Elora of Stone: Legend of Rhyme Series (Vol. 1, Book 1)
by Jaime Lee Mann
Blue Moon Publishers
Published 2014
150 pages (print version)
e-book format 

Mann delivers a multi-generational saga built on themes of friendship and love between two families, who live in the tiny kingdom of Falmoor.  Their world is plagued by the disappearance of children, specifically the loss of one child from a pair of twins.  (While this sounds frightening, the story eventually provides an explanation that is not upsetting.)  The plot introduces magical elements to keep the families from harm for the first part of the tale.  The ending offers surprising twists (no spoilers here!) that will make young readers pause and think. Mann leaves just enough suspense and loose endings to leave young readers eager for the next book in her series, Into Coraira.

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Characters
The first generation of protagonists, Gwendolyn and Lochlan, are entwined by magic.  They are betrothed to each other at an early age in an arranged marriage their parents hope will protect the young couple from the evil that wraps Falmoor.  I become fond of these characters as the writer fleshes out their personalities and tells of a sweet courtship.

The story skips ahead to find the two wed and parents of twins –uh-oh! You know how the citizens of Falmoor must fight evil to keep children safe.  However, this is not done in a scary fashion.  

Elora, the witchy titular character, is a multi-layered personality, who keeps children hooked as Mann unravels her secrets.  She is ably assisted by her minion, Gimblerod, a grouchy gremlin children will love to hate.  Cinnamon and Sibley delight as sweet fairies.

Since I read Elora in several sittings, it took a moment to adjust when new characters are introduced in the second half of the tale.  The dialogue also shifts from third-person to first-person voice as Mann introduces Gwendolyn’s and Lochlan’s children.  A character list or graphic organizer would be helpful, especially as the series evolves, to enable readers to keep track.


Format, Illustrations

Even though e-books allow for adjusting font size and paragraph spacing, the native layout of the digital book on my tablet marks Elora of Stone as another example of the book’s appeal for children.   There is enough white space on the page, so they will not feel overwhelmed by too much text.  Chapters are short, and black-and-white drawings enhance comprehension and keep kids engaged.



The cover design is especially appealing.  Its misty yellow-and-green swirls draw me in, and the teeny frog in the corner makes me want to know how that amphibian figures into the story.

Unique Features
This book is an excellent way to introduce fantasy/adventure to beginning readers and hook reluctant readers.   Aside from it's perfect length and pacing, it's also the first of a series, which is a sure-fire way to attract children who will be eager to follow the characters they love in The Legend of Rime.

Imagine a gentle tale about friendship, magic, and adventure.  Throw in not-too-scary meanies and cute fairy creatures.  There you have author Jaime Lee Mann’s fantasy for early- and middle-grade readers, Elora of Stone: Legend of Rhyme Series (Vol. 1, Book 1).

Narrative

Recommendation
I highly recommend Elora of Stone, especially for beginning and reluctant readers.  It’s an awesome epic fantasy for pint-sized readers.  Children will root for its heroes and hiss at villains, but they won't be frightened as they eagerly wait for more.

Connect with Jamie Lee Mann
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Find this book on 
Amazon

Disclosure

I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I learned Amy was continuing the conversation at this year’s Book Expo America (BEA) in New York with BFF, actor/director Julianne Moore, I marked them as a must-see.  Their session, PRESENCE: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, revealed how people can unleash their boldest selves to heighten confidence, influence others, and perform at peak. 

Please join me as I share highlights of their panel discussion as a guest reporter for the lovely KidLit TV team.

We're in the conference hall in the Javits Center.  There's still 30 minutes to go before the two speakers.  Not to worry.  I saved you a seat in the front with me!  Ready?  

To read my guest post on Kidlit TV 
and see Amy Cuddy's TED Talk, 
please click HERE  
(I'd love to see your power pose when you finish reading-:D)

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Photo: Daily Mail

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Please join the conversation in the comment section.  
(And leave some love on the KidLit TV page?)
What tips did you learn about releasing your boldest self?

