Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Featuring author Kate DiCamillo books that will delight young readers from Candlewick press & just in time for Christmas gifting [Giveaway USA/CANADA]

3 Book Giveaway


The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo


My thoughts:  As I sat alone in my grandmotherly chair with no children (and no adults) within hearing distance, I read aloud the first few pages of The Puppets of Spelhorst. I was immediately entranced by the beautiful writing that simply ebbed and flowed with the action and emotion of the story. Beautiful descriptive language evoked Mr. Spelhorst perfectly.

Kate DiCamillo has written a tale sure to capture your young readers' attention; and if you dare - and I do dare you - read it aloud to your children or whatever audience you can capture to listen.

About the book: From master storyteller Kate DiCamillo comes an original fairy tale—with enchanting illustrations by Julie Morstad—in which five puppets confront circumstances beyond their control with patience, cunning, and high spirits.

Shut up in a trunk by a taciturn old sea captain with a secret, five friends—a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy, and an owl—bicker, boast, and comfort one another in the dark. Individually, they dream of song and light, freedom and flight, purpose and glory, but they all agree they are part of a larger story, bound each to each by chance, bonded by the heart’s mysteries. When at last their shared fate arrives, landing them on a mantel in a blue room in the home of two little girls, the truth is more astonishing than any of them could have imagined. A beloved author of modern classics draws on her most moving themes with humor, heart, and wisdom in the first of the Norendy Tales, a projected trio of novellas linked by place and mood, each illustrated in black and white by a different virtuoso illustrator. A magical and beautifully packaged gift volume designed to be read aloud and shared, The Puppets of Spelhorst is a tale that soothes and strengthens us on our journey, leading us through whatever dark forest we find ourselves in. Secret word: Candlewick

Read an excerpt (via Amazon)


Mercy Watson Is Missing! : Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Seven by Kate DiCamillo



Every favorite character from Kate DiCamillo’s New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson books makes an appearance in this extended, riotously funny series crescendo.

When Mercy Watson the pig goes missing, all of Deckawoo Drive is in an uproar. The Watsons are inconsolable, and the local police, fire, and animal control departments are no help whatsoever. Bossy neighbor Eugenia Lincoln is not quite as sad as she might be, but thankfully her sister, Baby Lincoln, has the idea to hire a private investigator. Granted, Percival Smidgely, PI, may be more bumbler than gumshoe, but his pigeon, Polly, is there to point the way. Meanwhile, Frank and Stella Endicott and Stella’s friend Horace Broom are ready to do some investigating of their own. Will the clever neighborhood sleuths manage to follow the trail of hoofprints—and a certain overwhelmingly enticing scent—and recover their porcine wonder? With deftly paced narrative comedy, visual slapstick, abundant artwork in both black and white and full color, and warm affection for their cast of characters, Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen bring us a highly satisfying, extra-special series finale that rewards loyal fans—and invites new readers to explore the stories that came before. (Here's my review of another "Mercy Watson" book)

Read an excerpt (via Amazon)


The Tale of Despereaux Deluxe Anniversary Edition by Kate DiCamillo



Celebrate twenty years of Despereaux with a splendid anniversary edition—including a bonus original short story from Kate DiCamillo and a new piece of art by Timothy Basil Ering.

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into one another’s lives. And what happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would Reader, it is your destiny to find out.

For this beautifully designed twentieth-anniversary edition, the author has written a brand-new short story, “The Tapestry at Norendy,” inspired by the world of Despereaux and presented with a new black-and-white illustration by Timothy Basil Ering.

GIVEAWAY
3 Books for 1 Winner
Begins December 6, 2023
Ends January 8, 2024
Open to USA/CANADA
No P.O. Boxes & Canadians must provide phone number
DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate this post. Giveaway prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

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