BEA 2015 - Day 2 (Thursday, May 28th)

While we didn't have as many parties planned for Thursday (actually none!), we managed to have a very nice breakfast and attend quite a few meetings. We also managed to walk almost 25,000 steps despite sitting for a long time at breakfast and then at a Broadway show in the evening.

On Thursday morning, Kathy and I headed back to Bubby's on the Highline for a wonderful breakfast. We ate at this trendy restaurant last year and enjoyed it so much that we decided to go again this year. I had a huge breakfast of eggs, toast, hash browns, and coffee; and I figured I'd be good to go for the rest of the afternoon at BEA!

The steps to the Highline are right outside Bubby's door, so Kathy and I climbed up for our walk to Javits. I absolutely love walking on the Highline and seeing all of the gorgeous scenery as well as the plants and flowers. The weather was perfect, not too hot or too cold, and we leisurely strolled... which is really saying something for us -- we tend to walk very quickly even in New York. Even though we had just eaten, Kathy and I couldn't pass up the shaved ice cart called People's Pops. I had a Rhubarb Vanilla one and Kathy had a plum one -- they were really small and totally delicious so we didn't feel too guilty!

We arrived close to noon at BEA and it was definitely in full swing. The show floor was much more crowded than Wednesday afternoon, but it still seemed a little less exciting than past years. Maybe it was that there were less exhibitors or maybe the layout was just better, but this year didn't seem quite as frantic. I think Publisher's Weekly said it best when they described 2015 BEA as "sluggish."

Kathy and I walked around the floor a few times and picked up some good books. Because it costs so darn much to ship books from Javits (about $60 a box!), we were rather selective. I don't know if there less giveaways this year or we were just missing them, but I didn't feel like we were gathering as many books as usual. We even went to the autographing areas (which we usually stay as far away as possible from), and I managed to get signed copies of Adam Carolla's DADDY, STOP TALKING, Laurie Amy Schlitz's THE HIRED GIRL, and Lauren Tarshis' I SURVIVED THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE, 1871. Plus we picked up some autographed copies of books at the publisher's in-booth signings.

Thursday was a pretty big day for meetings. I finally met with Ann-Marie Nieves from Get Red PR and the fine folks at Wunderkind PR. I listened as they talked about what upcoming books they will be promoting, and I made sure to chime in when I heard one I liked! It was nice to put faces with the names of some individuals I have been working with for years.

Kathy and I decided to leave BEA a little early and head to the TKTS booth in Times Square to see what shows we could get discounted tickets for that evening. We had been asking for recommendations all day, and the two winners were SOMETHING ROTTEN! and FUN HOME. FUN HOME wasn't available so we got SOMETHING ROTTEN! for 40% off.

This musical was nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and I have to say it was well worth the money! I absolutely loved this show. It was entertaining and hilarious, and it had tap dancing. There is one scene that brought some members of the audience to their feet! I swear I could see this show over and over again... and that's not something I usually say!

After the show, Kathy and I headed back to our hotel. We were pretty excited after the show and definitely not as tired as we were on Wednesday night... although we did walk almost 25,000 steps! Good thing we both had comfortable shoes!

BEA 2015 - Day 1 (Wednesday, May 27th)

I've been back from BEA 2105 a little over a week now, and I'm finally getting around to writing a recap post. Things have been crazy with the last week of school and catching up on everything I missed... namely housecleaning and laundry!

Once again, I had a great few days in New York with my roomie Kathy (aka Bermudaonion). We had so much fun discovering books, walking around the city, and just visiting with each other. This is our sixth year (I think!) rooming together, and it's always a wonderful time. I am truly blessed to have met such a wonderful friend through the world of books and blogging!

I always take the train from Harrisburg to New York, and I absolutely love my peaceful train ride. This year was no different... except that my husband joined me for the first leg of the trip. He is working on a contract with Amtrak in Philadelphia, so we rode together for the first leg of the trip. After he departed, I pulled out my book which just happened to be Sarah Pekkanen's latest THINGS YOU WON'T SAY. Needless to say, I wasn't able to finish it in just an hour and a half, but it was really good; and I knew I'd finish it on the way home.

