Book Review: Mini Myths - Brush Your Hair, Medusa! and Make a Wish, Midas!

Title: Brush Your Hair, Medusa! (Mini Myths) | Author: Joan Holub | Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli | Publication Date: March 24, 2015 | Publisher: Abrams Appleseed | Pages: 24 | Recommended Ages: 1 to 3


Summary:  
Medusa refuses to care for her hair, her long locks getting messier with each passing page. Her hair rebellion elicits frozen expressions of shock from her family, but nothing will convince Medusa to brush. Only her hairdresser approaches Medusa with bravery and scissors, successfully solving the problem . . . with a short haircut! All are pleased with this drastic yet adorable solution. Leslie Patricelli’s depictions of this physical comedy bring a lively visual narrative to Joan Holub’s expertly focused text. Includes a summary of the original Medusa’s Wild Hair myth at the end.

My Review:
I love mythology, and think Brush Your Hair, Medusa! is such a clever, inventive way to introduce mythology to very young children.   Medusa in this story does not have hair twined with snakes;  her hair is a tangle of long curls.  Medusa is a cheerful, active child and she doesn't want to sit still to brush her hair.  The best solution that her father and grandmother come up with is to cut her hair short so it will be easier to brush.  Then there is the issue of brushing her teeth . . .   

The storytelling in this book is clever and fun for a young child.  I love the first two pages:  "Medusa.  Hairbrush."  That sets up the storytelling in a way that will engage young readers.

The illustrations are exceptional - bright and colorful, sure to appeal to children.   The construction of this board book is wonderful - very sturdy and exceptionally well-made.

I would recommend this book highly for a home library or for a preschool classroom. 

 Purchase “Brush Your Hair, Medusa!”

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Title: Make a Wish, Midas! (Mini Myths) | Author: Joan Holub | Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli | Publication Date: March 24, 2015 | Publisher: Abrams Appleseed | Pages: 24 | Recommended Ages: 1 to 3


Summary:  
Midas wants everything to be his favorite color – yellow! He chooses yellow clothes, eats yellow foods, and uses only the yellow paint at his art easel. But when he impulsively paints his beloved green Dinoboo, Midas discovers that too much of a good thing is a big mess! Joan Holub’s carefully crafted text is brought to life by Leslie Patricelli’s famously humorous illustrations. Includes a summary of the original Midas’ Golden Touch myth at the end.

Review:
Make a Wish, Midas! is a fun introduction to mythology for very young children.  The story begins simply:  "Midas"  (picture of Midas and his favorite toy).  "Yellow"  (picture of all the yellow things that Midas loves).  When Midas paints his toy Dinaboo (a green dinosaur) yellow, he realizes that not everything needs to be his favorite color . . . and some things are best just the way they are.

The storytelling in this picture book is so lively and clever.  Children will love to look at the pictures, and they will enjoy this as a read aloud.

The illustrations are colorful and fun;  young readers are sure to respond to this book.   This board book is unusually well made, sturdy and beautifully crafted.

This is a fun book with a great message . . . with a short version of the Midas myth on the last page of the book.   I recommend Make a Wish, Midas! highly for young children.

Purchase “Make a Wish, Midas!”

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 About the Author: Joan Holub

Joan Holub’s fascination with mythology inspired Mini Myths, a new board book series that translates famous myths into situations familiar to preschoolers. The first four titles are Be Patient, Pandora!, Play Nice, Hercules!, Brush Your Hair, Medusa! and Make A Wish, Midas! published by Abrams Appleseed. Joan co-authors two other mythology series for Simon and Schuster, Goddess Girls (ages 8-12) and Heroes in Training (ages 7-10). Her picture book, Mighty Dads, was a New York Times bestseller in 2014.

Website | Author Blog | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads |

Facebook | Facebook (Goddess Girls) | Facebook (Grimmtastic Girls)

About the Illustrator: Leslie Petricelli

Leslie Patricelli is the bestselling author-illustrator of many adorable board books, including Yummy Yucky and Toot!

I received these books from Mother Daughter Book Reviews in exchange for an honest review.

Wordless Wednesday: Abby Smiles For the Camera

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Slayed on the Slopes

Welcome to my tour stop for Slayed on the Slopes by Kate Dyer-Seeley! This is the second book in the Pacific Northwest Mystery series. Slayed on the Slopes released March 31st by Kensington Publishing. The tour runs April 6- 17 with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for more information. 

About the Book:
After talking her way into a job writing for Portland’s Northwest Extreme magazine, Meg Reed may now really be in over her head. Actually, about 8,000 feet over her head. . .

She’s at Mount Hood’s remote Silcox Hut, covering the seriously hardcore Ridge Rangers—Oregon’s elite high-altitude rescue team–during their four-day winter training. Sure, Meg beefed up her outdoor skills over the summer . . . but she’s still hoping to cover the event with some hot chocolate by the cheery fireplace. Then, during a sudden blizzard, she swears she hears gunshots. No one stranded in the hut believes her . . . until self-absorbed Ridge Ranger Ben Rogers is found outside in a pool of frozen blood. Meg’s now got to find this killer quickly . . . before cabin fever does them all in!

