Hi everyone!

I've been really slow at writing reviews lately, and the books have just been piling up. So I'm going to be doing a few picture book mini-reviews over the next few weeks. 

Chengdu Can Do
by Barney Saltzberg

Review

This simple, quiet story follows a young panda named Chengdu as he goes about his day. Readers can learn about opposites as the gentle text rambles along peacefully. While the main character exudes confidence, sometimes even such an independent character can use a little help and cooperation from his family. This calm book would make a great read-aloud for bedtime. 

Disney-Hyperion (2017)

Company's Coming and Company's Going
30th anniversary editions
by Arthur Yorinks
Illustrated by David Small

An elderly couple named Shirley and Moe receive some unexpected visitors one day in Company's Coming. While Moe calls the G-men and worries about being vaporized, Shirley's hospitality reflexes kick in. She lets them use the bathroom. She invites them over for dinner with the cousins. I'm not sure I've ever actually seen tanks in a children's picture book before, but there they are, pointed at the cozy little house the couple calls Bellmore. 

Luckily for their alien guests, Shirley's meatball recipe is cross-culturally considered to be "out of this world". In the sequel, Company's Going, they're invited to the planet Nextoo (which is "next to" Uranus -- har har!) to cater the aliens' sister's wedding. Things escalate quickly, as one of the aliens' uncles is a little trigger-happy. The bride-to-be frets over how she's supposed to host a wedding without any food. A bit weird, a bit unsettling, I'm not certain where the impetus for this duology came from, but in the end, old women, openness to new things, and kindness to each other triumphs over literal xenophobia. Read-alouders will have a fun time making up voices for all the characters.

Disney-Hyperion (2018, originally published 1988)

When Pigs Fly
by James Burks

Henry really wants to fly. His sister, Henrietta, is skeptical but tries to support him in his endeavors. As he tries different tactics (wings! a kite! a jet-pack! -- I mean, an electric fan!) he gets more and more discouraged, until Henrietta hits upon something that works. A great brother-sister story with a crafty and fun theme blends the pragmatic with the imaginative for a fun read-aloud.

Disney-Hyperion (2018)

That's it for today! I'll definitely be sharing my copies of these books with some young readers I know. Check back in a week for more picture books. 

You can check out the Events Calendar here (or view any remaining events below on http://www.readnowsleeplater.org/blog/2018/4/events-updated-spring-2018)

Today's Ontario Teen Book Fest post highlights Brandy Colbert! Check out our Q&A and the signed poster giveaway! Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour links leading up to the festival on Saturday, March 3, 2018. See you there!

About Ontario Teen Book Festival
 
When: Saturday, March 3, 2018, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Colony High School, 3850 E. Riverside Drive, Ontario, CA 91761
Website: http://www.ontariotbf.org/

As always, the event is FREE! No ticket is needed.

A FREE lunch will be provided by Panera Bread. (Yes, sandwiches, chips, and drinks! You can bring your lunch too if you want. I try to bring a little snack to share.)

If you're tweeting/sharing the event, please use the hashtag #ontariotbf!

Once Upon A Time Bookstore will be on hand if you want to purchase books. There will also be T-shirts and posters available for purchase as well. Check out their website at http://www.shoponceuponatime.com!

Want to help promote the event? Grab the attending badge or the banner up top and stick it on your various social media channels--you know you wanna!

Blog Tour Schedule

FEB 19th
Spotlight on Jennifer Brody - What A Nerd Girl Says
Spotlight on Abdi Nazemian - Read Now Sleep Later

FEB 20th
Spotlight on Anthony Breznican - Starkiller Reads
Spotlight on Lilliam Rivera - Movies Shows and Books

FEB 21st
Spotlight on Jessica Cluess - The Readers Antidote
Spotlight on Cindy Pon - My Fangirl Chronicles

FEB 22nd
Spotlight on Keynote Speaker Ellen Hopkins - Germ Magazine

FEB 23rd
Spotlight on Aditi Khorana - Nite Lite Book Reviews
Spotlight on Mary Pearson - Adventures of a Book Junkie

FEB 24th
Spotlight on Emily Ziff Griffin - Nite Lite Book Reviews
Spotlight on Brandy Colbert - Read Now Sleep Later

FEB 25th
Spotlight on Keynote Speaker Josephine Angelini - The Readers Antidote

FEB 26th
Spotlight on Isabel Quintero -  What A Nerd Girl Says
Spotlight on Amy Spalding - My Fangirl Chronicles

FEB 27th
Spotlight on Jonathan Maberry - Seeking Bazinga
Spotlight on Keynote Speaker Jeff Garvin - Movies Shows n Books

FEB 28th:
Spotlight on Ava Dellaira - Book Lovers Book Reviews
Spotlight on Kim Turrisi - Starkiller Reads

MAR 1st:
Spotlight on Jessica Brody - Adventures of a Book Junkie

MAR 2nd:
Spotlight on Robin Benway - What A Nerd Girl Says
Spotlight on Lindsey Summers - Seeking Bazinga

About Brandy Colbert

Brandy Colbert. Photo by Jessie Weinberg.

Brandy Colbert is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of Pointe, Little & Lion, and the forthcoming Finding Yvonne and The Revolution of Birdie Randolph. Her short fiction and essays have been published in several anthologies for young people. She lives and writes in Los Angeles.

About Little & Lion

When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she isn't sure if she'll ever want to go back. L.A. is where her friends and family are (along with her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support.

But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new...the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel's disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself--or worse.

Winner of ALA’s 2018 Stonewall Book Award for YA fiction

Interview with Brandy Colbert

RNSL: Is writing a social or a solitary task for you?

BC: It is completely solitary! I'm lucky to have a great group of writer friends in L.A., and they all get together often, writing at cafés and coffee shops. I'm always envious of their ability to work together, but I do my best writing when I'm alone. I concentrate better when I'm by myself, and like to read sentences and dialogue out loud as I go along. That probably wouldn't work so well with other people around.

RNSL: Was there a person who introduced you to a love of reading/writing? Who was it and how did they do it?

BC: My mom has always been influential in my reading life. My parents had lots of full bookshelves in our house when I was growing up, and trips to the library and bookstore were important parts of my childhood. My mom, especially, was a big reader and always encouraged me to buy and borrow books. My parents have always been supportive of my writing, even when it was just a hobby.

RNSL: Who is your ideal reader?

BC: I'm grateful for anyone who reads my work, but I'm especially happy when black girls connect with my books. I didn't find a lot of books featuring girls who looked like me when I was growing up, so it's a privilege to write books about girls who deal with the things I was experiencing back then.

