All Eyes On You by Susi Schaefer

Doesn't that little boy peek around the corner on today's read look adorable? And oh-so nervous! Today's read takes on the issue of performance nervousness or stage fright. I'm sure every single one of us has experienced this awful situation. You want to stand in front of people. You want to show them what you can do. Yet, actually having them watch you is a whole different problem. 

I'm curious to see how this book handles this. So, let's pull back the curtain and see what happens!

ALL EYES OF YOU

by Susi Schaefer

Sounds True

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Kids can freeze up when all eyes are on them, but there are strategies to move through performance anxiety with humor and success.

In this illustrated picture book, children are excited to appear in school plays, sporting events, and concerts. But when their moment in front of the crowd comes, they can freeze up, panic, forget their moves, or flub their lines.

All Eyes on You offers children tools and solutions for dealing with the stress of being in the spotlight, all with a healthy dose of humor. Whether it’s taking a deep breath and focusing on being present, or imagining the audience in their underwear, All Eyes on You shows kids they can move through performance anxiety into a positive experience of connecting with others and learning to shine.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON     /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

This one is for all those readers out there, who grow nervous when they have to step in front of a group of people and do something. In other words, this one is for everyone.

All sorts of performance possibilities appear in these pages as kids prepare for sport games, concerts, plays, shows and more. They practice and enjoy getting ready for the big day, putting in lots of effort and time. But then, it's time for them to step up and do their thing in front of fans and audiences. That's when the sweating, shaking, and nervous twitches begin.

The characters ins this read hit upon a diverse spectrum in so many ways. Each one is super excited about showcasing what they can do, and the cheerful energy of them preparing and practicing for the big day radiates from the page. I already thought this was nice, since it builds in the hard work for preparation along with the joy of doing something an individual enjoys. When the stage hits, the nervousness of each one is palpable and very understandable. Young readers will have no problem empathizing with the situations. But this section is kept relatively short as the book quickly slides into solutions. 

Sticking to the playful and active atmosphere, this book offers several possible ways to fight stage fright. These are simple, little tricks anyone can use. The illustrations keep this message from feeling preachy and let the characters shine as they fulfill their goals. By the end, there are feel good vibes mixed with inspiration.

The illustrations are bright and bold, and bring each activity across clearly and with energy. The text is kept relatively short and works well for even the younger listeners in the age category. It makes a lovely read-aloud, especially when listeners are in the process of preparing for performing something themselves.

And here she is...

Susi Schaefer trained as a classical glass painter in Austria before moving to the United States and studying graphic design. She is the illustrator of Zoo Zen and Good Morning, I Love You, Violet! as well as the author-illustrator of other picture books for children. Susi lives in Southern California with her family. For more, visit susischaefer.com.

A Little Extra Fun!

While putting today's post together, I ran across an interview with Susi Schaefer, where she talks about today's read. Since some of you might be curious to learn more...and she does have several books out on those shelves already, I thought I'd put it below. The Youtube channel is run by Gigi Rosenberg (@gigirosenbergvideo) , and she has several author interviews to take a peek at, for those who are interested in learning more.

Prophecy by M.L. Fergus

I'm going to start the month off with a young adult fantasy...and not a new one. This is the first in a popular series, which first appeared in 2013. It's now getting a new shine and hit the shelves with fresh dazzle around the beginning of this year. I haven't read the series, yet, and thought this would be a good opportunity to take a peek.

So, with high expectations (since it's done so well), let's open this one up and see what adventures it holds.

PROPHECY

The Fractured Kingdom #1

by M.L. Fergus

Tundra Books

YA Fantasy

352 pages

A girl who yearns for freedom, a handsome thief . . . and the start of an epic romantic adventure that will change the course of history, combining the romance and adventure of The Princess Bride with the political intrigue of Game of Thrones. For fans of Stephanie Garber, Leigh Bardugo, Shelby Mahurin and Jennifer L. Armentrout.

A lifetime of hardship and toil has left Persephone dreaming of a destiny that belongs to none but her. When a chance encounter with a handsome thief offers hope of escape, she recklessly sets her plan in motion.

