FIRST CHAPTER PLUS International Children’s Book Day
A Classroom Project
My Books When I Was aKid
“Never give up, and never give in”
The Barefoot Librarian Corner
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Editor’s Note - My Books When I Was aKid Page 4 Featured Books and Authors Page 3 International Children’s Book Day Page 6 Classroom Project Page 12 Interview with Dave MasonAuthor of “E-ON” Page 20 Indie Books! Pages 10 - 25 26 - 30 Book Videos Page 22-23 The Barefoot Librarian Corner Page 28-29 Inside Scoop Live Podcast of the Month Page 27 Dave Mason Page 24
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Table of Contents - Featured Books and Authors
7 Stone Fever by Norman Westhoff Radical climate change has reshaped human geography by the 24th century. Geologist Keltyn Sparrow Hawk flies to ice-free Antarctica to scout for iridium, and encounters a tribe of nomads. She befriends Luz, a young horsewoman, also searching for the iris stone, from which her mother makes jewelry. Despite warnings, they climb a nearby volcano to find the stone, but mortal perils await on the mountain and with the tribe.
27 Christian de la Huerta Author of “Awakening The Soul Of Power” Award-winning author Christian de la Huerta is an acclaimed speaker at various settings including universities, conferences, corporate training, spiritual communities and the TedX stage. Audiences find Christian's message particularly relevant in these times.
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Editor’s Note Born and raised in Venezuela of Italian immigrants, Susan completed a BA in Political Science and Business Administration before moving to the US . Although she built a career as a Business Analyst/Accountant, she also kept herself active as a freelance writer in the US; publishing articles, poetry, children’s stories, and illustrations since 1996. She published her first book in 2009, and released her revised edition: Innocent War: Behind An Immigrant’s Past – Book 1 in 2011. Her picture book: Tuma: The Tribe’s Little Princess was published in early 2013 under her own label. Currently, Susan Violante is the Managing Editor/CEO/ Partner of I Have Something to Say Press and Book By Book Publicity, Author, Reviewer, Publicist and Publisher. She resides in Austin, TX with her husband Michel and her dogs, Canela, Karina, and Nutela. Susan is mother of two adult daughters, Arianna and Nicolette, and caregiver to her father. She enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, painting, writing, gardening, and any outdoor activity.
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My Books When I Was aKid
rowing up in South America under Italian immigrants who were also WWII survivors; for sure gave me a totally different upbringing than most kids from my generation, and all the kids from this generation for that matter. My parents' WWII trauma happened in part from the horrible things they were exposed to during the war but the trauma that linger within them after rebuilding their lives was the realization that everything, they learned in school was false and dictated by Mussolini. Because of this their focus on my siblings and upbringing and mine was for us to learn the different cultures they could expose us to. So as a kid and young adult I read: * Walt Disney and Hanna Barbera cartoons on a compilation collection of 12 books in Spanish * The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twine in English * Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens in English * Don Camillo Series by Giovannino Guareschi in Italian and Spanish * Ilussions by Richard Bach in Spanish and English * Cuore by Edmondo De Amicis * Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne in English and Spanish * Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. in Spanish * Cien Años de Soledad by Gabriel García Márquez in Spanish * Everything by Agatha Christie in Italian * Everything written by Stephen King in Spanish * Divina Commedia by Dante Alighieri in Italian. …you get the idea. Through reading and languages, my parents opened my mind, my heart, and my world…and I will forever be grateful for it. Susan Violante Editor
International Children’s Book Day by Maria Baglieri - ReaderViews Editorial Asistant and Book Reviewer
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t is a known fact that children view the world through a lens of innocence, imagination, and endless possibilities. Children’s literature gives kids the outlet they need to be transported to a different world. It allows them to continue to exercise their imagination, while also keeping them engaged. It is such an influential aspect in child development that since
1967, April 2nd has become the International Children’s Book Day. This day is meant to celebrate all the books that have helped shape a young girl or boys life, and the authors responsible for those books. Authors take specific care and attention when creating a world in which children can find themselves immersed. Through literature we find ourselves in
places like no other. On Tuesday evening we could find ourselves in the Amazon Rainforest, conversing with all living creatures around us. Maybe on a Saturday we will answer the call from the President asking for our help on a secret mission. Because of children’s books, kids are encouraged to imagine themselves as a doctor, hero, explorer, even a wizard! It gives them confidence and excitement, while expanding their knowledge. Take author Nancy Youngdahl and her children’s book The Ruth Adventures: Life on the Farm for example. She tells the story of a young six-year-old girl with a wonderful family and a farm. Although not many children can relate to a life on a farm, they are enwrapped in the idea of a such a wonderful. They read Youngdahl’s book and are reminded of their family, and are encouraged to reimagine their life if they lived on a farm. It makes them feel seen and heard by seeing characters that they can relate to.
