Saturday, October 30, 2021

Frightfully Fun Stories for Halloween - various bookwraps

 

Guest Post:  www.readbrightly.com




13 Frightfully Fun Stories to Get Your Kids in the Halloween Spirit

by Devon A. Corneal






Devon Corneal is a writer, recovering lawyer, and bibliophile. She’s also a devoted wife and mother, except for the occasional page-turning affair with Jamie Fraser and Jason Bourne. Devon has always been captivated by quirky authors like Roald Dahl and Shel Silverstein and sees no reason to stop reading children’s books just because she’s a grown-up. Devon’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, The Huffington Post, and on her blog, Cattywampus.


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Get ready for goblins, witches, ghosts, and great Halloween reads! From silly stories to terrific tales with just the right amount of fright, these spook-tacular books are sure to get your little trick-or-treater excited for the big night. So don’t be scared — get reading!





The Little Ghost Who Lost Her Boo!

by Elaine Bickell, illustrated by Raymond McGrath


This picture book is a must-read if you love classic Halloween stories like Room on the Broom and Tilly Witch. Written in rhyme and accompanied by energetic illustrations, this upbeat story will be a seasonal read-aloud favorite for readers young and old.




Dino-Zombies!

by Rick Chrustowski


These zombies don’t eat brains — they eat candy! And lots of it. Kids obsessed with trick-or-treating will love this early reader book about a spooky troop of zombie dinosaurs hunting for candy. With its vibrant illustrations and silly characters, it will have your child counting down the days until Halloween.






The Night Before Halloween

by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Cynthia Fisher


Kids who can’t wait for candy night will love rhyming along with this delightful Halloween story. Little monsters are getting ready for their Halloween party while the children are getting ready for trick or treating. But what happens when the kids knock on the door to this spooky house? The familiarity of the rhythm (to the tune of "The Night Before Christmas”), combined with delightful illustrations, will make this one a fast favorite.




Babymouse: Monster Mash

by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm


Babymouse loves scary costumes, but Felicia Furrypaws and the rest of the popular girls pressure her into dressing up as something pretty and playing pranks on the neighbors. Can Babymouse navigate this tricky situation? Either way, this adorable and funny graphic novel is a real Halloween treat.




Bonaparte Falls Apart

by Margery Cuyler and Will Terry


This sweet, silly, and not-too-scary story makes a fun addition to seasonally-themed storytimes. Bonaparte, a skeleton, is having a tough time keeping himself together. Literally. Thankfully, he has some good friends — including Franky Stein, Black Widow, and Mummicula — to help him out.




How to Scare a Ghost

by Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish


In this installment of the How to… series, two kids explain how to attract, scare, and play with a ghost for some extra Halloween fun. Kids will delight in seeing a ghost (dressed as a robot!) going door-to-door for treats.




She Made a Monster

by Lynn Fulton, illustrated by Felecita Sala


The whole family will be fascinated to learn the story of how Mary Shelley, at 19 years old, created the legendary monster of Frankenstein. (Did you know it started out as a contest between friends to write the best ghost story?) A visually gorgeous picture book biography, this one’s a year-round must-have.






What Was I Scared Of? A Glow-in-the-Dark Encounter

by Dr. Seuss


Even the bravest of us can agree there is something just a little bit creepy about being followed around by a pair of pale green pants with nobody inside them. A fun book to read around Halloween, it's made even better by the glow-in-the-dark pages.





How to Make Friends with a Ghost

by Rebecca Green


This whimsical guidebook to lifelong friendship presents a few essentials to keep in mind when befriending a ghost. Perhaps most importantly: make sure no one mistakes your new friend for a marshmallow! Charming and sweet, this one’s great during any season.



Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball

by Laura Ellen Anderson


Amelia Fang tries to be nice to the Prince of Nocturnia, a land where all things sparkly are the stuff of “daymares,” but he’s just so mean! Enough is enough when the spoiled prince claims her beloved pet pumpkin, Squashy, as his own. Filled with hilarious puns, quirky characters, and wonderful illustrations, little monsters will love sinking their fangs into this delightfully creepy series.






