Alli the Alligator Virtual Tour: Review & Giveaway

Being visibly different from the others at school can pose a serious challenge to a young child eager to fit in and make friends. Follow a fun-loving alligator's adventure at a human's school in Alli the Alligator, debut children's book by award-winning author Cindy Miller. Enter to win a hardcover copy!

My Review:

Revolving around an adorable alligator with a big heart, Alli the Alligator tells an imaginative and uplifting tale about faith, family, friendship, belonging, kindness, forgiveness, bravery and acceptance of differences.

Alli is the youngest in the happy Gator family. She becomes so charmed by children playing outside her home that she makes up her mind to go to school. But being the first and only alligator at Swamp Elementary turns out to be tough. Instead of having fun and new friends, she gets isolated, ridiculed and bullied. Will she give up and quit?

Through lovable characters and colorful pictures, the story gently promotes Christian values, encouraging children to be kind, open-minded, and aware of their special purpose in life. Alli sets a positive example of recovering from hurt feelings, forgiving those who have been unkind, and earning respect and recognition through bravery and kindness. Her experience inspires young readers to embrace their uniqueness as a strength and stay true to their kind heart no matter how others behave.

The book's playful artwork portrays Alli and her family as agreeable, considerate and caring creatures that children can feel close to. As for the human characters, the illustrator takes care to include children of different skin colors, genders, and ethnic origins. Full of color, action, expression and vitality, the pictures make it easy to get fully immersed in the thought-provoking story.

Written with love and compassion, Alli the Alligator is an accessible and meaningful read that imparts important life lessons relevant to everyone.

About the Book:

Ages: 4–7 | 32 Pages
Publisher: BookLogix (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1-6653-1069-7

What happens when being different makes you feel like you don't belong? Alli Gator loves swimming and playing along the banks of the Rumbly River with her family. When she discovers children nearby, she dreams of going to school just like they do. But being the only alligator in a classroom full of children isn't easy. On her first day at Swamp Elementary, the other students stare, whisper, and laugh. Just when Alli begins to lose confidence, an unexpected moment reveals her bravery and kindness—and shows everyone that differences can be a gift.

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

The Doggos Series Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Do you like stories that involve dogs and kids? Then you'll have a blast reading The Doggos series written and illustrated by dedicated dog-lover S. K. Edwards. Get a feel of what makes this series special and enter to win the first six books!

My Review:

The Doggos series starts with Simon & Butch, a gripping tale about friendship, loyalty, justice and creative problem-solving.

Although being a top student, third-grader Simon hates going to school for fear of the constant challenges on his way to school: an intimidating dog named Butch and two bad bullies known as the The Baker brothers. Little does Simon know that Butch views him as a friend because the meat sandwiches he tosses is such a treat. When the Baker brothers attack Simon to rob his lunch money, Butch breaks free from the chain and scares the bad boys away.

With relatable scenarios and surprising plot twists, the story keeps young readers intrigued while showing them that appearance can be deceptive in a good way. The growling junkyard dog turns out to be a real hero. It is the sandwich Simon hates that earns him a loyal furry friend. Simon's story suggests the importance of timely communication between children and their parents. Imagine what would happen if Simon has told his mom sooner about the bullying and his preference for vegetarian food?

The book sets itself apart with unique collage style illustrations, which combine comical paintings with real-life images to add humor to the narrative and to create a realistic feel for its setting or background. As a bonus to budding chefs, the book includes two easy-to-follow vegetarian recipes. The Pita Pockets sound particularly scrumptious!

Stimulating and amusing, Simon & Butch certainly makes me want to read more from The Doggos series, which I expect to be a total delight for dog lovers of all ages.

About the Books:

The Doggosare heartwarming stories about dogs and the kids who love them. Each book focuses on the story of a sad, abandoned dog and an unhappy, out-of-control, or lonely child. The books are inspiring parables that show the special relationships between children and dogs.

Many children suffer from anxiety, loneliness, bullying, or hyperactivity, but when just the right dog comes along into his or her lives, magic happens. Dogs are reservoirs of unconditional love and can make a child feel valued and secure.