For this years International Children’s Book Day we honor the many children’s book submissions we receive every day. To view our authors submissions, those awarded, and the reviews alongside them please visit: readerviewskids.com
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Stone Fever By Norman Westhoff Fiction - Young Adult / Science Fiction / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic Iguana Books (2020) ISBN 9781771804561 Tradeback - 386 pages - $25.10
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ne of the things which I particularly enjoyed about this novel was how direct the narrative was, making it so easy to fall into the story. With Keltyn you feel as though the story is being told to you by an old friend, and young adult audiences will be sure to respond to the immediacy of being immersed in these excellent settings... Stone Fever is a high quality read for YA and adult science fiction fans everywhere...
— K.C. Finn Readers' Favorite
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tone Fever is a clever blend of two civilizations in a sci-fi action adventure for young adults but I don’t think the audience is limited to that age group. It’s an action-packed journey that will be enjoyed by all age groups and I look forward to the next book in this new series. — Amy (age 16) Reader Views Kids
Read First Chapter Here
Synopsis: Radical climate change has reshaped human geography by the 24th century. Geologist Keltyn Sparrow Hawk flies to ice-free Antarctica to scout for iridium, and encounters a tribe of nomads. She befriends Luz, a young horsewoman, also searching for the iris stone, from which her mother makes jewelry. Despite warnings, they climb a nearby volcano to find the stone, but mortal perils await on the mountain and with the tribe.
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View on Amazon Here
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“Never give up, and never give in” by Sandra Brown-Lindstedt - Author of Life of a Firefly
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grew up in some of the roughest neighborhoods on the south side of Chicago, with five siblings. My stepfather was a Kentucky hustler, and my mother was. . .distant. Thankfully, I spent most of my summers in the quiet rural town of Hooks, Texas with my grandmother. Later in life I got
married and had three children. Soon after, I got divorced and moved to Portland
Oregon to start a new life. After quitting my coveted profession as a medical clerk at our local hospital, I enrolled in Community College, and was later accepted to Lewis & Clark College. After years of hard work and interning in New York, I graduated with a degree in my lucrative profession of theatre. This gave me plenty of time and opportunity to write plays, scripts, enter poetry contests, and otherwise prove myself worthy of the tremendous amount of money I owed in pursuit of my education. During my days off working at the IRS, I pressed on, writing and directing plays for community theatre and church organizations, as well as winning a few contests in short story, plays and poetry.- The Final Warning (Book 4 of James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series. After this book, the series becomes decidedly focused on environmental awareness and activism.) However, winning the Grand prize for overall fiction from Reader Views is by far the biggest award I have ever won. I was so overwhelmed when I learned that I had won. I also felt honored and humbled at the same time, that others would appreciate my work to this degree. I now live in Gothenburg Sweden with my husband Christer, where I'm the Drama director for Smyrna International. In between writing and producing, I try to find time to visit my children and adorable grandchildren in America. My debut book, Life of a Firefly, is my first venture writing for children. And this came about in a remarkable way. My friend Kiumbiro, who teaches at the International school of Gothenburg, invited me to come and read some of my short stories taken from my unpublished book, a memoir titled, “I am Fireflies Ascending.”
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Reader Views 2020 Grand Prize Fiction WinSandy Brown-Lindstedt is the recipient of the 2020 Grand Prize Fiction award for her debut novel, “Life of a Firefly” She also took home the following awards: Gold Medal – Young Readers Category Gold Medal Teen Category Regional Award – South Region The Author Marketing Experts Award for Best Debut Fiction
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Featured Authors G.R. Morris Geoffrey Morris is a 10 time award-winning author. He has garnered much acclaim for his debut novel, Tomorrow’s End. He not only won a prestigious Dragonfly book award, but a Feathered quill and received multiple 5 star reviews from many websites. He was a philosopher and a graduate from seminary studies before taking writing courses in college.
