“Peek Inside the Zoo” is from the fantastic ‘Peek Inside’ board book series, which is a great non-fiction introduction for older toddlers thru elementary age. In this book, they will ‘peek’ under leaves and behind doors to discover noisy parrots, crazy monkeys, tall giraffes and more. This series has many other themes as well, like sea, dinosaurs, farm, animal homes, bug homes, snowy places, and more!
https://wn.nr/EvfEgH Win the Ultimate Literary Bundle from Storiarts! "Where style meets literature. Every Storiarts purchase helps kids worldwide learn to read, write, & create." And small-batch coffee in three genres-- Fantasy, Romance, and Gothic.
Thanks to:
Amazon, for feeding my TBR habit this month. 😅
(Image of the offer to select accounts, mine being one.) https://unsplash.com/photos/lUaaKCUANVI https://unsplash.com/photos/npxXWgQ33ZQ https://unsplash.com/photos/eMP4sYPJ9x0
The A to Z team, especially Jayden for the chats. And @iZombieJMH for the graphics!
Thanks to C. Lee McKenzie and Jemima Pett for answering the last-minute email, Kathryn Mowers for coming up with another set of books, Olga Godim for the offer of X, and Denise Covey for forwarding the message.
And to everyone who commented on this blog this month!
“Yoga Animals” is a story book that incorporates simple yoga poses for clear thinking, positivity, and more. There are two books in this series… ‘in the forest’ and ‘at the seashore’, which each feature different poses! These unique books are great for relaxation before bedtime or any time centering and focus is needed! Ages 3+.
thought-provoking thrillers with twists beyond the norm
Giveaway:
https://wn.nr/EvfEgH Win the Ultimate Literary Bundle from Storiarts! "Where style meets literature. Every Storiarts purchase helps kids worldwide learn to read, write, & create." And small-batch coffee in three genres-- Fantasy, Romance, and Gothic.
(Doesn't accept comments. But has an X in the name.)
“EXtraordinary!” is a sweet story, depicting both country and city lives with a diverse representation of characters. It has a gentle rhyme about reaching for the stars and celebrating the best moments in life. A great bedtime or anytime book for ages 4+!
Demon Moon (Xoe Meyers Young Adult Urban Fantasy Book 1) by Sara C. Roethle
Free on Amazon
Xoe will have to embrace her fiery powers to burn her enemies
Teen & Young Adult Coming of Age Fantasy
Giveaway:
https://wn.nr/EvfEgH Win the Ultimate Literary Bundle from Storiarts! "Where style meets literature. Every Storiarts purchase helps kids worldwide learn to read, write, & create." And small-batch coffee in three genres-- Fantasy, Romance, and Gothic.
I'm pretty sure this is among the first dozen blogs I ever followed regularly.
(The blog uses "dark mode" which is difficult for me to see, but I know some people like that.)
“What a Wonderful Word” is truly a book for all ages. From expanding the vocabulary of curious little ones to a coffee table book for adults, this book is sure to get lots of use! It is a collection of untranslatable words from all over the world and it celebrates the magic of language with fascinating facts about each word and the culture it comes from!
When the Legends Die: The Timeless Coming-of-Age Story about a Native American Boy Caught Between Two Worlds by Hal Borland
"A young Native American raised in the forest is suddenly thrust into the modern world" - I can relate
(first published 1963)
Bought as a cyber Monday deal in 2019
Written In Red (A Novel of the Others Book 1) by Anne Bishop
Recommended by several bloggers
thrilling fantasy series
Giveaway:
https://wn.nr/EvfEgH Win the Ultimate Literary Bundle from Storiarts! "Where style meets literature. Every Storiarts purchase helps kids worldwide learn to read, write, & create." And small-batch coffee in three genres-- Fantasy, Romance, and Gothic.
Content warning: Violence
Why did he do that? -- Flash Fiction of 719 words
"That's not a moon, that's a ... new amusement park!" The commercial played, followed by the contest details. Ten lucky winners and their guests would be flown to the space station. Everyone on Earth knew about it. The black sphere orbited the moon, the two "ears" visible when the light was just right. California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, China, the ship out at sea, and now the Mouse had a place in space.
Ten winners were flown to the resort in Florida, as it was nearest to the launch site. Ten winners and one alternate, actually. Because there were rules about who was allowed to go to the space park. Health mandates needed to be met. Wade was that alternate. He brought his younger sister as his guest.
"Wade?"
"Yes, Whisper?" Wade rubbed his temples, preparing for the nine millionth question his sister would ask today.
"If they don't pick us to go, since you're number eleven, can we still go on rides at this park?"
"Yes. I'll take you on every ride you're tall enough to get on."
"Can we have a tea party?"
"Sure."
"Can I get a pretty dress?"
Wade sighed. "Do you have money for a dress?"
"Isn't that included?"
"I don't think so. We'll ask them later."
"Can I get a corn dog?"
"Sure, if they have them."
"Do you think it tastes like corn on the cob?"
