MAGIC RAMEN - a Literary Lunch

This lunch is also posted over at The Little Crooked Cottage as a Literary Lunch. Head over to the fabulous blog of four children's book authors and check out the Magic Ramen lunch there as well! May contain affiliate links.

Have you ever wondered who invented ramen? Andrea Wang tells the story of Momofuku Ando - the inventor of ramen - beautifully in her new book MAGIC RAMEN. Kana Urbanowicz illustrated the mouth watering book and her pictures will invite you to make your very own bowl of ramen as soon as you finish reading.

Mr. Ando worked day in and day out to create quick, convenient, and tasty noodle soup for all the people he saw standing in long lines after WWII to get food. He believed that Peace follows from a full stomach and went to work to create what we all know as instant ramen. He eventually went on to invent Cup Noodles and his ramen even went to space.

Read more about Momofuku Ando and his journey in MAGIC RAMEN - and don't forget to make sure you have some at home before reading :)

We packed a lunch full of noodles and love in our Planetbox Rover:

• two banana bread "chicken drum sticks"
• nutritious strawberries and Blueberries 
• happy cheese sandwich people looking forward to Ramen
• a carrot, celery and mushroom salad with Mr. Ando's backyard shack
• a bowl of healthy Ramen with chicken, carrots, cheese hearts, spinach and an egg  

If You Want to Fall Asleep - Literary Lunch

LITERARY LUNCHES are back! And we are starting with IF YOU WAN TO FALL ASLEEP by the fabulous Jackie Azua Kramer! 

Little Mouse is supposed to be getting ready for bed but is not sleepy enough yet. He has tried reading a book, snacking and even snuggling but nothing is working. What will he do to fall asleep in the end? Find out in IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP!

We made a dreamy lunch everyone can enjoy:

• dreamy pepperoni and cheese cake pieces
• sleepy vanilla mini waffles 
• comforting honey cereal with a few M&Ms and
• dreamland strawberries with magical creatures

For more Sleepy Fun and an Interview with Jackie Azúa Kramer head over to our friends at THE LITTLE CROOKED COTTAGE!

Hello Goodbye Dog - Literary Lunch + Giveaway

It is LITERARY LUNCH time today and I have a wonderful book for you today! PLUS, you can win a copy at the end of my post!!
I am pleased to review HELLO GOODBYE DOG by Maria Gianferrari today:

Meet Moose, Zara's dog, she loves hellos and really hates goodbyes. So, when it is time for Zara to go to school, Moose keeps escaping to find her favorite girl at school.

My kids love reading this book and they always giggle at all of Moose's antics. I am sure if we had a dog she would be just like that. Because really, who doesn't hate goodbye's.

 My kids loved the fact that Zara did not try to change Moose but found the perfect solution for both of them.

Our favorite page in the book was this one which also inspired our Literary Lunch. Those eyes get me every time!

Our Literary Lunch is packed in Easylunchboxes and contains:

• a bone for Moose banana
• a sad goodbye faced Moose sandwich filled with cream cheese and jelly
• a field of strawberries and blueberies with Moose hiding in them and
• Zara's lunch which is an apple sauce wrapped in wax paper

a Rafflecopter giveaway
For more awesome Hello Goodbye Dog book reviews and more chances to win your own copy, check out the BOOK TOUR:

HELLO GOODBYE DOG BLOG TOUR!

GIVEAWAYS EVERY DAY!!

*Monday, July 24^th:                            Pragmatic Mom + THREE book giveaway!

*Two for Tuesday, July 25th:           Librarian’s Quest

Reading for Research

*Wednesday, July 26th:                    Homemade City

*Thursday, July 27^th:                         Kid Lit Frenzy

*Friday, July 28^th:                              Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook

*Monday, July 31^st:                            Picture Books Help Kids Soar

*Tuesday, August 1^st:                        Bildebok

*Wednesday, August 2^nd:                  The Loud Library Lady

*Thursday, August 3^rd:                      DEBtastic Reads!

*Friday, August 4^th:                           Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love

*Monday, August 7^th:                        Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

EXTRA: August 25^th:                         Kidlit411—Interview with Patrice Barton 

For more reviews and more chances to win a copy of Hello Goodbye Dog follow the Book Tour:

HELLO GOODBYE DOG BLOG TOUR!

GIVEAWAYS EVERY DAY!!

*Monday, July 24^th:                            Pragmatic Mom + THREE book giveaway!

*Two for Tuesday, July 25th:           Librarian’s Quest

Reading for Research

*Wednesday, July 26th:                    Homemade City

*Thursday, July 27^th:                         Kid Lit Frenzy

*Friday, July 28^th:                              Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook

*Monday, July 31^st:                            Picture Books Help Kids Soar

*Tuesday, August 1^st:                        Bildebok

*Wednesday, August 2^nd:                  The Loud Library Lady

*Thursday, August 3^rd:                      DEBtastic Reads!

*Friday, August 4^th:                           Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love

*Monday, August 7^th:                        Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

EXTRA: August 25^th:                         Kidlit411—Interview with Patrice Barton 



Find out more about the amazing Maria Gianferrari:

Maria writes both fiction and nonfiction picture books from her sunny, book-lined study in northern Virginia, with dog, Becca as her muse. Maria’s the author of the Penny & Jelly books, Coyote Moon, an ALA Notable Book, and a Junior Library Guild Selection, Officer Katz & Houndini and Hello Goodbye Dog. She has additional titles forthcoming from Roaring Brook Press, Boyds Mills Press, GP Putnam’s Sons and Little Bee. To learn more about Maria, visit her website:mariagianferrari.com, on Facebook and Instagram.

SPLATYPUS - a Literary Lunch

This lunch is also posted over at The Little Crooked Cottage as a Literary Lunch. Head over to the fabulous blog of four children's book authors and check out the wonderful Literary Interviews with Mr. Pig himself! May contain affiliate links.

Meet SPLATypus! All he wants to do is play but somehow he does not seem to fit in anywhere. This adorable new book by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Jackie Urbanovic follows this little lonely platypus trying to play with someone. Come find out who his new friend will be!

We packed a lunch to fit in our Planetbox Rover:

• blue water jello to splash in
• a cheese stick friend to play with
• sandy beach cereal
• and of course a SPLATypus sandwich

VAMPIRINA at The Beach - a Literary Lunch

This lunch is also posted over at The Little Crooked Cottage as a Literary Lunch. Head over to the fabulous blog of four children's book authors and check out the wonderful Literary Interviews with Mr. Pig himself! May contain affiliate links.

It is finally summer and time for the beach!
Vampirina is taking a trip to Moon Monster Madness Beach in Anne Marie Pace's new book VAMPIRINA At The Beach (illustrated by LeUyen Pham). You would not believe how much fun the beach can be at night!

So, pack your bathing suit and cooler and follow Vampirina, her family and friends on this fun adventure to the beach. It is time for playing in the waves, surfing, diving, volleyball and snacks!

We packed a lunch for the beach in our Planetbox Rover:

• a chocolate pudding and graham cracker Monster beach
• scary strawberries with sugar cookies
• melon beach balls and of course
• a Vampirina chocolate sandwich with raspberry jelly accents

The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters - a Literary Lunch

Jaundice and Kale Bland are the careful heroines of Kara LaReau's and Jen Hill's new book THE UNINTENTIONAL ADVENTURES OF THE BLAND SISTERS. The two sisters avoid excitement at all cost and stick to their routine. One day, a knock on the door changes their boring bland lives forever. Having been kidnapped by an all-female band of pirates the Bland sisters are off on unintentional adventures! 

We made a bland pirate lunch in our Planetbox Shuttle to match:

• bland white pirate yogurt with a pirate skull
• kale and strawberries with Jaundice and Kale's initials
• bland crackers with the Jolly Regina planks
• and two Kale and Jaundice sandwiches

the Green Umbrella - a Literary Lunch

Elephant takes a walk in the rain with his green umbrella when he is encountering several other animals claiming to have had adventures with HIS umbrella. Has his umbrella really been on all these adventures? Find out in Jackie Azua Kramer's new book THE GREEN UMBRELLA , illustrated by Maral Sassouni.

