Book Spotlight and Giveaway - To Be a Child by Debra Schoenberger

Book Synopsis
Give a child a cardboard box and his imagination will turn it into anything but!

Today, it is less common to see children playing in the streets, especially in urban areas. The plethora of ready-made toys should make any child happy. What usually happens is that the box the toy came in becomes the toy!

This book documents children at play (and at times at work) from 10 different countries. A child's ingenuity never ceases to amaze me and I hope you will share these images with your children as well. 

Buy the book: Website Amazon

Author Bio
Debra Schoenberger aka #girl with camera
"My dad always carried a camera under the seat of his car and was constantly taking pictures. I think that his example, together with pouring over National Geographic magazines as a child fuelled my curiosity for the world around me.

I am a documentary photographer and street photography is my passion. Some of my images have been chosen by National Geographic as editor's favourites and are on display in the National Geographic museum in Washington, DC. I also have an off-kilter sense of humour so I'm always looking for the unusual. Plus I usually have a lot of scars on my knees.

(le sigh...)

I live with my creative director, Miss Pickles (my budgie) in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Connect with the author: Website Twitter Facebook

Connect with the photographer's website: Website 

Giveaway
Win 1 of 2 $20 Amazon gift cards (International)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Book Review and Giveaway - I Love My Pet Elephant by Lauren Micchelli

Book Description for I Love My Elephant:
A colorful tale of friendship and fun between a little girl and her best friend - her pet elephant!

I Love My Pet Elephant is a delightful medley of reality and fantasy, with shenanigans and adventures brought to life through vibrant illustration and simple rhyming text.

Buy I Love My Pet Elephant here:
Amazon 
Barnes & Noble 
Chapters/Indigo 

Other Books by Lauren Micchelli:

A Day of What Ifs:
A unique book filled with quirky scenarios and colorful pictures. A twist on the ordinary, this story touches the imagination with an entertaining assortment of "what if" possibilities! (ages 3-6)

The Snootzytime Adventures of Maddie & Murphy: A Christmas Journey to the North Pole
The first book of the Maddie and Murphy series. Maddie's dreams take her on different nighttime adventures. Accompanied by her dog, Murphy, Maddie finds herself where no child has gone before - the North Pole! (ages 4-8)

The Snootzytime Adventures of Maddie & Murphy:
To the Moon and Back Maddie gazes out her window at the night sky. As bedtime nears, Mom tells Maddie a secret - that a wish on a star could really come true! An excited Maddie makes her wish - to go to the moon! What unfolds is so much more! (ages 4-8)

Buy Lauren Micchelli's books on Amazon 

Book Review:
I Love My Pet Elephant is such a sweet picture book for young children. It tells the story of a little girl who has a special best friend -- an elephant.

The story is told in rhyme, and it is lively with a gentle humor. Children are sure to enjoy lines like:

"He has giant ears
That are floppy and grey
When he flaps them too quickly
He flies up and away!"

The book is formatted perfectly for a read aloud, with a picture and then a short rhyme on the facing page. The big, bold illustrations by Thomas Barnett add a lot to the story. The elephant has so many cute facial expressions!

I recommend this book for a home collection or preschool library. It is a story that young children will want to read again and again.

Author's Bio:
Lauren Micchelli is a newly published author, having penned her first book in 2014. She has since continued the Snootzytime Adventures of Maddie and Murphy series, and went on to publish A Day Of What Ifs and I Love My Pet Elephant.

Impressively, she was the recipient of New Book Award 2015 for I Love My Pet Elephant.

​Lauren Micchelli grew up in West Caldwell, New Jersey and currently resides in northern New Jersey.

Connect with the author:
Website 
Twitter 

Giveaway
Prizes: Win 1 of 5 print copies or 3 ebook copies (Apple) of I Love My Pet Elephant & 2 X $15 Amazon gift cards (10 prizes total) (USA & Canada)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Bach, Casals and the Six Suites for Cello Solo by Steven Hancoff

ENTER THE CREATIVE WORLD OF J.S. BACH IN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED GUITARIST STEVEN HANCOFF’S GROUNDBREAKING FOUR-VOLUME E-BOOK: BACH, CASALS AND THE SIX SUITES FOR ’CELLO SOLO

A Totally Immersive Multimedia Experience 

Richly Detailed Text Embedded with More Than 1,000 Illustrations Illuminating Bach’s Masterpiece, from Its Creation to Its Legacy

Bach, Casals and the Six Suites for ’Cello Solo and 3-CD set Audio Recording of ’Cello Suites to be Released June 23rd

Exclusively on iTunes and CD Baby

Includes Hancoff’s Complete Recording Of His Acoustic Guitar Transcription of Bach’s ’Cello Suites

From tragedy to transcendence is the theme that embodies the essence of the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach. “This man, ‘the miracle of Bach,’ as Pablo Casals once put it, led a life of unfathomable creativity and giftedness on the one hand and neglect and immense tragedy on the other,” says Hancoff.

