the unintentional adventures of the bland sisters + giveaway

If you’re a word maven with a penchant for adventure, this book is for you.  Even if you don’t quite fit that description, you might find the Bland Sisters an interesting—or shall we say uninteresting—pair.  The sisters lead dreary lives—they each eat a cheese sandwich on day-old bread and drink a glass of flat soda for lunch every day.  Their hobby is reading the dictionary and they darn socks for a living.  One day, intrepid adventure comes knocking at their door, literally.

The Bland Sisters’ heaps of wry humor made us laugh out loud more than a few times and is one reason why the book makes an excellent read-aloud.  Kudos to Kara LaReau and Jen Hill for the best idea for chapter header concepts/illustrations that we’ve seen in a long time.  Head over to Kara LaReau's blog to read about how quirky Jaundice and Kale came to life in this smart and terrific middle grade book for ages 8-12.

We’re giving away a copy of The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: The Jolly Regina.  This giveaway is open to US residents and ends Thursday, February 22, at 11:59 PM PST.  Head over to this Instagram post to enter.

A Bear Sat on My Porch Today

A lively, boisterous story about a girl and her encounter with a spate of unanticipated visitors who are adamant to stay.  Jane Yolen’s repetitive, rhyming text rises to an exuberant crescendo without missing a beat.  Talk about perfect pacing!  Rilla’s use of color is genius—her brilliant hues play a part in the evolution of the visual narrative and watching it unfold is an absolute treat.  Altogether a winner of a read-aloud.

A Bear Sat on My Porch Today was written by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Rilla Alexander and published by Chronicle Books.  Don’t miss this one when it comes out on March 6!  And of course available to pre-order now.

who was that?

A highly engaging guessing game with intriguing cutouts and interactive page turns that keep readers on their toes and test their short-term memory.  A fun way to sharpen observational skills and pinpoint those small, slight details that sometimes make all the difference. 😉

Who Was That? was cleverly penned and illustrated by Olivier Tallec and published by Chronicle Books. Out soon on March 6 and available for pre-order now.

Florette

Mae and her family have moved to a big crowded city and she longs for the garden she left behind.  Her attempts to create a new version of her beloved green space are foiled one by one.  She longs to “chase butterflies in the wavy grass” again.  One day she encounters a leafy green forest in the midst of her gray city and with it, an opportunity.  A charming story about dealing positively with inevitable change and “growing where you’re planted.” Anna Walker’s watercolors are vibrant and incredibly lovely, and Florette is an absolute delight.

Florette was written and illustrated by Anna Walker and published by HMH Books for Young Readers. Out soon on February 20!

I Love You for Miles and Miles

“My love for you is

Longer than the longest train

Linking engine to caboose,

Winding for miles and miles.”

I Love You for Miles and Miles is a perfect bedtime read for fans of things that go, and their parents who love them.  Author Alison Goldberg on how this sweet book came about:

“When my kids were in preschool they adored vehicles and we spent many hours together gazing at construction sites, building windy train tracks, and learning about tractors. At bedtime, the "How much do you love me?" game turned into a comparison of our love to the size and strength of trucks, trains, and planes. After many nights of coming up with these examples for my own children, I thought this could be a fun take on a love book.”

I Love You for Miles and Miles was written by Alison Goldberg, illustrated by Mike Yamada and published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux.