Self-Published Spotlight: “How The Cow Went Over The Moon and Tiny Notes To The Sun” by Sue Clancy

Self-published Spotlight, my new feature, is booming! This is my effort to help self-published/indie authors share their books with others. Next in the spotlight, Sue Clancy! Check out cover art, descriptions, and more for her children’s books “How the Cow Went Over the Moon and “Tiny Notes to the Sun.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

A cow goes around the moon in a self-produced bubble of gas and somehow comes back to Earth in this wordless fable.

Also, a farsighted bird forgets the morning sun song and in this wordless poem finds a way to read sheet music and welcome the day.

It could be said that this book fits into the educational literary genre of “mirrors for princes” with its sage advice to not take bubbles of gas very seriously along with its suggestion to learn to sing, or at least read sheet music and pretend to sing outdoors now and then.

There aren’t many words in this book. It’s mostly artwork. So, who knows if this is advice literature after all. It’s probably just meant to be funny.

HOW TO PURCHASE

You can purchase the books from Sue’s website by clicking the photo above or at this link here.

You can also read the ebook versions separately on Storyberries for How The Cow Went Over the Moon and Tiny Notes to the Sun. The ebooks on Storyberries are free, but there is an option to support the author if you wish to do so.

Be sure and peruse Sue’s website while you are there. She has a lot of other books and wonderful artwork!

Self-Published Saturday: What’s Wrong With A Pet Dinosaur #Poetry #KidsBooks

Self-Published Saturday is my effort to help Indie and Self-Published authors with one of the many tasks they are responsible for–marketing. If I can help in even a small way with the daunting task of marketing, I’m happy to do it. I missed putting the post up yesterday because of a very busy schedule, but as always, SP Saturday will still go up, even if it’s not Saturday anymore. Today we have a really cute kid’s book of rhymes/story poems accompanied by illustrations. Check out the review below.

BOOK REVIEW

This is a really cute collection of fun and whimsical poems that children and adults will love. They each tell a story that will have you laughing. The accompanying illustrations add to the joy of reading this book.

Each poem tells a story in delightful rhyme. The book reminds me a tiny bit of Dr. Seuss, with the author’s own unique touches, of course. My favorite poems are “Jeremy Myer is Such a Liar,” “Monster Under The Bed,” and “I Want The Very Best Birthday Party.” Parents and kids will have a great time reading these poems together.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. I also downloaded it on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free. My review is voluntary.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tony Philips

When he is not doodling on donkeys or writing silly poems on bathroom walls, Tony Philips is trying to answer the pressing questions that confound experts the world over, like who left the toilet seat up? He grew up in a suburb in Pennsylvania near a turkey farm. Every so often, frantic turkeys, escaped from the farm, would show up in his back yard, and he and his siblings would try to hide them. Have you ever tried to usher a crazed turkey behind a bush? It’s not easy. He attended art classes at the Baum School of Art and got a degree in Creative Writing from Haverford College. He tried writing for television, but found nobody wanted to hear his stories about freaked out turkeys. Or about how an unhinged turkey once bit his younger brother on the toe. It’s true, really. Tony lives in Chicago with his wife and daughter. He can be found online at TonyPhilips.com.

LINKS TO BUY

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

*If you read the book, please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books.  Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.

*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help self-published authors go a long way!

Self Published Saturday/Dilly Dally Sally

Self-Published Saturday is my attempt to help self-published authors with the heavy task of marketing. Self-published/indie authors have to do it all, from editing to cover design to marketing. If this blog can lighten the load even a little bit, I am happy to assist! This week, I’d like to introduce you to a wonderful children’s book, Dilly Dally Sally by E.M. Blake.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Explore East London on a quiet summer day and discover how Sally finds her way home. Will her friends the swans and geese help?

The story is inspired by the real wildlife of Regent’s Canal and Limehouse Basin in London. There’s amusing situations and familiar objects to encourage parent-child interaction. It’s great as part of the bedtime routine while helping to support their reading skills. Have fun learning about animals, numbers and the love of family, plus develop life skills like relaxation versus procrastination, problem solving and safety.

This picture book combines photographs of places and wildlife in East London with the tale of a lost duckling to help stimulate children’s natural curiosity about the world. It’s reality with a dash of fiction and rhyme.  