Wade shook his head. "I don't know. Wouldn't you rather go to space than get a dress and a corn dog?"
She chewed her lip for a moment. "I don't think the others are going to give up a spot."
"We'll see."
The winners all gathered for a special dinner. The next day would be the final round of health tests to prove they could handle the vacation of a lifetime. Wade rose from the table, saying he needed to use the washroom. He followed a waiter out. No one seemed to notice or care when Wade snuck into the kitchen. He made his way to where the cake was being decorated.
"Wow! Eleven sphere cakes. How do they hold together so well?" Wade asked.
"We use a dowel to keep everything in place," the decorator explained. "What are you doing back here, anyway?"
"Looking for the washroom. I got lost."
The decorator signaled to a busser, who showed Wade to the washrooms.
"You were gone forever," Whisper said when Wade sat at the table again.
"Sorry. Got lost. It's a big place."
"I ate your cheese."
Wade ruffled her hair.
"Your sister asks a lot of questions," the girl next to him said.
Whisper grinned. "Wade, this is Marsha. She and her mother are from New York City. They live on Park Avenue. But she doesn't spend her days on the swings or slides or anything. She shops and goes to the theater."
Wade nodded. He offered his hand to Marsha. "Pleased to meet you."
"I'm sure you are," Marsha said as she turned away from him, ignoring the offered hand. "Can you imagine if they actually let those two go to the new park?"
Marsha's mother patted her daughter's hand. "Darling, we've discussed what a publicity stunt is, haven't we? No need to rub anyone's face in it. They're getting a nice meal."
Fire burned inside Wade. These two didn't need a free trip. They probably only entered so they could be first guests. More fame for them. Maybe they didn't even enter the contest, but bought their way in?
The winners and their guests clapped as the cakes were brought out. Spherical black cakes with round ears on top.
"Hey, Marsha, you know how people where I'm from celebrate with cake?"
Marsha pulled the basketball-sized cake nearer to her. "By taking one bite a day and saving the rest so you have food all month?"
The fire grew hotter in Wade. "Nah. We smash."
Wade grabbed the back of Marsha's head and pushed her face into the cake.
"Why did he do that?" the reporter asked at the press conference.
"He didn't know there were dowels in the cake, or even what a dowel was. This death has been ruled an accident. Wade and his sister have been cleared to take the now vacant winner's spot and are headed to the space park."
~~***~~
This story was inspired by a real story of a birthday party gone wrong, where someone lost an eye because of a cake dowel to the face. Please, never smash a face into a cake!
“Vlad, the World’s Worst Vampire” is a chapter book series, intended for ages 6-9. It is comprised of four books that follow the story of young vampire, Vlad, who is part of the bravest vampire family that ever lived. Except that Vlad is scared of the dark and all he wants is some friends to fit in with!
https://wn.nr/EvfEgH Win the Ultimate Literary Bundle from Storiarts! "Where style meets literature. Every Storiarts purchase helps kids worldwide learn to read, write, & create." And small-batch coffee in three genres-- Fantasy, Romance, and Gothic.
I never know what the posts are going to be about next
“Unicorns in Uniform” is part of a Phonics Readers series! These silly, animal-based stories incorporate phonics to teach sound-to-letter correspondence! They are great as a read-aloud for older toddlers and preschoolers, that progresses to independent readings. Children can even follow along with a recording using the QR code on the back cover! There are SO many in this series and even combination collections that will save you a few!
https://wn.nr/EvfEgH Win the Ultimate Literary Bundle from Storiarts! "Where style meets literature. Every Storiarts purchase helps kids worldwide learn to read, write, & create." And small-batch coffee in three genres-- Fantasy, Romance, and Gothic.
QUESTIONS:
Have you been to this favorite blog of mine?
Have you read any of these books?
What's your favorite of the 13 continuous stories in the A to Z challenge 2021?
I can always use more feminist friends who are cool dudes.
The blog is nearly all in English, but there are also posts in Nynorsk (one of the two written standards of the Norwegian language)
Very unique stories that are enjoyable to read
“The Tale of the Valiant Ninja Frog” can be read as a stand-alone, but is also a sequel to the popular book, “The Prince, and the Witch, and the Thief, and the Bears”. These books follow a diverse family, Jamie, Abby, and their Dad, as they create bedtime stories together! These books have a cartoon-style illustration and are complimented for their father-forward storyline!
A medical sci-fi with a Matrix twist by J Lenni Dorner
Bright lights came at Tyra. She put her hand up to shield her eyes. Which way to run? No time for choices. Everything went dark.
~***~
"Time to rise," a gentle voice repeated, louder each time. Tyra's sleep pod opened. A blue line on the floor grew brighter in a direction away from her pod. She followed it.
"Good morning. Please mimic." It was the same voice from the pod, her A.I. home. A graphic on the wall showed a person doing simple stretches. Tyra easily did the movements.
"Please disrobe." Tyra placed her pajamas in the hamper. She did her morning constitutional. Then she stepped into the automated cleaner, which washed her, brushed her teeth, and put her hair in a bun. Clean clothing came from a wall compartment. Taupe pants, white blouse, taupe jacket, white under-clothing. She dressed quickly. Taupe flats were the final touch.