But the thief, Azriel, has plans of his own and no intention of letting her go anywhere. For he and his clan believe that Persephone could be the key to defeating the king's regent, a sadistic monster who has hunted them for years. Torn between her longing for freedom and her growing feelings for Azriel, Persephone finds herself plunging ever deeper into a dark and dangerous world where death is never more than one careless word away.

As tensions rise to a fever pitch, Persephone faces the hardest choice she has ever had to make. And no one—least of all her—could have imagined the shocking truth her decision will reveal.

Updated and revised for a brand-new audience, this propulsive blend of romance, fantasy and adventure will ensnare readers' hearts and imagination. Once Upon a Broken Heart meets The Queen's Thief in Prophecy, the first book in The Fractured Kingdom trilogy — filled with heart-pounding romance and epic adventure.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Adventure meets spunk and humorous back-and-forths as a hero and heroine come up against a despicable evil.

Persephone has grown up as a slave and been her entire life mistreated. When a thief steals a chicken, everything turns upside down and not just because her owner has almost had enough of her. When the thief returns the next day as a Lord and purchases her, she finds herself, supposedly, freed from slavery, but now, she's at the center of a rebellion. She's thought to be the possible heroine of a prophecy, one that will place a new king on the throne and unite the people. But she's not convinced this prophecy is true. After all, it's just a person's words, and for her, it's another form of slavery...and all she wants is freedom.

This was released several years ago, did well, and now...if I've understood this correctly... has been revised to hit the world again. It's sold as a Princess Bride meets Game of Thrones. The later is only very lightly there, in the sense that there are several tribes always fighting to survive or take control. The Princess Bride vibes do come through on the dialogue and relationship between the hero and heroine, and a slight bit of over-the-top-ness on the animal friendships and horribleness of the bad guy. Otherwise, this tale takes on a complete feel of its own.

This first pages are on the darker side as the prophecy is born, and Persephone's situation is introduced. The circumstances are harsh. This heavier atmosphere remains throughout the story thanks to the terrible villain, who seems to have no redeeming qualities. In juxtaposition, there's the rest of the read. While Persephone faces dangerous and awful situations, her attitude and tendency to work with things in her own way keep a constant flow of lightness and even raise the eyebrows, at times. She leans to immaturity, and this keeps the novel in a solid young adult realm despite, sometimes, heavier moments.

As the first book in the series, this one does a nice job at laying the foundation of the characters and intrigue. The chapters allow insight not only into the hero's and heroine's thoughts but also give needed looks into the villain's head. The other side-characters hold little richness outside of their original personalities, which do add spice to the tale. But this one isn't about super depth. Even the world-building holds just enough to let the adventure and tension flow, but I hear whispers that the needed support on this end might appear in book two. That leaves this first book as a fun read to simply enjoy from beginning to end. And it is enjoyable.

And here she is...

M.L. FERGUS‘s many books for young people have been translated into more than a dozen languages, optioned for television, adapted for stage, and won or been shortlisted for numerous prestigious awards. She writes illustrated books for young readers under the name Maureen Fergus. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada with her family.

More information about M.L. Fergus can be found on her website www.maureenfergus.com.

The Secrets of Worthington Orphanage by R.A. Douthitt

 Today's read was just released last week. I really wanted to get to it by then but wanted the time to sink in and enjoy the creepiness. Because I had a very good suspicion that this was going to head in that direction. The author just happens to be one of my favorite paranormal authors, and I adored the series, which this one acts as a prequel to (if I understood that right). 

Anyway, ghost and spook fans should get excited because if this one holds everything I suspect it will, it will be quite the fun read.

 

THE SECRETS OF WORTHINGTON ORPHANAGE

by R.A. Douthitt

Middle Grade Paranormal

250 pages

ages 10 to 18

When shadows linger and whisper their secrets, danger is never far behind…

Young orphan Darla Sue Jeffries never imagined the horrors lurking behind the pristine façade of Worthington Orphanage. No one could have.

