Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Pre-Order Shimmer and Shine: Friendship Divine Today -- Arrives on DVD February 7th (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent a screener copy from the vendor in order to write up an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.



NEW FRIENDS AND MAGICAL ADVENTURES AWAIT THE
WISH-GRANTING GENIES IN AN ALL-NEW DVD COLLECTION
 

Shimmer and Shine: Friendship Divine

Pre-order now on DVD from Amazon for only $9.99

Out of all the shows my girls watch, I have to say that this one has the catchiest theme song, and has the girls moving and jumping about from the start of the episode, all the way through, and usually long after.  Why?  Well, if you haven't seen an episode of this popular animated series, which airs daily on Nick Jr., then you are missing out...my girls' words! :-)

This show follows two genies in training, Shimmer and Shine.  They are the magical genies for a little girl called Leah, who when she rubs her pendant necklace summons her genie friends.  They arrive and this puts the whole story into motion with a fun adventure, which includes a few mishaps along the way, due to the genies not understanding Leah's three wishes she requests.  But, the best part of these wish blunders is that the genies and Leah work together to make things right.  And, each and every time the adventure or predicament they are in works itself out thanks to team work and perseverance. :-)

This is the third DVD release for this popular series, and I know it will not be the last, as I see this being a popular series for years to come.  Even though it is geared towards the preschool age group, my girls who are 5 and 6.5, along with their friends who are 5-8 years old, can't get enough of Shimmer and Shine.  This past Christmas Santa filled all the girls' Shimmer and Shine toy and dress up wishes.  So, now whenever they get ready to watch Shimmer and Shine on Nickelodeon, they are usually dressed head to toe in their their favorite genies in training costumes.  Or, they are toting around the many dolls and figures they have collected.  

If you have a Shimmer and Shine fan in your life, you will definitely want to pre-order a copy of the new Shimmer and Shine: Friendship Divine which arrives in stores on Feb. 7th.  This would be a perfect non-candy gift to give that special Shimmer and Shine fan in your life. :-)

Here is more about this upcoming DVD release from the folks at Nickelodeon...

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About this movie:

"New friends and exciting adventures await in the magical world of Zahramay Falls in Shimmer and Shine: Friendship Divine. In the third DVD release for Nickelodeon's hit animated preschool series, the genies-in-training Shimmer and Shine encounter some fantastical new friends including spunky mermaid Nila, Ice Genie Layla, Crystal Queen Empress Caliana and more. Fans of this enchanting show will have a blast as they join Shimmer, Shine and their best friend Leah on eight thrilling adventures as they get to know the ruling princess of Zahramay Falls, as well as the scheming sorceress Zeta. Each episode of Shimmer and Shine highlights the importance of teamwork, resilience and overcoming obstacles. Produced by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution, Shimmer and Shine: Friendship Divine will be available on DVD February 7, 2017, for the suggested retail price of $14.99.
 
 
Shimmer and Shine: Friendship Divine includes the following episodes:
  • Mermaid Mayhem - Shimmer, Shine and Leah magically transform into mermaids and head underwater where they meet a spunky mermaid named Nila.  When the girls get stuck underwater, the only thing that can change them back is a special mermaid gem, guarded by a mean sea monster.  
  • Zoom Zahramay - It's the Zahramay Falls Magic Carpet Race, and Leah is joining Shimmer and Shine for the ride. The winner will receive a racing gem, a magical jewel that gives the power to travel at super speed. When Zeta joins the race in hopes of winning the gem for herself, the girls face new and surprising flying obstacles. 
  • A Tree-mendous Rescue! - Shimmer, Shine and their genie friend Kaz are given a mission to find a brand-new gem deep within Genie Forest. They invite Zac and Leah to come along, but when the girls get trapped in a cave, it's up to Zac and Kaz to save the day.
  • Freeze-amay Falls - Shimmer, Shine and Leah discover an Ice Genie who wears a beautiful Ice Gem necklace around her neck, giving her the power to create freezing temperatures wherever she goes. When Zeta steals it from her, Shimmer, Shine and Leah must get it back before the Ice Genie overheats.
  • Lighting in a Bottle - Leah, Shimmer, and Shine meet a Lightning Genie who's chasing after a runaway lightning bolt. The girls offer to help him catch the bolt using their fast new cloud boards. 
  • All Bottled Up - Shimmer and Shine open a super sparkly bottle at the market...and get sucked into it!  It's a trap, set by Zeta.  Leah, Tala and Nahal must rescue the bottle and figure out a way to free Shimmer and Shine without using any wishing magic. 
  • The Crystal Queen - Zeta magically traps Samira in a magical crystal cave so she can take over Zahramay Falls once and for all. Leah, Shimmer and Shine call on Samira's mentor, Empress Caliana, for help and enter the crystal world to find and rescue Samira.
  • Bling, Bling - Samira entrusts the girls with a special task--to take a very special necklace to the Genie Jeweler for cleaning.  Zeta steals the necklace and the girls race to get it back before she can figure out the necklace's special power. "