Children’s Book of Mythical Beasts and Magical Monsters

by DK


Kids love to dress up as scary monsters for Halloween, but where did these magical beings come from? This book gives your own little monsters a chance to learn about the myths and legends behind the witches, werewolves, and vampires out roaming the streets on All Hallows' Eve.




Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve

by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Sal Murdocca


In Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve, Jack and Annie find themselves once again in Camelot, where Merlin sends them into a medieval castle in search of the missing Stone of Destiny. With a castle filled with ghosts and an army of ravens to battle, can the siblings solve the mystery of the stolen stone?




 

There’s a Ghost In This House

by Oliver Jeffers


Help a little girl search her home for ghosts in this one-of-a-kind picture book. With transparent overlays, Oliver Jeffers’s signature humor, and quirky illustrations, this unique and humorous picture book will get you into the Halloween spirit before you can say, “Boo!” Both you and your child will want to read it again and again.
(On sale: 11/2/21)




A to Z Mysteries: The Vampire’s Vacation

by Ron Roy, illustrated by John Steven Gurney



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Happy Saturday everyone!  It's been a busy week on the blog with many new visitors and the excitement of featuring Hallowe'en  and even some Christmas books here. I adore the holiday books as they prepare us for those epic days that will be occurring sooner than we think.  If you indeed do celebrate Hallowe'en and your little ones go out trick-or-treating please be careful and stay safe.  I hope it's a night of fun and making positive and sweet memories.  Please join me again here on Monday as we put Hallowe'en to bed and highlight the beautiful Christmas season that will soon upon us. Monday is coming.... please follow me on:

*Blog Link:  www.babybookworms.blogspot.ca

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*Email:  storywrapsblog@gmail.com

*Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Storywraps

*Twitter: Storywraps@Storywraps1

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I put hours of work finding the best kid's books to review for you each day.  If you enjoy visiting Storywraps and would like to donate something for my time and effort I would greatly appreciate it.

Go to the top of my blog at the right hand corner (below my photo) and please donate what you feel lead to give.  The amount you donate and the frequency you donate is totally up to you.  


I also have added a new button... ko-fi.com/storywraps  Simply buy me a cup of coffee if you would rather.  That would be fun.  Coffee and blogging go together like two peas in a pod as I'm always brewing up something here on Storywraps. 

I thank you in advance for your support.  I adore what I do and would appreciate any amount that you may give so that I can make our Storywrap's community more thriving and exciting.  Thanks a million!  Books bind us together.   


Read on...Read Always! 

It's a wrap! 


💜💜💜

Friday, October 29, 2021

"Again, Essie?" - a bookwrap

 

Unwrapping





Again, Essie?

By JENNY LACIKA
Illustrated by TERESA MARTÍNEZ

Part of Storytelling Math



What is Storytelling Math? 


Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories and hands-on activities make it easy for kids and their grown-ups to explore everyday math together. Developed in collaboration with math experts at STEM education nonprofit TERC, under a grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation.


Specs


* Ages:  3-6

* Grade Level:  PS-1

* Paperback/Hardcover:  32 pages

* Publisher:  Charlesbridge

* Pub. Date:  May 03, 2022

* Language:  English




Unwrapping Some Illustrations for you










                                                                                                                                                                                 

The Book



Rafael is a sweet Latino boy who loves his toys and playtime.  His baby sister Essie always seems to be destroying and disrupting those peaceful times and he's had enough.  While Essie is taking her nap Rafael gathers objects from around the house and constructs a wall in his bedroom to play behind sans Essie. He works hard at measuring and configuring shapes and sizes to make the wall secure.  Will his ingenious plan work?  Has he calculated a barrier that is wide, tall and strong enough to keep the little intruder at bay?   