Desperate to escape the clutches of Ruby Worthington, the cold and calculating director, Darla is determined to expose the truth about the orphanage’s chilling past. With only her wits, the memories of her beloved family, and the help of two ghostly allies, Darla unearths a web of lies that stretches far beyond the orphanage walls.

But Darla isn’t the only one seeking justice. Investigative reporter George Lawson is close to unraveling Ruby's deadly secrets. But he must confront the powerful forces determined to keep the orphanage's dark history buried. Can he release his story before tragedy strikes?

As the past and present collide, Darla faces a harrowing risk her life to save the forgotten children of Worthington Orphanage or succumb to the same fate that claimed so many before her.

In this gripping tale of courage, betrayal, and the unyielding pursuit of justice, The Secrets of Worthington Orphanage will haunt you long after the final page.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON      

MY TIDBITS

Ghosts, dark secrets, and mystery swirl together to create a haunting and grabbing adventure.

Darla isn't ready for the orphanage but doesn't really have a choice, since her parents both died and her brother has already been sent to a boy's home. While she's sure her grandmother has tried to find the best home for her, it doesn't take long for the orphanage's wonderful facade to crack. Already the first night, Darla doesn't only meet other girls but the ghosts of children, who had passed. All claim that breaking the rules could easily leave her locked below without food and water with no hope of ever coming out. Determined to escape, Darla soon realizes the only way to freedom is to expose the horrors the orphanage holds, but they go much deeper than she could imagine.

Right away, the reader can't help but sympathizing with Darla and hope that she makes it through, but she never plays the victim, either. Darla might have a heavy, emotional load when her grandmother drops her off at the orphanage, but she's level-headed and tries to take things in stride. Her fears, concerns, hopes, and goals are understandable as she steers the social situations within the orphanage, not always perfectly but as best she can. The other characters gain enough depth to make them interesting as Darla works with them or deals with whatever situations they bring. There's enough sense of friendship and hope to keep the tale from growing too dark, and the tension holds the entire way through.

This isn't a light, ghost read. The deaths of the ghosts were harsh, which might make this a difficult read for more sensitive ghost fans. The danger is raw and obvious, and the intentions of the evil characters aren't puffed over. So, this is one for upper middle graders even if Darla starts off with a younger flair, at first. She grows quickly as the mystery unfolds. And the clues are well-laid making it very hard to guess where everything is going until the end.

Readers, who enjoy mysteries with bite and ghosts with an air of grit, will enjoy this one.

And here she is...

​Ruth A. Douthitt is an award-winning Christian fiction writer based out of Phoenix, AZ. She currently writes fiction for children and women's fiction and nonfiction for adults.

A teacher, speaker, professional artist, podcaster, runner, and an avid reader of biographies and history, Ruth loves all things creative.

http://www.artbyruth.com/

What's Coming in April?

With March coming to a close...and what a month that's been...I'm looking forward to seeing what April holds. Well, I already know it holds Easter (yay!) and several birthdays in our household. One even on Easter. So, it's a party month. Hopefully, the book pile contains the same energy.

And speaking of that book pile...after a closer look, it appears I have a pretty even mix over the age groups. The spookiness of last month doesn't seem to have dribbled over into April too much. Instead, the upcoming sunshine has taken control. I have a handful of mysteries, a few fantasies, and a couple science fiction tales, too. Those are popping up more and more in my stack, which is great since this genre always seems a step behind the others. There are a few reads, which include animals, and a couple nonfiction ones as well. I can safely say that April holds as much variety as the Spring flowers do. 

Not convinced? Here's a quick impression of what's coming up.

PROPHECY

This book is said to be a mix between The Princess Bride and Game of Thrones. I don't think I have to say anything else as to why I wanted to get my hands on it. If it delivers, of course. It's a fantasy story about a girl, who is fighting for her freedom and a thief. There should be tons of action, intrigue, and romance, too. Hopefully, not too much romance...I like my books exciting with romance on the side. I'll let you know if it lives up to these high expectations on the 3rd.

