Finn Throws A Fit! by David Elliot

Finn Throws A Fit
Author: David Elliott
Illustrator: David Basil Ering
Publisher: Candlewick
Published: August, 2009
Pages: 40
Price (Hardcover) : $16.99/20.00
ISBN: (Hardcover) : 978-0-7636-2356-2
Age Range: 2 yrs - 4 yrs
Grade Range: Preschool

Synopsis:

Finn likes peaches. Usually. But not today. Today Finn doesn’t like anything. Uh-oh. Is Finn going to thow a fit? Author David Elliott directs the event with wit, warmth, and appropriate wariness, while illustrator Timothy Basil Ering's energy and whmsy match this tantrum turn for turn. At once empathetic and uproariously funny, this picture book speaks directly to anyone (young or old) who has ever had -- or tried to contain -- a real earth-quaking, ground-shaking, full-on fit.

Who among us hasn't encountered that force of nature called "a fit"? A best-selling author and illustrator depict a toddler’s tantrum in all its horror and hilarity.

My Thoughts:

I knew I wanted to review "Finn Throws A Fit" the moment I saw the cover! Yes, it was love at first sight for me and well, let's just say that I haven't stopped reading it since! Who hasn't been going about their business and then all of a sudden out of nowhere it seems like this precious child has gone from zero to sixty in a matter of seconds and over what? Everyone in the room and even if it's just you is looking around like ... "Excuse me? Where is my lovable, sweet child and..... [insert long pause]  What did you do with him?"

That's adorable Finn! Oh, he usually likes peaches but, his mother gave him the mistake of thinking he might like some today. Finn doesn't like peaches today.  Finn doesn't like ANYTHING today and EVERYONE is going...to...pay! You see Finn doesn't just throw any 'ol toddler fit, he throws THE FIT to END ALL FITS!  He throws a full on tantrum and soon there is thunder in the nursery, lightening in the kitchen, and even a blizzard in the bathroom! Imagine what goes on in the rest of the house!

I have to say that Finn is one of the most adorably drawn characters I've seen in a long time! The illustrations are beautifully done throughout the book and the story is sure to make both parents and children alike laugh outloud.  I have bought two of these books already as gifts.  What can I say, Finn had my heart at page one.  His little blue blankie and those yellow boots, peaches or not, I'll take him home any day! If you're looking for a fun book to read aloud with your favorite little one, look no further, you've found it in "Finn Throws A Fit!"  

About The Author:

Some things you may not have known about David Elliot (as taken from his bio page).

1.  I love corny jokes. (Did you hear about the little girl who ate bullets? Her hair grew out in bangs.)


2.  I can yodel.

3.  I would like to live in Paris.

4.  I give my dog a big juicy kiss every morning.

5.  Three of my favorite kids' books are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson and Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit.

6.  Three of my favorite books for adults are My Antonia by Willa Cather, Bleak House by Charles Dickens and The Diary of Helena Morely translated from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Bishop.

7.  When I was twelve I worked on a dairy farm, but for only one day because the farmer said I made the cows nervous.

8.  I love pancakes.

9.  I am almost always on a diet (see No. 8).

10. Frogs give me the creeps.

KISSES and TOODLES!!

AlphaOops! H is for Halloween

AlphaOops! H is for Halloween
Author: Althea Kontis
Illustrator:  Bob Kolar
Publisher: Candlewick
Published: July 13, 2010
Pages: 40
Price (Hardcover) : $15.00/$18.00
ISBN: (Hardcover) : 978-0-7636-3966-2
Age Range: 4 yrs - 8 yrs
Grade Range: Preschool - Grade 3

Synopsis:

Ack! It’s time for the show, and A isn’t ready. But then again, Halloween can only start with one letter, no matter how the A-B-Cs normally go! The misbehaving alphabet is back, and there’s no telling who will take the stage next. Z for zombie? P for pirate? Will X think of something good in time? Neon-bright, comically detailed illustrations show a cacophony of costumed letters, each with a mind and personality all its own. Along the bottom, tiny pumpkins arrange the players in proper order, making this alphabet story letter-perfect for Halloween.


