"Thank You" by Jarvis from Candlewick Press [Review & Giveaway]

Learning Thankfulness

My thoughts: A delightfully cute and sweet book about a child finding joy in all that is around him - even the color green! While this isn't about expressing thankfulness to God for everything, it is about an attitude of thankfulness.

Reading this book reminds me of the "little boy who during his evening prayers said, 'Thank you God, for the doorknobs.'" We need to have an attitude of thankfulness and awareness of all the things about us that bring joy and make life a delight. This children's book is a good start at awareness of a multitude of things to be thankful for on a daily basis. 

I found the illustrations whimsical and pure delight. A good book.

About the book: With inviting collage illustrations, Jarvis brings his singular whimsy and sweetness to a musing on gratitude that spans the ages.

I thank my hat for stopping my thoughts from floating
up, up, and away.
I thank the cloud for the puddles.

The moon brings nighttime, and the sun the day. With no yellow and blue, we’d be a world without green lights, and without itches we’d never know the relief of a scratch. From oversized plants that offer hiding places to boots that somehow know the way, from siblings who bravely take the first plunge to yourself for being you, award-winning picture-book creator Jarvis spans the gamut from the silly to the sublime and opens the endless possibilities for giving thanks. Strikingly illustrated in bright, clear colors, this uplifting picture book is poised to make a thoughtful gift.

Author Bio: Secret word: Grateful - Jarvis is the author-illustrator of two chapter books about Bear and Bird as well as the picture books Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth; Tropical Terry; Follow Me, Flo!; and The Boy with Flowers in His Hair, among others. He is also the illustrator of Pick a Pine Tree, Pick a Pumpkin, and Pick a Perfect Egg, all by Patricia Toht. An animator who has worked as a record jacket designer and an animation director, he lives in Manchester, England.

GIVEAWAY

Begins October 22

Ends November 13 @ 12:01 a.m. ET
Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's book prize is provided and mailed directly to the winner by Candlewick Press or its publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Lost On A Mountain In Maine (movie releases November 1) [Review & Giveaway]

 

Synopsis: Lost On A Mountain In Maine

The Balboa Productions feature tells the inspiring true story of 12-year-old Donn Fendler, who’s story captured the nation after becoming separated from his family and surviving nine days lost in the remote wilderness of northern Maine.  Lost on a Mountain in Maine tells the inspiring true story of 12-year-old Donn Fendler, who becomes separated from his family by a fast-moving storm atop a treacherous mountain. For nine days Donn fights to stay alive as he attempts to survive the unforgiving wilderness of northern Maine without food, proper clothing, or the knowledge of how bad his situation really is. His disappearance sparks a massive search effort that captures national headlines and attracts hundreds of volunteers, including his own father who fears he may never see his son again.

More Information - click here
Don't miss this one!

My review: Powerful. Moving. Heart wrenching! A story of endurance beyond comprehension. This movie captures the family vibes of a hard working man and his wife, 3 boys, and daughter. The time is 1939 and people are still struggling after a decades long depression that followed The Crash of 1929. But the story is not about economics and family hardships. It's about a boy and his encounter with a mountain. An encounter of massive proportions and unbelievable hardships. Nine days alone on a wilderness mountain and trying to find his way down and back home.

I highly recommend this beautifully told story. Take the whole family. It's worth the time.

Buy tickets today to see Lost on a Mountain in Maine in theaters starting November 1st! Click Here

GIVEAWAY

$10 Amazon Gift Card

Secret word: Lost

Begins October 22

Ends November 2

Open to USA addresses only.

(Only US winners who haven't won via another bloggers' giveaway for this campaign)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: Many thanks to WIT PR! for providing a screener link to "Lost On A Mountain in Maine" for me to watch and review. Opinions are 100% my own. Winner's prize is provided by publicist and/or their affiliates and is emailed directly to the winner by publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Into the Sunset (A Western Light #3) by Mary Connealy [Giveaway]

A Historical Western Romance

Set in 1800's Cheyenne, Wyoming

ISBN-978-0764242670
Bethany House Pub.

Will the sun set on their chance at happiness before they can seize it?

To finally escape the clutches of her controlling husband and the threat of being recommitted to an asylum, Ginny Rutledge enlists the help of her friends, Maeve O'Toole and Dakota Harlan. Fleeing their own tumultuous pasts, the group embarks on a journey to prove Ginny's sanity. However, as they confront the shadows they wish they could forget, danger looms from unexpected places.

