Book – Page 3 – Cindy's Love Of Books

First Book of The Year 2016

Posted on December 6, 2015December 7, 2015 by Cindy

The totally amazing and incredible Sheila from Book Journey is once again organizing the First Book of The Year 2016 edition. This is the third year that she is hosting this.

I have taken part in the previous two and I have to say its so much fun trying to figure out what book I want to start 2016 with. The book can be a re-read, a guilty pleasure read or it can be basically anything you want to begin 2016 with.

I’m not quite sure which book I want to read so I have been weighing out my options.

If you are interested in taking part then all you have to do is click on the above banner and it will take you to Sheila’s blog so that you can sign up.

What will your first book of 2016 be?

Review & Blog Tour/ The Travel Adventures of PJ Mouse

Posted on December 4, 2015December 5, 2015 by Cindy

Book Title: The Travel Adventures of PJ Mouse – in Canada by Gwyneth Jane Page and Illustrated by Megan Elizabeth
Category: Children’s fiction, 72 pages
Genre: Adventure / travel
Publisher: Self-published
Release date: Feb 13, 2014
Available for review in: Print, ebook (PDF)
Will send print books: Internationally
Tour dates: Nov 30 – Dec 18, 2015
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

PJ Mouse, an adorable little stuffed animal, was lost and alone until young Emily heard his cries for help. Now, along with his new family, PJ gets to travel the world-discovering exciting new places and people along the way!

Come join PJ on his first adventure across Canada as he hikes on a glacier in the Rockies, finds a salt lake in the prairies, and walks on the ocean floor in Nova Scotia.

Buy the book:
Author’s Website
Amazon
Amazon.ca
Barnes & Noble

Book Title: The Travel Adventures of PJ Mouse – in Queensland by Gwyneth Jane Page and Illustrated by Megan Elizabeth
Category: Children’s fiction, 60 pages
Genre: Adventure / travel
Publisher: Self-published
Release date: Dec 2014
Available for review in: Print, ebook — mobi (for Kindle), ePub, PDF
Will send print books: Internationally
Tour dates: Nov 30 – Dec 18, 2015
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

PJ Mouse, an adorable little stuffed animal, was lost and alone until young Emily heard his cries for help. Now, along with his new family, PJ gets to travel the world – discovering exciting new places, people, and animals along the way!

Come join PJ on this, his second adventure, along the coast of Queensland, as he snorkels at the Great Barrier Reef, chats with a Loggerhead turtle in the midst of a great undertaking, and explores the tropical rainforest- until he has to be rescued by one of the local friendly wildlife.

Buy the book:
Author’s Website
Amazon
Amazon.ca
Barnes & Noble

I was so happy when I was selected to be a part of this blog tour because I have to say the books sounded really cute and I knew I had to support Canadian authors.

They both are quick reads. I loved the illustrations in both books. I loved how almost every page had a little illustration on the pages.

I am going to combine both my reviews in this one post. You don’t have to read the books in order but I think you might want to to get the feel of who everyone is and how PJ Mouse came to Emily and her family.

In Canada we are introduced to PJ Mouse who gets lost from his original owner and he is scared and calls out for help and Emily founds him. She takes PJ Mouse home and cleans him up. I should warn you now that PJ Mouse is a very special mouse and only a selected few get to hear speak.

PJ Mouse has arrived just in time because Emily and her family are going on a cross Canada adventure in a motor home. They are traveling from the west coast of Canada to the east coast. Their first stop is the Rocky Mountains. Its at the Athabasca Glacier that I thought we lost PJ Mouse (because he fell through a crack of a glacier) but with the smart thinking of family they rescue PJ.

I loved how the story included some facts about each of their stops. I loved that they stopped in Quebec City and The Bay of Fundy. Two of my favorite places.

In Queensland, everyone is flying to Australia. The adventures continue for PJ Mouse and Emily’s family. PJ is included in every activity the family does. After reading this my desire to Australia one day is very real and seeing it through PJ’s eyes makes me wish I was on that trip with him because he goes wake boarding, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, and he gets to go and visit the rain forest.

I think the cutest part of the book was when PJ mistook a kangaroo for a mouse. I guess if you have never left your own little world you would think the same thing.

This is very much like the first book in which you are learning something as you read the book.

