About the Book For young readers and families, Don’t Blame the Mud paints a vivid and accurate picture of sin and God’s plan of redemption. Written by best-selling children’s author Marty Machowski, this beautifully illustrated picture book teaches children how to recognize the lure of temptation and the truth that bad choices lead to bad consequences. One day, Max takes the muddy path along the creek home, disregarding his mother’s reminder to keep his school clothes clean. After crashing into a mud puddle, he tries to hide his mistake and discovers the stain of his sin goes deeper than the mud he can wash away. In this lovable, relatable, and heartwarming tale, Max learns his heart needs to be cleaned, and Jesus is the only one who can wash away his sin. By clearly articulating the gospel, Don’t Blame the Mud helps parents create an environment of confession so kids can own up to their own mistakes—in the freedom of Christ—rather than place the blame elsewhere. Parents, teachers, and caretakers can help children identify with the real-life draw of temptation and the real-life consequences of sin, understanding the value of God’s salvation through the cross. Instead of teaching kids how to deal with a problem, Machowski uncovers the real issue of sin and provides a gospel answer. About the Author Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, a Sovereign Grace Ministries church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for more than twenty years. As leader of their children’s ministry, Promise Kingdom, he has worked for many years to develop curriculum and devotional material that connect church and home. His passion is equipping families to understand the Bible as one gospel story and help them share that with their children. He is the author of The Gospel Story for Kids series including Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God (OT); The Gospel Story Bible; and the Gospel Story Curriculum: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament and the forthcoming Old Story New (NT): Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God and Gospel Story Curriculum: Following Jesus in the New Testament. He and his wife Lois and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania. About the Author Born into a military family. Raised in Hawaii. One foot in the surf, one foot in school. Loved art since kindergarten through college and beyond. Drafted in '66, served in the infantry, out in '70. Worked in journalism as a political cartoonist for 22 years. Spent the next 22 years as a syndicated cartoonist. Got into fiction writing in 2009 with the first of eight novels as of 2019. More stories to come...along with bronze sculptures, water-colors, and historical fiction. So many stories, so little time. ReviewAuthor Marty Machowski and illustrator Craig MacIntosh have come together and crafted a fun and unique children’s picture book about temptation and the consequence to making bad choices. Portraying temptation as mud is a unique way of capturing the attention of children in a fun and positive learning environment. This is not only a great parenting tool for teaching about temptation and consequences of bad choices, but also showing how God plays a role in it all. The story is fun and enjoyable and there are great parenting resources in the back of the book. A great read for children.
Genre: children’s, parenting Publisher: New Growth Press Publication date: May 27, 2019 Number of pages: 32 A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Read with Audra. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
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About the Book An adventure novel about four lucky kids and a mysterious, but thrilling ride for fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Jurassic Park! CastleCorp and the famous Castleton brothers are unveiling the World's Greatest Adventure Machine! The roller coaster is an experience like no other, and four lucky kids have won the chance to be the first to ride it. There's Trevor, whose latest stunt got him in trouble at school again. There's Devin, whose father is pushing him to be the next Internet sensation. Nika's wealthy grandfather isn't too pleased about her participation. And Cameron, he'll be the first to tell you, is a certified genius. The whole world is watching. But as the kids set off on their journey, they begin to realize that there is perhaps more to their fellow contest winners than meets the eye. And the Adventure Machine? It might just have a mind of its own. Join the contestants on their wild ride if you dare. Your adventure starts now! About the Author Frank L. Cole was born into a family of southern storytellers and wrote his first book at age eight. Highly superstitious and gullible to a fault, Frank will believe in any creepy story you tell him, especially ones involving ghosts and Big Foot. Currently, along with his wife and three children, he resides in the shadow of a majestic western mountain range, which is most likely haunted. Potion Masters The Transparency Tonic is Frank’s 11th published book. He is an active promoter of reading and using imagination and has been to more than 200 schools presenting to kids. Audible ReviewFrank L. Cole has written a wonderful adventure story that kids will have a delightful time reading. The story is about a group of kids that become friends and their adventures. This story is humorous, filled with friendship and lots of fun. There are several main characters of the story and it’s great to see the perspective of each. This story has a bit of a feel similar to that of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as at the end leaves readers with several unanswered questions. Overall this is a fun and delightful story that young readers are sure to enjoy.
