The Code of Honor....
Be true to self and have fun.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Review of: I Wanna Be A Firefighter by The Brothers
I used to teach preschool. Across from the school was a firehouse which always intrigued the kids. They could look outside and watch the firefighters leave in their trucks. We also took a field trip once a year to visit the firefighters who lived there. It was a big deal!
The Brothers Publishing wrote this book called, I Wanna Be A Firefighter which certainly plays up to the big deal-ness of being a firefighter. On each page, a young boy in a fire suit is seen showing off some aspect of being a firefighter. Inset is a yellow post-it note that has a "did you know" that supports the main idea and gives more information.
The end of the book reminds children and parents at home to be properly prepared in case of fire. The book also tells children that fire is not something to play with and if they see things like matches to leave them alone.
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I had a couple of issues with this book. First, they did not show both boys and girls as firefighters which is somewhat understandable since the authors wrote the book for their sons. However, that would have been nice to see as both genders today do like firefighters because it still is a big deal.
Secondly, the illustrations were nothing special. A young child would be easily bored after the first couple of pages.
Lastly, although I like the inset of the post-its, I think it would have been better suited just to put the words below the pictures. Each picture has only one sentence and as this book is slated for 6-12 year olds there are not enough words for a reader even as young as 6. Possibly the age range needs to be lowered.
Overall, an ok book and for that reason, I give it 3 stars especially for the informational aspect.
~Naila Moon
Disclosure: I bought this book for my Kindle and the opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
#Sponsored Post: $50 Paypal & All Four Books Signed by Michael Phillip Cash
I have had the chance to read every single one of these books. Trust me when I tell you they are top notch! Check out my Amazon reviews of them.
You have seen his books and been mesmerized. You have heard he has been on the #1 best sellers list. You want to see more books written.
Well, stay tuned. There is much more coming from Michael Phillip Cash.
For now, Michael Phillip Cash wants you to enjoy reading his books again and have a little money in your pocket too. He is generously giving away $50 Paypal cash and all four of his published books. Wow!
Enter this giveaway today because just like his books, this giveaway is sure to be a thriller!
Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by Michael Phillip Cash and is being coordinated by Away We Go Media. Naila Moon was asked to help promote this giveaway, is being compensated for this post, and is not responsible for prize shipment. Winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter. Winner has 48 hours to respond to an email sent to them or an alternate winner will be chosen. Winner must have an active Paypal account and money will be paid in US dollars only.
Giveaway is open Worldwide. This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,YouTube or any other social media site. Giveaway ends Feb. 2, 2014 at 12AM MST.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
$25 #Paypal & Signed book of Blueberry Bubble Gum #Giveaway sponsored by Elfa Books
Not too long ago I reviewed this book for my blog. You can go and read my review HERE. Check it out because the book is really cute and has a twist to a lesson to be learned.
What happens when kids lie and don't do as their parents have told them to do? Well, it is possible that they just might be transported to Blueberry Bubblegum World!
Get ready for adventure! School’s out, and Max is gearing up for a summer of baseball with his friends. He’s expecting fun in the sun and long, lazy days. But to his surprise, he finds himself transported to a strange and wonderful world after chewing magical blueberry bubble gum—bubble gum his parents warned him not to chew! Join Max in his adventures through Blueberry Bubble Gum World and meet the fascinating creatures who live there—the Blueberry Boy, King Erudition, and the lumpy, moldy green evil Waywards. Will Max learn his lesson and find his way home? Find out in this thrilling journey!
Disclosure: Away We Go Media is coordinating this giveaway and several other bloggers have brought you this great giveaway. My blog, Once Upon A Time was asked to help promote and I have been compensated for this post.
This giveaway is sponsored by Elfa Books and is responsible for prize shipment. The giveaway is open US only and will be paid in US dollars only.
The winner must respond to an email sent within 48 hours or forfeit prize. Giveaway runs from January 18, 2014 to February 2, 2014 at 12 AM MST.
This is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media outlet.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Review: Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
In the Lodz ghetto of Poland, thousands of Jewish people were forced to live in an already burgeoning area. Of all the people sent there only 800 adults and 12 children survived.
Author Jennifer Roy, who wrote the book, Yellow Star, tells life in the Lodz ghetto in first person narrative. Her aunt, Syvia Perlmutter (Rozines) now know as Sylvia was one of the 12 children to survive. She was 10 years old when the Russians liberated the area. This is her story told through her eyes as a young child.
The book begins all chapters with a bit of history timeline for the area. The first chapters open the book as Syvia is just 4 year old and must move from their home to the Lodz ghetto. She speaks about her older sister, Dora and her parents. She adores all of them as they do her.