I arrived at Penn Station and wasn't sure if I wanted to catch a cab, Uber, or walk. Kathy and I decided to move away from our normal hotel in Times Square and stay at the Marriott Eastside on Lexington. While it was about a mile and a half from the train station (and a half mile farther than last year's hotel), I decided to walk. The weather was mild and Kathy said she's meet me part-way so that sealed the deal.

Fortunately, Kathy and I were able to check into our hotel early and unpack before heading out to the Javits Center. BEA actually did something a little different this year -- it started at 1:00 on Wednesday. Kathy and I took the shuttle from our hotel, got our press passes, grabbed a bite, and then headed onto the show floor. I admit that the show floor doesn't hold quite the same thrill for me anymore, but Wednesday seemed unusually quiet. We had to wonder if the mid-day start was making a difference.

Kathy and I grabbed a few books and talked with some of our publishing contacts, but we really didn't have long at BEA. Harper Collins invited us to their annual Blogger Preview Event and Party. We traveled to the 21st Century Fox Headquarters and what greeted us was amazing! Representatives from each of the Harper Collins imprints shared with us the books they were most excited about for the Fall. Of course, the fine folks at Harper Collins provided tons of books for us. I plan on covering BEA books in another post, but suffice it to say that there are so many HC books I can't wait to read over the next few months... including Harper Lee's GO SET A WATCHMAN which will be available on July 14th!

At 6:30, we headed to the Fox Sports Lounge for the party. I wish my son could have seen all of the sports photos and memorabilia -- he would have loved it! There was sushi, sliders, and much more as well as some yummy beer and wine. I had to do my best to sample a wide variety of the offerings, right? There was also a pretty impressive list of authors there including Sophie Jaff, author of LOVE IS RED, Stephanie Evanovich, author of BIG GIRL PANTIES and THE SWEET SPOT, and Kimberly McCreight, author of RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA and WHERE THEY FOUND HER -- two really good books! In addition, I was thrilled to meet the author of the upcoming release ORPHAN #8 Kim van Alkemade. We were surprised to discover that we live less than a half hour away from each other. Do I even need to tell you how excited I am to attend her book release party in August and have her visit my book club?

Kimberly McCreight and me at Harper Collins party!

After the party, a few of us, including Jenn from Jenn's Bookshelves and Candace from Beth Fish Reads, went to a restaurant that is an old favorite for Kathy and me  -- John's Pizza. Kathy and I weren't sure that we would have time to visit our "regular lunch spot" so we were both happy that it worked out well for us to have dinner there. I honestly can't get good pizza in Central Pennsylvania, so it's always a treat to get some delicious, thin-crust pizza!

At this point in the evening (around 10:30), Kathy and I both were ready to crash. We decided to walk back to our hotel because we rarely take a cab or the subway, and it took close to a half hour. Lucky for us the rain occurred while we were at the Harper Collins events and we had an uneventful walk "home." When we arrived back at our hotel, I was exhausted and ready to hit the sack. I wanted to get a good night's sleep because Thursday was guaranteed to be another fun day!

Review: I Was Here (Audio)

Summary: Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, and some secrets of his own. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss. -- Listening Library

I have heard some really great things about Gayle Forman's novels. It's taken me awhile, but I finally decided to listen to her latest I WAS HERE. I had no idea that I'd feature this book as part of Mystery Mondays (I thought it would work for Kid Konnection); however, there is definitely a mystery aspect to this story. While it might not be what I remember most about this story, it still is a major part of the plot... and why I decided to include it as part of Mystery Mondays.

I WAS HERE is a touching story about Cody, a young woman whose best friend commits suicide. Cody and Meg had been best friends since kindergarten, so when Meg decided to swallow a bottle of industrial strength cleaner, Cody's life is turned upside-down. She thought she knew everything about her friend!

