Harpercollins Children's Book ARC Review: Fancy Nancy and the Missing Easter Bunny (Jane O' Conner & Robin Preiss Glasser)

Fancy Nancy and the Missing Easter Bunny

Author: Jane O' Conner & Robin Preiss Glasser

Paperback, 24 pages
Published Date: February 7th 2017

Publisher: HarperFestival

Join Fancy Nancy in a fabulous 8x8 storybook adventure, complete with fancy stickers!
Fancy Nancy can’t wait for Easter. And this year, JoJo’s class pet, Nibbles the bunny, is staying at the Clancys’ house for the weekend. But when Bree and Freddy come over to begin an Easter egg hunt, Nibbles goes missing! It’s up to Nancy to find her before anyone notices she’s gone.
From Jane O’Connor, author of the bestselling Fancy Nancy series, comes the perfect springtime read.

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Jane O’Connor is an editor at a major publishing house and has written more than seventy books for children, including the New York Times bestselling Fancy Nancy series, which is comprised of over 50 titles so far. She resides (that’s a fancy word for lives) in Manhattan with her husband, Jim. Her two grown sons have fled New York, however, and are both living in Los Angeles.

Robin Preiss Glasser wore tiaras and tutus when she danced as a soloist with the Pennsylvania Ballet. Now she happily spends her days in jeans, drawing. She has illustrated many acclaimed picture books, including the now classic and beloved Fancy Nancy series. In 2013, she won the Children’s Choice Award for Best Illustrator of the Year for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet. Robin lives in Southern California with her husband, Bob, and two children, Sasha and Ben. 

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Fancy Nancy stories are among my most favorite children's books. Each Fancy Nancy story teaches a lesson to children and shows them the right way to be respectful and good. 

Fancy Nancy and the Missing Easter Bunny is filled with bright, colorful illustrations that really engage readers and will keep children attentive and interested in the story. 

One of my favorite parts about Fancy Nancy stories is that the author uses each story to introduce children to the French language with  easy to understand words that children will be able to grasp and remember. The stories also teach kids right from wrong and use different situations to show kids the right choices to make. 

"Ooh la la! Look at my eggs! 

They are tres magnifique. 

(That's French for very magnificent!)"

The characters in Fancy Nancy stories are bright and fun and drawn to reflect happiness and cheer. 

I love how in Fancy Nancy and the Missing Easter Bunny, Nancy's friends realize that Nancy was busy trying to find the missing bunny and did not get to hunt eggs like everyone else....so her friends come together to make sure Nancy gets a chance to hide eggs as well. This shows kids the right way to treat people and teaches friendship and respect. 

I also like that the author includes a page full of stickers which helps kids to be able to interact within the story and they will love the cute stickers! Especially the Easter bunny sticker! :)

For more Fancy fun & games visit www.fancynancyworld.com.

www.harpercollinschildrens.com

Harpercollins Children's Book ARC Review: Good Morning, Grizzle Grump (Aaron Blecha)

Good Morning, Grizzle Grump

Author: Aaron Blecha

Hardcover, 32 pages
Expected Publication: April 18th 2017

Publisher: HarperCollins

Winter is over! Spring has sprung! Grizzle Grump has just woken up from his long winter slumber. His big bear belly is quite rumbly. So he sets off with his trusty squirrel sidekick in search of a springtime snack.
He gathers berries, but they go missing.
He catches fish, but they disappear.
Grizzle Grump finally finds his food…along with another big surprise!
In this follow-up to Goodnight, Grizzle Grump!, Aaron Blecha presents another lively read-aloud tale with heart and humor.

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AARON BLECHA is an artist and author who designs funny characters, and illustrates humorous books, including the popular George Brown, Class Clown and Shark School series.
Blecha's first book as author and illustrator, Goodnight, Grizzle Grump! was recently published by HarperCollins Childrens.
In addition to illustrating children’s books (Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster), he works as a character designer in TV development (Disney, Curious Pictures, eOne Family).
Aaron was born and raised (by giant squid) in Green Bay, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1997. After leaving school and bouncing around to Chicago, then Copenhagen- he landed in California. In San Francisco, Blecha worked as an animator and character designer in the animation and toy industries. He moved to London in 2007 and has been freelancing ever since. Today he lives with his family in Brighton & Hove, on the south coast of England.

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"All the animals of the forest have awoken from their

 winter slumber and are joyfully welcoming spring. 

All the animals, except for one....."

Good Morning Grizzly Grump is an colorful and beautifully illustrated children's book that tells the story of Grizzly Grump as he wakes up from his hibernation and is extremely hungry. All of the other animals in the book and happy and smiling and Grizzly Grump is very unhappy because he just wants to eat and each time he comes across some food the  other animals take it from him and run off giggling. Little does Grizzly Grump know....but all the animals of the forest have a secret plan in the works and its all for Grizzly Grump.

I loved everything about this book from the smiling, colorful animals to the mystery behind the disappearing food. :) 

I love how the Grizzly Grump's story shows kids how to treat other people and shows kindness being shown between friends. All of Grizzly Grumps friends knew that he would be hungry when he woke up so they all got together to make him a huge surprise meal to show him how much they care about him. 

Children of all ages will learn friendship and gratitude from this story. 