The audible narrator, Mike Golczynski, was fun and entertaining reader. He really brings Cole’s story to life by using different voices for the various characters throughout the story. His voice is likeable and keeps listeners enthralled throughout the entirety of the story. Genre: children’s, middle grade, adventure Publisher: Delacorte Publication date: November 13, 2019 Length: 5 hours and 47 minutes An Audible download code was provided by the author. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.  About the Book What if hundreds of plastic toy dinosaurs suddenly came to life- Could you find a way to stop them...? Iggy Risner is your typical wise-cracking twelve year old. When his younger brother, Oz, wakes him in the middle of the night claiming he heard a monster in the attic, Iggy takes him upstairs to prove him wrong. But instead of a flesh-eating beast, they discover hundreds of their toy plastic dinosaurs that have mysteriously come to life. When the dinos escape the attic and start terrorizing young kids in the neighborhood, and trampling flower beds, somehow Iggy, Oz, and their friends must catch the plastic dinos of doom before the damage escalates. But what do you do when your parent's doubt your story, and a group of clueless neighborhood bullies stand in the way? For Iggy & Oz- Catching the little beast may prove to be easier said, than done. About the Author J.J. Johnson grew up in Pryor Creek Oklahoma. Attending Oklahoma Baptist Universtiy with a major in Student Ministry and a minor in Sociology. He currently resides in Edmond Oklahoma where he lives with his wife Ashley and children. ReviewJ.J. Johnson has written a cute story that brings to life the very active imagination of two brothers and their friends. This story is told from the view point of twelve-year-old Iggy, with some funny inserts every now and again from his younger brother Oz. Not only does Johnson bring to life the active imagination of kids, but also some real-life experiences and relationships with parents and peers, including friendship and bullying. This is a great read for any middle grader ready for a dinosaur adventure.
Series: Iggy & Oz Genre: middle grade Publisher: Dark Sided Geeks Publication date: September 17, 2019 Number of pages: 101 Other books in the series: 2-Iggy & Oz: The Soda POP Wars (coming soon) 3-Iggy & Oz: The Living Snot (coming soon) A review copy of this book was provided by JustRead Publicity Tours, as well as a copy purchased for review. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. The Cracking of Monday Egg (Egg World Allegory #1) by B.T. Higgins -- Blog Tour Review + Giveaway
11/26/2019
 Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Cracking of Monday Egg by B.T. Higgins, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! About the Book Title: The Cracking of Monday Egg Author: B.T. Higgins Genre: Middle Grade Fiction Release Date: November 21, 2019 An Egg World Allegory The Maker created Monday Egg for a very important reason. Monday just doesn’t understand it yet. Being an egg with arms and legs has its advantages. Monday can run like the wind and climb trees easily, but he is an egg. What happens when he cracks? The Cracking of Monday Egg is the story of a cranky crow, a sick little girl, a kind squirrel, and Monday’s struggle to deal with his own crackability. About the Author B.T. Higgins lives in the wild urban jungles of Alaska with his wife and four children. As you might expect, he is an avid fan of long naps and noise-canceling headphones. He has been a garbageman, a propane technician, a teacher, a tutor, a musician and an exotic-bird-cage scrubber, but writing stories is, by far, his favorite job. CONNECT WITH B.T.: ReviewThe Cracking of Monday Egg is a cute and fun story about an Egg Man who must learn how to deal with the “cracking” of his fragile shell and how after it is healed it is stronger. It is also about discovering friendship, evil, kindness, and sacrifice. This book on the surface is a delightful children’s story, but the author does a fantastic job of also digging deeper and connecting the story to love and healing of the creator. There are simple lessons taught within the story that children and adults alike will be able to relate to their own lives. This is a fabulous book that is both fun and inspiring! Series: Egg World Allegory Genre: middle grade fiction Publisher: Emerald House Group, Inc. Publication date: October 31, 2019 Number of pages: 206 A review copy of this book was provided by JustRead Publicity Tours. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card & free collection of short stories by the author!  Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight November 22, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on November 29, 2019. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here. ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE Tour ScheduleFollow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