Rafael finally discovers that his rambunctious little sister doesn't really want to wreck his toys and playtime but her motives are much more endearing.  


This book introduces mathematical principals and I love the Spanish words that the author has embedded throughout the story.  He has included a glossary at the end of the Spanish vocabulary used.  The relatable illustrations are very well done with lots of emotions and action.  I highly recommend this book. 



Storywraps Rating:  5 HUGS! 


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Meet the Author



Jenny Lacika grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she learned to work together with an older brother and a younger brother. She graduated from MIT after she discovered how math could break down walls and open doors, and she never stopped loving books. She now lives in her hometown with her husband and two kids. This is her first book.



About the Illustrator



When Teresa Martínez was a child, her family moved from a small town to the city. Drawing helped shy Teresa connect with the other kids at school. Now she connects with children across Mexico and around the world through the books she illustrates. www.teresa-mtz.com


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*Blog Link:  www.babybookworms.blogspot.ca

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I put hours of work finding the best kid's books to review for you each day.  If you enjoy visiting Storywraps and would like to donate something for my time and effort I would greatly appreciate it.

Go to the top of my blog at the right hand corner (below my photo) and please donate what you feel lead to give.  The amount you donate and the frequency you donate is totally up to you.  


I also have added a new button... ko-fi.com/storywraps  Simply buy me a cup of coffee if you would rather.  That would be fun.  Coffee and blogging go together like two peas in a pod as I'm always brewing up something here on Storywraps. 

I thank you in advance for your support.  I adore what I do and would appreciate any amount that you may give so that I can make our Storywrap's community more thriving and exciting.  Thanks a million!  Books bind us together.   


Read on...Read Always! 

It's a wrap! 


💜💜💜     



Thursday, October 28, 2021

"Moving Words About a Flower" - a bookwrap

 


Unwrapping







Moving Words About a Flower

Book by K. C. Hayes

Illustrated by Barbara Chotiner


Specs


* Ages:  4-7

* Grade Level:  PS  2

* Hardcover:  40 pages

* Publisher:  Charlesbridge Publishing 

*Pub. Date: 

* Mar. 08, 2022

* Language: English


Unwrapping Some Illustrations for you

















The Book



This inspiring book is artsy, clever and educational.  The author uses concrete poetry to create a story whose words tumble, leap, and swirl across the pages to the readers' delight.  What are concrete poems?  In this particular story they are brilliantly created poems with words that replace the stems, stalks , and roots of one of our familiar flowers... the dandelion!  The playfully arranged words marry with the fantastic illustrations to portray the life cycle of a dandelion making it such fun to read.  


The use of concrete poetry helps kids to remember the story long after the book is read.  Not only is "Moving Words About a Flower" a breath of fresh air but it contains actual scientific information regarding the dandelion's life span.  


I love how the words are in motion throughout the story and land right into kid's hearts.  Nature is an awesome thing and this book will motive kids to stop and discover the wonder of the world around them.  This is a great addition to a classroom or an elementary school library and I highly recommend it.  

 

                                                                                                   

Storywraps Rating - 5 HUGS! 


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Meet the Author


K. C. Hayes has been a guitarist in a rock band, the inventor of a patented kid’s playhouse, a writer and designer of greeting cards, and an advertising agency copywriter, but these days he’s venturing into new creative fields. This is his first picture book. 



About the Illustrator



Barbara Chotiner combines traditional techniques with modern approaches to create organized chaos. She loves making people smile with her sophisticated yet whimsical illustrations. This is her sixth illustrated book.www.barbchotiner.com 



Follow Storywraps



*Blog Link:  www.babybookworms.blogspot.ca

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*Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Storywraps

*Twitter: Storywraps@Storywraps1

*Pinterest: Storywraps


I put hours of work finding the best kid's books to review for you each day.  If you enjoy visiting Storywraps and would like to donate something for my time and effort I would greatly appreciate it.

