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Enter to win an autographed copy of This Little President: A Presidential Primer, written by Joan Holub and illustrated by Daniel Roode. Giveaway begins January 12, 2016, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends February 11, 2016, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

ENDS IN 2 DAYS! $50 Gift Certificate Holiday Giveaway Enter here:   Mudpuppy Holiday Giveaway  . The Knights Before Christmas Written by Joan Holub Illustrated by Scott Magoon Henry Holt & Co.      9/08/2015 978-0-8050-9932-4 32 pages      Ages 4—8 “’Twas December 24th, and three brave (but somewhat clueless) knights were just settling …

Which books will you be reading during the 12 days of Christmas? Here are 6 picture books that we know will make you feel merry ... Read the rest of this post

Who Was Johnny Appleseed?

By Joan Holub; illustrated by Anna DeVito

There are many legends and facts surrounding the folk hero named John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed.

My blog was prompted by our apple harvest of Dandee Reds, Macoun, Honey Crisp, Gala, Fuji, Golden and Red Delicious apples.

Was this man called “Johnny Appleseed” a country dreamer that traveled in a burlap sack with a metal mush pot on his head scattering apple seeds willy nilly….or was he a whole lot more than the legend? Young readers will be very interested in a man that had a dream and a practical side that made it happen.

I wanted to delve a bit deeper into the life of this extraordinary man, born in Leominster, Massachusetts, who traveled west with settlers, as far as Indiana. And all the while, he was planting apples and creating orchards with seeds harvested from cider mills. In fact Mr. Chapman was a pretty savvy business man.

Selecting spots for his apple orchards, he fenced them in with wood from fallen trees. Thus deer and other animals were prevented from helping themselves to his trees. And, apparently he came back regularly to check on them to see how they were fairing.

And he was a sort of door to door salesman, selling his seeds and seedlings to settlers that he came upon as he headed west.

Did you know that most of his trees were wild apple trees? Honey crisp and Fuji, that we grow, and are found in local grocery stores, would have been very unlike his wild fruit variety.

Ms. Holub has done a great job of fleshing out the real John Chapman from the storybook legend. And, it seems the reality of his life was as adventurous as the legend.

Reaching into Pennsylvania and on into Ohio, he had, according to Ms. Holub’s book, an uncanny knack of figuring out the next spot that settlers would head…and arriving before them. And he planted his apple trees there.

Stories filled his head and he relayed them to settlers where he was always welcomed for a tale or two. And he always traveled barefoot! Even in the cold of winter, it was said that the skin at the bottom of his feet was so thick that it was said a rattlesnake couldn’t even bite through it. One did though, while he was clearing a new orchard. Unthinking, he killed the snake and it was said he “felt terrible about it” as he loved all living things.

A popular story said he entered a hollow log in winter to find shelter only to find a mother bear and her cubs ensconced. Rather than remove them, he preferred to sleep in the snow, so they could keep warm. Now that is hospitality!

Coffee burlap sacks were his clothing as fashion was not high on his priority list. He was a “good apple”, helping settlers that needed a hand. And did you know that he was a vegetarian? Berries, grain and potatoes cooked in a pot of pure creek water sufficed for a meal. He refused to kill animals.

He hated fighting and instead of fisticuffs, Johnny  would challenge the man to a tree chopping contest. By the time they were done felling the tree, the man was probably too tired to waste much energy on anger.

By the time he died, there were 27 states and John Chapman had planted apple trees in three of them – Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.

And apples must have run in the Chapman family’s blood, as his great great great grandparents also grew them in the 1670’s.

If you want to have your young reader enjoy a fully fleshed out portrait of a man in love with nature and the apple; who has books, songs and stories written about him, and even an official Johnny Appleseed Trail in northern Massachusetts, plus a festival in his honor, then “Who Was Johnny Appleseed?” by Joan Holub is a winner.

I was sad to read that many of the trees he planted would be dead now, but seedlings from some of his trees are still growing outside the Johnny Appleseed Museum in Urbana, Ohio.

Sure would like to plant one of those in our orchard!

**********************************************************************************

The entire “Who Is?” and “Who Was?” series is well worth investing in for your young reader. These are chapter books full of facts and fun stories about real people that will both entertain and enlighten. Even parents and grandparents will be charmed by the easy accessibility of information. Listed is a sampling of the more recent names featured in the books:

Bob Dylan

Helen Keller

Barack Obama

Michelle Obama

J.K. Rowling

Steven Spielberg

Bill Gates

Sally Ride

Henry Ford

Rosa Parks

Maurice Sendak

Walt Disney

George Lucas

Steve Jobs

The Beatles

Neil Armstrong

I have a quick recommend for all the little sibs of readergirlz! Check out Grimmtastic Girls, Goddess Girls, and Heroes in Training. These fun reads will keep your sisters and brothers busy all summer. Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams are the perfect team to spin tales for middle graders. You might even find yourself caught up in a book and smiling at the beloved characters running around in fresh story lines with charming humor.



Word is the collections have been spotted at Costco, too. Keep your eyes open for your siblings. Happy summer reading, rgz!

Goddess Girls

Enter to win an autographed copy of Goddess Girls #14: Iris the Colorful and Heroes in Training #7: Ares and the Spear of Fear, written by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams. Giveaway begins July 31, 2014, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends August 30, 2014, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Enter to win an autographed copy of Grimmtastic Girls #3: Snow White Lucks Out, by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams. Giveaway begins June 21, 2014, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends July 20, 2014, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Enter to win an autographed copy of Goddess Girls #13: Athena the Proud, by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams. Giveaway begins April 24, 2014, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends May 23, 2014, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Enter to win an autographed copy of Mighty Dads, story by award-winning author Joan Holub and illustrations by James Dean, creator of the bestselling "Pete the Cat" books. Giveaway begins April 15, 2014, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends May 14, 2014, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Enter to win autographed copies of the first two books in the brand new series, Grimmtastic Girls, written by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams. Giveaway begins March 18, 2014, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends April 17, 2014, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Enter to win autographed copies of Do Not Open: The Story of Pandora's Box & The One-Eyed People Eater: The Story of Cyclops, by Joan Holub. Giveaway begins March 4, 2014, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends April 3, 2014, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

  Little Red Writing by Joan Holub Acclaimed writer Joan Holub and Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet team up in this hilarious and exuberant retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, in which a brave, little red pencil finds her way through the many perils of writing a story, faces a ravenous pencil sharpener (the Wolf 3000)... and saves the day. Joan Holub has hundreds of pencils. Some are red. Others are glittery, sporty, or full of holiday cheer. They are all super sharp and good at...

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Enter to win an autographed copy of Goddess Girls, Book 12: Persephone the Daring. Giveaway begins September 20, 2013, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends October 18, 2013, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Enter to win a Little Red Writing prize pack. Giveaway begins September 15, 2013, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends October 13, 2013, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Best Selling Kids’ Books & New Releases

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 1, 2012

Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review and the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.

20 of the Best Kids Christmas Books

Oliver Jeffers on Writing, Illustrating, and Bookmaking

Christmas Board Books for Babies and Toddlers

How Picture Books Play a Role in a Child’s Development

20 Sites to Improve Your Child’s Literacy

THE NEW RELEASES

The most coveted books that release this month:

Pandora the Curious (Goddess Girls)

By Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

Ages 8-12

Huggy Kissy

By Leslie Patricelli

Ages 1-3

The Twilight Saga White Collection

By Stephenie Meyer

Ages 14 and up

The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers Book 5: Trust No One

By Linda Sue Park

Ages 9-12

Deadly Little Lessons

By Laurie Faria Stolarz

Ages 12-17

THE BEST SELLERS

The best selling children’s books this month:

PICTURE BOOKS

This Is Not My Hat

by Jon Klassen

Ages 4-8

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas

By Eric Litwin

Ages 4-8

Llama Llama Time to Share

By Anna Dewdney

Ages 3-5

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site

By Sherri Duskey Rinker (Author), Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)

Ages 4-8

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses

by Ian Falconer

(Ages 3-7)

_______

CHAPTER BOOKS

“Who Could That Be at This Hour?”

By Lemony Snicket

Ages 9-12

LEGO Ninjago: Character Encyclopedia

by DK Publishing

Ages 6-12

Lincoln’s Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever

by Bill O’Reilly

Ages 10-15

Wonder

by R.J. Palacio

Ages 8-12

Insurgent (Divergent)

by Veronica Roth

Ages 14 and up

_______

PAPERBACK BOOKS

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

Ages 14 and up

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

Ages 14 and up

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

Ages 14 and up

Thirteen Reasons Why

by Jay Asher

Ages 12 and up

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

Ages 12 and up

_______

SERIES BOOKS

Hunger Games Trilogy

By Suzanne Collins

Ages 12 and up

Dork Diaries

By Rachel Renee Russell

Ages 9-12

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

By Jeff Kinney

Ages 9 to 12

The Heroes of Olympus: The Demigod Diaries

by Rick Riordan

(Ages 10-14)

Matched Trilogy

By Ally Condie

Ages 14-17

This information was gathered from the New York Times Best Sellers list, which reflects the sales of books from books sold nationwide, including independent and chain stores. It is correct at the time of publication and presented in random order. Visit: www.nytimes.com.

Original article: Best Kids Stories – December 2013

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 7, 2012

Enter to win a copy of Suzanne Williams’ and Joan Holub’s first book in their newest series, Heroes in Training Book 1: Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom—plus a Heroes in Training bookmark.

After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series!

Giveaway begins August 7, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends September 4, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 6 and up

Paperback: 112 pages

Overview

The terrible Titans—merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans—have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe….

Ten-year-old Zeus is mystified (and super-annoyed) by the fact that he keeps getting hit by lightening. Every. Single. Year. He also longs for adventure, as he has never been far from the cave where he grew up.

Zeus gets his wish—and a lot more than he bargained for—when he is kidnapped by dangerous half-giants who work for evil King Cronus. After a harrowing sea journey and an escape, he is cornered in a temple in Delphi. In self-defense, he grabs the first thing he sees—an actual thunderbolt he pulls from a stone. Because of that feat, Zeus is soon off on a quest to rescue his youthful fellow Olympians from the clutches of the evil king Cronus. Armed with his trusty thunderbolt (named Bolt, of course), Zeus is on an adventure of a lifetime—and a journey to fulfill his destiny as King of the Gods.

About the Authors

Joan Holub is the author of 130 books for young readers, including Zero the Hero, Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars, and Shampoodle. She lives in North Carolina. Visit her at joanholub.com.

Suzanne Williams is the author of 35 books for young readers, including Library Lil, Ten Naughty Little Monkeys, and the Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power series. She lives near Seattle in Washington State. Visit her at suzanne-williams.com

Joan and Suzanne are co-authors of the the Goddess Girls series: Athena the Brain, Persephone the Phony, plus ten more titles, and the Heroes In Training series:Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom; Poseidon and the Sea of Fury (Jan. 2013), and two more titles.

How to Enter

• Fill out the required fields below

• Enter once daily

Giveaway Rules

• Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to all participants.
• Giveaway begins August 7, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends September 4, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 10, 2012

Enter to win an autographed copy of Suzanne Williams’ and Joan Holub’s Goddess Girls Super Special: The Girl Games.

Game on! It’s time for all young readers to embrace their mythical girl power and Olympic spirit!

Giveaway begins July 10, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends August 7, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 8 and up

Paperback: 320 pages

Overview: The first-ever standalone Super Special in the Goddess Girls series—let the games begin!

Athena, Persephone, Aphrodite, and Artemis are so annoyed at being left out of the annual boys-only Olympic Games. Their solution? The Girl Games! But as the Goddess Girls work to turn their dream into a reality, they come up against plenty of chaos, competition, and even the cutest kitten ever. Told in the four girls’ alternating points of view, this Super Special is packed with Olympic spirit!

About the authors:  Joan Holub is the author of 130 books for young readers, including Zero the Hero, Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars, and Shampoodle. She lives in North Carolina. Visit her at joanholub.com.

Suzanne Williams is the author of 35 books for young readers, including Library Lil, Ten Naughty Little Monkeys, and the Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power series. She lives near Seattle in Washington State. Visit her at suzanne-williams.com

Joan and Suzanne are co-authors of the the Goddess Girls series: Athena the Brain, Persephone the Phony, plus ten more titles, and the Heroes In Training series:Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom; Poseidon and the Sea of Fury (Jan. 2013), and two more titles.

How to enter:

• Fill out the required fields below

• Enter once daily

Giveaway Rules:

• Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to all participants with a US or Canadian mailing addresses.
• Giveaway begins July 10, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends August 7, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See official rules for details. View our privacy policy.

Prizing courtesy of Suzanne Willaims.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review<

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: April 1, 2012

Enter to win one of two autographed copies of Goddess Girls: Medusa the Mean (Book 8) by the talented author duo Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams.

Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills . . .

Giveaway begins April 1, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends April 14, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 8-12

Paperback: 245 pages

Book overview: The Goddess Girls series by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams puts a modern spin on classic Greek myths. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills . . .

Medusa wants to be more like her two sisters and the other kids at Mount Olympus Academy — immortal. Is that too much to ask? As one of the few mortals at MOA, it’s hard not to get jealous when you’re surrounded by beautiful, powerful goddessgirl and godboy classmates. And it isn’t easy making friends either, especially when you have snakes for hair and one mean reputation!

