Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee ~ #MeToo

Introducing a new title for middle
graders that I thought might be of interest to most of my readers 

Maybe He Just Likes You by
Barbara Dee

Barbara Dee explores the subject of #MeToo for the middle grade
audience in this heart-wrenching—and ultimately uplifting—novel about
experiencing harassment and unwanted attention from classmates.

For seventh-grader Mila, it starts with some boys giving her an
unwanted hug on the school blacktop. A few days later, at recess, one of the
boys (and fellow trumpet player) Callum tells Mila it’s his birthday, and asks
her for a “birthday hug.” He’s just being friendly, isn’t he? And how can she
say no? But Callum’s hug lasts a few seconds too long, and feels…weird.
According to her friend, Zara, Mila is being immature and overreacting. Doesn’t
she know what flirting looks like?

But the boys don’t leave Mila alone. On the bus. In the halls.
During band practice—the one place Mila could always escape.

It doesn’t feel like flirting—so what is it? Thanks to a chance
meeting, Mila begins to find

solace in a new place: karate class. Slowly, with
the help of a fellow classmate, Mila learns how to stand her ground and how to
respect others—and herself.

From the author of Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal,
and Star-Crossed comes this timely story of a middle school girl
standing up and finding her voice.”

About the Author: Barbara
Dee is the author of several middle grade novels including Maybe He Just
Likes You, Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed.
Her books have received several starred reviews and been included on many
best-of lists, including the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten, the Chicago Public
Library Best of the Best, and the NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books
for Young People. Star-Crossed was also a Goodreads Choice Awards
finalist. Barbara is one of the founders of the Chappaqua Children’s Book
Festival. She lives with her family, including a naughty cat named Luna and a
sweet rescue hound dog named Ripley, in Westchester County, New York.

Rosie Reviews:

I was able to read this book in less than two hours.  I found that I could not stop reading.  I wasn't sure that I wanted to read it but my mom told me she wanted me to read it and help with a review so I agreed.

I would recommend this book to any kids (boys should read it too) ages 9 and up, especially those in 6th grade like me and in Jr High and High School.  My big sister read it too and she said the same thing about it that I did.... this book is SO GOOD. 

This is the type of story that makes you emotional and kind of uncomfortable at times, but is so important to read because it really does happen in real life.  My sister and I both have had boys say things and do things that made us uncomfortable and we just didn't know what we should do about it.  I like how Mila tries to tell her friends how uncomfortable she is and how two of her friends did try to stick up for her.  I didn't like that Zara wasn't a good friend and wouldn't listen.  If one of my friends tells me she is having problems with someone I try to listen and go with her to tell an adult.  It is important to stick up for yourself.

This is a really good story and one that I am going to recommend to my friends to read!





Susan's Review:

Mila's story is one that is all too common and often overlooked in our culture.  As several times it stated in the book, other students and even adults tell Mila that she is "over reacting" to the situation.  She thankfully is determined and continues to try to fight back and speak out in her own way, but it becomes difficult to know who to trust.  Nobody should have the right to harass or touch another person in any way that makes that person uncomfortable. This well-written story affirms Mila’s anger,
confusion, and fear during each confrontation, but also highlights the importance of speaking up
and speaking out against harassment.

I was thrilled with the depth given to each of the characters in the story and how well the author creates a realistic world with characters that act in age appropriate manners.  The adults in the story are all-too realistic in how they each handle the situation presented by Mila.  The way in which Mila finally conquers her fear and "speaks out" is humorous and serious at the same time, though I do not condone how it was accomplished, I do applaud her for her bravery and determination to finally make herself heard.

This book should be in all school libraries, in every teacher's list of required reading.  For those who have been on the receiving end of unwanted touch or uncomfortable words will be relieved to find there are many others who have been through it too.  Boys of all ages will be able to get insight into what it feels like to be on the receiving end of the "harmless" jokes and innuendoes and maybe refrain from participating in this inappropriate harassment.  And to finally have a book that shows how common sexual harassment is for young girls and boys and that it is not your fault, you are not overreacting, you are not alone and you do have a voice...speak out!  And if they don't listen...keep speaking until they hear you!


Maybe He Just Likes You by
Barbara Dee 

Aladdin

Available October 1, 2019

Hardcover $17.99  Ebook $10.99

Ages 9-13

304 pages

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review from Media Masters Publicity. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

New books in the Fairday collection: Check out this review of the original Secret DMS files!

