Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Book Review and Givewaway - The Fox Forest Band by Lisa E. Lindman
Book Synopsis:
How do you fight an evil wizard when your only weapon is your smarts?
How do you fight an evil wizard when your only weapon is your smarts?
A
happy group of forest animals are stopped cold by a wizard's enchanted fog that
whispers their greatest fears. The animals think they have to run away but a
brave fox gives them a better idea. He shows them how to stand up for themselves
and how to handle the problem at its source. The fox and his friends figure out
how to handle the bully wizard—and have fun in the process!
My Review:
The Fox Forest Band is a lovely picture book for young children. Lovable woodland animals encounter a fog sent by a bullying wizard. They find a way to beat the fog - and the bullying - by working together to form a band.
The story is told in rhyme, and it is clever and appealing. It would make a great read aloud for preschool age children.
The animals' ingenuity will inspire young children who see them problem solving together, making music together, and discovering the power of friendship. I loved the details, too, like:
"The mice formed shakers from nuts and seeds,
kazoos were made from river reeds.
Beavers found drums and fashioned flutes, and
others made guitars, cymbals and lutes."
The lovely illustrations by Chandra Wheeler add to the story's appeal. Children will enjoy reading this book again and again! Highly recommended for a home library or preschool classroom.
The Fox Forest Band is a lovely picture book for young children. Lovable woodland animals encounter a fog sent by a bullying wizard. They find a way to beat the fog - and the bullying - by working together to form a band.
The story is told in rhyme, and it is clever and appealing. It would make a great read aloud for preschool age children.
The animals' ingenuity will inspire young children who see them problem solving together, making music together, and discovering the power of friendship. I loved the details, too, like:
"The mice formed shakers from nuts and seeds,
kazoos were made from river reeds.
Beavers found drums and fashioned flutes, and
others made guitars, cymbals and lutes."
The lovely illustrations by Chandra Wheeler add to the story's appeal. Children will enjoy reading this book again and again! Highly recommended for a home library or preschool classroom.
Author Bio:
Since she was a child, Lisa E. Lindman has been reading
non-stop and writing magical stories. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her
husband, sweet daughter and their French bulldog, Sebastian. She spends her days
running a small business, writing, frolicking with her
toddler and reading just one more chapter...well, five more chapters.
Giveaway
The winner will get a signed hardcover copy of The Fox Forest Band!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The winner will get a signed hardcover copy of The Fox Forest Band!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Did You Know Tuesday - PEZ
I'll admit right now: I love PEZ. Not just the cute dispensers, but the candy too.
I grew up with PEZ. There was always a PEZ dispenser in my Christmas stocking, my Easter basket, and various other times of year as well. I still have a little family of PEZ dispensers, mostly with holiday and Peanuts themes.
PEZ was created in 1927 by Eduard Haas III in Vienna, Austria. He initially planned to make a candy to help smokers stop smoking. The initials PEZ are short for the German word for peppermint, "pfefferminz." Early PEZ dispensers were shaped like a cigarette lighter.
Plastic production slowed during World War II, but this product picked up again in 1952 (PEZ-Haas in New York City) -- and the cute PEZ dispensers first appeared in 1955. The first dispensers were Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse.
In 2006 the original owners of the Pez company purchased 67.5% of the company stock, so the company is now headquartered in Traun, Austria, and Orange, Connecticut. The candy is produced in Austria and Connecticut, while the dispensers are made in Hungary and China.
PEZ comes in many different flavors, but the most common flavors in the USA are grape, orange, lemon, raspberry, and strawberry. There are 12 pieces of candy in a standard PEZ roll.
Many different PEZ characters have been available over the years. These included some historical characters during the American Bicentennial (Betsy Ross, Paul Revere, Daniel Boone), Star Wars, Elvis Presley, The Wizard of Oz, and more. Vintage PEZ dispensers can be quite valuable. The most valuable PEZ dispensers were three political donkeys owned by President Kennedy (valued $13,000).
The all-time most popular PEZ dispenser is Santa Claus. (No surprise here!)
Here are a few holiday PEZ ads you may enjoy. This Halloween ad is lots of fun:
Vintage Christmas PEZ ad:
Vintage Valentine's Day PEZ ad:
Vintage Easter PEZ ad:
1950's spaceman PEZ ad:
Do you love PEZ? Do you have any PEZ dispensers? Would love to hear from you in the comments, below!
Book Review and Giveaway - Trick or Deceit by Shelley Freydont
Cozy Mystery
Series: A Celebration Bay Mystery (Book 4)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (September 1, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0425281475
E-Book ASIN: B00SI02FHA
Synopsis
This
October in Celebration Bay, you can’t swing a black cat without hitting
a haunted house. There are three finalists in the contest for the
town’s official Haunted House, and ten thousand dollars will go to the
winner, with the rest of the contributions and proceeds funding a new
community center. Event coordinator Liv Montgomery has invited her
friend Jonathan Preston, the debonair CEO of a philanthropic
organization, hoping he will award a grant to the center.