About the Book You know Latter-day Saints don’t have horns, but do you know how that rumor got started? Do you know which country’s population has the highest percentage of Latter-day Saints? And did you know that President Monson didn’t like pizza? No matter how well you know your religion, you’re bound to find some surprising trivia about Latter-day Saints in this fun collection of fascinating facts! About the Author Rebekah Pitts has lived on three continents but in only two countries. She finds her greatest joy from raising her 6 children on motherly love, large words, and random tidbits of information. Rebekah grew up studying the encyclopedia, dictionary, and, her personal favorite, the Book of Mormon pronunciation guide. Currently residing in Utah, she can drive to any one of 10 different temples in 1 hour or less. She is an award winning lyricist and the author of 250 Fascinating Facts about LDS Temples and 250 Fascinating Facts about Latter-day Saints (publication March, 2019). ReviewThis is such a great book with so many fun and interesting facts about a variety of people and subjects from the Latter-day Saints. Some of these facts are more well-known and others not so much. But all these facts are fascinating and interesting. Although more of a resource for children or teens, this book is a great resource for those that don’t already know a lot about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Genre: Christianity, LDS, reference, trivia, nonfiction Publisher: Cedar Fort Publication date: February 1, 2019 Number of pages: 128 A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Valerie’s Review Crew. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. About the Book Here we have a heartwarming tale of a young, poor shepherd boy, his life in the hills, and his encounter with Mary, Joseph, and the new baby Jesus. Upon meeting the Savior, he decides to give his only possession of any value, but he learns that physical things are not always the best gifts we can give. Walk the hills with the drummer boy and you will find the best gifts are sacrifice, service, and love. ReviewThis is such a sweet story of a young drummer and his encounter with the baby Jesus. It’s about selflessly giving, serving, and loving, a perfect book for the holiday season. This is a wonderful book full of fun rhyming and charming and colorful illustrations. Young readers will enjoy this pleasant book.
Genre: children’s, picture book Publisher: Cedar Fort Publication date: September 10, 2019 Number of pages: 17 A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Valerie’s Review Crew. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. About the Book You know that pirates love to sail the seas, laughing, dancing, and doing anything they please. But here's something you may not know. All pirates love pajamas, yo ho! Told in charming rhyming verse, follow the course of a typical pirate day, from hoisting the sails, to snoring the night away. Who knows? Maybe you'll find pirates are just like you, because they like to be cozy too. About the Author Sarah Hadsell was born and raised in Lancaster, CA. Her past adventures include being part of the film crew of an Oscar-nominated documentary, working for the senior editor of a nationally acclaimed magazine, and spending time working in the diamond industry. But of all her professional accomplishments, her full-time career as an elementary teacher has brought her the most joy. Despite the fact that she's been writing stories since 1993, her profession as an author didn't officially begin until 2013. At that time, she partnered with a company that specialized in audio bedtime stories. During that partnership, she wrote 30 children's stories--many of which were highly publicized by the producer. Her audio stories were featured alongside other bedtime classics such as "Goodnight Moon," "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" and "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site." Sarah's debut in the world of traditional publication came in 2019 with her book "Pirates Love Pajamas." She thanks you for being a part of this new adventure! ReviewThis is an absolutely adorable and laugh out loud book. Young readers are going to love this book about pirates, but not just any pirates. These are pirates love anything and everything bedtime related, especially pajamas. This charming read has wonderfully fun and brightly colored pictures to enhance the experience as well. This makes for the perfect bedtime story!