Cody wasn't only dealing with the physical loss of Meg, but she also was trying to come to terms with the "why" of her friend's suicide. Cody acknowledged that some things had changed when Meg left town after high school graduation to attend college. However, she still considered Meg to be her best friend. When Cody travels to Meg's college town to pack up her things, she quickly realizes that Meg had a lot going on that Cody never knew about... including Ben McAllister, a guitar player that Meg fell hard for!

Cody also finds some encrypted computer files on Meg's computer, and she gets some help in breaking the code. What she discovers on Meg's computer puts an entirely new spin on Meg's death, and Cody is determined to get to the bottom of it. As Cody tries to make sense of Meg's secret life, she ends up questioning everything she thought she knew about her friend and their friendship.

I found I WAS HERE to be a terrific listen! Granted, it was a difficult read at times because of the subject matter; however, it was a beautifully written and honest portrayal of what happens after a loved one takes their own life. This book did an excellent job of showing the effects of suicide on those that remain including the grief and even guilt that comes with the loss.

One thing I truly loved about I WAS HERE was the character of Cody. She was so darn honest and sad that it broke my heart. Naturally, I felt bad for Meg because she was truly suffering, but it was the portrayal of Cody that really touched me and made me think. Cody not only was dealing with the loss of her best friend. She was also coming to terms with the guilt associated with Meg's death -- how could she not know her friend was hurting this much?

As a result of Cody's guilt, she decided to try to make sense of Meg's suicide. With the help of a friend or two, she discovered some pretty scary things about Meg and the weeks leading up to her death. I don't want to give too much away about this "mystery aspect" of the novel, but Cody definitely took it upon herself to uncover the truth behind the encrypted files on Meg's computer.

Despite being a bit of a downer, I WAS HERE was a redemptive story. In many ways, Cody grew up and learned a great deal about not only Meg but also herself. She was able to grieve and forgive herself while also forging ahead with a new relationship. In addition, she began the healing process that is necessary for her to move forward in life!

I listened to the audio version of I WAS HERE and I thought it was very well done. The story was read by Jorjeana Marie. She did a fantastic job of sounding like a troubled young woman. Her voice accurately depicted the variety of emotions that Cody faced, and she also was convincing in all of the different characters she played.

Overall, I WAS HERE is a touching book about loss and friendship. It also happened to be a pretty darn good mystery story too!  

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this audio book.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read. Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

Kid Konnection: My Dog is the Best & Giveaway

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a precious little picture book!

Summary: What do you get when you combine one energetic, enthusiastic little boy with his sleepy but tolerant dog? Unconditional love. Using simple words and spare illustrations, My Dog Is the Best celebrates the special bond that exists between a young child and a beloved family pet. It's the heartwarming story of two best friends. . . told by a boy with a very active imagination. --Farrar Straus Giroux

MY DOG IS THE BEST by Laurie Ann Thompson is an adorable picture book that will appeal to readers of all ages. The book tells the story of a young boy and his dog, and it's guaranteed to delight even the littlest of readers.

MY DOG IS THE BEST is a quiet story with few words and soft colors; however, it conveys a wonderful message. This excited (and very cute) little boy shares all of the things that he and his dog play... even when the dog is very tired. This book features the unique friendship that exists between a child and his pet, and pet owners will definitely relate.

As you can see from the picture below, the illustrations by Paul Schmid are terrific! I love his use of color; and even though the pictures are rather simple, they definitely complement the story. I also enjoyed seeing how he brought to life the various ways the boy and his dog play.

Check out these other tour stops:

6/8/2105        Jean Reidy
6/9/2015        Watch. Connect. Read.
6/10/2015      5 Minutes for Books
6/11/2015      Kidlit Frenzy
6/12/2015      Unleashing Readers
6/16/2015      Anastasia Suen: Booktalk
6/19/2015      Kirby's Lane
7/1/2015        Library's Lions

MY DOG IS THE BEST is such a cute picture book and I highly recommend it to dog lovers!

