Feature & Follow - Favourite Picture Books

  The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of  Parajunkee’s View  and Alison of Alison Can Read . Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs! The purpose of this meme is to find and gain new followers. So follow me and I will follow you =)

This Weeks Question/ Topic

What are some of your favorite picture books – either current ones or ones from your childhood?

Children's books, #5 Harry Potter

 Children's books Day #5 and I have saved the best for last. These books can be enjoyed by kids of Any age, big or small. These captivating and magical books are among my personal all time favorites. I received the first five books as a set for Christmas years ago and was immediately hooked. It was down right painful waiting for the next two to be published, as there was a two year wait in between both of them.

 One of the main reason I enjoyed them so much is because of how well thought out and written they were. I could almost taste all of the well described candies and easily picture the wondrous Hogwarts school. So many of the characters made their way into my heart and I honestly felt a loss went the series was finished. I have re read these books countless times and the story never gets old.

 I of course have seen every Harry Potter movie and as much as I did pick them apart for all of the differences or parts that were left out, I still loved them too. I went to see the first movie in theaters and never gave the story much of a second thought until I read the books. At the risk of repeating my self, as I always say the book is better then the movie.

The books




Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone , #1
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, #2
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, #3
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, #4
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, #5
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, #6
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, #7

Add them to Goodreads

Buy them here:
Amazon.com


Places you can find J.K. Rowling
 Links
Websites - www.jkrowling.com/
                   www.pottermore.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jk_rowling

Children's Books Day #4

 Children's books Day #4 and these books are aimed at 8 - 12 years old and up and are the current treasures of my daughter, she happily eats these stories up like candy. These new and original fairy tale spin offs are a guarantee that my daughter will stay off the telephone and keep her nose buried in a book. Which is fine by me. Since I haven't read them myself I have included the Goodreads description of each one.

Fairest of All (Whatever After #1) by Sarah Mlynowski 

Paperback, 176 pages

Published by Scholastic Press

Description (from Goodreads)

Mirror, mirror, on the basement wall . . .

Once upon a time a mirror slurped up me and my brother, and magically transported us inside Snow White's fairy tale.
Then we stopped Snow White from eating the poisoned apple. Hooray! Or not. If Snow White doesn't die, she won't get to meet her prince or get her happy ending. Oops.
Now it's up to us to fix Snow White's story. And then, fingers crossed, find our way home.

If the Shoe Fits (Whatever After, #2) by Sarah Mlynowski 

Paperback, 176 pages

Published by Scholastic Press 

Description (from Goodreads)

This second book in Sarah Mlynowski's charming new series puts a fresh spin on the Cinderella story! Once upon a time my brother and I found a magic mirror. Tonight the mirror swept us into Cinderella's fairy tale. Now, we are NOT messing this story up. No way. Cinderella is going to marry her prince just like she's supposed to. Uh-oh. Cinderella broke her foot and there's massive swelling. The glass slipper won't fit, the prince won't know she's the one for him, and they won't live happily ever after. And it's all our fault! To save the day we'll need to: 1. Learn how to use a dustpan 2. Stay out of jail 3. Find Cinderella a job 4. And make sure true love finds its way. We just have to get it all done before the clock strikes twelve and the chance for a happy ending is gone . . . forever!

Sink or Swim (Whatever After #3) by Sarah Mlynowski 

Hardcover, 176 pages

Published by Scholastic Press 

Description (from Goodreads)

Once again my brother and I are in hot water . . .

We weren't planning to mess up the fairy tales. The first two times we did it by accident. But when our magic mirror pulls us into the story of the Little Mermaid, we have no choice but to try and rewrite it. Let's just say the original story does NOT end happily!

Now we need to:
- Convince our mermaid to keep her tail
- Plan a royal wedding
- Avoid getting eaten by sharks

We've got to find a happy ending for the Little Mermaid . . . before she's fish food and we're lost at sea forever!

