When my friend Holly Jahangiri asked me if I would like to participate in her virtual book tour for A Puppy, Not a Guppy, I pounced on the opportunity. I knew that any product of Holly's pen would be sassy and well-written, with a dash of the unexpected. I was one of the first to get in line and pre-order a copy for my children. Holly was kind enough to provide me with a review copy so that I may prepare for her book tour. She's organized and practical like that.About A Puppy, Not a Guppy:
Author: Holly Jahangiri
Illustrator: Ryan Shaw
Book Trailer: A Puppy, Not a Guppy trailer by Mandy Hedrick
Synapsis from the publisher:
Irma wanted a puppy, a pet she could take on walks, not a few stupid guppies. Fish didn't do anything, except roll over on their backs if they die.
Sometimes, though, a girl has to make the most of what she has. Now, what can Irma do with three guppies besides stare at them as they stare at her?
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My Review
Warning: This "ain't no" princess book! A Puppy, Not a Guppy is a delightful yarn that will appeal to both girls and boys alike. I'm not a child psychologist (shocking, I know) but it seems to me that after reading this book children will remember the protagonist Irma's positive example of:
- Coping skills
- Determination
- Imagination
- Kindness towards the underdog
- Mastering a challenge
- Scientific curiosity & experimentation
Irma is a lot like I was as a child. Admittedly, I liked my Barbie dolls. And Ken. And Skipper. And my dollhouse and Barbie Corvette and... you get the picture. But I also liked to hang out by the ditch near our local park and collect tadpoles, knowing that soon they would magically sprout little legs and begin to hop around our garage. The ones that managed to escape the wheels of my dad's Vega hopped their green selves right out the garage door towards a life of adventure, perhaps eventually making their way back home to the ditch. I like to think that they did. But I digress...
It's all about balance. There's nothing wrong with allowing your daughter to devour Cinderella, and there's everything right with buying her books like A Puppy, Not a Guppy that are certain to stoke her natural interest in science and nature.
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Where to Buy
(Recommended for ages 8-12)
Directly from 4RV Publishing (At post publication $8.99 + S&H)
From Amazon.com (At post publication $10.99 + elegibile for free super saver shipping on orders over $25)
From Barnes and Noble.com (At post publication $7.91 Member Price + S&H)
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The Contest
I am happy to announce that Holly's A Puppy, Not a Guppy contest! Good luck! Here are the details, as provided by the author:
Prizes (two will be awarded): A signed copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy
To enter, leave a comment at http://jahangiri.us/books containing verifiable evidence that you have completed one or more of the following activities:
- A link back to http://heatherkephart.com
- A short review of http://jahangiri.us/books on Alexa.com (http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/http://jahangiri.us/books)
- A question for one of the characters in Trockle or A Puppy, Not a Guppy
- A question for the author, Holly Jahangiri
- Answer to the question: What kind of pet do you like best, and why?
- Either of the following:
- Blog about A Puppy, Not a Guppy (be sure to include, in your own blog post, a link back to http://jahangiri.us/books and a link to this blog; or
- If you already own a copy of Trockle or A Puppy, Not a Guppy, you may complete this activity by posting a new review of either book on BarnesandNoble.com or Amazon.com. (NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Previously posted book reviews are not eligible as contest entries in this contest.)
Each activity equals one ( 1 ) entry, and you may do each activity once for a possible maximum of six ( 6 ) entries per valid email address. Your comment must be entered using a valid email address so that you can be contacted for mailing info if you win! Entries that do not have a valid email address will be considered null and void.
Duration: Contest begins at 12:01 AM on December 9, 2009 and ends at 11:59 on December 15, 2009. Winners will be drawn on December 16, 2009.
Eligibility: Contest is open to anyone age 13 or older. Tour hosts are eligible to enter.
Winners: Two winners will be randomly chosen (numbered in the order in which they are received, with the winning number chosen at http://www.random.org/ ) from all qualifying entries, and will be required to provide a physical mailing address in order to collect a prize (one free book). Only one entrant per household is eligible to win. If a second entrant from a single household is chosen, another name will be drawn until all prizes are awarded.
Contest void where prohibited by law.