RNSL: Do you listen to music when you write? Why or why not?

BC: I love music, but I don't listen to it while I write! I love it when writers make playlists for each of their books, but I find it a bit distracting to listen to music when I'm in the middle of a project. 

RNSL: If I were not an author, I would be a ______.

BC: My day job is freelance copyediting for books and magazines, which I love. But if I were not able to write books, my dream is to be a professional tap dancer! I've been tap dancing since I was a kid, and it's one of my favorite things in the world. When I don't have the time to take classes, I love watching videos of the Syncopated Ladies, who are so talented and show how versatile tap dancing can be.

RNSL: Cake or Pie? And why?

BC: Cake! I am pretty picky about pies, but I love almost all cake and crave it constantly.

The Giveaway

1 winner gets an Ontario TBF poster signed by all attending authors! Please note, authors can cancel, or be missed in the signing of the poster…though that is all VERY rare! Enter here or use the Rafflecopter widget below.

About the Book

It Should Have Been You
by Lynn Slaughter

Blog Tour Schedule

Read Other Excerpts from It Should Have Been You!

1/24: Teenreads
1/25: Criminal Element
1/29: No More Grumpy Bookseller
1/30: Elizabeth A. White
2/1: Short & Sweet Reviews
2/2: Novel Novice
2/5: Read Now Sleep Later

Published by Page Street Kids (Jan 30, 2018)

Living in her sister's shadow has never been more dangerous.

Five months ago, Clara Seibert’s twin sister was murdered. Struggling under the weight of newfound and unwanted attention, the only thing that makes Clara feel normal is ghostwriting an advice column for her school’s newspaper—until she starts receiving threatening emails in her staff inbox.

“It should have been you...but soon."

Convinced that her email stalker blames her for her sister’s death and is out for revenge, Clara undertakes her own investigation to clear her name and avoid a similar fate. Can she solve the murder before it’s too late?

About the Author

Lynn Slaughter has a passion for dance and music—from Frank Sinatra to Chopin—and her first book, While I Danced, was a finalist in the 2015 EPIC competition in the Young Readers category. After a long career as a professional dancer, she earned her MFA in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University. She and her husband live in Louisville, Kentucky. You can visit her at www.lynnslaughter.com and follow her on Twitter @lslaughter2.

Alethea's review is forthcoming (just received the book!) but you can read an excerpt here, and by checking out the previous blog tour stops (linked above). You can also add the book to Goodreads and order your own copy online. These are not affiliate links.

IndieBound - Support your local independent bookstore

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

By the time I got home, I was famished. I hoped our guests couldn’t hear my stomach growling as the aroma of my mother’s signature coq au vin and wild rice filled the house. After five months of frozen dinners, I’d forgotten what a wonderful cook she is.

Dr. Lewitsky and Mr. Rasher sat in the living room with my parents sipping white wine and snacking on some disgusting-looking stuffed mushrooms. They rose to greet me. I hadn’t seen them since the funeral. Like my parents, they seemed to have aged in just a few months.  The creases in her face had deepened, and dark shadows underlined his eyes.

She hugged me and exclaimed, “It’s so lovely to see you, Clara. I only wish we were all here together under happier circumstances.” Her eyes misted, as she grabbed my hands in hers. “Look at these lovely long fingers—just like Moura’s.” She held up my hands as though she were showing off the prize winner of a hand model contest at the state fair. “Don’t you think so, Joel?”

He shrugged and looked uncomfortable, while she blathered on. “Well, it’s just a shame that you don’t play.”

I pulled my hands from hers. “Not really. Believe me, if you’d heard me play, you’d know why Mrs. Edlemore was very relieved to lose me as a student.”

I was already sorry they’d come, wishing I was back in my cocoon of a newspaper office instead of here. But this was a command performance. Even if it hadn’t been, I would have shown up for my mom and dad—especially Mom. I’d do anything to help her find her way out of her grief-filled fog—even spend yet another evening on Moura talk. Hell, I’d had a lot of practice.

As though sensing my feelings, my dad, bless him, piped up with: “Clara has other talents. She’s like you, Joel. She writes for her school newspaper and wants to study journalism in college.”

Mr. Rasher smiled politely. “Music feeds the soul, but words on paper can sing too, no?”

“Yes,” I said, liking him a bit better tonight. I knew he was a big deal in the music writing business, but his work always seemed a bit over the top to me, almost like his philosophy was— why use a simple word like “sad” to describe a piece of music, when you could use “lugubrious”?

He and his wife were a super example of “opposites attract.”  Whereas she was perfectly put together with her coiffed frosted hair and navy-tailored pants suit, he seemed… well, wild. Unless his dusty blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail like it was tonight, it spilled everywhere. And his clothes always looked like, “I had to throw something on, so this was it.” Tonight, he wore jeans, weathered cowboy boots, and an ancient-looking jacket over a T-shirt from last year’s Stravinsky Festival.

The conversation shifted to the logistics of setting up Moura’s memorial scholarship fund. Dad proposed offering college scholarships to disadvantaged aspiring pianists, while Mom insisted, “It’s really too late for a concert career by that time. Moura would have wanted to help younger gifted students get the kind of quality piano training they need.”

As far as I knew, Moura had never had the slightest interest in advancing anyone’s music career other than her own. But hey, this was the most animated I’d seen my mother in weeks, so who was I to argue?

The discussion continued into dinner. Dr. Lewitsky went on and on about memorializing my sister—her prize student, who’d catapulted her own reputation as a master teacher into the stratosphere—but Mr. Rasher was strangely quiet. Likely his wife had pressured him to write the flattering puff piece about Moura for Ohio Magazine. Was he as weary as I was of all conversations revolving around the great Moura Seibert?

I was starting to feel a tinge of guilt for having such thoughts, when Dr. Lewitsky turned to me. “You know, Clara, you could be a big help. How about if you contact all the young people who were fans of Moura’s about raising money for the scholarship? She has a memorial site on Facebook where you could get in touch with them.”

I swallowed hard.

“Actually, Clara steers clear of social media,” Dad said. “There were some… unkind things said after Moura’s death.”

“Well,” Dr. Lewitsky said with a sniff, “I’d be glad to do a little research for you. You know how it is—Young people respond more to another young person.”

“Honestly, I don’t think her fans would respond well to me. It’s no secret there were a lot of rumors…”

“All the more reason to show them what rubbish all that talk was, how much you care,” she argued.

“I should think you’d want to do anything to help memorialize your sister,” Mom said in a low voice. For the briefest of moments, our gazes locked.

 “I’ll think about it. And maybe I can get an article in the school paper.” 