Giveaway alert: The author has graciously offered to giveaway a copy of MY DOG IS THE BEST to one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before June 19th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!



*****

Laurie Ann Thompson's other books include Be a Changemaker and Emmanuel's Dream. From the day she was born, many of her best friends have had four legs and fur. She now lives with her husband, two children, a grouchy cat, and a disabled dog in the Pacific Northwest.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Guest Review: Losing Faith

Summary: Adam Mitzner’s critically acclaimed legal thrillers have “more loops and flips than Coney Island’s Cyclone” (Kirkus Reviews) and “more twists than a California cloverleaf interchange” (Bookreporter). His latest, a captivating examination of justice and ethics, will leave you guessing until the last page.

Aaron Littman is the premier lawyer of his generation and the chairman of Cromwell Altman, the most powerful law firm in New York City, when a high-profile new client threatens all that he’s achieved—and more. Nicolai Garkov is currently the most reviled figure in America, accused of laundering funds for the Russian Mafia and financing a terrorist bombing in Red Square that killed twenty-six people, including three American students.

Garkov is completely unrepentant, admitting his guilt to Aaron, but with a plan for exoneration that includes blackmailing the presiding judge, the Honorable Faith Nichols. If the judge won’t do his bidding, Garkov promises to go public with irrefutable evidence of an affair between Aaron and Faith—the consequences of which would not only destroy their reputations but quite possibly end their careers.

Garkov has made his move. Now it’s Aaron and Faith’s turn. And in an ever-shocking psychological game of power, ethics, lies, and justice, they could never have predicted where those moves will take them—or what they are prepared to do to protect the truth. -- Gallery

I passed along LOSING FAITH by Adam Mitzner to my dad. I knew he'd get around to reading and reviewing it before me. Plus, it just sounded like a book that he'd really enjoy! Here are this thoughts:

I reviewed Adam Mitzner’s first novel, CONFLICT OF INTEREST in 2011, and looked forward to reading his latest, LOSING FAITH. Mitzner did not disappoint.

The main character is defense attorney, Aaron Littmann, the highly regarded chairman of a top New York law firm. Littmann, although happily married, carried out an affair with federal judge, Faith Nichols, while trying a case in her court. A big no-no. Judge Nichols is now a leading candidate for a Supreme Court nomination as long as the trial she’s presiding over results in a guilty verdict against Nicholi Garkov, a ruthless Russian terrorist and the most hated man in America. Since Garkov waived his right to a jury, Judge Nichols will decide his fate. Garkov learns of Littmann’s affair with Nichols and blackmails Littmann to act as his attorney with the proviso that Littmann convince Judge Nichols to find him innocent. If not, he will reveal the affair and ruin both their careers.

When Judge Nichols is found dead in Central Park, Littmann is accused of her murder and must stand trial. Although he is innocent, the facts in the case weigh heavily against an acquittal. Littmann is being defended by colleague and close friend Sam Rosenthal who reminds him that trials are about winning and not necessarily about truth. Lying may be the only way to win an acquittal and save his career and marriage.

Mitzner uses many of the same techniques he used in his first novel to maintain reader interest such as court scenes that are very realistic as defense and prosecution counsel continually position for advantages with the presiding judge and a good look into client-attorney relationships outside the courtroom. The fact that Mitzner is a practicing defense attorney adds reality to the legal action he describes.

In addition to Littmann, Garkov and Rosenthal, the other main characters are Judge Nichols, Littman’s wife, Cynthia and Rachel London, a partner in Littmann’s law firm. It’s kind of a strange coincidence that these three women are extremely successful, beautiful and each have an attraction to Littman. As with his first novel, Mitzner develops complex characters with their own problems and agendas.

LOSING FAITH is a fast paced legal thriller without the chase scenes and gore presented in most thrillers. The storyline contains plenty of twists and turns and has a truly surprise ending. If you are a fan of legal thrillers or like Adam Mitzner’s prior novels, you’ll enjoy LOSING FAITH.