Maeve grapples with her mother's impending remarriage and seizes a rare chance to escape her homestead--but that means reuniting with Dakota, the man she holds responsible for her father's death, who is caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful family. As the two of them navigate their shared history and a dangerous mission, Dakota is forced to confront his deepest fears and fight for the woman who has unwittingly captured his heart. Secret word: mental

In this action-packed series finale, Mary Connealy delivers a riveting tale of danger, romance, and second chances on the Western frontier.

Watch for Vera's review, soon!

GIVEAWAY

"Into the Sunset"

Begins October 18

Ends November 18 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copy is provided and mailed directly to the winner by author or publisher. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Buster and the Christmas Parade by Dale Earnhardt Jr. from Tommy Nelson children's books [Review & Giveaway] 🎄

🎄Think ahead for Christmas giving🎄

My thoughts:   Boys and their trucks and cars! They never outgrow them! When little they make their own varoom!! sounds revving engines and zipping their cars and trucks - large and small - across the floor. Dads love race cars and watching the races; and often kiddies sit beside dad as he watches. Both revving their internal engines.

In Buster and the Christmas Parade kids will find a lot of racing or car terms..... popped the hood, oil running hot, slammed on his brakes, threw in reverse, tight turn. Plus, the story takes some exciting runs and turns. Its all about a team welcoming a newcomer and being friendly. About getting along with one another. Team play. And getting the job done.

Illustrated with delightfully cute and wacky cars in bright joyful colors, the reader will have a joyful Christmas experience at the Christmas parade being sure to get the Christmas tree where it should be.

While produced by a Christian children's publisher, there is nothing about true meaning of Christmas. Though various scenes of the town are shown, there is no nativity. So this is basically a secular story about a Christmas parade and cars and trucks. Cute story. Fun illustrations. Very nice book.

About the book: It's Christmastime and Buster's going to be in the big parade! NASCAR legend and New York Times bestselling author Dale Earnhardt Jr. introduces Buster and the Christmas Parade, the third book in the popular Buster the Race Car series. Secret word: ride

It may be chilly out, but rival race car Scuff's mean comments make Buster's oil run hotter than ever! When Coach Hog invites Scuff, who was alone at the holidays, to join Punchy Motorsports in the Christmas parade, Buster must navigate the difficult course of finding the true spirit of Christmas and traveling the festive parade route with his main competition.

This jacketed picture book:

• is ideal for kids, ages 4 to 8;
• shows kids the importance of kindness and forgiveness, an especially important message during the Christmas season; and
• is a perfect gift for Christmas and Advent.

Ride along with Buster and enjoy this heartwarming story that is a perfect read for children who love race cars and Christmas adventures.

Check out the other books in the Buster the Race Car series:

• Buster's Trip to Victory Lane
• Buster Gets Back on Track

GIVEAWAY

Begins October 17

Ends November 12 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Tommy Nelson Books to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and mailed directly to the winner by the publisher. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories of Resilience and Positive Thinking [Giveaway]

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories of Resilience & Positive Thinking (101 Devotions with Scripture, Real-Life Stories & Custom Prayers) 

🎄Think ahead for Christmas gifting

 

ISBN-13: 9781611591187

This beautiful hardcover edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories of Resilience & Positive Thinking makes a great gift for yourself or someone you love. Enjoy these 101 unique devotions, each with scripture, a true story, and a custom prayer. Secret word: positive

It’s often been said that life is a roller coaster, not a merry-go-round. These 101 daily Christian devotions will help you navigate the highs and lows of that beautiful, unpredictable, exciting journey. They will offer comfort, encouragement, and inspiration, and help you use the power of positive thinking and find the strength you need to overcome adversity and experience new joy.

Writers share their personal experiences -- stories of positive thinking and good days, and stories of pain and loss, resilience and fortitude for the bad days. They all illustrate the triumph of the human spirit with God's unconditional love and His wisdom. These 101 devotions are sure to leave you feeling more powerful, more positive and more purposeful. Enjoy the ride!
 

🎄PRE-ORDER AT $9.99 DISCOUNT CLICK HERE 🎄

GIVEAWAY

Begins October 15

Ends November 14 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: This book spotlight and hosted giveaway is a courtesy posting. I may receive a copy of the book. Winner's copy is provided to the winner directly by the author. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

The Kingfisher Rooibos Tea Giveaway! 5 Winners!

