BLACK HISTORY MONTH: THE STORY OF ROSA PARKS by Patricia A. Pingry & THE STORY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. by Johnny Ray Moore [Review & Giveaway]

Introductory thoughts: The concept of biographic books for the very young is somewhat new in the genre of picture books. True, more detailed picture books have done this in past years, but to introduce individuals of fame to the "board book" crowd (think, preschoolers ages 1 to 5), stretches the imagination of authors, illustrators, and publishers. Nevertheless, we're looking at two well-known people who influenced greatly the lives of black people in America.

The Story of Rosa Parks

My thoughts: Though this is a small board book, the text and understanding would preclude it's being appropriate for preschoolers. I can see letting first and third graders read it, though they might be a bit put off with a board book.

This little biography shows Rosa Parks disobeying the law about riding the bus. It is hard for people today to understand these laws. Her actions make me think a bit of the defiance of the Patriots of the Boston Tea Party when they defied the British and tossed the tea into the sea.

The illustrations are drawings and are a bit on the "dark" side until the page where the ruling allowing people to ride the bus as they wish, and then it seems flooded with light.

About the book: This little book of only about 200 words introduces Rosa Parks, called the “mother of the civil rights movement.” Here is the story of her courageous decision to remain on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, an action that resulted in arrest and, ultimately, a victory for civil rights. The rich oil paintings by artist Steven Walker contribute to the tension of the moment and the understanding of Rosa Parks. A perfect way for the family to honor Black History Month.

The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.

My thoughts: This small board book takes the reader through the life of Martin Luther King Jr. as a boy and into his adult life. Martin's parents are depicted as gentle folk who comply with the laws that restrict where they can go and eat. Martin feels anger and his parents help him deal with it. As he grows into adult life, he trains for the ministry and begins to influence large crowds of people.

Martin is shown as a happy child except for the areas in which he faced discrimination. Martin appears to be a child of a prosperous, well educated black family with his mother a teacher and his father a preacher. But it also shows that Martin experienced discrimination.

I think the book is beautifully done in lively detail and softened colors with well written text that doesn't overcome the young listener. I think age appropriateness would be in the first through third grade range and not necessarily for preschoolers.

About the book: This little book tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr. in a way that even very young children will understand. This simple but accurate account of his life begins with King’s childhood, making it easy for little ones to relate to his story. Children will learn that he excelled in school, became a minister, and worked to end segregation in America. This book, with only about 200 words accompanied by delicate watercolors, is a great way for parents to begin to teach their children about this inspirational historical figure.

GIVEAWAY ~~ FLASH

2-Books for 1 Winner

Begins February 1

ENDS February 9

Open to USA addresses only

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of each book to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.

Freddie Ramos Rules New York (Zapato Power #6) by Jacqueline Jules & illustratrated by Miguel Benítez [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN13: 9780807594971
Hardcover - $14.99
Albert Whitman & Co. Pub.

My thoughts: This is my first exposure to Freddie Ramos and his wonderful shoes. This early chapter book has just the amount of text in the vernacular that will engage the young reader, especially boys, and a sprinkling of pen drawings.

I love the positive attitude portrayed in the character of Freddie Ramos and his desire to be helpful. But this is not an overtly sweet, do good to others book. No, this is a fun book about a young boy who perceives he has super powers from the wonderful wristband (previously given to him by his friend, Mr. Vaslov) and his Zapato shoes.


If you've every truly watched a small child when they have a brand new pair of colorful sneakers, especially those with flashing lights, you know the personality lift the shoes seem to impart. Well, Mr. Vaslov has previously given Freddie a pair of purple Zapatos and now they are too small. Almost magically, Mr. Vaslov brings a new pair to Freddie just before Freddie and his mother leave for a trip to New York.


His adventures in New York with his "superpowers" are fun to read. The story flows smoothly. There is a tiny sprinkling of Spanish words or phrases which enriches the reading. Gently the words are re-said in English in the flow of the text without appearing to be "teachy."

I'd love to see the entire set of these positive, well done books in elementary libraries across the country.

About the book: Freddie and his mom are visiting Uncle Jorge in New York City! Just before they leave, Mr. Vaslov gives Freddie a new pair of zapatos to replace the ones that were getting too small. But Freddie worries if his new zapatos will work as well as his old ones. Will Freddie be able to save the day when Uncle Jorge misplaces an engagement ring in the middle of a New York City traffic jam?

GIVEAWAY

Begins January 27

ENDS February 16 at 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Other books by Jacqueline Jules here on Chat With Vera include:

Never Say A Mean Word Again, and Feathers for Peacock. 

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the author to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and I was not compensated.

A Rose for your Valentine from Good Earth Beauty the "Rose Beauty Box" [Review & Giveaway]

Valentine's Day is just around the bend or coming faster than a blink of the eye. Yep, if you want to get something a bit different than a heart-shaped box of candy or a few roses that will whither and fade away, a box packed with some beauty goodies might be just the thing.