For this review, I was sent a paperback copy of The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow by one of the authors: Jessica Haight.  I was so excited for the chance to read and review for Jess since she is my most faithful follower on this blog; and since I am always on the lookout for new middle grade books to entice my 10 year old to read more. 



About the book ~ taken from the blog:

The newer book cover!





~ For more info on the book, the authors and some clue-finding fun ~

visit: Jess's blog:   http://jessicahaight.com/The_DMS_Home_Page_.html

or Fairday's blog:   http://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/

Fairday on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/fairday

Jess on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/@dmsfiles

My Review:

I fell in love with the characters in this book from page one.  Fairday and her family are unique, entertaining, and completely believable.  I enjoyed getting to know Fairday, her family, Lizzy and the kids in Fairday's new school.  The  mystery and suspense is perfect for young readers (and even older ones like me).  The writing flows and I never had to re-read or pause to figure out what was going on.  I love that the story is easy to read and understand and yet written in such a way that kids ages 10 through teen will enjoy the story, the characters and the adventure.  I am anxious to see what happens next!  The story ends perfectly with a mystery solved, yet with more adventure and mystery yet to come!  Excellent job Jess and Stephanie!  A definite 4.5 stars from this book lover!



On a personal note - I was trying to think of a creative way to entice my 10 year old son to give this book a try.  So, I pretended that the spiders on each page were "scary" to me (I would fake shudders and quickly close the page repeatedly to make him laugh and tease me).  Now, all 3 of my kids tease me about the spiders every time they see the book. - lol



I highly recommend you give this book a try - as I've found out from the blog, this is the first book of a series of five.  I can't wait to read the next mystery solved by the DMS team: Fairday Marrow and the Talking Library!

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Dog Trouble Author Galia Oz ~ Guest Post & Exerpt from her newest book!

 

The capricious muse or Hermes, patron of thieves - who not to rely on when writing a book 

by Galia Oz

Looking forward to reading another positive post about fleeting inspiration that spawned a book? Not on my watch. People think that inspiration is like a good fairy; they wait for it to suddenly appear and tap them with her spark-emitting wand like in the movies, and suddenly they’ll know how to write a book. For me, however, it doesn’t work that way. For the most part, I sit down in front of the screen, grumpy

and reluctant, and tend to the text like a gardener a garden: cleaning and arranging and weeding, giving up and then pushing forward, all while constantly trying to woo the language, to persuade it to work with me.

My language, by the way, is Hebrew. I wrote the Dog Trouble series between 2007 and 2014, and all five books were bestsellers and some won awards in Israel. They have been translated and published in France, Spain, and Brazil before they were published here, in the United States, recently.

Extract from Dog Trouble:

Last night Mon was in a pretty good mood for a change and she asked me what I would want to be if I wasn't a girl named Julie. I said I didn't know, and she put her arms around me and said I wasn't a girl named Julie, but a sweet cake made totally out of chocolate. And she gave me a hug and tickled my stomach as if I was Max or Monty, and she said, "You see? All this is made out of chocolate!"

I'm not trying to say that this fairy with her wand never appears. She appears, capricious and unexpected, and in the most impossible of situations; like when I’m cooking one thing in a pot, frying something else in a pan and cutting vegetables at the same time. At that very moment, a funny situation or a crucial dialogue will pop into my head, and I’ll have to choose: do I run to write it down and let the food burn, or inversely, do I keep watching the pan and risk losing my inspiration?

And then I asked her what she'd like to be if she wasn't Mon, and she thought for a minute and said if she wasn't Mon who worked at the bank and had taken a long time off to stay home with the twins, she'd be an explorer or a sea captain. I tried to imagine her as a sea captain, holding Max in one hand, a pair of binoculars in the other, with a pacifier hanging around her neck, and I thought it was pretty funny.

"But I wouldn't do anything too serious", said Mon. "I'd let other people sail the ship. I'd just lie on the deck in the sun".

Mon looked really happy, as if the boat story was really happening. She kissed me in the place between my forehead and my nose, which was her favorite kissing spot, and said, "Now jump into bed. Did you brush your teeth?"

Not all writers are alike, each has a different mission. What’s mine? To refine that elusive moment when you can see the soul through words and deeds. So I have a little notebook and pencil next to the bed to write dreams, and pens and paper in every room, all to trick that wicked muse disguised as the good fairy.

But good fairies – if you have come this far you already understand – cannot be relied on. They represent an arbitrary form of creation, based on a stroke of genius of external origin.