Add them to Goodreads

Buy it here:
 Amazon.com

The Whatever After series continues with the story of Rapunzel and there is currently a contest to help name the title of the fourth book. You can check it out here:
http://blog.scholastic.com

Places you can find Sarah Mlynowski
Links
Website - www.sarahm.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/SarahMlynowski
Facebook - www.facebook.com/sarahmlynowski

Children's books Day #3

Children's books Day #3 and these chapter books are great for 7 years and up. Both of these selected series were the first chapter books that my daughter was interested in reading on her own.

Rainbow magic  by Daisy Meadows
Add it to Goodreads
Buy them here: www.chapters.indigo.ca

 These stories are about the lives of various fairies. I have never read any of these books but they must have been good easy to follow tales if she loved them so much. She purchased quite a few with her own money and read them all one after another.

 Kitty Corner and Puppy Place by Ellen Miles
Add it to Goodreads
Buy them here: www.chapters.indigo.ca

 These books are about different animals and their adventures. I also have never read any of these books but once again my daughter devoured these stories. They are an excellent introduction to chapter books that keep kids fully entertained.

Places you can find the authors
Links
Daisy Meadows - www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/daisy-meadows/
Ellen Miles - www.ellenmiles.net/

Children's books Day 2

 Day #2 of children's books includes stories that I grew up reading, both of these authors are amazingly creative and I  am pleased that they are a hit with both my kid



Robert Munsch
Add it on Goodreads
Buy them here: www.chapters.indigo.ca

 Robert Munsch writes very amusing stories about various children. Whether your reading The Paper Bag Princess or Mortimer you are bound to crack a smile at the silly characters. One of my favorite Robert Munsch books is Zoom!, a story about a little girl who wants to go fast.

Arthur by Marc Brown
Add it to Goodreads
Buy them here www.chapters.indigo.ca

Quote
"Having fun isn't hard, when you've got a library card" - Arthur

 Arthur is definitely one loved aardvark in my house. Either in books or on T.V. he visits us often. The stories are well rounded and anyways have great life lessons that help children connect with them. I love Arthur's know it all little sister D.W., her cleverness never ceases to amaze me.

Places you can find the authors
Links
Robert Munsch - robertmunsch.com
Marc Brown - marcbrownstudios.com/

Children's books Day 1

  I have always been an avid reader, which I guess I have my my mom to thank for it. She read me bedtime stories when I was small and always encouraged my passion for reading. I do this now for my children. I try to set a good example by reading more and watching television less and I'm glad to say that it has been working. Which leads me to a new theme for this week, Children's books. So for the next week I will be posting both of my kids favorite books starting with the younger ages and working my way up to pre teen. My hope is that someone will be able to find some new and fun books to read to, or be read by, kids.

Good morning, Good night by Teresa Imperato

Add it to Goodreads

Published by piggy toes press

 This book is loved by both of my kids. I used to read it to my daughter and now she reads it to my son. This story is about various animals who play in the day and get ready for sleep in the night. Its a touch and feel book, so you can pet the animals and say goodnight. My copy is almost in tatters due to it being seven years old and well read. My hope though is to keep it in good enough shape to one day - Far,Far,Far into the future - read to my grandkids.

Miss spider by David Kirk

Add it to Goodreads

Published by scholastic press

 When my daughter was little she loved everything that was Miss Spider. We checked out every book there was at the libraries and read them many times. They are sweet stories about family and friendship and the cute little adventures that they go on. Miss Spider and her broad of adopted bug children snuggled their way into our hearts. I enjoyed reading these books to my daughter. The illustrations are beautiful and full of color and the fact that they rhyme only makes them better. I love rhyming children's books, it always makes them fun for me to read.

Max and Ruby by Rosemary Wells

Add it toGoodreads

Published  by Puffin

 My son is totally into Ruby and her little brother Max, he loves the television show so I brought him home a book and it was the first time that he stayed sitting until I was finished reading. I really think that he makes a connection with Rosemary Wells stories because they are somewhat like his own life. Ruby is a very girly older sister to Max, she often likes to play dress up and find a creative way to get her brother to do what she wants, which rarely works. This is just like Serena and her little brother Cole (my children). They are great stories and are fun to see what kind of mischief Max will get into.

Authors websites
 Links
Teresa Imperato - http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=QueenTBone
David Kirk - www.facebook.com/davidkirkauthor
Rosemary Wells - rosemarywells.com/