Willie's Gift Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Did it take a while for you to recognize your special gift? Do you want to help your children discover theirs? Get started with Willie's Gift, a multi-award-winning picture book from writer and reading therapist Clairmarie Field. Enter to win a hardcover copy!

My Review:

Inspired by the author's real-life experience and expertise, Willie's Gift tells a heartwarming tale about kindness, diversity, self-discovery and self-acceptance.

Willie feels like an outlier on his first day at the training school for therapy dogs. He's way smaller and shorter than his classmates, who can't help staring at his noticeably long, wide, pointed ears. To his delight, all the people he visits at the nursing home he's taken to enjoy his company and thank him for being a good listener. Willie's heart is filled with joy and pride now that he's found his gift!

Following an adorable puppy's self-discovery journey, the story addresses common issues like first day of school jitters, fear and anxiety related to fitting in, and lack of confidence in self-worth. Willie's progress at the training school encourages young readers to embrace their differences and take on new challenges. The portrait of dogs in different colors, sizes and looks in the same class provides an opportunity to teach about diversity and inclusion, as well as dog breeds.

Willie's adventure at the nursing home directs our attention to the importance of being a good listener. It suggests that being kind and helpful to someone can be as simple as listening to his or her personal story,  with patience and empathy. The book's vibrant and realistic illustrations dynamically capture Willie's cuteness and his hearty interactions with the human characters.

Comforting and captivating, Willie's Gift makes a worthy read for all, especially animal lovers, youngsters struggling to find their strengths, and those eager to make a positive impact.

About the Book:

Ages: 5-7 | 20 Pages
Publisher: Mascot Kids (2025) | ISBN: 979-8891383289

Willie is a silky-beige and rust-colored Yorkshire terrier puppy with one problem. He was born with exceptionally large ears. He knows that he does not look like other puppies in his dog training classroom, and he feels a little strange. How will he learn to accept himself? In Willie’s Gift, read how Willie discovers the perfect solution while learning something very important about himself in the process.

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

A Bus Can't Drive Empty: An Alphaballiteration Adventure Blog Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

What's your child's favorite way to learn their ABCs? Flash cards, word games, songs or stories? Have you ever tried teaching the alphabet through alliteration? Check out Davon Miller's new picture book A Bus Can't Drive Empty: An Alphaballiteration Adventure and enter to win a prize pack perfect for little learners!

My Review:

Featuring funny characters in playful pictures, A Bus Can't Drive Empty: An Alphaballiteration Adventure weaves words that alliterate into one insanely imaginative and hilarious story, letting children have fun learning letters in alphabetical order as well as multiple words that start with the same letter.

One day after school, Zea, Zeb and Zec gleefully gets on the beeping bright bus that heads for Zala's Zig-zag Zipper Zoo. But their ride home turns out to be bumpier than usual. A closed crossroad is followed by an empty engine. Is it possible to hike home now that the bus is towed? Guess who they will encounter and what vehicles will come in handy for the three zebras and their adventurous school bus driver?

With a good mix of simple and advanced words, formal and informal words, including interjections and onomatopoeia, the story helps young readers build and expand their vocabulary while familiarizing them with the meaning and usage of each word in a plausible and amusing context. Its clever combination of alliteration and alphabet learning makes the book wonderful for reading aloud and for discovering the charm of figurative language.

As an integral part of the book, the illustrations are cheerful, colorful and comical. All the characters are brought to life with humorously expressive body language that reflects their personalities and emotions. Also, the letters are color coded to attract attention and make memorization easier.

Highly entertaining and educational, A Bus Can't Drive Empty facilitates alphabet learning while fostering a love for alliteration. A fun-filled read for developing early literacy skills!

About the Book:

Ages: 4-6 | 52 Pages
Publisher: Picture Novels (2025) | ISBN: 979-8992264708

It’s the end of the school day and three zebra friends are taking the school bus home when it runs out of gas, oh no! But when Chris, the bus driver, cleverly thinks of ways to continue on their jubilant journey, they have an adventure through the mountains, in a gondola, on a log, and on a pirate ship. Will the zebras finally make it home?

