Fall 2014 – Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.

Blog Tour for “Murphy, Gold Rush Dog”

Peachtree Publishers — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 19:57:00 +0000

An action-packed and heartwarming story of a dog in gold rush-era Alaska

All Murphy wants is a home and a loving family. After escaping from his brutal, merciless owner, he is taken in by a young girl named Sally. She and her mother have just arrived in Nome, Alaska, intent on joining the other gold seekers and making a new life for themselves, free from their wealthy but oppressive family in Seattle.

Yet, even with Murphy at their side, Sally and Mama find living in the mining town harsh and forbidding. When it seems they may have to give up and return to Seattle, Sally and Murphy decide to strike out on their own, hoping to find gold and make a permanent home. But dangers await them – not only blizzards and grizzly bears, but also Murphy’s original owner, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, whether it is an ill-gotten fortune or a valuable dog.

Alison Hart is the author of more than forty books for young readers, including Emma’s River, Anna’s Blizzard, and the Racing to Freedom trilogy. Hart is a teacher at Blue Ridge Community College and lives in Virginia. You can visit Alison Hart’s website here.

Michael G. Montgomery has illustrated numerous children’s books. He attended Georgia Southern University and the University of Georgia. Montgomery lives in Georgia. You can visit Michael G. Montgomery’s website here.

Follow Murphy on his Alaskan adventure:

Tuesday, 10/21- Geo Librarian
Wednesday, 10/22- Chat with Vera
Thursday, 10/23- The 4th Musketeer & Blue Owl
Friday, 10/24- Sally’s Bookshelf

Blog Tour for “Claude on the Slopes”

Peachtree Publishers — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:04:00 +0000

Claude is no ordinary dog – he leads an extraordinary life!

Claude and his best friend Sir Bobblysock go to the Snowy Mountains to swish down the powdery slopes. They throw snowballs, learn to ski, and enter a snow-sculpture contest. But when an avalanche threatens their winter wonderland, Claude must come to the rescue.

After briefly considering careers in space travel, cookery, and being a rabbit, Alex T. Smith finally decided to become an illustrator. He graduated from Coventry University with a degree in illustration and won second place in the Macmillan Prize for Children’s Illustration. He lives in England.

You can visit Alex T. Smith’s website here.

School Library Journal warns children who have not met Claude and his best friend Sir Bobblysock to expect delightful mayhem and hilarity. Get to know Claude on this Blog Tour!

Monday,10/13- Picture Book to YA & The Write Path
Tuesday, 10/14- Geo Librarian & Kit Lit Reviews
Wednesday, 10/15- Chat with Vera
Thursday, 10/16- The 4th Musketeer
Friday, 10/17- Librarian in Cute Shoes

Blog Tour for “Can I Come Too?”

Peachtree Publishers — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 18:16:00 +0000

Join a tiny mouse as she searches for the biggest creature in the world.

A very small mouse sets out to find something special – the biggest creature in the world. Along the way she meets a menagerie of animals, including a frog, a badger, and a tiger. But which is the biggest of all? Follow their journey in this gentle cumulative tale from a world-renowned author and artist team.

Brian Patten is the author of The Big Snuggle-Up, as well as several poetry collections for children. He lives in England.You can visit Brian Patten’s website here.

Nicola Bayley has illustrated many acclaimed picture books for children, including The Big Snuggle-Up and The Jungle Book. She lives in England.

School Library Journal notes that this cumulative tale has “meticulously executed colored-pencil illustrations, whether of feather or fur, ferns or foxgloves, are so exquisite that children will become lost in them. Stunning art, paired with a simple poetic text, pulls readers along as they wonder which animal they will meet next.”

Follow along the Blog Tour:

Monday 10/6 Green Bean Teen Queen
Tuesday 10/7- Geo Librarian & Kid Lit Reviews
Wednesday 10/8- Chat with Vera
Thursday 10/9- Blue Owl & The Fourth Musketeer
Friday 10/10 Sally’s Bookshelf

Blog Tour for Charlie Bumpers vs. the Squeaking Skull

Peachtree Publishers — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 15:54:00 +0000

It’s true what Kirkus Reviews says! “Charlie Bumers is back on the scene, “scaring himself into another life lesson” with his fourth- grade friends.

Can Charlie face his fear of horror movies and enjoy Halloween?

Charlie and Tommy have big plans for Halloween. They’re going to trick-or-treat and sleep over at Alex’s house. But when Charlie finds out that the entertainment at the party will be the “Scariest Horror Movies Ever,” he is struck by panic. Charlie loves candy, he loves sleepovers with his friends, but he absolutely hates horror movies.

Bill Harley is a two-time Grammy Award-winning storyteller, musician, and writer who has been writing and performing for kids and families for more than twenty years. He is the recipient of Parents’ Choice and ALA awards. Bill won a 2007 Grammy Award for his children’s storytelling album Blah Blah Blah and a 2009 Grammy Award for his children’s spoken-word album Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live. He lives in Massachusetts.

Adam Gustavson has illustrated sixteen books for children, including Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt!and Snow Day!. He lives in New Jersey.