Last week’s Book Expo America (BEA) marked my second time flying to New York City to attend this gathering of readers, publishers, bloggers, and publishing industry innovators for a three-day extravaganza of All Things Book.  If you’re not familiar with BEA, think ginormous summer camp for book lovers.  Piles of books.  Authors galore, from James Patterson and Nathan Lane to Doctor Ruth.  Thousands of eager readers.  

There’s so much to see and do, it’s easy to get overloaded.  For me, BEA and other such author events are charged with excitement and anxiety, especially at the start.  Did I bring enough business cards?  How can I tote all these books without getting back strain?  Can I overcome brain overload to make my best connections with people?  Plus, my only pair of comfy shoes, an absolute necessity at BEA, reduces fashionistas to tears.  But once at the venue, I get my bearings, charge ahead, and come away happily renewed. 

To help you experience BEA from the comfort of your armchair, I divided the Expo into three functions according to the people it attracts and opportunities it offers: Book Lovers, Knowledge Seekers, and Networkers.  

Are these categories quantifiable and scientific?  No!  Can they overlap?  Of course!  Do they give you an overview of this and similar amazing events?  I hope so!

1.  Book Lover
Goal: 
Snag as many books and author autographs as humanly possible.

Recognized by: 
Bulging tote bags filled with books.  Social media selfies showing them with famous authors.  

BEA has books on every corner…paperbacks, hard copies, 3-D, and e-books.  You can’t walk more than a few steps without bumping into stacks of books that are yours for the taking at publishers’ booths and hundreds of happy authors autographing their novels 

I found a WWII mystery for my dad and cute picture books for my nieces.  Most books don’t cost anything.  They’re free, given away as Advance Review Copies (ARCs) to adoring readers who will generate that pre-launch buzz to pump up sales once the book is officially published.

Veteran Expo book lovers will tell you to bring an empty suitcase, check it at the venue, and fill it with books when your stash gets too heavy to carry. 

No worries if your bag is filled.  There’s also a postal facility at the Javits Center for shipping books home.

While BEA targets those in the business of writing, it morphs into Book Con on the weekend, an event open to the public.  Here, book lovers by the thousand find their next new book to be signed by their favorite authors.

2.  Knowledge Seeker
Goal:               
 Learn about the craft and business of writing and publishing.

Recognized by:  
BEA workshop schedule tucked in pockets or on mobile devices, often with notepad or tablet for recording notes.

BEA offers concurrent learning sessions in different tracks, like marketing, publishing, reading content, and technology, that are facilitated by thought leaders.  Depending on your interests, you can stay in one track for the entire time or mix it up to pop into any 50-minute session.  I stayed with tech and marketing tracks and will be sharing tips in the coming weeks that I learned.

The Middle-Grade Author Buzz was awesome.  I was introduced to four outstanding novels for middle-graders coming out this fall, PLUS, I snagged free ARC copies of each. But that’s another blog post!

Learning also takes place informally on the exhibit hall, which is in a HUGE space, easily the size of two or three football fields, and is separate from conference sessions.  For instance, I want to reformat my print versions of the Sweet T Tales with hard covers and titles on their spines, so my books can be shelved in libraries and my local Indie bookstore.  I spent 15 minutes with the patient sales manager from Ingram Spark (IS).  He broke down the print-on-demand process and cleared up several questions I couldn’t figure out earlier from the IS website.

3.  Networker
Goal: 
Make new contacts and meet as many people as possible.

Recognized by:  
Bulging pockets of business cards or mobile app to digitally exchange contacts.  Usually huddled in small conversation groups everywhere.

Once the show is over and the shuttle bus battles Manhattan traffic to get you to the hotel, there is no time to rest --- even though you’re tired and your feet are swollen.  Whether you’re solo, meeting friends, or connecting with new BEA acquaintances, there’s so much to see and do in New York!  Rest assured you’ll run on adrenaline that offsets any sleep deprivation.  All in all, the entire experience is one of the best parts of a book lover's life!

Photos: Cat Michaels and BEA 2015

Please join the conversation in the comment section.
Which of the three Expo goers best describes your style?
What additional suggestions or resources can you share for making the most of a book event?