“Great idea, honey,” my dad said. “Now, how about if we form a planning committee?”

Dr. Lewitsky seemed enthusiastic about all of the possible candidates, until Dad brought up asking Anne Hartsell. “I’d rather not if you don’t mind,” she said. “Alex and Moura were such competitors, and it might be, you know, uncomfortable.”

My dad looked puzzled but smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere. I was puzzled too. Alex Kwon was Mrs. Hartsell’s student—also very gifted and ambitious. He and Moura had gone head-to-head in competitions since they were kids. She usually came out on top, but as far as I knew, they’d been friends. So had Dr. Lewitsky and Mrs. Hartsell.

I filed this away in my mental folder of “Strange Things about Music People I Will Never Understand.” Since everyone seemed to be done with their main course, I offered to clear the table and bring out the dessert and coffee. Even kitchen duty was preferable to committee talk.

When I brought in dessert, however, conversation was blessedly interrupted by “oohs” and “ahs” over my mom’s chocolate mousse topped with real whipped cream. She’d definitely brought her A-game to tonight’s dinner, and she looked brighter and more alive than I’d seen her in weeks. Maybe doing something in Moura’s honor would really help her heal, move on with her life. I sure hoped so.

As they lingered over coffee, my dad brought out his trusty yellow legal pad to jot down notes on their next steps. A classic Dad move. Mr. Rasher excused himself and headed for the bathroom, and I retreated to the kitchen and pantry to put away the dishes. I glanced down the hallway that led to Moura’s studio. Her door was slightly ajar and the light was on.

My whole body stiffened. I’d avoided Moura’s studio since that night—too many ghosts, too many memories. The sickening sweet smell of my sister’s blood, her glassy-eyed stare, my own screams.

I felt myself sliding. No—not going to replay this. Not again. What had the therapist said? Take three cleansing breaths and substitute a memory of Moura alive, happy, playing the music she loved so much.

The breaths helped, but my curiosity won over and I crept down the hall to Moura’s sanctuary.

The door creaked slightly as I opened it wider. Mr. Rasher turned around, a startled look on his face. He held a picture of Moura that had been shot during a guest appearance with the university orchestra. Her eyes were closed, and her head was thrown back in ecstasy as she played the final notes of a Bach concerto.

“This is my favorite picture of her,” he said, his voice sounding unsteady. “Years of covering music, and I’ve never met anyone this young who played with such reverence for the music, such passion. She was remarkable, you know?”

“She was,” I said. He looked so sad that I moved toward him and touched his arm.  “I loved listening to her play, too.”

For the first time that night, he smiled warmly. Then he surprised me by giving me a hug. He smelled of sandalwood and country air.

When he drew back, he said, “I’m so sorry. , Clara. I know how difficult this is for you, even if you and Moura…you weren’t close, were you? Moura just didn’t understand you. , Clara. You were like two shooting stars on totally different trajectories.”

I was about to tell him that Moura had been the only star in my family when Dr. Lewitsky walked in. “Time to go, Joel.” Her voice sounded brittle. Was it hard for her to be in Moura’s studio, too?

“Yes, of course,” he said, as he handed me Moura’s picture. “It was nice talking with you. Take care.” He touched my shoulder as he brushed past.

“You too.”

Dr.Lewitsky grabbed his arm as they moved down the hallway ahead of me.

Excerpted from IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU © Copyright 2018 by Lynn Slaughter. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Giveaway Time!

Enter below for a chance to win a copy of Lynn Slaughter's It Should Have Been You.

US only, ends 02/20/2018.

1. Open to the US only, ends 02/20/2018.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
3. We and the publisher/publicist are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

I feel terrible for not posting this sooner. I have been traveling and not had access to Wi-Fi some days. Now that I've had the chance to get over jet-lag, here's a few books I wanted to make sure you know about, not just for holiday gift-giving but for every occasion (including giving yourself a gift! come on, you deserve it).

Promotional copies of these books were given to me by the publisher, Candlewick, for free in exchange for an honest review. I have also decided to hold a giveaway (I will provide the prize, but the winner gets to choose from the titles provided by the publisher). Click the title to see the publisher's page. Read all the way to the end to enter the giveaway (open internationally, ends 1/8/2018).

La La La: A Story of Hope by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Jaime Kim

A sweet and gentle, almost-wordless picture book, La La La is the hopeful story of a little girl calling out into the world, listening for someone kindred to reply to her simple song, and getting increasingly frustrated when no one answers... until someone unexpected does. La La La would be a great gift for the very youngest book lovers (and their parents).

The Wolf, The Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Barnett and Klassen's signature dark humor is back, this time starring a trio of woodland creatures who learn to thrive and co-exist (peacefully, mostly) in a wolf-eat-duck world. 

Harry Potter: Magical Film Projections: Quidditch by Insight Editions

For the Harry Potter fan who has almost everything, a new kind of movie tie-in which puts you right in front of the action. Lumos! (or, as far as we Muggles can manage, accio flashlight!) Shine light through the acetate pages and get ready to re-enact your favorite Quidditch scenes from the films. (Psst, there are Patronus Charm and Creatures edition books too).

Where’s Waldo? Destination: Everywhere! by Martin Handford

Confession: I can never pass by a Where's Waldo anything without stopping for a while and getting lost in the minutiae of the incredibly detailed and funny scenes. Handford revisits old scenes and dares you to spot the differences. A must-have for every waiting room in the world.

A World of Information by Richard Platt, illustrated by James Brown

I'm a sucker for infographics. I would recommend A World of Information for the know-it-all type who knows only that there's still more to learn out there in the world. It's a clean and clearly rendered, utterly enjoyable coffee table book, perfect for passing those idle moments absorbing just one more bit of data. 

Knightology: A True Account of the Most Valiant Knights by Dugald A. Steer

I'll be honest with you--I'm not a fan of many of the design aspects of this book... I always think it would have looked much cooler handwritten instead of printed with a handwriting-esque font. But less discerning young folk with a penchant for knights and quests will find hours of enjoyment hidden away in the nooks and footnotes of this -Ology book. 

Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor and Loki by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love

I've saved the best for last. You don't have to be an aficionado of Thor and Loki to appreciate this engaging tome of Norse mythology. The bold graphics take the storytelling to a new level. As a fantasy fan and introvert, my dream holiday involves filling a giant mug with hot cocoa, sneaking away from whatever party I'm at, and curling up in a cozy reading nook with this baby. 

