Giveaway/Review of The Cheshire Cheese Cat, A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright, Drawing by Barry Moser

About Book


In this playful homage to Charles Dickens, unlikely allies learn the lessons of a great friendship

Skilley, an alley cat with an embarrassing secret, longs to escape his street-cat life. Tired of dodging fishwives' brooms and carriage wheels, he hopes to trade London's damp alleyways for the warmth of ye olde Cheshire Cheese Inn. He strikes a bargain with Pip, an erudite mouse: Skilley will protect the mice who live at the inn, and in turn, the mice will provide Skilley with the thing he desires most.

But when Skilley and Pip are drawn into a crisis of monumental proportions involving a tyrannical cook, an unethical barmaid, and a malevolent tomcat, their new friendship is pushed to its limits. The escalating crisis threatens the peace not only of the Cheshire Cheese Inn but also the British Monarchy!

Unbeknownst to Skilley and Pip, however, they have a secret ally: a famous author who scribbles away many an afternoon in ye olde Cheshire Cheese Inn...

READ EXCERPT here.

Click here to learn more about The Cheshire Cheese Cat.

Published by Peachtree Publishers
Age 8-99
Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-56145-595-9
Total Pages: 256
Size: 6 x 8

Where to buy: Amazon, 


AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR


Carmen Agra Deedy is a New York Times bestselling author and has been writing and traveling around the world telling stories for more than twenty years. Her books, including 14 Cows for America, The Library Dragon, The Yellow Star, and Martina the Beautiful Cockroach have received numerous awards and honors. Carmen has performed in many prestigious venues, but children are her favorite audience. Born in Havana, Cuba, she came to the United States as a refugee and like most immigrants sees the world from multiple perspectives.

You can visit Carmen Agra Deedy’s website here.

Randall Wright is the author of several novels for young readers, including A Hundred Days from Home, The Silver Penny, and Hunchback, a 2004 VOYA Top Shelf Award winner. He lives in Utah.

Barry Moser is one of today's most celebrated illustrators of children's books. He is also a printer, painter, printmaker, designer, author, essayist, and teacher. The books Moser has illustrated and/or designed forms a list of over three hundred titles. He lives in Massachusetts.

You can visit Barry Moser’s website here.

~ ~ ~ ~

Peachtree has decided to provide a copy of THE CHESHIRE CHEESE CAT for this blog giveaway and another copy of my other blog, It's About Time Mamaw 

GIVEAWAY

of one Hardcover copy of THE CHESHIRE CHEESE CAT

one winner

provided by Peachtree Publishers

giveaway will be from Oct. 31- Nov 6, 2012

  Leave a comment (this is mandatory for the giveaway) 

about who you will give this book to if you win.  

Be sure to leave your email address in the comment

 so I can contact you if you are the winner. 

example of email:  johndoe(at)yahoo(dot)com

I can not contact you without an email.

 I invite you to follow me and the author by

email, GFC, Linky Follower, Facebook, Twitter, G+

 but this is not mandatory for the giveaway.

 The winner will be announced 

on November 7th, 2012. 

GOOD LUCK!!

~ ~ ~ ~

My Thoughts

Skilley the alley cat has made up his mind he is going to sneak inside the Cheshire Cheese Inn.    So, he will cunningly convince the Innkeeper to let Skilley stay as the Inn's mouser. You see a mouser is a cat that catches mice. The Inn has the best cheese around and the Inn is overrun with mice.

He finally sees the chance to sneak in after a customer.  He puts on such a good performance and even caught a mouse.  Well he convinced the Innkeeper that this was THE MOUSER  for the Cheshire Cheese Inn.  Skilley took off with the mouse further into the Inn and spit out the mouse. The mouse was called Pip and he has lived at the Inn his entire life.  He could not figure out why the cat spit him out.  Why didn't he eat Pip that is what any other cat would have done.  Well you see Skilley has a secret and so does Pip.  They agreed never to give away their secrets.