Praise For Scene Of The Climb

“A splendid overview of the greater Portland and Columbia River Gorge region, perfect for travel buffs. Her protagonist shows promise with her determined attitude and moxie.” –Library Journal

Includes Adventure Guides!

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Don't miss out on the first book, Scene of the Climb, available now!

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About the Author:


Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing. The first
book in the series, Scene of the Climb, features the rugged landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge and a young journalist who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme.

Her work has appeared in a variety of regional and international publications including: The Columbian, The Vancouver Voice, Seattle Backpacker, Portland Family Magazine, and Climbing Magazine.

Kate lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway:

Winter warmer package- signed copy of Slayed on the Slopes, Signed copy of Scene of the Climb, Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate Mix, Oregon Chai Tea, 1 Pound of Coffee and Collectable Mt. Hood art coaster (US)

Ends April 27, 2015

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Music Monday - "Here Comes The Rain Again " by The Eurythmics (1984)

"Here Comes the Rain Again" by The Eurythmics was popular in 1984.  This was a pivotal year for me;  I was in college and changed majors from Drama to Creative Writing.  This song brings that year back.  Plus, it reminds me of Spring.  And of course, rain.   

I did not have cable in the 1980's and had never seen the video before this morning.  It's like a little movie.  Let me know what you think of it - and this song - in the comments.

Author Interview and Giveaway: A Bookmarked Death by Judi Culbertson

A Bookmarked Death: A Delhi Laine Mystery(Delhi Laine Mysteries)  
Cozy Mystery – 262 Pages • Publisher: Witness Impulse (March 31, 2015) • Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers • ASIN: B00JDKBUXE


Synopsis:

For the first time in nearly twenty years, Delhi Laine’s family is whole. But that doesn’t mean everything is back to normal. With no proof to condemn her daughter’s kidnappers, Delhi’s family is forced to share Elisa with her “adopted” parents. But when they suddenly perish in a mysterious house fire, Elisa is heartbroken…and Delhi’s husband, Colin, is charged with their murder. Delhi knows it’s up to her to prove his innocence, but the deeper she digs, the more it becomes evident that nothing is as it seems. When Elisa goes missing, Delhi fears her nightmare may be repeating itself. If she can’t clear Colin’s name and find Elisa again, there may not be another chance. Twenty years ago she lost her daughter…if she fails now, she might lose everything—and everyone—she holds dear.

Interview with Author Judi Culbertson

1. Your work as a used and rare book dealer sounds fascinating! How did it inspire this book and the Delhi Laine series?

I always wanted to be a writer, but I knew I would need a day job, so I went into social work as a career. I've always been fascinated by people's lives and the choices they make, and in the beginning imagined I would be able to ask them any questions I wanted. I found there was much more to it, of course, but it was a good fit for me professionally. But when I took early retirement, I couldn't wait to get into my other love, books. I relished everything about being a used/rare book dealer--the frantic hunt to seek out wonderful treasures at sales, the people I sold them to who had been looking for that particular book, and the books themselves--their knowledge, even the way they felt physically. When the business ran its course and I reluctantly moved on, I miss it. I never looked back longingly at my social work days, but I felt great nostalgic for bookselling.

So putting Delhi Laine into that genre was a way of staying in it myself and continuing to experience all the wonderful surprises it holds. It was a way to share that world with readers, to get them excited about old books and tell them what books they come across are valuable. I think you have to love what you write about and this series came about just that way.

2. What is a typical writing day like for you?

Nothing very exciting, I'm afraid. We get up early, about 6:00 a.m., and as soon as I have my coffee I settle down to write. I write mostly in the mornings when I'm most fresh, but having a day job taught me to write anywhere: in my car during my lunch hour, waiting for Little League and high school baseball games to start, on trains. I like places like Starbucks where I'm not tempted to clean the refrigerator (joke) and there's a low-level hum of activity. Especially if I'm revising, Starbucks or my local library are ideal spots.

3. Do you have any writing quirks?

The only quirk is where I write. I have a nice upstairs office with a desk my husband made me years ago, and a comfortable wing chair next to a window. When the weather is nice, there's a pleasant back deck. But I gravitate to one end of the living room couch and sit there to write. I write a first draft by hand and then revise as I type it onto my laptop--all squeezed into one spot on the couch.

4. Who are your favorite authors?

I started out in college loving Philip Roth and John Updike and have always stayed loyal to them, but I read widely. I'm partial to Jane Gardam (Old Filth), and Anthony Doerr (All the Light We Cannot See), but as soon as I write that I think of others, especially in the mystery genre such as Charles Todd, S.J. Rozan, Donna Leon. My favorite book will probably always be The Great Gatsby, but I read a lot of non-fiction, In the Garden of Beasts, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and so on.

5. What will your next book about?

With A Bookmarked Death, I've left Delhi with at least some of her life resolved, so I'm not sure where we'll go next.

About This Author

Judi Culbertson draws on her experience as a used-and-rare book dealer, social worker, and world traveler to create her bibliophile mysteries. No stranger to cemeteries, she also co-authored five illustrated guides with her husband, Tom Randall, starting with Permanent Parisians. She lives in Port Jefferson, New York, with her family.

Author Links:
http://www.judiculbertson.net/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/172665.Judi_Culbertson
Purchase Links
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Giveaway

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