Shimmer and Shine: Friendship Divine Fast Facts:
Street Date: February 7, 2017
Catalogue: 59183364000 (US); 59183365000 (CAN)
S.R.P.: $14.99 (US) $15.99 (CAN)
DVD Running Time: 94 minutes
Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish Dolby Stereo

Disclosure: I was sent a screener copy from the vendor in order to write up an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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A Cute New Interactive Book for Daniel Tiger Fans from Simon & Schuster (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in order to write up an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

Simon & Schuster

A Busy Day in the Neighborhood

I am always on the lookout for interactive books to share with the girls.  They love ones that you can lift the flap or pull or slide tabs to make the story come to life.  So, when I heard about the folks at Simon & Schuster releasing a new Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood book with lift the flaps, textures to touch, and even a scratch and sniff  page (Mmmm, getting hungry just thinking of this bakery page in the book), I had to get my hands on a copy to share with my girls, who are huge Daniel Tiger fans.  

A busy day in the neighborhood 9781481485838.in02

My girls have been watching Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood every since it first premiered on PBS Kids a while back. And, just like their other favorite animated series, they are quickly filling up our DVR with their favorite Daniel Tiger episodes to watch over and again. But, when they are not watching the show, they now have one more book from their growing Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood book collection to read.

As I mentioned, this is a fun interactive book that will keep even the youngest of children engaged from the first page up until the last page.  Each page offers a fun interactive feature --- from lift the tabs, texture pictures and so much more, your child will want to reach for this book time and again, to have you read, or simply to interact with the book on their own.  We have only had this book for about a week now, but the girls have already had me read it to them at bedtime and during the day -- usually after watching a Daniel Tiger episode on television, over a dozen times.  I don't see them getting tired of it anytime soon, as it is a really fun book to read and explore the pages.

You don't have to be a Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood fan to enjoy this book.  If your child loves lift the flap books or even scratch and sniff ones, then they will enjoy having your share "A Busy Day in the Neighborhood" with them.  

A busy day in the neighborhood 9781481485838.in01

They will learn about all of Daniel's friends in the neighborhood of Make Believe, while helping you bring the story to life with cool interactive features.  My girls were quick to give this book 2 thumbs up, and can't stop talking about it to friends. :-)

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More about this book:
"Join Daniel Tiger for a grr-ific day in the Neighborhood with this busy book that has lift-the-flaps, touch-and-feel elements, and more!

It’s a busy day in the Neighborhood! Come along with Daniel Tiger and his friends in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. With lift-the-flaps, sliding windows, touch-and-feels, and more, this busy book is sure to be a hit with kids and parents and is a must-have for every Daniel Tiger collection. "

Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in order to write up an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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Monday, January 30, 2017

A Fun New PJ Masks Book to Add to Your Child's Growing Collection -- Into the Night to Save the Day! (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

Simon & Schuster



I so wish I had my phone charged today as the girls were dressed in their PJ Masks costumes.  They weren't official PJ Masks costume, but were full head to toe ninja type costumes complete with the pull over face mask they could see through.  They kept popping up behind the couch pretending to scare me, before racing off to act out a scene from the PJ Masks episodes they were watching.  You could say they were experiencing their own mini PJ Masks marathon with some of their 15+ hours of PJ Masks episodes we have on the DVR. 

What prompted them to go crazy for PJ Masks?  A book.  Yes, a book made them want to dress up and take on their favorite characters, Catboy and Owlet.  If the green costume I bought them would have fit me, they would have had me acting out scenes alongside them. :-)  

The other day, along with the new Miffy books we were sent from the folks at Simon & Schuster, the girls also received PJ Masks: Into the Night to Save the Day paperback book to review with me.  

Into the Night to Save the Day!

Synopsis:

"Go into the night to save the day with Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko in this 8x8 storybook based on PJ Masks, the hit preschool series airing on Disney Junior! 

It’s a Cat-astrophe! When Romeo kidnaps Amaya and Greg and steals their pajamas, it’s up to Catboy to save his friends! But can Catboy do it on his own, or will it take teamwork to save the day?"


