Julianne Moore Pens the Perfect Book, Perfect Ending

Title: Freckleface Strawberry and Dodgeball Bully
Author: Julianne Moore
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
ISBN 9781599903163
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books

Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson

When I first heard about this book, my first thought was that freckle-faced kids need a book of their own because of the discrimination that goes around playgrounds. Race is not the whole issue. There is a panoply of physical traits kids can get teased for. Too white. Too fat. Too dark. Too skinny. When I was in high schoold, for heaven's sake, students call one of my friends Blue-Lips Burton.

My second thought was that the issue of bullies in school is finally getting the attention it deserves and this little children's book is perfectly timed.

And the third? It was that this book was probably based on a real-life event suffered by Julianne Moore as a child. Of course, she got the ultimate victory, exquisite, fragile and brilliant Julianne Moore of acting fame.

What I didn't expect was the ending! You will find it a surprise,too. It is perfect. Absolutely perfect.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Memoir in Poetry by Prominent Dancer and Author

Title: My Life As a Doll
Author: Elizabeth Kirschner
Genre: Memoir

Synopsis:

My Life as a Doll, is a survivor's tale, a memoir in verse about child abuse, madness and recovery. It is one long poem broken into four sections. The first, Cuckoo, focuses on childhood and the severe violence of a mother brought upon a daughter. The next one, An Itty Bitty Ditty, chronicles a disturbing adolescence and the following is about life in a psych ward as an adult mother and wife. The closing sequence, O Healing Go Deep, details bouts of madness and the profound desire to heal.



About the Author:

Elizabeth Kirschner has published three books of poetry, Twenty Colors, Postal Routes and Slow Risen Among the Smoke Trees all by Carnegie-Mellon University Press. In addition, she has a CD released by Albany Records with her own poetry set to Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe. Now titled The Dichterliebe in Four Seasons, it premiered in Vienna in the fall of 2005, followed by an American debut in Boston featuring soprano Jean Danton accompanied by pianist Thomas Stumpf. She collaborates with many composers and has taught at Boston College since 1990. Kirschner also studies ballet with Boston Ballet.


Author's Websites:

Elizabeth Kirschner’s website: http://www.elizabethkirschner.com


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Dog Lovers Alert: You Gotta Meet "Frankie The Walk 'N Roll Dog"

TITLE: Frankie The Walk 'N Roll Dog
AUTHOR: Barbara Gail Techel
AUTHOR'S WEBSITE: http://www.joyfulpaws.com
GENRE/CATEGORY: Nonfiction - Children's
ISBN #: 978-0-9800052-0-2
NAME OF REVIEWER: Dr. Alicia DiFabio
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: Welcome to My Planet

Reviewed by Dr. Alicia DiFabio for WelcomeToMyPlanet4 blog
So Much More Than A Children's Book: One Small Dog Teaches One Big Lesson About Facing Disability

I read to my children every night. They usually get hooked on one particular book for months. Their newest obsession is a book that I enjoy reading just as much as they enjoy hearing it: Frankie The Walk 'N Roll Dog.

This true story is narrated by a heroine so lovable and relatable to children - a little "wiener dog" named Frankie. Her story is told in her own "voice" through her owner and book's author, Barbara Gail Techel. Frankie is a little dog who is loved dearly and enjoying a happy life until one day a spinal injury leaves her hind legs paralyzed. At this point, the story could become a tragedy; but it doesn't. It shines as a story of love, hope and over- coming challenges.

Frankie's spinal injury necessitates her learning how to use a special doggy wheelchair and her life moves forward just as full and rich as it ever was before. In fact, even richer, because now little Frankie and Barbara enjoy meeting, educating, spreading awareness, acceptance and encouragement to children and adults everywhere who are facing all types of difficult situations. Frankie and Barbara not only get through the challenges life gave them, but use their experience to reach out to the world and help others. The message is not one of "being dealt the cards you are given," but of the joy and empowerment that life gifts to you, even in the most challenging of times.

What I like about this book is that it captures children of all ages and can be used to convey positive messages about disabling conditions. The book's life lesson is so multifaceted that it can meet any child, at any age, where they are in their development. The story, for instance, can be summarized for younger children as they connect with the brightly colored pictures. For older children, you can read the length of the story verbatim, and it is even a perfect book for young readers to enjoy reading aloud on their own.

