The Saga of Santa Claus by M. D. Couturier - A Review

• Title: The Saga of Santa Claus
• Author: M.D. Couturier
• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (September 13, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1516985273
• ISBN-13: 978-1516985272

 About the Book

Valdor is a selfish king who cares nothing for his fellow human beings. One night, the god Odin turns him into a goat-man and offers a trial. If he succeeds, Valdor will regain his body and kingdom. But if he fails, he will be condemned to wandering the world as an outcast. In desperation, Valdor agrees. But little does he know that he is about to embark upon an extraordinary journey that will change his life forever.

My Review

The Thanksgiving holiday has just passed, and I am finally ready to welcome the Christmas season. My youngest child was gleefully singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town today while waiting for dinner. Meanwhile, my oldest has been carefully reviewing her long list for good Ol' Saint Nick. It is at this moment, observing their complete belief in the magic of the holiday, that I take pause to imagine what it will be like for my girls as they grow older. However, it never occurred to me to consider what Santa Claus was like as a child until reading The Saga of Santa Claus by M. D. Couturier.

M. D. Couturier created an imaginative back story for Santa Claus that reads like an old fairy tale. It feels as though I uncovered an heirloom that had been passed down for generations. Castles, fairies, goblins, Gods, and Goddesses combine to explain how the wicked and spoiled child Valdor could grow up to find true meaning in life after being condemned to the northern arctic tundra as an outcast.

The story is plainly told in a way that a small child could follow and understand; however it packs enough action and drama to keep an older child entertained. This book would make a great fireside read on the days leading up to Christmas. It is refreshing to see a portrayal of Santa Claus where he actually struggled to become the giving and gracious person; which is the lesson we all want our children to learn, but it so hard to emulate as a child.

If you are looking for a warm and welcoming book to read during your holiday season, I recommend checking out The Saga of Santa Claus. 

FTC Required Disclosures:
 *I received a review copy from the author free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!  

Where's Wilson? by Kelly Young-Silverman and erin the great - A Review

Where's Wilson? is published in the US by WordCrafts Press (www.wordcrafts.net) and distributed globally by Ingram Content Group, the world's largest distributor of physical content.

Product Details
Hardback: 48 pages, $17.99
Trade Paperback: 48 pages, $10.99
eBook: $5.99
Publisher: WordCrafts Press
ISBN: 978-0990976110

About the Book

It’s time to go to sleep. But one of the counting sheep from the Sweet Dream Team has gone missing. With bedtime soon approaching, and the town in a fuss, They need to find Wilson. They have to! They must!
Where’s Wilson is a whimsical, illustrated story about Wilson, an important member of the Sweet Dream Team, who wanders away from the team. With bedtime rapidly approaching, the whole community bands together to find Wilson. After all, how can anyone manage to fall asleep if there aren’t enough sheep to count?
Where’s Wilson is a delightful rhyming picture book, complete with fanciful watercolor illustrations that vividly bring the story to life. Children will love the sing-song verses and discovering new objects and characters in the multi-layered pictures.
Where’s Wilson is the second in a series of Evie & Knox night time story books.

About The Author:

Kelly Young-Silverman is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, writer and director. Her work ranges from screenplays and stage plays to children’s stories and young adult novels, including the stage play, Family Photos, for which she won the Dajero Play Festival’s Best New Writer and Best Actor Awards. In 2009, Kelly co-founded Cakebaby Productions with her husband, actor/filmmaker David Marshall Silverman. Through Cakebaby, Kelly and David have written, directed and produced several award-winning short films, and have had their worked screened nationally at prestigious festivals. Kelly made her directorial debut with the film, Too Late Now. 

Illustrator erin the great

About The Illustrator

Erin Wicker, known professionally as erin the great, received her B.F.A. in drawing from the University of Tennessee. Her work has been exhibited in both Tennessee and Georgia and has even been featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. She is currently an exhibiting artist for Art on the Beltline: the largest public art exhibition in Atlanta’s history. She has written and illustrated two children’s books, Mr. Mailbox Man Goes to Work and Just Beyond My Front Door. During her free time, she plays keys and sings in the band, Imagination Head, with her husband, J.R. They are nearing the release of their 5th album, Chromativerse.