I much prefer to count on Hermes, patron of writers, nomads, and thieves. It is no coincidence that thieves and writers are depicted as like professions. Every writer is a thief, by definition, and I am not talking about literary theft. Writers steal completely legally; they draw ideas from those close to them and complete strangers, from politics and the weather, from their dreams at night and from a joke thrown their way in a cafe. Writers are active and sophisticated thieves. They dig deep within their memories and even import from those of their parents.

At bedtime, I told her that only little kids could ever be happy. Then they got a bit older and went to school and that was when the trouble started. Later they turned into adults like her and Dad and suddenly they had little kids of their own and then they got annoyed all the time. Mon was rocking Max in her arms to help him fall asleep and then she said, "So what you're really saying is that only babies are happy people".

"Yes", I said angrily. "Only babies are happy people".

Mon didn't try to convince me that everything was going to be okay. She didn't say, "Of course grown-ups also know how to be happy." She just looked at me and didn't say a word. Then she hugged me real close and said I belonged to her and she belonged to me and that was the way it would always be, nothing would ever change that.

So, the next time this lazy fairy, this capricious muse, knocks on your window, let her in but beware. To rely on her is to go through life in passive anticipation. Better join forces with Hermes. You'll never burn your food again…

About the Author

Galia Oz was born in Kibbutz Hulda, Israel, in 1964. She studied film and Television in Tel Aviv University 1984-87.

Her award winning series of 5 books titled DOG TROUBLE was published in France, Spain and Brazil – and recently in the US by CROWN BOOKS Random House. The series is a steady seller in Israel for over 10 years (selling over 150,000 copies). 

Oz has directed several documentaries, all screened in international film festivals, and in Israeli leading television channels.

Over the years, Galia Oz has been meeting thousands of readers in Israeli elementary schools, and taught creative writing and classic children's literature to kids in public libraries.

Galia Oz is married and has two kids, a dog and a cat, and they all live in Ramat Hasharon, just outside Tel-Aviv.

Visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009378865434.

 

About the Book:

Title: DOG TROUBLE!

Author: Galia Oz

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 144

Genre: Children's book for young readers, ages 8-12

BOOK BLURB:

Readers who have graduated from Junie B. Jones and Ivy & Bean will fall head over heels for feisty Julie and her troublesome new dog.



Julie has only had her dog for two weeks, but she is already causing all sorts of problems. For starters, she is missing! Julie suspects the school bully Danny must be behind it. But it will take some detective work, the help of Julie’s friends, and maybe even her munchkin twin brothers to bring her new pet home.



Wonderfully sassy and endlessly entertaining, the escapades of Julie and her dog are just beginning!



Julie’s adventures have sold across the globe and been translated into five languages. Popular filmmaker and children’s author Galia Oz effortlessly captures the love of a girl and her dog.



"A funny exploration of schoolyard controversy and resolution.” –Kirkus Reviews 



"Will resonate with readers and have them waiting for more installments.” –Booklist  

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Disclosure:  I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Make the most of Hurricane weather - Earth Science for Kids!

As I was searching around the internet for fun ideas to teach my younger daughter more about Hurricanes and the recent weather here in Illinois that has been affected by them, I found this fun website that has tons of great Science Education for kids.

It looks like a great place to find fun information about a variety of things including hurricanes. . .

And additionally has a huge selection of science subjects just perfect for a rainy day, or additional learning for a school project.

This is not a paid post.  I just personally found this website to be fun, informational, educational and one that I will utilize with my 9 year old for weekend or rainy day fun.  Personally I would prefer she be on educational websites like this one than playing Minecraft all day!



**Susan**

Beauty and the Beast for young and old from Silver Dolphin Books #review

The First Stories series (Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Rapunzel) is a perfect interactive introduction to classic fairy tales. Push, pull, and turn mechanisms bring the stories to life and introduce all the beloved characters with simple rhyming text and adorable illustrations. Pull the tab to turn the Beast into a prince, push the tab to fit the glass slipper on Cinderella’s foot, and pull the tab to let

down Rapunzel’s hair. Toddlers and readers of all ages are sure to enjoy these well-loved fairy tales once again with these beautifully imagined titles.



First Stories: Beauty and the Beast

“Do you love me, Beauty? Will you marry me?” First Stories: Beauty and the Beast is a perfect introduction to this classic fairy tale. Push, pull, and turn mechanisms bring the story to life and introduce all the main characters: Beauty, her father, and of course the Beast! This well-loved fairy tale is beautifully imagined for a new generation by children’s illustrator Dan Taylor.





