#MMBBR #BlogTour #Review #MissingPieces by @LauraPAuthor via #partner @PFDAgents and @AgoraBooksLDN

Missing Pieces by Laura  Pearson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#FirstLine ~ The coffin was too small.
This book will move you to the core. This book will make you ugly cry. This book may even change you in ways you cannot really understand. This book will become a new favorite. This book will be a book you read more than one time! I cannot really capture how good this book is without giving too much away. Missing Pieces is special because it is harsh and real. It captures life when it is broken. There is heartbreak and beauty within these pages and a story that will leave its mark on you, in the best possible way. A MUST READ!!!

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#MMBBR #Highlight #Argos The Story of Odysseus as Told By His Loyal Dog by @RalphHardy1 via @HarperCollins ‏

Fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series will love Argos: The Story of Odysseus as Told By His Loyal Dog by Ralph Hardy (HarperCollins; 3/27/2018; ISBN: 978-0062396792; Paperback $6.99; Ages 8-12, 400 pages), a middle grade reimagining of Homer’s The Odyssey told from the point of view of Odysseus’s loyal dog, Argos.

Now available in paperback, this rousing story of devotion and determination is an original take on one of the most beloved myths of all time.

For twenty years, the great hero Odysseus struggles to return to home on Ithaka. He defeats monsters. He outsmarts the Cyclops. He battles the gods. He does whatever it takes to reunite with his family.

And what of that family—his devoted wife, Penelope; his young son, Telemachos; his dog, Argos? For those twenty years, they wait, unsure whether they will ever see Odysseus again. But Argos has found a way to track his master.

Any animal who sets foot or wing on Ithaka brings him news of Odysseus’s epic voyage. These tales bring hope that one day his master will return. Meanwhile, Argos the loyal dog watches over his master’s family and protects them from the dangers that surround a throne without its king.will be swept away by this enchanting debut as they hurry to unlock the terrible truth of the Tombs.

About the Author: Ralph Hardy graduated from the University of North Carolina and received an MFA from Columbia College, Chicago. He now lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his wife and two children. He is also the author of "Lefty" and "The Cheetah Diaries".

#MMBBR #Review #FirstLine #ThisCouldChangeEverything by @JillMansell via #partner @sbkslandmark ‏who provided a #freecopy for review

This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#FirstLine ~ What could be more glorious than sitting at a pavement cafe on a sunny afternoon in June, wearing a marvelous new hat and witnessing an imminent crime?

This book was such a delight. I was pulled in by that first line and held to the page the rest of the book. This Could Change Everything was so beautifully written. It was fleshed out perfectly and well plotted with themes that all readers can relate to. I have not read many books by Mansell and now I must read more. I can see her writing being turned into Hallmark movies because the books contain those elements that translate well to the small screen. There is drama, love, friendship and redemption that lends itself to a story that causes the reader to be pulled in and to become emotionally attached. A must read for book clubs and for those that want to escape.

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Praise for Jill Mansel

"Captivating, warm, lighthearted and funny!"

―What's Better Than Books for Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay

"Readers will hang on every word, falling in love with the story, its characters and its emotions."

―RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars for Three Amazing Things About You

"Vivid and enchanting."

―Kirkus Reviews for You and Me, Always

#MMBBR #Review #GoodbyeBringsHello by @diannewrites via #partner @barbfisch @blueslipper and #HMHBooksForYoungReaders

Like Bernie Waber's COURAGE and Davis' KINDERGARTEN ROCKS!, this inspiring, vibrantly illustrated gift book is perfect for celebrating life's milestones, both great and small—especially that first day of kindergarten.

There are many ways of letting go.
With each goodbye, a new hello.

From being pushed on a swing to learning how to pump your legs yourself, from riding a beloved trike to mastering your first bike ride, from leaving the comforts of home behind to venturing forth on that first day of school, milestones are exciting but hard. They mean having to say goodbye to one moment in order to welcome the next.

Honest and uplifting, this cheerfully illustrated ode to change gently empowers readers to brave life's milestones, both large and small. 