I am excited for the third book in the series because I can’t wait to see what PJ Mouse’s next adventure will be.

Meet the author and illustrator:

Gwyneth Jane Page (Jane), who holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University, has called many countries home. She grew up in such places as England, Peru, the USA, and the Caribbean, and has also lived in Australia and Canada. She now resides in Victoria, BC with her husband and four children. The PJ Mouse books are based on Jane’s family trips with the real stuffed animal, PJ, who was found by Emily, Jane’s youngest daughter.

Megan Elizabeth, Jane’s second oldest daughter, has lived in Canada and Australia and travelled extensively with her family-and PJ. Having been artistic since she was a little girl, illustrating the PJ Mouse books has enabled her to combine her love of travel with her love of art. Megan completed her studies at VanArts and is now building her career as a professional photographer as well as an illustrator. She currently resides in Victoria, BC with her family.

Connect with the author: Website Twitter Facebook

The third book in The Travel Advetures of PJ Mouse is called The Travel Adventures of PJ Mouse In a Small Corner of England and its out now.

I just want to quickly thank the author for doing this quick guest post for me.

A Little Bit About Me by Gwyneth Jane Page

I grew up as an only child (pretty much – I have a half brother 12 years older than me, and step sisters, but no full siblings) and lived all over the world. I loved going to all the different countries. It made my childhood very memorable with so many distinctive scenes that stand out in each place. The down side to living in so many countries (USA, England, Canada, St. Lucia, Peru) without siblings, and having to make new friends all the time, is that it was a bit lonely. I now greatly value having a larger family and being very close.

I am married with 4 kids, ages 22, 21, 16 and 14. We have always travelled with our kids from the time they were tiny. I love the time together as a family, away from everyday demands, and I also value the education that exploring the world gives to my kids. Having fun with my family and being the best mom I can be is one of my top priorities.

We have lived in Victoria, BC and on the Gold Coast in Australia. We have good friends in both places but I prefer the climate and lifestyle of the Gold Coast. In the future I would really like to move to England to be closer to my extended family and to be able to travel to various parts of Europe easily.

Tour Schedule:

Nov 30 – Experiencing Parenthood – reviews

Nov 30 – That Artsy Reader Girl – reviews / giveaway

Nov 30 – The Pen and Muse Book Reviews – reviews / author interview / giveaway

Dec 1 – Heidi’s Wanderings – reviews

Dec 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – reviews / giveaway

Dec 2 – Working Mommy Journal – reviews / giveaway

Dec 2 – Fantastic Feathers – book spotlight / giveaway

Dec 2 – Book Loving Hippo – reviews / author interview / giveaway

Dec 3 – Sara’s Organized Chaos – reviews / guest post / giveaway

Dec 3 – The Autistic Gamer – reviews

Dec 3 – alwaysjoart – reviews / giveaway

Dec 4 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – reviews / guest post / giveaway

Dec 4 – Sincerely Stacy – reviews

Dec 4 – Cindy’s Love of Books – reviews / guest post / giveaway

Dec 7 – One Frugal Girl – reviews / giveaway

Dec 7 – Bless Their Hearts Mom – reviews / giveaway

Dec 7 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – review of Queensland

Dec 8 – fuonlyknew – reviews / giveaway

Dec 8 – Laura’s Interests – reviews / guest post / giveaway

Dec 9 – One Curvy Blogger – reviews / guest post

Dec 9 – Bookworm for Kids – reviews / giveaway

Dec 9 – T’s Stuff – reviews / giveaway

Dec 10 – Bookroom Reviews – reviews / guest post / giveaway

Dec 10 – I’d Rather Be At The Beach – reviews / giveaway

Dec 10 – #redhead.with.book – book spotlight / giveaway

Dec 11 – Writer With Wanderlust – reviews / giveaway

Dec 11 – Blooming With Books – reviews / author interview / giveaway

Dec 14 – Create With Joy – reviews / giveaway

Dec 14 – Library of Clean Reads – reviews / giveaway

Dec 14 – Maddie & Books – reviews / author interview

Dec 15 – Jorie Loves a Story – reviews / guest post

Dec 15 – JBronder Book Reviews – reviews / guest post

Dec 16 – Pause for Tales – reviews / guest post

Dec 16 – Bound 4 Escape – reviews / giveaway

Dec 17 – Singing Librarian Books – reviews / author interview / giveaway

Dec 17 – The Cubicle Escapee – reviews / giveaway

Dec 18 – Jessica Cassidy – reviews / author interview / giveaway

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Holiday Gift Guide Day 4 & Review/ The Twelve Days of Christmas In Canada