First Stories: Rapunzel

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair!" First Stories: Rapunzel is the perfect introduction for young children to this classic fairytale. Push, pull, and turn mechanisms bring the story to life and introduce all the main characters: Rapunzel, the handsome prince, and of course the wicked witch! This well-loved fairytale is beautifully imagined for a new generation by children's illustrator Dan Taylor.

First Stories: Cinderella

"Cinderella, you shall go to the ball!" First Stories: Cinderella is a perfect introduction to this classic fairytale. Push, pull, and turn mechanisms bring the story to life and introduce all the main characters: Cinderella, her stepsisters, the handsome prince, and of course the fairy godmother. This well-loved fairytale is beautifully imagined for a new generation by children's illustrator Dan Taylor.

Review:

My nieces will be so surprised when they receive these adorable board books for their upcoming birthdays.  Based on the classic fairy tales we all have grown to know and many of us love, these adorable books have a slide or flip on each page that adds wonder to the story being read.  Great for ages 1 and up, these adorable books are sturdy and will last through many hours of enjoyment.  Highly recommended by this Mommy Blogger (and Aunty blogger).





Beauty and the Beast: A Coloring Book

Bring the classics to life with a coloring adventure for all ages! With gorgeous line illustrations combined with quotes from the original text, this series offers a unique way to interact with beloved stories and add creativity and color to richly illustrated scenes. The enchanting Beauty and the Beast coloring book is full of wonderful pictures, patterns, and borders to be colored in, as budding artists immerse themselves in the story of Beauty, who goes to live with the terrifying Beast in order to save her father and then gradually learns to love him.

This enchanting coloring book is full of wonderful pictures, patterns, and borders to be colored in, as budding artists immerse themselves in the story of Beauty, who goes to live with the terrifying Beast in order to save her father…and then gradually learns to love him. All the key scenes and characters are here to color in as you relive this most romantic of fairy tales.

Review:

I would not recommend this adorable coloring book for that 1 year and up range, as I do the First Stories collection.  This is more for the kindergarten and up age range.  A fun way to explore the story of Beauty and the Beast (and many others found on the website) with bits and pieces of the classic story woven into wonderfully drawn pictures just waiting for those budding artists to color and design.   I love the idea behind this coloring book and although the pictures seem detailed enough for adults to color, it is intended for children to enjoy.  This is not the coloring book that I grew up with, nor what I sat coloring along with my children when they were young.  I can see many parents, grandparents, and babysitters loving this new fun way to color along with the kiddos!

For even more amazing coloring and activity based books, check out the Silver Dolphin website!





About Silver Dolphin Books

For over 17 years, Silver Dolphin Books has published award-winning activity, novelty, and educational nonfiction books for preschoolers to 12-year-olds. Our focus is to create books that engage and inspire children to learn more about the world around them while fostering a love of reading, exploration, and creative expression. From adorably-illustrated board books for toddlers to interactive play and building sets, to sound books made for story time, we develop innovative books that both enlighten and entertain.



Find out more about Silver Dolphin Books on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and more!

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review through Media Masters Publicity. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Back to School savings with Label Daddy! Check out the discount here! #labeldaddy

Get ready for the new school year with personalized labels for each child's gear and save 25% on Label Daddy peel and stick custom name labels! Label Daddy is an amazing solution for labeling your belongings! No ironing or sewing . . . just peel and stick. 


Their exclusive laminated coating gives labels an extra layer of protection and is a must for school! Remember to label all clothing, books, bags, sports equipment,

musical instruments, electronics, and other personal belongings your kids bring to school, camp, sports leagues, day care, vacation, and other places Label Daddy labels keep them from getting lost or mixed up with others. These convenient labels are great for adults too! -- Put them on your sunglass/eyeglass case, phone, camera, sports equipment, tablet, e-reader, hats, clothing, and more.



These labels are super durable peel-and-stick washable labels -- they're washer/dryer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and UV resistant! Label Daddy labels are also fun and attractive. You design your own labels! Pick from tons of colors, sizes and logos, including professional sports team logos (NBA, MLB, NHL), classic clip art icons, Emojis, kids' icons (princesses, trucks, and monsters), and more. These labels are made in the USA and shipped directly to you worldwide.



Save 25% on your entire Label Daddy order - this is the best discount available anywhere. Use code USFAMILY25 at checkout.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Wisconsin Dells Adventures, More than Water Parks! #wizard_quest #wisdells

Have you ever wanted to do something a little different as your kiddos are getting older?  Love the water park attractions but maybe just a little side adventure might be what you are looking for?  Have anyone in the family that prefers something other than "water, water, everywhere?"  I have just the experience for you!



