5 favorite kids' books of 2013 (Reviewed on this blog)

2013 was a very important year for me.  I published my very first book, Tristan Wolf, launching this way, what I hope it will be a career as a writer with many, many books. Another highlight was this little blog that has connected me with many talented authors, who, like me, are trying to open their way in the ocean of books out there.
I had the privilege to read some of their work and review it. Sadly, I had to refuse to review some ... I could only go with what I and my modest opinion could recommend my readers. And some works needed more ... well, more work! So, the ones I reviewed this year are the ones I really enjoyed or thought they were important in their own right. They all have merit and still recommend them like great reads. But, among those books I do have some favorites.

Today, I'm going to reveal MY FIVE FAVORITE books for children I reviewed on this blog. Those books were fun, page-turning, captivating, and charming. And that's just my opinion as a reader, of course.
 
In no particular order, this 2013 I enjoyed reading and reviewing:
 
 1.The Most Important Critter in the Whole Wide World: Why the Coyote Howls at Night by Gusty McCabe: An example of storytelling well done, I qualified his book as "a really amusing and well written story that will not disappoint." Really, really fun to read.
 
2.The Dreamcatcher Adventures: Greedy Jack Wallace (Volume 1) by Adam C. Veile: Mr. Veile became one of my oldest son's favorite authors. I described it like "an action-packed new western adventure, equally engaging for kids and grown-ups." I'm looking forward to his next book!
 
3.Graveyard Scavenger Hunt (NightScares) by Brian Barnett: Oh I dread scary books, movies ... scary anything. But this one was spooky in just the right dose for me, and so engaging I couldn't put down. About the author's style I said, "He makes his characters believable and lively, with just enough action to keep readers turning pages." Well done!
 
4.Kellie at Come-alive Cottage (Volume 1) by Kellie Unsworth: I enjoyed this lovely, charming book a lot! Of it I said: "This is a fun, smart book that I'm sure will delight young readers. It's full of oddities, silly illustrations and fun fonts." Can't wait for more!
 
5.An Evening with Grandpa by Diana Matlin: If you are a Chess lover or not, this book will make you want to play. I wrote, "I read it to my 6 years old and I can tell that he lived the story. And how not since it's interesting and engaging from the beginning." Very enjoyable.
 
And now my HONORABLE MENTION:
My own book, Tristan Wolf! Well yes, you'll say I'm biased, but here are the reasons I have to choose my own work: It has taught me so much! I've learned about writing, about publishing...I've learned from the many mistakes I've made, from some of the money wasted, from the marketing that didn't work. It has connected me with people. Some of them hateful, some others now my favorite people (that's for next post). And even more, Tristan Wolf gives me the opportunity to visit schools and connect with children. It lets me inspire them with this little tale of adventure and imagination. As if these reasons weren't enough, it was a finalist in a contest! Yes, it might have flaws in the eyes of some, but it delivers and my readers love it. What else can I expect from my very first book?

To all the authors I reviewed in my blog I say thank you for allowing me the honor, I've learned so much from you! And to my favorites I say congratulations! Keep up the good work. We all have to learn from each other, in the end the goal is to make our readers the sole and only winners.

Readers, please keep on reading and keep on supporting independent authors. We depend on your support and encouragement to produce more books. Blessings to all, have a great 2014!

Mariana Llanos

Review: Kellie and the Come-alive Cottage by Wendy Unsworth

I just loved this book by Wendy Unsworth! Kellie at Come-alive Cottage tells the story of Kellie, a curious girl who probably has the coolest family in the world. Her parents are explorers, and are set to fly off to Africa to discover a new river...but Kellie has no one to stay with while her parents are gone....well, she'll have to stay with aunt Kitty, an aunt she didn't even know she had! And, there is a good reason for that...

This is a fun, smart book that I'm sure will delight young readers. It's full of oddities, silly illustrations and fun fonts. It plays with the absurd but in a way that doesn't feel forced. I would recommend this book for second and third graders, even fourth graders. It is equally enjoyable for older readers, that, like me, still believe in magic.

