Monday, April 15, 2024

Virtual Book Tour Play With Me

Play with Me: Book Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK


Play with Me 

Written by Kat Chen
Illustrated by Lorraine Nam

Ages 1+ | 24 Pages

Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop | ISBN-13: 9780593659717

Publisher’s Book Summary: This board book series invites young readers to take part in a playdate activity of their choice, thereby empowering them with autonomy and validation. The picnic playdate models balanced and shared play, creating a positive experience that will provide readers with a reference for what caring and considered friendship looks like. Many toddlers and preschoolers consistently ask for someone to play with them, and this book provides just that for the quieter moments of the day. Simple language and gentle questions will help children develop their social skills by practicing conversations, all while engaging them in fun and familiar topics.

PURCHASE LINK


Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org


MY REVIEW


This simple board book explores the fun of sharing a picnic with a friend. Ellison and Rabbit (his stuffie) have a wagon loaded with picnic supplies and invite the reader to come along. At each step of the process Ellison includes the reader. He explains where he and Rabbit will sit, then asks, “Where would you like to sit?” He offers to serve the drinks and asks, “What do you like to drink?” The cut paper and paint illustrations capture all the activities. Readers see the blue picnic blanket, the woven picnic basket, and the fresh green grass. Ellison says, “I’ll sit here. Rabbit will sit there. Where would you like to sit?” Youngsters can see the spaces still open on the blanket. When Ellison says that he wants the striped cookie, there is no problem identifying which one he plans to eat. And when Rabbit looks up at the sky and “sees a cloud shaped like a frog,” the readers can also pick out a cloud and name its shape. Setting up the text as a conversation between Ellison and the reader invites active participation in the story. On almost every spread there is an opportunity to make a response or point to something on the page. Whether it is choosing a drink or sharing a funny story in response to the silliness of Rabbit wearing socks on his ears, children are included in the experience. Young readers and their caregivers will enjoy this book made for little hands to hold and share.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Kat Chen is the author of several bestselling contemporary and historical romance books. She also serves on the advisory board for Books for Newborns.

After becoming a grandmother and spending most of her free time helping with “the fun stuff”—conversations, crayons, and crawling—she was inspired to delve into children’s books and help kids master the art of simple conversation through shared play.

Learn more about Kat and her work at kat-chen.com.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Kat-Chen/61555122372925/

https://www.instagram.com/katchenbooks/

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR


Lorraine Nam is an illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. She was born in Philadelphia and spent her childhood drawing pictures and folding origami to pass the time at her parents’ jewelry store. She now spends her days combining those two loves to create her illustrations.

She is the illustrator of the picture book biography on Neil deGrasse Tyson, Look Up With Me, and the upcoming Wei Skates On, by Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Chen.

Learn more about Lorraine and her work at www.lorrainename.com.

https://www.instagram.com/lorrainenam

https://twitter.com/LorraineNam

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of Play with Me

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Me Two Books

Author Interview with Kat Chen

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Star Girls Magical Tale

Book Review of Play with Me

Friday, April 5, 2024

Book Zone Reviews

Book Review of Play with Me

Monday, April 8, 2024

Cover Lover Book Review

Book Review of Play with Me

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

icefairy’s Treasure Chest

Book Review of Play with Me

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Barbara Ann Mojica’s Blog

Book Review of Play with Me

Thursday, April 11, 2024

One More Exclamation

Book Review of Play with Me

Friday, April 12, 2024

Country Mamas with Kids

Book Review of Play with Me

Monday, April 15, 2024

Deliciously Savvy

Book Review of Play with Me

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

The Fairview Review

Book Review of Play with Me

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Life is What it’s called

Author Interview with Kat Chen

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Froggy Read Teach

Book Review of Play with Me

Friday, April 19, 2024

A Blue Box Full Of Books

Instagram and TikTok Post

Monday, April 22, 2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Guest Post

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Confessions of a Book Addict

Play with Me Book Spotlight

This post is sponsored by Kat Chen. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Virtual Book Tour Mama's Love Language


 

Mama's Love Language: Book Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Written by Elisa Stad

Illustrated by Ry Menson

Ages 5-10 | 31 Pages

Publisher: Ginger Lotus Press | ISBN-13: 9798988378518

Publisher’s Book Summary: Jade is a girl who lives in two worlds and, coming from a multicultural family, she’s on a quest to understand her identity and where she truly belongs.

