We interrupt this book blog for interpretation! #vlogging #signlanguage #captions

I am not sure if you are aware of the fact that I am 95% deaf. The following video was made by a book blogger who is 100% deaf. She has brought up an issue that is very well noted by me but one I am also guilty for.
Captioning for videos and sign language interpreters for book blog events.

I do not caption my videos at all. I suppose it is because I usually do my videos in one take so, I have no script. It takes awhile to go back and put in the captions. Terrible excuse and a sad one at that. I need them too!
There is an option to click on Google captioning for all videos now. It is not the best because it uses voice recognition and sometimes gets it wrong but it is better that nothing. Maybe we as a book-ish community at least need to get better. 

Check out her video and consider what she has to say. 
Thanks!

#Giveaway: Michael Samuels of "Just Ask The Universe"- 5 Winners ! #selfhelp #spiritual

When this book first came out, I wasn't sure what to think. I had heard of certain books that talked about getting the things you want and laws of attraction. I read them and only half way put them into practice. You can read my review HERE.

Have you heard at least something about the laws of attraction.

How about,  Just Ask The Universe by author Michael Samuels?
Just Ask the Universe is not a book of New Age gobbledygook filled with empty promises.  Just Ask the Universe is a realistic guide to personal development. By creating a blueprint for self-growth and commanding your subconscious mind, the Universe will manifest all your dreams.

For over two decades, Michael Samuels has studied and methodically tested hundreds of books on self-improvement, spirituality, and the metaphysical. Just Ask the Universe accumulates the wisdom from “thought teachers” like: Wallace Wattles, Anthony Robbins, Rhonda Byrne, Joseph Murphy, Robert Collier, and Napoleon Hill, and compiles it under one unified lesson: if your thoughts are clear and in harmony with your mind and the truth of your surroundings, your life can be filled with all the richness the Universe has to offer. 
This giveaway has been arranged by Away We Go Media on behalf of Michael Samuels who is responsible for this giveaway. Naila Moon of Reading Authors was asked to promote this giveaway and was compensated for this post.
This giveaway is open to 18+ years of age and US only. The giveaway will run from December 5, 2014 at 12 Midnight MST through December 20, 2014 at Midnight MST. There will be five (5)  winners and will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter.com.
NOTE: The first entry on the Rafflecopter is mandatory. You must enter your full name, address, and email in order to be eligible for this giveaway. However, this sole entry does not constitute a win for you as you must enter at least one other entry. If you do not follow this rule you will be automatically disqualified. All entries will be verified. Your address will not be sold to any third party and only viewed and used by Away We Go Media for the purposed of the winners chosen.
Thank you for entering!

To reintroduce this book, Michael Samuels is having a giveaway. This time he is giving away five prizes to five winners! If you would like your chance at one of these five prizes enter the Rafflecopter below. Make sure that you read the rules.

Find Michael Samuels on:  Facebook   Amazon   Goodreads

Disclosure: a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Giveaway: Introducing Author Mark Tepper! $25 #Paypal and Signed Paperback Copy of "Lines That Rhyme" #Kidsbooks

Author Mark Tepper is a busy man who works for Winthrop Hospital in New York and for the United States Postal Service. In his spare time he writes children's stories.

Lines That Rhyme is his first published work. This story is a collection of rhymes where children try to guess the answer of the rhyme by clues given throughout the book. Children use acquired knowledge to guess the answer before looking at the corresponding picture on the back of the page.
His book is written in both English and Spanish editions.

To introduce himself and the book to the general public, Mark Tepper is giving away to one lucky winner $25 Paypal and a signed copy of his book in paperback. Enter in the Rafflecopter below for your chance. Make sure to read all the rules in disclosure and good luck!

Disclosure:

This giveaway has been arranged by Away We Go Media on behalf of Mark Tepper who is responsible for this giveaway.  Naila Moon of Reading Authors was asked to promote this giveaway and was compensated for this post.

This giveaway is open to US only. The giveaway will run from December 5, 2014 at 12 Midnight MST through December 20, 2014 at Midnight MST. There will be one winner and will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter.com. This giveaway is in no way endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media outlet.

NOTE: The first entry on the Rafflecopter is mandatory. You must enter your full name, address, and email in order to be eligible for this giveaway. However, this sole entry does not constitute a win for you as you must enter at least one other entry. If you do not follow this rule you will be automatically disqualified. All entries will be verified. Your information will not be sold to any third party and only viewed and used by Away We Go Media for the purpose of the winners chosen.

Thank you for entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Review: Santa Is Coming To Colorado by Steve Smallman/Illustrated by Robert Dunn and Jim Mitchell #Colorado #KidsBooks

Summary:

It's Christmas Eve, Have you been good? Santa's packed up all the presents and is headed your way! With the help of a certain red-nosed reindeer, Santa flies over:

•Denver Cathedral
•Rainbow Arch Bridge
•Denver Art Museum
•Colorado National Monument
•Denver Zoo sign
•State Capitol
•Air Force Academy Chapel, Colorado Springs
•Bent's Old Fort
•Kit Carson Carousel, Burlington
•Coors Field

"Ho, ho ho!" laughs Santa. "Merry Christmas, Colorado!"

My review:

I saw a format of this book for Halloween and thought it was rather cute. When I saw there was a Santa version I had to pick it up. After all, I do live in Colorado and to have a book written specifically for the states that children might live in is rather fun. What kid wouldn't like to read about places they might see every day in a book?

I loved the juxtapose of bright colors for Santa, the elves, deer, and city lights verses the night sky. The illustrators did quite a fine job on each and every page. They managed to engage me as Santa flies through the different area of Colorado.

