Too Big by Judy Dearborn Nill

You’ll find the topics of bullying, peer pressure, friendship and learning to accept who you are wrapped up in a fabulously engaging story with Too Big by Judy Dearborn Nill.

Shelby Bradshaw considers skipping the fifth grade and going right to middle school. Academically that won’t be a problem, but it’s really to escape all the teasing she has endured since her growth spurt. She’ll miss being with her best friend Zoe, but maybe it will all be worth it.

Though there are many teaching points and topics for discussion, the young reader will also discover a great plot and interesting characters. They might know a Shelby or a Zoe or a Marissa or a Deke or a Kenny. They might have experienced some of what these characters have. Misunderstandings happen. People aren’t always who you think they are. Sometimes actions have bad consequences. Maybe a good idea ends up not being so good later.

Too Big tackles real issues that kids are dealing with and handles them without trivializing them or the real feelings young people must cope with. Too Big is an awesome book. I’m so glad the author asked me to review it. I’ll be looking for more of her work in the future.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 6
Paperback
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing; Large type / large print edition edition (October 22, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616338075
ISBN-13: 978-1616338077

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

New from Guardian Angel Publishing

Megan is bullied because she has rabbit ears. She writes her diary about her problem. But her friend Tory convinces her instead of always hiding them under hats to learn to love herself for who she is and not let anyone else’s opinions make her hide.

Tootsie is a little dog who pees a lot and in all the wrong places. He pees in the library, the grocery store, the café, and anywhere else he pleases. When his mischievous behavior catches up with him, Tootsie must make a decision, but will it be too late?

In the early 600’s, a baby found on the steps of a monastery becomes a kitchen boy for the fearsome Father Pieter. Beggar boys, a monster oven, and mystery bread lead us to a new understanding of Lent. Includes a recipe for pretzels.

An easy-to-sing-and-stage children’s Easter musical created to help children understand the power of the cross and resurrection of our Lord. The simple drama and kid-tested songs make this book a valuable ministry resource for Christian schools and children’s choirs. A must-have for churches with limited resources.

Kitsy and her two brothers grew up in California’s Mojave Desert during the 1940’s. In Mischief and Horses Kitsy recounts some of the hardships, struggles, and joys faced during their childhood of moving from one foster care farm to another.

It’s Groundhog Day in Amazing Grace Acres! Gracie Groundhog holds the spotlight as the official forecaster of spring. Her brother, Grover, devises a plan to steal the show! Will Grover succeed? Will Gracie find a way to forgive him? Will spring come early or will the animals have to hunker down for six more weeks of winter?

Visit www.guardianangelpublishing.com for these and other children’s books.

Results Are In!

As part of the Author Fair I participated in, visitors voted on which of my story ideas I should work on next. Here are the winners listed by popularity.

Picture Book/Early Readers

1. Re-imagined Little Red Riding Hood with a modern girl who outwits the wolf.
2. On a cold Christmas Eve, a tiny buck is frightened away from his home by a bear. He’s gone so far that he doesn’t know the way home, but then he remembers something his mother always told him and her wisdom help guides him home.
3. An ingenious turkey comes up with ways to avoid becoming Thanksgiving Day dinner.
4. Five-year-old Beatrice and her make-believe friend Charlotte go on an adventure where they imagine the lawn mower is really a dinosaur eating up everything and they must escape.
5. A young boy comes up with a plan to save Christmas when Santa cancels the holiday because there are too many kids on the naughty list.

Middle Grade/Tween

1. When an eleven-year-old victim of excessive bullying commits suicide, the residents of her small town are left with the struggle of maintaining the status quo or changing how they treat each other.
2. A time travel series where two or three kids travel to the past via a certain object and meet historical figures along the way, helping to solve some problem. Once the problem is solved, the object brings them back home.
3. A time travel story where a child journeys to the future and helps an older person, discovering at the end that the person she helped was her older self.
4. A mystery about private school kids on a field trip who work to uncover a missing artifact or find a student who goes missing.

Young Adult and Adult

1. Modern day Romeo and Juliet story.
2. Thriller about a wife who attempts to murder her husband and then disappears. With the help of a private investigator who is his former girlfriend he works to track down his wife.
3. A mystery with a love triangle set in the 1970s.
4. A story of three sisters from a dysfunctional family each coping with a crisis and how those crises draw them together.

Please vote for your favorites in the comments section of this post. Thanks.

Hockey Agony by Donna M. McDine

Hockey Agony by Donna M. McDine displays the importance of honesty and integrity.

In this sports-themed chapter book for tweens, Larry is disappointed that his recent injury has sidelined him from the big game. His coach asking him to be time keeper alongside a member of the opposing team is little consolation. When one of his teammates asks him to cheat, Larry needs to decide if honesty can beat out his bad attitude and habit of bending the rules.

As someone who writes message-driven fiction, I always enjoy a book where a reader has a take away they can ponder long after they finish. Such is the case with Hockey Agony. McDine created a character whose bad attitude and habit of bending the rules finally puts him at odds with doing the right thing. Peer pressure is huge at this age, so the author taps into that dilemma and helps tweens realize honesty and integrity are essential to making us successful in life.