Welcome To The Kingfisher Rooibos Tea Giveaway!

5 Winners!

This giveaway is part of our SMGN 2024 Fall Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products!

HOST IS: DELICIOUSLY SAVVY

Co-hosts for this giveaway are: Pink Ninja Blog, Beautiful Touches, Golden Goose Giveaways, Gifts for all seasons, Home Jobs by Mom, Marksvilleandme, My Silly Little Gang, The Stuff of Success, & Versatileer

Below is a list of all the bloggers involved in the gift guide.

A Rain of Thought, Beautiful Touches, Contest Corner, Deliciously Savvy, Freebies Deals & Steals, Giveaway Gator, Golden Goose Giveaways, Home Jobs by Mom, Honey Can Do It, MarksvilleandMe, My Silly Little Gang, Pink Ninja Blog, Sweeps Madness, The Stuff of Success, This Frugal Grandmom, This Frugal Family, Versatileer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Giveaway's Sponsors Are:

WEBSITE ~ INSTAGRAM ~ AMAZON

Giveaway details:

5 Lucky Winners Will Win a box of Kingfisher Rooibos Tea ~ $80 TRV!

Read My Review!

~~~~~~~~~~

Click Below To Enter & Good Luck!

Entry-Form

This giveaway/sweepstakes is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 11/23/2024. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to mcushing7 at hotmail dot com and pinkninjablog at hotmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put these email addresses as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase necessary, Void were prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contest are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Melissa Cushing at mcushing7 (at)hotmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

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How to Train Your Amygdala by Anna Housley Juster [Review & Giveaway] (nonfiction)

 

 

My thoughts:  Unless you've studied pre-med or advanced biology you probably are like me and have no clue what an "amygdala" is. So this children's book will educate parents as well as children about this part of the brain.

So, it's a little piece of you that helps you get an alarm telling you when you're in danger; and helps you act appropriately - run away, freeze, act strong, be angry. Also, it helps you to know when there is danger and you need to run or hide.

But sometimes we are alert to things from which we don't need to run, hide, or be angry about; so that needs to be controlled. We are overly anxious. And this cute little children's book is about learning to know when we (or our amygdala) needs fast reactive action and how we can act appropriately. The book teaches guided steps to help us keep control.

This information captured from Google
search & shared here by Vera.

About the Book: Your amygdala works hard to protect you from danger, but what about when it gets things wrong? This amusing character-driven narrative helps children learn to calm their amygdala and control their fight-flight-freeze impulses. Secret word: impulse

The amygdala is the brain's alarm system that alerts for danger, but sometimes it gets things wrong and needs help calming down. In this picture book, young readers receive kid-friendly information about the amygdala from the amygdala, how it can sometimes get confused, and simple ideas to calm and train it. 

The amygdala in How to Train Your Amygdala makes complicated concepts accessible to children so they can understand their bodies, practice impulse control, and boost their self-regulation. "You have probably never seen me before, but I am right here in your brain. There is an amygdala in everyone’s brain. It’s true! All humans have one. Many other animals do too."

Throughout the book, the amygdala and the reader practice anxiety-calming and mindfulness strategies such as deep breathing, visualization, and progressive relaxation. With anxiety on the rise among children, learning how to calm the amygdala is a critical life skill.  

Additional content at the back of the book includes an amygdala's training playbook for kids and more information for adults to help reinforce the book's message.

About the Author and Illustrator: Anna Housley Juster, Ph.D., LICSW, is a child and adolescent mental health clinician and early childhood education consultant. She began her career as a Head Start teacher and has over two decades of experience supporting children and families across a variety of contexts including schools, museums, libraries, and clinical mental health settings. During several years in children's media, she served as director of content for Sesame Street developing curriculum for the series, publishing, product development, and interactive technology. Anna is a firm believer in the power of play, her favorite number is 3, and she lives with her husband, two daughters, and one very soft dog near Boston, Massachusetts.

Cynthia Cliff is a self-taught artist and author who grew up in a tiny historic village in rural Virginia surrounded by her large superstitious family, and farms and woodlands where she spent every waking hour. This upbringing provided her with a deep love and appreciation for history, family, nature, and folklore—themes that find their way into much of her whimsical, folk-art inspired, and optimistic artwork. She resides in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., with her partner and four-legged family.

GIVEAWAY

Begins October 12

Ends November 7 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copy is provided and mailed directly to winner by publicist on behalf of author. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.