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Maw Books Blog
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Blogging about all things books! I review every book I read and tell you how it is. Topics include book reviews, book lists,book recommendations, reading challenges, reading group guides, and how books play a part in my daily life.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'review copy'
I Love Christmas by Anna Walker
I Love Christmas by Anna Walker is an adorable picture book for the younger crowd with simple text and the most wonderful illustrations. Ollie, our cute little main character loves Christmas and everything about it. The crinkly paper, tinsel, str...
Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby
What happens to the Christmas ornaments hung on the tree when the lights are turned out and everybody goes to bed? Well, from the movie Toy Story, we naturally know that all toys come alive when humans aren’t around and there are no exception...
Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
I’m excited today to recommend to you another book about the Lost Boys, Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Mary Williams is a name that I have heard often when reading...
Thanksgiving at the Inn by Tim Whitney
I hope that everybody had a great Thanksgiving holiday if you are here in the states! I had a fantastic time sluffing all of my blog responsibilities and not posting a thing! (That’s not to say that I wasn’t working hard on a new rea...
Gracias Thanks by Pat Mora, Illustrated by John Parra
My father-in-law has often joked (but totally serious) that Spanish is the language that we speak in heaven. He loves the language.  He’s fluent in Spanish and uses it on a daily basis in his work and my mother-in-law recently learned it as...
Always My Brother by Jean Reagan and Illustrated by Phyllis Pollema-Cahill (with a giveaway)
Always My Brother by Jean Reagan and illustrated by Phyllis Pollema-Cahill is a very touching book and fills a need for books written for grieving children. In this lovingly written story, Becky and her brother John do everything together. Like r...
Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport by Jason Barger
You wouldn’t know it from reading my blog but I used to pick up the occasional motivational book. Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport by Jason Barger has taken me back to a genre that I have regretfully le...
Standing Still by Kelly Simmons
In Standing Still by Kelly Simmons, Claire trades in the life of a journalist for that of a stay-at-home mom. Late one night Claire hears a noise on the roof, goes upstairs and discovers an intruder in her daughters room trying to abduct her. Cla...
Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal
In Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal, the home of thirteen-year-old Pinky is full of secrets. Having lost her mother in infancy and given up by her father, Pinky lives with her aunt and uncle and three boy cousins in Bombay, in what used to be a be...
The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo is in the same magical vein as The Tale of Despereaux. Although the book doesn’t start out with the words “Once Upon a Time,” it certainly has that fairy tale feeling with the first li...
Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
I picked up a copy of Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines when I was at Book Expo America in New York City earlier in the summer. I must admit that I was intrigued with the book but I was afraid it was a copycat of The Hunger Games, so I didn’...
Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman (Skeleton Creek Series)
Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman is the follow up book to Skeleton Creek. I love this series because of it’s creativity . If you are not familiar with Skeleton Creek (which you can check out my review and details here), it’s a b...
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr (Including Video from Launch Party)
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr is Sara’s best book yet. 15-year-old Sam has always been defined as the pastor’s daughter. But not all is well behind closed doors. Citing the pressures of being a pastor’s wife, Sam’s mother is ...
Benny the Baffled Behemoth by Melissa Leembruggen, Illustrated by Trish McKinney
What in the world is a behemoth? From Job 40:15 in the Bible, “Look at the land beast, Behemoth. I created him as well as you . . . “ In addition to an animal being described in the Bible it also means something large in size or pow...
Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas
I have been wanting to read a Sandra Dallas novel for a long time given the fact that a dozen of you have recommended her to me. And now I’ve had a chance to read her newest book, Prayers for Sale and, wow, what a talented author. It’...
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick is the type of book that I can not recall reading anything similar to it’s subject matter: that of a 18- year-old soldier in Iraq. I’m sure they are out there but I’m not sure where they are. ...
Let’s Talk Elephants Today! Travels with Tarra and Just for Elephants by Carol Buckley
Can anybody tell me the gestation period of an elephant? No? Let me share. An elephant is pregnant for about 22 months! That’s almost two years people! Can you imagine being pregnant for two years?!  Thanks, but no thanks. My boys ...
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Again Not Really a Review – But Rather Me Geeking Out On Release Day!) & Where You Can Win a Copy with Much Swag
Today is the day!! Catching Fire is in a bookstore near you! How exciting! I feel like there should be confetti and much fanfare. I was fortunate enough to read Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins nearly three months ago and it is the book that ...
Dork Diaries: Tales from a NOT-SO-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell
In full honesty and transparency I was a little excited to receive Dork Diaries: Tales from a NOT-SO-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell for review. This author certainly knows how to promote herself. First the book arrived in a box, not an env...
A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman
A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman is a story of women, servitude, love and betrayal, desire, class, prejudice, fate, tragedy, the human spirit and how entire families can change course with just one decision. Two stories are told in this book. One...
Wife of the Gods, An Inspector Darko Dawson Mystery by Kwei Quartey
I was drawn to Wife of the Gods, An Inspector Darko Dawson Mystery by Kwei Quartey for the cover alone. I just love how African it feels. Wife of the Gods is a whodunit murder mystery and in full honesty if the book wasn’t set in Africa w...
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy in Collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez
Wow. Do not let this unassuming cover fool you. 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez is a purely stunning picture book that when I finished reading the author’...
Unite or Die, How Thirteen States Became a Nation by Jacqueline Jules, Illustrated by Jef Czekaj
Unite or Die, How Thirteen States Became a Nation by Jacqueline Jules and illustrated by Jef Czekaj is a perfect book to sit down with this holiday weekend with your kids and learn exactly how the constitution was created. And trust me, perhaps my ...
Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wight
Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom written and illustrated by Eric Wight is a spoof of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom but in this case Frankie’s nemisis is his messy room. Pair that with his nagging mom and he’s got a problem!Â...
That Went Well, Adventures in Caring for My Sister by Terrell Harris Dougan
That Went Well, Adventures in Caring for My Sister by Terrell Harris Dougan is a beautiful and honest book which I couldn’t put down. I wanted to read That Went Well for one simple reason: it takes place in my hometown and the author is local a...
The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine
The Blue Notebook, James A. Levine ’s debut novel, is about child prostitution in India. It’s a book that I knew going into would be an emotionally hard and difficult read and I wasn’t wrong. It’s haunting.  It’s...
The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris
The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris is a different type of reading for me than what I am normally used to. While it takes place in Africa (and I’m all over books sets in Africa), it’s more of a mystery thriller, a genre that I usually avoi...
Crocodaddy by Kim Norman, Illustrated by David Walker
As soon as my little boy saw Crocodaddy by Kim Norman and illustrated by David Walker he said “Oooooh . . . alligator!” And then he ran off. What can I say? He was playing in the backyard at the time and frankly, the call of the o...
Chicken Butt! by Erica S. Perl, Illustrated by Henry Cole
If you’ve got young kids in your house, Chicken Butt! by Erica S. Perl and illustrated by Henry Cole will be a hit! “Because you know what? What? Chicken Butt!” In this new fun picture book, kids will giggle and laugh over t...
All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant, Illustrated by Nikki McClure
All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Nikki McClure is a nostalgic picture book. One that almost feels as though it could have been published decades ago, but it still feels fresh. Told in a simple rhythmic verse, All in a Day follows a...