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BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, December 8:
Vivian Gilbert Zabel, author and founder of 4RV Publishing,
kicks off the tour with a special surprise guest at Brain Cells & Bubble Wrap
http://vivianzabel.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 9:
Lynne, Brendan, and Katherine at Life is But a Dream
http://suenogrande.blogspot.com
Roy de la Cruz at The Struggling Blogger dot Com
http://thestrugglingblogger.com/
Thursday, December 10:
Lynne, Brendan, and Katherine at Life is But a Dream
http://suenogrande.blogspot.com
Friday, December 11:
Lynne, Brendan, and Katherine at Life is But a Dream
http://suenogrande.blogspot.com
Saturday, December 12:
Heather Kephart at HappyMaking
http://heatherkephart.com/
Rey Rombawa Jr at reyjr.com – Born on a Syzygy
http://reyjr.com
Sunday, December 13:
Dr. Dean Pomerleau @ Fish School Blog
http://blog.fish-school.com/
Beverly Stowe McClure at The Story of a Writer
http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com
Monday, December 14:
Lisa Munley at Books on the Brain
http://lisamm.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, December 15:
Jena Isle at Jena Isle's Random Thoughts
http://www.jenaisleonline.com
Susan and Noah Thompson at SusanSmithThompson.com
http://SusanSmithThompson.com
Wednesday, December 16:
Tour Wrap-up at Imaginary Friends and It’s All a Matter of Perspective
http://jahangiri.us/books/
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Heather,a wonderfully engaging review of what sounds like a real winner of a book and a truly unique and creative book tour.
ReplyDeleteWell done! I
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..teknikel difikulltees by blue bunny =-.
I wonder what little Heather would have done if she were given guppies instead of a dog. Would she be as feisty as Lily? But that's another novel perhaps. Besides, anyone who loves to spend time by the ditch in her childhood fascinated by tadpoles is all right. Irma will approve, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Poopadoopah! xo
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha!! Same here, Heather. What happened to us? I hear we were SWEET kids!
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
Let's not bring up the tadpoles, 'kay?
ReplyDeleteThanks. Oh, dangit, you did. I had some in an aquarium when I was in Kindergarten. We collected them from a pond (well, run-off in a ditch, more like, with two by fours for bridges - we kids liked to IMAGINE it was a magical pond full of kissable frogs and what-not, but it was really just a mucky little depression out behind the apartments, doing double-duty as a mosquito-and-frog hatchery). Anyway, we had to go on vacation, and ever since our return, I've had this image of frogs with tails stuck in my head - we forgot to leave them something to climb up on.
Heather, what a great review! I know my publisher listed this as being for ages 8-12, but I never imagined how many 13 and 14 year olds and adults would like it!
.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
I don't know, Jan. I think I did a lot less whining as a child than I do as an adult, perhaps I should take a lesson from that. :) And thank you!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Holly being organized and practical. If my recollection is correct, she managed to organize Irma's tour in virtually no time at all. This review is awesome and for those who will be engaging in the contest, Good luck.
ReplyDelete.-= DiTesco´s last blog ..Make Money Using Google's Analytics Data =-.
Tadpoles, Heather, really! Tadpoles are like guppies, small and delicate; your motherly instincts would respond inevitably.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen tadpole eggs? They look like grapes, I used to watch them hatched and become tadpoles and then frogs. It was an amazing metamorphosis.
I wonder what Irma felt with the guppies.
.-= Jena Isle´s last blog ..A True Story: This Could Happen to You! =-.
Hey, Jannie, better late than never! I wondered if one of those infamous sinkholes devoured you or something. Good to see you here! :D
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
I WAS a sweet kid. You were too? Oh lardy lardy, I'm starting to see a pattern here... a frightening one...
ReplyDeleteA Puppy, Not a Guppy Virtual Book Tour & Contest! | Happymaking...
ReplyDeleteWhen my friend Holly Jahangiri asked me if I would like to participate in her virtual book tour for A Puppy, Not a Guppy, I pounced on the opportunity. I knew...
Hi Jena! I'm sure I must have seen tadpole eggs, but for the life of me I can't remember how they look. Like grapes? Freaky!
ReplyDeleteI had guppies as an adult. I was surprised at how beautiful they are! I'd heard abut them and just assumed they were common, homely little things but they come in a variety of colors, some very bright and flowery!
Shhhhh...DiTesco! (Or should I call you "Frankie"?) You're supposed to let everyone think this took MONTHS!! ;) I had to. First, Trockle gave me his wish list to mail to Santa. The only thing on it was: "I want to wake up hanging in a child's stocking or under a child's Christmas tree this year!" He also thinks they should leave Santa and his reindeer some broccoli. Second, I have Irma pestering me - she thinks kids who read are great, and she loves to make new friends, so she is also hoping Santa will take her for a ride in his sleigh and maybe drop her down a kid's chimney - okay, help her down the chimney like a LADY, she says - and let her sit there cross-legged next to the tree, smirking, until the kids wake up. Then she's going to help pass out presents (unless she finds her puppy under there, or something, then I suspect all bets are off).
