Book Signing Event Where Author Renee Hand Will Allow Children To Create A Character For Her Next Book In The Joe-Joe Nut Series

In celebration of Summer Reading and Writing

Book Signing At Barnes and Nobles Booksellers In Rochester Hills, Michigan will be held on June 3rd from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Renee Hand, award-winning author of the Crypto-Capers and Joe-Joe Nut series, will allow children to create a character for an upcoming book. Children can submit their characters and encourage family, friends and the public to vote for their favorites. The winning entry will be featured in the third installment of the Joe-Joe Nut series.

In honor of book 1 of award-winning author Renee Hand’s new lower elementary children’s book series, The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill, The Great Pie Catastrophe, author Renee Hand is hosting a contest for children to become characters in one of her cases. The opportunity is for children to be able to create their own animal suspect.

The Joe-Joe Nut series is based on animal detectives who solve cases. The books are educational and fun using topics that children will learn from, such as animal tracks (for book 1) and rocks and minerals (for book 2, coming in the fall of 2010). Every book is unique, entertaining and yet full of interesting information that children will love to learn about.

For the contest, children will submit a character, they created. The author will then post submissions on her website. Family, friends and the public will be able to read and vote for their favorites. The submission that receives the most votes will become a character in the next book.

"I decided to hold this contest," stated Ms. Hand, "in honor of my new lower elementary series titled, The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill, Case #1 The Great Pie Catastrophe. I am an author who writes for my readers. I want them to be involved in my books and make a connection with the characters. It is important to me. My goal is to not only entertain children, but to educate them as well, and all of my books accomplish this goal. This contest will help children understand the process an author goes through in creating a character and will be able to work with me on the development of that character in the story. As a thank you to the winner, not only will their character be a part of the story but it will be dedicated to them as well. The winner will also receive a signed copy from me. I am excited about this contest and wish luck to all. I look forward to reading the entries."

The contest begins on June 7th and will end on August 15th to allow time for everyone to develop and promote their characters.

For more information visit the author's website at www.ReneeAHand.com. Entries and votes for characters should be submitted by email to thecryptocapersseries@gmail.com.

Renee Hand is available for media interviews and school visits. She can be reached using the information below or by email at TheCryptoCapersSeries@gmail.com. More information on the Crypto-Caper series and the Joe-Joe Nut series is available at Ms. Hand’s website at www.ReneeAHand.com. All of Ms. Hand’s books are available at Barnes and Nobles bookstores or from her website.

Book Review for Duck and Cover by Janet Urbanovic

Duck and Cover by Jackie Urbanovic

(Harper Collins Publishers January 27, 2009)

Duck and Cover is a deliciously cute story about a duck named Max and an interesting alligator named Harold.

Harold comes knocking on Max and Irene’s door begging for shelter from a zoo detective who is looking for him. Harold ate a dog and got in trouble for it, but it wasn’t his fault the dog was somebody’s pet, right? So Harold is on the run; the trouble is that with Harold’s insatiable appetite, Max and his friends are worried that if they help hide Harold they might become his next meal.

But ultimately, Max is compassionate. He knows how it feels to be in need of help and to have someone special in his life—someone like Irene, who had once helped him get through a difficult situation. So Max and his friends agree to hide Harold. As the plot thickens Max realizes how difficult the task of hiding Harold is going to be, but he perseveres and is determined to protect his new friend. He even goes as far as having everyone dress up as an alligator when the zoo detective returns in search of Harold. Let the man try and find Harold now!

Duck and Cover fits right in with the continuation of Max the duck’s adventures. His story began in Duck at the Door and continued with Duck Soup. Ms. Urbanovic is the author and illustrator of all of the Duck books.

The illustrations in this 32-page romp put a smile on the reader’s face as they complement the animals’ activities. Children of all ages will laugh at this cleverly written story and wonder what mess Duck will be getting himself into next. This hardcover picture book is great for children between the ages of 4–8.

Reviewer Renee Hand is the award-winning author of The Crypto-Capers series. Look for her upcoming release The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill, The Great Pie Catastrophe.