The Giveaway

One winner gets to choose one of these titles:

La La La by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Jaime Kim
The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Harry Potter: Magical Film Projections: Quidditch by Insight Editions
Where's Waldo: Destination Everywhere by Martin Handford
A World of Information by Richard Platt, illustrated by James Brown
Knightology by Dugald A. Steer
Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor, and Loki by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love

Get extra points for following on social media and commenting with which book or books you would like to read the most. 

1. Open internationally, ends 01/14/2018.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
3. We and the publisher/publicist are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

Hey everyone! Just dropping in to let you know I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth.

• I graduated! Yay! No more textbooks (not for a long while, anyway). I got my Bachelor's of Science in Organizational Management, and I am super pleased to have some free time again.
• I haven't been reading much at all. I am re-listening to The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss on audiobook (read by Nick Podehl, one of my faves!) in preparation for recording a new podcast with my husband. The podcast's name will not be appropriate for this blog, haha. So whenever that happens, I'll be sure to let you guys know anyway, in case you're interested in listening to me and my BFF talk about books that give us all the feels. (By the way, if you're not into Audible like I am, did you know you can support your local independent bookstore by shopping for audiobooks through Libro.FM? You can check it out here (Once Upon a Time) or here (Vroman's), or wherever your local indie bookshop is.
• I am taking a ceramics class, and I love it. I don't have photos of anything because it's hard to remember to take a photo in the moment of creation... also because usually I'm just covered in clay and don't want to handle my phone. More on this soon.
• I have been knitting and sewing a lot lately. If you are interested, I often post my projects on Instagram. I am also blogging and possibly podcasting about crafts at The Make and Do Book. 
• I've been listening to lots of podcasts like Criminal, My Favorite Murder, Twisted Stitches Podcast, Joy Sandwich, and 99% Invisible to get my podcasting mojo back, since it's been a really long while since I have podcasted. I might write some reviews and a guide to my favorite episodes if I can get around to it.
• I have a little bit of everything coming up soon, including an event update (because I totally missed almost all of October and November, eek!).
• I did get to see John and Hank Green on the last stop of the Turtles All the Way Down tour, with my husband and our pal David. Thanks so much to dear friend and YA author Kathy Kottaras for having the foresight to buy extra tickets! You should really check out her books. 

That's it for now. Stay tuned for a YA giveaway launching just before Thanksgiving. 

Crime reporter Hilde Lysiak always gets the scoop!

About the Author

Hilde Kate Lysiak is the reporter and publisher of the Orange Street News. Since starting her paper at the age of seven Hilde has written and published hundreds of stories in her hometown of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Hilde has been recognized for her work in the New York Times, NBC Today Show, GMA, The Washington Post, and thousands of other media across the world.

About Hero Dog!

Ten-year-old crime reporter Hilde Lysiak is starring in her very own Branches early chapter book series -- inspired by news stories Hilde wrote in real life! In this first book, there's been a break-in on Orange Street! Cupcakes have been stolen, and soon a pie goes missing, too. Hilde and her sister/photographer, Izzy, must interview witnesses and follow the clues. Can Hilde crack the case in time to post her news story online? Joanne Lew-Vriethoff's personality-filled illustrations appear on every page, bringing Hilde's adventures to life for young readers!

Giveaway Time!

One (1) winner receives:
1 copy of Hero Dog!

Open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Scholastic.

1 winner will be chosen using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

1. Open to the US only, ends 10/01/2017.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
3. We and the publisher/publicist are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

Hello again, everyone! "Mother" Bruce and his geese are back--now with more mice. Read on for a review and a 3-book giveaway (with stickers and a tote bag!!!)

If you, like me, fell in love with Bruce the gruff but motherly bear who, er, against his own will keeps sheltering small creatures in his house, you are in for a treat. If you have no idea who "Mother Bruce" is, settle down and I'll tell you!

BRUCE’S BIG MOVE (Bruce #3)
By Ryan T. Higgins
In Stores September 26th, 2017
Recommended for ages 3-5

About the Book

After the events of Hotel Bruce, our favorite curmudgeonly bear shares his home with not only his four geese, but three rowdy mice besides! Fed up with their shenanigans, Bruce sets off to find a rodent-free household. But as usual, nothing goes quite according to plan...

A hilarious sequel for fans of the previous Bruce books, as well as a standalone discovery for new readers, Bruce's next reluctant adventure is sure to keep kids giggling.

About the Author

Ryan T. Higgins is an author and illustrator who likes the outdoors and cheese sandwiches. He is NOT a grumpy old black bear, but he DOES like making books about one--starting with the best-selling Mother Bruce, which received the E. B. White Read-Aloud Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor. He lives in Maine with his wife and kids... and too many pets.

Alethea's Review

Full disclosure: my brother's name is Bruce, and like Bruce in the book, he is tough but also a softy, and makes me laugh. So I am a little biased in his favor.

After taking in 4 geese and 3 mice, it's evident his large family has outgrown their home, as well as outstayed their welcome with Bruce, who would really prefer to be alone (or so he thinks). Ok, ok--he'd prefer it if it was just him and his original "children", minus the three rodents, who are messy and noisy and did we mention messy? Also, these undauntedly optimistic little fellas just can't take a hint--ok, ok--a blatant signal that they're not wanted, as evidenced by Bruce's many attempts to mail, fly, or otherwise chuck them out.

A host of other woodland creatures are involved with trying to find a home for the family. Kids will have fun naming them and figuring out the funny ways they all drive Bruce a little nuts. When Bruce finally gets his quiet, peaceful, mouse-free house though, things aren't all fine and dandy as he expected they would be. Bruce tries everything to cheer up his geese, but as with his previous attempts to rid himself of unwanted tenants, nothing seems to work.

The illustrations in Bruce's Big Move are great at first glance, then even better as you look closer. There's a recipe for applesauce in the back endpapers, and other little details that will surely entertain those with sharp eyes. For an additional treat and giggle, take a look under the dust cover (a favorite pastime of true picture book aficionados). This will be a great library addition for book lovers who just need a light, humorous tale to read before bedtime. 

Giveaway Time!

A Whole Lotta Bruce!

One (1) winner receives:

*       Copies of Bruce's Big Move, Hotel Bruce, and Mother Bruce
*       Branded tote bag and stickers

1 winner will be chosen using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

1. Open to the US only, ends 10/01/2017.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
3. We and the publisher/publicist are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

Murder Among the Stars
A Lulu Kelly Mystery (Book 2)
by Adam Shankman
and Laura L. Sullivan

June 13, 2017 from Atheneum Books

About the Book

After being framed for attempted murder, Lulu Kelly has earned a rest. Unfortunately, there is no rest in Hollywood for a rising starlet. Lulu and her boyfriend Freddie are invited to posh Hearst Castle, where Lulu will be competing against other young actresses for the role of a lifetime. But what’s a house party without a little murder?
 
