I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Blink and Glow by Raven Howell, Ann Pilicer Published by Tielmour Press Genres: Children's
Format: eARC
Source: Provided as part of book tour
Goodreads
Award-winning author Raven Howell's newest story will help young readers to appreciate wildlife and the natural environment.
Lilly and Leo think it's super to catch fireflies and salamanders—and even more exciting, as they plan to bring their glowing nature finds to show-and-tell the next day. That is until Grandma's wisdom guides the children and teaches them respect for the freedom and light of the natural life surrounding us.
Raven Howell’s
WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR
OF
Blink & Glow
Purchase a copy of Blink and Glow on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.
Julie’s Review:
Blink and Glow is a super sweet book for young readers who love nature and have the curiosity to explore it.
Leo and Lilly are two curious kids who enjoy chasing beautiful creatures around their backyard. They are dazzled by the sparkling fireflies and the glowing salamanders, and end up catching some, wanting to bring them to school for show and tell.
As they observe their captured critters, they see their lights begin to fade. Grandma helps the kids understand that these creatures need to be free to shine their brightest light. Then, Grandma shows them how to make beautiful crafts to represent their captured shiny friends to show at school instead.
Perhaps more beautiful than the message are the illustrations. These bright, vivid, and gorgeously done illustrations bring the book to life. The friends are diverse and well drawn – down to the detail of their hair. The glowing creatures are absolutely stunning. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a luna moth in real life but after the illustration I really want to find one.
I also love how the book includes instructions for young readers to also do the craft described.
Guest Post: Do Audiobooks Really Promote Literacy Skills?
By Raven Howell
When you write a story, your author inner voice dictates. In a way, you hear it, being read aloud in your head, by your very self. Especially when I’m writing children’s poetry, it’s so important to not only read the poems in the quiet of your mind, but speaking the words aloud is key. This way you can catch a problem with cadence, a snag in the rhythm or any number of things.
I’m a fan of accessing various media. Give me a good book – and I’ll take it in a physical copy, on a big movie screen, Kindle, binging Netflix, or downloaded as an audiobook. As a full-time children’s writer the past several decades, I like to stay in touch with what kids’ literary needs are, and where their likes and dislikes land.
Audiobook listening has gained so much popularity in recent years. Not only that, but it’s happening at a rate never seen before. Some say audiobooks are the fastest growing arm of publishing. And there’s really good news! If you’re an audiobook listener of a young age, it won’t slow down the development of your reading skills. If you’re a parent of an audiobook-listening child, your kid isn’t cheating. After all, especially for children, the purpose of reading is to get information. Listening to a book improves not only reading, but pronunciation and comprehension skills. It can offer a child better access to expand their vocabulary and improve listening skills.
Growing up without audiobooks myself, and wanting to squelch my doubts had me dig deeper into recent statistics and research. Studies are showing reading physical books and listening to audiobooks are equal in regard to level of comprehension. Brain scan analysis shows that stories stimulated the same cognitive and emotional areas either way.
My sons who are now in their late twenties, didn’t express interest in audiobooks during their school years and there was still little availability at that time. There were also many children being diagnosed ADD and ADHD as they still are today. Now researchers have found kids who have a hard time staying focused on text often did better hearing a narrator’s voice. It adds interest!
Neurodiverse people find listening to books to be just like reading the physical copy of them. Our brains retain information either way. That’s good news all around.
For me, as an adult reader who writes and works from dawn to dusk, I love audiobooks because it allows me to multitask. I can listen while hiking, long-distance driving to a book event, or while doing a mundane household task. As an author, it’s been super to post and publish several “story time” readings of my books on YouTube and other social media. My goal is to get kids interested in reading, in literature, and learning. If the most befitting format for a child is audio – then I’m on board!
About the Author
Raven Howell writes stories and poetry for children. Having published several award-winning picture books, she enjoys sharing her joy of reading and literature by visiting classrooms and libraries. Raven serves as Creative & Publishing Advisor for Red Clover Reader, writes The Book Bug column for Story Monsters Ink magazine, and is a Collaborating Author for Reading is Fundamental and I am a Promise Books.
She writes for children’s magazines including Ladybug, The School Magazine, Highlights for Children, and Humpty Dumpty. She’s a storybook writer for educational publisher, Reading Gate, and aims for every child’s opportunity to blossom.
You can find her online at:
https://twitter.com/atpearthkeeper
https://www.instagram.com/atpearthkeeper/
https://www.facebook.com/raven.howell.75/
https://www.facebook.com/RavenHowellAuthorandPoetPage/
https://www.pinterest.com/pickward/_saved/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/raven-howell-5a813015b/
https://www.tiktok.com/@ravenhowell22
Blog Tour Calendar
July 22nd @ The Muffin
Our tour begins at the WOW blog, The Muffin. Join us as we celebrate Raven Howell’s newest book, Blink and Glow. We’ll interview the author and give you a chance to win a copy.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
July 23rd @ Pages and Paws
Join Kirstine who shares a guest post by Raven Howell about how her tomboy childhood inspires her writing today at 60.
July 24th @ Pages and Paws
Visit Kristine’s blog for a review of Blink and Glow.
July 24th @ Lisa Haselton’s Book Reviews & Interviews
Join Lisa for an interview with author Raven Howell and her book Blink and Glow
https://lisahaselton.com/blog/
July 25th @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi’s blog for her review of Blink and Glow.
https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
July 28th @ Boys’ Mom Reads!
Visit Karen’s blog for her review of Blink and Glow.
https://karensiddall.wordpress.com/
July 31st @ Carole Writes
Visit Carole’s blog for her review of Blink and Glow as well as an interview with author Raven Howell.
August 1st @ AJ Kormon’s blog
Visit AJ’s blog for a review of Blink and Glow.
https://ajkormon.com/blog/book-reviews
August 2nd @ Little Squirrel’s Bookshelf
Visit Veronica’s blog for her review of Blink and Glow.
https://www.instagram.com/littlesquirrelsbookshelf
August 3rd @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Join Linda’s blog for a special recipe by Raven Howell. You’ll learn how to make easy firefly brownie bites and butterfly cupcakes.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com/
August 3rd @ The Faerie Review
Lily will be spotlighting Blink and Glow on her blog.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com/
August 7th @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog for a review of Blink and Glow. You can also read a guest post by Raven Howell about whether audiobooks really promote literacy skills.
August 10th@ Michelle Cornish’ blog
Stop by Michelle’s blog for a guest post about the highest-paid authors and how they make it happen.
https://www.michellecornish.com/blog
August 14th @ BookBunnies
Join Caramel for a review of Blink and Glow.
August 15th @ Choices
Visit Madeline’s blog for a guest post by Raven Howell about today’s most popular children’s book themes.
August 16th @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog for a guest post by Raven Howell, who has a chat with her publisher about the impact of books on young minds
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
August 17th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy’s blog for a review of Blink and Glow.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
August 18th @ What is That Book About?
Join Michelle to read an excerpt of Blink and Glow.
https://www.whatisthatbookabout.com/
August 20th @ Rosh’s Reviews
Visit Rosh’s blog for a review of Blink and Glow.
https://roshreviews.blogspot.com/
August 22nd @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole’s blog for her review of Blink and Glow. You can also win a copy of the book!
https://worldofmyimagination.com
August 24th @ Wildwood Reads
Visit Megan’s blog for her review of Blink and Glow.
August 25th @ Jill Sheets’ Blog
Visit Jill’s blog for her review of Blink and Glow. You’ll also have the chance to read an interview with the author herself.
https://jillsheets.blogspot.com/
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