Merry Christmas, Dragon! Virtual Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Do you miss Dragon from the endearing picture book series by seasoned children's book author and reviewer Bianca Schulze? We certainly do! Are you curious about how Dragon celebrates Christmas? Find that out in Merry Christmas, Dragon!, the long-awaited seventh book in the series. Enter to win a signed copy, along with some Dragon-sized Christmas cheer!

My Review:

Full of festivity and vitality, Merry Christmas, Dragon! crafts a cheerful and charmingly interactive tale honoring the holiday spirit with heartfelt messages about kindness and togetherness, as well as about slowing down and enjoying the moment.

Dragon loves Christmas so much that she's put together an incredibly long to-do list. From wrapping gifts to making snow angels, she's determined to complete all items on her list as fast as possible. As she rushes from one activity to the next, she inadvertently leaves behind one mess after another...for her friends to clean up. Can you help her learn to slow down and discover the true meaning of Christmas magic?

Constantly conversing with the reader, the narrator invites young Dragon fans to become an active part of the story by interacting with the characters and simulating their experiences through sensory imagination. The sound of holiday tunes, the smell of holiday cookies, and the sight of holiday decorations combine to draw young readers deeply inside the festive fairyland where Dragon and her friends reside. Not only can they witness all the fun activities Dragon rushes through, they also get to join in by dancing on ice, catching a snowflake, helping cool down the hot chocolate, or singing along the "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" song.

Dragon continues to charm young children with her cuteness and playfulness. Her enthusiasm for Christmas celebration is irresistibly contagious, motivating everyone to seek creative ways of spreading the holiday cheer. Her urge to rush, on the other hand, is not uncommon among children and even adults. The hilarious yet disastrous aftermath of her rush reflects the real-life challenge to balance quality and quantity. As the story suggests, spending quality time with loved ones matters so much more than checking things off a to-do list. It's a relief to see that Dragon realizes her mistakes and becomes more mindful and considerate of others as she learns to take her time. This holiday tale brings about an exciting get-together of all the characters from previous books in the series, including the wordless ones like the cat and mice. The group picture with Dragon in the center is absolutely delightful and heartwarming.

Vibrant, dynamic and amusing, the artwork completes the story with adorable, expressive character portraits, beautiful, snowy winter landscapes, and an abundance of festive elements. From ornaments to outfits, every detail helps readers feel the joy and wonder of the holiday season.

A fascinating holiday gift for little dragon lovers, Merry Christmas, Dragon! is perfect for young kids and parents to read aloud, read together and read over and over again.

About the Book:

Ages: 3-5 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Clever Publishing (2026) | ISBN-13: 979-8888674895

Dragon is so excited for Christmas that she wants to do every fun activity all at once. But when her well-intentioned enthusiasm for the holiday season ends up causing chaos, will she learn to slow down and enjoy the special moments? This fun story takes readers into a winter wonderland at the kingdom and offers the gentle lessons of being present in the moment and appreciating what you have. This is the 7th installment in the Dragon book series by Bianca Schulze. Check out the latest books, Sharing is Caring, Dragon! and A New Friend for Dragon!

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

Story Writing: A Workbook of Creative Writing Prompts for Kids 8-12 Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Is your child itching to write their own story but not sure how to get started? Gift them a copy of Story Writing: A Workbook of Creative Writing Prompts for Kids 8-12, part of the Dragon & Dinosaur Chronicles series by Rick Williams. Learn more and enter to win one of three Young Creator's Storymaking Kits!

My Review:

As a resourceful companion to Star Life Keepers (first book in the Dragon & Dinosaur Chronicles series), Story Writing is an informative, instructive and engaging workbook geared toward middle graders interested in creating their own chapter book.

Spark the Dragon invites budding writers to kick off their storymaking journey by getting familiar with key story elements like characters, setting, plot and theme through fun exercises and activities. With Spark's guidance, users of the workbook get to read and analyze excerpts from Star Life Keepers and the entire Orion Dragons’ Holiday Tale short story, as they get ready to complete their very own three-chapter short story.

Writing a short chapter book may sound like a mission impossible for beginners, but thanks to the cute and friendly dragon that teaches the basics and shares useful tips, the creative process turns out to be more manageable and enjoyable than expected. From words and drawings to paragraphs and chapters, youngsters improve their reading and writing skills by taking part in a variety of activities that gradually increase in difficulty and complexity. They are motivated to spread the wings of their imagination as they learn to build different characters performing different roles in the story, describe the setting in greater detail, enrich the plot with events in sequential order, and distinguish theme from moral. The Word Detective game toward the end of the book encourages them to expand their vocabulary in order to take their stories up a notch.

Storymaking can be even more fun when done with family members. The book provides an opportunity for parents to join and play an active part in their children's writing adventure. Using prompts, tools and resources from the book, parents may help with brainstorming, editing, proofreading and polishing. Wouldn't it be exciting to be the first reader of your little one's first book?!

Both entertaining and educational, Story Writing provides a systematic, highly accessible introduction to the steps and structure of narrative fiction writing, promotes creative and critical thinking, and nurtures a lifelong love of reading and writing.

