October 25, 2004
Issue 30


REVIEWS IN THIS ISSUE:

2004 RELEASES:
** MOMMY, SOMEONE IS BLOWING ME KISSES by ALICE ELIZABETH AVERY**
** EMMA'S STRANGE PET by JEAN LITTLE**

FAVORITES:
** OLLIE JOLLY, RODEO CLOWN by JO HARPER**
** SU LING’S KITE by JOANN ROHR**
** THE LEGEND OF KOOLURA by MICHAEL L. THAL**

EXTRAS:
Contest—"Name Game"
"Gargoyle Tears" by JV Harlee
New News
About the Author
Want Reviewed? How to get your book reviewed
Copyediting Service
Ladyjiraff Shop

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"Gargoyle Tears" by gothic, fantasy writer JV Harlee
Go to: http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/jvharlee.html

Want a GT t-shirt? You can! Go to: http://www.cafeshops.com/HarleeStore to get yours!
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NEW NEWS:

• NEWEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS BY JENNIFER LB LEESE—
"Two Spots Bakery" Available now at PublishAmerica.com (search title). Go here: http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/books.html/#childrens to see the cover art designed by her husband.
• Interested in seeing what Jennifer writes? Go to: http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/books.html

• Check out: http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/jenniferlbleese.html#newnews for all new author news from Jennifer LB Leese
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2004 RELEASES:
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MOMMY, SOMEONE IS BLOWING ME KISSES by ALICE ELIZABETH AVERY
Published by PublishAmerica, www.publishamerica.com
ISBN: 1-4137-1352-1
Release: 2004
Price: $14.95
Reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese, www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff



Written entirely with dialogue, MOMMY, SOMEONE IS BLOWING ME KISSES is an inspirational, easy-to-read children's picture book. In this book, a boy and his mother, along with their dog, wake early one spring morning to go on a nature walk. Not knowing what a nature walk entails, the boy's mother tells him 'we walk together and look at all the beauty of nature.' They do just that say they discover many different types of flowers.

This book would make a wonderful addition to any pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. The adorable, hand-drawn illustrations enhance each lovely page and brings the boy, his mother, and their dog, Harvey, to life. A quick-read at 24 pages, MOMMY, SOMEONE IS BLOWING ME KISSES by Alice Elizabeth Avery comes highly recommended by this reviewer and her children.
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EMMA'S STRANGE PET by JEAN LITTLE
Published by HarperCollins Publishers, www.harperchildrens.com
ISBN: 0-06-028350-5
Release: 2003
Price: $15.99
Reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese, www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff


Categorized as "An I Can Read Book" EMMA'S STRANGE PET is perfect for readers in grades 1st and up.

Max wants a puppy like his friend Josh, but his sister Emma is allergic to animals with fur. All seems lost until Emma tells her parents that she too wants a pet. So for her birthday they take her and her brother, Max, to the pet store where she adopts a lizard they name "Stranger." Max relates to Stranger as he is adopted too.

This book is wonderful in many ways as it talks about the affects of life-long allergies, adoption of children and pets, as well as the special bond siblings share, parent love, and how to compromise without giving in or creating hurt feelings. I found EMMA'S STRANGE PET by JEAN LITTLE inspirational, heartwarming, and fun to read with my younger children ages 7 & 8. After reading this book, my children asked several questions regarding adoption and different kinds of pets.

This splendid book would make a wonderful addition to any library and classroom for discussion on any of the topics I have mentioned here.

This reviewer (and her children) highly recommends Little's book EMMA'S STRANGE PET.
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FAVORITES:
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OLLIE JOLLY, RODEO CLOWN by JO HARPER
Reviewed by: Jennifer LB Leese, http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff, AStoryWeaver@aol.com
Published by Westwinds Press, http://www.gacpc.com
Release: 2002
Format: Soft Cover and Hard Cover
32 pages
ISBN: (sc) 1-55868-553-7 (hc) 1-55868-552-9


Ollie Jolly is always happy. Whenever anyone sees him, they laugh, mainly because he always acts cheerful and that in turn puts everyone around him, in good spirits.

When he is called up to the front of the class, he trips and ends up doing a little dance in front of the class. However, one mean and impatient look from his teacher, Miss Tut Tuttle, and Ollie Jolly clams up. After he learns that he and his classmates must write a paper on what they want to do when they grow up and why, Ollie Jolly freezes. He has no idea what he wants to do, and his being afraid of his teacher doesn’t help matters much, either.

But when Ollie Jolly meets a friend of a friend, he soon learns what he wants to do when he grows up and he also learns how to face his fears. What does his friend’s friend do?

Jo Harper’s book for children is a delightful story that teaches children how to deal with bullies, unfriendly teachers while helping them be themselves. Her book features some comical characters such as Gracie Garcia, Dimples Davis, and Limber Lem. Harper’s sometimes tongue-tangling story is enhanced by the colorful illustrations that are able to tell a story all by themselves.