Go to the top of my blog at the right hand corner (below my photo) and please donate what you feel lead to give.  The amount you donate and the frequency you donate is totally up to you.  


I also have added a new button... ko-fi.com/storywraps  Simply buy me a cup of coffee if you would rather.  That would be fun.  Coffee and blogging go together like two peas in a pod as I'm always brewing up something here on Storywraps. 

I thank you in advance for your support.  I adore what I do and would appreciate any amount that you may give so that I can make our Storywrap's community more thriving and exciting.  Thanks a million!  Books bind us together.   


Read on...Read Always! 

It's a wrap! 


💜💜💜      


Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Sharon, Lois and Bram legends - a musicwrap

 

LEGENDARY FAMILY MUSICIANS

SHARON, LOIS & BRAM

BRING THE MAGIC OF THEIR LIVE CONCERTS

TO TODAY'S FAMILIES AT HOME

WITH THEIR NEW ALBUM

SHARON, LOIS & BRAM BEST OF THE BEST LIVE

FEATURING MORE THAN 25 NEVER-BEFORE HEARD LIVE RECORDINGS




"Sharon, Lois & Bram Best of the Best Live"


*Set for release November 19, 2021

 *All ages

*Run time:  63 minutes

*Digital download:  $12.99 full album, $1.29 per track USD and CAD


"Simply the best musicians for children in North America, and probably the world.” – Toronto Star


"It became one of the most successful performing groups for children in North America, with TV shows, Gold Records, and tours that sold out performances in major auditoriums.” – Los Angeles Times





Canada’s iconic trio of family entertainers, Sharon, Lois & Bram, bring the magic of their live concert experience to today’s families with their first new album in 21 years. Sharon, Lois & Bram Best of the Best Live is set for release by Red Brick Songs on November 19, 2021.


Sharon, Lois & Bram Best of the Best Live sparkles with the full flavor of the legendary Sharon, Lois & Bram shows attended by hundreds of thousands of devoted fans around the world. The album presents more than 25 never-before heard live recordings from Sharon, Lois & Bram’s North American concerts during the years 1989 - 1995, in venues ranging from New York’s City Center to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre to LA’s Wiltern Theatre and more.


Two superfans, along with co-producer Randi Hampson, helped curate the album’s material by lovingly sifting through hundreds of recordings so that Sharon, Lois & Bram Best of the Best Live could capture the ultimate Sharon, Lois & Bram experience, enabling today’s families to enjoy a time machine excursion to the trio’s best concerts while singing along at home – even more important during these times of social restrictions when parents and children are unable to have many live performance experiences.


Original audiences will thrill to the music that so many cherish as the soundtrack to their childhoods, and for those families new to Sharon, Lois & Bram, this treasure trove of jazzy, foot-stomping medleys, lively banter, and enthusiastic audience participation will unveil what the excitement of a live Sharon, Lois & Bram concert was all about.

Sharon, Lois & Bram Best of the Best Live pulls out all the stops with 22 tracks of high-energy, singable/danceable numbers that showcase Sharon, Lois & Bram’s delicious sense of fun and spontaneity right alongside their impeccable musicianship and love for the families who sang along with them. The album comes alive from the get-go, with Sharon, Lois & Bram bursting onto the stage on “Rig A Jig Jig,” which fairly roars with good-natured cheer. Other highlights on this action-packed excursion include the ridiculously goofy pairing of “Dirty Old Bill” and “Miss Lucy,” the tight, three-part harmonies on the rocking, boogie-woogie “Hucklebuck,” an endearing rendition of Tom Paxton’s “Going to the Zoo,” and of course, the group’s signature song, “Skinnamarink,” which continues to symbolize the very best of humanity: friendship, joy, and love.




In their own words...

“We were surprised and thrilled to have these treasures unearthed and to take this musical trip down memory lane!” says Sharon Hampson. “We love hearing the audiences singing along and interacting with us. We smile as we listen to the playful banter we had with each other on stage. We are proud of the complex musical arrangements and harmonies, and we are transported back to the packed houses and joyful adventures we shared with Lois all those years ago.”