Thanks to Booking Pap Pap for his review and thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: I Take You

Summary: Meet Lily Wilder: New Yorker, lawyer extraordinaire, blushing bride. And totally incapable of being faithful to one man.

Lily’s fiancé Will is a brilliant, handsome archaeologist. Lily is sassy, impulsive, fond of a good drink (or five) and has no business getting married. Lily likes Will, but does she love him? Will loves Lily, but does he know her? As the wedding approaches, Lily’s nights—and mornings, and afternoons—of booze, laughter and questionable decisions become a growing reminder that the happiest day of her life might turn out to be her worst mistake yet.

Unapologetically sexy with the ribald humor of Bridesmaids, this joyously provocative debut introduces a self-assured protagonist you won’t soon forget. -- Crown

I TAKE YOU by Eliza Kennedy was generating a lot of buzz a few weeks ago. Entertainment Weekly, one of my go-to sources for books, called it "the first big beach read of the season." Since I haven't exactly been tearing up the reading scene lately, I thought I'd try something a little lighter... and hopefully more fun. I TAKE YOU was exactly what I needed!

I TAKE YOU stars Lily Wilder, a New York lawyer and and bride-to-be. She's also one of the craziest characters I've ever encountered in fiction. Seriously, she is a mess... or at the very least, someone who shouldn't be getting married. Lily is engaged to Will, a very sweet archaeologist; and she's pretty sure she loves him. The problem is that Will might not really know the true Lily -- the one who likes to drink and flirt with other men... and sometimes do more than just flirt!

As Lily heads to Florida in preparation for the wedding, she begins to question if it's a good idea to settle down and get married. Is she really marriage material? Does she really love Will? Does Will really understand what makes Lily tick? And even, is Will really who she thinks he is?

I thought I TAKE YOU was so much fun! Lily is quite the character and she's also laugh out loud funny. The story is told in her voice and she's not like any protagonist I've encountered. She really does have a different moral compass than most of us, and I couldn't help but shake my head at most of her actions. Having said that, I was most like giggling as I shook my head!

I can't say that I was entirely shocked by the direction this novel went, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. There were a few small entertaining twists from some other characters in the story, but I most appreciated how Lily changed (and didn't change) throughout the course of the story. At first, I assumed that she was just a shallow (and sex crazy) woman; however, as the story progressed, I began to see a different side of her.

One thing I appreciated about I TAKE YOU was the relationship between Lily and her father and her assortment of stepmothers. Lily goes to show that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Her father was an interesting character too with whom Lily shared more than a few traits... namely a lack of respect for marital vows. However, I loved her stepmoms! They were all friendly with each other and very different. I loved their words of advice and how they interacted not only with each other, but also with Lily's father!

I found I TAKE YOU to be a hilarious look at a very special character who brings the term "pre-wedding jitters" to a whole new level. Highly recommended to fans of chick lit and women's fiction. If you are looking for a fun book to take to the beach, look no further -- I TAKE YOU is perfect!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Announcing: Circus Maximus & Giveaway Opportunity

Summary: Fans of Big Fish, Peter Pan, and Roald Dahl will fall in love with Circus Mirandus, which celebrates the power of seeing magic in the world.

Do you believe in magic?
Micah Tuttle does.

Even though his awful Great-Aunt Gertrudis doesn’t approve, Micah believes in the stories his dying Grandpa Ephraim tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus: the invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and the magician more powerful than any other—the Man Who Bends Light. Finally, Grandpa Ephraim offers proof. The Circus is real. And the Lightbender owes Ephraim a miracle. With his friend Jenny Mendoza in tow, Micah sets out to find the Circus and the man he believes will save his grandfather.

The only problem is, the Lightbender doesn’t want to keep his promise. And now it’s up to Micah to get the miracle he came for. -- Dial

Today’s a huge day at Booking Mama because we are celebrating the release of CIRCUS MIRANDUS by the fabulous Cassie Beasley! I am so happy to be part of a big Blogger Blitz along with so many other wonderful blogs. Thanks go out to Word Spelunking for organizing this!