Do you have free will? He never asked to be a hero, but the universe didn’t give him a choice. Kevin Knight never wanted to be the one to save the galaxy. But when tragedy upends his life and demonic forces steal his soul, the fate of time and space are sealed. Until a scaly, trench-coat-clad alien appears and gives him a glimpse into the true nature of all things. Astounded, Kevin learns the world he knows is merely an illusion created by alien beings who control humanity’s every move. With an invasion imminent, he must defeat the blackness and perfect his powers before the bloody battle begins. Which prophecy will Kevin fulfill... the one of darkness or the one of light?
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Tomorrow’s End By G. R. Morris Geoffrey R Morris (2021) ISBN 9780615852379 Hard Cover - 436 pages - $19.99 Fiction - Science Fiction
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omorrow's End is a story that has to be read. It is nearly impossible to summarize without giving away huge plot twists. Kevin is thrown in a battle between good and evil that spans time and space. It is a story that grabs the attention from page one and never let's go. Kevin's adventures make for a thundering roller-coaster read rife with philosophy, religion, and morality... Tomorrow's End will be a series that lingers in readers' hearts and transports you to a new world."
— Heather Osbourne Readers Favorite
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r. Morris is a fascinating storyteller with a very vivid imagination. He weaves together religious mythology with a science fiction flair. I had a very easy time following the series of events and enjoyed the contrasting stories of Daren and Kevin. The battle between light and dark was compelling. I loved how, throughout the story, the contrasting forces were always at war, forming a prevalent theme throughout the novel. Tomorrow's End was definitely a memorable read and I hope to have the opportunity to explore book two soon! — The Columbia Review 11
Read First Chapter Here View on Amazon Here
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A C L A SS R O O M PR O J EC T By Skyler Boudreau
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ne of the most important things I’ve learned during my employment as a childcare worker is how to get children interested in reading. My program is primarily a before/after school program that offers children a place to not only play and make friends, but also has a built in “educational time.” I’m responsible for the second grade group, and we’ve been using our educational time to discuss books and build a compendium of book reviews by the children.? My group was aware that I had a second job outside of my time spent with them. They became very interested in what I do outside of the program. While they seemed to understand that a book reviewer is someone who reads books, they didn’t understand the point to it. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to work on some of the writing and reading skills they were developing during their school hours. Once I explained that a book reviewer was someone who shared their opinion about books they read with other people, they immediately saw the use to it. “So you know it’s a bad book before you read it,” one of the children said. “Since someone read it before you.” “Well,” I said, “Other people will know what you thought of a book. Just because you didn’t like it doesn’t mean another person won’t.” We decided to choose some books from our classroom library and put together an anthology of book reviews. That way, if someone didn’t know what to read, they could look through the anthology and see what their peers suggested (or inevitably did not suggest). We broke our project down into a few different sections: choosing and reading a book, taking notes and outlining, and drafting. Many of the children in my group approached the project the same way they were expected to handle work at school: get it done quickly and do everything correctly. They most difficult part of the project was breaking them out of that cycle. We spent a long time learning about taking the time to think about what we were reading and writing about our opinions.
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During this project, I sat down with each student individually to work on their second draft together. One of the things I noticed while working with them was how concerned they were about getting everything from their spelling to their opinions correct on the first draft. They had a very difficult time understanding that they could use a piece of writing, like a first draft, to simply gather their thoughts. It was also an unexpectedly difficult battle to explain that having an opinion on something was okay. They were allowed to dislike or enjoy something their peers, their teachers, or their program counselors did/did not. After they understood that they were allowed to have opinions, they seemed to really enjoy the project. Educational time begins immediately after the children finish their after school snack, and many of the children wanted to discuss their project or work on it during snack time. As a proud nerd, it makes me excited to see these kids so interested in learning about a subject. It also makes me a little concerned to see how worried they were about having the “right” opinion. Book reviewing is a great place to practice expressing individual thoughts, and I hope this project will help give them all a little more confidence in that area.