Good Earth Beauty has a wide selection of boxes from which you can choose (even one for the man in your life if you want to "Valentine" them). I thought the "A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose" box spoke volumes about the sweetness of Valentine's.  These rose scented products are sheer lovliness and the fragrance is that of a beautiful rose.

The Rose is a Rose is a Rose box is $20 and there is NO SHIPPING charge in USA.

The rose scented samples of hand cream (lotion), shower whip, and roll-on fragrance are sheer loveliness and simply do not overpower the senses. Just a lingering gentleness of scent of pure roses. The full-sized lipstick is a red but not too harsh red. The feel on the lips is pleasant and enriching.

BEAUTY BOX - A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE

A rose is a rose "rose" themed beauty box! One time purchase (not a subscription).  This is a great way to try a variety of rose themed items! Click here to see it online.  You get:

• Rose Hand cream by Good Earth Beauty - sample
• Rose Petal Perfume by Good Earth Beauty/Mod Perfumery - sample roller or full sized roller bottle (add $10)
• Rose shower whip by Cooper Naturals - 1 oz sample jar
• AND a full sized Gabriel lipstick in a rose shade

 Other boxes available, but not all you may choose from ....

The box of the month option is super nice if you want on-going treats for someone.
Or perhaps just a one box or a 3-month subscription.

GIVEAWAY 

Begins January 25 

ENDS February 13 at 12:01 a.m. EST 

Open to USA addresses only
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary beauty box to facilitate this review for Good Earth Beauty. Opinions are expressly my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BEAR HUG by Caroline B. Cooney [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts: This is giggly, tug-at-your-heart, tickle-your-funny-bone charming. There is just so much fun and, yes, sweetness blooming on each and every page.

Just how many different kinds of hugs are there? Bear hug? Well, it would be crushing, big, furry, warm. But what about all those other hugs?

I just love Cooney's lyrical text as she hugs her way through the cornucopia of hugs ....

I'm going to give you a cat hug. A simple purr, stroke my fur, don't do more than that hug. 

....a sheep hug. A lamb's wool, blanketful, don't make a peep hug.

The illustrations by Tim Warnes are sweetness and charm rollicking with fun and gentlenesss. Softly colored but bright enough to engage the attention of the young child. A child can picture him or herself amidst all this fun.

And as it began.... "way beyond compare hug," it ends with a bear hug that is "A just right turn off the light, sleep tight, say your prayers and kiss good night, way beyond compare hug."

I highly recommend this book.

About the book: I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, written by bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney, is a playful and comforting bedtime book that imagines all the wonderful ways a child might give and receive a hug.

Whether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippy fish hug, children will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples. Cooney’s sweet and simple rhymes encourage playful interaction between parent and child and ultimately help them wind down before they snuggle into bed and drift off to sleep.

GIVEAWAY ~ ~ FLASH

Begins January 24

ENDS February 3 @ 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to Continental US Addresses Only!

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Never Forget (Beacons of Hope Series) by Jody Hedlund

My thoughts: I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the books in the Beacons of Hope series about keepers of lighthouses in the early years of our country. These men, and women, have lived strong, fearless lives on the brink of disaster as they maintain the lights that keep those on the seas safe. True, these are works of fiction, but they are based on true encounters, events, and personages.

In Never Forget the storm lashed yacht of wealthy Nathaniel Winthrop is in a perilous situation and Nathaniel is washed overboard while struggling to keep it afloat. He is found unconscious by Abbie, the young lady who helps her aged and dementia afflicted grandpa take care of the lighthouse. She takes him back to the cottage and nurses him back to consciousness though his memory is gone because of a blow to his head.

What follows is a sweet tale where Abbie tries to manage the lighthouse and her grandpa's condition and keep the superintendent of lighthouses from firing them from their position. The characters have situations and past decisions in their lives that really clutter their ability to move forward but they find that regardless of their past actions, there is hope in Christ and new beginnings.

The title is apt given the sweet grandpa's dementia and how it affects those around him and also the amnesia Nathaniel endures from his accident. But it is also true that we should never forget the hope that awaits us in Christ.

About the book: Rose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island - June 1880

Will she betray his trust to stay on the island she loves?

Abbie Watson is content to spend her days clamming, crabbing, and tending Rose Island Lighthouse. Her grandpa is the head light keeper, but his senility may lead to their eviction. Since leaving the island would kill her beloved Gramps, Abbie will do anything to keep him in the one place he knows and loves.

Wealthy Nathaniel Winthrop III’s wild living has gained him a reputation as the ‘bad boy’ among the elite social circles of Newport. After a blow to the head in a yachting accident washes him up on Rose Island, Nathaniel has no memories of his past.

Abbie tends the wounded stranger in her home only to realize he assumes they’re married. Although she knows she needs to correct Nathaniel’s mistake, his presence calms Gramps and provides a way to prevent eviction from the lighthouse.

The longer the charade continues, the harder it gets for Abbie to tell Nathaniel the truth, more so as she begins to fall in love. Everyone she’s ever loved has abandoned her. Will Nathaniel leave her too, once he discovers he’s not really her husband?

