Happy Birthday to US! Virtual Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

America is turning 250 this summer! Happy Birthday to US! is the perfect picture book to get your little one excited about this historic milestone. Enter to win a copy autographed by award-winning author Sherry Ellis, plus a $50 Amazon gift card!

My Review:

Written in jolly rhymes and painted in patriotic colors, Happy Birthday to US! makes a lyrical introduction to Independence Day, celebrating freedom, valor, and patriotism.

A little boy born on July 4th is overjoyed by the way his birthday is celebrated every year by all the people in his home town - marching bands, parades, banners, balloons, flags, fireworks, and a lot more. When he finds out that the celebrations are not just for him, he takes great pride in sharing a birthday with America.

Through the eyes of a young child, this sweet story shows how the Fourth of July is typically celebrated in local communities composed of ordinary Americans. While feeling the joy and excitement about the special occasion, young readers learn about the significance of Independence Day, the role of the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence and Lady Liberty. A brief history of the holiday is included in the back matter to help explain why the anniversary means so much to the whole nation.

The book's vibrant, vivacious artwork, coupled with the narrative's first person perspective, easily immerses readers in the festive atmosphere, deepening their love for the country. The paintings enrich the text with delightful details, such as adorable pets wearing celebratory costumes and cheerful children with diverse ethnic origins holding hands in a circle, all of which motivate young readers to join the celebration of liberty, unity, and community.

Cleverly crafted and charmingly illustrated, Happy Birthday to US! stands out as a timely read for young children in the days leading up to America's 250th birthday.

About the Book:

Ages: 4–7 | 52 Pages
Publisher: A 2 Z Press, LLC (2025) | ISBN: 978-1962101240

Celebrate the joy of sharing a birthday with America! In this charming, rhyming picture book, a young child believes the local parade and fireworks are all for him—until he discovers that everyone is celebrating something even bigger: Our nation’s Independence Day. With cheerful illustrations and a heartwarming message, Happy Birthday to US! introduces young readers to the history and meaning behind July 4th while capturing the excitement of summer, birthdays, and community pride. A delightful read-aloud for classrooms, family story times, and patriotic holidays, this book is a perfect way to celebrate America’s birthday!

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

Hope Rode: The Promise of the Packhorse Librarians Virtual Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Have you heard of the Packhorse librarians, who delivered books to rural families on horseback in the depths of the Great Depression? Learn all about them in Hope Rode: The Promise of the Packhorse Librarians by award-winning author Lauren H. Kerstein. Enter to win a signed copy, a swag pack, and a $30 bookstore gift card of choice!

My Review:

Drawing on extensive research, Hope Rode provides a poetic recount of the little-known history of the Packhorse librarians, honoring the unsung heroes who impacted the lives of tens of thousands of Kentuckians in rural and remote areas during dark times.

An alarming percentage of rural population in Kentucky remained illiterate in 1930s due to lack of access to public libraries. The Packhorse Library project was launched to address the issue by recruiting librarians willing to bring books to families with no public library in their neighborhood. A good number of courageous women joined the mission and became known as Packhorse librarians. Delivering books on horseback was no easy task. From harsh weather and road conditions to distrust and resistance of the farmers, so many dangers and obstacles were lurking around. But the smiling faces of young children yearning for learning made all their endeavors worthwhile.

Beautifully written and illustrated, the book highlights the intimidating challenges Packhorse librarians had to overcome in order to make more books available to rural residents. It applauds the dedication, determination, perseverance and resilience of the beloved book ladies. They delivered not only books, but also knowledge, vision, care, job opportunity, the joy of reading, and so much more... What they did was truly amazing and admirable! 

The story ends with the Author's Note, detailing more facts and background information about the Packhorse librarians, including precious photos, some of which get artistically represented in the illustrations. Apart from complementing the narrative with vivid visuals, the paintings amplify the stunning beauty of rural landscapes, reflecting the book's theme with beams of hope.

Inspiring and informative, Hope Rode makes us aware of the great deeds of Packhorse librarians while fueling our passion for reading and urging us to treasure the resources at our disposal today.

About the Book:

Ages: 4+ | 48 Pages
Publisher: Union Square Kids (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-1454948483

An empowering ode to the brave librarians from Kentucky.

Following the Great Depression, literacy rates in the country had dwindled, and education and opportunities were harder to come by, especially in areas like rural Appalachia. But still, there was a dream: a vision of a nation in which reading was accessible to all—even those in the most remote places.

The Packhorse Library project of the 1930s and 1940s called upon Kentucky women to make that vision a reality and rise to the difficult and demanding job of delivering books on horseback. The Packhorse librarians were brave, steadfast, and resilient. For years, the women endured rough terrain, harsh conditions, and exhaustion. And with each book delivered and reading lesson taught, the librarians ushered in a new era for Kentuckians.