About the authors: Joan Holub is the author and/or illustrator of over 130 books for young readers and Suzanne Williams has written over 40 books for young readers. Visit Joan at www.joanholub.com and Suzanne at www.suzanne-williams.com

How to enter:

• Fill out the required fields below

• Maximum entries: Three (3)

Giveaway Rules:

• Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to all participants with a US mailing address.
• Giveaway begins April 1, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends April 14, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See official rules for details. View our privacy policy.

Sponsored by Joan Holub.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: March 1, 2012

Enter to win a signed copy of Zero the Hero by talented author Joan Holub and bestselling illsutrator Tom Lichtenheld.

Everyone loves a hero, right? And “nothing” beats a hero named Zero. The hero of this book will knock One’s socks off!

Giveaway begins March 1, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends March 29, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 6-10

Hardcover: 40 pages

Book overview: Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. That’s what all the other numbers think of Zero. He doesn’t add anything in addition. He’s of no use in division. And don’t even ask what he does in multiplication. (Hint: Poof!) But Zero knows he’s worth a lot, and when the other numbers get into trouble, he swoops in to prove that his talents are innumerable.

Publisher: Henry Holt / Macmillan

About the author: Joan Holub has authored over 100 children’s books, including Groundhog Weather School; Shampoodle; and Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars. She is also the co-author of the popular Goddess Girls series for ages 8-12. joanholub.blogspot.com

About the illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld is the illustrator of the New York Times-bestselling books, Goodnight Goodnight, Construction Site; Duck! Rabbit!; and Shark vs. Train. tomlichtenheld.com

How to enter:

• Fill out the required fields below

• Maximum entries: Three (3)

Giveaway Rules:

• Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to all participants with a US mailing address.
• Giveaway begins March 1, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends March 29, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See official rules for details. View our privacy policy.

Sponsored by Joan Holub.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 9, 2011

Enter to win a signed copy of Goddess Girls #7: Artemis the Loyal by Suzanne Williams & Joan Holub. This dynamic writing duo give classic myths from the Greek pantheon a modern twist that contemporary tweens can relate to!

Giveaway begins December 9, 2011, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends January 6, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 8-12

Paperback: 288 pages

Book overview: It’s time for the annual Olympic Games, and the four goddessgirls are not happy–especially Artemis. Even though she’s better at sports than most of the godboys, she can’t compete because rules say the Games are boys-only. No fair!

Led by Artemis, Athena, Persphone and Aphrodite, the ladies of Mount Olympus hatch a plan to get Zeus to open up the games to everyone. Will they succeed–or end up watching from the sidelines again?

About the Goddess Girls series: These classic myths from the Greek pantheon are given a modern twist that contemporary tweens can relate to, from dealing with bullies like Medusa to a first crush on an unlikely boy. Goddess Girls follows four goddesses-in-training – Athena, Persephone, Aphrodite, and Artemis – as they navigate the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.

“…a clever take on Greek deities…” ~ Booklist

“…an enchanting mythological world with middle-school woes compounded by life as a deity…” ~ School Library Journal

Next to come: Medusa the Mean (April 2012)

About the authors:

Joan Holub is the author of over 130 books including eight in the Goddess Girls series: Athena the Brain, Persephone the Phony, Aphrodite the Beauty, Artemis the Brave, Athena the Wise, Aphrodite the Diva, Artemis the Loyal, Medusa the Mean. (ages 8-12; co-written with pal Suzanne Williams). Coming soon: Zero the Hero (illus by Tom Lichtenheld 2-2012, Henry Holt & Co); Wagons Ho! (Albert Whitman & Co 2011); Who Was Babe Ruth? (2012). Her other books include: Groundhog Weather School; Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars; and The Gingerbread Kid Goes to School.

Visit her at http://www.joanholub.com and http://joanholub.blogspot.com.

Suzanne Williams has written over 30 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives in Renton,Washington (near Seattle). Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children’s choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. Her most recent series are Princess Power (ages 8 – 12), Fairy Blossoms (ages 7 – 10), and the popular Goddess Girls (ages 8 &n

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 1, 2011

Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.