Toxemia, Baby and Me An Out of Body Experience By Lorrie O. Hewitt ISBN 9781701166653 AUDIO BOOK - ©2019 Lorrie Oneita Hewitt (P)2020 Lorrie Oneita Hewitt
View on Amazon Here
LISTEN to Sample Here
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Featured Authors Patrick T. Finegan Patrick Finegan was born during the latter half of the Eisenhower Administration and graduated during the Carter and Reagan Administrations from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Law School and Graduate School of Business. He worked thirty-some years in law, finance, consulting and risk management. He has a wife and grown daughter and has lived in the New York metropolitan area his entire professional life – most of it in the same residential cooperative..
What lies beneath the façade of a storied Manhattan residential complex? The cream of New York’s elite lives in a co-op overlooking Central Park – quietly until a bus sideswipes a neighbor. This triggers a series of increasingly bizarre investigations that expose the inhabitants to unrelenting media scrutiny. Winner of nearly twenty respected book awards. Cooperative Lives “is a fascinating slice-of-life that rings true even as it attempts the fantastic.” – Michael Radon, US Review of Books.
Watch Book Video Here
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Cooperative Lives By Patrick T. Finegan Fiction - Literary Novel Two Skates Publishing LLC (2019) ISBN 9781733902526 Hard Cover - 474 pages - $29.99
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atrick Finegan’s luscious novel Cooperative Lives follows characters whose lives change when they are brought into close proximity with each other through a series of coincidences, accidents, and international espionage... Ambitious and sophisticated, Cooperative Lives is a diverse and gorgeous tapestry of character studies and is a pure delight to read. — Wendy Hinman Foreword Clarion Reviews
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appenstance, serendipity and luck dominate as the lives of characters crash against one another like pinballs in Patrick Finegan’s Cooperative Lives. A novel that perfectly captures the unscripted events and coincidence of real life, where you can do your utmost best, and it’s never quite good enough... A powerful, chic and evocative read, Cooperative Lives proves a superb début for Finegan and a must-read for discerning readers of top-notch literary fiction. — BookViral Reviews
Read First Chapter Here View on Amazon Here
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Featured Authors J. Stewart Willis J. Stewart Willis is a graduate of the United States Military Academy. He has been a soldier, a college professor, a manager in industry and the mayor of a small town in Virginia. This is his fourth novel.
When the President-elect dies three days after the election, his 272 Electoral Votes must be held together. One Elector votes his conscience and two are bribed, throwing the nation into Constitutional chaos and no elected President on Inauguration Day.
During the House’s repeated failures to select a President, the Vice President-Elect gets sworn in. Simultaneously, the existing President refuses to leave the White House, saying he is the only elected President. Legally, in accordance with the Constitution, the new Vice President should serve as Acting President. Read about the Constitutional chaos and its eventual resolution.
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One Vote By J. Stewart Willis J.Stewart Willis (2020) ISBN 9780578795539 Tradeback - 290 pages - $14.99 Fiction - Novel - Political
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illis builds a suspenseful political drama around a tantalizing premise that proves ingenious because it is both eminently plausible and one on which the Constitution is silent. As a consequence, he delicately exposes the fragility of the democratic process and the rule of law... A thrilling work about a political crisis; original and gripping." — Kirkus Reviews
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n a time of politics over conscience One Vote suggests the real heroes are the ones who listen to their conscience and do not rely solely on politics. J. Stewart Willis offers a tightly written tale. Love the seeming simple action of one man which causes so much in its aftermath. Good storytelling. Characters are well thought out. Liked everything about the story and plot of “One Vote.” Highly recommended.
— Mark Sneed Readers View
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Read First Chapter Here View on Amazon Here
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READER VIEWS B O OK OF THE MONTH Chasing Shadows By Lynn Austin Fiction - Historical Fiction Tyndale House Publishers (2021) ISBN 9781496437358 Reviewed by Cynthia Hammell for ReaderViews (04/2021)
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hasing Shadows is a World War II novel, and the latest by Christy award-winning author, Lynn Austin.