Young Adult Fantasy

ROSIE'S GARDEN

The cover screams Spring and working outdoors...exactly what the next weeks will hold for us, here on the farm. So, I had to take a look at this one. I'm not sure what the story is about, but I'm hoping it holds some inspiration as well as lovely characters. I'll grab up this one on the 8th and see what it holds.

Picture Book

CODE NAME SEVEN

I'm going to stay in the 'original story' direction and take a peek at the first book in this brand new series. It centers around a world where the 'breath of a star' transforms people in impossible ways. I'm not sure what that means, but it should hold intrigue, deal with mystery, and have a teen girl, who is unwilling dragged into the middle of everything. Or something like that? I'm not sure if this is heavy fantasy or science fiction or... hmmmm. No idea. I'll know more on the 11th.

Young Adult Fantasy

THE MISSING BOOK

This is part of a series for chapter book readers, who aren't ready for 'bigger' middle grad novels, yet. It should circle around forming friendships as well as the search for a missing book. I'm not really sure what to expect but have no doubt that it will be full of goodness...that's the impression I'm getting, anyway. I'm going to be exploring this one on the 12th.

Chapter Book

THE ZUZU SECRET

The bearded dragon on the cover caught my attention instantly. Definitely original...but the blurb also runs into the realm of sibling relationships, which is something else I enjoy. These two siblings, however, harbor secrets and need to learn how to steer through their lies and learn a few things along the way. And of course, there's the bearded dragon. I'm going to explore this one on the 14th.

Middle Grade Contemporary

THE CHILD AND THE TREE

After all the unique reads, it's time for something a little calmer. This picture book heads toward nature and should offer emotional, lyrical moments. It will explore the relationship between a child and a tree, and should hold lots of good vibes and warmth. We're looking at this one on the 19th.

Picture Book

THE BARKING PUPPY

While meandering through upcoming titles, this one caught my attention. Maybe because it seems to take a very different tone than many middle grade reads that are currently hitting the shelves. This one should be about friendship, patience, and, obviously, dogs. I'm curious where this read will go and hope it grabs and keeps the reader in the pages. I'm snuggling up with this one on the 21st to find out.

Middle Grade Contemporary

PEPPER MASALAH AND THE KASHMIRE PRINCESS

Fly carpets lead to mystery and adventure in these pages...or so it claims. I'm excited to see where this journey goes, especially since it plays out in Australia. I'm hoping for some cultural and mythical goodness as well as a fun adventure for younger chapter book readers. See if this book holds all of that with me on the 24th.

Chapter Book Fantasy

KAT'S GREEK SUMMER

After the rich pile of fantasy and imagination, I'm looking forward to heading into a contemporary read. Even better, this one heads to Greece and explores some history and culture, while diving into the rich relationship surrounding families. The main character seems to have a problem with lying and needs to deal with the consequences of letting them weave a web over time. Get ready to learn more about this journey with me on the 25th.

Young Adult Contemporary

 

GET DRESSED!

I always smile when I get my hands on a lovely, non-fiction read...and this one takes an original direction. It heads into the direction of fashion and goes through history to take a look at the various trends throughout time. I'm hoping for some very interesting insights because I have no doubt that there will be some surprising tidbits hidden in these pages. I'll be taking a peek on the 29th!

Middle Grade Nonfiction

Every month, I have more books to read than I could ever dream of getting to. But my schedule changes often, thanks to the ever drifting publishing market. My schedule wiggles, shifts, and even opens up. That's where Joker Reads come in. These are books I'm looking forward to picking up and will find a way to squeeze them in, at one point.

I just don't know when.

THE OMEN GIRL

This one doesn't hit the shelves until October, but I'm itching to take an early peek. It handles a girl with special talents, a dangerous contest, and omens. Everything will circle around omens. I'm expecting danger, action, and.... hmmm...  actually, I have no idea. But I'm ready to find out. Oh, and this one is a graphic novel. So, it will be a fun quick read. Hopefully, with top-notch illustrations, too.

When am I taking a look at this one? Well, that's the question, isn't it?