My family and I love going to Wisconsin Dells to spend days playing in the water parks and enjoying time together (actually more time apart now that the kids all go in different directions once we find our spot at the water park.)  The thrill of the waterslides, the laziness of the lazy river, the fun of the bucket dump. . . but what about those like myself that enjoy a little water but prefer something less . . . well. . .wet?

 

My two older kiddos and I had an exciting time trying out a new adventure we had

not yet experienced.  We had not noticed that fun-looking building downtown that hid exciting adventure inside!



With free tickets waiting for us courtesy of US Family Guide Bloggers, we entered to find an amazing site!

It was like entering an indoor fantasy land, complete with Hedwig, lol.  Our friendly greeter explained how Wizard Quest works and how to use the provided kindle to proceed through a set course (from a variety of choices) to either "free a wizard" or "capture a wizard" depending on your mood (Good or Villan), or a Dragon Quest!  We chose one of the easier quests to free a wizard since it was our first time trying.

There are several quests at different difficulty levels to satisfy all types of experienced or not-so-experienced adventurers.  I highly recommend the easiest level for the first time, and make use of the "helpers" that are always present inside the course as they will give you "hints" to help you through difficult challenges or just plain "I can't figure this out" moments!

 

My son (age 15 at the time) and older daughter (age 12) both went with me while Dad and youngest (age 9) went back to the indoor water park.  The kids and I had a lot of fun together and separating to find clues to our next part of the adventure.

 There were quite a few times when we got stuck and needed that additional hint or outright help from the guides inside.  And let me tell you, there were a couple of times I just plain chickened out of following the kids through parts of the course.  Ball pits and I are not friends! (rofl)

Overall we enjoyed ourselves for over an hour and immediately wanted to do it again.  Unfortunately, we were short on time and still needed to visit the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum next door!

Although we did have fun inside Ripley's and it was interesting to find the "hidden passages" we honestly wanted to return to Wizard Quest.  Ripley's is fun for a short time, but not for younger kiddos as there are some scary portions that could frighten younger children.



Overall we had an amazing time and really can't wait to go back next summer.  The cost of admission was only $14.99 for adults and $9.99 for ages 5-11.  Working in teams is great but I wouldn't recommend more than 4-5 people max for a single team.  Younger kiddos might not have as much fun since it is interactive but sort of dark, a maze, and not really for infants or preschoolers as the time allotment is usually over an hour.  There are slides, climbing, bridges, tunnels, ball pit and other obstacles throughout the course.  My family gives this experience 5 stars and A+++ from all three of us adventurers!

My youngest heard us talking and sharing about our adventure when we returned and was sad that she chose not to go, so she also will be joining us next summer at Wizard Quest!



For more information or to check out other people's reviews, experiences and photos check Wizard Quest Wisconsin Dells out on:


Facebook

Twitter
Website

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Look out Black Friday, this deal is AMAZING! ABCMouse for HALF OFF! #deals #coupons #savings #children #preschool

Hurry for AMAZING savings! Not just a Black Friday Deal! Get ABCMouse.com for your kiddos, grandkiddos, nieces, nephews or the cute little neighbor for 50% Off ABCmouse.com Annual Subscriptions during their Black Friday Event! Now Only $45 from 11/21 through 11/28!!

REVIEW:

My youngest daughter began using ABCMouse.com when she was only 5.  She was already in Kindergarten and was already reading on a 2nd grade level.  So why try ABCMouse.com?

 She absolutely LOVED it!  She enjoyed reading fun interactive stories, playing games and gettting the rewards for each level she completed!

As she continued progressing even up to the First Grade level, she never tired of the games, books, art, music and so much more.  I would even catch her on the computer right after school before she even had a snack.  

Now my little ABCMouser is 8 years old and has been asking for an ABCMouse.com membership for Christmas this year.  Even though I have explained to her that it is for children preschool up to first grade (she is in 3rd grade) she loved it so much she still wants to play.  She even used the excuse that she could "teach her little cousins" when they come over.

So, whether your little ones are  homeschooled, preschoolers looking for online adventure, kindergarten or older.  Whether they need extra help or just looking for educational fun (and time away from Mine Craft LOL)  ABCMouse.com is an excellent choice!

NOW IS THE TIME - 

50% Off ABCmouse.com Annual Subscriptions during their Black Friday Event! Now Only $45 from 11/21 through 11/28!

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.