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Energy Wars: The Awakening Blog Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Can you imagine living in a war zone where you constantly feel the urge to dodge fireballs flying around that are only visible to you? That's what 13-year-old Myles has to deal with every day in Energy Wars: The Awakening, the first installment in award-winning author Jodi Dee's new middle-grade supernatural series. Enter to win a signed copy of this upcoming release!

My Review:

Combing elements of quantum physics and spirituality, Energy Wars: The Awakening delivers a gripping novel that explores friendship, self-love, self-discovery, and kindness through the lens of emotional intelligence.

As eighth grader Miles admires the way his classmate Sally defends herself against the bullies at school, he suddenly finds himself gifted (or cursed?) with the superpower to see fireballs of negative energy being launched from one person to another and feel how hurtful they can be. Perplexed by this unusual change, Myles conducts research and seeks help from his friends. In the process, he discovers a shocking family secret along with his mission to put his newfound power to good use.

Narrated from the perspective of Myles, the story speaks to its teenage readers with an authentic and attractive voice. Although a fair amount of fantasy is involved, many of the plots have their traces in reality, such as bullying, intolerance of diversity, increasing dependency on technology and the influence of social media. The main characters are well developed to reflect different types of personalities and family backgrounds, from the smart and strong Sally raised by a single mom struggling to make ends meet to the pampered and privileged Ethan growing up in a wealthy family with unlimited resources.

While the suspense and mounting challenges keep the story engaging, the amazing things Myles can accomplish as an energy seer have great implications for young readers. They may be inspired to have faith in their potential to infuse the world with more positive energy, to strengthen their inner self against adversities and bullies, and to be kind, empathetic, and inclusive.

Captivating and instructive, Energy Wars: The Awakening makes a worthy read for tweens and teens trying to navigate the complexity of emotional management and those aspiring to bring about positive changes to the society.

About the Book:

Ages: 8-13 | 200 Pages
Publisher: Jodi Dee Publishing (2025) | ISBN: 978-1736209363

Myles is an average thirteen-year-old boy until one day, Sally Munson shows up with purple pants on that look like a Halloween costume. As classmates tease and make fun of her, Myles starts to see these negative words as fireballs of energy being thrown at Sally. He finds himself in the middle of a war zone, invisible to everyone but him!

In a suspenseful, supernatural tale of self-discovery and friendship with constant, unexpected twists and turns, Myles tries to understand his newfound superpower. He not only learns about the energy exchange between humans but the energy of all things.

Myles and his friends discover the new ZS phone is stealing people’s energy. Follow Myles as he navigates this new reality and works to stop the theft of this energy with the help of his friends.

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

Sophie and the Swans Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Would you help someone in danger even though he was once caught trying to inflict harm on your loved ones? Check out what Sophie chooses to do under the circumstances in Holly Peppe's newly released picture book Sophie and the Swans. Enter to win a signed copy of this 2024 Family Choice Award winner!

My Review:

Inspired by her swan-loving friend as well as her own lakeside living experience, author Holly Peppe creates the heartwarming tale of Sophie and the Swans, which promotes the protection of wildlife while exploring the transformative power of kindness.

Sophie adores the beautiful swan couple that frequents the lake near her home. Upon noticing a boy attempting to attack the swans with stones, she doesn't waste a second to stop the bully, who turns out to be her new next-door neighbor Ned. Luckily, Ned's younger brother Sam is friendly and shares that Ned used to be a victim of bullying at school. One evening when Sam and Sophie are feeding the swans together, they spot Ned getting stranded in the middle of the lake and waving for help. Should they save him right away or wait until the grown-ups are informed?

With relatable characters interacting in a unique setting, the story suggests the possibility of changing a bully through kindness and forgiveness, as opposed to retaliation. By unraveling the underlying causes of Ned's resort to bullying, it helps us understand the negative impact of feelings like anger, anxiety, fear and frustration on one's perspective and behavior. It further prompts us to ponder how and why kindness can be a cure for wounded souls.