We made a snack for any Umbrella adventure:

• the Green Umbrella cold cut sandwich covered in spinach
• Elephant sandwich cheese sandwich surrounded by cat in a tea cup, bear and old rabbit
• night clouds of popcorn and blueberries and 
• a cheese moon to light the way into their next adventure

The Nian Monster - a Literary Lunch

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It has been quiet on the blog lately but I am back and my lunches and Literary Lunches will be posting again regularly! To start off the new year, this Literary Lunch celebrates the Chinese New Year which starts on January 28th.

What would you do if a beast with horns, scales and wide, wicked jaws showed up in the midst of your family preparing a new year celebration? That is exactly the problem Xingling faces when the Nian Monster suddenly appears outside her kitchen. Will Xingling be able to tame the monster by feeding it traditional food? Find out in Andrea Wang's new book THE NIAN MONSTER!

We packed a lunch to satisfy any mythical beast:

• a helping of long-life noodles with fish for good fortune
• a mini Xingling made of cheese and spinach
• a sweet peanut butter "rice cake" made from bread and peanut butter
• and sweet apples with firework sprinkles

Toby - a Literary Lunch

This lunch is also posted over at The Little Crooked Cottage as a Literary Lunch. Head over to the fabulous blog of four children's book authors and check out the wonderful Literary Interviews with Mr. Pig himself!

Meet TOBY, the star of Hazel Mitchell's new heartwarming book about a boy, a rescue dog and the challenges to grow into a family. The book is based on the author's own experience of rescuing her dog Toby.

We made a lovable lunch to match:

• grapes with Toby's name (although never feed your dog grapes!)
• ham with a (dog) friend
• cucumber and carrot hearts representing the love between Toby and the boy
• animal crackers for the other shelter dogs waiting to be adopted
• and a Toby cream cheese sandwich

Officer Katz and Houndini - a Literary Lunch

Maria Gianferrari has done it again! We had already fallen in love with Penny &Jelly - The School Show and Penny &Jelly Slumber Under The Stars and now we are in LOVE with OFFICER KATZ and HOUNDINI - a Tale of Two Tails.

Officer Katz is about to retire and before he does he wants to finally get Houndini, the only sneaky dog that has always gotten away. Will he succeed this time? Houndini has three chances to escape. But, will he? You will have to see for yourself! My kids are in love with the characters in this book and loved the surprise ending!

To celebrate this fun book we made a Literary Lunch to match:

• a marked Davy Crock-cat's portrait
• a cheese cracker sneaky contraption to trap Houndini
• and a The Great Escape travel poster

More about Maria Gianferrari:

Hot diggety dog! Maria Gianferrari’s a lucky dog—she gets to write stories about cats and dogs, and when she’s dog-tired, she can catnap in her office. Maria lives in northern Virginia with her cat’s meow of a family: her scientist husband, artist daughter, and top dog, Becca. She is the author of the Penny & Jelly books as well as Coyote Moon and the forthcoming Hello Goodbye Dog. To learn more about Maria, please visit her website at mariagianferrari.com, Facebook or Instagram..

OFFICER KATZ & HOUNDINI BLOG TOUR! BOOK GIVEAWAYS EVERY DAY!

Tuesday, Oct. 18th: Librarian’s Quest

Wednesday, Oct. 19th: Bildebok

Thursday, Oct. 20th: Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love

Friday, Oct. 21st: Pragmaticmom + THREE book giveaway

Monday, Oct. 24th: Homemade City

Tuesday, Oct. 25th: ReFoReMo THINK QUICK Interview with Carrie Charley Brown

WIN A COPY OF THE BOOK:

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Open to US Residents only. Winner will be notified via email and has 24 h to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

Monster Trucks - a Literary Lunch

It is Literary Lunch time and I am providing the lunch over at the Little Crooked Cottage today. My kids LOVE this book so much, we made TWO lunches!