H gets top billing -- but a stubborn B has something scary to say -- as the inside-out alphabet gives a howl-arious Halloween performance.

My Thoughts:

AlphaOops! H is for Halloween is an adorable book of a mixed-up alphabet filled with letters that each have a personality and a mind of their own! The alphabet is going to put on a Halloween play so get your ticket and take your seats! When A gets called out first he knows his place.  Besides, he's not ready getting dressed and, you can't start a Halloween play without "H"going first! So, each of these adorably drawn letters take their places dressed in costumes to match their letter.  Everyone that is except for B!  Every time B goes to take his turn, it seems that someone has taken his costume!  For example, when the letter P proudly yells out "PIRATE", poor B sadly says "He took my costume".  But, no one knew that he wanted to be a BUCKANEER! B keeps trying and each letter is taking his or her turn.  It starts to look pretty grim and maybe even that B won't have a costume for the play after all.  But how can they not include B? Even X found a costume and E had an Encore! Oh what's poor B to do? Find out what the letter B comes out with and how each and every letter completes the Halloween play their own way!  This is a book you won't want to miss for the upcoming season! 

What a fantastic book to share with your little ones for the upcoming fall season! The bright colors will keep the little ones interested and see how many costumes you can guess for each letter with your child that's a little older! Each and every page has so much going and the letters of  "AlphaOops! H is for Halloween" will have your children in stitches! This is a Five Tiara Book all the way!

My Rating -

About the Author:Alethea Kontis is the author of ALPHAOOPS: THE DAY Z WENT FIRST, her first children’s book. She lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
 
Bob Kolar is the illustrator of the first AlphaOops book and the author-illustrator of BIG KICKS. He lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

The Shadow by Donna Diamond

The Shadow
Author: Donna Diamond
Publisher: Candlewick
Published: July 13, 2010
Pages: 32
Price (Hardcover) : $15.99/$19.00
Type/Format: Picture Book
ISBN: (Hardcover) : 978-0-7636-4878-7
Age Range: 5 yrs - 8 yrs
Grade Range: Kindergarten - Grade 3

Synopsis:

It’s an ordinary afternoon. A child comes home, heads upstairs, and sprawls on the floor to do some drawing under the watchful eyes of a pair of favorite dolls. But there’s another character in this wordless story: the shadow, unnoticed at first, then slowly creeping into her field of view. It’s a terrifying sight. Will the girl cower, or will she take on this shadow and tell it who’s boss? And where will the shadow go from there? With mesmerizing intensity, this dreamlike story tells an unflinching tale about recognizing and staring down one’s fears -- if only for a time.

A young girl confronts her fears in an eerie, wordless picture book featuring stunning, hyper-realistic illustrations.

My Thoughts:

This book I have such torn feelings about because it's a picture book with absolutely no words. Now, with that said, these I normally love. Why? Because it's free for the child's mind to make up the story they want. The child can tell the story they see in their mind as they go along with pictures alone and I love letting them do that.  I volunteer my time now and each child usually has at least one part of the story that's unique.  I'll tell you why I'm torn.  Donna Diamond does AMAZING (all in caps for a reason) illustrations and The Shadow is gorgeous.  The pictures are really striking.  But, for the age range, I think that for some children, it may be a little too scary.  Here's why, and I know I may get some argument because I know what the purpose of the book is.

The child in the story comes home from school one day where she is drawing and playing while her dolls watch.  At first the little girl doesn't even notice the shadow, but when she does, she's very afraid and she tries to hide.  I know now would be the time to explain to children that it's just your shadow and it's brought on at different times of the day by sunlight or by light in general. That it could make you look tall or short, etc.  But the shadow in this book is really scary and it doesn't look like the little girl at all! It has a face with cut out eyes and a mouth at times and also very boney hands that almost look like it is trying to grab the child.  After a little while the girl realizes that it's her shadow and she stands up to her fear.  I won't give away how she fixes it, but she's pretty proud of herself.  This part of the book was wonderful and the entire book is amazingly illustrated.  But, at the end of the book nightfall is upon us and we see the little one in bed.  She's sleeping and all looks well in her room until we get to the last page.  On the very last page and here is a SPOILER ALERT - we see a pair a very scary yellow sinister eyes hiding under her bed while she sleeps!  I just thought it was a little much and it would definitely scare most children into thinking there was something under their bed.  As an older child, probably not and an adult, no.  But the age range for this book and it being a picture book, yes.  So, for "The Shadow" I have to give it 3 tiaras for the story and 5 stars for the illustrations. I usually don't separate, but this book is beautiful and I really have to!