Young Adult Fantasy    /    Graphic Novel

What's the Actually Factually Difference? by Jane Wilsher

Today's read heads into one of my favorite directions—nonfiction! This is the section of the library that my kids always headed to  (and still head to) first. So, I was smiling when I got my hands on today's read. 

This book was released the beginning of February and holds a collection of many facts and tidbits. It appears that it's one to be picked up every now and then, and not necessarily read all in one go (although I'm sure there will be such readers, too). I'm hoping there will be some interesting facts and a little bit of fun.

Oh, and it's MMGM day (Marvelous Middle Grade Monday), so if you love middle grade reads, head on over HERE to discover more suggestions from other readers. 

Ready to see if there's something new to learn in these pages? 

WHAT'S THE ACTUALLY FACTULLY DIFFERENCE?

by Jane Wilsher

Illustrated by Liz Kay

words & pictures

Middle Grade Nonfiction

112 pages

ages 8 to 11

What's the actually factually difference? One question. Over 200 particularly pernickety answers. Wow friends and family with the answers and more in this detailed encyclopedia, ideal for picking up over and over again.  

What's the difference between a country and a continent? What's the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?And what about a wormhole and a black hole? Well, there are seven continents and nearly 200 countries. You’d need to run faster from a gator than a croc, but a croc has sharper teeth and a flatter snout. And as for the trickiness of black holes and wormholes, you'll have to read inside to find the answer to that one. . .  

What's the Actually Factually Difference? is an upbeat, fact-packed encyclopedia exploring the difference between over a hundred pairs. With sections on space, the body, the world, food, technology, transport, animals, and more, What's the Actually Factually Difference? is an accessible introduction to all kinds of popular subjects for children, extending learning by drilling down into the ‘actually factually’ detail of what’s what.

For every pair, the same taxing question, "What’s the difference between?", is asked and answered. Each time, both words are defined, including any similarities and differences. Additional pull-outs and facts are also included for every pair. Authored by Jane Wilsher with detailed and amusing artwork from Liz Kay, every fact is brought to life with humor and wit in this expansive title.

What's the Actually Factually Difference? opens up a world of facts and quizzing with family and friends. This fresh and fun encyclopedia brings non-fiction to life in an exciting new way, making it the perfect next adventure for curious young minds. 

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON    /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

Facts and information hit with with dizzying fun for those who love to know more about tons of different things.

Some things appear to be very similar, so much so that it's hard to know exactly what the differences are, such as  meteors, meteorites, and meteoroids. This book takes a look at all sorts of things, which often can be mixed up or misunderstood. 

The read starts with a quick introduction to various ways the book can be 'used' in more ways than just a read. There are a couple hints for various ways to work it into games and more. The book is divided into thirteen chapters, which include everything from things found in space to plants to historical tidbits and more. There's a very thorough index at the end to help keep everything organized and easy to locate. In each of these chapters, many pairs of terms are presented with quick explanations and very short, extra facts in little bubbles. There's a chaotic atmosphere to the format, which keeps the enjoyment and excitement high. Yet, it's no trouble to sort through the information. The facts are clear, interesting, and include more known things as well as lesser known ones. Some are more difficult concepts, while others are fairly 'easy'. In other words, it makes sure to touch upon a wide variety of interests to give a little something for everyone.

The illustrations are bright, bold, and bring across aspects of the facts in clear fashion, while keeping the atmosphere light. It's clear that the author and illustrator wanted to steer away from dry and boring, and they accomplish this nicely.

And here they are...

Jane Wilsher is an author and editor from the UK, and the founder of bop Publishing. Jane is the author of What Do Scientists Do All Day? (Wide Eyed, Editions, 2020), An Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts (Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2021) and 21 Things to Do With a Tree (Ivy Kids, 2023).

Liz Kay is a freelance illustrator based in Yorkshire. When not busy doodling, Liz is usually found hiking and biking around the Yorkshire countryside and playing tennis for my local club. She’s worked on a variety of commissions across illustrated maps, hand lettering and calligraphy, greetings cards, infographics, children’s books, newspapers and magazines, and animation.