Kids’ Christmas Books: For the Naughty & Nice

Cedella Marley Inspires with “One Love”

Author Interview: Gary Paulsen

Review: Scat by Carl Hiaasen

Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online

The most coveted books that release this month:

Witch & Wizard: The Fire

by James Patterson and  Jill Dembowski

(Ages 11-15)

Big Nate and Friends

by Lincoln Peirce

(Ages 8-12)

Artemis the Loyal (Goddess Girls)

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

(Ages 8-12)

Pretty Little Liars #10: Ruthless

by Sara Shepard

(Ages 14-17)

THE BEST SELLERS

The best selling children’s books this month:

PICTURE BOOKS

Home for Christmas

by Jan Brett

(Ages 0-5)

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: October 9, 2011

Are you looking for some spooky fun for your favorite little monster? Enter to win a signed copy of Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book by Joan Holub, published by Scholastic. Giveaway begins October 9, 2011, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends November 6, 2011, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 1-6

Lift-the-flap boardbook: 24 pages

Book overview: From a ghost that says Boo! to an owl that hoots Whooo? young children will love guessing what’s beneath each over-sized flap in this adorable novelty book. There is a fun riddle to read and a flap to lift on every spread, plus a mylar mirror on the last page to provide hours of spooky fun for your favorite little monster!

About the author: Joan Holub is the author of 130+ books for children, including the Goddess Girls tween series with co-author Suzanne Williams; Shampoodle; and Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars. Visit her at http://joanholub.blogspot.com/ or http://www.joanholub.com.

How to enter:

• Fill out the required fields below

• Maximum entries: Three (3)

Giveaway Rules:

• Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to participants with a United States address.

• Giveaway begins October 9, 2011, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends November 6, 2011, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See official rules for details. View our privacy policy.

Sponsored by Joan Holub.

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©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 17, 2011

Calling all contemporary tweens! Enter to win a copy of Goddess Girls #6: Aphrodite the Diva by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams—a classic Greek myth with a modern twist. Will Aphrodite end up proving she’s a diva with more beauty than brains? We have one (1) signed copy to giveaway to one lucky reader! Giveaway begins August 17, 2011, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends September 15, 2011, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 8-12
Paperback: 220 pages

About the Goddess Girls series: These classic myths from the Greek pantheon are given a modern twist that contemporary tweens can relate to, from dealing with bullies like Medusa to a first crush on an unlikely boy. Goddess Girls follows four goddesses-in-training—Athena, Persephone, Aphrodite, and Artemis—as they navigate the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.

“…a clever take on Greek deities…” ~ Booklist

“…an enchanting mythological world with middle-school woes compounded by life as a deity…” ~ School Library Journal

Book overview: After a teeny misunderstanding in class, Aphrodite is failing Hero-ology. To raise her grade, she concocts a brilliant plan—an extra-credit project for matchmaking mortals. This brings her face-to-face with fierce competition—an Egyptian goddessgirl named Isis. Now the race is on to see which of them can matchmake Pygmalion—the most annoying boy ever! Will Aphrodite wind up making a passing grade after all? Or will she end up proving she’s a diva with more beauty than brains?

About Joan Holub: Joan Holub is the author of over 130 books including eight in the Goddess Girls series: Athena the Brain, Persephone the Phony, Aphrodite the Beauty, Artemis the Brave, Athena the Wise, Aphrodite the Diva, Artemis the Loyal, Medusa the Mean (ages 8-12; co-written with pal Suzanne Williams). Coming soon: Zero the Hero (illus by Tom Lichtenheld 2-2012, Henry Holt & Co); Wagons Ho! (Albert Whitman & Co 2011); Who Was Babe Ruth? (2012). Her other books include: Groundhog Weather School; Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars; and The Gingerbread Kid Goes to School.

Visit her at http://www.joanholub.com and http://joanholub.blogspot.com.

About Suzanne Williams: Suzanne Williams has written over 30 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives in Renton,Washington (near Seattle). Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children’s choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. Her most recent series are Princess Power (ages 8 – 12), Fairy Blossoms (ages 7 – 10), and the popular Goddess Girls (ages 8 – 12, with co-author Joan Holub.) You can visit her at her website: www.suzanne-williams.com and

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 1, 2011

Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.

20 Sites to Improve Your Child’s Literacy

Learning How To Read

Review: Scat by Carl Hiaasen

Superhero Books: Batman, Superman, Spider-Man

Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online

THE NEW RELEASES

The most coveted books that release this month:

Llama Llama Home with Mama

by Anna Dewdney

(Ages 1-5)

The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers: Book 1: The Medusa Plot

by Gordon Korman

(Ages 8-12)

Big Nate on a Roll

by Lincoln Peirce

(Ages 8-11)

Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book

by Tom Angleberger

(Ages 9-12)

Aphrodite the Diva (Goddess Girls)

by Joan Holub

(Ages 8-12)

THE BEST SELLERS

The best selling children’s books this month:

PICTURE BOOKS

Skippyjon Jones, Class Action

by Judy Schachner

(Ages 3-7)