One of my favorite parts about this entire book is the colorful map in the front of the book that outlines Grizzly Grump and his friends world and where each of the animals in the story live. 

Grizzly Grump's stories are entertaining and the characters are funny and intriguing and will keep a child's attention till the very last page. 

* Critical Praise *

“maintains the brightly colored, crisp look of the first book, with a wonderfully detailed pictorial map depicting the biomes of Grizzle’s world....like the first, a natural for readingaloud.” — Booklist

“The cartoon-style illustrations in colored pencil have an immediate appeal...the brief text is well-paced and punchy, with lots of motion and comical details...Grizzle Grump and his odd squirrel friend are an unlikely but endearing pair.” — Kirkus Reviews

HarperCollins Children's Book Review: Prissy & Pop Deck The Halls (Melissa Nicholson)

Prissy & Pop Deck The Halls

Author: Melissa Nicholson

Hardcover, 32 pages
Publish Date: September 20th, 2016

Publisher: HarperCollins

Deck the halls with Instagram sensations Prissy and Pop (@prissy_pig) in their second photographic picture book adventure!
It's Christmastime, and Prissy and Pop are preparing for Santa’s arrival. They’re trimming the tree, baking cookies, and singing carols. But wait—they forgot to send Santa directions to their house! Will they have a merry piggie Christmas after all?

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Melissa Nicholson graduated from the University of Alabama and is a first-grade teacher at the prestigious Bolles School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Since adopting her two micro-pigs, Priscilla and Poppleton, she has documented their exciting life in North Florida on the Instagram account @Prissy_Pig, which now has over 611,000 followers. She's also established their own online store that features everything from baby onesies to coffee mugs to cell-phone cases, which you can visit at www.theprissyandpopshop.spreadshirt.com

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"The best part of Christmas is you!" Two little piggies say together.

Prissy & Pop Deck The Halls is an adorable children's book that tells the story of two little pigs, Prissy and Pop, as they get ready for Christmas and Santa's visit. 

Everyone who reads this cute book is going to fall in love with the two adorable piggies, Prissy & Pop. Each page of the book is filled with bright, colorful christmas-themed photos featuring Prissy & Pop. Kids will love getting to see a new holiday themed photo with each turn of the page and what Prissy & Pop are going to do next.

Prissy & Pop Deck The Halls shows that everyone gets excited about Christmas and Santa coming to visit....even piggies!!!!

Prissy & Pop is the perfect Christmas book for parents to curl up with their kids and get them in the Christmas spirit! 

~Praise for Prissy & Pop Deck The Halls~

“The costumes and props are all cheerfully Christmas-y, and the piggies are undeniably cute.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

“...pig lovers will get a kick out of this stocking stuffer.” ~ School Library Journal

“...readers not charmed by these expressive pigs might want to check that their hearts aren’t made of coal.” ~ Publishers Weekly

HarperCollins Childrens Book ARC Review: Monster Trucks (Anika Denise)

Hardcover, 32 pages
Expected publication: July 12th 2016 by HarperCollins
Author: Anika Denise
Illustrator: Nate Wragg

Readers will delight in this lively read-aloud story with a clever and surprising twist at the end—perfect for Halloween and year round!
Ready, set, go! The monster truck race is on in this frightfully delightful picture book. On a spooky speedway, Monster Trucks moan! Monster Trucks grumble! Monster Trucks groan!
Join Frankentruck, Zombie Truck, Ghost Truck, and more as they race to the finish line. But one of these trucks isn’t quite who you think.

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Anika Denise is a children’s book author and poet. When not writing stories about piggies and elephants and bears (oh my!) she’s either cooking, baking, reading or attempting to do all three at the same time. Her published picture books include PIGS LOVE POTATOES, BELLA AND STELLA COME HOME, and BAKING DAY AT GRANDMA'S (Philomel).

She has several more coming soon, including a rhyming tale of vroom and doom titled MONSTER TRUCKS, illustrated by Nate Wragg (HarperCollins 2016), STARRING CARMEN, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez (Abrams 2017), and THE BEST PART OF MIDDLE, illustrated by her husband Christopher Denise (Christy Ottaviano Books 2018).

Anika and Chris live in Rhode Island with their three kids, overgrown vegetable gardens, pesky squirrels and a slew of imaginary friends. Visit Anika online at anikadenise.com and on Twitter @AnikaDenise.

http://www.anikadenise.com/ 

Illustrated by Nate Wragg

"Join Frankentruck, Zombie Truck, Ghost Truck, 

and more as they race to the finish line.

But one of these trucks isn't quite who you think.

Who will win the monster truck race?"

Monster Trucks is a cute childrens book about a race that involves "monster" trucks where the trucks are actually different Halloween characters such as a werewolf, Frankenstein, zombie, ghost, and a vampire! Right as the race begins a small blue bus decides to enter the race and compete against the "monsters."

I love how the little blue bus is not scared of these monster trucks at all! She races ahead of all of them and shows that she is brave and determined! The ending of the story has a cute surprise for the reader and the rest of the monster trucks! 

The story is cute and catchy and a perfect read for the Halloween season and shows kids that no matter what size you are, big or small, you can still win the race!! I highly recommend this cute story for parents and kids to enjoy during the spooky (but not scary)  Halloween month!!