Lone Star Book Blog Tour: SECRETS OF THE SNOW GLOBE by Catherine Stier ***REVIEW & GIVEAWAY***

 

SCIENCE MAKES IT WORK SERIES:
Secrets of the Snow Globe

&
The Wonder of Color

by

CATHERINE STIER

Categories:  Picture Book / Science / STEM (ages 4-8)

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co.

Date of Publication: March 1, 2022

Number of Pages: 32 pages 

 

***Scroll down for Giveaway!***

 

Secrets of the Snow Globe:

After starting to collect snow globes with the help of her grandmother, Lily has questions. She wants to know who invented them, what the snow is made of, and how the tiny scenes look so magical when she peers inside. As she researches and experiments, Lily learns about light waves, magnification, and density—all while gathering ingredients to make her own snow globe.

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The Wonder Of Color:

When Ms. Vega announces a mural painting contest at school, James can’t wait to draw a picture to fill the library wall. But as he explores color, he has a lot of questions about where color comes from and how our eyes see it. As he experiments and reads, James learns about prisms, the color wheel, and light waves—all while working on his colorful contest entry.

 

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Secrets of a Snow Globe

Secrets of the Snow Globe by Catherine Stier is a creative and fun way to introduce a science lesson about density to young learners.  Lily is a very cute and inquisitive little girl who loves snow globes. When Lily wants to make her own snow globe, her family helps her understand how snow globes work and what ingredients are needed to create the proper density for the "snowflakes" to fall slowly.  Stier uses Lily's love of snow globes to help the reader understand when the first snow globe was invented, how and why it works, and detailed instructions on making your own. Stier interweaves a science lesson with Lily's story perfectly. By showing different examples, the reader will definitely remember how the density of a liquid can affect the speed in which a solid can pass through it. 

The pastel illustrations by Floss Pottage were eye-catching and adorably conveys Lily and her loving family.  There are many little details Pottage includes in each page that make the story come alive.  It's like you were there learning right alongside Lily!  I love how Pottage was able to capture Lily's curiosity through her many facial expressions throughout the story.

Secrets of the Snow Globe is perfectly paced and the language/vocabulary appropriate for ages 7 and up.  This book would be a great resource for science teachers and homeschooling parents!  An excellent addition for your school or home library!

5 Stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Catherine Stier is the author of more than twenty children's books including the SCIENCE MAKES IT WORK picture book series and the Kirkus star-reviewed A DOG’S DAY chapter book series. She holds a master’s degree in reading and literacy and has served as a magazine writer, newspaper columnist, and writing instructor. Stier resides in San Antonio, Texas.

◆  WEBSITE  ◆ FACEBOOK  ◆  TWITTER ◆

◆  AMAZON  ◆  GOODREADS  ◆

◆  INSTAGRAM ◆  TIKTOK ◆

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 ONE WINNER 

Autographed copies of both books, pin (for adults), snow globe socks,
& a snow globe making kit.

(US only, ends midnight CST, 3/19/2022.)

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YA Review: Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie

 

Bone Crier's Moon

by Kathryn Purdie

Published March 3rd 2020

 by Katherine Tegen Books

480 pages

Plot: Bone ​Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.
Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.

Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die (2022, Goodreads.com). 

Review: Bone Crier’s Moon is a very unique story about women who have to ferry the dead to the right place at their time of death. This will keep them from attacking the living. But, in order to be part of this group (which you are raised to be since birth), you have to kill your soul mate. This is to show how devout you are to this faith/religion.  In order to find your soul mate, you have to lure him with a special song played with a special flute.  These women are called Bone Criers.  They also get powers from animal bones, and the stronger the animals they kill the stronger their abilities are.  Ailesse is the daughter of the matriarch, and it’s her turn to lure her true love and kill him.  

The other POV is Bastien.  His father was killed by a Bone Crier and he and his two friends are out for revenge.  Bastien finds Ailesse the night she plays her flute and he is ready to lure her in and kill her. But, things don’t go according to plan and Ailesse is captured rather than killed by Bastien.   The 3rd POV in the story is Sabine. She is Ailesse’s best friend and will do whatever she can to help her friend return home safely.  She has made it her mission to break the bond that Ailesse believes she has formed with Bastien.  As Ailesse and Bastien spend more time together both question whether or not their motives for killing the other is worth it.  