This is Mrs. Unsworth's first book for children but I have a feeling that we'll be hearing a lot more of Kellie and her fantastic adventures.
Mariana Llanos

Wendy Unsworth lives in England. She has spent many years in Africa,

and a great deal of her inspiration comes from her experiences there. She has written a grown-up novel called The Palaver Tree. "Kellie..." will be out on October 1st, available in paperback an eBook.

Welcome!

Welcome to Iwrite. A little bit about myself first: I am Mariana Llanos, author of Tristan Wolf. I  write since I was very young. What did I write about? Mostly poems about things around me. As I grew older I started writing short stories and also school plays. I even remember writing a new chapter for the Star Wars movies (that would be very useful now!) One thing I enjoyed a lot  was to adapt classic plays (Hamlet, Faust, Romeo and Juliet) and turn them into comical skits to perform at school.
As I grew older I kept on writing but decided to try to be an actress and studied drama. I have also done some arts and crafts, specially with papier mache, my favorite medium. For the past 8 years I've worked at a preschool. I've found another creative outlet in working with those kids and teaching them how to be creative through different arts. Currently I'm teaching them music and art.
Just a couple of years ago I decided to resume my writing. I created Tristan Wolf and I'm trying to become a full time writer...which would be my second full time job since I'm also a full time mom of three smart children.
Well, in the meantime and while I make  some dreams come true, here I offer you my blog that I hope to fill with experiences, thoughts, ideas, interviews and  lots of entertainment.
Truly yours,
Mariana Llanos

REVIEW: MOTLEY WINGS

by Galina Granovsky

 

“Motley Wings” is an interesting tale that 

takes readers to the world of butterflies. Lily, a pretty, young, white-winged butterfly is preparing herself to go to the ball that Prince Apollo organizes every year. She wants to look her best but her bright white wings get accidentally stained. Her friend Stripy Bee offers to help and paints her wings with beautiful colors that truly make her stand out. At the ball she is noticed by the Prince, not only for her beautifully colored wings but for her modesty and honesty. Prince Apollo himself invites her to join him and his following to their annual trip to the Hare Cabbage Gardens. Lily will have a great adventure as she meets new friends and gets closer to the Prince.

I read this book with my boys. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t their‘cup of tea’. Maybe they just don’t like reading about pretty butterflies in a fairy-tale style story; they go for more boyish adventures. Oh, well. Their loss. I do think that there are very interesting elements on this book: I especially liked the metamorphosis chapter and their flight over the lake and I even liked the moths’ part, but, in my opinion, the story ended too abruptly and there were some situations left in the hanging.

“Motley Wings” has been translated into English from Russian, and although it reads pretty well, it needs a little tune up here and there for some typos and minor oddities. They are easily fixable though and do not affect the story but they could be a distraction for the readers(I should know that pretty well! As I was writing this post, a friend messaged me to tell me that on my previous post I had written "on the park" instead of "at the park"... not once, but several times.Darn it!)
I'm pleased that I got to know this author’s work, new to the English language book market. She is a writer with a prolific imagination able to transport her readers to a world of beauty and fantasy.

Mariana Llanos

Author Galina Granovsky lives in Russia close to the Black Sea with her husband and her cat. She has published several children's stories and adult novels in her language. Some of them are being translated into English.



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*I received a complimentary PDF of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

"A delightful story"

Tristan Wolf is my first children's book. It is the story of a boy who was abandoned in the forest and raised by wolves. Even though he loves his wolf family, he needs to find himself. He sets off on a journey that will lead him to new friends, adventures and a big surprise.

Artist Rocio Perez del Solar illustrated my book. She describes herself as “an Artisan who plays with Art”. This is her first time working in a book, too. I just love the way she took him to her world of intense, bold colors and artistically playful lines.

Tristan was born one afternoon in between laundry and errands. At that time I was a mother of two (I have three now!)busy and beautiful boys. I enjoyed reading to them but I wanted to read something of my own. That afternoon the phrase "Tristan was a loner..." popped up in my brain and from there I just had to sit down and let Tristan take over.
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You can read an interview right here.
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Tristan Wolf