In 1939, Ans de Vries a 19-year-old farmer’s daughter in the Netherlands decides she wants to leave her Christian home and her village. Her parents are saddened but accept it when she takes a position in the household
She knows that God wants her to take a stand against their evil activities even if it could mean extreme risk. Erik tries to persuade her against it. The de Vries family and the couple Ans works for must also takes risks to save lives. Miriam Jacobs, a talented violinist flees Cologne, Germany with her father, a Physics professor, leaving the rest of the family, who are not ready to come with them, behind. They arrive in the Netherlands; her father seeking a teaching job at a University and find a temporary refuge in Leiden. But how long will it last? Engineering student, Avraham (Avi) Leopold follows them to Leiden. Miriam met Avi in a refugee camp and they know they want to spend the rest of their lives together, but will it be possible after the invasion? Will Miriam lose everyone she loves?. Austin tells the story in a memorable and moving way. The dangers and harrowing experiences the characters go through are presented realistically and there are many grim situations. Mothers must put their children into God’s hands. Heroic sacrifices are made in these dire circumstances. Many families wonder if they will see their loved ones again in this lifetime. The novel shows the courage of both the Dutch people who defied the Nazis and the people they recued. Austin writes the story in a compelling way. The author’s notes reveal how real- life stories, which should be remembered inspired her. These stories can challenge the reader to strengthen their faith, because they remind us of how God can give us strength to endure if we trust in Him. He also provides a light even in the darkest of times. To read more reviews click here or visit www. readerviews.com.
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READER VIEWS KIDS B O OK OF THE MONTH Compare Bear’s Double Dare: Be Yourself – Don’t Compare! By Kim Linette Early Reader - Ages 5-7 Kapalua Cove (2019) ISBN 9781950062010 Reviewed by Evan (age 7) for Reader Views Kids (03/2021)
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ompare Bear’s Double Dare: Be Yourself – Don’t Compare! is about a kid, Danny who meets a bear and the bear tells him his name is Compare Bear. Have you ever met a bear named Compare Bear? Danny, never having played with a bear before wants to play with Compare Bear. He asks him to join and race up a tree and even roar into a cave. Danny knows that bears have loud roars, but Compare Bear says no to everything. You know why? Because Compare Bear thinks that something else can do better than him. He won’t climb up a tree because once he saw a squirrel climb up a tree so fast he decided that he would never climb up a tree ever again. The minute he tells this story, Danny sees Compare Bear’s tail change into a squirrel’s tail. When Danny asks him to race, Compare Bear says nope again. Compare Bear does not want to race. You know why? Because he once saw a coyote run faster than him he promised to never race again. Danny can’t believe it when Compare Bear’s Legs change into coyote legs. He now gets why Compare Bear’s name is Compare. His own doubt turns Compare Bear into the creature he is comparing himself to. Danny convinces Compare Bear to try and do the things he didn’t want to do and not be afraid of doing something. Danny dares Compare Bear to always try. Compare Bear realizes he can do things his way. No one is as better as You! His body changes back to normal and they change Compare Bears name to Dare Bear.
To read complete review click here or visit www.readerviewskids.com.
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INTERVIEW WITH DAVE MASON AUTHOR OF “EO-N”
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orn in England and raised in Canada, Dave Mason is an internationally recognized graphic designer, a Fellow of The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, and a cofounder of a number of software companies. He divides his time between Chicago, Illinois, and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. EO-N is his first novel. Hi Dave, thank you for joining us today at Reader Views! Tell us a bit about your novel, EO-N." EO-N is a little bit of history, a little bit of mystery, and a little bit of contemporary social commentary. Maybe not a typical combination for a novel but somehow it just made sense to me. EO-N is your literary debut – what motivated you to sit down and write a novel? Honestly, I never set out to write a novel. For eleven years, my business partners and I hosted Cusp 20
— an annual conference “about the design of everything,” and in the final conference in 2018 one of our presenters suggested writing for fun as a way to reduce stress. I hadn’t written for anything like fun since about third grade but that somehow made sense I guess, and I just started. Mostly random stuff at first, but pretty soon my pattern-seeking brain began to put things together, and before I knew it, I had what seemed like the beginning of a novel. How did you choose historical fiction and what inspired this particular story and era in history? SI’ve been fascinated with history my entire life. I spent the first years of my existence in a small village in England, walking to a two room school through the spooky graveyard of a church built somewhere around the 13th century, the child of parents whose cities had
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been bombed by the Germans in the not-so-distant past. Moving to Canada as an 8-year old opened up a whole new history to fire my imagination - stories of the Iroquois and Algonquin and Mohawk and coureur de bois were like magnets to me. EO-N likely emerged from that fascination, as I am constantly drawn to news articles and stories that pertain to newly discovered pieces of history. I think at some point I read an article about a kid who found a virtually complete German fighter plane — lost pilot included — buried in the mud on his family’s farm in Denmark, and
that got me thinking “what if?” What if there was more in that plane than was supposed to be there? The rest just unfolded for me from there. Dave Mason recently won several awards in the Reader Views Literary Awards program, taking home a gold medal in the Historical Fiction category, a silver medal in the Mystery/Thriller category and The Tyler R. Tichelaar Award for Best Historical Fiction. Read the complete interview with Dave Mason here. By Sheri Hoyte
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B O OK VIDEOS The best way to check out a book!