She is trying to find her place in the world but feels different from the other kids at school. Back home, Jade’s parents have their unique approach to love and care. Sometimes Jade is embarrassed by Mama’s accent and she can’t understand why she is not just like any other mother she knows.

The real adventure unfolds when Jade starts rebelling against her mother’s traditional ways of showing love, especially through food. It’s a struggle that takes her on a path of discovery, as she learns about her family’s rich heritage and her mother’s challenging past in Vietnam and as an immigrant.

Jade then discovers that even though Mama doesn’t hug or say I love you, the healing aroma of ginger, green onions, and chicken broth does.

“Mama’s Love Language” is a heartwarming children’s book that addresses the universal theme of belonging and the beauty of cultural diversity. Through Jade’s story, children will learn that being different is not only okay but something to be celebrated, and that love can come in many shapes and forms.

PURCHASE LINK


Amazon


MY REVIEW


Jade is aware that her parents come from different backgrounds. Her father is American and her mother is Chinese. She notices that they interact with her in their own ways. While other parents hug their children when they drop them off or pick them up from school, her mother does not. Instead, she quizzes Jade on whether she ate all of her lunch or completed her homework. Her dad makes sure to tuck her in, even though he gets home from work late. When her class is assigned a self-portrait in art class, Jade chooses to ignore her actual appearance and shows herself with “blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin” like her father. The struggle to accept the heritage from both sides of her family causes Jade to lash out at her mother and refuse to eat the meal of Chinese food she has prepared. Her mother finally explains that her own family had to flee China and live in Vietnam when she was a girl. Because she had to help raise her siblings, she did not get to attend school herself. Her family was often hungry while she was growing up. Jade comes to realize that her mother focuses on school and food because she wants Jade’s life to be better than her own younger years. Her way of showing love is by making sure Jade has the opportunities that she missed. The illustrations throughout the story show how her parents interact with her, how different her mother seems from those of classmates, and how much Jade looks like her mother. We watch her struggle to understand her mother and accept that part of her heritage. Then we give a sigh of relief when she corrects her self-portrait and embraces her whole self. She says, “I realize my family is strong and different, and that’s special.” Many people struggle with how family members show love. It can be very difficult when they speak a different “love language.” Some people don’t say the words, but rely on actions. And sometimes the actions are not hugs and kisses, but providing education, food, or health care - things that keep a loved one safe and help them thrive. It can also be hard when a family has more than one cultural background and must find a way to combine them. Talking it over is always a great start, as Jade finds out.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Elisa Stad, for the majority of her career, was a brand and international business executive for luxury goods and consumer product companies. After experiencing working in over 40 countries, she acquired a passion for globalization and the sharing of cultures based on her experiences. Elisa is also focused on inspiring the youth through her efforts in healthcare inequities through Stad Center of Pain, Palliative, and Integrative Medicine and serves on college boards at USC, UCSF and Harvard.

Elisa grew up in a mixed-race household, as a daughter of a Vietnamese refugee mother and American father. She grew up in a multicultural home, searching for identity. She also moved homes often in her childhood including to Asia and within the US to Idaho and California.

She always wanted to share with other young children the beauty of humanity and how we can celebrate our unique gifts. You can find her enjoying ballet, visiting local Asian street markets, practicing yoga, and focusing on her spiritual practice. Elisa lives in Southern California with her husband, 3 children and a bernedoodle.

For more information, visit https://www.elisastad.com/.

https://www.instagram.com/mamaslovelanguage/

TOUR SCHEDULE


Tuesday, April 9, 2024

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

@pagesforpaige

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Froggy Read Teach

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Friday, April 12, 2024

The Fairview Review

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Monday, April 15, 2024

Me Two Books

Author Interview with Elisa Stad

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

icefairy’s Treasure Chest

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

A Blue Box Full Of Books

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Mrs Makes Reading Fun

Author Interview with Elisa Stad

Friday, April 19, 2024

Cover Lover Book Review

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Monday, April 22, 2024

One More Exclamation

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

@avainbookland

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Twirling Book Princess

Book Spotlight for Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Deliciously Savvy

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Friday, April 26, 2024

Crafty Moms Share

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Monday, April 29, 2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

The Momma Spot

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Book Review of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

Friday, May 3, 2024

Confessions of a Book Addict

Book Spotlight for Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice

This post is sponsored by Elisa Stad. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.