"Beyond the Lines" by Claudia Whitsitt

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY

Beyond the Lines

(Kids Like You Book 2)

by Claudia Whitsitt

Beyond the Lines is the second book in the Kids Like You series by Claudia Whitsitt, recommended for children ages 9 and up. Also available: Between the Lines (read my blog post).

Beyond the Lines is currently on tour with BeachBoundBooks. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

Description

The Dream Girls - Hattie, Crackers, and Beverly Jo - are back with the same determination and resolve they displayed in Between the Lines. This time, it's Crackers who has a dream. She has oodles of talent, can outshoot any guy, and she wants to be the first girl on the boys' basketball team. Everybody knows she's the best player at school. The problem is, the rules say: No girls allowed on the team. Ever. But the Dream Girls have challenged old-fashioned notions before, and they're not about to give up now. Beverly Jo rocks the world with an ingenious plan, Hattie sets the wheels in motion, and Crackers gives her all. For this threesome, nothing is impossible.

Excerpt

Four months ago, I thought my life was over. But just look at me now. I’ve gone from a Catholic school kid to a public school student and from a knock-kneed scaredy-cat to a mostly brave girl. Not only that, but I’ve made the best friends ever. Beverly Jo is not just the smartest girl I know, but the friendliest, and Crackers, well, she’s the life of the party, whether there’s a party or not.

Which brings me to our 5th grade holiday break celebration, a sleepover at my house. The aromas wafting down the basement stairs right now awaken me in the best possible way—with a gigantic grin on my face. There’s not a better smell in the world than bread frying in a custard of milk, eggs and butter, crackling bacon, and warm maple syrup.

I stretch my arms over my head and untangle my sleeping bag from the cocoon its coiled around my legs, peeking out to see if either of my friends’ peepers are blinking yet.

[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]

Praise for the Book

"Beyond the Lines is a refreshing story of true friendship." ~ Lori (Amazon)

"A delightful story of true friendship" ~ David (Amazon)

"Great characters, superlative writing and the sense of being dropped into the midst of a Dream Girls meeting makes Beyond the Lines a wonderful book." ~ DJ (Amazon)

"Beyond the Lines is a beautiful story of friendship." ~ Amazon reviewer

About the Author

Claudia Whitsitt spent a lifetime teaching special education and writing before becoming a full-time author. She believes in the power of friendship, small acts of kindness, and paying it forward. Nothing makes her happier than spending time with her children, which includes not only the five she raised but the countless students who touched her life over the years.

Giveaway

Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.

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Plus, sign up for the author's newsletter to get your FREE copy of Identity Issues by Claudia Whitsitt.

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"Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence" by Lisa and Michael Cohn

GIVEAWAY

Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence
(Bash and Lucy Book 1)

by Lisa and Michael Cohn

Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence is the first book in the Bash and Lucy series written by Lisa Cohn and her son Michael, when he was only five. This series is suitable for children ages 3 to 8. Also available: Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy (read my blog post).

This book blast and giveaway is brought to you by Mother Daughter Book Promotion Services.

Description

Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence, whose authors were featured on the Today Show, is a Mom’s Choice Silver Award Winner, and Finalist, 2013 USA Best Book Awards. In this contemporary boy-and-dog tale, talkative Bash has a big problem in soccer. His beloved dog, Lucy, is a pro at nabbing the ball, but sometimes at the wrong moment. Coach wants to ban Lucy from soccer practice and games, separating Bash from a companion who boosts his confidence in sports – and life.

In this picture book for kids age 4-8, Bash and friends help Coach understand that with Lucy by their side, they feel more confident, laugh more often, and are comforted when they make mistakes.

Award-winning author Lisa Cohn and her 5-year-old son (now 7), Michael, wrote the book and started Michael’s Dog Blog to help overcome their grief over the sudden death of their dog, Lucy. Watch them on the Today Show.

Book Video

Praise for the Book

"Bash and Lucy, an endearing story about a boy and his soccer-loving dog, is a book that kids (and the adults who read it to them) will enjoy. Any kid who plays soccer, any parent who’s watched or coached soccer, and anyone who’s loved a dog will find something to love about this book!" ~ Susan Moshofsky, teacher, parent, and former soccer mom

"Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence is a wonderful story that teaches kids and their families about the important relationships we can have with dogs and illustrates beautifully how there can be more than one way to do something ... and that the best way isn’t always the obvious way! It promotes relationships above results and creative thinking above the status quo. A great read for any dog lovers!" ~ Phoebe Spier, Musician and Child/Youth Development Professional

"In this charming and humorous tale about a boy and his dog, the authors cleverly show us, through the eyes of the boy and his dog, the beautiful life lessons learned about friendship, love and sportsmanship. Lucy-dog embodies the spirit of teamwork as she builds confidence in a boys’ soccer team and encourages them to work together without saying a word! Age-old values such as respect, love and non-violence punctuate the pages. Young or old, one cannot help but smile at the antics of Lucy and her teammates. Bravo!" ~ Laura Stipkala, teacher and parent

"Such a cute book ... awesome illustrations, too. I really like the idea of using the dog to help teach the concept of teamwork, the importance of confidence, and how the dog represented to the boys these ideas. I also enjoyed the flow of the book ... It’s a nice story that can teach some great lessons to kids in sports."~ Kirk Mango, National Champion, Hall of Famer & author of Becoming a True Champion