For more information about Kelly Young-Silverman or erin the great visit online at: evieandknoxstories.com/

My Review

I love any opportunity to share children's books written or illustrated by local writers and artists. Today, I am excited to share this delightful bedtime story your children are sure to love. 

Where's Wilson? is a playful spin on counting sheep where Wilson, a member of the Sweet Dream Team, goes missing. Without the number four sheep, the animals are suddenly unable to go to sleep. Counting and rhymes dance together to create a bedtime story that is soothing and entertaining for the youngest of readers. Delicate water color illustrations invite a calm with the softest of pastels. 

Both of my children enjoyed this bedtime story. My oldest daughter really loved the purple hues of the nighttime sky that contrast from the yellows and oranges of the daytime sky. My youngest daughter liked the way the sheep were like little clouds or cotton balls.

 

I think the story would be best suited for children ages 3 to 5 because of the number of words on each page and the story line. Where's Wilson? is the perfect book to send your preschooler to sleep while counting fluffy sheep.

Check out some fun crafts inspired by the book from the illustrator.

A Chance to Meet the Authors 

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FTC Required Disclosures:
 *I received a review copy from the author free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!  

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins- A Review

MOTHER BRUCE

by Ryan T. Higgins

In stores November 24

Title: Mother Bruce

Ages 3-5  

By: Ryan T. Higgins

Hardcover: 48 pages 

Released on: 2015-11-24

ISBN: 978-1-4847-3088-1

Publisher: Disney Hyperion  

About the Book

Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself. That, and eat eggs. But when his hard-boiled goose eggs turn out to be real, live goslings, he starts to lose his appetite. And even worse, the goslings are convinced he’s their mother. Bruce tries to get the geese to go south, but he can’t seem to rid himself of his new companions. What’s a bear to do?

About the Author

Ryan T. Higgins is an author/illustrator residing in Southern Maine. He lives with his three dogs, three cats, two geckos, one tortoise, one son, one daughter, and one wife. He has wanted to be a cartoonist since as far back as he can remember. (Actually, that’s not entirely true—he wanted to be a tiger until he was three, but, sadly, that didn't really pan out.) Ryan’s first picture book, Wilfred, was named a 2013 Wanda Gág Read Aloud Honor Book. Visit Ryan online at ryanthiggins.com.

My Review

Imagine you had a child that was contemplating the source of any meat being consumed in the house. And let's just say that this child has gone without eating meat for periods of time in the past for conscious reasons. Imagine, then, that you received a cleverly written book about a bear that went on a hunt to find organic, locally sourced, free-range eggs only to discover while cooking the eggs that the goslings hatched and think he is their mother. Whew! I am sure that you can imagine that this book, also known as Mother Bruce, has sparked quite a series of debates in our house with my oldest daughter.

While my eight-year-old started contemplating returning to vegetarianism, my three-year-old delighted in the curmudgeon bear, who is slightly reminiscent of a certain father living in our house. Bruce the Bear is that hipster guy that reluctantly finds himself as a parent. He is overwhelmed, surly, and desperate for his own space.

However, and this is the magic that makes it such a great children's book, Bruce tries. He feeds the goslings. He plays with them.

He even tries to teach them how to fly south for the winter. Bruce learns how to love these annoying and needy goslings. They bond over messes and exhaustion. Kind of like being a parent to human kids. Right?

The story will have you in stitches and rooting for the grumpy old bear to figure out this parenting thing. Children will crack up at the unlikely pairing of a beast living in a fractured harmony with his prey. This book is sure to become an instant classic, and a favorite among preschool teachers looking for a book to keep their little wiggle worms sitting still during story time.

Wait! Don't go yet.  I am so excited to tell you that Disney Books is giving away a copy of this book to my readers. Enter the Rafflecopter to win!  

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Not Mother Goose, meet Mother Bruce! Enter to win the adorable new picture book, Mother Bruce.

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FTC Required Disclosures:
 *I received a review copy from Disney Publishing free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!