Children's Book Review and Giveaway -- What Are You Doing Sam? by Marie-Louise Gay

Closed.  And, the winner is:  Amanda C.

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Groundwood Books (July 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0888997345
• ISBN-13: 978-0888997340
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches

Summary:

Stella's little brother Sam decides Fred the dog needs some new tricks. Not content with just teaching him to roll over, Sam decides to broaden Fred's horizons to include swimming, cooking, and painting. Of course, Fred finds a way to subvert each experience in order to do exactly as he pleases and to create the maximum amount of mess. Stella watches the goings-on with amusement, always asking "What are you doing, Sam?" — a phrase familiar to little brothers and sisters everywhere. Gay's delicate watercolors, full of expression and humor, complement the whimsical story.

My Thoughts:

This was my first encounter with Marie-Louise Gay and her Stella and Sam Series.  I didn't know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised to find a series for siblings that was positive in nature.  Other sibling relationship books on the market deal with brothers and sisters fighting or not getting along, but not Stella and Sam.  They enjoy adventures and being around one another.  In this book, Sam is playing with Fred, their dog, while Stella looks on.  As Sam shows his independence and desire for personal growth, his sister is always there to offer help or to check on him and make sure he is alright.  What a wonderful way to portray siblings.  And, this is just the type of book and series I am looking for as we add another child to the family and our daughter, Savannah, will be a big sister in a couple of months.  

I can't wait to sit down and read the Stella and Sam series to my two girls and show them that not all siblings fight.  Thanks, Marie-Louise Gay for helping parents like myself share all that is wonderful the sibling relationship with us.

---GIVEAWAY---

One lucky Inspired by Savannah reader will win a copy of What Are You Doing Sam? by Marie-Louise Gay.  To enter, please complete the MANDATORY ENTRY first, and then as many EXTRA ENTRIES as you like.  Make sure to include your email address in the first comment, so that I can contact you if you are the winner.

Good luck!

MANDATORY ENTRY:  Have you read any of the other books in the Stella and Sam series?  If so, what is your family's favorite?  If not, why do you want to win this book?

EXTRA ENTRIES:

(Please leave separate entries for each, along with your email address)

1) Subscribe to my blog via email (2 entries)

2) Follow me on Facebook (1 entry)

3) Enter any of my other giveaways, leaving a comment with the name of the giveaway (1entry per giveaway entered)

4) Blog about this giveaway. It must include a link to this specific post, as well as a link to my blog, http://ctmomreviews.blogspot.com/. (In your comment, please leave a link directly to your post – 3 Entries)

5) Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)

6) Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per tweet, per day; please include link to tweet in comment below)

Enter to #win a copy of What Are You Doing Sam? by Marie-Louise Gay  @rmccoy1234 http://ctmomreviews.blogspot.com/ #giveaway (Ends 10/14)

7) Vote for me on picket fence blogs (See button on right side of blog -- One entry per vote, per day)

8) Add to a Giveaway Linky site  (5 entries)

Open to US residents only. Giveaway ends on October 14, 2011 at 11:59PM EST. I will then use Random.org to choose a winner. Winner will have 48 hrs. to respond to my email to claim prize. If I don't hear back from selected winner, I will draw another winner.

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.