About the Book:

Ages 8-12 | 246 Pages
Publisher: Legacy KidLit Press (2025) | ISBN-13: 979-8-9874200-4-1

The Story Writing workbook helps Young Readers become Young Creators as they learn how to make their own stories. Young Creators learn the basics of storymaking and explore examples from Star Life Keepers, the first epic sci-fi/fantasy novel in the Dragon & Dinosaur Chronicles series. They then see those lessons applied to an action-packed chapter from Star Life Keepers and the Orion Dragons’ Holiday Tale short story. This workbook concludes by guiding the Young Creators through a step-by-step process to make their own stories. Story Writing can be used independently, as a companion to Star Life Keepers, or as part of the Creative Writing Lab program on The Storymaking Hub website, which includes storymaking roadmaps and 30 free downloadable resources.

Purchase link: Amazon

Great American Christmas Movie Lineup & Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Does your family's holiday tradition include watching holiday themed movies together? Join Great American Christmas 2026 all season long for heartwarming romantic comedies, compelling dramas, powerful journeys of faith, and beloved talent on Great American Pure Flix. Sign up today to start enjoying the greatest lineup of Christmas movie premieres in one season. Christmas as It’s Meant to Be!

Here are the new releases in October:

A Second Chance Christmas

Premiere Date: Thursday, October 8 on Great American Pure Flix

Starring: Candace Cameron Bure, Jonathan Scarfe

Synopsis: After five years, divorced parents Anna and James reunite with their adult children for Christmas, only to find an unexpected ice storm may give their love story a second chance.

Trailer

Silver Bells at Christmas

Premiere Date: Thursday, October 15 on Great American Pure Flix

Starring: Laura Osnes, Ryan McPartlin, Chuck Wicks, Taylor Kalupa, Julia Reilly and Tanya Christiansen

Synopsis: When Ginny fights to save her late mother’s beloved Christmas shop, a determined buyer and the return of her first love force her to choose between holding onto the past and opening her heart to a new future.

Trailer

Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider Virtual Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Are you into dragons, magic, secrets, and teleportation across different realms? Then you certainly don't want to miss Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider, the second book in the Lionborn series by Sharique Zea. Enter to win a signed paperback copy, along with a $50 Amazon gift card!

My Review:

Blending mystery with magic, fantasy and adventure, Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider delivers an enchanting, breathtaking page-turner that celebrates courage, compassion, determination, and resilience while exploring the true meaning of family and friendship.

Clueless about who his dad is, Fionn is surprised by the birthday gift from him, a baby dragon named Magnus who needs his care. But that's not the only challenge lying ahead. Full of hostility and suspicion, Aunt Chloe keeps Fionn worried about being kicked out of the adoptive family he loves deeply. At Phron, the school of magic where he receives rigorous training, he has to reach top three in order to participate in the formal investigation into Marrok, the mysterious villain that keeps launching sneaky, deadly attacks at Fionn. Could Marrok be related to Abigor, who's been banished from both Arorea and the human world? Why is he so hard to track down?

Thanks to the author's exceptional writing skills, the novel is a captivating read for both mystery and fantasy lovers. Readers get deeply absorbed into the complex, intriguing imaginary world in the story as they try to put the puzzle pieces together alongside Fionn. The descriptions are so detailed and vivid that each character and scene may easily come to life in the reader's mind. The classes at the magic school sound particularly fun and fascinating. I bet kids would yearn to attend if such a school existed in reality.

Fionn's growth in both physical capacity and emotional intelligence are evident in the sequel. As they root for Fionn's success at school, young readers may get inspired by his willpower, bravery, kindness and perseverance. He sets an example for a friend that's loyal, dependable, and trustworthy, as well as a family member that's loving and caring. He is not invincible in the face of tough challenges and cunning enemies. His imperfection, however, makes him more relatable and likeable. Among the new characters, my absolute favorite is Magnus - so adorable and powerful, making me wish to keep a dragon of my own.

Highly imaginative and mesmerizing, Lionborn and the Secret of Dark Rider ends with a shocking reveal and a cliffhanger. Hope fans of the series won't have to wait long for the next book to come out.

About the Book:

Ages: 10-14 | 238 Pages
Publisher: Silverhush Press (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1-0669013-5-7

Some enemies seek power. This one seeks Fionn Hurley—but heroes don’t fall, they rise roaring.

Fionn Hurley thought life between London and the magical realm of Arborea couldn’t surprise him anymore. He was wrong. When his bonded shadow-beast whisks him back to Arborea and straight into a burning village, he fears that a banished enemy has returned.

As Fionn and his friends at Arborea’s school of magic wrestle with unpredictable powers, intense magical training, and a baby dragon who depends on him, unsettling clues surface: an aunt who suddenly can’t stand him and visions that suggest his ties to Arborea run deeper than he ever believed.

With enemies closing in, Fionn realizes there’s only one way to track the real threat before it finds him first: earn a coveted place on a magical investigations team.

The thrilling second book in the Lionborn series — a fast-paced middle-grade fantasy adventure packed with magic, courage and friendship, and the next step in Fionn’s journey from uncertainty to confidence.

Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, Skandar, and the Amari series.

Purchase link: Amazon