of the post.  If you haven't heard, there is a great new event (may be a little bias on that part) coming to a book blog near you this July...it's called Got Books?.  It's a celebration of books (of course) and the book BLOGGERS that help shine a light on them.  If you'd like to learn more, check out the site....if not, no worries, I won't hold it against, but you will be missing out on some awesome-tastic fun.  (No pressure, really...)  Alright, enough with the promotion....on with the show!

Today's post highlights a recent addition to the Kids Fiction genre and a unique one at that.  It combines a watery tale of mermaids and seas creatures with a story full of heart and love.  Without further adieu, today's book of choice is....

Keeper

by

Kathi Appelt

Keeper is ten years old.  Full of life and spirit, she is the apple of the collective eye of Oyster Ridge Road.  Right on the Gulf of Mexico (wow...familiar area), the lives of the residents may seem small and insignificant from afar, but they each play an important role in each others lives whether everyone realizes it or not.  Signe is Keeper's guardian and the maker of fabulous gumbo.  Dogie is Keeper's "employer", owner of a fuzzy one called Too (his dog) and friend-with-a-crush to Signe.  Mr.  Beauchamp is their elderly neighbor who loves nothing more than a good chat and his faithful feline companion Sinbad.  Then there is Meggie Marie, Keeper's mermaid mother.

Yes, you read that right.  Keeper is believed to be part mermaid and she has her eye set on finding her mother after the day's occurrences go seriously awry.  Only the magical powers of a mer-being could set things straight...she's certain of that.  But how does one meet a mermaid?  Certainly you can't just invite them to tea.  Taking matters into her own hands she sets out on a potentially dangerous self proclaimed mission to right the wrongs she has done...but is the risk to life and limb too great?  Will Keeper be in hotter water than she already is?  Perhaps too hot to escape? (dun...dun...dun...)

The idea behind the story drew me to this book, plain and simple. A young mer-girl awaiting the arrival of her mermaid mother at long last...it sounded cute and magical. As I began reading, I couldn't help but feel like the story was stalled.  I mean nearly all of it takes place over the course of one day. When a book is over 300 pages and you are dealing with one day of events, you can't help but wonder where on earth the story is going. HOWEVER, there is so much more at work here. At it's heart, it is a story of enduring love, families that may not be connected by blood (or even species) but are are strong if not stronger for it, and a little mer-magic for good measure. It's about the way the heart, as well as the ones we love, try to protect us from the bad and the worse in life whether they were intentional or not in their occurrence.  Once you get into the writing style and look past the circular loops of time in which Keeper remembers the events of her remarkable day (times two by the book's end...but I must not say more on that...too spoilerish), you get to the underlying marshmallow layer of good times, sweet thoughts, and heartfelt connections.

There are several surprising aspects to the story that are certainly worth a mention.  Those personal connections...the supporting cast of animal characters impart just as much feeling upon the story as their human counterparts.  From Captain the seagull to BD the dog, their lovable presence helps keep things from going way off course...although if they had been heeded earlier, it may not escalate to the point it DOES reach.  Pets can sense when things are off...we just have to be willing to listen.  Another quietly entwined story involves Mr. Beauchamp and someone (can't reveal who or what but it's interesting) by the name of Jack as young boys.  They met in France and were inseparable until an ugly secret was revealed creating a void to hard to pass until it was seemingly too late.  Within this meeting, loss and potential meeting again scenario, it kind of makes you wonder in the way they are described if they are merely good friends or if their feelings are a bit deeper.  (Just something to think on when you are reading....curious to see what someone else saw there.)

An enjoyable read through and through...I'd recommend this lovely book for young readers as well as adults.  Books like these give each age group a different message upon reading them.  Young ones may only be enraptured by the potential existence of mer-people while older folks may only look at some of the relationships and give a humph as they turn a deaf ear to your exuberance.  That's part of the beauty of reading!  It's up for interpretation by every reader and it makes the adventure that more enjoyable, in my humble opinion. 

The release date for this book was scheduled last month (05/18/10), so it should be on shelves near you right now.  If you check it out, let me know!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!  Special thanks to Lucille at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC to review.  (THANKS)  For more information on this and many other wonderful titles, check out their website, or follow along on Twitter!  (Love that little blue birdie...connecting me to all that I enjoy!)

COMMENT CREATOR

So...mer-people.  What's YOUR take?  The author includes a rather interesting is not curious section at the end of the book explaining a few of the words used in the novel but on the subject of mer-people, she merely states to "find a body of water".  Certainly makes you wonder...but do you believe?  Share your thoughts and favorite mermaid/merman tails....I mean tales....


Until next time....happy reading!

Sanguinists Among Us: The Society of S by Susan Hubbard

Hello to one and all! For those following this site, welcome back! Or, if you are reading this blog for the first time, WELCOME...thank you for stopping by! In between all of the books I post reviews for on this site, I always have at least one I am currently reading and another waiting in the wings. Just finished by last 'current' read this morning and thus we have our selection of the day. Today's choice is....

The Society of S

by

Susan Hubbard

Ariella Montero has spent her life thus far secluded from everyday society. Whereas most children run through their younger years amidst chaos, Ari has a set routine that allows her to methodically plot her way through life. Sounds fun, huh? It's not that she is unimportant or overlooked, in fact her father Raphael tries to provide the best of everything for his daughter. She lives in a beautiful mansion, has a cook to specially prepare vegetarian (this is quite humorous later on in the book) meals for her health needs, and is schooled in all the finest literature, music, and science there ever was. What more could she ask for?

What Ari seeks....no, needs...are answers to the mysteries that envelope her everyday life...starting with her mother's absence. Just after her birth, Ari's mother, Sara Stephenson, disappeared. Despite her father's best efforts, he was unable to locate her, thus leaving him in the single parent status of today. Although they only met for the briefest of times, and never truly face to face, Ari stills feels a deep connection to her. This driving need, as well as other circumstances that arise, compell her to seek her out if not for the completion of a loving family, at least to discover the reason that she left. Was it something her father did? Was it something that she did?

Within these pages, author Susan Hubbard explores the complexity of families and the secrets that they keep through a young girls eyes. The characters and surroundings are richly detailed enabling the reader to create their own visual aids within their imagination (does your mind create a "movie" from books too?). I was also pleasantly surprised to see many references to areas and events from recent years as they were quite familiar to this transplanted Floridian.

I will say this...I have seen many places on the internet that this book was toted as a great "next read" for Twilight fans, and although it is a very good story, I have to slightly disagree. Yes, it has vampires. Yes, it deals with love (a little). Yes, the lead character is a young girl. However, that's where the similarities stop. Would Twilight fans enjoy this book? Perhaps, but I would rather recommend it on it's own merit to anyone wanting to take a small step into supernatural literature. "The Society of S" deals with the "dark side" but the story chooses to focus more on the lives they lead and decisions they made. Also...I just found out there is another book that continues the story of the society, so you'll more than likely see its review in the coming weeks.

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time...happy reading!