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
They're small, round, and come in gooey clumps, Heather. Looks like something alien blew gummy bubbles, and they never popped.
ReplyDeleteJena, you're giving me flashbacks here, and it ain't pretty...
.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
Oh no! If Holly's going to start having flashbacks I'm going to put on my aluminum foil helmet.
ReplyDeleteI never collected tadpoles, but used to catch frogs [in NJ]. In FL it was lizards since the frogs were e-NOR-mous! My grandmother used to go out to her washer & dryer with a pitch fork. [the images this conjures up] Sorry about that. ;)
ReplyDeleteNow off to finish reading your latest interview and then to take my boy shopping for some pants that go all the way down to his shoes. I may have to order me a copy of Trockle & A Puppy, Not A Guppy for my future library. Okay, it's really for me. :)
.-= Anne´s last blog ..Show your vehicle how much you care this holiday season. Schedule an oil change. ~ Did I mention this is a giveaway, too? =-.
Anne, that is HILARIOUS about your Grandma and the pitchfork!!! I can't stop laughing at that image.
ReplyDeleteThanks & I hope you and your boy have fun shopping. Why don't they make pants with hems anymore? Tacked up so we can slowly let them out when our babies sprout. Maybe you should take your Grandma's pitchfork to keep frenzied holiday shoppers at bay! :D
Oh, that's a good idea, especially since I'm going to Wal-mart.
ReplyDeleteI remember wearing pants rolled up to my knees and belts to keep them from falling off. My mother was a firm believer is buying 2 sizes too big. I was forever in pants too long and falling off. {sigh}
.-= Anne´s last blog ..Show your vehicle how much you care this holiday season. Schedule an oil change. ~ Did I mention this is a giveaway, too? =-.
You slipped that comment in just before mine, and made mine inadvertently funny... no, guppies don't come in gooey clumps. Frog eggs do.
ReplyDeleteGet out your foil hat, Heather. Take a picture of you in it. Post it. THAT ought to increase your blog traffic. I know I'd promote the heck out of it. ;)
.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
I have one co-worker who has totally got me pegged. She started calling me "Eloise." OMG. How did she KNOW? (Apparently, I haven't changed much.)
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
I was wondering the same thing when I bought my son's last pair of Scout pants. Fortunately, he's tall enough I didn't HAVE to hem them, but they're made so they can be hemmed and let down. Which is GREAT, if you can sew.
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
I love the cover, and am just wondering if the book has many pictures?
ReplyDeleteAlso in regards to reviewing the book, are we supposed to have read the book, or do we use a synopsis of the post......damn, scrap that. I just got up, and I had to reread the relevant section. It's a review of the site, and not the book.
DOH, sometimes I'm such a dork. I won't be entering, but I will work in a review sometime soon.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..A Recap On My Hottest Poems =-.
{snickering} I'm trying to picture you saying 'DOH, sometimes I'm such a dork' in an Aussie accent. :D
ReplyDelete.-= Anne´s last blog ..Show your vehicle how much you care this holiday season. Schedule an oil change. ~ Did I mention this is a giveaway, too? =-.
OK, I admit that I am a complete and utter failure at using Alexa. I put the link in the Alexa search box and it keeps showing me Dymocks?
ReplyDeleteCan you possible post the correct link to alexa.com in relation to this site?
.-= Sire´s last blog ..A Recap On My Hottest Poems =-.
Heather had the whole link!! She just wanted to make this into an early-morning test of your Alexa acumen, or something... ::mutter::
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alexa.com/reviews/jahangiri.us
You're not a dork, Sire. Although I feel like a bit of a dork calling you "Sire" as if I were a lowly chambermaid in some historical romance. I'm with Heather, though - I'd love to hear a recording of you saying "Doh - I'm such a dork." You and Heather could make a mash-up of it.
::ducking:: Oh, funny - I think those cream pies crossed right over my head...
The book does have lots of pictures, even though it's a chapter book and not a "picture book." The interior illustrations are black and white, and they capture the characters perfectly. Speaking of pictures - has anyone seen the illustrator? Oh, Ryan... yooooo hoo...
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
Very nice of you Sire. We appreciate you taking the time. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sire, Sorry - I simply copied and pasted the information that was made available to me. Holly may have updated it at a later point, and I copied from the wrong source. If I was remiss in any way, I apologize.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should do a video of it and post it on YouTube :D
ReplyDelete.-= Sire´s last blog ..A Recap On My Hottest Poems =-.
No worries ladies, you may stop curtsying now, I accept your humble apologies, and now I'm off on my dashing steed to leave a review.
ReplyDelete.-= Sire´s last blog ..A Recap On My Hottest Poems =-.
