Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover

Sunday Inspiration

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Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.


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Book Report: Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue by Jeanne LaSala Taylor #BookBirthday

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Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue

Written by Jeanne LaSala Taylor

Illustrated by Ana Sebastian

Mascot Books; February 4, 2020

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Every child has that one special lovey, you know, the one where tragedy will strike if it goes missing. No sleep, no rest, no snuggles-but plenty of tears and agony (for both child and parents).

Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue is the story of such a lovey, Just Bunny, who is accidentally left behind when Francesca, her sister, and her mother hurriedly leave a restaurant due to a kitchen fire. Disaster strikes once Francesca realizes she does not have Just Bunny. After racing back to the scene of the fire, a firefighter is quick to recognize the loss and is able to save Just Bunny from certain doom.

In honor of the Fire Department of New York, and a certain Captain Anthony Matteo who rescued Just Bunny, a portion of the proceeds from sale of this book will be donated to the NYFF Burn Center Foundation. Jeanne LaSala Taylor wrote this book based on a true story.

Thank you, Mascot Books, for sending a review copy of Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue.

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What I Love About This Book:

~ Just Bunny! I love that most every child has a favorite stuffed lovely. Just Bunny is perfect.

~ Francesca and her mom and sister are out playing at the park and decide to eat dinner out, enjoying a normal day.

~ This book honors firefighters who rescue others from disaster and put their lives in danger to help.

~ Fun, colorful illustrations

~ Big city New York life is on show in this picture book

~ Based on a real story

~ A portion of the proceeds will go to help burn victims

~ Fun rhyming tells the story

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Amazon Blurb:

Just Bunny is Francesca’s right-hand stuffy who has been with her through thick and thin since day one.

Nothing can tear these two apart except, maybe, a fire! Thankfully, one of New York’s Bravest is on the scene to prove that selfless acts of kindness happen every day.

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The 5th Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Writing Contest!!!

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CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT (214 words)

 

The most mysterious gift Pink received for Valentine’s Day was a shiny, heart-covered box.

But saving the best for last, Pink first snooped through the house, using her feline nose, super whiskers, and strong kitty body to locate other special day treats.

What’s in the bag? thought Pink.

Lick,

sniff,

snort.

“Meooowww, I smell kitty snacks.”

 

What’s under the bed? thought Pink.

Creep,

grab,

drag.

“Yow-wlll! I want that catnip mouse.”

 

What’s on the table? thought Pink.

Leap,

twist,

bump.

“Grrrrrr, I don’t like dog bones.”

 

What’s hanging over the chair? thought Pink.

Stretch,

jump,

hook!

“Roooaaarrr! Give me that yarn!”

 

What’s through the cat door? thought Pink.

Race,

run,

skid.

“Pffttt. Go ahead, fly away flutter-by.”

 

Pink sat in the lovely sunshine, pausing to groom her soft fur. Stretching, she dug her claws into the door frame, a forbidden treat. But only if she got caught.

“Pink!” growled Mama Mauve. “Stop sharpening your claws.”

Putting on her best innocent face, Pink strolled back through the cat door.

 

There sat the most mysterious, shiny, heart-covered box Pink had ever seen.

And it was all hers.

 

What’s in my beautiful box? thought Pink.

Dig,

claw,

rip.

“Mmmmm. A furry, fluffy, fantastic pink blanket for me!”

 

Time for a catnap thought Pink.

Scrunch,

scrabble,

curl.

Purrr-fect!


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Throwback Thursday: The Year of Kevin and Angie (Happy 35th Anniversary to Us) #TBT

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Look at the cute guy! He asked me to marry him back in the days of Polaroid pictures. He took this picture and had to mail it to me (snail mail). 1981! What a great year.

We graduated from high school in 1981 and I went off to college. Poor fellow. He thought he would never see me again, lost to one of those studious university boys.

Four years later, after too-many-to-count phone calls (ring twice and hang up to let the other know we were thinking about him/her), boxes of letters and cards, miles and miles traveled to visit each other (I chose a university that was over four hours away from home), and alternating weekend visiting schedule, we were married at our home church.

After a honeymoon to Disneyland (yes, we are a COOL couple), we settled in the lower Yakima Valley to raise our children and pursue our careers.

How long was our dating and engagement period? The total is about seven years. We met in high school, started dating, took a year off, then got back together for good. 35 years later, we are still best friends and more in love than ever.

And they said it would never last.

Take your time, youngsters. Be patient. Wait for the right person. Make sure you are best friends first. And then commit for the rest of your life.

LOL. Old lady Quantrell giving marriage advice. Best ever piece I can give? Base your relationship on faith in Jesus. God has kept us going through good and bad times, and we’ve had plenty of both.

Happy anniversary, my love.


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Haiku Moment: morning frost

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spikes of glass reflect

shimmer, glow in morning beams

frost swaps dull for bright

 

morning frost by Angie Quantrell


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Sunday Inspiration

Pastel Candy Hearts Valentines Day Social Media Post

 

P.S. Can you tell where I found this photo? Free version! With a love-ly watermark.


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Book Report: The Adventures of Princess Pudding Pie by Saureen Naik Desai

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The Adventures of Princess Pudding Pie

Written by Saureen Naik Desai

Illustrated by Marco Mazzarello

Mascot Books, February 2020

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Doesn’t the name Princess Pudding Pie make you want to read about her adventures? I know it grabbed my attention. Thanks to Mascot Books for sending a review copy.