After a rival actress is found dead under the dining room table, Lulu makes it her mission to solve the mystery. But illusion is this town's number one export, and it's hard to tell the ambitious from the truly evil. As the clues pile up, Lulu and Freddie race to find the killer, even as Lulu becomes the next target.

Review

Murder Among the Stars opens with 17-year-old Lulu Kelly's arrival at Hearst Castle for a strange film audition set up as a weekend party. It isn't long before the bodies start hitting the floor, and despite her reservations in the wake of a very recent scandal, Lulu can't help but be drawn into the investigation. Unfortunately, as one character wryly notes, she's clever enough to get into scrapes, but not quite clever enough to get out of them.

There's a giant cast which makes this story a little difficult to track, even if the reader is familiar with real life figures of the 1930's, including publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst and movie stars such as Jean Harlow. The story touches on subjects such as prohibition, the mafia, old Hollywood, and family drama, while taking the reader on a fantasy tour of "the ranch", the Hearsts' sprawling estate where Lulu eventually finds herself somewhat trapped. The party itself wouldn't have been so terrible if she could just get a few moments alone with her beau, and if a blackmailer, a murderer, or possibly both weren't on the loose.

The mixture of murder and tinsel town gossip can seem quite clichéd, even with the modern lens applied to the accusation of a young black man found to be trespassing on the estate, or the roles of women, onscreen and off. The pairing of a rags-to-riches heroine paired with a riches-to-rags boyfriend also seems a bit too neat and symmetrical. Even as the reader is lulled by the steady predictability of the plot, the field of suspects is quite wide, and abundant red herrings will keep all but the most expert of mystery readers guessing. 

The writing often tells more than it shows, and that may be a byproduct of involving what seems like an unnecessarily long list of characters. But even for those who might not be too pleased with this novel, it may still give one a hankering to look up the true stories woven into the fabric of this book's plot. I for one would sit through a two-hour TV movie of this, if they could shoot it at Hearst Castle, with authentic costumes and music, and maybe pass Rose McIver off as 10 years younger (I can totally see it in my mind's eye already).

(-) weak style, had to look up what year this would have been set in, secondary/tertiary characters were so many! and confusing
(-) love triangle forming/formed? please no.
(+) kept me guessing almost until the end
(+) I like Lulu and Patricia
(+) history is stranger than fiction

Giveway Time!

Enter to win a hardcover copy of Murder Among the Stars by Adam Shankman and Laura L. Sullivan. 

1 winner will be chosen using the Rafflecopter widget below.Good luck!

1. Open to the US only, ends 9/17/2017.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
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4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

Blog Tour Schedule

8/27/17 - Bumbles & Fairytales - Author interview
8/28/17- Fiktshun - Author interview
8/29/17 - Midsummer Reads - Review & music playlist
8/30/17 - Twinning for Books - Chapter excerpt
8/31/17 - The Hollow Cupboards - Review
9/1/17 - Haunting of Orchid - Lyrics post
9/2/17 - Falling for YA - Spotlight post
9/3/17 - Read Now Sleep Later - Review

HI everyone! Lots of fun events are coming up in the next few weeks, and we are getting close to revealing the lineup for this year's Pasadena Loves YA event. Check out the upcoming events right here!

Hello everyone! I have another great picture book giveaway from a publisher today, and long-time YA readers will recognize the author's name: Caroline B. Cooney. Yes, yes! That Caroline B. Cooney! Read on for more about the book and author, as well as a chance to win a hardcover finished copy of Cooney's first picture book, I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug!

Giveaway open to US addresses only, ends . Prizing and samples provided by ZonderKidz.

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!

By Caroline B. Cooney
Illustrated by Tim Warnes
A Picture Book for Ages 4-8, available in store now!

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, written by bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney, is a playful and comforting bedtime book that imagines all the wonderful ways a child might give and receive a hug.

Alethea's Review

I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug! is a great bedtime read-aloud picture book. Throughout Caroline B. Cooney's verse, the type of hug changes based on the type of animal shown in Tim Warnes's warm and friendly illustrations. An overzealous pup chases then cozies up with the child. A standoffish cat eventually warms up. A horse gallops with abandon, and undersea creatures aren't left out either--both a fish and a whale manage to give a hug, too! Just as the wild and fun animal hugs bring up feelings of excitement and joy, sheep gives a quiet, calming hug. Then the best hug of all--a bear hug--from mom and the teddy bear who has stuck with him all throughout the story.

This is sure to become a read-it-again book in many households, and I highly recommend it. There's enough variation in the rhyme and tone of Cooney's poem to stop parents from getting bored to death with it too fast. The animals are fun and invite the opportunity to ask, what do you think a fish/duck/pig hug is going to be like?

Although I take issue with the cat being enticed with a yarn ball (people! don't give your cats yarn balls--unless you want a gross and expensive trip to the vet) I also love Warnes's shifting palette, dusky pinks and purples for the horse as it runs through the rain, saturated greens and yellows for the caterpillar, calming blue hues for the spreads depicting the whale and sheep. I also love how elements follow from page to page--the fish from the tub are also in the ocean scene; the cheerful fabric of mom's dress appears on all of the animals delivering hugs, and of course that adorable teddy bear tags along on the whole adventure. There is also a really lovely patchwork illustration that, I'm just saying, if a crafty person out there might want to make a quilt to go along with this book, that and a teddy bear or maybe some PJs would make a really excellent gift for some lucky kid.

About the Author

Caroline B. Cooney was born in New York, grew up in Connecticut, and now lives in South Carolina. Caroline is the author of 90 Young Adult novels in many genres, and her books have sold over fifteen million copies. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug! is her first picture book. It’s based on a verse she wrote for her own children, Louisa, Sayre and Harold, who are grown now.

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Giveaway Time!

Thanks for reading this far. The publisher, Zonderkidz, is sponsoring this giveaway. They provided my sample copy and will provide the prize for the winner. 

1 winner will be chosen using the Rafflecopter widget below.

1. Open to the US only, ends 7/19/2017.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
3. We and the publisher are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

That's it! Good luck and good night! ((( bear hugs )))

Kathy Burnette was my roomie for a couple of days when I attended ALAN in Chicago with our friends Cathy B and Alyson B. Her internet handle is The Brain Lair, an anagram for The Librarian! She has been a librarian and a huge supporter of literacy for some years and, like me, has dreamed of owning her own bookshop. With this Kickstarter project she hopes to make it possible. Watch the video below and click on the widget to read more about it!