"Bash & Lucy Fetch Confidence is a winning picture book that teaches children about the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship while also revealing the close bond between children and their beloved pets ... a great choice for kids age 4-8." ~ Erin MacLellan, author and parent

"Bash and Lucy drives home a valuable lesson - kids will have the best opportunity to thrive in sports and life if their adult role models provide a comfortable environment that engenders confidence. I highly recommend including this book in your family’s bedtime collection." ~ Jack Malley, youth sports coach and author

About the Authors

Lisa Cohn and her son, Michael, age 7 are co-authors of the Bash and Lucy book and audiobook series. They have appeared on the Today Show, on SiriusXM Radio, in Disney’s Babble, in the Oregonian, and other media. Their audiobooks feature the voices of Michael and friends, age 7-10. Lisa and Michael’s mission is to share their love of books and dogs. They recently launched Roving Reader Leaders which features YouTube book reviews by kids, KidLit author interviews by children, and a kids’ reading club. You can also visit them at their website.

Giveaway

Enter the blast-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.

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"Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy" by Lisa and Michael Cohn

REVIEW

Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy

by Lisa and Michael Cohn

Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy is the second book in the Bash and Lucy series written by Lisa Cohn and her son Michael, who is only six. This series is suitable for children ages 3 to 8. Also available: Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence.

This review opportunity is brought to you by Mother Daughter Book Promotion Services.

Description

From an award-winning Mom-Son team featured on the Today Show, Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy is a contemporary boy-and-dog book. Bash’s dog, Lucy, helps coach his soccer team, and Lucy leads the team to the championships. But Bash is overcome with jealousy when Lucy enchants a team of Special Olympics kids who say they want her to coach their team. Can Bash overcome his jealousy and learn to share Lucy with kids who say they need her?

Book Video for Book 1, Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence

Praise for the Book

"This is a sweet story that teaches young readers not only about dealing with jealousy, but how dogs help kids with special needs. In the book, Bash, the boy who is the main character, learns how to help others, in spite of feeling jealous. Beautiful, expressive illustrations!" ~ Kristi H., 5-star review on Amazon

"Bash and Lucy do it again! This time, they explore jealousy in ways that late preschool and elementary-aged children can easily understand. Reading this great book with a child offers the opportunity to talk about jealousy without making it personal - so important when it's time to talk about those tough emotions." ~ S. M., 5-star review on Amazon

"A well written children's book. A heartwarming story on how children can overcome negative feelings they may have. " ~ Uwe Doose, 5-star review on Amazon

"Continuing the tale of Bash and Lucy, in Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy, authors Lisa and Michael Cohn take kids on a wonderful ride through a life lesson on jealousy, sharing, and compassion for others. Using sports, a soccer-loving dog named Lucy, and his young owner Bash, to help create a healthy learning environment for our youngest generation, is noteworthy. What a great read for parents to share with their children. It’s a must have, along with their first book, Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence, on every parent’s book list for nighttime reading." ~ Kirk Mango, National Champion, Hall of Famer and author of Becoming a True Champion, 5-star review on Amazon

My Review

By Lynda Dickson

Bash's golden retriever Lucy is the coach of his soccer team and her special brand of encouragement has led them all the way to the championships. But Bash tends to get jealous of the attention and affection Lucy bestows on his teammates. Then, on the day before their championship game, Tristen asks Lucy to coach his Olympic soccer team of kids with special needs. While Bash is initially jealous, he finally comes up with a solution to help both teams.

The lovely watercolor illustrations by Heather Nichols help bring Bash and Lucy to life. You can tell that Bash loves his dog Lucy and identifies very closely with her. Bash's speech is littered with dog-speak, and he even acts and thinks like a dog when he is looking for Lucy. I like the fact that Bash thinks about the situation and comes up with a solution to his dilemma on his own. Dog lovers, especially boys, will enjoy this entertaining story that also conveys the great message of showing compassion for others.

Guest Post by Lisa Cohn (originally post on the author's website)

The first grader’s innocent question took me by surprise. Did we get the inspiration for our Bash and Lucy book series from our dog who died?

Even though I had answered this question many times, there was something about the student’s earnest expression that brought tears to my eyes.

Yes, Lucy’s bravery and strength inspired me – and Michael – to write our book series.

Nearly two years ago, she died suddenly of cancer at the age of 6. We had no clue she was sick. In fact, she ran with me through the forest trail behind our house every day – up until the day before she died. She never let on that she was suffering.

When she died, I was overwhelmed by her bravery and strength. And of course, I missed her. I wanted to somehow keep her alive. And so did Michael. Just as important, we wanted to share with kids all that we had learned–and continue to learn – about the amazing, inspiring and selfless things dogs do for children and adults.

To show our readers all that dogs do for people, our second book, Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy, features Lucy as a hero, once again. In this book, she actually coaches a soccer team, and leads her team to the championships by kissing the players and making them laugh.

About the Authors

Writer Lisa Cohn and her 6-year-old son, Michael Cohn, have appeared on the Today Show, SiriusXM Radio, AM Northwest, and Disney’s Babble, in addition to the Oregonian and other media. Their first book, Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence, received a Mom’s Choice Silver Award and was a 2013 USA Best Book Award finalist. Book lover Michael reviews children’s books in taxis, gyms, lodges and parks and the Cohns post them on their YouTube channel!

Lisa and Michael's aim is to share with children their love of dogs, books and writing! Learn about their school visits, dog blog and book reviews by Michael and friends by visiting their website.

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