Freedom's Game Blog Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Sports games are not only fun to watch and play, but they can help strengthen both the body and the mind. They may also provide an opportunity to acquire essential survival skills as shown in Rosanne Tolin's novel Freedom's Game. Learn more about this amazing book and enter to win a signed copy along with a special soccer ball!

My Review:

Backed by solid research on true events during the Holocaust, Freedom's Game is a captivating and inspiring middle grade historical fiction about courage, resilience, friendship and sacrifice.

Zippy and Elka are among the Jewish kids who have managed to flee Germany and go into hiding in Nazi-occupied France. Living in constant fear and uncertainty and away from their loved ones, they are forced to hide their identity, fake their religion, and avoid speaking their mother tongue. One of the biggest challenges is not knowing who they can trust. With food scarcity threatening their survival, the new gym teacher insists that they practice soccer and prepare for a Sports Festival, yet he fails to show up from time to time. Is this part of a ruse to turn them into the hands of Nazis, or an ingenious plan to smuggle them to safety?

Told through the eyes of two twelve-year-old Holocaust survivors, the story reveals the horror and hardships that Jewish children had to endure during one of the darkest times in human history. While the unpredictable plot twists keep the readers worrying about the fate of the protagonists, they may feel closely connected to the well-developed characters through their thoughts and feelings. Zippy's vigilance is often contrasted by Elka's optimism, but the two unite in their bravery and determination to fight the Nazis.

Exploring an often overlooked aspect of Jewish resistance during WWII, the book calls our attention to the many unsung heroes that risked their own lives and tried everything they could to save young children from persecution. The author's note toward the end details the real people and events that have inspired the story, which demonstrates the incredible power of hope, kindness and friendship.

Packed with strong emotions and impactful messages, Freedom's Game offers young readers an engaging way to learn about WWII history.

About the Book:

Ages: 10-13 | 248 Pages
Publisher: Reycraft Books/Benchmark Education (2024) | ISBN: 978-1478876199

Twelve-year-old Ziggy Wirth, originally from Germany, doesn’t know what to expect when he arrives at the Annemasse orphanage in eastern France. It is 1942, and the Nazis have conquered the northern part of the country. Annemasse is supposed to be a secret haven for Jewish children separated from their families, but Ziggy can’t help feeling that the worst is about to happen. Any adult around him could easily be a Nazi spy. Ziggy befriends Elka, a girl his age who has lived at Annemasse for three years and dreams of when she will be reunited with her family in Dresden. Along with the excitement of this new friendship comes the intrigue surrounding the mysterious, blond-haired new gym teacher, Georges Loinger. Is Georges a friend who can lead all the children to safety in nearby Switzerland? Or is he a spy luring them towards the Nazis?

When any mistake could be deadly, Ziggy and Elka are never sure who to trust.

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org

What Makes Hands Beautiful? Blog Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Each person has a unique pair of hands. What do you think makes hands beautiful? Raniya and her mom explore possible answers to this question in J.F. Bierlein's picture book What Makes Hands Beautiful?. Enter to win a signed copy along with three other books from the author!

My Review:

Starting with a little girl's curious inquiry, What Makes Hands Beautiful? creates an uplifting and thought-provoking story about love, kindness and diversity.

Wondering if her hands are considered beautiful, Raniya asks her mom what beautiful hands should look like and what makes hands beautiful. Her mom encourages her to think about all the wonderful things hands can do to make them beautiful as well as the diverse ways that beautiful hands may look.

With simple sentences and lively pictures, the book introduces different professions in which hands are used to perform different functions and provide important services. In addition, it suggests various ways hands can be used to offer help and show kindness. Its message regarding how to define beauty is gentle yet clear. Whether hands (and people) are beautiful depends on what they do, regardless of what they look like.

The expressive, gorgeous illustrations completes the story by portraying people from all walks of life in everyday scenarios that young readers can easily relate to. The inclusion of characters with various ethnic, age and gender features corresponds to the book's theme on diversity. Meanwhile, the manner in which the characters interact in the pictures indicates that we should treat one another with care and respect.

Short and sweet, What Makes Hands Beautiful? provides an engaging read to teach about kindness, respect and inner beauty.