I don't live in Indiana and have never been there, but I would love to be able to visit The Brain Lair Bookshop in real life. If you

value a love of reading

want to promote diverse authors

believe in the power of books

want to help encourage underfunded youth to gain literacy skills and interests

think that writing and reading helps people learn and grow 

Please consider helping out The Brain Lair Bookstore! There are also some cool perks you can get with your donation starting at $10 for a downloadable book recommendation list and $25 for a mug or tote bag.

Kathy is committed to sharing knowledge and giving back to the community. The store, once open, will also offer educator and student discounts (up to college students! wow!). I also look forward to supporting them by buying books online from their store. I cannot wait to see this become reality!

Thank you for reading this far!

<3 Alethea

Hi everyone! I just received a copy of Kristen Simmons's standalone novel, THE GLASS ARROW. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I'd love to share some info about the book, an excerpt, and a Q&A with the author for those of you interested in reading this. 

The Glass Arrow

Kristen Simmons
Tor Teen, 2015 (paperback edition 2015)

Once there was a time when men and women lived as equals, when girls were valued, and women could belong only to themselves. But that was ten generations ago. Now women are property, to be sold and owned and bred, while a strict census keeps their numbers manageable and under control. The best any girl can hope for is to end up as some man’s forever wife, but most are simply sold and resold until they’re all used up.

Only in the wilderness, away from the city, can true freedom be found. Aya has spent her whole life in the mountains, looking out for her family and hiding from the world, until the day the Trackers finally catch her.

Stolen from her home, and being groomed for auction, Aya is desperate to escape her fate and return to her family, but her only allies are a loyal wolf she’s raised from a pup and a strange mute boy who may be her best hope for freedom. . . if she can truly trust him.

Excerpt

“Run, Aya! I feel them! They’re coming!”

I know a moment later what she means. The horses’ hooves are striking the ground, vibrating the gravel beneath my knees. I look to the brush beside us and quickly consider dragging Metea into it, but the horses are too close. If I’m going to save myself I don’t have time.

“Get up!” I am crying now. The salty tears blend with my sweat and burn my eyes.

“Leave me.” “No!”

Even as I say it I’m rising, hooking my arms beneath hers, pulling her back against my chest. But she’s dead weight and I collapse. She rolls limply to one side. I kiss her cheek, and hope she knows that I love her. I will sing Bian’s soul to the next life. I will sing her soul there too, because she surely is doomed to his same fate.

“Run,” she says one last time, and I release her.

I sprint due north, the opposite direction from the cave where I hope Salma has hidden the twins. I run as hard and as fast as I can, fueled by fear and hatred. My feet barely graze the ground for long enough to propel me forward, but still I can feel the earth tremble beneath them. The Trackers are coming closer. The Magnate is right on my heels.

I dodge in my zigzag pattern. I spin around the pine trees and barely feel the gray bark as it nicks my arms and legs. My hide pants rip near the knee when I cut too close to a sharp rock, and I know that it’s taken a hunk of my skin, too. No time to check the damage, no time for pain. I hurdle over a stream-bed and continue to run.

A break in the noise behind me, and I make the mistake that will cost me my freedom.

I look back.

They are close. So much closer than I thought. Two horses have jumped the creek. They are back on the bank now, twenty paces behind me. I catch a glimpse of the tattered clothes of the Trackers, and their lanky, rented geldings, frothing at the bit. The faces of the Virulent are ashy, scarred, and starved. Not just for food, but for income. They see me as a paycheck. I’ve got a credit sign tattooed across my back.

I run again, forcing my cramping muscles to push harder. Suddenly, a crack pierces the air, and something metal—first cold, then shockingly hot—winds around my right calf. I cannot hold back the scream this time as I crash to the ground.

The wire contracts, cutting through the skin and into the flesh and muscle of my leg. The heat turns electric, and soon it is shocking me, sending volts of lightning up through my hips, vibrating my insides. My whole body begins to thrash wildly, and I’m powerless to hold still. The pressure squeezes my lungs and I can’t swallow. I start to pant; it is all I can do to get enough air.

A net shoots out over me. I can see it even through my quaking vision. My seizing arms become instantly tangled.

“Release the wire! Release it!” orders a strident male voice.

A second later, the wire retracts its hold, and I gasp. The blood from my leg pools over the skin and soaks the dirt below. But I know I have no time to rest. I must push forward. To avoid the meat market, to keep my family safe, I must get away.

I begin to crawl, one elbow digging into the dirt, then the next. Fingers clawing into the mossy ground, dragging my useless leg. But my body is a corpse, and I cannot revive it.

Mother Hawk, I pray, please give me wings.

But my prayers are too late.

My voice is only a trembling whisper, but I sing. For Bian and for Metea. I sing as I push onward, the tears streaming from my eyes. I must try to set their souls free while I can.

Out of the corner of my eye I see the boney fetlocks of a chestnut horse. The smooth cartilage of his hooves is cracked. This must be a rental—the animal hasn’t even been shod. An instant later, black boots land on the ground beside my face. Tracker boots. I can hear the bay of the hounds now. The stupid mutts have found me last, even after the horses and the humans.

I keep trying to crawl away. My shirt is soaked by sweat and blood, some mine, some Metea’s. It drips on the ground. I bare my teeth, and swallow back the harsh copper liquid that is oozing into my mouth from a bite on the inside of my cheek. I am yelling, struggling against my failing body, summoning the strength to escape.

“Exciting, isn’t it boys?” I hear a man say. The same one who ordered the release of the wire.

He kneels on the ground and I notice he’s wearing fine linen pants and a collared shirt with a tie. If only I had the power to choke him with it. At least that would be vengeance for one death today. His face is smooth and creaseless, but there’s no fancy surgery to de-age his eyes. He’s at least fifty.

He’s wearing a symbol on his breast pocket. A red bird in flight. A cardinal. Bian has told me this is the symbol for the city of Glasscaster, the capitol. This must be where he plans on taking me. He’s ripping the net away, and for a moment I think he’s freeing me, he’s letting me go. But this is ridiculous. I’m who he wants.

Then, as though I’m an animal, he weaves his uncalloused, unblistered fingers into my black, spiraled hair, and jerks my head back so hard that I arch halfway off the ground. I hiss at the burn jolting across my scalp. He points to one of the Trackers, who’s holding a small black box. Thinking this is a gun, I close my eyes and brace for the shot that will end my life. But no shot comes.

“Open your eyes, and smile,” the Magnate says. With his other hand he is fixing his wave of stylishly silver hair, which has become ruffled in the chase.

I do open my eyes, and I focus through my quaking vision on the black box. I’ve heard Bian talk about these things. Picture boxes. They freeze your image, so that it can be preserved forever. Like a trophy.