Overall, the story is interesting and unique.  It was a little confusing as to why your true love will die either way even if you don’t kill him (after about a year).  So, you technically didn’t HAVE to kill him.  You just couldn’t be a ferrier if you didn’t do it to show your loyalty - but then he’ll somehow die anyway?  That confused me.  There were some interesting twists in the last half of the book that will have you wanting to know what happens  next in book 2. The three character POV was a good way to tell the story.  I liked seeing the story unfold from these multiple perspectives.  The connection between Ailesse and Bastien was done well and was a good enemy to lovers trope.  

Rating: 3.5 hearts    

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YA Review: GILDED by Marissa Meyer

 

Gilded
by Marissa Meyer
Published November 2, 2021 

by Feiwel and Friends

502 pages

Plot: Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her . . . for a price.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.  (2022, Goodreads.com).

Review:  In this dark retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, Serilda, the miller’s daughter, is good at telling stories.  At telling lies.  And after some unfortunate circumstances, and a ridiculous lie - she is taken away to the Erlking’s domain to spin straw into gold. Since she professed that she could after all.  Unfortunately, Serilda can’t spin straw into gold and knows she will die once the Erlking finds out.  However, at midnight a boy appears and agrees to help her as long as she gives him something of value in return.  As the original story goes she is able to fool the king, but this is where the similarities of the retelling end.  First of all, the “Rumpelstiltskin” character is not an ugly troll/goblin.  He is a handsome boy around Serlida’s age. He has no memory of who he was before being cursed to the Erlking’s castle or why.  We also don’t know why he can spin straw into gold or isn't like the other "ghosts" in the castle.  Soon the two grow to care for each other, but the Erlking is ruthless and cruel and the story gets very dark after this point.  I was definitely surprised towards the last 30% of the book.  

Overall, the story was an interesting retelling of the classic story.  It did have some similarities, but overall it is it’s own story and world.  The writing was good and had an interesting twist towards the end.  I did feel it didn’t need to be as long as it was.  There were some chapters that could have been taken out - as I didn’t think it progressed the story much.  It also gets pretty dark towards the end and so it's not for the faint of heart.  

Rating: 3 Hearts!
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YA Review: THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US by Tricia Levenseller

 

The Shadows Between Us
by Tricia Levenseller

Published February 25th 2020 
by Feiwel and Friends
326 pages

Plot: Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen? (Goodreads, 2022).

Review: The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller is like nothing I have ever read before.   Alessandra is a conniving, manipulating, shellfish murderer with no remorse. It took a while for me to get into this story because Alessandra is such an anti-hero and it was really hard to root for her (considering her main goal was to marry the king so she can kill him and take over his kingdom). She does anything and everything to achieve her goal of becoming queen and having power, so she is not really a likable character.  That being said, the story was interesting and her relationship with the Shadow King was a very slow burn romance.  Her character does become more likable as the story progresses, but she is an anti-hero throughout the book. Her personality and bitterness come from her father’s lack of love and attention.  Her older sister is the favorite and Alessandra hates her and her father for ignoring her.  She feels empowered when she does what she wants and doesn’t take orders from anyone.  She could care less if her actions are not “lady-like.”  

The King has a hard time trusting people, and for some reason he trusts Alessandra. She is good at getting men to fall for her.  Despite her character flaws, she never lies to the king.  I think that’s what appeals to him the most.  She is very up front and honest with anything he asks her, which is refreshing to him since he cannot trust anyone at his court until he finds the person or people responsible for his parents’ deaths.  There are some twists I didn’t see coming at the end and it wraps up nicely in the final chapter.  

Overall, this is a very unique story that was definitely an experience to read. If you like a strong-minded female MC, who slept around a lot (prior to being courted by the king), and would kill you if you got in her way then this one could be for you.  The writing was well done and keeps you interested in seeing what happens to Alessandra as her plot to kill the king unravels.

Rating: 3 Hearts!

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