List of Book Challenges for 2015-UPDATED

UPDATE 12/20/14
I forgot to add this challenge from Bruce at The Bookshelf Gargoyle.
Oddity Odyssey Reading Challenge 2015

There is sure to be one here at Latin@s in Kid Lit as there was this past year. It has not been announced yet though.

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This is an overall blog post to show some of the challenges I plan to participate in 2015. Forgive me for posting in all one blog but considering the number of challenges out there, I could be here until next year just posting the challenges themselves. Please consider this my opening post for all challenges. Note: this is by far not complete either as I know there will be others on the way.  Thanks to all! ~Naila Moon

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 5th and runs through Sunday, January 11th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 12 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

 http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress.com/oddity-odyssey-reading-challenge-2015/comment-page-1/#comment-3703

 2015 Goodreads Reading Challenge

#Review: Light the Candles by Joan Holub/ Illustrated by Lynne Cravath #Hanukkah #Kidsbooks

Summary:
Hanukkah is here! There are so many fun things to do-light candles in the menorah, open presents, eat latkes and chocolate coins, play the dreidel game, and more. With the turn of each page, another candle is added to the menorah and another fun element of Hanukkah is depicted.

My review:
As I have mentioned before, I think it is a great thing to have literature that speaks to all children. Children need to learn about differences and respect one another for them. That is why I was so excited to review this book about Hanukkah.

This book was sweet in nature and in general gives simple activities that Jewish children and their families may do for the eight days of Hanukkah. The author writes simple poetry for each page, which she does so well. The book is targeted at 2-6 year old's so, it is meant to be a picture book mostly.

The illustrations were bold and showed the wonderment children have as they celebrate and the fun things they get to do. I loved that this was a flap book which gave an extra boost to the story. 

I also liked that each page featured a menorah that was lit with the candles for the different days. Each menorah was created differently which at first I missed. I was humored by the cat one. Again, showing differences for each family that celebrates.

The only thing I would have liked to have seen with this book is a short glossary in the back of the book. A family or child that might have read this book may not know what some things are and a simple explanation in the back would have cleared that up. In addition, it might have been nice to see the dreidel song or a similar song added to the end of the book and maybe what each day's candle meant. I think all of these things could have been added but still give the feel of a picture book for the younger set and allow a little more for the older child.

Overall, I liked this book and glad to have it in my collection. I give it 4 stars and a Happy Hanukkah!

Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.

Where to find the author:

Amazon
Facebook
Goodreads

#Review: The Thursday Night Club: Tale of Christmas Spirit #Christmas #ChristmasSpirit #AdultBooks

Summary:
Five college friends, three men and two women, have been getting together every Thursday night to share humble meals and an abundance of laughter. But when tragedy takes one of them, leaving the others to question the fairness of life, the Thursday Night Club decides to embark on a contest in the memory of the generous spirit of their fallen brother. The objective of the contest is simple: whoever performs the kindest deed by Christmas night wins the pot – four quarters. And there are only two conditions: the benevolent deed must be anonymous, and it cannot cost a single penny to pull off.

As the four friends undertake the contest, the healing begins and they become inspired beyond their expectations. There might be a winner in this competition, but it is very clear there will be no losers.

My review:
I have read several of the authors novels and enjoyed each and everyone.  I am very happy I have also had the chance to read his first novella. This book has everything in it, a diverse group of long time friendships, familiarity, tragedy, heroism, and kindness.

At first I was saddened by the death of one of their friends but that death was not in vain. They learned to take the lessons of their friend and put those lessons into practical use that would last a life time. Their motivations were not always known to each other but their growth and kindness goes along way. The twist of it was their motivation to begin with.

I love how the author can find just the right words to suck me in to his stories. The human factor is so apparent and you can never help feeling like you have know his characters all your life. I loved getting to know each of the characters and what made them tick.

The story has Christmas elements to it but it is not based solely on a Christmas backdrop. What it does have, as the title suggest, is what the idea behind Christmas is...preparing, giving, and loving one another.

This story is a hands down winner that you can read in one sitting. I give it 5 stars.

Disclosure: I received a Kindle copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100 % my own and may differ from yours. ~Naila Moon

Where to find the author:

Facebook       Amazon   Goodreads

Reading to the Grand-kids...Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer

Hello everyone,
This is another video post I did of reading to my grand-kids. This is for any child who likes to listen to people read to them. Enjoy!

#Review: North Country Christmas by Shelley Gill /Illustrated by Shannon Cartwright #Kidsbooks, #Christmas, #ChristmasSpirit

Summary:
This classic story reveals how love is the best present of all as two children and an Eskimo named Nick borrow some huskies from a famous musher and race to bring greetings to a small Bering Sea village. 

My review:
This book is a delightful twist on the Santa Claus delivering presents story. Based in Alaska, Santa looks much different than most of us would think he would look. The illustrations are well done with bold pictures and beautiful colors to give the reader a feeling of being right in snowy Alaska.

I enjoyed following along with the children in the book as Nick takes them to a town whose needs for Christmas are much simpler. Generosity and the magic of Christmas can be seen throughout this book. The wonder of the Aurora lights develop the story into something special.

This book is aimed for 3 year olds and up but I think that is a bit young. The sentences in the book are much more complex and  made for more than just the emergent reader. I think a younger child would enjoy the pictures but not get the connections. This is however, a great family friendly book that could be read aloud that all ages would enjoy.

This book is  definitely a 5 star and worth getting for your shelves.

Disclosure: I purchase this book for my own collections. The review here is 100% my own and may differ from yours.

Where to find the author:

Goodreads

Amazon

Facebook

#Review: Lobo's Howliday by C.L. Murphy #Christmas, #ChristmasSpirit, #Kidsbooks

Summary:

It's almost Christmas and Santa finds himself in quite the predicament due to unintended consequences as a result of trying something new. Lobo, and his raven sidekick, Roxy, travel to the North Pole to help the jolly ole' one and are guided by the Arctic animals. The colors of the season delight along the way and make for a howling good holiday. Can you howl Ho Ho Ho? 

My review:

This is cute little book sends Lobo on quite an adventure just to help out Santa. His curiosity about what Santa wants for him to do will peek the curious child too. The pictures will keep children interested, although in truth, I found them to be ok. I suppose I like smoother looking illustrations but maybe it was intentional on the illustrators part to make everything look cold and icy.

This book was a delightful easy reader book. The book is set for age 3-7 which is just about right. The younger child will enjoy the colorful pictures and repetitive words said by the raven, while the older child will enjoy reading the more advanced sentences.

Overall, I liked this book and it gets 4 stars from me.

Disclosure: I received a PDF copy of this book for the purposed of this review. The views expressed here are 100 % my own and may differ from yours. This review was also part of a blog tour by MDBR.

Where to find the author:

Amazon
Goodreads

Reading to the Grand-kids..."Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear" by Don and Audrey Wood #myyoutubevideos #Christmas #ChristmasSpirit #kidsbooks

I am not sure if I have ever introduced my YouTube monthly to semi-monthly videos that I call, "Reading to the Grand-kids". My Grandchildren do not live in the same state as I do so this was my way to read to them across the miles.

This book I video taped last season. I am sharing it again on my blog so that if you want your kids to hear it, they can along with my grand-children again. (see it below)

Note: when I did the video, my husband was watching TV so you will hear that in the background but you can certainly hear me read!  Enjoy!