Ms. Beasley has written a very special letter sharing her feelings about CIRCUS MIRANDUS and all of the amazing support she has received.

Dear Readers,

Ages ago I hung a poster in my room with the words “The Circus Opens Summer 2015” in bold letters across the top. At the time, it seemed that Summer 2015 would never come. Now, miraculously, June 2 is here, and Circus Mirandus is springing up in bookshops all over the country.

In the story, those called to Circus Mirandus feel a change in the wind. They hear music on the air, pipes and drums leading them toward magic and hope and heart’s desires. Eventually they find themselves before the gates, standing, as I am now, on the threshold of somewhere both wonderful and unknowable. 

As people read the pages into which I’ve poured so much time and self, I wonder what they’ll think of the world I’ve created. I wonder if they will love it as much as I do. It’s an exciting moment, stepping through these gates into a place I’ve imagined but never seen. 

Thank you so much for making this journey with me. Thank you for supporting the book. Thank you, most of all, for believing.

Cassie Beasley

CIRCUS MIRANDUS has already received some great press. It's already #1 on the Summer Kids' Indie Next List, and the reviews just keep coming. Check out just a few of the raving reviews:

- “On one level, the book is a fantastical circus romp… On another, it's both serious and thick with longing… A delicious confection and much more: it shows that the human heart is delicate, that it matters, and that it must be handled with care.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

- “Circus Mirandus is not a simple story, but readers will be rewarded for delving into its intricacies. This gripping fantasy tale will have readers hooked from the opening scene to the breathtaking—and unexpected—conclusion.” —School Library Journal, starred review

- “Beasley’s debut is a bit of its own three-ring circus, masterfully diverting readers’ attention among the pressing matter of Ephraim’s illness, the inventive descriptions of Circus Mirandus in Ephraim’s flashbacks and Micah’s visits, and the larger, more serious tragedy of those who refuse to believe…Readers will be left with…the hope…that those who still believe will always have magic in their lives.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

By now, I'm sure you're dying to know more about CIRCUS MIRANDUS and it's very talented author!

About CIRCUS MIRANDUS:
Author: Cassie Beasley
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: June 2, 2015

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JwJsae
B&N: http://bit.ly/1Fxl1d2
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1Ki3AhB
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1GmvnLy

Micah Tuttle believes in magic, even though his awful Great-Aunt Gertrudis doesn’t approve. Micah believes in the stories his dying Grandpa Ephraim tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus: the invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and the magician more powerful than any other—the Man Who Bends Light. Finally, Grandpa Ephraim offers proof. The Circus is real—and the Lightbender owes Ephraim a miracle. With his friend Jenny Mendoza in tow, Micah sets out to find the Circus and the man he believes will save his grandfather. The only problem is, the Lightbender doesn't want to keep his promise. And now it's up to Micah to get the miracle he came for. Readers will fall in love with CIRCUS MIRANDUS, which celebrates the power of seeing magic in the world.

About Cassie Beasley:
Cassie Beasley is from rural Georgia, where, when she's not writing, she helps out on the family pecan farm. She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. CIRCUS MIRANDUS is her first novel.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/beasleywrites
Website: http://cassiebeasley.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8016035.Cassie_Beasley

Giveaway alert: There is a Rafflecopter giveaway for copies of CIRCUS MIRANDUS and some cool swag items -- all courtesy of Penguin Young Readers! Five (yes five!) winners will receive the following:

• Signed hardcover of CIRCUS MIRANDUS
• Audio sampler
• Animal crackers
• Bookmarks (pack of 10)
• Poster

The giveaway will run from June 2nd until June 16th, so click on this Rafflecopter link for your chance to win: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NjliNDM1MTFmN2Y4NWJlNDFlZGZhMDI2NDYxYWQ4Ojk=/?