BOOK REVIEW

This is a fun and educational children’s story that takes a walk with a very lost duckling as she tries to find her way home. Accompanied by real-life photos of Regent’s Canal and Limehouse Basin in London, this also teaches kids about these areas while they are reading a cute and entertaining story. The rhymes are adorable and may encourage kids to try rhymes of their own. Children and adults will enjoy the photos and the irresistible rhyming tale of Sally and her adventures.

I downloaded a copy of this book on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ellie M. Blake lives in London. She loves taking photographs of nature and writing stories. Her other interests include travel, cooking and healthy happy living. 

Once upon a time, she worked in education and did many other jobs, before, after and during completion of an MA in English literature, LLB, B.Commerce and BA. 

Dilly Dally Sally is her first book.

Click the yellow ‘follow’ button to receive emails about new book releases and special deals. 

She enjoys connecting with people. Please get in touch. 

Instagram

Website 

Facebook

COVER RATING

While I love the fun rhymes, real-life pictures of wildlife, and educational opportunities this book provides, the cover needs some work. The duckling on the front appears to have possibly been pasted in, as the background around it is a little darker than the rest of the photo. The lettering on the cover is not showing up well, and the author might consider trying a different color or font. This does not affect my rating of the overall book.

BUY DILLY DALLY SALLY

Amazon

Amazon UK

*Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read the ebook for free.

*If you buy the book(s), please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books.  Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.

*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help self-published authors go a long way!

The Seeing Scroll

Here is a book description and links to buy of a thrilling Middle Grade fantasy/mystery adventure. It is also available to borrow on Kindle Unlimited for free. I have updated this post to include my review at the bottom of the page.

“Stray too long where you don’t belong and the world you’re from could be forever gone.”
A children’s mystery adventure with a little bit of magic.

When police exhume the body in her grandfather’s coffin, 12-year-old Gia Lance already knows that it isn’t him. And given that her dad won’t believe her, what choice does she have but to enlist the help of her drama-king best friend? Their daring, behind the scenes search for her grandfather leads to the discovery of a secret riddle, a hidden plateau and an enchanted scroll steeped in mystery. It lures them by exposing visions – fragments of well-kept secrets.

Gia soon grapples with an eerie tale of a dungeon, an ill-fated ship, a missing child, and the legendary curse of the Seeing Scroll. But whose secrets are they? How does the scroll decide what she sees? Who can she trust? More importantly, what does it any of it have to do with her grandfather?

Time is running out. For Gia to connect the dots, she must confront the idea of her grandfather not being who she thought he was and acknowledge the possibility of him being cursed. But there are people after the scroll. Dangerous people! Clearly, they’ll do anything to ensure their secrets remain buried. Maybe even their crimes. Can Gia evade them on her quest to solve the riddle and figure out how to save her grandfather without being duped by the scroll’s delicious secrets, or will he be forever lost?

BUY ON AMAZON (OR BORROW ON KINDLE UNLIMITED)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

.T. GROBLER lives with her husband and daughter. She shares her space with two formidable Staffordshire terriers. Her dog of choice, but honestly, anything four-legged that lets her hug it surely has a kind soul. 

When she isn’t writing, she’s probably strolling with her furry friends through the local farmer’s vineyards or dawdling along the beach. She adores boat rides, watching an active slipway and the wind on her face. 

She also has a pair of African Grey parrots who love to jabber about what she said yesterday. 

Her first writing job came from a third-grade teacher – 100 lines of “I must not eat in class”.

Thank you for reading!

You can visit her at this link

REVIEW–BONNIE READS AND WRITES

This is a middle grade fantasy thriller/adventure set in South Africa that takes you right into the action from the first page. Gia knows with all her heart that her grandfather is alive. Along with her best friend Vuyo, she follows a sometimes treacherous path of clues to a mysterious scroll. The scroll may help her find her grandfather, but it comes with a high price, and dangerous people are trying to possess it. The story can get a little complicated and sad at times, but it is an intriguing tale full of magic, adventure, danger, love, and loss. The importance of family and friendship, and the sacrifice of those who love us, are underscored in this thrilling tale. I would recommend to young adults and above, as well as middle graders with parental supervision.

The Littlest Dinosaur

Check out the book description and fun trailer. My review is at the bottom of the page.

Welcome to the tour for the most adorable story, The Littlest Dinosaur by Bryce Raffle and Steven Kothlow, illustrated by Tessa Verplancke! We also have a fantastic giveawayDigital Prize Packs which include the ebook copy of the book, two desktop wallpapers for the computer, two cell phone backdrops, plus three printable activity pages including colouring two book pages and a maze.