Julie Hammond provided the artwork for Hockey Agony. She has a perfect style to complement this story. I also enjoyed the many background details that I felt relayed the message of the story in a subtle way.

While this award-winning book is sure to be popular with hockey players everywhere, Larry’s story is a great read for any tween looking for a bit of excitement and characters they can easily relate to.

Highly recommended!

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Age Range: 9 – 12 years
Paperback: 20 pages
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc; large type edition edition (March 15, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161633360X
ISBN-13: 978-1616333607

I received a free digital copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

 

A Sandy Grave by Donna M. McDine (Giveaway)

Leah is eager to catch up with her friends Nicole and Hayley at the beach this summer. When a dead whale washes up on shore and some mysterious men start hanging around, the girls aren’t quite sure how they can help.

Award-winning children’s author Donna McDine tackles the issue of poaching in this entertaining tween chapter book. A Sandy Grave finds a group of friends meeting up at the beach for the summer. But their fun is interrupted by a dead whale washing up on shore and some mysterious men hanging around. The girls then learn about the illegal practice of poaching and Leah is concerned those men hanging around the beach are up to no good. There must be something the girls can do to help out.

A book like this empowers children to make a difference while educating them about their world in a fun way. The delightful illustrations by Julie Hammond are the perfect complement to McDine’s story. This is a quick read that will leave a lasting impression.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

PURCHASE AT:

GUARDIAN ANGEL PUBLISHING: http://guardianangelpublishing.com/sandy-grave.htm

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Sandy-Grave-Donna-M-McDine/dp/1616334541/

BARNES AND NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sandy-grave-donna-m-mcdine/1118285403

Title: A Sandy Grave
Author: Donna M. McDine
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing
Pages: 24
Language: English
Genre: Tween chapterbook
Format: Paperback, hardcover & eBook

TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzzVjJWd4hM

Donna McDine is an award-winning children’s author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78^th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions, Literary Classics Silver Award & Seal of Approval Recipient Picture Book Early Reader, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention, Global eBook Awards Finalist Children’s Picture Book Fiction, and Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2010 Top Ten Children’s Books ~ The Golden Pathway.

Her stories, articles, and book reviews have been published in over 100 print and online publications. Her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna’s 2013 releases of Powder Monkey and Hockey Agony and the 2014 release of A Sandy Grave will be joined by an additional book to be published by Guardian Angel Publishing, Dee and Deb, Off They Go. She writes, moms and is a personal assistant from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI, Children’s Literature Network, and Family Reading Partnership. 

Visit Donna online at www.donnamcdine.com or her blog at www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

Donna McDine is giving you a chance to win a $50 Barnes and Noble Gift Card.

Terms & Conditions

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $50 Barnes and Noble Gift Card
• This giveaway begins March 3 and ends on April 25, 2014.
• Winner will be contacted via email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A SANDY GRAVE TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, March 3

 

Book trailer reveal at If Books Could Talk

Tuesday, March 4

 

Interview at As the Pages Turn

 

Wednesday, March 5

 

Guest post at My Sister Is My Best Friend

 

Friday, March 7

 

Book review at The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

 

Monday, March 10

 

Guest post at Literarily Speaking

 

Tuesday, March 11

 

Book featured at The Writer’s Life

 

Wednesday, March 12

 

Interview at Rebecca’s Writing Services

 

Thursday, March 13

Book review at Rebecca’s Writing Services

Book review at Farm and Fru Fru

 

Monday, March 17

Book feature and giveaway at My Sister Is My Best Friend

 

Wednesday, March 19

 

Interview at Straight from the Author’s Mouth

Friday, March 21

 

First chapter reveal at Read My First Chapter

 

Monday, March 24

 

Book feature at Between the Covers

 

Tuesday, March 25

 

Book feature and giveaway at The Busy Mom’s Daily

 

Wednesday, March 26

 

Interview at Nancy Stewart’s Books

Guest post at Mayra’s Secret Bookcase

 

Thursday, March 27

 

Book review at My Devotional Thoughts

Friday, March 28

 

Interview and giveaway at PUYB Virtual Book Club

 

Tuesday, April 1

Guest post at Strands of Thought

Wednesday, April 2

Guest post at Lori’s Reading Corner

Thursday, April 3

Character interview at Beyond the Books

Book trailer reveal at A Leisure Moment

Friday, April 4

Book review at A Leisure Moment

Monday, April 7

Book review at Blooming with Books

Tuesday, April 8

Interview at Blooming with Books

Wednesday, April 9

Book feature at 4 the Love of Books

Thursday, April 10

Guest post at The Story Behind the Book

Friday, April 11

Book review at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Monday, April 14

Book trailer reveal at 4 the Love of Books

Wednesday, April 16

Book feature and giveaway at Blooming with Books

Thursday, April 17

Book review at Mary’s Cup of Tea

Friday, April 18

Book review at By the Book

Monday, April 21

Book feature at Plug Your Book!

Wednesday, April 23

Book review at 4 the Love of Books

Book review at Mymcbooks’s Blog

Thursday, April 24

Book review at WV Stitcher

Friday, April 25

Book tour highlights at The Book Rack

I received a free digital version of this book. The author paid me to promote this book through a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. That fee did not include a review. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.