Sleigh Tour The Magic of Christmas

Sleigh Tour The Magic of Christmas: Blizzard of the Blue Moon (Magic Tree House, #36)

Today, I'm excited to join the the Sleigh Tour Bloggers this week as we share one of their favorite Children's Winter/Christmas stories. To see who else is on the tour you can visit the WinterHaven Sleigh Tour event.

My children's choice for today is Blizzard of the Blue Moon by Mary Pope Osborne

My Thoughts

This story is one of many from the well-known Magic Tree House series. Each book takes you on a new adventure. Blizzard of the Blue Moon was an easy, smooth read and one that is easily finished within an hour.
Jack and Annie travel on many adventures for Morgan le Fay, a magical librarian from the legendary realm of Camelot. Now, Merlin the magician began sending them on "Merlin Missions." This was another mission to prove that Jack and Annie can use magic wisely. A poem was left to guide them by their friends Teddy and Kathleen, two young enchanters of Camelot. Their clue sends them traveling back in time to snowy New York City, in the year of 1938. Their mission is to release a unicorn from a spell.
I really liked the history woven into the Magic Tree House books. Not only is there a lesson/story, but a bit of an education on the places they travel for their missions. This was an enjoyable read. Nice cast of characters and easy dialogue for young readers.

Sleigh Tour The Magic of Christmas: (Review & Giveaway) From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankeiler by E.L. Konigsburg

 Okay, after that super long blog title, I'd like to say that...

 

Today, I'm excited to join the the Sleigh Tour Bloggers this week as we share one of their favorite Children's Winter/Christmas stories. To see who else is on the tour you can visit the WinterHaven Sleigh Tour event.

 

My Children’s story choice for today is From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

 

My Thoughts

I was interested in this story as it came highly rated and acclaimed as a Newbery Award winner. Well, the book From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg did not disappoint. It is a children’s novel, however the story is engaging and entertaining all the way through. It’s a quick read that you can finish within less than a couple of hours.

Claudia and Jamie Kincaid decide to run away from home, and their destination is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. They get involved in solving a mystery and make the most of their time away from home.

It’s a wonderful story that anyone can enjoy, but it’s definitely targeted toward younger readers. The dialog between the two main characters is witty and funny, and their adventure is one I wish I could have had as a kid. Overall, I enjoyed my fictional time at the Met. Great story!

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I’m offering one lucky WinterHaven follower of copy of the wonderful story. Simply fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win this international giveaway.  

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In addition, as part of The Magic of Christmas, WinterHaven Books is hosting a give-back that will include two book bundles to be shipped to an elementary school or library of the winner's choosing. The winner will be offered a few options and they can choose what 2 bundles and location to ship to within the United States. Good luck and happy holidays! 

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Dear Santa: Crystal's Book Wish

Today, I'm excited to share my Dear Santa Book Wish letter along with the other Sleigh Tour Bloggers. You can go HERE to visit our bloggers on this tour to see what books they hope to find under the Christmas Tree. Also, be sure to share with me your Santa Book Wish for a chance to be granted your wish by WinterHaven Books!

Here's my Dear Santa Book Wish.

Merry Christmas!!

 

Dear Santa: Tina's Book Wish

Today, I'm excited to share my Dear Santa Book Wish letter along with the other Sleigh Tour Bloggers. You can go HERE to visit our bloggers on this tour to see what books they hope to find under the Christmas Tree. Also, be sure to share with me your Santa Book Wish for a chance to be granted your wish by WinterHaven Books!

 Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!

Sleigh Tour Winter Book Review: Let it Snow by Green, Johnson, Myracle

Today I’m excited to host a review for the WinterHaven Sleigh Tour. This week WinterHaven and a great group of sleigh bloggers are posting our choice of a Winter Book Review. To see who else is on the sleigh, you can go to our WinterHaven Sleigh Tour page for a list of participating blogs.

My Winter Book choice for today is Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle.

My Thoughts

Let it Snow is a perfect addition to any holiday reading line-up. The blend of authors that made up this anthology had the right chemistry and flow to make you feel like busting out a cup of hot cocoa. I loved how all of the stories fused together with parallel events and characters. Clever and well orchestrated!

The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson
The narrative in this book was absolutely snarktastic! Jubilee and Stuart were a cute combo and I loved their scenes and dialog. It did include a series of unlikely events to pull this story together, but who cares?? I dug it like two feet of snow on my driveway… which BTW will never happen as I live in SoCal. But I digress… I enjoyed this story and had my moments of laughs and sighs. Very cute!

Favorite scene: (1)Department of Temperature Acknowledgement and Regulation; (2) Department of Pain and the Processing Thereof; and (3) Office of Confusion and Panic. hi-FREAKIN-larious!
Favorite quote: Oh right! Kissing! Quickly! Quickly! More movement! Deploy tongue!
Favorite dialogue: Stuart’s mom: “You two have a … nice afternoon?” Jubilee answers: “It was nice. We played Mouse Trap.” Stuart’s mom replies: “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

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A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green
Okay, yes let it be known that I have a man-crush on Green, so what?? He makes me laugh like a dork and giggle like a school girl with his antics. You caught me, I haven’t broken my bad habit of giggling. :P Crush, crush, crush, and more CRUSH! I love his books and his humor. If you manage to get through one of his stories without laughing your butt off at least once, my advice to you is rinse and repeat… something went wrong. Seriously wrong! This story is filled with his signature snark, moments of profound revelations and scenes of absolute absurdity. I loved every word of it. CRUSH… one last time.