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review which is freely given and strictly my own opinion.

3 Days to Beautiful Skin with Simple 2-Step Program from Élan Rose™

After using these two Élan Rose™ products in the prescribed manner for a few days, I haven't noticed a drastic change in my facial skin. I am thinking these products are best used earlier in life to achieve prevention from the appearances of aging on one's skin. However, I have high hopes that continued use will help to tighten and soften my skin achieving a level of improvement perhaps not available with other products.

This is a simple two--step program using only the two products that Élan Rose™ provides. Noteably, I find the ingredient list of these two distinctly different from that of other similar products. I have never used anythinng with Gorgonian Extract or Chestnut Extract and I'm not familiar with 7-dehydrocholesterol. These are definitely products to pay attention to for this product's effectiveness and that of future items that show up on the market.

After cleansing my face in the evening, I applied the night serum. Sometimes it has left a slight stinging sensation which quickly goes away. The "milky" serum goes on easily and absorbs quckly. A small amount goes a long way.

The next morning I splash water over my face, patting it dry. Then I apply the Hello Sunshine!™ day cream which has a strong SPF 30 to protect from the effects of the Sun. I have been using a high end department store foundation that also has a SPF 30 so this really "double-downs" on protection.

One thing to keep in mind with the Hello Sunshine! day cream is that it shouldn't be used at night. Products with SPF in them are best not used overnight. 

The Élan Rose™ website has a plethora of information about the inception of this new product that has just been on the market for a couple of years. Read the information and find out that the developers of Élan Rose™ are highly qualified and experienced.

Wake-Up Beautiful!™ NIGHT SERUM

The best time for repair and healing is at night when you sleep, and the skin is free from environmental factors such as sunlight and stress. Considered best anti-aging night cream. Wake Up Beautiful! Night Serum works overnight to:

• Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles - wrinkle reducing serum
• Improve luminosity and elasticity
• Visibly strengthen and smooth skin

Active Ingredients:

• Vitamin B3 for DNA repair and energy production
• Gorgonian Extract for soothing and healing
• Melatonin for strengthening
• Chestnut Extract for acid-free natural exfoliation

https://elanrose.com/

Hello Sunshine!™ DAY CREAM BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30

The single worst enemy of the skin is solar radiation. UV damages the skin's DNA, impairs its immune system, hinders energy production. This molecular damage becomes visible because it produces irritations, redness and dullness. Hello Sunshine! SPF 30 Day Cream is a luxurious hydrating day cream providing Broad Spectrum SPF 30 protection that:

• Protects the skin against UV damage
• When properly applied, protects against skin aging and skin cancer
• FDA approved UVB and UVA sunscreens

Active Ingredients:

• Vitamin B3 for DNA repair and energy production
• Gorgonian Extract for soothing and healing
• Vitamin E to protect the structure of the epidermis
• 7-dehydrocholesterol to activate the endogenous anti-stress system

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary products to facilitate this review based on my actual use of products and freely giving my personal opinion. I was not compensated to review these products.

InstaNatural Rose Water Hydration with a quick mist

Having never used a rose water, I was curious about its purpose and how to incorporate it into my daily regime. Being provided an opportunity to evaluate the InstaNatural Rose Water product, I agreed to the offer. First of all, just what is Rose Water?.....

About ROSA DAMASCENA (ROSE) FLOWER WATER: Rosa Damascena Flower Water is an aqueous solution of the steam distillate obtained from the flowers of Rosa damascena. source

Simply spritz a bit over face or body for instant hydration that smells really nice.
Or you can spritz/saturate a cottonball and use as a toner to effectively remove last traces of makeup.

This is a very pleasant, softly scented water that seems intended to help cleanse the skin of residual makeup and skin cells after washing. It is also a product that can be misted onto the skin and hair to hydrate at any time.  It can also be used to set makeup after applying one's makeup. I used it in each of these manners and it feels quite nice and is certainly pleasant to use.

Directions also suggest using a couple ounces in one's bath which I tried and don't feel the end result merits its use for that purpose.

Do I recommend the InstaNatural Rose Water? I'd say it makes a nice non-drying toner to use after washing one's face. It is also a very pleasant hydrating mist.

Product information (from InstaNatural) (click here to find it)

Moroccan Rose Water is 100% pure and natural water made from Rosa Damascena flower petals. Containing no artificial fragrances or any added chemicals or preservatives, Rose Water is a multifunctional treatment with soothing, hydrating and revitalizing properties. Rose Water has the ability to naturally balance the skin’s pH, making it an effective toner for dry or troubled skin. With naturally occurring antioxidants and Vitamins A and C, our Rose Water is a powerful and soothing treatment, making it an essential addition to any beauty routine.

• Tones and preps your skin for serums and moisturizers
• Helps soothe skin irritation and sunburns
• Provides lightweight hydration to the skin
• Hydrates and adds shine to the hair
• Recommended for aromatherapy

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary product to facilitate a review of my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this review. Opinions are strickly my own.