Review for Roly Poly Pangolin by Anna Dewdney

Roly Poly Pangolin by Anna Dewdney

(Viking Juvenile March 9, 2010)

Roly Poly Pangolin is a 40-page picture book about a pangolin named Roly Poly who is afraid of everything. One day Roly Poly sets out on an adventure holding tight to mama’s tail. As a baby pangolin, the world is new to her, and because of this she is scared and unsure of everything: from the noises in the trees to the ants and slugs she is supposed to be eating.

It is not until she wanders a little too far from mama that she becomes consumed in her own fears, letting her imagination run away with her. Roly Poly stumbles and begins to fall, but in the process discovers something new and interesting about herself. She can roll up into a ball, similar to the Tolypeutes species of armadillo, which can also roll up into a ball for protection.

Roly Poly is not a little intrigued but waits until she hears a tiny call before she comes out of her ball. When she does she finds another pangolin looking at her. Because Roly Poly is not alone anymore, she and her new friend begin to play together, fearing nothing at all. “Sometimes new things can be fun when you’re not the only one.” Ms. Dewdney’s words will ring true for children whose imaginations often take them into scary places. With a little company, everything always seems a tad less scary.

Pangolins are an endangered species. Mrs. Dewdney traveled to Vietnam to visit these creatures and see them in their own habitat, learning much about them. A portion of the proceeds of this book will go to the Pangolin Conservation Program at Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam to support research and efforts to save these interesting and unusual creatures. Roly Poly Pangolin is a great read for children ages of 4–8.

Reviewer Renee Hand is the award-winning author of The Crypto-Capers series. Look for her upcoming release The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill, The Great Pie Catastrophe for lower elementary.

Review for Nobunny's Perfect by Anna Dewdney

Nobunny’s Perfect by Anna Dewdney

(Puffin, February 4, 2010)

Nobunny’s Perfect is a simply illustrated 32-page picture book that teaches children about different kinds of behavior and about using good manners.

Nobunny’s Perfect uses bunny children to demonstrate how every child wants to be good, but at times might find themselves in a position to be not so good. Sometimes a child’s feelings are caused from sadness, from being overly tired, or just having a bad day that might be triggered by the smallest of things. The story then rolls into covering instances when a child can misbehave. Any parent in the world can relate to the examples that Mrs. Dewdney writes about and illustrates. Many parents probably have a few gray hairs from similar experiences. I know I do.

After covering some ways a child can misbehave, the author then goes into the preferable ways a child can behave. The illustrations express the feelings and emotions of each character during the entire story, allowing children to visualize how relaxing and enjoyable the environment around them can be when they behave properly, and how tense and frustrating the environment can be when they do not.

Though this story covers good and bad behavior and having good manners, it misses how a child, when having feelings of anger or frustration, can learn how to diffuse it. Children sometimes act out because they don’t know how else to express themselves. A good point to have added might be how a child could have dealt with those feelings. How a child could go from acting out and misbehaving to learning how to act more properly and how to become a well behaved child on his or her own.

The truth concerning children’s emotions is that each day is like flipping a quarter. You never know what you’re going to get. One day behavior is great; the next day, the parent’s gray hairs are taking over.

Overall, Nobunny’s Perfect is written in easy rhyme with a good moral that children will enjoy listening to and learning from. It’s a great read for children between the ages of 4–8.

Book Review and Giveaway for Clive Cussler's New Children's Book, The Adventures of Hotsy Totsy

The Adventures of Hotsy Totsy by Clive Cussler
(Philomel Books, May 13, 2010)

The Adventures of Hotsy Totsy is a flavorful combination of adventure and youthful ingenuity.

This story begins with a magical machine in the shape of a small box, which is given to twins, Lacey and Casey Nicefolk, as a gift from a mysterious man who had helped out on their farm. This machine has the capability of changing any toy-sized object into one of life-sized proportions. Realizing the machine’s capability, Lacey and Casey try it out by enlarging a model wooden boat, one which they are determined to enter into the Gold Cup Grand National Race in San Francisco, California. But the twins are going to be getting more than what they bargained for in Hotsy Totsy. The boat has a mind of its own, with determination and spirit, and is simply magical.