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ometimes we need a little bit more than an endorsement, book review or book cover to get a feeling for the story and decide on whether to
purchase or not a title. For me, the little something is a book video. A book video not only brings to life the main story or topic for the reader, it can also portray a feeling on who the Author is and what message he or she wants to share. Below are some things I get from book videos that help make the decision to read the book but also gives me insight on its contents, improving in many cases, my reading experience. •
The images – unlike movie trailers which use
previews from the movie, the book video images could be off putting when reading the story, as the characters looks and settings will be a combined result of the descriptions, and the readers’ imagination. But images that do not mess with such specifics and instead reflect the message, topic, or plot are perfect as a preview of a book, because it helps us to visualize in a short time the content of the book. •
Background
music
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narrator’s
voice
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The sound allows the possible reader to feel the mood of the story. Is it thrilling? Mysterious? Romantic? •
Finally, but not least is the script of the
slides or voice narration. Here is where we learn what the book is all about, and other information like endorsements, Author website, and where to get the book. What is awesome about book videos is that we get all the above information in one minute or less! Check out some book videos we included here by clicking on the cover!
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Book Videos on this page were provided by https://www. youtube.com/user/ReaderViews - For information on how to place your bookvideo here email us at admin@firstchapterplus.com
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Grief: A Reflection of What We Love by Megan Weiss We have been lonely. We have been sad. We have been angry and in denial. The last year has been the ultimate test. But still, we continue to hope, and plug along. The thing about grief is that though it has an exact definition, it has no straight path or timetable. It does not follow psychological rules or care about what stage of your life you are going through. Grief only cares about making you feel. According to Psychology Today, one of the most common misconceptions we have about grieving is that there is any kind of real “process” or “correct” way to go through it. We have all heard the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The truth is, however, that these stages were never meant to be applied to the grief process that follows the death of a loved one. Instead, these stages were derived in order to help people cope with being diagnosed with their own terminal illnesses. Somewhere along the way, however, people began to draw parallels between the personal grief process that comes after receiving terrible, life changing news and the more commonly accepted grief process that comes with death. Grief has no stage. It follows its own track, at its own speed, and all we can do is ride the rollercoaster until it finally comes to an end one day. Even then, however, the feeling never truly goes away. It stays with you, like that feeling of having your stomach drop out from under you as you hurtle down the hill of a giant coaster. Even after your feet are back on the ground, there is part of you that is still waiting for the rest of you to catch up. Grief is not simple. It is not meant to be. It is different for each person, and each loss, and that means that no one should force themselves to “feel” according to a certain schedule or rule. Grief plays a central role in fiction. There is something quite intimate about reading along with a character who is going through a loss – maybe even one that a reader can relate to. Books that feature grief, death and loss allow those who are bereaved to have a safe avenue through which to process and express their inner tangle of dark, twisty emotions. It helps the reader to know that they are not alone in experiencing such a state of despair. Fiction that features grief, death and loss also goes one step further: it helps readers to see how there is still light. The tunnel might be dark and long right in that very moment in time, but just like the main character of a book, eventually the light will come back into their lives and they will be able to live again. And usually, once you climb up out of the black hole of grief, the life we continue living is enhanced, because we are filled with a new purpose and vigor: to live the life our loved one was not able to have. Books about Grief, Death and Loss: 1. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson 2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold 4. Looking for Alaska by John Green 5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
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6. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 7. Essential Maps for the Lot by Deb Caletti 8. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 9. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 10. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Megan Weiss is a colaborator for First Chapter Plus,a book reviewer for Reader Views and the Author of "The Familiar Dead."