But after the Museum of Yankee Horrors wins first place, the transformed Victorian boarding house is vandalized … and among scattered mannequins of Hester Prynne, Lizzie Borden, and the Headless Horseman, a real dead body is found—one of the contest judges. Now in addition to playing host to Jon, Liv has to play detective and coordinate the clues to unmask a self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner.
My Review
What a fun holiday theme mystery! This is my first read in the Celebration Bay series, but now I want to go back and read the other books as well.
I really loved the small town setting. It was described perfectly, from the quirky townsfolk to the small town streets where people walk to work or shop.
The Halloween motif was fun. I enjoy holiday mysteries, and this was especially enjoyable since it involves one of my favorite holidays.
Liv is a likable, intelligent protagonist - and amateur sleuth. I also liked Ted, her assistant at work ... as well as her relationships with Jon and Chaz.
There is even a cute dog - a lovable Westie named Whiskey.
This mystery is well written, with dialogue that moves the story along at a brisk pace. The characters were defined, and descriptions were especially strong. The mystery aspect was well done, and kept me guessing until the book's conclusion.
I recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries, holiday mysteries, and small town settings. You will enjoy it!
About the Author
But after the Museum of Yankee Horrors wins first place, the transformed Victorian boarding house is vandalized … and among scattered mannequins of Hester Prynne, Lizzie Borden, and the Headless Horseman, a real dead body is found—one of the contest judges. Now in addition to playing host to Jon, Liv has to play detective and coordinate the clues to unmask a self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner.
My Review
What a fun holiday theme mystery! This is my first read in the Celebration Bay series, but now I want to go back and read the other books as well.
I really loved the small town setting. It was described perfectly, from the quirky townsfolk to the small town streets where people walk to work or shop.
The Halloween motif was fun. I enjoy holiday mysteries, and this was especially enjoyable since it involves one of my favorite holidays.
Liv is a likable, intelligent protagonist - and amateur sleuth. I also liked Ted, her assistant at work ... as well as her relationships with Jon and Chaz.
There is even a cute dog - a lovable Westie named Whiskey.
This mystery is well written, with dialogue that moves the story along at a brisk pace. The characters were defined, and descriptions were especially strong. The mystery aspect was well done, and kept me guessing until the book's conclusion.
I recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries, holiday mysteries, and small town settings. You will enjoy it!
About the Author
Shelley Freydont is the author of the Liv Montgomery Celebration Bay Mysteries, Foul Play at the Fair
, Silent Knife
, Independence Slay
as well as the Kate MacDonald Sudoku Mysteries and the Lindy Haggerty
dance company mysteries, and the upcoming Newport Gilded Age Mysteries,
beginning with A Gilded Grave 
(6/15)
As Shelley Noble, she is the NYTimes Best selling author of women’s fiction (Beach Colors
, Stargazey Point
, Breakwater Bay, and Whisper Beach
as well as several novellas. A former professional dancer and
choreographer, Shelley lives at the Jersey shore and loves puzzles,
light houses and antique carousels. She also loves to hear from readers.
A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers.
For more about Shelley, please visit her website www.shelleyfreydont.com.
Author Links
Website www.shelleyfreydont.com, Silent Knife, Independence Slay
as well as the Kate MacDonald Sudoku Mysteries and the Lindy Haggerty
dance company mysteries, and the upcoming Newport Gilded Age Mysteries,
beginning with A Gilded Grave (6/15)As Shelley Noble, she is the NYTimes Best selling author of women’s fiction (Beach Colors
, Stargazey Point, Breakwater Bay, and Whisper Beach
as well as several novellas. A former professional dancer and
choreographer, Shelley lives at the Jersey shore and loves puzzles,
light houses and antique carousels. She also loves to hear from readers.A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers.
For more about Shelley, please visit her website www.shelleyfreydont.com.
Author Links
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ShelleyFreydont
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Shelley-Freydont/e/B001HCUVP4
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ShelleyFreydont
Purchase Links
Amazon
B&N
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour in exchange for an honest review.
Monday, September 7, 2015
Music Monday - "September" by Earth Wind and Fire (1978)
It's September, and this song is one of my favorites ... so today's Music Monday selection is "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire. This song was a hit in 1978, and made it to number eight on the Billboard chart. I love all the EWF 1970's hits, and enjoyed seeing them in concert with Chicago a few years ago. The bands played separately and together, and still sounded great! Do you remember this song? Any other favorites by Earth, Wind and Fire? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
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