Genre: children’s, adventure, picture book Publisher: Sweetwater Books a division of Cedar Fort Publication date: September 10, 2019 Number of pages: 32 A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Valerie’s Review Crew. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.  About the Book Meet Olive. She’s optimistic and well-intentioned . . . and a magnet for mishaps. When Olive’s day goes from bad to worse, she wonders if her family and friends can love her in spite of her flaws. About the Author Michelle lives in the Northwest with her family, three indoor dogs, and a totally stuck-up cat. And somehow, they all get along. She writes inspirational nonfiction and women’s fiction. Olive is her first children’s book and the most fun to write. Olive came to life in a poem Michelle wrote for her adoptive daughter as a way to express unconditional love for her. Family, faith, and fun are important to Michelle. She loves watching movies, playing Guitar Hero, and taking long walks to the fridge. You can find her at http://www.michellewilsonwrites.com About the Illustrator Angie is a married mom of three spicy boys. She is an artist at heart, with interests spanning from drawing to painting, crafts, and photography. She runs a successful photography business. Olive is her first illustrated book. She loves watching movies and reading books. She has a collection of crayons her children aren’t allowed to touch and loves everything Disney. Like, a crazy amount of love. You can find her at http://www.angiepenrose.com ReviewOlive is a delightful rhyming and play on words children’s story about feelings and making mistakes. This charming story is brought to life with the sweet, bright, and beautiful pictures, and the wonderful story of a young sheep and her mishaps. This story can be used to teach young children about their feelings and how to ask forgiveness when they make mistakes. This book is an absolute joy to read from cover to cover. Young children will definitely enjoy this story. Genre: children’s Publisher: Pink Umbrella Books Publication date: August 24, 2019 Number of pages: 34 A review copy of this book was provided by Pink Umbrella Books. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. Tour ScheduleFollow along with the tour schedule HERE.
Smarter Than a Monster: A Survival Guide by Brandon Mull & illustrated by Mike Walton -- Review
10/30/2019
 About the Book No monster wants you to read this book. The more you know about monsters, the more you will know how to defeat them. Little kids have big fears, which they often imagine to be scary creatures, like monsters. But this book helps explain how knowing "Monster Facts" can help kids outwit them. Want to avoid monsters? Fact: Monsters love dirt and grime, so when faced with two kids, the monster will choose the dirty one every time. And if toys and clothes are all over the floor, you may get ambushed by a mess-loving monster. Survival Tip: Take baths and keep your room clean. Smarter Than a Monster will arm young readers with practical advice in this innovative and imaginative parenting tool that teaches common sense and positive and healthy habits. About the Author Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his four children and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books. About the IllustratorMike Walton has been a professional illustrator for more than twenty years. He earned his B.A. in Illustration from art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. He’s worked in animation, comic books, web comics, trading cards, and all manner of media throughout his career. Smarter Than a Monster is his debut children’s book. He currently resides in Southern California and considers himself a nerd who loves visiting Disneyland attending the San Diego Comic Con. ReviewA fabulous bedtime story, this book is funny and absolutely adorable. This book encourages children to do day-to-day activities such as brush their teeth, clean their room, take a bath, etc. all while keeping the scary monsters away. The pictures in this book are marvelous. They are bright, fun, colorful and entertaining bringing to life this delightful story. Author Brandon Mull and illustrator Mike Walton have created a fabulous book that young children will absolutely love!
Genre: children’s, fantasy, picture book Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publication date: October 1, 2019 Number of pages: 32 A review copy of this book was provided by Shadow Mountain. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. A Candle in the Window Film Review
10/23/2019
About the Film
John's family is struggling to face Christmas without his loving wife. However, six-year-old Emily is full of faith. Even though her older sisters try to gently lower her expectations, the young girl truly believes her mother will visit on Christmas Eve. In fact, she is so certain her mother will come that she puts a candle in the window to guide her mother on her journey home. Before she passed away, their mother made sure the most cherished holiday traditions would still be there—beautiful handmade dresses, new patent-leather shoes, and a lovingly crafted doll for little Emily. But on the way to a Christmas Eve celebration, the doll is lost, and Emily is heartbroken. Emily—and her grieving sisters—need their mother more than ever. Inspired by true events, A Candle in the Window is a beautiful reminder that our loved ones never leave us and prayers really do get answered—especially when you have the faith of a child.
The Cast
Darin Southam
Isabella, Ava & Sophia Jarque – play the daughters The film A Candle in the Window is based of a true story written by Michele Ashman Bell. Review
The faith of a young child is extremely powerful and miracles are just a prayer away.
This move is a reminder that some of our family and loved ones may be on the other side of the veil, but they are watching over and protecting us and are closer than we think. This movie is a reminder that the faith of a child is powerful and that our family on the other side of the veil are closer than we realize, always there watching over and protecting us. Genre: holiday, family A review copy of this film was provided by Covenant Communications. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway |
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