I’m going to remember this moment forever, too. And I don’t even need his stupid picture box.

Excerpted from THE GLASS ARROW © Copyright 2015 by Kristen Simmons. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Q&A with Kristen Simmons

Q: Please introduce us to Aya and share some general background on THE GLASS ARROW.

A: Aya has been one of my favorite characters to write. Born into a world where women are endangered, where girls are condemned as breeders and misogyny is the norm, she's learned to adapt and survive by flying under the radar. With her family - a small group of free women - she hides from those who would see her sold into domestic slavery. Aya is tough: she hunts, fishes, defends her family. When she's captured and brought into captivity at the Garden, a training facility for girls, her life is turned upside down. All she can think about is reconnecting to the people she loves, and reclaiming her freedom, but she has to be smart in order to escape, and that may involve trusting a very unlikely ally. 

Q: What inspired you to write THE GLASS ARROW? 

A: A few stories on the news, and some social issues that seem to continue rising, but mostly my own experience. The transition into high school was difficult for me, as it is for many people. Before that time, I remember feeling like I could do anything, be anyone. I was valued because I was creative, and interesting, and smart, but once I stepped foot into high school, things changed. It didn't matter what kind of person I was; all that was important was if I was wearing the right clothes, or had my hair done the right way. If I was pretty. Boys judged us based on a star system - "She's an eight," they'd say, or "Her face is a nine, but the rest of her is a four." And worse, girls began sharing that same judgment, trying to raise these numbers to be cool, and popular. They'd compare themselves against each other, make it a competition. This, as I quickly learned, was what it meant to be a young woman. 

That experience transformed into Aya's existence - her journey from the freedom of the mountains, where she was important for so many reasons, to the Garden, where she is dressed up, and taught to be, above all things, attractive. Where she has to compete against other girls for votes come auction day. On that auction stage, Aya's given a star rating based on her looks, which is what her potential buyers will use to determine their bidding. It bears a direct correlation to my life as a teenager - to the lives of many teenagers. 

When it all comes down to it, I wanted to write a story where worth is determined by so much more than the value other people place on your body.  

Q: A lot has happened in the "real world" since the novel first came out in 2015. Does it feel surreal looking back at the book now?

A: Ah, I wish it did! Unfortunately, I feel like a lot of these issues are still very, scarily relevant, not just for young women, but all people. It seems like every time I see the news there is another incident of someone being measured by their looks rather than their internal worth, of women being degraded and disrespected, and of advantage being taken of someone's body and mind. It frightens me that these issues persist, but I never claim that THE GLASS ARROW was a look into the future. To me, it was always a way of processing the present. 

Q: Congratulations for the surge of attention the book is receiving, thanks to things like the Hulu adaptation of THE HANDMAID'S TALE. What do you want readers to take with them after reading THE GLASS ARROW?

A: Thank you very much! I am delighted by the mention, and honored to be included in the same thought as the great HANDMAID'S TALE. If people do find their way to my book as a response, I hope they take away that they are so much more important than the sometimes superficial and careless values other people assign to them. As Aya says in the book, I hope they know that there are not enough stars in the night sky to measure their worth.

Q: Besides other classics like Margaret Atwood's book, do you have any recommendations for readers wanting to explore more dystopian fiction and speculative fiction works?

A: How about METALTOWN by Kristen Simmons? That's a great dystopian! Or the ARTICLE 5 series, about a world where the Bill of Rights has been replaced by moral law... Ok, ok, I'm sorry. That was shameless. I always recommend LITTLE BROTHER by Cory Doctorow, THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin, Marie Lu's Legend series, and of course, THE ROAD by Cormac McCarthy. Those are all thrilling, and excellent looks both at the present, and the future.

Q: What are you working on now, and when can readers expect to see your next book?

A: I have two books coming out in 2018, and can't wait to share both of them. PACIFICA will be released March 6, 2018, and is about a world after the polar ice caps have melted, and a pirate girl and the son of the president find themselves in the middle of a building civil war. It's a story largely informed my my great grandmother's internment in World War II. In the fall, I'll have a new series starting. THE PRICE OF ADMISSION, first in the Valhalla Academy books, is about a girl accepted into an elite boarding school for con artists. I hope readers love them both!

Q: Where can readers find you online?

A: I'm always available through social media - Twitter and Instagram at @kris10writes, and Facebook at Author.KristenSimmons. I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and remember, you're worth more than all the stars in the night sky.

About the Author

Kristen Simmons is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series (ARTICLE 5, BREAKING POINT, and THREE), THE GLASS ARROW, METALTOWN, PACIFICA (coming March 2018 from Tor Teen), and THE PRICE OF ADMISSION (coming Fall 2018 from Tor Teen). She has a master’s degree in social work and loves red velvet cupcakes. She lives with her family in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Hey everyone! You've probably already heard of Captain Underpants... in case you haven't (and wow, where have you been all these years?) thanks to Scholastic we are giving away a full color copy of The Adventures of Captain Underpants: Now in Full Color, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Official Handbook, and Wacky Word Wedgies and Flushable Fill-Ins, so you can study up on everything about this wacky superhero before going to see Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, which is in theaters now!

About the Movie

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
Based on the bestselling book series, Captain Underpants

George Beard and Harold Hutchins are best friends who spend their days creating comic books and dreaming up pranks. One day they accidentally hypnotize their school principal info believing he is Captain Underpants, a dim-witted superhero whose costume consists of underwear and a cape. As if this isn’t bad enough, their newest teacher is a disgraceed evil scientist bent on exacting his revenge at their school. George, Harold and Captain Underpants must band together to thwart his evil agenda.
 

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Giveaway Time!

Action! Thrills! Laffs!

One (1) winner receives:

• The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Book 1, now in full color!)
• Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Official Handbook
• Captain Underpants: Wacky Word Wedgies and Flushable Fill-Ins

Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Good luck, and TRA-LA-LAAAAA!!!

1. Open to the US only, ends at 11:59 pm on 6/14/2017.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
3. We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

Hi everyone! 

I was supposed to post about LEMONS by Melissa Savage a few days ago, but I have just had lemon after lemon handed to me this week. I had planned to have a review ready for this blog tour, but with my cat being sick and myself not feeling so well, that didn't happen. :( 

But I still want to tell you all about this really great middle grade book, so please read on and check out the info about the book and the author, then enter the giveaway I am sponsoring--open worldwide!

Sit back, relax, and maybe pour yourself some lemonade... I'm going to try to make the best of my lemons, too.