If you'd like to judge for yourself,  You can pick up a copy on release day, which just so happens to be today!

About The Author:

Donna Diamond has illustrated numerous children’s books and book jackets, including Katherine Paterson’s BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA. She lives in Riverdale, New York.   Author's Bio (taken from Author's site) -  Donna Diamond was born and raised in New York City. She attended Boston University School of Fine and Applied Art and received a BFA in sculpture. Encouraged by Robert Blackburn, she pursued printmaking at the Printmaking Workshop and exhibited at the AIR Gallery. Ms. Diamond also creates art for books, where her work has met with critical success.

Her recent work explores the boundaries of painting and collage and incorporates the use of modern technology. Fascinated by the power of narrative, she recently completed a suite of seventeen paintings that work sequentially to express a psychological drama. These paintings will be published as a book called The Shadow in 2010. She is currently working at the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop creating portfolios of prints.

In 2008 Ms. Diamond received the BRIO Award from The Bronx Council on the Arts. Galleries and museums she has exhibited at include The Longwood Art Gallery, The Pen and Brush, The Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, The Francesca Anderson Gallery, The Justin Schiller Gallery, The Brockton Museum, and The Society of Illustrators.







KISSES and TOODLES!!

Speckle The Spider by Emma Dodson

Speckle The Spider
Author:  Emma Dodson
Publisher: Candlewick
Published: July 13, 2010
Pages: 32
Price (Hardcover) :  $14.99/$18.00
ISBN: (Hardcover) : 978-0-7636-4778-0
Age Range: 3 yrs - 7 yrs
Grade Range: Preschool - Grade 1

Synopsis:

Speckle is sure he’s a special kind of spider -- so special and talented that he should be better appreciated than he is at home in the Bahamas. So off he sets on an adventure in search of fame and recognition, and after some run-ins with giants of various species, finally finds himself on public display. The ambitious Speckle is certainly getting lots of attention, but it’s not quite what he had in mind! With fun, energetic illustrations and plenty of interactive features -- including "fan mail," memorabilia, and a mini book of spider facts -- this engaging tale of "be careful what you wish for" is certain to charm even the arachnophobes among us.


Join Speckle the spider as he tap-dances his way to fame -- with maps, flaps, and other novelty surprises throughout.

My Rating!!

My Thoughts:

Even as an arachnophobe, Speckle stole my heart from page one! This book is filled with big, bight beautiful drawings to keep even the youngest readers that are just starting out interested.  Not only that, your little ones will be turning the pages to find out how Speckle did on his report card, read his travel papers and even read some special mail from his fans! Each one comes out of an envelope or other little holder within the book for your child to find. 

Speckle is adorable, lovable and hard to resist.  As a matter of fact, speckle is SURE he's SPECIAL and he's definitely knows how to dance!  What Speckle wants more than anything is to be in the limelight and to PROVE it to everyone he has what it takes to be a star! So, Speckle leaves his cozy home in the Bahamas behind and heads for "somewhere" else on a boat.  But to this little spider's surprise, being special isn't all it's cracked up to be.  Soon he's given a home at the zoo where everyone can see him dance all day long!  But he's not alone in his home, here he lives with Suzy, who can't dance well but "can turn a pretty good cartwheel".  All Speckle knows is he has to end this dream turned nightmare and he must take beautiful Suzy with him. After all, they're both rare spiders and he can't just leave her behind.