Bach’s life was rife with hardship and tragedy from the start. By the time he was nine years old, he had witnessed the deaths of three siblings and then, within a year, his father and mother also passed away. For all his education and talent, however, his first job was serving as a lackey for a drunkard duke. Subsequently, he spent the next fifteen years in the employ of Weimar’s harshly ascetic Duke Wilhelm Ernst, who cared little for music. When he was twenty-two, he married the love of his live, his distant cousin, Maria Barbara Bach. During the thirteen years they were married, she bore him seven children, three of whom died at birth.

In 1717, Prince Leopold of Cöthen offered Bach a position as the musical director for Cöthen. Bach jumped at the chance. The officials of Weimar, however, threw him in jail for “the crime” of daring to resign his present position. Still, Bach was on the verge of a career breakthrough.

Three years into his happy and contented tenure in Cothen, Prince Leopold and Bach visited the spa town of Carlsbad for a month of vacationing and music-making. Unfortunately, upon his return Bach learned of the death of his wife and then only when he entered into his home. Imagine the shock, the impact. He never even discovered the cause of death.

Yet this tragic setback in Bach’s life was a major turning point because he came to grips with his personal tragedy by unleashing a flood of masterpieces for which he is and will be forever revered. First came the Six Violin Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo and then the Six Suites for ’Cello Solo.

In the ’Cello Suites we hear Bach expressing his own seeking, yearning, love, loss, sorrow, grief and determination and their overtones of surrender, resolution affirmation and transcendence. He aspired to articulate an ultimate personal confession, a revelation, entirely unique, entirely sublime, as an ultimate act of artistic and creative testimony, a heavenly statement about his own life and even of life itself—as a final gift and an enduring, heavenly send-off for his beloved wife.

Bach, Casals and the Six Suites for ’Cello Solo invites readers and music lovers into a unique experience, contained in an immersive four-volume e-book from Steven Hancoff – a virtuoso musician’s restless, passionate, multimedia exploration of a musical masterpiece that only grows in stature almost three centuries after it was written.

The many fascinating and inspiring aspects of the book include:

• How Bach struggled and overcame adversity and the lessons his example offer us today.

• The ultimate meaning of the Six Suites for ’Cello.

• How almost all of Bach’s works would have nearly sunk into oblivion were it not for the extraordinary efforts of Sara Levy, the great aunt of Felix Mendelssohn, to rescue them.

• How Felix Mendelssohn singlehandedly created with the performance of the St. Matthew Passion a Bach renaissance and a legacy that continues to be enjoyed to the present day.

• The miraculous discovery of the six ’Cello Suites by Pablo Casals in a Barcelona thrift shop and why he studied them for twelve years before performing them in public.

• What Pablo Casals meant when he spoke of “the miracle of Bach.” Bach, Casals and the Six Suites for ’Cello Solo promises to be an adventure for anyone fascinated by the enduring power of music, art and why they matter.

Buy the music & ebooks: iTunes
Subscribe to Steven's Hancoff's work on YouTube 




A Note from Trish at View from the Birdhouse:


I received a 2-CD set of this music from the author and publisher. It is beautiful, relaxing, and uplifting. I recommend it!


Author's Bio:

Steve Hancoff began playing guitar when he was 13 years old, captivated by the folk music craze of the 1960s. Within a year he was performing in coffeehouses around Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

For nearly 15 years, he toured the world—about 50 countries—as an official Artistic Ambassador representing the United States of America. His recordings include Steel String Guitar, New Orleans Guitar Solos, Duke Ellington for Solo Guitar, and The Single Petal of A Rose. He is also the author of Acoustic Masters: Duke Ellington for Fingerstyle Guitar and New Orleans Jazz for Fingerstyle Guitar. He is a graduate of St. John’s College, home of the “100 Great Books of the Western World” program and has a Masters degree in clinical social work. He is a psychotherapist, a Rolfer, and a practitioner of Tai Chi. An avid hiker, he is also a member of the Grand Canyon River Guides Associations.