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Into the night to save the day 9781481486453.in01

Their eyes lit up when they saw the book, and they broke out in the catchy theme song, before begging me to read the book to them. I made them wait to bedtime that night, but that was a mistake, as it only get them more excited to play PJ Masks.  

Into the night to save the day 9781481486453.in05

But, eventually they quieted down and fell asleep, as I promised I would read the book again and pull their costumes out to wear. :-)  And, this led to today's PJ Masks fun. :-)   We started with the book, and then it was followed with a few hours of acting out episodes -- all of which they knew most of the words...if only they would memorize the sight words we have been working on, like they do this show's dialogue.

Do you have a PJ Masks fan in your life?  If you do, then you will want to pick up the new paperback book, PJ Masks: Into the Night to Save the Day!.  My girls already had a few other PJ Masks book from previous releases from this publisher, so were happy to be able to add another book to their growing PJ Masks book collection.


Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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New Miffy Books for Kids from Simon & Schuster (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent sample from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.


Simon & Schuster

If you have little ones in your house, then you may know about Miffy, a television series that is based on the Miffy book series by Dutch artist Dick Bruna.  My girls watch this show on Noggin as well as stream through some of the channels we have on our Roku.  They can't get enough of Miffy, and I have to say, I am fond of this young rabbit and her friends, too.  

Why do the girls and I love Miffy and Friends so much?  For one, even the youngest of views will enjoy this stop-motion animated series, which only has a voice over narrative and not the characters speaking, which makes it enjoyable for kids to sit and watch, as if it was a storybook that was being read to them but brought to life.  My girls have been watching Miffy and Friends for a years, and can't go a week without watching an episode.  This popular television series also teaches important life lessons that are explained so little ones can understand, which as a parent I love seeing from a show.  

My girls were so excited the other day when the mail came as they saw I received a few new Miffy books, which released recently from the folks at Simon & Schuster.  They didn't even know there were Miffy books available, as we haven't seen any at our local bookstores.  They were so happy to sit down and flip through the books, as they waited for me to come join them to read and enjoy together.  

Savannah is working on reading, so these easy reader books were perfect for her.  She loved being able to read a story to her little sister, and was quick to correct Bella who tried telling the story based on the illustration. I love watching Savannah read and feel confident in her reading when she finds a book she can read with ease.  And, having it be a Miffy book was even more special, as she is big Miffy fan. So it was a win win all around with these new Miffy books.

My girls are so happy to have started a Miffy book collection, and can't wait to add more books to their collection. In the meantime though, they are enjoying having me read them at bedtime, or pulling them from the bookcase to flip through and enjoy the illustrations. FYI..Each of these books are based on episodes from the Miffy and Friends series, so if you have a Miffy fan in your house, then they have probably already seen the episode -- but, they will love having the book to read at bedtime...or anytime they need their Miffy fix. :-)

Here is more about the Miffy books we received, in case you want to pick up one or all of them to share with that special Miffy fan in your life.....


Welcome to Miffy's World!
(By R.J. Cregg; ISBN 9781481467735; 01/17/17)


Synopsis:

"Explore Miffy’s world in this 8x8 storybook based on the TV show Miffy’s Adventures Big and Small 

Welcome to miffys world 9781481467735.in01
Welcome to miffys world 9781481467735.in02

Miffy’s world is full of wonder. Come along and explore! Meet Miffy’s friends and family, visit her favorite places, and create your own adventures, big and small. You are always welcome in Miffy’s world!"


Meet Miffy!
(By Natalie Shaw; ISBN 9781481467766; 01/17/17)

Synopsis:

Meet miffy 9781481467766.in02
Meet miffy 9781481467766.in04
"Get to know Miffy the bunny and all her family and friends in this sweet board book inspired by the TV show Miffy’s Adventures Big and Small." 

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Miffy at the Library
(By Maggie Testa; ISBN 9781481469326; 01/17/17)

Synopsis:

Miffy at the library 9781481469319.in01
Miffy at the library 9781481469319.in03

"Miffy takes a trip to the library in this Pre-level 1 Ready-to-Read story based on a popular episode of Miffy’s Adventures Big and Small." Also available in paperback: 9781481469319

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Miffy's Yummy Cake
(By Cala Spinner; ISBN 9781481469777; 01/17/17)


Synopsis:

Miffys yummy cake 9781481469777.in01
Miffys yummy cake 9781481469777.in02

"Miffy and Grandma go on a sweet adventure in this 8x8 storybook based on a popular episode of Miffy’s Adventures Big and Small."

To learn more about these and other fun recent children's books releases, visit the Simon & Schuster website today -- http://www.simonandschuster.com/.

Disclosure:  I was sent sample from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Top 10 Nick show "Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Be Miraculous" Available Today on DVD (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent a screener from the vendor in order to write up an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.




TRÈS BON!
A THIRD INSTALLMENT OF THE SENSATIONAL
HIT SERIES STARRING LADYBUG AND CAT NOIR
COMES TO DVD FROM SHOUT! KIDS



Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir  is a show my girls stumbled upon when flipping through the channels and were hooked right away.  Bella liked it because the girls was dressed as a ladybug, one of her favorite things, and Savannah saw Cat Noir and loves anything cat related.  Then, they started getting hooked on the story line, as did my husband and I, and we had to purchase DVDs and watch previous episodes to catch up and see what we had been missing out.  Fast forward to Christmas and my girls had this show's merchandise top on their list.  When I went to the store to shop for them, I couldn't get over the people shopping alongside me, and seeing that they had children my girls' age and older, and they even talked about how great the show was, and how it was a show they didn't mind sitting down and watching with their kids.  My girls were excited to find Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir  toys they asked for under the tree, and were even more excited when they saw the new Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Be Miraculous  arrive in the mail the other day.  They had this on their list of DVDs to pick up and add to their DVD collection, and couldn't wait to watch it.

So, instead of a movie for Friday night, we all gathered around the couch after pizza to watch all 7 episodes that make up this new DVD release.  These are the episodes you will find when you purchase Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Be Miraculous  today in stores...

Ladybug & Cat Noir (Origins, Part 1)
Stone Heart (Origins, Part 2)
Animan
Simon Says
Pixelator
Guitar Villain
Kung Food

My girls really liked the Simon Says episode in which Simon hypnotizes people including Ladybug and Cat Noir to do his bidding.  This episode had the girls glued to the screen as they couldn't wait to see what happened next.  They told me after they watched it, that this was one of the episodes they hadn't seen yet, and how great it was.  They also included Stone Heart in which Marinette doesn't want to be Ladybug anymore.  It isn't until her best friend, Cat Noir and the city of Paris need the help of Ladybug that she realizes how much she is needed, and she no choice but to be Ladybug and help save the day.

We had so much fun watching Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Be Miraculous, and we highly recommend this new DVD release for fans of this popular show.


"Bonjour! Straight from the heart of Paris, a third volume of the action adventure, romantic comedy is coming your way and will have you feeling Miraculous!

The action-packed CGI animated TV series Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Be Miraculous is now available on DVD as of today, January 10, 2017, from Shout! Kids, in collaboration with ZAG. The release includes seven amazing episodes as seen on Nickelodeon.

The time is now. The city is Paris. And two amazing heroes, Ladybug and Cat Noir, stand to protect its citizens against evildoers. But can this uncanny duo continue to keep their city safe from these dastardly ne’er-do-wells… and get their homework in on time?! That’s right. The superheroes known as Ladybug and Cat Noir are actually Marinette and Adrien, two young students with super-secret lives filled with super-awesome excitement!

A top show on Nickelodeon, Miraculous™ is quickly becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Be Miraculous is available now on Amazon.com and ShoutKids."


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About Shout! Factory -
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s entertainment offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast entertainment distribution network which delivers culturally relevant programming, movie and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America and across multiple platforms. Shout! Factory owns and operates Shout! Factory Productions, Scream Factory, Shout! Factory Kids, Shout! Factory Films, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory TV. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Los Angeles, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com

About ZAG -
ZAG (Zag America, LLC./USA, Zag Animation Studios/USA,  Zagtoon/France) specializes in the creation of groundbreaking 3D CGI animated kids & family film and TV franchises. You may know their global hit, Miraculous™; Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir and their coming soon Zak Storm™ - "Super Pirate" series. Zag's robust original content pipeline includes 6 additional TV series and 3 feature films rolling out over the next 5 to 6 years. Keep close tabs on this hot new industry innovator. 

Miraculous™ is the trademark of ZAGTOON and METHOD. All Rights Reserved. © 2017  Zagtoon-Method Animation-TOEI Animation-SAMG-SK Broadband - AB - De Agostini editore S.p.A. All Rights Reserved. 