My children loved OLLIE JOLLY, RODEO CLOWN and were in awe of the detailed artwork and witty misadventures of a hilarious curly red-haired little boy.

Jo Harper grew up in the Texas Panhandle where she rode horses, ate jalapeno peppers, and spun whoppers. She is a multi-published award-winning author.

The illustrator, Amy Meissner has degrees in art and textile design and has worked over twelve years as a fashion designer. This book is her first illustrated book.

This reviewer recommends OLLIE JOLLY, RODEO CLOWN by Jo Harper for all kids that act silly!
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SU LING’S KITE by JOANN ROHR, http://sparklecreations.com, http://sparklecreations.com
Reviewed by: Jennifer LB Leese, http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff, AStoryWeaver@aol.com
Published by Writers Exchange E-Publishing, http://www.writers-exchange.com/epublishing
Release Date: 2002
Format: E-book in PDF, HTML and CD
31 Pages


The story of Su Ling and her kite is based on facts

While Su Ling, the Chinese princess of a little village in China, watched her father, the Emperor, fly brilliantly colored kites in the sky, Su Ling realized that the colored kites meant danger. Soldiers were coming.

When her father’s plan of tricking the soldiers out of their weapons, didn’t work, Su Ling set up her own plan to defeat the soldiers in a peaceful method. With the help of an astrologer, a few kites, and the people in the kingdom, Su Ling tries to save her village. Does Su Ling use kites to save the kingdom? What does she do exactly to save her people? Find out by reading SU LING’S KITE by Joann Rohr from Writers Exchange.

As a person who enjoys kite flying occasionally, I loved this story of a brave little girl. Joann Rohr’s tale worked well as a question and answer session for me and my children. They enjoyed learning the importance of kites in China, and went to bed knowing that they had learned something new and interesting.

Included in Rohr’s book, at the end of the story, readers will find a helpful page full of kiting tips and kite flying safety tips that parents and children will enjoy learning.

Joann Rohr enjoys writing poetry, inspirational stories, fiction, and non-fiction for all ages. She also dabbles in art, web design, making beautiful jewelry, and music. The author always had a great interest in kites and fascination in the rich history that surrounds them. After spending many happy hours helping build and fly kites when her two children were small, this story was born.

This reviewer found SU LING’S KITE by Joann Rohr extremely delightful and educational.
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THE LEGEND OF KOOLURA by Michael L. Thal
Reviewed by: Jennifer LB Leese, http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff, AStoryWeaver@aol.com
Published by Adventure Books, http://www.puzzlesbyshar.com/adventurebooks
Release: 2002
Format: PDF electronic book
101 pages
ISBN: 1-55313-178-9


It’s Koolura Akopyan’s first day at a new school and she’s realizing that no matter where she is or what school she is she attends, everyone treats her and her remarkable abilities the same.

Koolura is in the sixth grade at Bethune Elementary. Mr. Major is impressed with her knowledge, Linda is jealous; Armine and Enrico think she’s kool, all because of the same reasons.

Koolura and her friend are able to vanish and reappear whenever they want, they can move objects with their minds, and they can float up off the ground.

THE LEGEND OF KOOLURA is a wonderfully written book that tells the story of friendships, rejections, and of course, magic powers. Koolura and her story will keep your middle grade reader turning the pages. The dialogue will thrill them and they’ll find themselves thinking about the realistic characters long after they’ve finished reading.

“Michael Thal, a veteran teacher of twenty-eight years, is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles with his daughters, Channie and Koren. He's had a passion for writing since his college days at the University of Buffalo. The Light: An Alien Abduction, has been a work in progress for many years. The completion of this novel has been a dream fulfilled, proving that goals set and focused upon, are goals completed.”

This reviewer highly recommends THE LEGEND OF KOOLURA and Michael Thal as an author to label as a new favorite.
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About the Author: Jennifer LB Leese is an author, children’s book review columnist, freelance writer, and copyeditor. She writes children's books, young adult novels, and paranormal fiction novels. Jennifer lives in Hagerstown with her three children, husband, and three dogs. She volunteers at her children’s school several times a week where she teaches book talk and book building to 2nd graders. Jennifer likes to write, read, color with her children, play dolls with her daughter, take nature walks with her kids, and read bedtime stories to them every night.
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WANT REVIEWED?:

If you want to have your book reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese, write her at JenniferLBLeese@msn.com and tell her about your book.
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COPYEDITING SERVICE:

Need your book edited before you send it out to a potential publisher: Send it to: It's Only Ink! Copyediting, http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/copyeditor.html for last minute touches.
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WHAT'S A Ladyjiraff? They are small…they are cute…they are unique…
Click on the link to get your very own Ladyjiraff: http://www.cafeshops.com/Ladyjiraff
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JENNIFER LB LEESE
Author of children's books, paranormal romance, and gothic, fantasy horror
http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff

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Newsletter online: http://www.authorsden.com/jenniferlbleese