They become buddies and together they are quite the little schemers.  If they are careful and everything goes as they have planned they can live in peace with everyone, including the British Monarchy.

The man at the beginning of the story that let Skilley into the Inn had a friend with him, Charles Dicken's. He found the Cat and Mouse antics to be very entertaining and with his imagination he had fun with these very unusual characters. 

Kudos to Charles, Carmen, Randall and Barry for putting their talents together into a neat little package for us to enjoy. The illustrator did a marvelous job of depicting all the characters through the author's detailed description to perfection.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure
I received a free copy of this book from Peachtree Publishing for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my own opinion.


If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.

Sensational September 2012 Releases

**Guest post by Michelle Massaro

For most of us around the country, Fall is in the air. In Southern California we're still seeing temps in the 90s, but hey--I say Autumn is a state of mind. And I'm ready for comfy sofas, hot cider, and a great new book to curl up with. Oh, and chocolate! Maybe a cat purring nearby. George Winston playing in the background. But the main thing I need is the book.

So, I've been searching through the titles released last month, including a long list that YOU guys recommended to me through our survey (thank you very much), and I've come up with a list of FIVE. Now I want to hear from you. Which of these most appeals to you? Which will be highest on your to-be-read pile this month? Take a look at the cover and the summary, then cast your vote. Polls will remain through Wednesday, closing on Halloween night (oooeeooo) at midnight PST. (Yep, when I'm the hostess you get a few extra hours to vote because, well, once in a while it only seems fair to go by West Coast time. Right?)

All of the books below captured my attention for one reason or another. I'm sure they'll capture you as well. After voting, I invite you to click over to Amazon and purchase one or more of these puppies!

The Road to Mercy by Kathy Harris

 

Bethany and Josh Harrison are faced with a decision that could cost her life--and the life of their unborn child; Dr. Ben Abrams is lost without a heritage of faith. Can Bethany’s choice save them both?

~~~

The Shadow on the Quilt (The Quilt Chronicles) 

by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Juliana Sutton's life looks perfect-from the outside. Until her husband's untimely death reveals a devastating truth. Will the shadow of her dead husband's name stand between Juliana and Cass, or will Juliana choose a love she never thought possible?

~~~

Deadly Additive by Donn Taylor 

Soldier-of-fortune Jeb Sledge’s rescue of kidnapped journalist Kristin Halvorsen from Colombian guerrillas reveals a hidden threat to the global balance of power. Jeb and Kristin must also learn that virtuous lives without a spiritual dimension remain incomplete.

 ~~~

Restored Heart by Jennifer A. Davids

Anne Kirby and Peter McCord are both determined to hide their pasts. But they soon discover that love – and God – has a way of revealing everything. 

~~~

Hidden in the Heart by Catherine West

"You existed before you were adopted."

... Everything Claire wants seems to be beyond her reach ...

~~~

So there you have it! Please make your selection in the Survey Monkey below. And send your friends to cast their votes as well! (good practice for November, right? lol)

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

p. s.  Are you an aspiring author of Christian Fiction? This is the last week to enter Clash of the Titles' annual contest for unpublished authors, the Olympia. Hurry! Submissions close Friday, November 2nd. 

Autumn Winds - Seasons of the Heart series by Charlotte Hubbard

About Charlotte Hubbard


I’ve called Missouri home for most of my life, and most folks don’t realize that several Old Older Amish and Mennonite communities make their home here, as well. The rolling pastureland, woods, and small towns along county highways make a wonderful setting for Plain populations—and for stories about them, too! While Jamesport, Missouri is the largest Old Order Amish settlement west of the Mississippi River, other communities have also found the affordable farm land ideal for raising crops, livestock, and running the small family-owned businesses that support their families.

Like my heroine, Miriam Lantz, of my new Seasons of the Heart series, I love to feed people—to share my hearth and home. I bake bread and goodies and I love to try new recipes. I put up jars and jars of green beans, tomatoes, beets and other veggies every summer. All my adult life, I’ve been a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and we hosted a potluck group in our home for more than twenty years.
Like Abby Lambright, heroine of my new Home at Cedar Creek series, I consider it a personal mission to be a listener and a peacemaker—to heal broken hearts and wounded souls. Faith and family, farming and frugality matter to me: like Abby, I sew and enjoy fabric arts—I made my wedding dress and the one Mom wore, too, when I married into an Iowa farm family more than thirty-five years ago! When I’m not writing, I crochet and sew, and I love to travel.

I recently moved to Minnesota when my husband got a wonderful new job, so now he and I and our border collie, Ramona, are exploring our new state and making new friends.

To find out more about Charlotte, please visit her at www.CharlotteHubbard.com.

Visit her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.hubbard1

On Goodreads at: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53342.Charlotte_Hubbard

About Book

The leaves are falling and there’s a chill in the air in Willow Ridge, Missouri, the quaint, quiet Amish town where love, loyalty, and faith in the Old Ways are about to be put to the test …

AUTUMN WINDS

Winds of change are blowing through Willow Ridge, and they’re bringing a stranger to the Sweet Seasons Bakery. At first, widowed Miriam Lantz has misgivings about Ben Hooley, a handsome but rootless traveling blacksmith. But as she gets to know the kind-hearted newcomer, she wonders if his arrival was providential. Perhaps she could find love again—if only there weren't so many obstacles in the way. With Bishop Knepp relentlessly pursuing her hand in marriage and the fate of her beloved café at stake, Miriam must listen to God and her heart to find the happiness she longs for and the love she deserves.

READ EXCERPT here

Where to buy: Amazon, B&N, CBD


My Thoughts

Winds blow a storm into Willow Ridge as Miriam Lantz is preparing food for the day for the Sweet Seasons Bakery.  She came in at 1am this morning which is earlier than she would normally have started her day.  The storm seemed to be getting worse when she heard something out front.  A crash and breaking glass.  When she ran to the front of the store she saw part of a tree had fallen through the shop window.  Then she heard a man's voice, he was trying to calm a horse when it was spooked by the thunder and kicked the man into the front of the building.

Miriam did not recognize the man.  How was she going to help him?  Then she heard him speak.  As she went to get a chair to take out to him she realized he had gotten up and followed her into the shop.
He introduced himself as Ben Hooley, a traveling blacksmith.  He reassured her he was alright and busied himself by removing the tree from her shop. 

The day the autumn winds blew in is when Ben also blew into her life and that of Willow Ridge community.  But Bishop Knepp is determined that Ben finish his work and leave town.  The Bishop has it in  his mind that Miriam is going to marry him, no matter how many times she refuses his proposal.  When he realizes Miriam and Ben are attracted to each other he pursues her even more. Is the Bishop after her because he loves her or so he could control her?

I enjoyed reading  a romance novel between a couple in their middle years.  So many books are about young love.  It kept me on pins and needles that Miriam might have her heart broken by Ben.

The author wrote of the  trials and tribulations of family and community when their leader strays from the old ways.  Protectiveness of the church family for one of their widows was touching. 

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review/  It is my own opinion.  

A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman - Giveaway/Review

About Book

About A Merry Little Christmas: 

Fall in love with this cozy story about two people from different worlds.

Franny Martin is an Oklahoma farm girl who's preparing to spend the holidays alone...again. Then Charlie Landau shows up one day, all wealth and polish, and offers to buy Franny's farm. Franny has no money to speak of, but she is clever and spirited, and she's more than happy to sell the farm and move to the city.

As Sinatra croons from the radio and Christmas descends upon her charming farm, Franny teaches Charlie the curious and sometimes comical ways of country life. In the process, they unearth some discoveries of the heart-that sometimes love comes when you're least ready for it. Will the holidays bring their most impossible dreams within reach?

Published by Summerside Press

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/eyLJH  

Tour Schedule:  http://litfusegroup.com/author/AHigman 

About Anita: 

Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Find out more about Anita at http://www.anitahigman.com.

Be sure to follow Anita's Facebook Author Page for any news on upcoming promotions!

ANITA’S CONTEST!

Author Anita Higman invites readers to kick off the season with a spirited holiday tale! Anita is spreading the Christmas cheer by giving away fifteen copies of her new book.

To enter to win a copy of A Merry Little Christmas, just head over to the contest page at Anita’s website and fill out the short form. Be sure to put BLOG CONTEST in the subject line.

Winners will be announced (and notified by email) on 11/9!

My Thoughts

Franny Martin has her mind on music most of the time while she is doing chores on her farm.  The barn yard animals seem to like her singing.  As she is singing to the pigs a man walks up behind her and scared the stuffin out of her.  Which landed her in the mud.  He did save her radio from the mud and she was grateful for that.  She asked the nice looking man who he was and why he was there.  He boldly told her his name was Charles Landau and he wanted to buy her farm and was willing to pay whatever she asked.  She quickly told him he just bought a farm.  The only problem was he knew nothing about farming or livestock. Nada!  So after much deliberation she agreed to stay on as a hired farm hand and teach him about farming.  He was to learn to be farmer in three weeks. Right! After that she was going to move to the city and work at her dream job at a radio station that is if anyone would hire her without any knowledge in this line of work.  

She had many obstacles in her way of getting her dream job.  Charlie was not very successful at farming after she left either. Maybe if they worked together in running the farm it would be profitable for both of them.  That is if Charlie's father was not so bent on Charlie taking over the family business to the point of making threats.  

I read this book in one sitting okay two sittings. I did not want to put it down.  

It had all I love to read in a book intrigue, romance, Trust in God, family secrets, redemption, love of mankind and some very interesting characters.  

The characters:

•  Franny has horrible memories of the day of her parent's deadly accident. 
• Charlie had also suffered the loss of his mother and the lack of his father's love.
• Noma has spent her whole life dealing with prejudice because of her color.  
• Willie is Charlie's brother and has suffered even greater emotional abuse from his father.
• Mr. Landau rules over his sons holding back any affection or love.

In my opinion each of the characters had a painful past causing the present life hard to endure at times. The difference in the characters was that some of them trusted in God's will and endured their lives with patience.  Those that had hardened their hearts towards God tried to force their own will on others causing much pain themselves and others.

The author writes of a Christmas Gift that's not under a tree or wrapped up in pretty paper.  It is the Gift of Love God gives to His children through the birth of His Son Jesus.  

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book 5 out of 5.

Disclosure

I received a free copy of this book from Summerside Press/Litfuse Group Tours for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer | Amish Kindle Gift Pack Giveaway and Facebook Party!

THE MEMORY JAR BY TRICIA GOYER | AMISH KINDLE GIFT PACK GIVEAWAY AND FACEBOOK PARTY!

Author: Tricia Goyer

Welcome to the series launch of Tricia Goyer's brand new Amish series,                                                    Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors!

The first book, The Memory Jar, takes Goyer’s readers back to Big Sky country. To celebrate, Tricia is hosting a fun Amish Kindle Gift Pack Giveaway (including a custom-made Memory Jar Kindle cover and authentic, Montana, Amish-made items!) and a Facebook party on November 7th. Be sure to click the link below to watch the video trailer or try your hand at one of the simple, keepsake crafts Tricia has put together on her website.

One fortunate winners will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• Custom-made Memory Jar Kindle Cover
• Amish-made decorative items {Wall hanging, horse/buggy and Amish houses}
• The Memory Jar {Be swept away by this captivating series.}

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 6th. Winner will be announced at the “Memory Jar Author Chat Party on 11/7. Connect with Tricia for an evening of book chat, Amish trivia, and a live video chat! There will also be a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!

So grab your copy of The Memory Jar and join Tricia on the evening of the November 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; RSVP TODAY. TELL YOUR FRIENDS VIA FACEBOOK OR TWITTER AND INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 7TH!

About The Memory Jar: 

Book One of  Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series

Every year, 30-40 young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love.

Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she's also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she's met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/esMtx  

Make your own Memory Jar and other crafts.

About Tricia

Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of over thirty books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com.

Litfuse Tour schedule for THE MEMORY JAR http://litfusegroup.com/author/TGoyer  

My Thoughts

Sarah Shelter baked the best cupcakes in West Kootenai, Montana.  Some of the visiting young Amish bachelors claim they are the best they have ever eaten.  

Sarah has been invited to go hiking up the mountain with some of the local Amish girls and some visiting Amish Bachelors.  It was to be a fun outing.  She needs to make new friends.  She has mourned the loss of her best friend for some time now. The young woman drowned in a boating accident.  Sarah must move on with her life but it is so hard to forget that tragic day and the loss of her friend.  

On the hiking trip circumstances beyond her control bring Sarah and Jathan Schrock, one of the bachelors together.  She must trust him to get her back down the mountain.  His kindness and attentiveness touched her heart. They were able to share their dreams with each other and Sarah told him about the loss of her friend and the pain of that loss. Sarah even told him about the Memory Jar. She has found a new friend in this handsome young Amish man.  Will she be able to trust him with her heart and dreams.

Sarah is a beautiful character she has so much love for God and her fellow man whether they be Amish or English.  When she leaves her mountain she feels the pressure of change and some people attempt to stifle her brilliant light of love, along with her dreams.

The character Jathan is the youngest in his large family and he feels burdened by the goals and demands of his family especially his father.  He has never been able to share his dream for the future with them. But with Sarah it was different she encourages him to follow his dream if it is God's will.  He ends up letting other people cloud his judgement which in turn caused a lot of people pain.

 Fear seemed to play a big role in this story.  

Tricia Goyer knows how to grab your attention and keep it.   The story is a valuable life lesson that will inspire the reader. 

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure
I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan/Litfuse Group for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my own opinion.

If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.

W.O.I Tours - THE WISHING WELL - Another Weaver Tale by KAI STRAND

About Book

Molly Minstrel is treated worse than Cinderella by her mom and sisters. When Molly meets the magical creature, Unwanted, she wishes her problems away. However, you must first understand what you need before knowing what to ask for. Molly will have to look within for the solution to her troubles.

Where to buy:
Guardian Angel Publishing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing
ISBN Number(s): Hardcover 978-1616333010
                          Softcover 978-1616333027
Publication Date:  July 24, 2012
Genre of Book: Juvenile Fantasy

click image for tour schedule

I am scheduled to review SAVE THE LEMMINGS on November 7, 2012.

About Kai

Kai Strand writes fiction for middle grade and young adult readers. Her debut novel, The Weaver, was a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards. She is a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. The most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, "Do your dishes!" She and her family hike, goecache and canoe in beautiful Central Oregon, where they call home.

To find out more about Kai’s books, download companion documents, find links to her published short stories and discover all the places to find Kai both virtually and in person, visit her website: www.kaistrand.com. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to send her an email or visit her facebook page, Kai Strand, Author. 

My Thoughts 

Eleven year old, Molly Minstrel is responsible for all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and ironing in her home. Even though she has two older sisters, Eva and Hannah, their mother, Greta does not want the two older girls to demean themselves by doing chores. Molly is verbally abused by Greta and Hannah. The abuse is name calling and snide remarks on a daily basis. If only she had a nice family she would be happy. 

Does this sound like a cinderella story? Well there is no Fairy God-Mother but there is the UNWANTED, he is blue and looks kinda like an elf/troll and he does grant wishes under special circumstances.

Do you think the UNWANTED could grant Molly a wish?  Would this solve her problems?  What would her wish be if she could find him?

The characters of Weaver Tale are known for the tales they weave.  Will Molly weave a tale?

I enjoyed this book with one exception and that was in chapter seventeen where Molly weaves a tale to Sir Edward.  I felt that the sexual implications in this tale are inappropriate for the target readers, ages 8-12 years old.  I would advise parents to read the book before deciding if the book is appropriate for your child.

The author told a tale that many children may be experiencing themselves and it was a very good tale indeed!

I recommend this book as PG.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure:
I received a free copy of this book from WOI Tours/Author for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my own opinion.

If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here

Living in Harmony, New Amish Fiction!

The Clash of the Titles Blog Alliance is proud to share great August release with its readers.

Ink still damp from the presses, Living in Harmony by Mary Ellis, currently sits on a store shelf near you! Want more good news? It’s the first in a series—perfect time to jump on board.

PURCHASE THE BOOK ON AMAZON

PURCHASE THE BOOK AT B&N

About the book:
Living in Harmony is the first book in bestselling author Mary Ellis's New Beginnings series. It's about fresh starts and love...and how faith in God and His perfect plan for our lives provides us with the peace and joy we desire.

Amy King--young, engaged, and Amish--faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiancé, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where he has relatives who can help the women in their time of need.

John's brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Wise beyond his years, Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling. During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.

Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?

For those addicted to Amish stories, you won’t want to miss this one. To everyone else, this might be the book that gets you hooked on this wildfire genre.

Here’s what reviewer Rachel Brand of the Christian Manifest o has to say about Living in Harmony:
Just when you think nothing new and original can come out of the Amish genre, a book like this comes along and proves that you’re completely wrong.

 It’s hard to express exactly what I loved so much about Living in Harmony. It’s not just the setting, the new community and the realistic secondary characters that made this novel so refreshing and unique. Mary Ellis crafted her hero and heroine as incredibly  relate-able& nbsp;characters, flawed human beings who prove that even the Amish don’t have perfect relationships or marriages.
Each character had their own personality and purpose in the novel, which means that there’s bound to be at least one character that every reader can relate to.
If you need a little bit more realism in your Amish fiction, or just don’t want to read a happily-ever- after romance, then Living in Harmony is the book for you.

About the author:
Mary Ellis grew up near the Amish and fell in love with them. She has now written nine bestselling novels set in their communities. When not writing, she enjoys gardening, bicycling, and swimming. Before "retiring" to write full-time, Mary taught school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate. Her debut Christian book, A Widow's Hope, was a finalist for the 2010 ACFW Carols and the Holt Medallion Award of Merit.

You can find Mary at these locations:
www.maryellis. net
blog: www.maryeellis. wordpress. com
https://www. facebook. com/#!/pages/Mary- Ellis/1269950582 36

 ,

When Grandparents Divorce by Katie Saint, MA, BCBA, illustrated by Michelle Lund

About Book

Grandparents Are Divorcing! 

How do we tell their grandkids, and what are the right words-depending on their age?

New London, WI - When Grandparents Divorce, is an important guide on how to tell grandchildren about their grandparents' divorce. This book is authored by Katie Saint, a professional counselor, who has first-hand experience when her parents announced they were getting divorced. Her four-year-old son was so confused, upset-and sad. He could not understand that people he loved didn't love each other anymore.

Then the questions started:

• If they don't love each other, do they still love me?
• How will we celebrate my birthday, Christmas without my grandparents?
• Am I the only one this is happening to? 

So, are a lot of grandparents getting divorced these days? These stats say YES, and a lot of parents are going to be explaining divorce to kids. Divorce rate for first marriage is 41% (and many stay married for 25-30+ years, then divorcing).

In one of the illustrations created beautifully by Michelle Lund, young Isaac is telling his best friends, his toy cars, his news: "Mom just told me that my grandparents are going to be moving to separate houses." The parents have many conversations with their two children, Isaac and Ari, answering their questions, and suggesting they do some drawings of how they feel. They all share how they are feeling, and reassure each other that no matter what, Mom and Dad will always be there and love them-and that each grandparent will continue to love them.

