Books As Gifts With Kelly Polark!

Today I have a guest post by picture book/middle grade author, Kelly Polark! Her latest picture book, WORDS ON BIRDS, was released this summer!

BOOKS AS GIFTS!

It's beautiful summertime! Time for graduation parties, birthday parties, or just time to relax and read.

Books are always a great gift idea, and if you can pair it with something else cute - even better.

Check out these fabulous gift ideas that include books, wonderful books!

FOR AGES BABY TO AGE EIGHT

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR by Eric Carle with this cute Caterpillar teether rattle, and/or Insect Lore Butterfly Garden!

COCK-A-DOODLE-OOPS! by Lori Degman with either a Melissa and Doug farm puzzle and/or a cute farm stuffed animal!

ROCKABET: CLASSIC EDITION (ABC picture book of rock) by Kelly Polark with a Lego Rock Band game, a Hello Kitty KISS Edition, or a toy instrument! A band tee or onesie would be cool, too!

CHU'S DAY & CHU'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL by Neil Gaiman with Chu the stuffed panda,  some school accessories, and/or a cute box of tissues!

FOR MIDDLE GRADE READERS

ORIGAMI YODA gift set by Tom Angleberger with what else but Star Wars Legos or toys!

ROCK 'N' ROLL PRINCESSES WEAR BLACK by Kelly Polark with an ITunes gift card!

I FUNNY: A MIDDLE GRADE STORY by James Patterson with goofy glasses!

WISH YOU WEREN'T by Sherrie Petersen with this astronomy ball!

FOR TEENS

DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth and this Dauntless tee!

The DRAGONFLY series by Leigh T. Moore with some cool shades!

SHIVER trilogy boxed set by Maggie Stiefvater with a cute wolf tee!

HAPPY SUMMER! HAPPY READING! HAPPY SHOPPING!

What Are You Reading?

I'm reading The Caged Graves by Dianne Salerni.  It really has my attention!  I don't want to eat, sleep or do any housework.  I just want to read.  Yes, it's that good!


What are you reading???

Hugs to all...sorry I've been gone from blogland for a few weeks.  I've been busy critiquing and reading.  

Speak Out Against... (& winners)

If you have ever been in a violent or controlled relationship, you probably recognize you don't want your children to be involved in that same type of relationship.  But what can you do? Talk to your children, WAY before they are teens.  They have to know they're valuable and deserving of love, respect and kindness.

I firmly believe books show kids how to treat others and how they should be treated.  Books can give them courage and show them a path to a better life.

If you are in a controlling or violent relationship it will effect your children...It's hard to leave a partner whether you are 16 or 60, but everyone deserves love, respect and kindness.  You are modeling what a "normal" relationship is, so what they see at home is really important.

There are places and people you can turn to if you are in this type of relationship.  If you belong to a church, a pastor may be able to counsel you.  A professional counselor could help too.  There are lots of organizations you can turn to: Help for Abuse, Dove, Inc, Domestic Violence, go to Google, there are lots of informational sites, more than I can even imagine.

If you suspect your teen is in a controlling or violent relationship, these sites have indicators you can look for and suggestions...

One of my writing friends Susan Oloier asked me to join her blog tour about his important issue.  Below are two books that involve teens in violent relationships.

Outcast

by  Susan Oloier

Noelle dreams of a different life, one where Trina Brockwell doesn’t exist. Trina has bullied Noelle since junior high. Now she’s tired of it. With the help of her black-sheep aunt and a defiant new classmate, Noelle seeks revenge. But vengeance comes with a price: Noelle risks friendship, her first love, and herself to get back at those who have wronged her.

Outcast is available at several sites.

Break from You

by Rebecca Green Gasper

Love shouldn’t hurt this much…Brooke Myers wants to believe she has it all: the perfect guy, the perfect relationship, the perfect life. She wants to believe it so much that she's willing to overlook the fear, the isolation, and the pain her boyfriend has caused her. She knows it isn't right but tells herself that love isn't always easy. However, when a fire destroys the restaurant during homecoming dinner, she forms an instant bond with the boy who saves her, one her boyfriend wouldn’t like. With the pain of a concussion reminding her of how bad things can get, she is forced to re-evaluate the relationship she has with her boyfriend and face the ghosts that haunt her. Brooke once believed love was all it took…but is it enough? Is it truly love when you've lost yourself in it?

You can find more out about Rebecca and her books on her blog.

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Congratulations to Carol Riggs for winner a copy of Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer!

And Congratulations to Angela Ackerman and Kelly Polark who won Princess in Training buttons from Tammi.  

When you look in the mirror tomorrow, I'd like you to remember, you are special, you are valued and you deserve to be treated with respect!