Favorite scene: Getting Carla to the top of the hill. Tobin says “Carla, get your fat gas-guzzling ass to the top of the hill!” Duke replies “Don’t make fun of her. She needs gentle encouragement. Carla, baby, we love you. You are such a good car. And we believe in you…” hi-FREAKIN-larious! to the 10th power!
Favorite quote: God, I am always foiled by my love of hash browns!
Favorite dialog: I always had this idea that you should never give up a happy middle in the hopes of a happy ending.

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The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle
Super cute story and my favorite character in this story by far was Gabriel the tea cup pig. ADORABLE! I liked to see Addie develop throughout the story and it was fun to see the full circle of characters come together in this last story.

Favorite scene: Addie tea cup pig rescue mission.
Favorite quote: Every time a bell rings, an angel gets her wings.
Favorite dialog: I’ll have a venti blue berry muffin. XD

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So if you’re in the mood to propel your imagination into the holiday spirit, try this book. You won’t regret it!

 

As part of the festivities, WinterHaven Books is hosting an international give-away that will include a copy of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (Signed by Levithan and Cohn) and a copy of Let it Snow (Authors Green, Johnson, and Myracle) for FOUR lucky winners. Good luck and happy holidays!
 

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Winter Passage by Julie Kagawa

Today I’m excited to host a review for the WinterHaven Sleigh Tour. This week WinterHaven and a great group of sleigh bloggers are posting our choice of a Winter Book Review. To see who else is on the sleigh, you can go to our WinterHaven Sleigh Tourpage for a list of participating blogs.

My winter book choice is Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa

My thoughts
Not only does this Novella contain a frosty theme, but it takes the reader deeper into the world of the Iron Fey realm that Kagawa has so masterly crafted. The story is just the right length to wrap yourself up in a warm blanket and snuggle up with a warm cup of cocoa, and escape into another world until the next load of laundry is ready to be thrown into the dryer.
This is a continuation of The Iron King that leads up to the second novel, The Iron Daughter. Ash, the Winter prince made a promise to Mab, queen of Winter Court, to bring Meghan Chase to her. She wanted to use her as leverage against Oberon, king of the Summer Court, and her father. She made a bargain with the Winter prince: help her rescue her brother and she would go with him to the Winter Court. Once a faery promised something, they were obligated to fulfill their end of the bargain. There was only one problem. Summer and Winter were not supposed to fall in love, (Squee!) and the icy prince has fallen for the half-breed princess.
Meghan asked to do something before he delivered her to the Icy queen, and that was to see Puck. Along their journey they were being chased by an unknown enemy, pushed to their limits and despite the obstacles, they had each other . Ash showed his protective side, despite his inner turmoil. I just got all warm thinking about him and his silver eyes. This adventure is one you won't want to miss out on. Sweet warming romance, action and adventure all wrapped up into a pretty little package.

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Sleigh Tour Winter Book Review: Ex-Mas by Kate Brian

Today I’m excited to host a review for the WinterHaven Sleigh Tour. This week WinterHaven and a great group of sleigh bloggers are posting our choice of a Winter Book Review. To see who else is on the sleigh, you can go to our WinterHaven Sleigh Tour page for a list of participating blogs.

My Winter Book choice for today is Ex-mas by Kate Brian. 

My Thoughts

As you can tell, I love reading holiday books during this time of the year, and it’s sometimes hard to find a YA book that centers around Christmas. So when I came across Kate Brian’s Ex-Mas… WHAT.A.DELIGHT! Ex Mas was a fun and fast-paced pick. Now, it was filled with unlikely and forced events to make the storyline come together, but I still enjoyed it for what it was worth.

I liked the main characters Lily and Beau and their road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle was fun to read about because I’m familiar with their pit stops and city detours. Their journey chasing their kid brothers, Tyler and Cooper, who were headed up North via Amtrak to save Santa from global warming was enlightening. My favorite scene was their final stop in Seattle, where it all came together, and they sang their song at Perk-o-Late. Very cute.

Overall, I enjoyed it much and I’m excited to find more Christmassy reads like this one during this season.

Their song
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
are you allergic to flowers too?
What if I brought you cookies instead?
One sniff of your roses and I could be dead.

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 As part of the festivities, WinterHaven Booksis hosting an international give-away that will include a copy of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (Signed by Levithan and Cohn) and a copy of Let it Snow (Authors Green, Johnson, and Myracle) for FOUR lucky winners. Good luck and happy holidays!

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Our First WinterHaven Sleigh Tour is Coming!

Attention Bloggers!

WinterHaven Books will be hosting a holiday event during the month of December 2012.  We're talking fun book activities, giveaways, and holiday cheer to spread to everyone, and we'd love for you to join us.

To find out more about this event, please visit our WinterHaven Sleigh Tour blog page for details or email us at:
winterhavenbooks (at) gmail (dot) com

So be sure to grab your bag of snowflakes and join us for the festivities!