With uplifting prose by Lauren H. Kerstein and lush, hand-painted art from Becca Stadtlander, Hope Rode tells the true story of the strength, courage, and conviction of the Packhorse librarians.

Purchase links: Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org

The Blobs: Volume Two Releases April 7! Win an Amazon Gift Card!

April 7 marks the official release of The Blobs: Volume 2: Attack of the Glitchies, second book in the series by viral YouTube creator Justin Stuart. Blending sci-fi adventure, humor, and high-energy action for readers ages 8-12, The Blobs books are available on Amazon or everywhere books are sold. Check them out and enter to win an Amazon gift card!

About the Book:

The Blobs are back — and this time, the galaxy’s survival depends on a goofy crew of outcasts, a stolen stash of ultra-powerful space gems, and one very unexpected hero learning what it means to do the right thing.

Purchase link: Amazon

My Review:

Packed with quirky, otherworldly characters, vivid descriptions and amusingly animated illustrations, The Blobs impresses me as an exhilarating, hilarious middle-grade graphic novel series imparting meaningful messages about friendship, teamwork, courage and sacrifice.

In The Blobs: Volume One: Crash Land!, readers are introduced to five oddball Blobs, who share an escape pod heading to their new home on Planet Splotch. Their hope for a safe journey dims as a crash landing on a mysterious planet hurls them into the claws of woeful Glitchies and their vicious ruler, who has devised an evil plan for galaxy domination.

Book two sees the crew of misfit Blobs settling into their new home, unaware of the enraged, power-hungry king's determination to gather all the Doomsicles at all costs. Their new planet is under attack. The Blobs are ill-prepared and outnumbered. Should they surrender to stop things from getting worse?

Rescue Clickity Clack: A FUN Interactive Ocean Wordplay to Save a Crab's Day! Virtual Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Did you know that crabs communicate with their claws? Each click-clack sound they make may mean something special. Get ready for an exciting seaside adventure in Rescue Clickity Clack: A FUN Interactive Ocean Wordplay to Save a Crab's Day!, upcoming picture book from award-winning author Debra Pehrson Haun. Enter to win a signed hardcover copy, along with plush crabs and toddler t-shirts!

My Review:

Characterized by bouncy rhymes and creative action prompts, Rescue Clickity Clack offers an entertaining, engaging, and interactive introduction to marine wildlife, woven with uplifting messages about courage, kindness, family and friendship.

Crab Clickity Clack is in urgent need of help to break free from the yucky muck he's stuck in and to find his way back home somewhere along the coast. Join the rescue mission by responding to his request on each page. Let's send him home safely to reunite with Mom and Pop, and meet a bunch of ocean friends along the way!

From the very beginning, young readers are invited to become part of the story, entrusted with the task of guiding Clickity Clack home. Their immersive reading experience involves such fun and imaginative activities as popping bubbles from seashore foam, tickling sea stars, tracing a wave, and sailing on a whale's tail. Alongside the funny, curious crab, little ones get acquainted with various friendly sea animals, from tiny hermit crabs making clicking sounds in Clickity Clack's company to a gigantic whale roaming around for fresh air. All the characters are brought to life with colorful, joyful and zestful paintings. Fun facts are provided in the concluding section of the book, informing interested young learners about each creature's natural habitat, food source, communication style, lifespan, special skills and more.

In addition to gaining knowledge about marine life and words that rhyme, readers of the book are encouraged to offer help to someone who asks for it, to rally all the support that's available, and to conquer a challenge with courage and confidence.

Infused with creativity and positivity, Rescue Clickity Clack excels as a cheerful tactile book that children can read (aloud), touch, feel (through raised words), and interact with. A perfect starting point for fostering a love for nature, adventure and conservation.

About the Book:

Ages: 1-5 | 32 Pages
Publisher: BookBaby (2026) | ISBN: 979-8-9889223-1-5

Clickity Clack, a young crab, finds himself lost and stuck in some yucky muck. He wants to get back home, but he knows he will need help to guide him. Every page turn is a new adventure to brave the waves as you rock, pop, tickle, and wiggle your way through the seas in this captivating multisensory interactive rhythmic adventure where sea stars, vibrant fish, sea turtles, hermit crabs, and a whale join in the fun. Clickity Clack celebrates being home by clicking and clacking his claws with his new friends and his Mom and Pop. Fun facts about all the sea creatures add to the educational value in this rocking, rolling, interactive, rhythmic wordplay sea adventure.

BRAVE THE WAVES—YOUR ADVENTURE AWAITS!

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBaby