Welcome to the Sweet Summertime Giveaway Hop! Children love books with animals as main characters, and thanks to the sponsors, you can win two adorable books for your kids. One stars a kitty and the other a doggy! It’s the best of both worlds with Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten and Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Friends.
Thanks to our hosts for this giveaway hop!
I received these books free to review; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive compensation at no cost to you.
Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten
“Young readers will identify with Clover’s feelings about starting school or any new adventure… A perfect story to share at the beginning of the school year.” —School Library Journal
“Salas shapes a read-aloud that will spark conversation with first-timers who are sensitive to stimulus, while Nakata humorously conveys the resolute feline’s emotions in expressive watercolor images.” —Publishers Weekly
Age Range: 4 – 6 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 1
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Two Lions (August 1, 2020)
Clover Kitty does NOT want to go to kittygarten! Although she might like a friend to play with, kittygarten feels overwhelming for a sensory-sensitive kitty like Clover. And when she arrives, it is exactly as she fears: her classroom is too loud, the lights are too bright, and everyone comes too close. So Clover throws a fit…and decides to quit kittygarten. But when a classmate comes to check on her, she begins to reconsider. Maybe it’s time for Clover to give kittygarten another chance.…
Get FREE activity sheets from the author here: https://laurasalas.com/clover/
My review of Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten
Poor Clover doesn’t know what hit her when she steps into her kittygarten class! It’s noisy. She doesn’t like all of the quick changes. Some of the other kids are wild! What a disaster! Will Clover ever go back to kittygarten? Read and see!
Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten is a sweet book with adorable illustrations. It’s a book that can help prepare your little one for school, whether it be preschool or kindergarten. Knowing what to expect is certainly helpful! These days it’s almost imperative that kids attend preschool before kindergarten. Now kindergarten is like first grade. They’ve already got to be reading and know how to do math when they enter! I miss the old days when kindergarten meant playing, learning letters and numbers, coloring, learning to share, etc. Oh well. The times they are (have) achangin’.
No matter what age your child is, I think they will enjoy looking at the illustrations as you read the story. It’s a good opportunity to talk about your child’s worries about school. Let them tell you about their day. Ask about new friends. They’re only little once! Enjoy them now!
About the author and illustrator
Laura Purdie Salas is an award-winning author of more than 125 books for children, including her recent books Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations, illustrated by Micha Archer, and Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons, illustrated by Mercè López. Her books have received such honors as Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books for Children, IRA Teachers’ Choice, the Minnesota Book Award, and NCTE Notable book. Laura went to kindergarten in Florida and now lives in Minnesota. She hates crowds and knows a good friend makes everything better.
Learn more about the author at www.laurasalas.com.
Twitter: @LauraPSalas
Facebook: @LauraPSalas
Hiroe Nakata grew up in Japan and moved to the United States when she was sixteen. She is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design. Artwork from her first picture book, Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate, was chosen for the prestigious Society of Illustrators Annual Exhibition. Since then, she has illustrated numerous books for children, including her recent titles, Baby Builders, written by Elissa Haden Guest, Baby’s Blessings, written by Lesléa Newman, and One More Hug, written by Inside Edition’s national correspondent Megan Alexander. Hiroe vividly remembers her daughter’s struggles in kindergarten and is happy to report that, at fourteen, her daughter excels in school and plays in the school band.
Instagram: @hiroenakata
Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Friends
Miss Olive Finds Her “Furever” Friends is the second book in the heartwarming and inspirational series The Doggy Diva Diaries.
Age Range: 3 – 7 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 2
Series: The Doggy Diva Diaries (Book 2)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: The Doggy Diva Show, Inc. (April 8, 2020)
Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Friends continues the story of a little Italian Greyhound with three legs who is adopted by a loving family in the award-winning first book in the series, Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Home.
In Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Friends, Miss Olive learns that it’s her birthday and that her parents have planned a special celebration which will include treats, presents and friends. Her party is nearly ruined when she runs into a couple of grouchy dogs at the park who proceed to bully the poor pup. She realizes that true friends will stick by her and won’t join in with taunts from bullies. Miss Olive is thrilled to discover that she not only has a “furever” home, but she has “furever” friends as well.
My review of Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Friends
Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Friends is a sweet book about being a friend. Miss Olive and her mommy stop by the doggy park, so Miss Olive can let her friends know that its her birthday! Most of the dogs are happy to celebrate with Miss Olive, but wouldn’t you know it…there are always a couple in the bunch who are grumpy pants. They’re not happy for Miss Olive! In fact, I think they’re probably jealous that she gets a special day.
This book has sweet illustrations to go along with the cute story. Reading it with your little one can be the perfect opportunity to talk about bullying and jealousy. Even when someone has something you might not have (and want), it’s not okay to be mean to them! Kindness is taught at home! Find tools like this book to teach your child about always being kind. It’s never okay to be a bully!
Awards for Miss Olive
The first book in the Miss Olive series, Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Home, won the DWAA Maxwell Medallion for 2018 Children’s Book of the Year from The Dog Writers Association of America. The book was also awarded the Bronze 2019 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in the Animals/Pets Fiction category. The award is an honor that “identifies the best children’s books published every year in the North American market.” In addition, Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Home received top honors from the National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA).
About Susan Marie
For over fifteen years, Susan Marie has been spreading the word about puppy love through her national weekly radio show, The Doggy Diva Show. On her show, Susan interviews pet industry experts, bestselling authors, pet health and lifestyle professionals and representatives from animal rescue organizations. Past guests include Bob Barker, Dean Koontz, Julia Cameron, Alison Eastwood, and America’s Veterinarian, Dr. Marty Becker. The Doggy Diva Show can be heard on Pet Life Radio, Apple, Google Play, Stitcher and Speak Up Talk Radio.
Susan is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators as well as the Dog Writer’s Association of America and the Florida Writers Association. A devoted champion of animals, Susan donates a portion of the proceeds from Miss Olive books to animal rescue organizations. She’s passionate about passing along the love of animals to future generations.
Visit her online: https://www.thedoggydiva.com/
About Miss Olive
Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Home and Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Friends are the first and second books (respectively) in a trilogy about the adventures of Miss Olive, an Italian Greyhound rescue. The real Miss Olive was adopted in 2015 by author Susan Marie from Italian Greyhound Rescue Gulf Coast. Miss Olive was a victim of neglect and health issues, having lost her teeth due to lack of medical attention and one of her legs to cancer. The neglect and illness that she experienced has never affected her loving, gentle spirit; she is always ready for a snuggle. Miss Olive joins Susan Marie at the microphone each week as the co-host of radio show The Doggy Diva Show on Pet Life Radio.
Enter the giveaway ENDED
There will be one winner of both books. Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten is courtesy of Two Lions. Miss Olive Finds Her Furever Friends is courtesy of the author, Susan Marie. This giveaway is open to the US only. Please note, the books will be coming from two different sources, so the winner will receive them separately.
This giveaway is open to the US only to ages 18+. This giveaway is void where prohibited. By entering this giveaway, you’re agreeing to the privacy policies of this blog. Entrants need a profile picture on their social media accounts from which they’re entering, or entry will be void. One entry per household. The winners have 48 hrs. to claim the prize or another winner will be chosen.
My mom was my teacher.
:>)
I remember a few things! I remember my teacher’s name. I remember that we had a class Guinea pig. I remember we grew a plant. I remember my favorite game. I don’t remember much about the room. I don’t remember the other students but I do remember those I remained friends with through grade school and high school. That’s all I can remember. It was a good year. All my memories of kindergarten are bright.
I love that all your memories are “bright.” That’s wonderful!
I remember my teacher’s name was Mrs. Wilson.
I cannot for the life of me remember my K teacher’s name!
I remember faces but not really any names, same with my teacher, but that was very close to 50 years ago, so maybe that is expected. I remember singing, napping, and fingerpainting.
Such an adorable book purrrfect (lol) for little ones a bit scittish about starting school and being away from mom. : )
Thanks, Stacy–I hope those families find Clover:>) I can’t remember the names, either, except for a blonde girl named Tanya who I think I argued with a lot!
My teacher was Miss Bowland. On our first day we made paper lanterns.
I love that you remember that detail! My kindergarten art projects are lost to the winds of time.
I remember loving school, but I don’t remember too much about my friends or teacher. I moved to a different school in 2nd grade, so that could be why!
Kindergarten is a blur for me. They say about books: Your reader might not remember what happens in your book, but they will remember how your book made them *feel.* That is true for me about a lot of things in life!
Thanks for sharing Clover Kitty with your readers, Christy! I love your book summary–She doesn’t know what hit her pretty much sums it up! Ha:>)
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping!
I am 70 so I really don’t remember a lot any more. I do know that I learned to read and that there was library.
A library! See, you remembered the most important thing. My K didn’t have one. The library was my favorite thing about elementary school, though :>)
Yes, I remember my teacher and most of my classmates from kindergarten. I remember my teacher because the first day of first grade I expected her to be my teacher again and cried when I found out she wasn’t going to be. My classmates and I spent most of our schooling together as we were from very small town.
Awww! I remember mine told us that she was as old as there were letters in the alphabet! That makes her over 70 now!
Oh, no! That sounds crushing! I hope your first-grade teacher ended up being wonderful, though.
I remember we had nap time every afternoon and our teacher would read to us while we feel asleep.
Love that. My nap rug was an ugly rag rug, I remember. And my feet stuck off the end. Funny the little details I recall when most of it is a blur.
I was homeschooled so I do not remember.
I’m guessing the years kind of blend together if your teacher doesn’t change!
I remember a little boy who screamed for his sister to come and get him every day. He really didn’t want to be there!
I remember being so afraid of my Kindergarden teacher, Mrs, Hart – for no good reason. I ran crying into the courtyard every single day.
Twenty years later, I walk into a pottery shop to buy a specific tool for a college class. Mrs. Hart was behind the counter. I almost ran crying into the courtyard.
Sad about the K memory, but too funny about the adult memory!
I’m still best friends with the first friend I made in Kindergarten!
That is aMAZing! Wow.
I remember a teacher in kindergarten smacking my hand with a ruler because I wouldn’t drink the spoiled milk they gave me. Not fun.
Holy moley. That’s terrible. :>(
I started school in first grade and remember reading so well that I could take a new book home to read every day.
Yes! Reading time was my favorite! I got to go to a second-grade room for reading in first grade because my bossy but wonderful big sisters had taught me to read so well while playing school!
Was sooooooo many years ago but I remember we each had our own rug to lay on for nap/quiet time.
Yes! Mine was a rag rug. I didn’t love it.
I don’t remember much but I do remember that my kindergarten teacher was so nice.
Yay! I usually find that the smiliest teachers are K teachers!
I remember what my teacher looked like but I don’t remember her name.
Kindergarten was so long ago for me, but I do remember my school and I remember some of my teachers and friends from my elementary years. I was a bit nervous about going to school, that I do remember also.
I can remember a few of my classmates, but I cannot recall my teacher’s name.
My teacher was Mrs Woods and she invited me to her house to see her pet rabbit.
I remember sitting in a chair and looking at my mom talking to the teacher. That is all I remember from kindergarten!
Yes….my best friend was a boy named Fred. I have vague memories of kindergarten…but good memories.
I don’t really remember anything about kindergarten. I know that I liked to read.
Yes, I still keep in contact with 3 of my friends that date back to kindergarten – it is a lot of fun to remember back. We are now all over the US – but with the modern technology – we are closer than before! I do miss the regular snail mail we used to communicate! – lol
I met a kid named Angie Dingus in Kindergarten we were besties till 4th grade when she moved. I was broken hearted!
Not really. I remember the environment mostly.