​Connect with the author: Website Twitter Facebook

Giveaway:​

Prizes: 50 2-disc CDs "The Six Suites for 'Cello Solo" (open to USA & Canada)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review and Giveaway - Inspector Dewey by Kristen Heimerl

Book Description for Inspector Dewey:

My name is Dewey--Inspector Dewey.

I live in the big green house on Hampshire Avenue with my family: Thumper, Lily, and Anna. I am the Big Cat—responsible for keeping everyone safe and in order. I do this quite well, in spite of the fact that managing my family is like, well, herding cats!

Mostly our life is peaceful. But one night it wasn’t. That was the night the bad guy showed up on our block. Of course, I knew exactly how to outsmart the outlaw, but—miserable mullet!—would Anna and the police understand my instructions?

To find out how the adventure ended, you’ll have to read my book. But I’ll give you a hint: there’s a reason I’m called Inspector Dewey.

Fifty percent of the profits from the sale of this book will fund veterinary care for pets whose families are in financial need, so that the animals can remain in their homes and out of the shelter system.

BECAUSE PETS BELONG WITH THEIR PEOPLE™

To learn more, visit threenorwegians.com
Buy the book: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

My Review:

Inspector Dewey is a big, beautiful picture book that is sure to delight children who love cats.

This book tells the story of how Dewey (also known as Inspector Dewey) stops a would-be robbery with the help of his cat friends Thumper and Lily, and his person, Anna.

The book is told in Dewey's voice and he has an engaging tone.  I must say that Dewey is a born storyteller!  I can imagine this book as a read aloud.   Children will sit on the edge of their seats waiting to hear what happens next in this fun and suspenseful story.

The book design and illustrations are beautiful.  They truly catch the nature of cats.  Each cat depicted has a different personality, seen not only in the book's text, but in the illustrations as well.

I recommend this book highly for preschool children.  It would be a great addition to a child's book collection or to a school library.  

Author's Bio:

Kristen Heimerl

Marketing Officer, Strategy Expert, Innovator and Brand Builder, Kristen’s business career spans 20+ years serving the biggest brands in industry and the biggest hearts of start-ups and entrepreneurs. Kristen revels in bringing compelling products and services to life and helping leaders and individuals with big dreams realize their big goals.

Kristen’s life joys include her 2+ year obsession creating the most beautiful self-published picture book possible, the breathtaking forests and lakes of her Minnesota birthplace, the family that really does love her no matter what, and her three magnificent Norwegian Forest Cats who together, with Kristen, helped catch the bad guy on their block that inspired her upcoming book (stake out and high speed chase included!)

She holds a master of science in eCommerce from Carnegie Mellon University, an MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, and a BA from the University of St. Thomas. As the great transformer in her life, Kristen supports others’ education and literacy as an adjunct professor of business and strategy and, more recently, through her children’s book, Inspector Dewey (Available September 2015).

Kristen’s site for her work “Inspector Dewey” will be premiering on May 31st, 2015. In addition, you can read more about Kristen’s work at threenorwegians.com, also live on May 31st.

Connect with Kristen:

Website ~ Facebook Author ~ Facebook Inspector Dewey

Giveaway:​
Prizes:

1) 1 of 10 copies of Inspector Dewey (International) or

2) 1 of (4) $20 Amazon gift cards (international) or

3) 5 books to the literacy non profit, library or school of your choice (USA only) or

4) $100 payable for vet visit for family/pet in need (USA only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review, Author Interview and Giveaway: Kika the Upside-down Girl

Book Description:

Kika always seems to accomplish things differently than others and tends to get into trouble for it. She reminds us that choosing to be different is more than okay, and finding others to join in her upside down adventures makes her heart feel huge - especially when it involves somersaults, vaults, flips and kips! Join Kika, a girl who loves living upside down in a right side up world, on her unique journey to a fliptastic world! Kika reminds us that choosing to be different is more than okay, and finding others to join in her upside down adventures feels fliptastic - especially when it involves somersaults, vaults, flips and kips in the Gymnastics Emporium!

View from the Birdhouse Interviews Jessica Tudos:

1. Do you find any similarities in the practice of writing and the practice
of gymnastics?
I think the biggest similarity is the determination you need to stay focused and confident that your story, or your routine, will be focused.

2. What is the biggest message you would like to impart with this book?
That it is okay to feel different because in the end, kids can do anything
they want if they feel passion for it, have support and stay the course!

3. What is a typical writing day like for you?
There was never a typical day - it was all such a fluid and reactive
process. The story idea was clear to me from the start but the actual words and images were a longer process. As much as I planned ahead, I felt that my actual output was driven by my kickstarter campaign. Since I first self-published it via crowdfunding, that deadline is what made me want to finish it and make it great! I highly recommend a campaign to get things moving. To be successful you have to create what you want, how you want and on the timeline you need.

4. Who are your favorite authors?
I love to read Oliver Jeffers books, anything by Peter Reynolds and books illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi ("I'm Bored" and "Naked").

5. What will your next book about?
I am thinking about a sequel to Kika the Upside-Down Girl - Kika is older and has new adventures and challenges now that she has found what she loves - gymnastics. Her development includes learning from coaches, parental pressure, feeling different than other kids, balancing sport school and home life - that kind of thing, I am thinking though the kinds of things Kika would be exploring as a 12 year old - a whole new world! 

My Review:

Kika the Upside-Down Girl is an especially cute picture book for young children.  Children will love to "meet" Kika, a girl who has always enjoyed being upside down - even as a baby.  

Kika is happiest when being active and upside-down.  This makes her different, but she is a cheerful child who accepts that difference is okay.  However, she is even happier when she discovers the Gymnastics Emporium and meets other children who also love being upside down.  

This is a fun read for children with a great message.   It would be a great read aloud at home or in a classroom.  The writing is lively.  It is a picture book with a likable character, lots of action, and and a fast, fun-filled pace.  It is even more special because it is a book about gymnastics - written by an Olympic gymnast!

The illustrations are bright and colorful.  They really help to move the story along.  I especially love the illustrations when Kika imagines upside down adventures in the jungle, in space, underwater, and on a mountain.

This would be an especially fun book for a child who loves gymnastics.  It would be a great addition to a home or school library.   I recommend it highly!

Author's Bio:

Olympic gymnast turned author, motivational speaker and experiential educator Jessica Tudos (JessicaTudos.com) is on a mission to empower kids, youth and adults to develop the confidence and resiliency required to lead active, healthy and creative lives. In organizations around the world, Jessica empowers audiences through engaging stories, insights & reflections drawn from her upside down life, including her Olympic gymnastics adventures. Jessica is a sought after speaker, facilitator and professor in experiential education, physical literacy, leadership & elite sports.

Connect with Jessica: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Where to buy the book:

Amazon Chapters-Indigo Barnes & Noble

​
Giveaway:

Win a copy of Kika the Upside-down Girl and a $20 Amazon Gift Card (Open to USA & Canada) Ends June 20

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Aoleon, The Martian Girl - Part Five by Brent LeVasseur

Book Description:
Aoléon, Gilbert, Bizwat, Helios, and Zoot make it to their final destination - Cydonia where Aoléon’s parents are being held captive. They infiltrate a secret underground base and are confronted by a small army of sentrybots.

Bizwat lends Aoléon and Gilbert some of his advanced combat skills via a psionic brain dump. However, this may not be enough to save them from overwhelming hostile forces that will do anything to stop them.

They finally meet Pax - the Martian who originally set them out on the mission to discover the truth about the Luminon and his plans to invade Earth. However Pax is not who he seems to be, and through a turn of events, they uncover the true power behind all that has been happening on Mars.

Will they be able to rescue Aoléon’s parents and save Earth from invasion?   
Read part 5 to find out!

My Review:

I looked forward to another visit with Aoleon and Gilbert in Aoleon, The Martian Girl - Part Five.  I have enjoyed reading this entire series (thanks, iRead Book Tours and Brent LeVasseur!).  This is the first science fiction series I have enjoyed. These books are so much fun.

Part Five concludes the Aoleon series.   Aoleon and Gilbert have grown in strategy and courage, and they face their biggest challenge yet, as they work with their friends to save Aoleon's parents and also stop an invasion of earth.

The descriptions and details in this book are vivid and interesting.  Crystal formations are compared to rock candy.  Tiny lizards appear out of nowhere.  The underground base has tunnels and chutes and many surprises.  Gilbert is fascinated by the holographic shapes that Aoleon creates with psionic energy:  "Through the darkness of the voice, an orb of pulsating white light formed and hovered in midair before them, illuminating the entire room.  A steady humming tone resonated from within.  Forces of light manifested themselves in various three-dimensional geometric shapes, each with its own corresponding musical tone."

The illustrations are colorful and vivid.  They add a lot to the story, and are best seen in color.  I like the spectacular scenes on Mars, but I also like the detail of faces and expressions.