Oh...really?
ReplyDeleteCheck your email. You can be excused a small brain fart, given that you're moving. I don't envy you that!
.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
Oooh, now this, I can't wait to see!
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
Nice. Now I know what to call you. :) Sir Peter? Thank you for the terrific review! Very kind of you.
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
No worries, I hope to read more of your blog one day soon.
ReplyDelete.-= Sire´s last blog ..A Recap On My Hottest Poems =-.
Holly, I did my best considering my personal situation right now. Let's just call me a jackass f*ckup & call it a day. :D
ReplyDeleteAnything that went wrong was 100% my fault. I'll send you an email to explain what might have happened. Peace out. Love you. ~ H
Good to hear that - make yourself at home and feel free to raid the fridge.
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
Awww, Heather - never that! :D You did a beeeeee-utiful job with this, and I'd have probably blown my last brain cell trying to do this and pack at the same time (I had three weeks to move to Houston - I haven't forgotten!) ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteI just didn't want people thinking I didn't give you the full arsenal. I think I did send you about three different versions, though - that might've been it. :woot: ;-(
:love:
.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Win an Autographed Copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy =-.
Sorry I'm late for the party. I had a meeting of my writing group this morning, then had Internet problems until now.
ReplyDeleteGreat stop of the tour. I enjoyed it very much.
Vivian
.-= Vivian Zabel´s last blog ..Time for protests and email landslides - CPSIA =-.
Hi Vivian, thanks for coming by. Late, schmate. We don't hate - we appreciate! (Sorry, I'm tired lol) I hope your writing group experience was enjoyable and satisfying. :) Wishing you a rejuvenating Sunday.
ReplyDelete[...] family knows when something interesting, funny, educational, or anything random just pops into my head I just may blog about it. As it turns out, I think they [...]
ReplyDeleteI love this line - "Sometimes, though, a girl has to make the most of what she has." I've been doing that most of my life but having fun every step of the way! I guess Irma does too and finds some way to get those guppies to do something out of the ordinary. Even if it's in her imagination (*echo "imagination, imagination")...no idea where I got that echo thing from but every time I say, think of or write the word "imagination" I hear that echo. Holly, maybe you can write a book about that? :)
ReplyDelete.-= ConnieFoggles´s last blog ..The Activators Review And CD Giveaway – Fitness Fun =-.
What a great sounding book --- something my niece would probably really enjoy. Although she now has a puppy AND a guppy (it was the compromise my brother struck when he decided he wanted another baby --- his wife said, 'no!' but told him he could get a dog, instead).
ReplyDeleteThanks for this review!
.-= Megan "JoyGirl!" Bord´s last blog ..7 Steps for Climbing the Staircase to Joy =-.
I love that line too, Connie. Reminds me of a line that might be uttered by an old-fashioned movie star in a bra commercial. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Megan! Oh, that's too cute. Dogs are almost as much trouble! Who knew? :-O
ReplyDeleteThose were interesting facts Heather!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to order my very own copy of the book. I think it wold be one of the treasures I would keep when I finally arrive to my island in the Pacific.
Z
Hi, Doc Z! Interesting - oh no... that's like when you tell your woman she looks "fine" instead of "great" in that dress. Hee hee.
ReplyDeleteYou mean like in LOST? Or on Survivor, would it be your luxury item? I think I'm going to frame mine in a shadowbox on the wall in Lily's room so she doesn't eat it or something.
Hey, now! This is a post-1985 CPSIA-approved traditional paper-and-ink book. It's lead free and high in fiber! Go, Lily, go! Hey, Joe Joe wants some, too - I think you need to order a whole box of books, Heather! Then you can keep one for the shadowbox without depriving Joe Joe and Lily of essential "brain food"!
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Monday News & Views =-.
Now there's some good thinking! Are the illustrations draw in vegetable dye? Or vitamin ink? If such a product does not exist, perhaps it should!
ReplyDeleteUhm, you caught me. ehehe. I was going to say amazing, but I the cat was out and it doesn't want to go back to its cage.
ReplyDeleteWell, there are so many uses for a book on a deserted island. ;)
Z
.-= Zorlone´s last blog ..The Guardian of the Forest (Part 5) =-.
No, but wouldn't that be something? Baby books printed on rice paper in vitamin-enriched vegetable dye? Hmmm...
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..Monday News & Views =-.
Holly, my Dad had a Japanese business associate when I was a kid & he would bring us that rice candy - it was the coolest thing ever! Hey, we may be on to something here! I know Joe would love it if I gave him permission to eat a book.
ReplyDeleteMeow! :p
ReplyDelete