Even though I am sure the author essentially writes the various books the same way, it is obvious he still has to do a bit of research to come up with specific land marks for each and every city. Check out the places that he went to in Colorado.

Of course no book would be complete unless there was a problem on the way. I won't tell you what that is but I will tell you that one of the reindeer saves the night. No, it wasn't the red nosed one either.

I will certainly be buying a couple more of these books to send to my Grandchildren where they live. I know they will love it. Oh and for the record, he does have certain cities too. Ho ho ho!

This book gets 4 stars.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book for my own collections. The review expressed here is 100% my own and may differ from yours. 

~Tis the season...Naila Moon

Where to find the author:

Amazon  Goodreads  

Steve Smallman lives in Staffordshire with his wife, two dogs and two cats. He has four children and a grandchild. Steve has been illustrating children’s books for almost 30 years and writing his own stories for slightly less. He also teaches illustration workshops in schools, including mural-painting. Steve is the author of Smelly Peter the Great Pea Eater (Winner of the Sheffield Children's Book Award 2009) and The Lamb Who Came for Dinner (Shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award and read by Meatloaf on CITV's Bookaboo). When he’s not working, Steve enjoys films, television, gardening and walking in the countryside.

Kid Lit Blog Hop week 50! #KidLitBlogHop #KidLit

I am extremely excited because I was invited to be a permanent host for this fantastic,semi-monthly blog hop.I have a love of books, especially children's books that runs deep. I believe in bringing children good literature and I hope that you will find many of those here.

Just yesterday, I started my month long homage to holiday books.
 I reviewed a book called Liesl's Ocean Rescue which is not a holiday book but was one that I had in cue to review. Check it out and of course follow me all month.
~Naila Moon

Welcome to the 50th Kid Lit Blog Hop where we continue to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists. So, you are always more than welcome to join us by popping in a post and hopping around to meet some of your fellow Kid Lit bloggers and authors! We are pleased to be welcoming a new Permanent Hostess to the Hop. Please welcome Naila from Reading Authors, a fabulous book blog. Welcome Naila! Also, please note that for the month of December, we will only be hosting one Kid Lit Blog Hop which will be open for 2 weeks, instead of one.

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

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Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*

1. We ask that you kindly follow your hosts. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)

Hostesses:

Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews Facebook * Twitter

Julie Grasso, Author/ Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Cheryl Carpinello, Author / Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Reshama @ Stacking Books Twitter * Facebook

Stacie @ BeachBoundBooks Twitter * Facebook

Mia @ Pragmatic Mom Twitter * Facebook

Maria@ Music Teaching and Parenting Twitter * Facebook

Stanley & Katrina, Pawthors Twitter * Facebook

Lina @ Best 4 Future: Bringing Up Baby Bilingual Twitter * Facebook

Naila @ Reading Authors Facebook * Google+

2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.

* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post.*

* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one. Please link unique posts each time ~ no repeats please. *

* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*

* Feel free to link more than one post.*

3. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you!

4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links!

5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!

Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? If you've joined us before, you are welcome to join us again! Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.

'Tis the season...Happy Hopping!

#Review and #Giveaway: Liesl's Ocean Rescue by Barbara Krasner/Illustrated by Avi Katz

Summary:

Liesl’s Ocean Rescue by noted children’s author Barbara Krasner, recounts the story of Liesl Joseph, a 10 year old girl aboard the ill-fated MS St. Louis. On May 13, 1939, together with her parents and 937 other Jewish refugees they left Germany on the MS. St Louis attempting to seek temporary asylum in Cuba. 

My review:

It is hard for me to fathom a group of people being persecuted to the point they could be arrested, having to leave their home in fear, or worse killed. It is hard to think that freedom is not necessarily for all.

This is the true story of Liesl and her family who left to avoid being killed, her father already being jailed just after his 56th birthday. Liesl was a help on the USS St. Louis but like the other passengers became stuck out in the ocean for several weeks when Cuba nor the US would allow the ship to port.

It seems they would never be rescued but her father worked hard to find shelter somewhere. The back of the book lets the reader know what Liesl's ultimate fate was. I will of course not reveal this to you because I want you to read the book.

This book is for a bit older child and should be included in any Holocaust studies. A complete bibliography is also given in the back for further reading.

The illustrations are all in black in white drawings and are a nice addition to the story as a whole. 

The only negative I have to say about this book is it does seem to end abruptly. I had hoped to read a continuation and not just a post script in the back.

Overall, I give it four stars. Would you like a copy of your own? See the Rafflecopter below.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. This review is also part of the iRead Book Tour.

Where to find the author:

Facebook
Amazon
Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Christmas Spirit Read-a-thon Wrap Up #SeasonsofRead #CSReadathon #ChristmasSpirit

Here I sit at my desk just having finished the book, "The Reindeer Keeper". It is about 21 degrees out and it looks like snow. I wonder if it will?

I participated in the Seasons of Reading Read-a-thon this week and it turns out, this was the only book I read. I have several on my TBR pile but this one was at the top. I actually won this book at the last read-a-thon and had stashed it away.

I am not inclined to review it right now as I have it to do in a few weeks but let's just say, it was certainly a five star-er!

This coming month I am dedicating the entire month to holiday books. I am saying holiday books because of course there is more than one holiday celebrated in the month of December. As I have mentioned before, I respect all faiths no matter what my own is. That is why I will review all holidays, some of course more than others.

Almost all of the books will be children's books but some may be adult books too.  This will coincide with The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge going on now. I hope you will come back frequently and see what I am reading as well as what others have to offer too.

Peace and love this season,
Naila Moon