Posted on November 18, 2015November 20, 2015 by Cindy

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada by Ellen Warwick
Format: Hardcover
Published by Sterling Publishing Company Incorporated on October 6th 2015
Pages: 32
Goodreads
Genres: Canada, Christmas & Advent, General, Holidays & Celebrations, People & Places, Young Adult

O Canada, in Christmastime! Come with Juliette and her "crazy Canuck cousin" as they take a holiday trip across the country, all the way from Prince Edward Island and vieux Québec to Winnipeg and Vancouver. Along the way Juliette gets really cool Canadian gifts—like 8 bears a-swimming, 6 Mounties marching, and a loon in a maple tree!

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Today I have another picture book for you as you know I love picture books and so does Michael.

I did not realize that The Twelve Days of Christmas In… was a whole series of books. It covers places such as New York City (you know I want to get that one), Illinois, New England, Texas and so many other places.

I loved that there was a map included at the front of the book so you could see and trace the root Juliette took in the book. The book is told in a letter format that Juliette writes to her mom and dad back at home. Juliette has been invited to spend Christmas in Canada with her cousin Theo.

Juliette’s journey begins in Charlottetown, PEI on Day 1 and for the next twelve days they travel across Canada by boat, plane, train and car. Hitting various spots in Canada.

Once you begin reading the book you realize that certain things are mentioned that you know are purely Canadian and you associate them with Canada, such as a loon, fiddlers, bagels, Mounties (RCMP), sled dougs, and so many other things including hockey because you know that has to be mentioned.

If you want to know more of what is included then you have to get the book. It will bring a whole new meaning to The Twelve Days of Christmas.

This is such a fun and cute book to read over the holiday season that kids of all ages will enjoy.

I love that it took place in Canada and I love that at the back of the book there is a little Canadian facts such as some totally amazing Canadians (Mike Meyers, Jim Carrey, John Candy and so many others), Canadian Inventions ( the snowblower, basketball, goalie mask etc), Cool Canadian Records, Wacky Canadian Landmarks, Astounding Canadian History and Glorious Canadian Nature.

I should also mention that both the author and illustrator are Canadian which I love. Its nice to read Canadian books and expose Michael to them as well.

Holiday Gift Guide Day 3 & Review/ Over The River & Through The Wood

Posted on November 17, 2015November 20, 2015 by Cindy

Over the River & Through the Wood by Linda Ashman
Format: Hardcover
Published by Sterling Publishing Company Incorporated on October 6th 2015
Pages: 32
Goodreads
Genres: General, Holidays & Celebrations, Young Adult

Pack up the pooches and load the van. We need to leave by eight! There's so much to bring. Do we have everything? Come on, we can't be late! The classic song gets a fresh new twist! The fun begins when Grandma and Grandpa send invitations to their far-flung, modern, and multiracial family: Come to our house for the holidays--and bring your favorite pie! Off everyone goes, driving down snowy roads, riding the train, boarding a plane . . . even sailing along in a hot-air balloon. As each family faces an obstacle that delays their trip, they learn that sometimes the most old-fashioned form of transportation works best . . . NEIGH!

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

One thing I love about Christmas time is the books especially picture books.

Today I am going to be talking about Over The River & Through The Wood by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Kim Smith.

I loved the illustrations in the book and the diverse characters in the book. It was nice to finally see that in a picture book for kids.

Over The River & Through The Wood is set to that classic tune and your suppose to read the book in that tune. I admit I had to google it to see how it went as its been a long time since I heard it. The story is about a diverse family that has been invited to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Each member of the family has to overcome a traveling disaster such as the car running out of gas, a flat tire and so much more but in the end they all meet along the way and help each other out to arrive at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

This is such a cute book and I think it would make a perfect gift.