The brave, assertive and compassionate protagonist sets an excellent example for young readers regarding the right response to bullies and treating everyone with kindness. Instead of trying to fix Ned's problems, Sophie chooses to save his life. Meanwhile, her care for the swans and the fun she has in the natural environment encourage little ones to join in on the action of wildlife conservation and to enjoy the great outdoors. The realistic, delightfully colored illustrations accentuate the beauty of nature as well as the charm of a kind heart.

Comforting and uplifting, Sophie and the Swans inspires every reader to spread kindness whenever possible and to stand up to bullying in a positive, peaceful manner. The book is also a tasteful treat for all nature and animal lovers.

About the Book:

Ages: 3+ | 36 Pages
Publisher: Lincoln Square Books | ISBN: 978-1947187146

Sophie is a little girl who lives beside a lake and makes friends with a pair of swans who visit her every day. One day, when a bully starts to torment the swans, Sophie rushes to defend them not by attacking the bully but by showing him kindness when he gets into trouble on the lake.

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

Cool Kids Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Whether longing to be a cool kid is a good thing depends a great deal on how "cool" is being defined, as shown in Arlene Freeman's picture book Cool Kids. Learn a bit more about the book and enter to win a signed copy!

About the Book:

Book Title: Cool Kids by Arlene Freeman
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Chldren's Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot Publishing
Release date: October 2021
Tour dates: November 22 to December 10
Content Rating: G. Suitable for all ages.

Like most kids, Michael and his friends are so excited for their first day at a new school. They have a lot of questions about what to expect, but most of all, they wonder if they’ll get to join the football team. That would be the perfect way to start the year! However, Michael soon finds out that it’s not as easy as he thinks. The team is filled with bullies, and to join, he has to become one of them. In order to be cool enough to get a spot on the football team, Michael has to start changing his behavior—for the worse! Suddenly, terrible things start happening to him. Finally, he begins to wonder: Was it all worth it?

My Review:

Michael is happy to start fourth grade at a new school together with his old friends. The only thing that really bothers him is that he can no longer play his favorite sport because the biggest bully nicknamed Ruffy doesn't approve his request to join the football team. Michael decides to win Ruffy's favor by acting like a bully and thus becoming a "cool" kid. He succeeds, but at the expense of losing all his previous friends (including the furry one) and being reprimanded by his own conscience. Is it possible to remain a cool kid without turning into someone he resents and can hardly recognize in the mirror?

The author of Cool Kids takes a rather bold approach to the topic of anti-bullying by showing the dreadful consequences a past victim of bullying may have to face after attempting to become a bully himself. Bullying neither makes him feel stronger nor helps him get popular. It is an important lesson to learn for kids who are eager to fit in at a new place, where the problem of bullying is present. They need guidance to make the right choice. While Michael is lucky to have friends who support his efforts to get back on track, converting a veteran bully like Ruffy may not be as easy as suggested by the somewhat magical ending of the story and young readers should be warned about that. The book encourages kids to face and correct their mistakes, and to be kind and forgiving. The positive messages delivered by the book make it a worthy read, but parents may want to help younger kids separate fact from fiction to avoid misconception.

Buy the Book: Mascot
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Freeman’s first career was a third-grade schoolteacher in the Passaic School System. Teaching children is her true passion, and she incorporated this passion in her community involvement. Her second career as a real estate broker and appraiser enabled her to open her own real estate company, Prime Realty, with a partner. After thirty-five years, they sold to Coldwell Banker. She loves dogs, playing piano, telling stories, singing, dancing, and sharing wonderful examples of life’s lessons with her grandchildren. Arlene lives in Woodland Park, New Jersey. She has two sons, Dr. Ted Freeman of Long Branch, New Jersey, and Dr. Eric Freeman of Westfield, New Jersey, as well as three grandchildren: Michael, Max, and Quinn. This is her first book and maybe her third career.

Connect with the Author: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

One lucky person will win a signed copy of Cool Kids!

Giveaway ends 12/17. Open to US only. Please enter below. Happy Holidays and Good Luck!