The Adventures of Princess Pudding Pie, written by Saureen Naik Desai, is the story of Princess Pudding Pie, a young girl who loves to travel, taste delicacies, and enjoy the different places she visits. With passport in hand, Princess Pudding Pie heads out to explore a variety of international locations.

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What I Liked About This Book:

~ Princess Pudding Pie (I love that name)

~ Princess Pudding Pie has a pie (complete with pan, which frames her face) for her head. It’s not weird, but pretty cute.

~ Princess Pudding Pie tells how to say hello in the language of each place she visits (I was wishing for pronunciation on a few of them, but still loads of fun)

~ I love how Princess Pudding Pie wears a themed outfit for each country

~ Each spread for every country shows a famous landmark for that country

~ Told in rhyme, this book shares about delicious treats from international countries, but readers are encouraged to eat healthy foods first and then sample sweet desserts

Young readers will enjoy traveling with Princess Pudding Pie. I think it would be fun to choose a favorite treat and make that for the family. Yummy! Or, let’s dream big, travel to a favorite international location and taste the treats there!

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Amazon Blurb:

Princess Pudding Pie is a smart, sassy, free spirited globetrotter! She loves visiting new countries and learning all about different cultures, traditions, and delicious delicacies. Princess Pudding Pie is excited to take you on an adventure around the world tasting new and interesting desserts, all while visiting symbolic landmarks, collecting neat souvenirs, and learning about traditional dress. She ll even teach you how to say hello in each country s native tongue. Join Princess Pudding Pie as she shows us how much beauty and elegance our world has to offer.


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Throwback Thursday: Making Their Voices Heard, The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe by Vivian Kirkfield #TBT

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Now, I know this Throwback Thursday only goes back to last fall (October), but look at the beautiful book I received in the mail from Little Bee Books! I thought I would share the cover and a few inside pages again. Just because.

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You can read the original posts (throwbacks) by clicking the links below.

Book Report: Making Their Voices Heard, The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe by Vivian Kirkfield

Author Vivian Kirkfield Interview

***The Giveaway mentioned in the Author Interview post has concluded.

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About Vivian Kirkfield (Author)

Vivian Kirkfield’s career path is paved with picture books. From shelving them in a children’s library and reading them with her kindergarteners, to writing them, her goal has always been to help kids become lovers of books and reading. She is the author of many picture books including: Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book; Pippa’s Passover Plate; From Here to There: Inventions that Changed the Way the World Moves; and Sweet Dreams, Sarah. Her parent-teacher guide, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking is a valuable resource for child-care facilitators. Vivian lives in the quaint New England village of Amherst, New Hampshire, where the old stone library is her favorite hangout and her ten-year-old grandson is her favorite Monopoly partner.
Visit Vivian’s website.

About Alleanna Harris (Illustrator)

Alleanna Harris has been drawing for as long as she can remember. As a little kid, she would draw on every page of her mom’s legal pads, her notebooks at school, and on the programs at church. She graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in animation with honors, and it was during this time she realized her love for illustration. Alleanna finds inspiration in the beauty of everyday things. She seeks to create images that are immersive, rich in color, and have a sense of warmth. She lives in New Jersey. Find out more about her at alleannaharris.com.

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I hope you’ll find a copy of Making Their Voices Heard and enjoy it yourself.


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Haiku Moment: thunder thighs

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it’s not what you think

thunder thighs meanings vary

dog running in field

 

thunder thighs by Angie Quantrell

thunder thighs compliments of Ginger, chocolate lab

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Book Report: THE BOY WHO GREW DRAGONS by Andy Shepherd #BeeAReader

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The Boy Who Grew Dragons

Written by Andy Shepherd

Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie

Yellow Jacket, An Imprint of Little Bee Books; 2020

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Thank you, Yellow Jacket Books, for this review Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Boy Who Grew Dragons. I’m happy to announce that I totally enjoyed reading this middle grade novel.

Honestly, I can’t say enough about this fun read. Dragons with explosive poop, an unsuspecting boy and his friends, an interesting gardening experience, trouble with neighbors, and adventures galore provided a very entertaining read of The Boy Who Grew Dragons.

Why I Love This Book:

~ Dragons! Tiny dragons who bond with humans, drop explosive poop, and get into trouble. Books with imagination always catch my attention.

~ A mysterious tree in the garden grows funny (weird) fruit. Dragon fruit tree? Is there not a real life fruit called dragon fruit? Does that fruit also grow dragons? I digress.

~ Tomas is a believable, interesting main character. I enjoyed all of the characters, even the not-so-nice neighbor.

~ The cover and internal illustrations are fantastic and perfectly compliment the story. Yes, this middle grade novel is illustrated with funny, clever, and enticing artwork.

~ Great writing and engaging story

 

I think young readers will devour The Boy Who Grew Dragons.

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Yellow Jacket Blurb:

This hilarious middle-grade novel with illustrations throughout sees Tomas discover that he can grow dragons in his own garden!

When Tomas discovers a strange old tree at the bottom of his grandfather’s garden, he doesn’t think much of it. But he takes the funny fruit from the tree back into the house and gets the shock of his life when a tiny dragon hatches! The tree is a dragon fruit tree, and Tomas now has his very own dragon, Flicker!

While Tomas finds out that life with Flicker is fun, he also finds that it is very…unpredictable. Yes, dragons are wonderful, but they also set fire to your toothbrush and leave your underwear hanging from the TV antenna. Tomas has to learn how to look after Flicker—and quickly! And then something extraordinary happens: More dragon fruits appear on the tree! Now it’s official, Tomas is growing dragons.

 

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