New release today: Mr. Katz is a Zombie by M. C. Lesh

Catastrophe looms in North Goethalsburg! When twelve-year-old J.D. is tricked into taking possession of a book of spells, his best friend turns their teacher into a zombie. The zombification of Mr. Katz creates general chaos and a not-so-terrific time for near-genius J.D. Teamed with his best friend Rodney, twin troublemakers, and an obnoxious ghost, J.D. must figure out how to change Mr. Katz back from one of the undead before he: 1. Escapes the janitor’s closet; 2. Eats their brains; and 3. Wears J.D.’s spleen as a hat. Can four boys armed with a slingshot, two boxes of jelly donuts, and a handy zombie guide battle their mindless teacher and live to tell? Probably not. You’ll have to read to find out.

My review: If your son or daughter enjoys “Diary of a Wimpy kid”, Mr. Katz is a Zombie is sure to appeal to them. The first book in the Goethalsburg Ghost Squad series, the story is told from bratty J.D.’s perspective. He’s your regular, average kid-only that his parents are professional ghost hunters! This lands J. D. in an awful lot of trouble-naturally through no fault of his own! Take Mr. Katz’ current zombie like state, for example. Clearly his friend Rodney’s doing, but now it’s up to J.D. to save the day. To make matters worse, Rodney and his chaotic brothers are about as little help as the uncooperative ghost Balthazar. But J. D. is ready to take on the battle-even if it’s with a box of jelly donuts!

A fun story for pre-teens with just the right mix of humor and action filled adventure, Mr. Katz is Available on Amazon as of October 14.

About the author: As a child, M.C. Lesh had to hold her nose in order to eat spinach. As an adult, she hardly ever has to hold her nose when she eats spinach, but she still picks onions out of all of her food. She read a lot of books as a kid. Luckily, she didn't have one of those video gaming machines to rot her brain. (Her friend Lorenzo says they appeal to the monkey part of the brain. She thinks that's an insult to monkeys. Sorry, monkeys!) Mr. Katz is a Zombie is the first book in her Goethalsburg Ghost Squad Series. She hopes you'll return to North Goethalsburg to find out what happens when J.D. meets Martin Barton, suspected werewolf and snappy dresser. She also hopes you never have to be too serious, but in the event that you do, her advice is to keep a yo-yo in your back pocket because that is almost always a good idea.

Visit her website: margaretlesh.com.

Twitter @MargaretLesh

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review, but also bought two more copies for a children's hospital. Yup, spent my own money! 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.”.

Review: All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall

Based on a true story, All of the Above is the delightful and suspenseful story of four inner city students and their quest to build the world's largest tetrahedron. Weaving together the different personal stories of the kids, their teacher, and the community that surrounds them, award-winning author Shelley Pearsall has written a vividly engaging story about math, life and good-tasting barbecue. Filled with unexpected humor, poignant characters and quiet brilliance, All of the Above is a surprising gem.

My review: No, this isn’t a new release, but one I would have been sorry to miss! I came across this book at a charity book sale, and must say this is one of the best middle grade stories I’ve ever read! Based on a true story, disgruntled and disillusioned math teacher Collins forms some kind of an after hours math club reminiscent of the breakfast club. Students who would never have hung out together (with some of them not even attending by choice!) tackle the construction of the world’s largest tetrahedron, a three dimensional pyramid comprised of smaller ones. Pearsall does an outstanding job switching narratives so each student gets to share their unique story. The characters truly come alive, including all their struggles living in poverty and broken homes, while fighting a society that has already written them off. This is their one chance to get their names into the Guinness Book of World Records, and finally be someone. A brilliant story, and a welcome break from the usual middle school dramas.

About the author: Shelley Pearsall grew up in the blue-collar Cleveland suburb of Parma where she began writing stories in her bedroom closet as a child. She sent her first story to a New York publishing house at the age of thirteen. Although the manuscript was never published, its themes of survival and freedom ultimately became the inspiration for Pearsall's first published novel, TROUBLE DON'T LAST, written twenty years later.

In 2003, TROUBLE DON'T LAST received the prestigious Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction among other honors. Pearsall's first contemporary novel ALL OF THE ABOVE was a 2007 ALA Notable book. Her books have received starred reviews and have been named Booklist Editor's Choice, New York Public Library Top 100, VOYA Top Shelf, Junior Library Guild, and have been nominated for numerous state reading award lists. In 2005, Pearsall was the Children's Writer-in-Residence for the James Thurber House.

Before becoming a full-time author, Shelley Pearsall was an intermediate and middle school teacher. She has also tried many unusual jobs over the years, including a Revolutionary War shipwreck archaeology project, working in an 18th century shoemaker shop in Colonial Williamsburg, and performing Great Lakes stories on an ore boat. Although she no longer works as a classroom teacher, she is a frequent guest author in elementary and middle schools where she does presentations and leads writing workshops on everything from Elvis to shoes.

Shelley Pearsall lives in Silver Lake, Ohio with her husband Mike, stepson Ethan, and a senior-citizen cat named Marbles.

Disclosure: I did not receive the item(s) mentioned in this post for free, but paid for it with my own money. 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.”.