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The Littlest Dinosaur Publication Date: November 2nd, 2020 Genre: Children’s Literature Illustrator: Tessa Verplancke Ty, The Tyrannosaur just wants to make a new friend.

Sadly, the other dinosaurs are all afraid of his sharp teeth! So Ty must go on an adventure to find a dinosaur brave enough to be friends with a Tyrannosaur.

Add to Goodreads

The Littlest Dinosaur | Amazon | Lulu | Lulu Hardcover

About the Authors Authors with dinos

Bryce Raffle was the lead writer for the video game studio Ironclad Games. He also writes stories for young adults and designs book covers.

Steven Kothlow is making his debut as a children’s book writer. He hopes to tell many more stories that help spread a message of diversity and inclusion especially in children’s literature.

Tessa Verplancke is a sound designer by day and an illustrator by night. She lives to tell stories through as many mediums as possible.

mock-updinosaurbook

Book Tour Schedule

March 8th

Reads & Reels (Review) http://readsandreels.com

Didi Oviatt (Review) https://didioviatt.wordpress.com

I Smell Sheep (Review) http://www.ismellsheep.com/

@geauxgetlit (Review) https://www.instagram.com/geauxgetlit/

Lunarian Press (Review) https://www.lunarianpress.com/

@_yay_books (Review) https://www.instagram.com/_yay_books/

March 9th

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

@dreaminginpages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/dreaminginpages/

Bonnie Reads and Writes (Review) https://bonniereadsandwrites.wordpress.com

Book Dragons Not Worms (Review) https://bookdragonsnotworms.blogspot.com/?m=1

@kathreadsya (Review) https://www.instagram.com/kathreadsya/

Michelle Meng’s Book Blog 4 (Review)  http://michellemengsbookblog4.simplesite.com/

Books Teacup and Reviews (Review) https://booksteacupnreviews.com/

March 10th

B is for Book Review (Spotlight) https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

Jessica Belmont (Spotlight) https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/

@jodys_ig (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/jodys_ig/

Books Rambling and Tea (Review) https://booksramblingsandtea.com/

@joanna.zoe (Review) https://www.instagram.com/joanna.zoe/?igshid=1xipr7pa6a9zl

The Faerie Review (Review) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

@brendajeancombs (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/brendajeancombs/

March 11th

The Invisible Moth (Review) https://daleydowning.wordpress.com/

@devoured_pages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/devoured_pages/

Ruby Red Romance Review (Review) https://rubyredromancereview.com/

Tranquil Dreams (Review) https://klling.wordpress.com/

Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

Tsarina Press (Spotlight) https://tsarinapress.com/blog/

Book Review Crew (Review) https://thebookreviewcrew.com/

Dash Fan Book Reviews (Review) https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/

Sophril Reads (Review) http://sophrilreads.wordpress.com

Bookish Laura (Review) http://www.bookishlaura.co.uk/

To win a digital prize pack which includes the ebook copy of the book, two desktop wallpapers for the computer, two cell phone backdrops, plus three printable activity pages including colouring two book pages and a maze, click the link below to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour Organized By:

REVIEW–BONNIE READS AND WRITES

This is an adorable children’s book with captivating and colorful pictures. It is about making friends, reaching out to others, and being accepting of the differences of others. My three grandchildren, ages 6, 2, and 2 (twins), really enjoyed it. The book is also structured in a way that is easy for little hands to open and hold. Highly recommend for parents of young children to read with and teach their little ones.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via R&R Book Tours. My review is voluntary.

My Amazon Review (Helpful Votes Appreciated).

My Goodreads Review (Likes Appreciated)

Duffy the Christmassy Dragon

by Kate Noble

This book is adorable! This cute, captivating, illustrated children’s book tells the delightful story of how Duffy the Dragon helped Santa and his reindeer save Christmas. The illustrations are so colorful and well done, and the story is written as a fun kid’s poem. 

Here is one of the colorful and imaginative illustrations of Duffy the Dragon.

I loved this book and I can’t wait to read it to my five-year-old grandson. You can’t get any higher praise than that.  The book can be obtained on Amazon Canada or on the Author’s website. Both links are below. I live in the US, but still had the option of purchasing it on Amazon Canada. Instead, I ordered the book from the author’s website, where she offers personalized dedications. She is also working on more Duffy books.

I received a free digital copy via Netgalley. I loved it so much I purchased a hard copy. My review is voluntary.

Link to The Author’s Duffy the Dragon website

Link to the book on Amazon Canada