With the twins’ goal in mind of winning the race, they neglect to see the evil that lurks in the darkness, threatening to stop them. A phantom black boat, which houses old enemies, soon surfaces and kidnaps the twins, taking them to the island of Alcatraz. However, help comes in the shape of their loyal dog, Floopy, and of course, Hotsy Totsy.

The twins are freed and begin and finish the race with an outcome so unexpected, that it causes the world to fall in love with them, because winning is not everything. What the twins discover in themselves is more than the satisfaction of crossing the finish line; it is the compassion, kindness, and unselfishness along the way that shows what true heroes are all about.

True to Clive Cussler’s love and knowledge of boats and adventure, he creates a wonderful tale in his first children’s book, a 192-page adventure filled with intrigue and suspense. Children of all ages will enjoy this middle-grade novel and will look forward to reading many more interesting adventures of the Nicefolk twins.

The one thing this reviewer would like to have learned more about was the adventures of Vin Fiz, which is an air plane that the twins first used the magic box on, making it life-size. It was on one of their adventures with Vin Fiz that the twins meet up with the villains from The Adventures of Hotsy Totsy. There is quite a bit of information in Hotsy Totsy which insinuates many things about a previous adventure that the reader knows very little about and the author keeps referring to, making this reviewer think that there was another children’s book out there that was a prequel to this one—which there is: The Adventures of Vin Fiz, published in 2006. Aside from the fact that this book should stand on its own and provide any missing information within its own covers, this reviewer enjoyed Hotsy Totsy.


Overall though, an enjoyable read.

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Hardcover Price: $14.99

Barnes and Nobles Book Signing Event

Barnes and Nobles Education Event in Flint with Award-Winning Author Renee Hand


Award-Winning author, Renee Hand, will be at Barnes and Nobles on April 16th starting at 5:30pm to discuss with parents and educators her new children's mystery series. Her upper elementary series known as The Crypto-Capers Series, is an interactive series where the reader is apart of the story solving the case. Mrs. Hands lower elementary series known as, The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill, is a great combination of fun loving animal detectives who solve their case by following animal tracks and learning about clues. Author will also be signing books after the event and answering questions. For more information about these book check authors website at http://www.reneeahand.com/.

New Review For The Raindrop

The Raindrop by Brian D. McClure

(Universal Flag Publishing, February 1, 2006)

The Raindrop is a beautifully illustrated picture book about a raindrop and its place in the world. The story begins with the Raindrop having a discussion with a cloud. The Raindrop tells the cloud that he is smaller than small, and that he feels that he has no use at all. The cloud tells the Raindrop of its importance in the world, and that he should rethink his worth, but the Raindrop does not listen and chooses not to believe the cloud. His head is too filled with negative ideas and thoughts about himself. As the Raindrop falls to the ground and gets sucked into the parched earth, which seriously needs water because it is going through a drought, the Raindrop fears being alone. It still does not see its purpose.

Then the rains come and fill the earth with water, bringing everything back to life again, and still the Raindrop cannot see its purpose. It is not until a farmer uses water from a well, which sucks up the Raindrop and sprays it all around his fields of corn, that he finally sees his purpose. He is a part of the water system all along, which is indeed, very important to the world. He has always been a part of something special, but never saw it until that day. The Raindrop is happy again. He now understands his gifts and what he was born to do, and that was to help hydrate the world. If things do not all work together, nothing would exist, including us. The sun, moon and earth must create a balance, which they do and because of this we can maintain life. Everything has a purpose, sometimes we just don't see what our purpose is until we discover it for ourselves.

This adventurous journey uncovers many truths, which help the Raindrop remember the higher purpose of his life. This story also teaches us about the water cycyle and how important it is. This is a simple, heartfelt story that allows children and adults of all ages to remember the truth of who they are and their place in the world. Everyone is important and everyone is needed.

This picture book is available through Amazon.com

This book was sent to me for review from Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tours. Thank you so much.

Renee Hand