About the Book

The search for Bigfoot gets juicy in this funny and touching story that’s perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo’s Flora & Ulysses and Katherine Applegate’s Crenshaw!
 
Lemonade Liberty Witt’s mama always told her: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But Lem can’t possibly make lemonade out of her new life in Willow Creek, California—the Bigfoot Capital of the World—where she’s forced to live with a grandfather she’s never met after her mother passes away.
 
Then she meets eleven-year-old Tobin Sky, the CEO of Bigfoot Detectives Inc., who is the sole Bigfoot investigator for their small town. After he invites Lem to be his assistant for the summer, they set out on an epic adventure to capture a shot of the elusive beast on film. But along the way, Lem and Tobin end up discovering more than they ever could have imagined. And Lem realizes that maybe she can make lemonade out of her new life after all.

"I love books about feisty girls and nerdy boys. Melissa Savage's astoundingly good debut novel is packed with humor, mystery, friendship, family secrets, and even Bigfoot! I think you'll love it, too."

--Karen Cushman, Newbery Medalist for The Midwife's Apprentice

About the Author

Melissa D. Savage is a writer and a child and family therapist. Her desire to write purposeful, issue-driven books for young people, coupled with her interest in cryptozoology and the mystery of Bigfoot, inspired her to write Lemons. Melissa lives in Minneapolis. You can follow her on Twitter at @melissadsavage, and visit her at melissadsavage.com.

Giveaway Time!

I'm sponsoring this giveaway so it can be open to our readers all over the world. Good luck!

1 winner will be chosen using the Rafflecopter widget below.

1. Open worldwide, ends 5/23/2017.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
3. We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

Hello everyone! We're back with another super cute giveaway. This one is for Peter H. Reynold's latest book, HAPPY DREAMER, plus a cute Doodle pillowcase, all provided by Scholastic. Read on for more info about the book and author/illustrator. The giveaway is open to the US only and goes until 5/14/2017. Please remember to use the hashtag #happydreamer if you tweet/post about the book!

Happy Dreamer

by Peter H. Reynolds
Released: March 28, 2017
Recommended for ages 4-8

In the same spirit as OH, ALL THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!, the beloved, worldwide bestselling creator of The Dot and Ish inspires readers of every age to find their own unique path to happy, and to always follow their dreams with HAPPY DREAMER.

Picture book and creativity guru Peter H. Reynolds brings us a universally poignant celebration of the colorful spectrum of what it means to dream and the many ways to find happy!

While the world tells us to sit still, to follow the rules, and to color inside the lines, Happy Dreamer celebrates all those moments in between when the mind and spirit soar and we are free to become our own true dreamer maximus! In Peter's signature voice and style, this empowering picture book reminds children of how much their dreams matter, and while life will have ups and downs, he enlists readers to stay true to who they are, to tap into their most creative inner selves, and to never ever forget to dream big!

Peter H. Reynolds' latest inspirational book is a perfect gift for graduations, new babies, milestone moments, and any happy occasion throughout the year for any age!

About the Author

Peter H. Reynolds is a New York Times bestselling children's book author and illustrator of many books for children, including the Judy Moody series, written by Meghan McDonald; The Dot; Ish; Sky Color; and Allison McGhee's Someday, selling more than two million books in over 25 languages around the globe. In 1996, he founded FableVision with his brother Paul as a social change agency to help move the world to a better place by creating "stories that matter, stories that move." He lives in Dedham, Massachusetts, with his family.

You can read/listen to an interview with Peter on the Scholastic blog. Also, you can download a really cool reader guide with activities for readers here!

For More Info

Giveaway Time!

HAVE HAPPY DREAMS!
Let your mind and spirit soar at night! One winner receives:

*       Copy of Happy Dreamer
*       Doodle pillowcase
Courtesy of Scholastic

1 winner will be chosen using the Rafflecopter widget below. 

Good luck!

1. Open to the US only, ends 5/14/2017.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
3. We and the publisher are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

You guys! This next few weeks are going to be crazy. 

Sat-Sun, Apr 22-23: LATFOB! LA Times Festival of Books to the uninitiated. I will be helping out at the Once Upon a Time booth and/or the Children's stage on Sunday afternoon, so come say hello!

Fri-Sat, Apr 28-29: YALLWEST! And for the third year in a row, I can't go *crying emoji*. I have a research paper due the following Monday (worse yet--it is a GROUP paper) and I will be at home alternately staring at a blank Word doc and eating carbs. Ugh. But you (and all your friends!) should go have amazing fun. Chris Colfer will be in conversation with Melissa de la Cruz for the keynote, and there will be a million billion fafillion YA authors there (OK, not really, but it sure seems like it).

Check out the events calendar for more.

And I know it's super far in the future, but Please Louise RSVP as "Going" or "Interested" for the next Pasadena Loves YA if you think you will be in the SoCal area on Sat, Sept 16, 2017. Doors open at 11 am, books sold by Vroman's as usual, and we haven't released the lineup yet, but please follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and/or Facebook to be the first to hear about all that. If you spot me at LATFOB I might even have a handy bookmark reminder for you, so don't be shy!

Hello, hello, everyone! I seem to be perpetually running late this week, but I'm so glad you're here reading this! Read on for more info about the book and author, as well as a giveaway for a copy of FEMINIST BABY by Loryn Brantz, complete with a branded tote bag and pin. One US winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter. 

I loved this little book. It's very bright and I know at least three young women who might enjoy this sassy heroine. You can check out excerpts below. 

Feminist Baby

By Loryn Brantz
In Stores April 11, 2017
Recommended for ages 0 - 2

Feminist Baby likes pink and blue.

Sometimes she'll throw up on you!

Feminist Baby chooses what to wear

and if you don't like it she doesn't care! 

Meet the irrepressible Feminist Baby in this refreshing, clever board book about a girl who’s not afraid to do her own thing, and wants to make as much noise as possible along the way!

About the Author

Loryn Brantz is a two-time Emmy Award-winning author, illustrator, and design professional. Her picture book Harvey the Child Mime was the recipient of the 2010 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award for Best First Picture Book. Loryn lives in New York City, where she is on staff at BuzzFeed  writing and illustrating about feminism and body image. Find her online at www.lorynbrantz.com or www.facebook.com/LorynBrantzBooks.

Giveaway Time

Giveaway open to US addresses only. Prizing and samples provided by Disney-Hyperion.

1 winner will be chosen using the Rafflecopter widget below. 

Good luck!

1. Open to the US only, ends 4/26/2017.
2. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
3. We and the publisher are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
4. One set of entries per household please.
5. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
6. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
7. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
8. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at readnowsleeplater@gmail.com.
9. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.