Captain Courage and the Fear–Squishing Shoes

 

 

A third grader finds herself on the first day of school in a new and strange environment.  She has no friends, and is reluctant to make new ones.  Katie silently wishes she could join in, but doesn’t have the courage to do so.  On the playground she is enticed to come and play, but her shyness takes over and disallows her to enjoy herself.  Katie is overwhelmed in the lunch room and finds it difficult to join in with others.  She wants so badly to take part in the show and tell her class is involved in, but fears she will not be able to get up there and express her true talents.

 In this story Katie is surprised by a colorful caring individual who finds it in his heart to show Katie in a most unusual way, that having confidence in one’s self is nothing more than knowing you can do it.  Katie’s dilemma is similar to many children who find themselves in awkward situations.  This is a great book for children who lack confidence in themselves, and also it is a wonderful book for children who don’t understand those who are shy. I think most children could identify with Katie through this story, and see how unique each of them truly are themselves.

In the end Katie does some pretty amusing things and reveals some extraordinary talents.  The art work by Michelle Morse is bright, engaging, and will without a doubt, draw children into the story.  

Stacey A. Marshall, the author of this book, has truly captured the essence of how a child feels when overwhelmed with shyness and new surroundings.  I recommend this book as a learning tool as well as an entertaining read for children and parents.

CAPTAIN COURAGE & THE FEAR-SQUISHING SHOES

Littlest Angels
by Stacey A Marshall, artist Michelle Morse      Purchase this book:
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/captain-courage1.htm
The new girl at school shrivels until a unique superhero swoops in to the rescue, demonstrating specific ways to make self-confidence and courage soar.

This book was reviewed by  Susan Hornbach, Author of children’s literature.
www.susanhornbach.com

Blue Paint

John, the house painter, is working hard in order to make some money to buy something he has been dreaming about.  He encounters dishonesty, and deception during his day of earning an honest living. John is disappointed, and doesn’t realize at first that he has the power to serve up some just deserts!   I feel this book, “Blue Paint”, would be a very special read for children, as it sends an important message of how they can cleverly show those who are ill willed and perform hurtful acts, that good over evil, can prevail, and also that there are ways of dealing with those who are dishonest without resorting to violence.  The book is fun, it takes a few twists and turns, and the colorful, expressive art work illustrated By Bonnie Everett Hawkes, pops from the page.

I think children will find this book clever, and amusing.  Liam Maher, the author of Blue Paint, has also written a number of other books for children; I feel, all equally compelling in a child’s eye. Check out his other books on Amazon. You’ll be glad you did.

This book was reviewed by Susan Hornbach, author of Children’s literature.

                                                        To purchase this book click here: http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/blue-paint.htm

John shares his story of a painting job he had as a young man and the grumpy little man who came by to trick him out of fifty dollars.

 

                                                                                                     

            M E D I A   R E L E A S E           

 
CONTACT:    Mayra Calvani

Email:          mayra.calvani@gmail.com   

Website:       www.mayracalvani.com

For Immediate Release

Best Summer Book - Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani

A fun, quirky, beach summer read ~ Twilight Times Books!

(KINGSPORT, TN) – Just in time for your summer reading, Sunstruck hits the beaches! Daniella is an architecture student living with her narcissistic artist boyfriend in San Juan. Abandoned by her father at an early age, Daniella always falls for the ‘wrong’ type of man. Her most enduring male relationship so far has been with her cat.
   
Several strange mysteries are threaded through Daniella’s everyday life: her ex-husband, Ismael, has just opened an outlandish hotel for animal lovers that has her distraught; Ismael’s wife, a rich woman Daniella fondly refers to as ‘Lady Dracula’, has some gruesome ways to keep her skin looking young; Daniella’s mother is founding a revolutionary, feminist society called The Praying Mantises; the island’s national forest is being depleted of hallucinogenic mushrooms; meanwhile, young girls are disappearing and there’s a nut loose dressed as Zorro slashing the rear ends of women who wear miniskirts.  

Oppressed by all these eccentric characters, Daniella feels herself falling into an abyss. Then something terrible happens, making Daniella wake from her stupor and take charge of her life.

Gift with purchase offer…

Purchase Sunstruck http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LYYOWM and receive FREE download e-Book of Dark Lullaby. Email her publicist, Donna McDine donna@donnamcdine.com with your receipt of Sunstruck purchase and receive link to FREE Dark Lullaby e-Book through July 27, 2012. Of course, if you purchase Sunstruck elsewhere please email receipt to Ms. McDine.

What reviewers are saying…

“Dark and quirky humor coupled with quixotic characters adds to the surprising mix found in Sunstruck… I've never read a book remotely like it. Everything from the humorously weird to the acutely macabre can be found between these covers, and then some.” –Laurel Johnson, Midwest Book Review

"Sunstruck is like a nutty Whodunit with a little twist. Who really is in the Zorro costume? With all the crazy characters I caught myself pointing fingers again and again. A great read that will make you forget where you are, while you giggle yourself to complete oblivion from all the silliness." –Autumn Blues Reviews

About the author: Award-winning author Mayra Calvani has penned over ten books for children and adults in genres ranging from picture books to satire to paranormal fantasy novels. She’s had over 300 articles, short stories, interviews and reviews published in magazines such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal and Bloomsbury Review, among others. She has lived in America, Asia, the Middle East, and now lives in Brussels, Belgium.

Purchase info:

Title: Sunstruck
Author: Mayra Calvani
Author web site: http://www.mayracalvani.com/

Publisher: Twilight Times Books
url: http://twilighttimesbooks.com/

ISBN: 978-1-60619-024-2

Genre: Parody/Satire
Format: ebook in pdf, ePub, Kindle, Mobi, PRC, etc.

Distributors: Amazon Kindle; Apple iBookstore; BN.com Nook; eReader; Fictionwise; Kobo Books; OmniLit; Sony eBookstore, etc.

Release date: July 15, 2012

Price: $5.95

Pages: 160
Chapter excerpt: http://twilighttimesbooks.com/Sunstruck_ch1.html

Purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LYYOWM

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