About the Book:

Ages: 4-6 | 29 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (2024) | ISBN: 979-8336568356

In this charming story, a young girl learns from her mother that it is not appearance that makes hands beautiful, but what they do, and the love that motivates the hands. The book is a celebration of the values of kindness, service, and respect for others and their work.

Purchase links: Amazon | Bookshop.org

You Are a Child of God Coloring Book Review and Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Are you looking for a gift that makes your child feel loved and one that can be easily shared between the two of you? Check out Michelle Fritch's beautiful book You Are a Child of God and enter to win an Amazon gift card!

About the Book:

A love note to people of all ages, You Are a Child of God brings together many of the most important messages in the Bible. Highlighting verses from both the Old and New Testaments, the author helps people understand what the Scriptures teach about our unique creation and God's involvement in our lives. This book is fun for kids to color and invites adult readers to meditate on Scripture while engaging their inner child through coloring.

My Review:

Full of beautiful pictures and inspiring words, You Are a Child of God is so much more than a coloring book. While its selection of delightful images like flowers, butterflies, seagulls, angel wings and music notes pleases the eyes, its thoughtful messages about faith, love, and kindness warm the heart. It encourages youngsters to cherish life, to find their inner strength, to be more confident and resolute, and to help those in need. Through coloring and reading, children and their caregivers may enjoy the calming and creative experience this wonderful book provides.

Order You Are a Child of God today, in time for Christmas!

Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs Blog Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Does your little one often have a bit of struggle with tangled hair in the morning? See how this common challenge turns into a fanciful adventure in Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs by P.E. Shadrick. Learn more about this lovely picture book and enter to win an amazing prize pack, including a signed hardcover copy, two ladybug bracelets and a $50 Amazon gift card!

My Review:

An endearing narrative enriched with dreamy drawings, Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs presents an imaginative and engaging story about kindness, responsibility and problem-solving.

Lisbeth wakes up one morning to find her long hair in tangles and knots. As she helps Lisbeth detangle her hair, Grandma suggests that the mess might be left behind by the fun-loving ladybugs partying all night in her hair. Puzzled and intrigued, Lisbeth wants to know more. Grandma goes on to tell her the full story, from what the grand gala is for and what each ladybug does for the party, to how the party goes and how it ends. That leaves the little girl wondering: should we clean up the clutter that someone else creates?

Told through cheerful conversations between Grandma and Lisbeth, the tale draws young readers into a whimsical world animated through shimmering watercolor illustrations marked by vibrant and varied colors. The combination of human faces and ladybug bodies not only brings the characters to life, but also adds humor and expression to the story. The grand gala wouldn't be successful without the beautiful decorations, stylish costumes, and delicious refreshments vivaciously detailed in the artwork.

The party planning process manifests the power of teamwork as each ladybug uses his or her unique talent to make a contribution, such as music, decoration, costume design and food preparation. Meanwhile, Grandma's patient and kind help inspires Lisbeth to spread kindness, share responsibility and solve problems proactively. The precious bond between Lisbeth and Grandma may remind young readers of all the fun they can have with their own grandparents. The book suggests ideas for comforting and cheering someone up while introducing a long list of names that start with the letter L.

Written with love and illustrated with style, Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs is a cute and cozy read that encourages kids to be more caring, considerate, responsible and independent. It's a perfect book for grandparents and their grandchildren to read together.

About the Book:

Ages: 3-6 | 32 Pages
Publisher: P.E. Shadrick | ISBN: 979-8-9912340-0-9

Do you know what happens at night when you sleep? The ladybugs come out to play!

Lisbeth, a lively six-year-old, wakes up one morning to discover a tangled mess in her hair. Her grandmother tells her the story of how a group of playful ladybugs is the cause of all the knots in her hair. Through Grandma’s fanciful story of the ladybugs’ glorious grand gala, Lisbeth learns the lesson of how shared responsibility can be both necessary and fun.

Inspired by the stories of P.E. Shadrick’s own grandmother, this charming story comes to life through the vibrant and varied colors watercolor illustrations of Montreal artist, Maya Penzlik.

Available in hardback and a special expanded artwork edition (11″ x 8.5″), as well as paperback (8.5″ x 8.5″), Kindle, and digital editions.

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Author’s Website—Special Edition