I have really enjoyed seeing the storylines and characters develop over the series of five books.  As the characters matured, the challenges they faced became more intense and required more courage.  The books are well written, with a nice mix of dialogue and description, and they move quickly.  I think all the Aoleon books, including this last book in the series, will appeal to young readers.

Book Trailer:

Buy the Book:

Amazon

​

Buy The Martian Girl Song!
Another World - Single

Featuring Élan Noelle

Download on iTunes

Meet the Author:
Mr. LeVasseur enjoys crafting good stories based on lovable characters designed to translate well to multiple media formats such as books, games, movies, and toys. He lives in New York when he is not commuting between Southern California and Olympus Mons, Mars. His hobbies include writing, 3D animation, musical composition, and intergalactic space travel. He also enjoys various sports such as skiing, running, and exospheric skydiving.

Connect with Brent: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Aoléon: The Martian Girl

I received a copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Aoleon The Martian Girl: Part Four by Brent LeVasseur

Book Details:

Book Title: Aoléon The Martian Girl: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Saga - Part 4: Illegal Aliens, written and illustrated by Brent LeVasseur
Category: Middle-Grade, 139 pages
Genre: Science-fiction and Fantasy
Publisher: Aoléon Press
Release date: February 1, 2015
Available for review in: PDF
Will send books: Internationally
Tour dates: April
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Aoleon and Gilbert have become the Luminon’s top priority in stopping the Martian resistance movement, and after being chased by the Royal Paladin Guard, they are forced to flee the Martian Megalopolis. Aoléon, Gilbert and Zoot escape with the help of Bizwat and his newly found friend, Helios, a first generation soldierbot.

After their saucer is destroyed, they crash land somewhere in the deep Martian desert, and they set out to locate Kyrios and the secret base where Aoleon’s parents are being held captive.

After battling the forces of nature, starvation, a Klyklon dust storm, (and not to mention a giant slor that almost swallows them alive), they finally make it to their destination. However, after Kyrios gives Gilbert some basic training to develop his budding psionic power, they learn that their journey is far from over.

Will Aoléon, Glbert, Bizwat, Helios, and Zoot be able to rescue Aoleon’s parents and stop the Martian invasion of Earth in time?

Read part 4 to find out! 

Book Review:

Aoléon The Martian Girl: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Saga - Part 4: Illegal Aliens picks up where Part 3 left off.  Gilbert and Aoleon go to the Space Academy to meet with Bizwat.  They both realize that their parents are in jeopardy.  Aoleon's parents are in prison, and an attack is being planned against Terra (Earth) which would jeopardize Gilbert's family.  They have to move quickly to save their loved ones.  With the help of Bizwat, they make a plan.

The action in this book is quick and exciting.  Descriptions are vivid, and lively dialogue also helps move the story along.  

Cerebrus is a frightening villain and foe in this book.  Action is both described and shown in spectacular illustrations.  I think any young reader would be captivated by the pictures in this book.

Part of the action takes place on Earth.  It is interesting to see Lumion spies looking for milk in places like Nebraska farmland and the New Jersey Turnpike.  It is also interesting to see the White House and military attempt to discover what is happening and try to intervene.  There are more political overtones in this book than in previous parts of Aoleon's story.  

I always find the differences in Martian life and Earth interesting in the Aoleon books.  I was very taken with the description of chiron (animals big enough to ride), as well as the great illustrations of these animals.

As the characters have grown and matured over the series, the descriptions of their daily lives have too.  For instance:  "Aoleon hummed a strange and beautiful song that made Gilbert miss his home even more.  Soon, they fell asleep from exhaustion.  The next thing Gilbert knew, it was morning. Unlike Earth, where there is a predawn glow before sunrise, on Mars in a moonless sky, the transition from night to day is much more pronounced."

Details in the book continue to fascinate, like Kyrios's rock house, with rock tables and chairs and levitating platters of food and beverages.

The book moves briskly to an exciting cliffhanger.  I believe that young readers will move along, too, and be eager to read the next installment in Aoleon's story.

Book Trailer:

Buy the Book:

Amazon

​

Buy The Martian Girl Song!

Another World - Single

Featuring Élan Noelle

Download on iTunes

Meet the Author:

Mr. LeVasseur enjoys crafting good stories based on lovable characters designed to translate well to multiple media formats such as books, games, movies, and toys. He lives in New York when he is not commuting between Southern California and Olympus Mons, Mars. His hobbies include writing, 3D animation, musical composition, and intergalactic space travel. He also enjoys various sports such as skiing, running, and exospheric skydiving.