First up, is our MONSTER TRUCK lunch in our Easylunchboxes. We packed:

• spooky glow-in-the-dark goldfish crackers with watchful eyes
• a vampire Monster Truck apple
• and a Little Blue Bus sandwich with powdered sugar and chocolate decorations

Next we decided we needed one more lunch to celebrate Little Blue Bus from MONSTER TRUCKS, written by Anika Denise and illustrated by Nate Wragg. Little Blue Bus is perky and cute, so what is she doing in the Monster Truck Race? Find out in this delightful kids' book with a surprising twist!

My kids fell in love with Little Blue Bus and this is our favorite page.

This time we packed a frightful lunch in our Planetbox Shuttle to match:

• MONSTER TRUCKS vanilla yogurt with chocolate decoration
• frightful mac'n'cheese puff creatures of the night
• a Little Blue Bus sandwich with jelly, (s)cream cheese and chocolate

The Infamous Ratsos - a Literary Lunch

This lunch is also posted over at The Little Crooked Cottage as a Literary Lunch. Head over to the fabulous blog of three children's book authors and check out the wonderful Literary Interviews with Mr. Pig himself!

Meet Louie and Ralphie Ratso from Kara LaReau's new book THE INFAMOUS RATSOS, illustrated by Matt Myers:

Louie and Ralphie Ratso want to be TOUGH just like their Dad after their Mom dies. And they will show everybody how tough they are! The only problem is that every time they try to be tough and hard, they actually end up doing a good deed and show kindness and friendship. What will their Dad think when he hears what they have done? Would he want them to be more like him?

We packed an infamously tough lunch to accompany the book:

• Tiny Crawley's hat on cheese crackers
• Mrs. Porcupini's cereal bar soap 
• Mr. O'Hare's hot chocolate pudding
• and the Infamous Ratso Sandwich for Florinda Rabbitski : grilled cheddar with beets and pickled mushrooms! Yum-O!

Race Car Dreams - Blog Tour

I am part of a wonderful blog tour today, introducing RACE CAR DREAMS by the fabulous Sharon Chriscoe. My kids immediately fell in love with this sweet story of a little race car getting ready for bed!

My kids love cars, especially race cars and it is so fun to read this rhyming book to them. Going through our all too familiar bedtime routine in car terms is simply delightful and such a fun change to regular bedtime books.

To match this fun book we made a sleeping peanut butter and jelly race car sandwich with melted chocolate and jelly decorations. Served with a warm glass of bed, the best toddler food to guarantee race car filled dreams!

To see and read more about RACE CAR DREAMS follow along in our Blog Book Tour:

9/6 My Word Playground

9/7 MomReadIt

9/8 Unleashing Readers

9/9 Once Upon a Time…

9/10 Stacking Books

9/11 Geo Librarian

9/12 Flowering Minds

9/13 Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books

9/14 Little Crooked Cottage

9/14 MamaBelly

9/15 #kidlit Book of the Day

9/16 Just Kidding

Beautiful - Literary Blog Tour

This post contains affiliate links.

BEAUTIFUL written by Stacy McAnulty is an amazing book for young girls! It redefines beauty as something already inside of everyone. EVERY girl is beautiful! It encourages girls to embrace who they are and reach for the stars!

I particularly love that the words itself might not sound any different to what girls hear every day. But paired with the beautiful illustrations by Joanne Lew Vriethoff, the words suddenly mean so much more!

I loved reading this book to my daughter and see her eyes widen when she realized what the words really meant! Every girl should have this book!

If you want to read more about BEAUTIFUL, check out the Blog Tour below:

BEAUTIFUL Blog Tour

8/29 Flowering Minds

8/30 Kids’ Book Review

8/31 My Word Playground

9/1 Stacking Books

9/2 Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books

9/3 MomReadIt

9/5 Enjoy Embrace Learning

9/6 Geo Librarian

9/7 A Foodie Bibliophile

9/8 MamaBelly

9/10 Diapers and Daydreams

9/11 The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog

9/12 Unconventional Librarian