To READ First Chapter of "The Familiar Dead" by Megan Weiss click here. To view book on Amazon click here.
A Death For Academe By John J. Wells Outskirts Press (2020) - ISBN 9781977227843 Tradeback - 363 pages - $20.95 Very often academic policy is determined less by lofty ideals than by pure politics, and the politics can be rough. So the faculty finds when, in 1994, Adrienne Plum is appointed the new academic dean with the specific charge to bring Marquette to the forefront of education in the twenty-first century. It doesn’t take long for the senior faculty to decide that the academic dean must go, at whatever cost.
READ First Chapter
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Storms From A Clear Sky By Denise Frisino Fiction - Historical / Romance
Denise Frisino (2020) ISBN 9781734928204 Tradeback - 406 pages - $19.96
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antastic. Boy did she do her research. The characters - welldrawn - in typical Frisino fashion and attention to intimate detail - are an instructive mixture of social interaction and rival ambitions. I’m reading Storms From A Clear Sky a second time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. — Bob Harmon Professor Emeritus of History Seattle University, who served in WWII at the Battle of the Bulge
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risino’s fictional story becomes more real thanks to her painstaking research. She introduces her second book with a “thank you” to the many men and women who shared their wartime experiences with her. Frisino has expertly woven many factual accounts into her tale, leading her characters on a journey into The War to End Wars. "Storms” is an experience that easily captures readers’ page-turning interest.” — Jean Godden Former member of the Seattle City
WII drastically changes the lives of FBI agent, Jack Huntington, and his new wife Billi. Her involvement with the Nakamura’s threatens Jack’s mission to unearth Japanese espionage. Torn between his duties to country and protecting Billi from the ruthless spy, Akio Sumiyoshi, Jack is forced to make a devastating decision impacting their personal relationship. Storms From A Clear Sky is a finalist in the Forward INDIES Awards for 2020 in the Military/War category.
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INSIDE SCO OP LIVE POD CAST OF THE MONTH Award-winning author Christian de la Huerta is an acclaimed speaker at various settings including universities, conferences, corporate training, spiritual communities and the TedX stage. Audiences find Christian's message particularly relevant in these times. Christian also practices as a spiritual coach and a leadership development consultant whose work ranges from individuals and couples in private practice to major corporations and non-profit groups. For more information abou Christiian de la Huerta and his books, visit his website at soulfulpower.com
Click Here To Listen to Podcast
Topics of Conversation
• What is the Soul of Power? • Why women's empowerment is so important in the world today. • What are the different types of power? • How do we take back our power? • Deepening your experience
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BAREFO OT LIBRARIA N CORNER Eve Panzer reviews books for Reader Views Kids as well as her own business, Barefoot Librarian. Monthly she publishes the Barefoot Librarian Newsletter. She sells children’s books published by Barefoot Books and Usborne Books & More at book fairs, educational conferences, community events, and online. She earned her Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas in Austin and worked as a school librarian before retiring to start her own business. www.barefootlibrarian.com Eve Panzer
Dr. Seuss Controversy
If you have read some of my past articles, you know that I am a staunch proponent of diverse literature for children. Books should allow children to see themselves as well as learn about those whose lives are different. I have advocated for more diversity in the staff of publishers. And I demand accuracy and authenticity from diverse books that I recommend. The latest commotion has been with several Dr. Seuss books that contained stereotypical and offensive images of Asian characters. Although we should not, could not change Dr. Seuss's illustrations, the privately owned organization had the right to decide to cease publication of their books containing these pictures. And I agreed with that course of action in these cases. Representations of other cultures and diversities should be accurate and respectful. However, we must be careful this does not lead to banned books. Two situations come to mind – Gone with the Wind and Laura Ingram Wilder's books. Gone with the Wind paints a picture of slavery that we know is untrue and offensive. However, it reflected the societal mores of the South during the time it was written. In Laura Ingram Wilder's books, there are offensive references to Native Americans. When some statements were brought to Mrs. Wilder's attention, the author made changes in later editions. I know there will be more offensive stereotyping cases, and I would like to pass judgment on them individually. When we read books written in the past and feel outraged at some of the attitudes portrayed, it shows how far we have come. It is essential to understand history so we can make the future better. Instead of outright banning books written in different eras, we could teach them from the perspective of when they were written and use them to continue improving. And if currently published books are offensive, don't buy them, speak up about them, and make the publishers more accountable.
