Earth Day Blog Tour: I'll Follow the Moon, Snowy White World to Save, & Little Library Mouse by Stephanie Lisa Tara

I was so happy when I was able to be a part of this wonderful and fun blog tour centered around Earth Day and some really inspiring books by an amazing children's author, Stephanie Lisa Tara. 
You should definitely check out the rest of the tour and see all the really great blogs participating in the tour.  Thanks so much to Candace's Book Blog and CBB Book Promotions for all the hard work that is put into this exciting blog tour! Click here to see the tour schedule and the other books of Stephanie Lisa Tara.
So let's get started with the reviews first, shall we?

~~~~Reviews~~~~

Title: I'll Follow the Moon
Author: Stephanie Lisa Tara
Illustrator: Lee Edward Fodi
Publisher: Brown Books
Date of Publication: Sept. 7, 2005
Source: received from publisher & CBB Book Promotions 

Synopsis :

On a quiet, moonlit beach, a baby green sea turtle stirs from a dream of home. Slowly, slowly, with a tap, crick, crack, the baby turtle embarks upon a mysterious nighttime journey. Gentle, tender verse and enchanting illustrations carry this tranquil tale from sand to sea.

My Thoughts:
This is such an astounding little book!  I love turtles of all shapes and sizes, but there is something truly magical about these baby sea turtles that made everything seem so perfect.  
I am a true fan of rhyme in stories, especially children's books, and I'll Follow the Moon is made more interesting with the precious saying that is repeated throughout its pages:

"I'm coming, Mama, I'll see you soon  I know just how...I'll follow the moon"

 That saying just rolls right off your tongue like waves gently pushing against the sea.  If there ever was a lullaby for the sea and its creatures, this mantra seems perfect for it.  
I read this book out loud to all of my children and they seemed to get lost in the words of it.  I even had my youngest say he felt like he was right there with the baby sea turtles, trying to find his way to the water too.  The words are very creative but simple enough for even the youngest reader to understand everything that happens.  
I'll Follow the Moon is perfect to read to your little ones as a bedtime story but also helps all of us learn more about these majestic little animals that rely on the moon to reach the beginning of their lives.  
I gave this story five hearts because of how it was beautifully crafted!

Title: Snowy White World to Save
Author: Stephanie Lisa Tara
Illustrator: Alex Walton
Publisher:  CreateSpace
Date of Publication: Jan. 25, 2013
Source: received from author for honest review
Synopsis:

A mother polar bear and her cubs search for food as the sea ice melts. Includes a kid-friendly resource guide so readers can educate themselves to become global citizens.

My Thoughts:
The pictures in this book are absolutely beautiful!!  I love how not only do they re create the polar bears, but within each scene you see other animals that are also in the same environment with the polar bears.  
The writing is also beautiful as well!  The prose flows throughout the book, taking us on a journey with the Mama polar bear as she tries to teach her cubs how to survive in a world that is slowly disappearing for them.  
I liked that the book teaches the kids a little about global warming but in ways they can understand.  It shows them (and us, the adults) that our actions, no matter how small, can affect the planet in a good way, or in a bad way.  
Another thing I loved was the fact it has a lesson guide in the back that can help parents and teachers get our children more involved in helping the environment, by showing some simple actions that we can take to make our planet safer and last a very long time.
I give it four hearts!

 Title: Little Library Mouse
Author: Stephanie Lisa Tara
Illustrator: Alex Walton
Date of Publication: CreateSpace Jan. 28,  2013
Source: received from author for honest review of it


Synopsis:

Even when you are little, you can imagine big. At closing time a key locks the library, and unlocks the dreams of a little mouse who waits in the shadows. Skipping, sliding, down the pages of books? he steps inside magical stories, inviting readers to come along for the ride. Witty verse and fantastical illustrations celebrate the joys of reading in this tale with innovative charm.

My Thoughts:
I have to say Little Library Mouse has become one of my all time favorite story books.  I absolutely loved this story so much due to all the creativity among its pages!   The illustrations captured my eyes with love with their old school charm and the rustic narrator mouse that graces the pages.  This book could make even the most reluctant reader become giddy with the excitement over the adventures awaiting them in the library. 
Again, I have to tell you how much I LOVE the rhymes in stories.  In fact, it is proven that children (my son included) learn easier and retain things much easier when they can put it into a friendly rhyme. 
The light prose that goes through the story puts your mind at ease as if you are floating along a cloud seeing different images in the sky.  This was a warm funny and amusing story that teaches us having an imagination can take us anywhere as well as getting lost in books.  

I actually felt like Little Library Mouse was written in more of a poem format than your standard book format, which helped introduce poetry to young kids too.   The stanzas in the book grabbed me with such intensity because of the flair and vividness of the words brought to life on the pages.  
I had so many favorite quotes from the story it is hard to pinpoint just one but I did think this one stood out for me and definitely for my youngest son for his love of rainbows:

"I'm red
I'm yellow
I'm iridescent blue,
Short stories are rainbows
of sharp color and hue." 

I love books that hold such magic for our minds and I absolutely adore children's books that can capture a child's heart and show them the thrill, the beauty, and the satisfaction of diving into a good book.  
Little Library Mouse is this book and I have become a fan for life of this story and our author, Stephanie Lisa Tara.  I definitely recommend  this book to young and old who love to read to go on an adventure with a very clever mouse and his little helpers. 
I give this book five hearts and more!!!!

Earth Day Celebrations:

Another great aspect of this Earth Day tour is sharing our love for this planet.  The things we do that helps us maintain a good relationship with Mother Earth.  

Our tradition, if you will, isn't something that we do just on Earth Day.  No, it is more of something that we have been doing for as long as I can remember and now we share it with our kids too.  This  is something that we can do throughout the year; or at least when my Mom a.k.a Green Thumb Judy recommends the days.  

My sons, my mom(Nana), and myself always take time out to plant in their garden many different kinds of goodies, like beans, peas, squash, and cucumbers.  

Not only do we get to bond over dirty hands, pulling weeds, and taking turns hoeing the rows for the little seeds to be dropped in, but my mom and I get to teach the boys the importance of growing your own food the right way.  

The boys get to see how I grew up as a child working in the garden, but they also get to see that the extra food we pull from the garden always gets shared with neighbors, other family members, and even strangers at the local farmer's market.  

Not only are the kids learning how to be healthy they are learning how to be good human beings in society and on this beautiful planet we call home.

So you see, Earth day can be about many things.  That is why this blog tour is such a great idea and such a huge impact on me.  And you know what is another great thing about this tour?  There are giveaways!! Oh yeah!!  
But first, lets check out the fantastic author that brought us all of these wonderful books and showed us the importance of taking care of our planet!  

About the Author:

 I've always believed that magic hides in special places. As a child, people would often stare at my bright red hair, which was very, very bright indeed.
Unfortunately, I developed a bad habit of making up rhymes about all of them, and they soon became funny characters. I didn't have much time to think about being different; fanciful lyricisms danced in my head, and no one was safe!
Since then, I've come to believe that storytelling has the power to inspire a deep love of language and learning. Words tripping off the tongue in somersaults that stick to your thoughts like taffy-- those are the things that stay forever in the mind.
I've lived in many special places: on a farm, in a city skyscraper, on a tropical beach, and in the beautiful country of France. Now I live in northern California, between the redwood forests and the sea. Even though I'm an adult, I'm still as silly as ever.
Many nice words have been used to describe my books, such as fun, engaging, delightful, and whimsical. Some folks say that I deliver timeless messages of love for kids and parents to share again and again; this makes me very happy. I hope that you'll enjoy my stories, too. Captivating children with language is something that I believe in, and I strive to live my life with this always.
--Stephanie Lisa Tara
www.StephanieLisaTara.com

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Personal Sites:

Facebook | Amazon | Website

Cause pages (each supports a book's vision):

Facebook page for Save the Polar Bears | Facebook Page for Save the Green Turtles | Facebook Page for Save the Redwood Forests