Adventures with Roly-Poly Monster ~ Review and Giveaway ~ Holiday Gift Guide 2013

Come meet Roly-Poly
Monster, a curious new monster friend, and join him as he rolls throughout his
day - playing, exploring and of course, rolling! This colorful, rhyming picture
book introduces children to a new fun-to-follow furry friend and is recommended
for ages 2-5 years old.

Purchase from Amazon.com

About the Author:

Charity Tober has been
creating and writing stories for as long as she can remember and became a
professional freelance writer in 2010. Roly-Poly Monster is her first children's
picture book and was created, along with illustrations by her husband, as a
story for their young son Ethan. Charity, along with her husband and son,
currently reside in Lake Mary, Florida.

Website: http://rolypolymonster.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rolypolymonster

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7260050.Charity_Tober

Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Roly-Poly-Monster-Charity-Tober/dp/0989933008/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380503850&sr=8-1

My Review:

This is an absolutely adorable book.  My youngest keeps reading it over and over and over . . . Roly-Poly Monster tells of all the fun adventures a young monster has throughout his day as he rolls all over joining his friends in all different kinds of fun activities.  The illustrations are absolutely adorable and the story itself is so fun and fanciful that children of all ages will enjoy reading about Roly-Poly and his fun-filled day.  Although recommended for children ages 2 - 5, I think this is a book that infant through age 7 will enjoy! 

And just for fun, One Mom Loves 2 Read follower will win an autographed print copy of this book!  It would make a fun Christmas Gift for a young child!  Open to US only, must be 13 or older with parent's permission to enter/win.

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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.”.

Be sure to check out the other great gift ideas on these Holiday Gift Guide 2013 lists:

Scrooge and Marley by Karl Hollenbach ~ Boot Tour & GIVEAWAY on Mom Loves 2 Read

Scrooge & Marley

by Karl Hollenbach

Genre: Literary Fiction

Publisher: Books, Authors And Artists, div of internet marketing KY, LLC.

Release Date: November 14, 2012

Book Description:

A year after Ebenezer Scrooge encountered the ghost of his partner, Jacob Marley, as well as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, Scrooge relives the previous Christmas and is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley once more. Mediating for his friend and partner by fulfilling his requests, Scrooge witnesses an altogether different story.

This expansion on Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, recounts how Marley unshackles his soul from previous deeds allowing Scrooge to partake of redemption.

Relive and recapture the essence of Christmas while exploring the wonders of life, living and death.

Excerpt:

Ebenezer Scrooge considered Christmas a “humbug.” Uncharitable to solicitors for funds for the poor, his only concern was whether the poorhouse was no longer open. He grudgingly gave his clerk Christmas day off. When his nephew wished him a “Merry Christmas,” he responded, “And good day to you, sir.” In short, Scrooge was not a pleasant person.

On Christmas Eve Scrooge was visited by the ghost of his dead, miserly and selfish partner, Jacob Marley, who had to trudge through the spirit world encumbered by chains. Marley told Scrooge that three spirits would visit him, and if he was to be saved from an even worse fate than was Marley’s, he had to meet these three spirits.

At twelve midnight a childlike figure appeared, saying she was the Spirit of Christmas Past and showed Scrooge scenes from his past. The second spirit, the Spirit of Christmas Present, a huge, jovial man, dressed in red and green, took Scrooge to the homes of those people that should have been dear to him.

These scenes touched Scrooge. And he shed tears. Visited by the third spirit, Scrooge said he feared it most. The Spirit of Christmas Future showed Scrooge his own lonely death, with no one grieving at his grave.

A changed man, Scrooge yelled, “I don't know what to do! I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy, I am as giddy as a drunken man. A Merry Christmas to everybody!” The Spirit of Christmas had made Scrooge a different man from the one he had been.

About The Author

Born
in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1925, Karl F. Hollenbach graduated from a
local public high school in 1943 as a major in the junior ROTC. Entering
the army on Christmas Eve that same year, he served as a sergeant in
World War II with the U.S. Engineers. Assigned to the Seventh Army he
crossed the Rhine River into Germany, ending up in Austria at the end of
the European war.

He
attended Biarritz American University, Purdue University, the
University of Kentucky and earned a Masters of Education degree and Rank
I in education from the University of Louisville. After 20 years in
business as a sales representative, manager, and owner-operator of
several retail stores, he made a career change to education.

During
the next 18 years, he taught in the Louisville, Kentucky public schools
and the Hardin County Catholic school system. After the merger of two
of the largest Kentucky public school systems, Karl served as a
consultant to the Jefferson County school system and was a
lecturer/coordinator of student teachers at the University of
Louisville, School of Education.

A student
of esoteric studies for over 50 years, he is a member of the
Rosicrucian Order, Self-Realization Fellowship and the Association for
Research and Enlightenment. He has lectured on esoteric subjects in a
dozen cities, and his metaphysical articles have been published in Japan

and England as well as the United States.

Author Links:

Publisher's web site: http://BooksAuthorsAndArtists.com

KFH uses his publisher's Facebook page, if needed:https://www.facebook.com/BooksAuthorsAndArtists



 
Author's page - BAA blog: http://booksauthorsandartists.com/authors/karl-f-hollenbach/ 



Author's page - Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Karl-F.-Hollenbach/e/B00B36VS38/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1363387919&sr=1-2-ent 



Author's page - Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Karl+F.+Hollenbach&search_type=books 



Author's page - Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/KarlFHollenbach



YouTube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Vjs-SNMUg 

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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.”.