Eve - Barefoot Librarian
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THE BAREFO OT LIBRARIAN B O OKS OF THE MONTH The Great Race ,The Story of the Chinese Zodiac By Dawn Casey - Illustrated by Anne Wilson Published by Barefoot Books (2088) - ISBN 9781846862021 Age 4 to 9 - Tradeback - 32 pages - $8.99
The Jade Emperor decided to create a calendar based on a twelve-year cycle, each year named after an animal. But how could he determine what order to name the years? A great race, of course! Thirteen animals gathered on the riverbank with much hoopla and anticipation. The race proceeds with some deceit and betrayal, with only twelve animals reaching the other side. Who comes in first? What happened to the thirteenth animal? Through spirited text and quirky, playful, and brightly-colored art, this Chinese legend comes to life. Endnotes include an explanation of the Chinese calendar and descriptions of several Chinese celebrations. Invite children to find their birth year and discover their animal sign. “They say: This is the animal that hides in your heart.” Highly recommended.
Lin Yi’s Lantern: A Moon Festival Tale By Brenda Williams - Illustrared by Benjamin Lacombe
Age 5 to 9 - Tradeback - 32 pages - $8.99 Published by Barefoot Books (2012) ISBN 9781846867934
This engaging tale gives a glimpse into Chinese culture through the celebration of the Moon Festival. The main character, Lin Yi, takes shopping in a Chinese market as he shops for his mother in preparation for the holiday. What will he do when he faces the dilemma of buying all that his mother requested or purchasing the much-coveted red rabbit lantern for himself? The dreamlike, sometimes exaggerated artwork, drawn from various perspectives, reveals Chinese cultural details and enhances the storytelling. The endnotes include the entire legend of the Moon Fairy, details about the Chinese marketplace, and instructions to create a paper lantern. Do not miss this opportunity to submerge yourself into the Chinese culture!
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Featured Authors Erica M. Elliott, M.D. Erica Elliott, M.D., specializes in both family practice and environmental medicine, with a busy private practice in Santa Fe. Dr. Elliott is also an author and public speaker. She has given weeklong workshops at both Omega and Esalen Institutes and is co-author of the book, “Prescriptions for a Healthy House.” Dr. Elliott is often referred to as “The Medical Detective” since she attracts people from all parts of the country and even abroad who have mysterious and puzzling medical problems that have not responded to mainstream medical care. Dr. Elliott is often .
referred to as “The Medical Detective” since she attracts people from all parts of the country and even abroad who have mysterious and puzzling medical problems that have not responded to mainstream medical care.
This is the true story of a young Anglo woman, Erica Elliott, who comes to the Navajo Reservation in 1971 as a newly minted schoolteacher, knowing nothing about her students or their culture. After several blunders and misunderstandings, and beset by loneliness and despair, Erica makes a determined effort to overcome the barriers of language and culture. From the moment she begins learning the Navajo language, the people open their hearts and homes to her, inviting her into a mystical world that most people don’t know exists, a world that profoundly impacts the rest of her life. Years later she returns as a medical doctor to serve the Navajo People. This book is a page-turner that you won’t be able to put down.
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Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert By Erica M. Elliott, M.D. NonFiction - Biography/Memoir Balboa Press (2019) ISBN 9781982220983 Tradeback - 202 pages - $14.99
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his book is sorely needed at this moment in America, when divisive voices incessantly warn us of the other, the foreigner, those who “are not like us... Mystery and Medicine in the High Desert: My Life Among the Navajo People reveals how diversity and inclusiveness can enrich our own society — a lesson on which our future may depend. — Larry Dossey, MD author of “One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters
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uch an inspiring, life-affirming, yet tough tale, woven through with a strong drive to realize her life path. Beautifully written. Elliott is an exciting new voice.. — Natalie Goldbert author of “Writing Down the Bones.
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Connecting Readers to Indie Books www.firstchapterplus.com
Published by I Have Something to Say Press
e-magazine . March 2021 volume 12 . issue 4