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway/ Put Me In The Story’s Holiday Personalized Book

Posted on November 15, 2015November 19, 2015 by Cindy

Today I am lucky once again to be part of another Put Me In The Story blog tour. This time its the Put Me In The Story’s Holiday Personalized Book Tour + Giveaway.

You might recall that I recently took part in the Celebrating Personalized Peanuts Books blog tour and I loved the books and you can click on the bold font to take you directly to that review.

With Christmas just around the corner I was thrilled to have been asked again to take part in another one of their book tours this time its for their holiday books. Today I am going to be show casing three books. Two will be a mini spotlight and the third is a review for a book that I did receive. If you are interested in any of these books I invite you to check out Put Me In The Story and order your very own copy.

Bring the magic of Christmas Eve to life with your favorite furry friends—Cookie Monster, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and everyone on Sesame Street!

It’s the night before Christmas and Cookie Monster is nestled all snug in his bed, while visions of cookies dance in his head. When, all of a sudden, he’s certain he hears Santa outside! There’s only one problem: he’s already eaten all of Santa’s cookies! If only he had an elf helper or two…

Come help save Santa’s cookies with Cookie Monster and the rest of his Sesame Street friends in a Christmas adventure!

Make a cherished keepsake when you personalize this all-new Sesame Street story with your child’s name, photo, and a special dedication page with a message from you.

I was graciously provide with a code that I could redeem to get the following book for free. They retail for $29.99 US each. As you can see they are personalized so you just follow the easy instructions on the page and that is is within 5 minutes I had the in my cart and ready to go. Shipping was super fast and I had the book within a week of ordering it.

The book is beautifully bound like a regular hard cover picture book and it arrived in perfect condition.

This was the one I chose and trust me it was a hard decision to make. I do have to say that I am beyond thrilled with my selection. This book is perfect in my opinion.

I was looking for something that was cute but not to young for him because he is 12 going on 13 in a few months so I wanted something that I think he will treasure now and always and will want to share with his own kids one day.

When I got the book I opened it right away and I was reading the story and it made me cry. The story is beautiful.

Michael, you twinkle, glow and shine so bright.

The illustrations are bright and colorful and I think this could attract readers of all ages. The story line is easy and simple and its just great words kids should hear from their parents. I truly love this book and I am sure Michael will to once he reads it. Thanks to Put Me In The Story and Sourcebooks for sending Michael, Out Little Deer and allowing us to be a part of the Put Me In The Story’s Holiday Personalized Book Tour + Giveaway. Enter to win the Personalized Christmas Book Bundle from Put Me In The Story! Dates: Oct. 15 at 12:00 a.m. – Nov. 15 at 11:59 p.m. EST Enter for a chance to win the Personalized Christmas Book Budle Giveaway, including personalized copies of: · Santa Is Coming To My House · ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas on Sesame Street · Our Little Deer by Sandra Magsamen a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review/ Myles and the Monster Outside

Posted on November 10, 2015November 9, 2015 by Cindy

Myles and the Monster Outside Series: Weird Stories Gone Wrong #2

by Philippa Dowding
Format: ARC
Published by Dundurn on September 19th 2015
Pages: 128
Goodreads
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Horror & Ghost Stories, Monsters, Young Adult

Book Summary:

The second instalment in a series of scary tall tales from acclaimed children’s novelist Philippa Dowding. I will never leave this car, the back seat reeks of everything my little brother has ever eaten, and that thing is still out there ... Myles and his family have been driving for four days. It’s their final night on the road, but Myles knows they will never arrive at their new house. It will never stop raining. And even if they do get there (which is doubtful), he knows he will never have friends again. He also knows that something is following them in the dark, rainy fields outside their car. Something monstrous. Once the monster arrives, things go very wrong. Myles and his family get lost, their car keeps breaking down, and a strange old man and his dog turn up, again and again. Then things get really weird. Myles is pretty sure it’s all his fault: he’s the only one who can see the monster. He’s the only one who can hear the monster. And hardest of all? He’s the only one who can make it go away.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I should begin this review by saying yes this is the second book in the Weird Stories Gone Wrong series but they are totally stand alones meaning you don’t need to read the previous one to know what is happening. The first book is called Jake and the Giant Hand and it came out last year.

One of the great things about getting to work with Dundurn Press is being exposed to some great and talented Canadian authors which I truly need to read more of.