COOL KIDS Book Tour Giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book to facilitate my honest review. All views and opinions expressed are my own. icefairy's Treasure Chest is not responsible for winner selection or prize fulfillment.

Greta Grace: A Greta Grace Gibson Story About Bullying and Self-Esteem Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway (5 Winners)

Getting picked on at school is horrible. Having to deal with an experienced bully who knows how to cover her tracks is even more dreadful for a teenager. Find out how Greta Grace learns to handle her worst bully in life coach Joanna O’Reilly Quinn's new book Greta Grace: A Greta Grace Gibson Story About Bullying and Self-Esteem.

My Review

Misery loves company. Greta Grace knows it best when the notorious bully Casey threatens to make her life hard, when her best friend Samantha turns against her to avoid becoming a target of bullying, and when her beloved grandma-like neighbor Mrs. McGee gets an ominous call from the cancer specialist a few days before she falls into a coma that might last forever. Though scared to death deep down in her heart, Greta Grace remains a brave fighter. She refuses to give in to the bully while keeping visiting Mrs McGee like a family member, determined to wait for her to wake up. Just when things start to look better, a new challenge arises...

Written from Greta Grace's perspective, the story reveals the tough inner struggle a teenage girl has to go through when faced with bullying, betrayal, self-image, peer pressure, fear of losing a loved one, budding romance, and many other issues associated with growing up. Thanks to her terrific story-telling skills, the author brings to life a fully developed, highly relatable and likeable lead character, who is smart, strong, kind, and reflective. I'm deeply moved by the unusual bond between Greta Grace and Mrs McGee. Their cross-generational friendship is so precious and admirable.

Also noteworthy is the indispensable role the adult figures (Greta Grace's mother and Mrs McGee) play in providing guidance for Greta Grace and helping her find confidence, courage, and faith. Besides protecting her against bullying, they care to teach her how to love and forgive, which prompts Greta Grace to choose not to take advantage of Casey's secret. I wish the author could spend more time exploring why Casey behaves the way she does, but that may deserve a separate book.

Overall, Greta Grace is an inspiring and heartwarming read with practical life lessons for teenagers and their parents.

About the Book:

Ages 9+ | 190 Pages
Publisher: Emerald Lake Books | ISBN-13: 9781945847448

What’s worse than being invisible? Being noticed by the school bully.

Greta Grace likes her life. She isn’t the most popular girl in school-some days she even feels invisible-but she gets good grades and stays out of trouble.

She has a best friend in Samantha and a grandmotherly neighbor who is never too busy for a chat. Her mom can be a bit overprotective, but Greta Grace doesn’t blame her. Being a single parent probably isn’t the easiest job in the world.

When her longtime crush finally starts noticing her, Greta Grace thinks her life might even be perfect.

But when a merciless bully takes aim at Greta Grace, her carefree existence suddenly ends.

Who ever knew that school could be so hard?

Purchase links: Amazon | Bookshop

War at the Ice Cream Store Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Do you love ice cream? Can you imagine different flavors of ice cream and all kinds of tasty toppings coming to life and engaging themselves in a...war? Find out what exactly is going on in War at the Ice Cream Store, written by award-winning songwriters Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson. And enter to win a signed copy!

About the Book:

Book Title: War at the Ice Cream Store by Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 32 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson
Release date: January, 2021
Tour dates: Mar 8 to Mar 26, 2021
Content Rating: G. This children's book is for everyone.

The first of the Frank TL Frogg and Friends series, War at the Ice Cream Store tells the story of one night at the Frozen Frogg, when Mustachio Pistachio and his “flavorite” flavor friends teach Bulli Vanilli a lesson in kindness and acceptance.

My Review:

As an ice cream lover, I was really intrigued by the book's name before I learned what the story is all about. War at the Ice Cream Store turns out to be a highly entertaining read that delivers positive, powerful messages on the topic of bullying or, rather, anti-bullying. Mustachio Pistachio, the least popluar ice cream flavor of all, has been the easy target of bullying for King Bully Vanilli, who gets crowned because of his unparalleled popularity among the customers of the store. Bully Vanilli goes so far as to kick Mustachio out of the freezer, causing him to start to melt on the ground. That becomes the trigger for the war, during which all those being bullied join forces to throw the King off his throne.

