A Whale of a Tale by Bill Kirk

A Whale of a Tale by Bill Kirk is an exciting rhyming sea tale of a young boy whose love of the sea and its animals leads to a life-saving mission that changes his life forever.

Will yearns to be a sea captain despite his mother’s misgivings. His brave father was lost in a gale, and she wishes to protect her only child from the same fate. But the sea calls to him, and at the age of twelve, Will signs on as a cabin boy. Little does he know that one act of kindness years ago will help him save the crew of two whaling ships when the sea rages into a frightening gale.

A twelve-chapter story told fully in rhyme, this touching adventure will capture young hearts. Following through on his goal to challenge the imagination of readers by exploring everyday life, A Whale of a Tale tells the story of a boy whose random act of kindness changed his life and the lives of his fellow crewmembers.

This amazing story is accompanied with black and white illustrations from award-winning artist KC Snider. Snider’s artwork has appeared in more than 70 books for children. She remains a favorite of mine.

Kirk provides a prologue and an epilogue built upon the history of whaling in the United States. He asks young readers to imagine what it might have been like to grow up in a whaling port. A glossary of terms is also provided.

This touching adventure is available in digital and print formats from your favorite online retailer. Grab a copy today!

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bill Kirk Writes Worldwide (November 30, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1951545230
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1951545239

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

Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day by Tonya Duncan Ellis

Sophie Washington and her friends are back for a sweet, fun story that is sure to inspire kids to follow their dreams.

Short of cash to buy a special present for her mother’s birthday, Sophie is encouraged to take part in Lemonade Day, where young entrepreneurs learn how to start and operate businesses. With help from her friends and her annoying little brother, Sophie charges forward, only to have an accident destroy their supplies. With some creativity, they hope to get their plan back on track, earn the money they need, and support the local animal shelter.

Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day by Tonya Duncan Ellis is the second book in the Sophie Washington series that I’ve read. Sophie is smart and spunky, so readers will be drawn to her right away. I love how the author has created a diverse cast of characters to make the story relatable to everyone. Just like in Secret Santa, Sophie is faced with obstacles that challenge her. Though she gets frustrated, like any entrepreneur, she doesn’t give up.

If you enjoy books with strong protagonists, the Sophie Washington series is one you should pick up.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

READ AN EXCERPT

Forty minutes later, Mom calls us back in. A caramel scented candle has our kitchen smelling like a bakery, and she’s smiling. I guess the rest of the meeting went well.

“Here’s a snack, girls.” She sets a plate of cookies on the table. “I’m sure you’re hungry after all that running and jumping.”

“I’m really excited about all your suggestions.” Mrs. Gentry walks in from the restroom. “The marketing ideas are fabulous. I’m glad you’re setting things up so I can sell my candles on the Internet. I’d been happy getting a booth at the Farmer’s Market every Saturday, but I know I need to grow. I can’t wait to see the business plan you put together. Thanks for taking time with me.”

She turns to Alexis. “Did you have a good time with Sophie and Chloe? I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”

“None at all, Mrs. Gentry,” answers Chloe. “It was fun.”

“Yeah, we got to play lots of games we liked in kindergarten, without feeling babyish.” I nod.

“I love Sophie’s puppy!” says Alexis. “Can we get one, Mom?”

“Taking care of dogs can be expensive. We’ll have to see how my business does,” says Mrs. Gentry with a chuckle.

She grabs Alexis’ hand and moves toward the front door. “Let’s meet again next week. You can definitely sign me on as your first customer.”

“Oh, and here’s a little something for you and Chloe for helping me out.” She hands us both five dollars.

“Thank you, Mrs. Gentry!” We say at the same time.

“It’s so cool that your mom’s helping Mrs. Gentry sell her candles,” says Chloe a few minutes later in the den. She scrolls through her phone, and I half-watch a cartoon on the flat screen over the fireplace.

All the papers are picked up, and the room’s back the way it usually looks, with bright, comfy throw blankets on the soft, leather couch, and the colorful, wool rug brightening the tile floor.

Over in the kitchen, Mom’s on a call with Dad, telling him the good news about her first customer. “We should start a business,” says Chloe. “It’d be cool to make our own money. I want to get some new leggings at the mall, but Mom says they cost too much. If we had our own business, I could save up and buy them myself.”

PURCHASE THIS AND OTHER SOPHIE WASHINGTON BOOKS AT AMAZON!

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

Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kyle & Corey and the Game Store Mystery by Joe Stephens

Looking for a fun, adventure-filled mystery? You’ll find it in Kyle & Corey and the Game Store Mystery by Joe Stephens.

Kyle and Corey are brothers who are as different as they come. In typical brotherly fashion, they fight a lot, but they also have a knack for solving crimes. When their town of Fairly Springs experiences a rash of robberies, the boys are quick to investigate. The one thing all the crimes have in common is that each family that was robbed has a college-age son and high-end desktop computers are stolen. In between Corey’s sports tryouts and Kyle’s job at the local video game store, they work to put together the pieces of the puzzle before more robberies occur.

A fan of mysteries since my childhood, I grabbed a copy of this one as soon as I could. What a fun read! Two brothers working together to solve crime in their hometown in the middle of having regular teen (Kyle) and pre-teen (Corey) challenges makes for a great story. My son is a gamer, so I best connected to how Kyle’s storyline unfolded.

What I enjoyed about Stephens’ work is that he dropped just the right amount of clues to move the story along. It was an easy and engaging read from beginning to end. Though I had figured out most of the pieces before I got there, I still felt satisfied once the story concluded.

The reader will also find a preview from the second book in the Kyle & Corey Mystery series included. I’m glad there will be future adventures for these two brothers. I look forward to more!

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Read an excerpt

“Wanna have a catch outside?” Corey said after a minute. “Before it gets too

dark?”

“I guess,” Kyle said without enthusiasm.

“Homework, Corey?”

“It’s Friday night, Mom. Can’t you chill out? Besides, I did it in school.”

“You always say you do it in school—then I get your report cards and they say

you haven’t turned it in.”

“They must be losing it, then. I’m doing it.”

Mrs. Holley shook her head. She knew Corey and knew that nagging him

about it was hopeless. “Clear the table before you go.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Corey cleared the plates, glasses and silverware, put the

napkins and salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen, and covered the leftover

food. Without being prompted, Kyle wiped down the table, the counter and the

stove, and swept the floor.

Mrs. Holley watched through the sliding glass door as they hurried outside. As

always, any sport absorbed Corey, but baseball was his favorite. He pitched for

the local rec department team for most of the year, and hoped they’d eventually

add a travel league. For his sake, she hoped so, too.

Outside, Corey and Kyle pulled on their baseball gloves and lobbed the ball

back and forth across the wide backyard. “So what’s our next case?” Corey

asked. “It’s been a long time since summer.”

Kyle snorted. “That was a one-off, dude. It won’t happen again. They do have

a police force here, you know.”

“But we were great together! Bet we could make something happen again.”

“If we do, the cops’ll be after our butts, for sure. They didn’t like it when we

made them look bad by catching those bank-fraud guys.”

“If we’re catching crooks, who cares if it’s us or them?”

“They care. They’re the ones paid to do it.”

Purchase from…

Amazon

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

Joe Stephens will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better your chances of winning.

Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflcopter giveaway

The Wormwood Mysteries: Beyond the Cliff’s Edge by Kimberly Palmucci

Kitten sisters Mayra and Rosie Wormwood have left Lake Falls Animal Shelter and now live in their forever home with Mom and Dad and fellow felines Lucky and Princess. It doesn’t take long however, for strange things to happen at their new home. Mayra and Rosie rally their animal companions to uncover the identity of the nighttime creature that has invaded their happy home and to figure out what is beyond the cliff’s edge.

Having read the first book in The Wormwood Mysteries series, Secret of Lake Falls, I was eager to read the second book. Palmucci’s trademark style of featuring rescue animals in her stories is such a great way to celebrate our furry friends who have led shelter lives and to subtly encourage adoption of rescues.

In Beyond the Cliff’s Edge, middle grade readers are treated to another mystery filled with adorable, well-defined characters with unique personalities. They get a chance to see Mayra and Rosie, now adopted, find a special place to call home.

I enjoyed how the author worked a variety of different animals into this story and how she created such a fun plot for this one.

If your middle grade readers enjoy mysteries or stories with animal characters, this series is a great choice.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08MSV1YF9
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (November 6, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 220 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8560133627

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.

Pre-Order Now: The Backyard Secrets of Danny Wexler by Karen Pokras

Eleven-year-old Danny Wexler, the only Jewish boy in his blue-collar town during the late 1970s, is obsessed with the Bermuda Triangle. When a local child goes missing, Danny’s convinced it’s connected to an old Bermuda Triangle theory involving UFOs. With his two best friends and their Spacetron telescope, Danny heads to his backyard to investigate. But hunting for extraterrestrials is complicated, and it doesn’t help that his friend Nicholas’s mom doesn’t want her son hanging out with a Jewish boy. Equipped with his super-secret spy notebook, Danny sets out to fight both the aliens and the growing anti-Semitism in the town, in hopes of mending his divided community.

Pre-order links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Backyard-Secrets-Danny-Wexler/dp/1728412943
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-backyard-secrets-of-danny-wexler-karen-pokras/1139030774
Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781728412948
Bookshop: bookshop.org

Want it signed? Upload a copy of your pre-order receipt to this form
–> https://forms.gle/2ay32Ab82PyUsdid9 <– and receive a signed bookplate.

Or pre-order a signed copy of The Backyard Secrets of Danny Wexler from Karen’s local independent bookstore, Open Book Bookstore, and automatically be entered to win a Danny Wexler swag bag consisting of stickers, bookmarks, and your very own super-secret spy notebook. Pre-order now through October 31st at: http://go.openbookphilly.com/signedbooks

Karen Pokras is a writer, daisy lover, and occasional baker. Always an avid reader, Karen found her passion for writing later in life and now runs all of her stories past the furry ears of her two feline editorial assistants before anyone else. A native of Connecticut, Karen is the proud mom to three brilliant children who still provide an endless stream of great book material.  She lives with her family outside of Philadelphia. ​

Find Karen Online:

www.karenpokras.com

Instagram: @karenpokras_author

FB: @karenptoz

Twitter: @karentoz