The story moves along with each year of Syvia getting older and each year a hardship on her family. Syvia is too young to work and often is left alone or in hiding so as not to be captured and shipped off by the Nazi's.
She speaks of people missing including her best friends to never return. She laments about her favorite doll being 'misplaced' knowing full well that the doll was sold in order for her family to eat. She never complains.
In more than a harrowing time, she is forced to hide with her father in a dug out ditch in a graveyard to save herself from being killed. Another time, she is hidden in a cellar, right under the noses of the Nazi's, with the 11 other remaining children in the ghetto, which includes her baby cousin. There she faces illness and always near starvation.
At a mere one day shy of her 10th birthday, Syvia had a brave streak and managed to wake her father who in turn awakened the entire community in order to save them from a mass bombing that the allies had begun on the ghetto.
What saved them most? Their will to live, their tenacity and yes, believe it or not, their sewn yellow stars.
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This book I read in two hours. I simply could not put it down. Syvia's story must be told!
It took her 50 years after the events to tell her niece, the author, her story but tell it she did.
I applaud Mrs. Rozines' bravery once again to tell her painful story. Without these stories of those who survived such an atrocity of history, their names and legends would never be remembered. Worse yet, the history would be long forgotten and it should not be.
This book well deserves the 5 stars I am giving it. In fact, it deserves much more. I encourage you to visit a Holocaust Museum in your area if there is one or if you are in the Washington DC area visit the National Holocaust Museum. You might even find Sylvia Rozine there.
~Naila Moon
Disclosure: I downloaded a free copy of this book on my Kindle. The views expressed here are 100% my own.
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Where to find the author:
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Review: Rupee Millionaires by Frank Kusy
I initially read Rupee Millionaires because no one ever thinks of wanting to be such a thing. However, here author Frank Kusy writes in his own memoir of achieving the dream.
The book begins in the throes of India where this man from the UK has come to find himself. Here he becomes a horrible self-proclaimed Buddhist, he eats meat after all, and begins to write travel guides.
To become better self supported he begins to sell hippy clothing brought back from India to the markets of London.
Here he meets an unlikely and bullish character by the name of Spud. Their partnership is forged when Spud takes over Frank's market stall and announces he needs a partner. This begins the dream of becoming rupee millionaires which is actually 20,000 British pounds.
Frank's partnership with Spud is ironically long lasting, a "marriage" of epic proportions which include, Spud's threats to customers, bombings, tax evasion and threats to Frank's personal health and well being. It seems almost odd that Frank would continue to forge this relationship as long as he did.
This duo will achieve the rupee millionaire dream many times over but in the end at what cost.
Along the way, in his many travels to India to buy stock, Frank meets other interesting characters all of whom are in business of some sort but meet yearly as friends. They become known as the Pushkar Posse.
These very people will also shape Frank into the person he will eventually become and help him achieve the one thing he has always wanted, the approval of his Hungarian mother.
After years of travel that takes the author through personal loss, danger to self, travels through India, Thailand and other parts of Asia, mental breakdown, love and self-discovery, the author ends the book in a twist that even takes him off guard.
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Once I started reading this book, I absolutely could not put it down. Through Frank Kusy's travels and words, I learned of an India that makes me want to meet it. I also learned of the things I also do not want to meet.
Certain chapters make you want to scream at the author, others make your mouth drop in disbelief and even others make you endeared to the author and some of its characters. All in all you wonder if the tale is really true or if this is just a good story written by a man who knows India and its people well.
The fact is, I couldn't care less. This book was well written and entertaining. It deserves the 5 stars I am giving it.
~Naila Moon
Disclosure: I downloaded a free copy of this book to my Kindle. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
Where to find the author:
Amazon
Friday, January 3, 2014
Giveaway: $15 Paypal & Choice of one of The Brothers Publishing books on Kindle
The Brothers Publishing was established by two married fathers who wanted to answer the questions of their children. How they did it was to write and publish books.
These books are on a wide variety of subjects which includes about firefighters, being superheroes, weaning your baby to table foods and amazing facts from across the globe.
The Brothers Publishing want to introduce themselves to a wider audience by having a giveaway. They are offering $15 paypal and choice of any of their Kindle books that are already published.
The Brothers are excited to get to know you and hope you are just as excited about their books. Enter today!
Disclosure: This giveaway is being coordinated by Away We Go Media. The Brothers Publishing is responsible for prize delivery. The winner must respond to an email sent with 48 hours. The winner must have a paypal account and Kindle in order to receive prizes. The Giveaway runs from Jan. 3rd-Jan. 17, 2014.
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