Disclosure: I was sent a screener from the vendor in order to write up an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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Thursday, January 5, 2017

Book Blog Hop - A GREYHOUND, A GROUNDHOG by Emily Jenkins -- Review and #Giveaway



Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.



An adorable picture book by an award-winning team with simple, lyrical prose, and charming illustrations, perfect for reading-aloud
over and over again! And, a fun book to use for Groundhog Day celebrations.

By Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Chris Appelhans
Schwartz & Wade Books / on sale January 3, 2017
ISBN 978-0-553-49805-9 / 32 pages / $17.99 / $23.99 Can. / Ages 3–7 / Ebook ISBN 978-0-553-49807-3 / $10.99


Reviewers are already praising the book, saying:

«“The text dances across the page, perfectly in sync with the watercolor pictures…
This delightful story is a feast for the eyes and ears, and it will hold up well to repeated demands from eager young listeners.”
-         Kirkus Reviews, starred



Synopsis:

"The youngest of readers will have rollicking fun with award winners Emily Jenkins and Chris Appelhans’s A GREYHOUND, A GROUNDHOG (Schwartz & Wade Books / on sale January 3, 2017 / Ages 3–7), a picture book poised to become a classic for this generation. The perfect read-aloud for the pre-reader and early reader sets this is the book for teachers and parents to use when introducing wordplay, and one that kids will want to hear over and over again.

A groundhog, a greyhound, a round little greyhound. A greyhound, a groundhog, 
a brown little groundhog.

When a greyhound meets a groundhog, wordplay and crazy antics ensue. The two animals, much like kids, work themselves into a frenzy as they whirl around and around each other. (Around, round hound. Around, greyhound.)

The pace picks up (Around and around and astound and astound), until they ultimately wear themselves out.

Featuring two adorable animal friends, charming art, and energetic and playful language, A GREYHOUND, A GROUNDHOG will keep kids captivated until the last page. This Jenkins/Appelhans collaboration is sure to be a favorite with children and parents alike, and is perfect for Groundhog Day and every day."


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My Thoughts:

I am excited to share this cute new children's book with you by author Emily Jenkins and illustrator Chris Appelhans.  This is my first experience with these two people, but am happy this was the book that introduced me to this author and illustrator.

A Greyhound, A Groundhog is a fun book to read to your child, especially if they are beginner readers, as there is a lot of repetition in the text, making it easy for early and pre-readers to pick up on wordplay as you read through this heartwarming story about two unlikely but oh so adorable animal friends.  Not only is the story easy to follow along and enjoyed by children of all ages, but the illustrations which depict the animals and their surroundings through watercolor make for a beautiful addition to this children's book.  


My girls and I love reading this book and lingering on the pages to admire the amazing detail Chris Appelhans achieved through this watercolor illustrations. He really helped make the story come to live and you really got the feeling that these two friends were running around and around through the pages.  I found myself tiring at the end just looking at them run circles. :-)  I loved watching my girls smile and giggle as I read through the story the first time.  But, the best part was when I saw my 6.5 year old daughter, Savannah, pick up the book the next day and sit with her little sister, to read the book to her without my help.  A Greyhound, A Groundhog has become an instant hit in our house, especially at bedtime. And, I know that when you pick it up and share it with your child it will be a hit with your family, too.



I will definitely be keeping Emily Jenkins and Chris Appelhans on my radar for upcoming children's books, and will be visiting the bookstore to pick up some of their previous work.  They are both truly talented and it shows yet again in this new children's book release, that is a must have for family's in 2017.
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About the Author and Illustrator...

Emily Jenkins has written many highly acclaimed books for children, including the picture book Toys Meet Snow, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book and a Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book of the Year, and the popular award-winning chapter books that feature the same beloved characters, Toys Go Out, Toy Dance Party, and Toys Come Home. She is also the author of A Fine Dessert, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year; Water in the Park, a Booklist Editors’ Choice and a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book; and Lemonade in Winter, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. You can follow Emily on Twitter at @elockhart.


Chris Appelhans was selected as the Children’s Choice Illustrator of the Year at the Children’s Choice Book Awards for Sparky!, written by Jenny Offill. The book received two starred reviews, including one from Booklist declaring, “Appelhans is a revelation.” Chris has also worked on several films, as an illustrator and a production designer for Coraline, an environment designer for Fantastic Mr. Fox, and a visual development artist for The Princess and the Frog. You can follow Chris on Twitter at @dairysnake.


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--GIVEAWAY--

Thanks to the publisher, one lucky Inspired by Savannah reader will win a copy of this book to share with that special child in their life.  To enter, please complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below.  Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.




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