~~~Giveaway # 1~~~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~Giveaway # 2~~~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Jazz Cage by Ray Chen Smith

Title: The Jazz Cage
Author: Ray Chen Smith
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: June 12, 1012
Format: Kindle, 337 pages
Source: received from author for honest review


Goodreads Summary:


Prohibition-era mobsters collide with Underground Railroad abolitionists in The Jazz Cage.

It is 1924—sixty years after the South’s victory in the Civil War.

Frank McCluey, bounty hunter for the mob, is sent to help out a wealthy Virginian bootlegger. Frank’s job: track down two female slaves who’ve run away from the millionaire.

But the mob has made a bad choice. Instead of capturing the women, Frank decides to help them escape to Canada, his mission now aided by the pint-sized but steel-willed runaway Della and the outlawed Underground Railroad.

Soon Della and Frank become the target of slave catchers, cops, gangsters, and most chilling of all, a Confederate agent nicknamed the Hound for his ability to always sniff out and kill his prey


My feelings:


This is by no means a science fiction or fantasy novel but I did feel like The Jazz Cage had a definite "alternate universe" feel to it. I mean, come on the SOUTH wins the Civil War!!! Anyone who knows their history can definitely see this as a very bad thing...but it does make for an interesting concept for a mystery/crime thriller.   I see the time period-the twenties-very important because that still wasn't too far from the Civil War and people are still seeing the ramifications of allowing the South to win.  It is still a charged up time with not only slavery still running rampant but you also have the American gangsters trying to control things in the North.  This is just a very emotional time any which way you look at it.  
I love a good crime thriller and always enjoy historical novels.  This one delivers on both, even if the historical side is more of a "what if" concept.  I had a hard time putting this novel down.  It flows through with enough action to keep you hanging on but there is also a powerful insight into human nature, both good and bad, that will keep you questioning till the end.  
Our heroines, Della and Cece, are on an escape for their lives and for their very souls too.  Della is a strong woman but is always questioning herself and others in her mind.  Cece is very troubled with so much turmoil running through her, she sometimes to reverts back to a simpler time in her life; when she was a child.  Both of these women learn more about themselves as they fight for their freedom. 
Frank is our bounty hunter for the mob.  Frank is a criminal but he is so much more too.  Frank holds true the adage "honor among thieves."  He is good at what he does but he is also a good human being too.  He finds himself caring for these two women who have more in common with him than he realizes.  
These three make an unlikely group but they end up learning from  each other and more importantly, understanding how to trust each other.  
You can't help but get drawn into the drama surrounding everyone.  I know I caught myself holding my breath a couple of times, just knowing Della and Cece were going to get caught.  
I am glad that our author, Smith, shows us that racism and bigotry wasn't just in the South but was still high in the North as well.  One of the scenes that shows this is when Della goes into the hotel in New York to use the phone.  After using it the hotel clerk approaches her and questions why Della is there.  After checking with Della's "employer" she tells Della:

"...remember that officially, you people are welcome here, but unofficially, most of our clientele aren't as enlightened as we are.  So I think it best if you come in here to use the phones again, come in through the back with the other help." -67% Kindle

From just this scene it shows us that there is still a prevalent racist attitude even among the free states.  

There are many different bad guys in this novel, but you find yourself realizing there are different degrees of bad too.  The Hound is by far the worst and most evil, especially since he could say he is just doing his job.  

I did, however, have a hard time wrapping my mind around all the different government agencies, partly because I still found myself thinking about the real history instead of the story's history.  There were times I felt like America was split into two different countries because there were border patrols between the two sides: North and South.  But they were still under the same country and law.  It just got confusing to me and I am not sure if I was looking at it in the right way but this still didn't take away from the story.  

All in all, there are many surprises throughout the book and at times I actually felt my mouth drop open when someone I really liked gets killed.  I was definitely not expecting that.  And I was none too happy for it either.  

I had to give The Jazz Cage four hearts!  

You can get The Jazz Cage here:
  

Review: Champion by Robert J. Crane

                                   Title: Champion (Book 3- The Sanctuary Series)

Author: Robert J. Crane

                                     Source: received from author for my honest review

Goodreads Summary:
The world of Arkaria is a dangerous place, filled with dragons, titans, goblins and other dangers. Those who live in this world are faced with two choices: live an ordinary life or become an adventurer and seek the extraordinary.

As the war heats up in Arkaria, Vara is forced to flee after an ancient order of skilled assassins infiltrates Sanctuary and targets her. Cyrus Davidon accompanies her home to the elven city of Termina and the two of them become embroiled in a mystery that will shake the very foundations of the Elven Kingdom – and Arkaria.


My Feelings:


First, I want to comment on the cover.  It is breathtaking.  The warrior standing in front of the window, the light shining in through behind him is beautiful.  If you have read the other two books, then you know that this cover is very symbolic with the story.  
I really like how the story starts out in present time, with Cyrus reminiscing about his time with the Guild.  We really get to see how he has matured through the many adventures he has had.  
This story has so much going on and Vara's big secret is finally revealed, which leaves me feeling sad for everyone, especially Cyrus.  
The fight scenes in this novel are amazing.  Crane knows how to craft the scene where you actually feel like you are there.  You can feel the fire from the wizards, hear the swords swooshing through the air; it is all just in plain sight for you to see.  
Another really good part is the dialogue between the characters.  They are funny, secretive, and sometimes a little bit scary; but everything to make a high fantasy story seem modern.    That is one reason I like this series so much it is set in a different world but it still shares some similarities with our own world.  
Cyrus Davidon, our main protagonist, always has a special place in my heart, but it is the "supporting actors" that really have captured it. 


Vaste the troll is hilarious!  He always has the wittiest comments and the most insightful thoughts throughout the novel.  


Aisling is a clever and seductive dark elf who I think could give Cyrus a run for his money if he ever did give her a chance.  In fact I find myself more drawn to the dark elves than the more snobby elves, except Vara.  


I am absolutely in love with Terian and I am looking forward to seeing him more in the story line in the next books.  


There is some romance in this story but this novel is by no means a romantic story.  Champion finally gives us a glimpse into what makes Vara tick and how she truly feels about Cyrus and the others in Sanctuary.  


This is a great novel with strong female and male characters, lots of magic and some huge losses that affect everyone.  


They meet new allies, lose old friends and make even more enemies-all in a day's work for the members of the Sanctuary Guild.  

If you are interested in this book click below to be taken to the Amazon page:

Click here to be taken to Robert J. Crane's Amazon page too.

Reading is my first love

I have to say as long as I can remember I have loved to read.  I still remember snuggling up beside my mom, and she would read me my favorite story about a knight in a castle fighting a dragon.
Even as an adult, I still feel the most content when I have a good book in my lap, whether it be on my reader or the actual book.
This blog is going to be dedicated to all the books I have read and will be reading.  For every book, that I read, I will do a review on it.  I will let you know what things touched my heart and what things might have left me wanting more.
For me, being a parent now, I feel the most blessed to have my children love books as much as I do.

And through this journey, hopefully, I will find my strength to write the books that I have dreamed of writing.

Enjoy the ride.  I know it will be bumpy.....

But exciting!