Connect with Brent: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Aoléon: The Martian Girl 

I received this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Review and Giveaway: Donkey's Kite and The Three Little Horses and The Big Bully Donkey

Book Description for The Three Little Horses and the Big Bully Donkey (Book 1):

A tale (based on the “Three Little Pigs”) about three little horse brothers who suddenly lose their house that is destroyed by a fire. The young horses are totally alone and thrust into the reality of having to depend on themselves and each other against a bully donkey, who wanders the forest wrecking homes and bullying the other animals. This warm-hearted tale promotes strong values and has a fun premise. Written and humorously illustrated in vivid color throughout by Liana-Melissa Allen, the story is a proven winner for reading aloud to children.

My Review of The Three Little Horses and the Big Bully Donkey:

Before I was a blogger, I spent years teaching preschool.  I always looked for great read aloud books.  A good read aloud will have lots of pictures that engage children, lively dialogue, and a fun, fast moving story.  The Three Little Horses and the Big Bully Donkey has all these traits.  It would be a perfect read aloud for a preschool child or classroom.

This book is loosely based on The Three Little Pigs, and it is fun read for young children.   It also has a terrific message:  we are stronger when we work together and show kindness. 

The illustrations are charming, colorful and engaging.  Liana-Melissa Allen captures the different personalities of the three horses, Max, Lax, and Jack, and the bully Donkey too.  I especially loved her illustrations of the different houses the horses build.

This cute book would be wonderful at home or in a classroom.  Children are sure to enjoy it!

Book Description for Donkey's Kite (Book 2):

The three horses Jack, Max, Lax and their friend Donkey are back!

In Horse Valley, it's a perfect day to go kite flying. Jack, Max, Lax, and Donkey decide to get creative by putting together their own homemade kites. However, Donkey's kite doesn't work. No matter how hard he tries to get it to fly, it just keeps tumbling to the ground. How will poor Donkey get his kite to fly? A friendly goose named Gusty is delighted to help him out.

In this Horse Valley Adventure, Donkey learns not to give up when all seems hopeless. The friends all learn a lesson about helping others and true friendship.

My Review of Donkey's Kite:

Donkey's Kite is a cute children's book by Liana-Melissa Allen.   It tells the story of the three horse brothers, Lax, Max, and Jack, and their good friend Donkey.  The animals decide to build kites together.  The horses are so busy building perfect kites that they don't have time to help Donkey, who is struggling.

At the park, donkey meets a bully but also makes a great new friend - Gusty the goose.  Gusty helps him learn to fly a kite, and teaches the animal friends an important lesson about helping each other and working together.

This book has bright, colorful illustrations that children are sure to enjoy.  The dialogue is lively and fast moving;  it would be a fun read aloud for preschool children.

I am so impressed with Liana-Melissa Allen's talent as both a writer and illustrator.  I also love the important messages the Horse Valley Adventure books teach.  I highly recommend this book for young children.  They are sure to enjoy it! 

Author's Bio:

Liana-Melissa Allen is a young author and illustrator of children's books and books for youth. She has written, illustrated and published six books. Her most recent one is the colorfully illustrated children's book "Donkey's Kite", the second book of "A Horse Valley Adventure" series. The first was "The Three Little Horses and the Big Bully Donkey". The lovable cartoon characters, Max, Lax, Jack and Donkey makes them a favorite of first and second grade students. She is now working on her third book of "A Horse Valley Adventure".

The magical world of fantasy has inspired Liana's imagination since as long as she can remember. Part of this was fueled by her dad reading aloud to her every day when she was younger. As a result, reading is her primary passion along with music. These two passions feed her imagination into stories and drawings, which she joyously sketches out into storyboards for a potential book.

Liana-Melissa is also a dedicated classical/jazz pianist, and mostly enjoys older music, especially from the big band era and the 1940's, 50's and 60's. While playing the piano, her imagination often leads to a great amount of improvising. Frequently, Liana will improvise a theme for one of the stories she is writing. Capturing this improvised music became a priority, which ultimately resulted in theme music for "A Horse Valley Adventure". The "Horse Valley" theme will be used for a short animated video featuring her Horse Valley characters.

Liana-Melissa loves to hear from her young readers. Please visit her website at www.lmabooks.com for more information, and to contact her by email. Visit her on Facebook too.

Where to buy the books:

On Author's Website
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

​Giveaway:​

​Prize: ​

Win one of ten sets of A Horse Valley Adventure books! One winner will also get a $30 Amazon gift card. Open internationally.

Ends April 17.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I received both books from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.