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Driving Down to Dillon:
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BOOK REVIEW
Tilly and the Tooth Fairy
Written by Brian G. Chambers 
Illustrated by Söndra N. Rymer
Interest level: Pre-school-gr. 2
Digital format: pdf and epub (iBook)
Publisher: Jet Black Publishing, 2015

NOTE FROM CAT: 
There are two changes about book reviews on Cat's Corner, Lovely Readers.  Please let me know what you think about them!

• This post marks the transition of book reviews from my  Kid Lit Books blog to Cat's Corner.  It helps you flnd my posts all in one place, and it's one less blog for me to maintain.  I'll keep previous reviews on KidLit Book Reviews to maintain  their links to Goodreads, Amazon, Net Galley, etc..

• I'm also adding a new "Feline: book review rating to offer richer feedback.
  

Our Review
Five-year old Niecelette helped me review this book, and her comments are incorporated at the end of this post.

Narrative 
The story follows young Tilly after her tooth falls out on the eve of her birthday.  Tilly tells her parents and writes a note to the Tooth Fairy in hopes of receiving money in exchange for her tooth.  Alas, hard-working Mama and Papa are concerned.  Even though Papa promises riches, the reality is that Tilly's parents are just making ends meet.  They do not have extra cash to fund a lost tooth.  And this is when the fairy tale veers off course, and the fun begins.  

There was one instance where I changed the narrative to help an American child’s comprehension of British-based currency: instead of five pounds, I used five pieces of gold.    No biggie!

However, young readers easily understand Chamber’s simple, flowing language. As in most fairy tales, the narrative stops with a happily-ever-after ending. I wish I knew more about Tilly and her new life after the tooth fairy. But isn't that just like a good book to leave the reader wanting more?

Author Brian G. Chambers and digital artist Söndra N. Rymer offer a charming twist on a childhood legend in their e-book, Tilly and the Tooth Fairy. They create a world for preschoolers and early readers that is a visual feast.  

Recommendation
Niecelette and I agree that Tilly and the Tooth Fairy is a story young readers (especially those of tooth-losing age!) and adults can enjoy again and again. 

Its sweetness and length make for a perfect bedtime snuggle. Tilly would also be excellent in the classroom or home school, with educators using its visual prompts to encourage written or oral expression as children re-tell the tale in their preferred style. This book's gentle narrative and amazing art hold lasting appeal for the child in us all.

Niecelette's Review
 I liked everything about the story.  My favorite part is .... she points to two deer shown on the last page (see photo).  She scrolls back for a longer look at a scene with little mice hiding under Tilly’s bed.  She is enchanted with the visual details and story line.

Illustrations and Format  
Text is printed in a warm brown serif font against a rich gold background that resembles old-timey parchment.  There is plenty of white space between each line to encourage beginning readers to pick out key words or phrases.

Rymer uses digital art techniques with real costumed children as models. Then she places these characters smack into digitally enhanced photographs that thematically connects to the story's old-fashioned setting.

Using my laptop as an e-reader, we could read text or view the art, but we were not able to view both together on a single page as with many print picture books.  Sometimes, there were two consecutive pages of text before a visual. This type of layout might be problematic for some children, who need visuals to maintain attention or assist with language and context. On the other hand, children might use the book's images to tell their own story, once they're familiar with the narrative.  Visuals could also be a ‘reward’ for listening to the story line.  

Unique Features
While Chambers' narrative is charming, Rymer's digital art nearly steals the show in its inventiveness and execution.  Her images pop off the screen and pull young readers (and grownups!) into the story.    

Connect with Brian and Söndra

Disclosure
I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Connect with Author Brian G. Chambers 
Facebook |  Twitter  

Connect with Illustrator Söndra N Rymer
 Facebook | Website  |  Twitter 

Find this book on JetBlackPublishing

Subscribe to Cat's Connections. 
Subscribe to updates about my books and receive a FREE downloadable mini-tale just for the young at heart:
Driving Down to Dillon:
A Very-Short Tale of Love and New Beginnings