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Goodbye Brings Hello: A Book of Firsts by Dianne White My rating: 5 of 5 stars Loved this book! I cannot wait to give it to the kindergarten teacher at my kid's school. I know all the new incoming kids are going to relate to this book. I think kids will be able to ease into school a bit easier seeing how many changes and goodbyes they have had up to this point in their young lives. It is beautiful and illustrated with bright and vibrant colors. I love the rhyming text. Kids will love listeing and parents will love reading it, as will teachers. View all my reviews When she was five, Dianne White said goodbye to her house and her teacher, Mrs. Dunlap, and hello to a new school, and her newest favorite teacher, Mr. Loop. She has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is the award-winning author of Blue on Blue. She lives in Arizona, where she writes full-time. For more information, and to download a free activity kit, visit diannewrites.com. Twitter @diannewrites Daniel Wiseman remembers saying goodbye to the training wheels on his bike, and saying a great big hello to skinned knees and elbows. But the freedom of rolling on two wheels was well worth the bumps and bruises. He still rides his (slightly larger) bike almost every day. Daniel loves to draw, and has illustrated several books for children. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri. Visit him at danieldraws.com. Instagram @d_wiseman

Praise for Goodbye Brings Hello: A Book of Firsts

"White and Wiseman have created an engaging set of vignettes that will appeal to young listeners in the process of learning new skills."—Booklist

"This book will give courage to any child feeling a little nervous or scared to try something new."—Kirkus

"The brightly colored, naive-style illustrations add a cheerful positivity to the book."—School Library Journal

Check out the fun activities here: https://bit.ly/2s3WA40

Also from Dianne White: Who Eats Orange?, due August 2018.

#MMBBR #Review #FirstLine #LeahOnTheOffbeat #CreekwoodSeries #Book2 by @beckyalbertallim via #partner @BalzerandBray ‏@HarperCollins #reviewcopyprovided

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#FirstLine ~ I don't mean to be dramatic, but God save me from Morgan picking our set list.

I loved Leah, she was witty and honest and imperfectly awesome. Plus, she is so talented. I loved being along on the ride as she negotiated her life. She was so fun to read. I loved that no punches were held back and honesty prevailed in all its rawness. It captures so much about youth and coming of age; friendships, sexuality, love and so many other really important topics. It is done in a way that almost all readers will appreciate and relate to it. A read that will stay with me for quite some time and now I have to go back and read the first book in the series.

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#MMBBR #Review #Startalk #YoungReadersEdition by @neiltyson via #partner @NatGeo ‏#reviewcopyprovided

Startalk Young Readers Edition by Neil deGrasse Tyson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of the BEST I have seen! It is awesome how it is laid out!!! It is like a vision sensation! There is so much to look at and read! I am sure that you could read this over and over and over and learn something new. Here is a fun tidbit: The largest black hole that could have evaporated since the big bang would have to have been smaller than an atomic nucleus. Learn about this and so many more awesome and fascinating facts in this book! It is jam packed with things that I find fun, interesting and oh so interesting! My kids are going to love this book so much too over the summer. The sky is truly the limit in this book that contains everything you will need or want to know about space, the universe and so much more!!!

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#MMBBR #Review #BremnerAndTheParty #SharkeeAndTheTeddyBear by #CarrieBolin & #JessicaFirpi #JohnGraziano @Ripleys

Bremner  the Party by Ripley's Believe It or Not!
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A cute book that helps create dialogue about being afraid to step out of your comfort zone. It allows a child to understand that being nervous is normal and totally OK because everyone feels nervous from time to time. A beautifully illustrated story that most kids will relate to and love!

ABOUT Bremner and the Party

Bremner the pufferfish is going to a party tonight. Gulp! When he’s nervous, he puffs up!

Children and parents alike will laugh their way through Bremner’s nervous dialogue as he goes off the deep end before joining the party.

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 Sharkee  the Teddy Bear by Ripley's Believe It or Not!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cute story about a Teddy Bear falling into the ocean. What does a shark to do with a Teddy Bear? Only after it goes missing does Sharkee know what he wants to do with it. Will he find it? Make sure you read and find out! The illustrations are bright and beautiful, so engaging.

ABOUT Sharkee and the Teddy Bear

A teddy bear has fallen into the ocean, but where did it go?

Readers join Sharkee as he searches for the bear, stopping to ask all sorts of marine animals along the way. This bubbly story will have children giggling at Sharkee’s silly encounters.