Give Something Away Day Winners

Today I am happy to announce  the winners to two recent give-a ways. The first was for a copy of Robin Newman’s picture book NO MORE PEACOCKS:  Mike Allegra

The next is for # separate prizes from the Give Something Away Day post of Kim Pfennigwerth. The winners are:

Donna Taylor receives a set of picture book by Annie Silvestro titled  Bunny”s Book Club and Bunny’s Book Club Goes to School.

Robin Newman wins a pair of MIA MAYHEM chapter books illustrated by Leeza Hernandez.

Evelyn Krieger wins the historical fiction YA book THE SHALLOW GRAVES by Jennifer Donnelly + a 30 page critique of a novel-in-progress.

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners and a HUGE thanks to all who participated in the give-away. Please contact me with your address, so we can send you your goodies.

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Book Giveaway: THE BRAVE CYCLIST: The True Story of a Holocaust Hero

Just had to share this wonderful book by Amalia Hoffman.

Writing and Illustrating

Author/illustrator Amalia Hoffman has written a new picture book titled, THE BRAVE CYCLIST: The True Story of a Holocaust Hero, illustrated by Chiara Fedele is hitting bookstores on August 1st. Today would be a great day to celebrate this gorgeous book and the life of Gino Barteali, since July 18th actually is the day Gino Bartali was born in 1914.

Amalia has agreed to share a book with one lucky winner. All you have to do to get in the running is to leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know the other things you do to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.

Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. Thanks for…

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Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing.

On July 20, 2019, it will be 50 years since man first stepped onto the lunar surface of the moon. I was in high school back then and, like everyone else, watched the event unfold on television. There are all kinds of celebrations taking place to commemorate the occasion. You and your kids can be part of it by learning some interesting facts about the APOLLO 11  mission and sharing some moon-themed books.

Astronauts NEIL ARMSTRONG, BUZZ ALDRIN, and MICHAEL COLLINS were the team that launched from earth in Apollo 11 on July 16, and landed on the moon on July 20, 1969.  Apollo 11 traveled at 24,000 miles per hour. Their suits were made of white, nonflammable Teflon fiberglass. Collins stayed in the Command Module Columbia while Aldrin and Armstrong rode the Lunar Module Eagle onto the moon’s surface. From here, they stepped out to make their historic moon walk. They spent 21 hours and 36 minutes exploring the moon’s surface.

It was the first time anyone had ever seen the EARTH from the moon and the photos taken of  the Big Blue Marble are now a common image.

The distance traveled? 953,054 miles.

500 to 600 million people (one fifth of the world’s population) watched the moonwalk on TV or listened via live radio.

TOY STORY character  BUZZ LIGHTYEAR is named after Buzz Aldrin. 

The Apollo space program was responsible  for the introduction of freeze-dried food, Velcro, memory foam, water filters, scratch-resistant coating for eyeglasses.

Want to know what the Apollo 11 astronauts ate on their 8 day trip? They had 70 different dehydrated foods to choose from including spaghetti and meatballs. The first meal eaten on the moon included bacon squares, peaches, sugar-cookie cubes, pineapple grapefruit juice, and coffee.

Here are some picture books that feature the Moon:

               

GIVE SOMETHING AWAY DAY 4.0 with Kim Pfennigwerth and Darlene Beck Jacobson.

Hooray for July 15th! It is our fourth annual GSA Day or Give Something Away Day.

I am packing up a house and doing some serious pondering over which items stay and which go. It isn’t easy shedding 39 years of collecting …stuff. And while we have moved quite a few times, we’ve never gone through such a drastic cleaning out.

Children’s elementary school pottery – staying. Grandmother’s heirlooms some going to family members and a few staying.

Far too many kitchen items, going. Beloved knickknacks from over the years – a very good many are going. May the joy they brought me – go to others.

With so many items in every room – this move shows it is time to be practical. Time to simplify. We will appreciate the end result. So I am choosing what will still bring joy when I see it each day while at the same time looking for places that accept donations for many things that may help others.

But the absolute best thing about Give Something Away Day is something I talk about each year – something that cannot be measured. Giving something away is a kindness and kindness is a magical element. It is an action with absolutely no expectation for anything in return. What ‘something’ have you given away lately? What magic was gained from your kindness? Spending time with a friend? Holding the door for a parent with a load of groceries who is also holding a child’s hand? Reading to a child? Go ahead and plan on giving something away. It is guaranteed to lighten your mood and heart.

Hopefully, you will make Give Something Away Day fun too. Darlene and I would love to read your comments or plans.

P.S. I have two pair of ‘somethings’ that I am giving away this year that feature two friends’ work. The two Bunny Book Club picture books (Bunny’s Book Club & Bunny’s Book Club Goes To School) written by Annie Silvestro and the first two Mia Mayhem paperback chapter books (Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero & Mia Mayhem Learns To Fly) illustrated by Leeza Hernandez.