If you're interested in a visually appealing, inspirational, and educational book for your kids, nieces, nephews, religious group, daycare or school, I highly recommend the multi-award winning Frankie The Walk 'N Roll Dog as a great learning tool, conversation starter about disabilities, and just a plain, nice enjoyable read for anyone who loves animals.

To learn more about Frankie's amazing life and dedication to raising awareness in the community about disabilities, visit her blog, http://www.joyfulpaws.com.

Buy.

Reviewed by Alicia DiFabio,Welcome To My Planet and New Jersey Moms
http://welcometomyplanet4.blogspot.com


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Leslie Lehr Explores Life After Divorce

Wife Goes Onby Leslie Lehr
http://www.wife-goes-on.com
Fiction
ISBN: 0758222416
Publisher: Kensington

Wife Goes On is the story of four women who become friends unintentionally and help one another during their divorces. It is the story of true friendship. Leslie Lehr shows that there is life after divorce and you do get a second chance at starting over. Wife Goes On will make you laugh and cry. It is funny and sexy. It is a lighthearted look at a serious subject. I think anyone who has ever been a in relationship will walk away with something positive from of this book.

Reviewed by Debby Block



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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Kathy Stemke Releases Book To Educate with Love

“MOVING THROUGH ALL SEVEN DAYS”
By Kathy Ann Stemke
Publisher: Action Alley Education


Action Alley Education is close to publishing, "Moving Through All Seven Days." This book inspires movement as children learn about the days of the week. The lyrical rhymes also teach them how to spell each day! The activities at the end of the book are designed to reinforce the concepts as well as give impetus to movement exploration.

Teachers, parents and kids will love this book for it's fun and colorful rhymes as well as the many great activity suggestions. Teachers will appreciate the resource pages that can be copied and used year after year. The book includes an 18 page action rhyme with colorful illustrations of the seven days of the week. There are 14 pages of activities that will help children learn how to spell the days of the week. Included in these pages are phonics practice activities and a coloring book of the seven days.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Rita Schiano's New Fiction Based on Real Life

Painting The Invisible Man
by Rita Schiano
Http://www.paintingtheinvisibleman.com
Fiction
ISBN: 0979534704

Reviewed by: BookFinds.com


What is often talked about in fiction writing is that every novel has pieces of the author’s life hidden in the details. In Rita Schiano’s emotionally riveting novel, Painting the Invisible Man, there is no hiding the parallels between Rita’s life and that of her main character, Anna Matteo.

Schiano explores what happens when Anna begins to learn the truth about her father through his brutal dealth. Rita Schiano learned the truth about her own father through his brutal death. And yet it is with this honesty and quiet depiction of reality that Schiano creates memorable characters and beautiful prose. Schiano explores the emotional ties that bind us to our family and our history. She shows that it is our past that gives birth to our dreams and it is our future that gives us hope.

Rita Schiano’s Painting the Invisible Man explores truth through the veil of fiction and highlights these truths with honesty and emotional intensity. A beautiful poetic read!


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Well-Known Journaler Pens First YA Book

FourEver Friends
Young Adult
By Erica Miner
Available on Amazon


It’s autumn, 1960, and JFK's presidential campaign heralds revolutionary changes in the American social and cultural landscape. In a specialized inner city Detroit high school, four teenage girls have established the roots of lasting friendship. Their backgrounds are different, but their passion for classical music and angst over raging hormones link them irrevocably.

The girls’ school is a cultural melting pot of race and ethnicity in which students are judged by their intellect and talents, not the color of their skin or religious upbringing.

As the inseparable Jessica, Marg, Toma and Rachel negotiate the turbulent waters of adolescence and bond through their music performances throughout the city, forbidden loves and jealousies mar their closely-knit friendship. But they always remain loyal and true to each other.

In the end, poised for the leap into their post-high school lives, they question their ability to maintain their closeness in future years, when increased possibilities of separation by miles may threaten the sanctity of their group. Nonetheless, they swear lifelong loyalty as they set off on their new paths.


The author is Erica Miner, author of Travels With My Lovers
Fiction Prize Winner, Direct from the Author Book Awards
http://www.ericaminer.com. Contact her at:
Erica Miner
emwriter@earthlink.net


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.