Blue floor lights directed her to the next room. A breakfast shake in a travel mug awaited. It had no flavor, no scent, nothing to discern it or make it worthy of a thought. She lifted a black rectangular object from a charger. The front door slid open.
Tyra stared at the rectangular screen as she drank and walked down the hall. Others from her building, all wearing the same taupe and white outfits, also walked the halls. They too stared at their screens. Everyone went to the elevator in an orderly fashion. The rectangular screen reported the trains were running on time. The weather was slightly overcast and the temperature was mild. In politics, the right-wing disagreed with the left-wing. No new laws were passed, no old ones altered. Sports were all postponed that day. The stock market held steady. The comic of the day was an orange talking to a banana, "Orange you glad I'm not a banana?" The word orange being a substitute for the word aren't, a play on an annoying knock-knock joke.
The train station was in the basement of Tyra's building. It ran underground to the basement of her office. She went to her cubicle. Stacks of papers awaited her, along with a fresh box of paperclips. The first paper had the letter A. The second had the letter B. There were markings under the letters, but it wasn't something she could decipher. She collated the stack, A to Z, then secured it with a paperclip. On to the next pile. A, B, C… Halfway through the day, she followed blue floor lights to a room with a table and a plant. A dispenser refilled her travel mug. She sat alone by the plant and drank. Then the blue lights directed her to a washroom, and then back to her desk. The stack of papers had refilled, as had the paperclips. Her morning progress had been taken from the "out" box.
She stared at her rectangular screen as she went home. Again, the A.I. guided her to stretch and change clothes. Theater music came on as she went to the eat-in kitchen. A hot meal waited on a tray. An oval piece of chicken, peas, brown rice, and apple pie with a Gruyère crust.
"Do I like cheese on my apple pie?" Tyra asked. The house didn't answer. She ate it and decided that yes, she did like it. She watched a nature show about tigers and then got into her sleep pod.
~***~
"Doctor? There's news?" Tyra's husband asked as he rushed in. It was the first such call in weeks since his wife was run over.
"Yes. She picked a dessert last night, and questioned if she liked it. She also chose music and watched a nature show."
"That's it?" Noah sank into a chair. "I thought perhaps she remembered me or questioned why I'm not there."
The doctor shook his head. "Minds are funny. Everyone expects that people will first notice a lack of loved ones. But patients always start with a sense memory. A taste, a smell, the feel of a fabric. This is good news. It means she's coming out of the coma. The Paperclip-Sanatorium program is working perfectly. Soon we'll be able to load the Freedom Morning program, and she'll discover how to think her way awake."
"Will she remember the monotony of the virtual reality?"
"No, only theFreedom Morning stage."
~***~
"Time to rise."
"What day is it?" Tyra asked as she rolled out of her sleep pod. The house didn't answer. Once she was in the automated cleaner, she repeated her question, again to no answer. She sniffed her breakfast shake. "Orange-banana again? No vanilla-strawberry? No chocolate-raspberry? House, are you sure it isn't the weekend?"
She tapped on her rectangular device as she walked down the hall. When was the last time the information on this thing changed? And where was the date?
"Excuse me, does anyone know what day it is?" No one around her glanced from their devices.
Tyra saw the stack of papers at her cubicle. "Is this really my job? Didn't I train for something more? When do I get a day off?"
No one answered. Everyone was busy paperclipping stacks of paper. Tyra stormed off to the breakroom, not caring that it wasn't time.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" She expected to find the plant alone in the windowless room. When was the last time she saw the sky?
"Can I help you?" Laurence Fishburne sat in the breakroom sipping a cup of coffee.
"There's coffee? Why am I drinking this orange-banana crap? Hey, you're that guy…"
Laurence nodded. "Yes, but in here, I'm the boss. Why aren't you at your desk paperclipping?"
"I want to know what day it is. More importantly, I want to know when I get a day off."
"What would you do with a day off?"
Tyra rinsed her mug and filled it with coffee.
"I'd travel. Maybe meet someone. Wait, I have a husband. Where's Noah?"
Laurence pointed to a green door with the word "freedom."
998 words. FCA
Giveaway:
https://wn.nr/EvfEgH Win the Ultimate Literary Bundle from Storiarts! "Where style meets literature. Every Storiarts purchase helps kids worldwide learn to read, write, & create." And small-batch coffee in three genres-- Fantasy, Romance, and Gothic.
Would you be interested in a longer version of Tyra's story? (I cut almost 2k to get the word count down. I'm thinking of making it a Smashwords novelette.)
What's your favorite place to travel (when it's safe to travel)?
https://d10323.myubam.com/p/3155/peek-inside-the-zoo?e=2068440
"Shipping only available to USA and military bases from the provided Usborne link." - Kathryn Mowers (Consultant for the Dorner family)
https://d10323.myubam.com/p/6832/what-a-wonderful-word?e=2068440