Speckle longs to be back in the Bahamas and soon both he and Suzy are on the lamb...  Will they make it back? Is the grass always greener? Is this why they say you should never look for happiness further than your own back yard or to Be careful what you wish for?  To answer these questions and more, you may purchase a copy of  "Speckle The Spider" today, which just so happens to be it's release day, go out and pick up a copy! You and your little ones will not be disappointed! I can't recommend SPECKLE THE SPIDER enough! You'll love it from it's cute fuzzy cover to all the flaps and envelopes inside all the way until the great big surprise at the end!  This is a fun book to read aloud together and to help little hands take out the surprises and read what they say.  Let them know that EVERYONE is special and deserves to be loved.  Best of all, they don't have to go far to get it.  Tell your little ones just how special they are to you (and they won't even have to hide in a box of bananas) and hit the mainland for love!

About the Author:

Emma loves to be busy. She has been working as a freelance writer/illustrator for 10 years. She has written and illustrated childrens' picture books, produced images for magazines, greetings cards and giftwrap. For 14 years she has also worked for film and TV, producing props and art work. Emma also teaches on illustration BA at University of Westminster.

KISSES and TOODLES!!

Huge Giveaway, Reviews & Ramblings

This is A Royal Rambling by Order of the Princess:

I just wanted to make a post as a little explaination, reminder and to let you know about some of the wonderful things planned for Park-Avenue Princess!  As most of you know, I was "away" for a little while due to an ongoing  personal illness and I am trying to get  Park-Avenue Princess right back to where it was so winners are being notified by email and starting with the LIZZY BLEU GIVEAWAY, which is right below this post, I will start posting winners on the blog again.  I just need to catch up! 

Speaking of the LIZZY BLEU GIVEAWAY, you still have plenty of time to enter! It's open to everyone, no matter where you live (no P.O. Boxes) as long as you are a friend on Google Friend Connect by following this blog.  This is important because Park-Avenue Princess wants her friends back and her traffic and is going to reward all of her friends by having a HUGE GIVEAWAY.

What is this HUGE GIVEAWAY you ask?  How about a Brand New B&N Nook? Would that make you happy? There will be several ways for you to win. All I'm going to need you to do is spread the word about Park-Avenue Princess and I'd like to see at least 1000 followers and we're almost there.  But, again, there will be many ways to enter.  So, you do have that to look forward to VERY soon!

The next GIVEAWAY I have for you will be from J*Flops! There will be Two winners for this Giveaway and you can design your own pair of Flip Flops and when I say they are not only ADORABLE they are MADE with love and quality as well! Starting NOW and ENDING August 31st you can use the code PRINCESS at the checkout and receive 15% off your order at the J*Flops site! I will have my review and the giveaway up VERY VERY SOON! If you sign up for updates, you won't miss it! I LOVE my pair and am going to buy myself another pair.  Who doesn't love their flops in the summer? These do not pinch between the toes and their IS a style for everyone!  You'll see what I mean!  I'd start browsing J*Flops now so you get an idea for what you want as a treat for your feet!

As for my Royal Reviews, this Princess is So behind.  She's read more books than she can count, but all of her reviews are on index cards and this week I would like to get up some wonderful books that are coming out tomorrow from CANDLEWICK PRESS! Their Spring/Summer line up is absolutely amazing!

I have so many plans in the works for Park-Avenue Princess and I'm hoping to get the changes done quickly but I can't find someone that knows exactly what I'd like.  I hope you'll stay with me and PLEASE visit often. Leave comments, I love that! Plus, here's a hint - Once I put up the Nook Giveaway, it's going to be a way to earn yourself some pretty easy points! A daily visit and a comment or two! I try to visit sites daily as well and if you'd like me to stop by yours well then just leave it in the comments!

Another thing I'd like to bring back is my SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT! That means if you are another Blogger and would like to be featured here, please hit my contact button and let me know! If you've already gotten my letter for SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT but, I never got to you, contact me and we'll work something out! 

Last order of business for now...if you've won something from me, but have not received it, Please follow THESE INSTRUCTIONS - Hit the "CONTACT BUTTON" up top and fill it out with your email address along with your name and prize and I will get back to you!

Thank You for making Park-Avenue Princess the site that it's become! I've got so much more in store and I hope you'll stay here with me and grow!


Kisses and Toodles!