Reading Myles and the Monster Outside brought me back to when I was a child and leaving my grandparents house in Montreal to return to Bathurst (NB) during summer vacations and driving at night along some pretty dark and scary roads so reading this I instantly remember that I was exactly like Myles and thinking there was monsters outside my window because you always saw something that would look like something scary.

Myles is a twelve year old boy who is traveling with his mother, sister and baby brother to their new home. Its a long four days of traveling for the family. Myles is excited to see his dad who is relocating the family to a new city for his job.

Myles can’t wait to get out of the car because its beginning to stink of everything imaginable because the family has practically been living in the car since they left their old house.

The trip is going good until they take a ferry ride on a cold stormy day and Myles see’s something looming near by. In the mist he sees what looks like a monster shaped like a man with red eyes and you know that this is the beginning of the tension and suspense that is about to happen. Myles doesn’t say anything to anyone because at first he doesn’t believe it but gradually he begins to think that is real.

Once off the ferry they are back on the road and its seems like they are headed for diaster because if its not one thing its another and this basically has Myles freaked out and I think had I been in that same situation I would have been the same way.

Finally with all these things happening Myles decides to speak up and of course no one believes him and there were telling it like it was and not playing along with Myles. Finally after a weird encounter with a old man in the middle of the night in the rain wandering around has the family believing him.

Philippa Dowding did an amazing job telling the story. She was very descriptive with the book and I think most people probably has experienced the same things as Myles did in the book in their real lives. Granted mine was never like Myles’s but I did think there were monsters or something chasing us.

Review/Dumplin’

Posted on November 9, 2015November 7, 2015 by Cindy

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
Format: eARC
Published by HarperCollins on September 15th 2015
Pages: 384
Goodreads
Genres: Adolescence, Dating & Sex, Emotions & Feelings, Social Issues, Young Adult

Book Summnary:

For fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell comes this powerful novel with the most fearless heroine—self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson—from Julie Murphy, the acclaimed author of Side Effects May Vary. With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.Dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom, Willowdean has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American-beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked . . . until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back. Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Dumplin’ was a book I had picked up at BEA 2015 this past May and I finally managed to sneak it into my reading pile mainly thanks to Tina who wanted to borrow it to read so now I can officially tell her she can read it and pass it along.

I really like the cover its simple but it stands out when you look at it and I love “Go Big, Or Go Home!”

Dumplin’ has been labelled as the must read book of 2015 and I have to say that I am happy that I was to get this to read and review. Its also be optioned for a movie and I have to say that I will definitely watch that one when it comes out.

Willowdean otherwise knows as Willow (to her friends) or Dumplin’ (by her mother) is your typical high school girl who works part time at a fast food restaurant, she has a crush on one of her co-workers (Bo) and a best friend Ellen. She has a huge obsession with Dolly Parton.

One of the things I loved about Willow was that she was comfortable in her skin and she won’t change for anyone no matter what. Willow is a big girl with hips and curves. I think alot of girls will be able to relate to Willow.

Dumplin takes place roughly six months or so after her aunt Lucy dies. Aunt Lucy was a big girl as well. Willow’s world is slowly changing and she doesn’t like it. Willow lost the only person she felt like she could confide in and knew what Willow was going through and her struggles.

Willow’s mom is the complete opposite of Willow and her late aunt. She is thin and was a former beauty contestant winner and she makes it a point to run the beauty pagent every year. So you can see that they have a strained relationship.

Willow and Bo begin a summer romance where everything is kept on the down load and no one knows about them even Ellen has no clue about Willow and Bo. Willow was questioning why a cute guy like Bo would be interested in her when he could clearly have any other girl. Its at this point where she decides she needs to quit her job and get away from Bo because she can’t take being his secret girlfriend or the lies and the secretiveness.

Then enter Mitch who is the high school jock that plays football who takes a liking to Willow. I wish Willow would have given him more of a chance instead of using him like she did. I think Mitch could have been good for her.

You can tell Willow’s confidence is falling and she knows it too so she takes it upon herself to enter the beauty pagent and along the way other kids who are different begin to enter as well and they all look to Willow to guide them. Will Willow be able to follow through with the pagent or will it prove to be too much for her?

So much is going on in the book as you can tell from the book summary that it will keep you reading until you are done.