                     

Take a bunny who loves the library and sharing bookish adventures with his animal pals then add a friend who is a bit fearful of her first day of school and this same bunny and pals come to support her and make many new friends. That is the fun you will find in Bunny’s Book Club and Bunny’s Book Club GOES TO SCHOOL!

                                                                       

Mia Mayhem is a new chapter book series starring Mia Macarooney. Mia is known for leaving mayhem behind her wherever she goes. To her surprise she receives a letter inviting her to a very special after school program. Even more exciting, Mia learnsshe is a superhero and that her parents are too. These first two books introduce adorable Mia and start her on the path to learning her superpowers.

Darlene Here: I also have TWO items to give away in a drawing. A paperback copy of YA historical novel THESE SHALLOW GRAVES by NY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Donnelly and a 30 page critique of an MG or YA novel in progress. Share your give-away experiences and be entered to win.  If there is something specific you’d like to be considered for, please let us know so we can make the give-away more meaningful to all.

Here’s a description of THESE SHALLOW GRAVES:  Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.
Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.
The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.
The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.

When you give something away…you get back much more in return.

Celebrate National Macaroni and Cheese Day With Phil, Jim, and Harry.

Did you know that Sunday, July 14th is NATIONAL MACARONI AND CHEESE DAY? I think it’s fitting to have a special day for such an iconic food. Is there anyone out there who doesn’t love some form of this dish? Many of us grew up with that orange-staple-in-a-box and survived college eating it. Just about every restaurant has some kind of mac & cheese on its menu. And, I’m sure we all have our favorites.

To celebrate the day, I am giving away a copy of the delightful PB by Robin Newman titled NO PEACOCKS, where peacocks Phil, Jim, and Harry set out to sample the local school’s world famous mac & cheese.

To enter for a chance to win, please share what you think is the best macaroni and cheese ingredient ever. The one special thing you add to your recipe that elevates it to new heights. I will put your name in my hat and draw one random entry for the give-away.

Enjoy the day, and may all your macaroni and cheese be DELICIOUS!

Introducing: WISHES, DARES, AND HOW TO STAND UP TO A BULLY Cover reveal.

I thought the 4th of July would be a great time to show the cover of my new MG historical fiction story in verse which takes place in the summer of 1964. I am thrilled to share it here.

Here’s a bit about the story, which will be coming out in 2020 with Creston Books.

Eleven year old Jack misses his Dad who is MIA in Vietnam. It’s been months since he and his family had word of his whereabouts. The last thing Jack wants to do is spend summer with his grandparents. Mom believes it will be good for them all – Jack, his sister Katy, Mom, Gran and Pops – to be together while they wait for word about Dad. Keeping busy will keep them out of trouble and help them think of other things.

Jack expects the worst summer of his life. The first summer without. Without Dad, without friends, without his room and all the things that remind him of Dad. When Jack meets a girl named Jill – a girl with a brother who makes trouble for both of them – things they believe are turned upside down. Welcome to a summer of fishing, camping, bullies, and a fish who grants wishes. A fish that could be the answer to Jack’s problem. But when Jill makes wishes of her own, things don’t turn out the way they expected.  Every wish has a consequence.

Will the fish grant Jack’s biggest wish?  Will Jack be brave enough to ask? 

Thanks for indulging me and have a safe and Happy 4th of July!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game.

Baseball season is here!  As fans know, there is a LOT more to the game than mere sport.  Each team has its own traditions and each ballpark its own atmosphere. Here are some of the wackiest:

Sausage Racers: At Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI, costumed cased meats take to the field during the sixth inning for a foot race.  check it out at: http://www.brewers.com

Disappearing Lighthouse: When the Seadogs hit a home run at Hadcock Field in Portland, ME, attention turns to center field.   A foghorn plays and a 16 foot retractable lighthouse emerges from behind the fence with a shower of roman candles.   http://www.seadogs.com

Giant Wheel: Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport, Iowa.  To get the best view for watching the Quad Cities River Bandits, ride the 120 ft. Ferris wheel that overlooks left field.  Plus, the ride’s LED lined spokes provide a laser-like show for those sitting in the grandstand.  http://www.riverbandits.com

Here are some other unique ballparks to check out:

http://www.ridersbaseball.com

http://www.padres.com

http://www.fightins.com

http://www.loons.com

http://www.biscuitsbaseball.com

To get the kids in the mood for a day at the ballpark, try reading some great baseball themed books chosen by kids:

http://www.readbrightly.com/10-baseball-books-kids-say-home-runs/?sid=302&mcg=29DBD02CB53302C9E0534FD66B0A0B59&ref=PRH0563577803&aid=randohouseinc13256-20&linkid=PRH0563577803&cdi=2AEB03AD52D94BE9E0534FD66B0A7FAD

Some FUN BASEBALL FACTS:

– Highest price ever paid for a modern day baseball card is $99,100.00 for a Derek Jeter rookie card  in May 2018.

– Every baseball has 108 stitches. 88 inches of waxed thread is used to stitch each ball.

Which team is your favorite, and what’s your favorite ballpark tradition?