When Grandparents Divorce is written with a professional perspective through added Q&A for parents to aid them in understanding what are age-appropriate behaviors and reactions. This book will help parents have those difficult conversations with their kids (ongoing as things change), explaining the very confusing divorce of their beloved grandparents. It is meant to help kids see that the emotions they're feeling are normal-and to help them understand what changes are happening with their grandparents.  Most important aspect for the children is to understand that the divorce does not change either grandparent's love for their grandchild.  Children grieve in many different ways. Getting them to process that grief can be difficult.

ISBN: 9780982907238
Publisher: Coffee Table Press
Date of publish: August 2012
Pages: 35

Where to buy the book: Amazon,  Barnes&Noble, Author's website


SNEAK PEAK:

In this image (illustrated by Michelle Lund) Isaac is telling his toy cars/best friends that he was just told his grandparents are going to be moving to separate houses.When Grandparents Divorce is written with a professional perspective through added Q&A for parents to aid them in understanding what are age-appropriate behaviors and reactions. This book will help parents have those difficult conversations with their kids (ongoing as things change), explaining the very confusing divorce of their beloved grandparents. It is meant to help kids see that the emotions they're feeling are normal—and to help them understand what changes are happening with their grandparents.  Most important aspect for the children is to understand that the divorce does not change either grandparent’s love for their grandchild.  Children grieve in many different ways. Getting them to process that grief can be difficult.

When Grandparents Divorce will answer hard questions like: 

• What kinds of behaviors are normal when children are upset about a divorce in general, not just grandparent divorce?   
• What can I do if my children are displaying behaviors related to the divorce?
• How can I get my kids to talk about their struggles?
• When should I tell my children about the divorce?
• Is it okay to cry in front of my children about the divorce?
• What do I do if my children are mad at their grandparents because of the divorce?

About Katie

Katie Saint is a therapist, but this book came around because she is a mother of a two little boys whose grandparents (her parents) were getting divorced. She realized with all of their questions, other families must have the same concerns.

Professionally, she works with clients at many stages in life: relational problems; transitioning through divorce; working through ADHD, PTSD, anxiety and depression; grieving a loved one; and other life stressors. Katie focuses on helping clients recognize and build on their own strengths to meet their personal goals.

Katie Saint graduated from Lakeland College with a Master's Degree in Counseling, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She specializes in extreme behavioral problems. She provides individual, couple, pre-marital, and family counseling to children, adolescents and adults. Katie has over 4000 hours working with adults, children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum. She also offers an emotional control program for adolescents and adults struggling with impulsive behavior or emotional regulation. Katie utilizes a variety of therapeutic techniques including the combination of behavioral, cognitive and psychoanalytic tools.

Visit Katie's website: http://www.revitalizecounselingservices.com/


My Thoughts

Ari and Isaac just found out that their grandparents are getting a divorce.  Things will be different, grandma will have her own place without grandpa and visa versa. This makes the kids very sad and confused.  It just won't be the same as when they lived together.

Does that mean that mom and dad will get a divorce?

How can we make this easier for children so they can still enjoy time with each grandparent?

This book will help your child understand a little better.  It explains what you should tell them. It will still be fun to visit grandma at her house and doing the fun things they did before it would just be without grandpa.  Then there are special things they like to do with grandpa and they will still be able to do those things even without grandma.

I had never really thought about the effect it would have on a child when their grandparents divorce.  Now I definitely see that it would confuse a child to the point of pulling away from the situation because they weren't sure how to react.

Katie tells the story in a way so that the child will be more comfortable around the grandparents.  They need the assurance that they are still loved by both grandparents. I liked that the author provides activities for the child to help them express their feelings about the divorce.  Then there is a question and answer guide in the back of the book that offers information and support to the parents.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5.

Disclosure
I received a free book from Bostick Communications/Author for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  It is my own opinion.

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