“We are joined on the album by the wonderful musicians who played at these shows, and especially our friends, fearless bandleader Grant Slater and amazing multi-instrumentalist Kirk Elliott,” adds Bram Morrison. “They toured with us for 30 of the last 42 years! I think, through singing and music, during thousands of shows, we have constructed a shared history with our audiences. We hope the attachment felt for us and our music has contributed to their well-being later in life and that this album will touch the lives of a whole new generation.”








ABOUT SHARON, LOIS & BRAM 



From 1978 onward, Sharon, Lois & Bram were preeminent in all aspects of family entertainment across North America and other parts of the world. Together, the threesome produced 21 full-length albums, starting with their iconic, triple platinum One Elephant, Deux Éléphants. They appeared in every major concert hall in Canada and many of the most prominent venues in the United States including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Broadway’s Palace Theatre, and the White House. They received countless awards, including Gold and Platinum Records and JUNO awards for Best Children’s Album, and sold millions of albums worldwide. They also starred in two critically acclaimed television series: The Elephant Show (1984 – 1988, CBC Canada, with reruns on the Nickelodeon cable channel) and Skinnamarink TV (1998-1999, CBC in Canada and the Learning Channel in the U.S.).


Sharon, Lois & Bram supported many social welfare programs in Canada and the US, such as school breakfasts for learning, projects encouraging parents to inoculate their children, and, internationally, as Goodwill Ambassadors for UNICEF in North and South America, for which they received the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award. For their years of work providing the best in participatory music for children and their families, Sharon, Lois & Bram were inducted into The Order of Canada, their country's highest honor.

Sharon Hampson and Bram Morrison carried on together for nearly two decades after Lois Lilienstein stepped away from live performing in 2000 and later died in 2015. They maintained a busy schedule of concerts that ranged from “sweet and simple” folksy duo shows to larger productions featuring members of the versatile Skinnamarink Band. Fans of Sharon, Lois & Bram returned to Sharon & Bram’s concerts as young adults or with their children and their children’s children. They knew every word and every action and greeted the duo as they would a treasured member of the family.



Sharon & Bram have, with very significant contributions from Sharon’s daughter Randi Hampson, been engaged in other creative ventures, including the release of a critically acclaimed duo album, Sharon & Bram and Friends, and the Penguin Random House picture book, Sharon, Lois & Bram's Skinnamarink, an award-winning best seller with more than 60,000 copies sold since its 2019 publication. Several more picture books are now in development.







Visit the Sharon, Lois & Bram website HERE.

Sharon, Lois & Bram on Facebook.

Sharon, Lois & Bram on YouTube.

Sharon, Lois & Bram on Instagram.

Sharon, Lois & Bram on Twitter.



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Follow Storywraps





*Blog Link:  www.babybookworms.blogspot.ca

*Instagram: Storywraps

*Email:  storywrapsblog@gmail.com

*Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Storywraps

*Twitter: Storywraps@Storywraps1

*Pinterest: Storywraps


I put hours of work finding the best kid's books to review for you each day.  If you enjoy visiting Storywraps and would like to donate something for my time and effort I would greatly appreciate it.

Go to the top of my blog at the right hand corner (below my photo) and please donate what you feel lead to give.  The amount you donate and the frequency you donate is totally up to you.  


I also have added a new button... ko-fi.com/storywraps  Simply buy me a cup of coffee if you would rather.  That would be fun.  Coffee and blogging go together like two peas in a pod as I'm always brewing up something here on Storywraps. 

I thank you in advance for your support.  I adore what I do and would appreciate any amount that you may give so that I can make our Storywrap's community more thriving and exciting.  Thanks a million!  Books bind us together.   


Read on...Read Always! 

It's a wrap! 


💜💜💜