The book offers an innovative approach to teaching young children about the problem of bullying. Through whimsical illustrations, funny characters, and witty play on words, the story drives home the idea that everyone should be treated equally and fairly. The triumph of the revolt proves the power of teamwork, and suggests that bullies may not be as intimitating as they claim themselves to be. It's a good thing that Bully Vanilli realizes his mistake after his defeat and is willing to make amends. The book encourages the reader to stand up against bullying and rally all the support necessary to get things right. It also helps children understand the hurtful feelings of being marginalized and discriminated against.

I really love the humorous writing style of the book, especially the clever use of homonyms and rhymes. Here's an example: "The Ice Cream Store will NOT stand for intolerance!" "Unless it's lactose of course!" said Non-Dairy Strawberry.

The book even comes in an interactive electronic version available at its official website, where the charm of the story gets enhanced by puppetry, video, music, and a sing-along song performed by renowned country singer/songwriter Dave Gibson.

Buy the Book: Amazon

Spookley the Square Pumpkin Prize Pack Giveaway {Ghosts & Goblins Giveaway Hop}

One of the kids' favorite fall activities is to visit a local pumpkin patch, where they could discover pumpkins in different varieties, sizes and shapes. If they are lucky, they might spot a very special kind of pumpkin, a square pumpkin that looks like the adorable Spookley the Square Pumpkin! Everyone’s favorite square pumpkin is now the “Pick of the Patch” this Halloween season. As a classic that airs on Disney Junior every October, Spookley the Square Pumpkin, for the first time ever, can be enjoyed in high definition, available in a new Blu-ray combo pack and on Digital HD from Cinedigm. The Blu-ray combo includes five exclusive video picture books.

Based on Joe Troiano's bestselling Spookley book series, this animated television special follows the story of Spookley, the only square pumpkin living on Holiday Hill Farm, where round pumpkins dominate and frequently make fun of Spookley for his unique shape until they get saved by him during a terrible storm.

Synopsis:
In a world where the only good pumpkins are round pumpkins, Spookley is teased because of his square shape. Shunned by the other pumpkins, Spookley is befriended by Edgar, Allan and Poe, three hilarious spiders, who convince him that, square or not, he has a right to be the Pick of the Patch. But Big Tom and Little Tom, the pumpkin bullies in the patch, continue to tease and taunt Spookley. Encouraged by kindly Jack Scarecrow and his bat sidekicks, Boris and Bella, Spookley tries his best, but he isn’t sure he has what it takes until a mighty storm threatens Holiday Hill Farm. When the storm blows the round pumpkins across the patch towards the raging river, Spookley realizes it is up to him and his square shape to save the day.

Blu-ray combo pack bonus features:

5 exclusive video picture books:

• The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin
• The Legend of Beacon the Bright Little Firefly
• The Legend of JellyBean and the Unbreakable Egg
• The Legend of Lyla the Lovesick Ladybug
• The Legend of Mistletoe and the Christmas Kittens

As fans of the Spookley book series, my boys were really excited to see their beloved square pumpkin in animation. Fond of Spookley's cute look, they felt upset when he got ridiculed by Big Tom and Little Tom; they felt sad when Spookley failed the Jack-a-Lympics miserably; they cheered for Spookley as he courageously saved everyone against the strong winds; and they felt very proud of Spookley when he finally won the respect from his fellow patch-mates.

The movie is well paced and has the perfect length to hold the little viewers' attention from beginning to end. The educational messages are clear and easy to get through. It encourages children not to be afraid to be different and to learn to embrace their differences, as what makes you different also makes you special. It also teaches about kindness, courage, friendship, sportsmanship, gratitude and tolerance. It helps stop bullying before it begins. Apparently, Spookley the Square Pumpkin has been a long time Halloween tradition for many families for a good reason.