This vibrant and whimsical story is a fun and silly read-aloud for families and educators of young children, featuring a playful combination of alliteration and alphabet learning, with individual letters used in rhythmic text across each spread.

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

Watch the Testament Series on Angel! Win an Amazon Gift Card!

Testament, the well-acclaimed original series by Angel Studios, is now available to all Angel Guild members. Stream the full season of Testament today on Angel.com and the Angel App. Enter to win an Amazon gift card!

Synopsis:

The Book of Acts explosively reimagined in an alternate-modern era. A resurrection sparks a movement that turns the world upside down, spreading hope amid chaos. As the followers risk everything to preach the good news, the Temple races to silence them before the oppressive Imperium regime retaliates. But public miracles, unburied secrets, and fractured loyalties force both sides to confront the true cost of their choices.

This powerful live-action series will challenge you, move you, and make you rethink what it means to truly follow Jesus. Set in a modern world, you'll connect with these stories and people like never before.

My Review:

After watching the first four episodes of Testament, I'm fully drawn to the show by its production quality and impactful messages. The show brings the Book of Acts to life through a creative blend of modern and ancient elements, a suspenseful storyline and mesmerizing music that fits seamlessly with each scene.

Packed with action and unpredictable plot twists, Testament presents an inspirational story of courage, faith and spiritual transformation while revealing the clashes between new and old forces and the tough challenges true believers have to confront. I'm glad that all episodes of season one are available for streaming online and I look forward to a second season.

The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best Blog Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

It's never easy to cope with the loss of a loved one. It's even harder for a young child like Lil Shen in The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best. Check out this new release from award-winning author Shenandoah Chefalo and enter to win a signed copy, an adorable plush bunny, and an Amazon gift card!

My Review:

With a thoughtful mix of reality and imagination, The Best Bunny: Adventures of Lil Shen and Her Inspirational Sidekick Bunny Best helps young readers comprehend and navigate the grieving process via a captivating and comforting tale.

Lil Shen recalls one of the worst days during her childhood, when she reluctantly attends her grandma's funeral in sorrow and solitude. On the same day, she receives the very last gift left by her late grandma: a lovely stuffed toy called Bunny Best. Her new friend not only talks with her, hugs her, and triggers her favorite memories of grandma, but also gives her the courage to release her repressed feelings and to get back on her feet step by step.

Through a gentle, touching portrait of a grieving girl, the story reveals the immense impact of loss on a person's emotions and wellbeing. The positive role played by the toy bunny, on the other hand, demonstrates the power and significance of companionship and emotional support. Further, Lil's journey acknowledges that healing takes time and effort. It's okay to be honest about how you truly feel. And a healthy outlet would be conducive to recovery.

The book also touches the reader's heart with charming pictures, which reflect Lil's sadness, loneliness and helplessness using shadows, gloomy colors and nonverbal cues. By contrast, warm hues are employed to highlight sweet memories and positive changes. All scenes featuring Lil and Bunny Best together are imbued with love, care and close connection.

Combining an emotional narrative with expressive paintings, The Best Bunny provides hope and comfort for those struggling to deal with loss while urging others to empathize with a grieving child and offer their support and companionship. I look forward to reading about the duo's next adventure and Bunny Best's friends.

About the Book:

Ages: 4-6 | 28 Pages
Publisher: Self-Published (2025) | ISBN: 979-8990059412

When Lil Shen loses her beloved grandmother, her world suddenly feels unfamiliar, quiet, and full of sadness. On a day filled with gray skies and heavy hearts, she receives a mysterious gift—an ordinary-looking stuffed bunny with extraordinary comfort to offer. Bunny Best, a soft companion stitched with love, becomes her guide through grief, helping Lil Shen remember, imagine, and feel all the feelings she thought she had to hide.

Tenderly told and beautifully illustrated, The Best Bunny is a story of loss, resilience, and healing. Through imagination and the memory of love, Lil Shen discovers that she doesn’t have to be “okay” to move forward. She has to do her best.

Inspired by author Shenandoah Chefalo’s lived experience in the foster care system and her work in trauma-informed care, this heartfelt picture book is an essential resource for families, educators, and professionals helping children navigate grief, big emotions, and life’s most complex changes.

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