Check out our Blog Tour:

Monday 9/22- Picture Books to YA & The Write Path

Tuesday 9/23- Geo Librarian & Kid Lit Reviews

Wednesday 9/24- Kiss the Book

Thursday 9/25- Blue Owl

Friday 9/26- The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog

Blog Tour for “Pig and Small”

Peachtree Publishers — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 14:37:00 +0000

Two friends learn that size doesn’t matter in this hilarious story about finding common ground.

Pig and Bug just want to be friends. But their size difference is proving to be a BIG problem. Pig wants to play games – but Bug is too small. Bug wants to make things for his friend – but Pig is too big!

Just as they’ve given up all hope for their friendship, Pig has an idea…

But will it work?

(Yes, it will!)

Alex Latimer lives near the border of a national park so when not writing or drawing, he spends his free time shooing baboons out of his lounge. The Boy Who Cried Ninja is his first book for children. He lives in South Africa. Publishers Weekly Reviews notes that “Latimer (Lion vs. Rabbit), whose deadpan visual comedy is always a treat, once again proves he’s adept at conveying life lessons with the lightest of touches.”

School Library Journal recommends this humorous tale of unusual friendship for storytime, especially for the big bright illustrations. See what our bloggers say!

Monday 9/15- Green Bean Teen Queen

Tuesday 9/16- Geo Librarian, & Kid Lit Reviews

Wednesday 9/17- Chat with Vera

Thursday 9/18- The Fourth Musketeer

Friday 9/19- Sally’s Bookshelf

Blog Tour for “Stanley’s Garage”

Peachtree Publishers — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 13:25:00 +0000

Can Stanley fix all the cars in his garage today?

Stanley is working at his garage. From filling up Hattie’s red speedster with gas to changing the tire on Shamus and Little Woo’s blue station wagon, it sure is a busy day. As his friends each come in with their car problems, Stanley knows just what to do to get them back on the road.

School Library Journal states “Bee’s uncluttered and boldly colored illustrations feature thick black outlines and plenty of white space, making everything easy to see. This layout perfectly suits the one or two lines of text (or occasionally no text) found on each page. These simple books are great choices for younger kids to start looking at jobs, identifying colors, and hanging out with Stanley and his mice friends.” What do you think? Follow along the Blog Tour:

Monday 9/8- Green Bean Teen Queen

Tuesday 9/9- Jean Little Library, Geo Librarian, & Kid Lit Reviews

Wednesday 9/10- Chat withVera

Thursday 9/11- Blue Owl

Blog Tour for “Stanley the Builder”

Peachtree Publishers — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:00:00 +0000

Meet Stanley, an adorable an industrious hamster, who makes his debut on this side of the pond this month! Author/ illustrator William Bee has created a charming cast of character who live in a busy world in this new series. Young readers transitioning from board books to picture books will gravitate to his bold illustrations and simple text that tell stories of occupations and machines. School Library Journal also recommends this series as early readers for “slightly older children”.

When Myrtle buys a plot of land, she asks Stanley to build her a new house. He works step by step—from clearing the site with a bulldozer, to pouring the foundation, to painting the finished house in Myrtle’s favorite colors. Luckily, Charlie helps out too. Building houses is hard work, but all three friends are happy with a job well done.

Kirkus Reviews comments, “Stanley and his fellow rodents are adorable, their dot eyes and line mouths expressing emotion, though without much nuance. Nonetheless, little listeners are sure to come back to Stanley over and over, as he explores jobs and uses equipment sure to pique their interest.” We hope you like Stanley, too!

Get to know Stanley and his friends on this blog tour:

Monday 9/1- Green Bean Teen Queen

Tuesday 9/2- Jean Little Library, Geo Librarian, & Kid Lit Reviews

Wednesday 9/3- Chat withVera

Thursday 9/4- Kiss the Book & Blue Owl

Friday 9/5- The Fourth Musketeer

Blog Tour for “Double Reverse”

Peachtree Publishers — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 13:00:00 +0000

This week we will take a closer look at our Fred Bowen Sport Series with his latest middle grade title for Football fans, Double Reverse.

Jesse is experienced as a wide receiver – but can he play against type and help his new team as a quarterback?

The Franklin High Panthers need a new quarterback. Freshman Jesse Wagner knows the plays, but he feels he is too small to be QB material. Jesse’s brother Jay has a problem of his own: his college coach wants him to switch from quarterback to safety. The brothers agree on a deal: Jesse will try out for quarterback, and Jay will try playing safety. Meanwhile, Jesse and his teammates recruit an unlikely kicker for their team – a girl named Savannah.

Kirkus Reviews suggests this tale for the “reluctant reader who is captivated by football… There’s plenty of descriptive action on the field and even a few diagrams of different key plays to enhance the text…The simple sentences and basic vocabulary of this novel will be attractive to struggling readers.An apt choice to surprise a young football fan with the power of words.”

Do you know a young reader who fits that description? See what our reviewers have to say about Double Reverse:

Monday 8/11 TheWrite Path

Tuesday 8/12 Kid LitReviews and Geo Librarian

Wednesday 8/13 Librarian in Cute Shoes

Blog Tour for “About Parrots”

Peachtree Publishers — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Our first stop on the Fall 2014 Blog tour is About Parrots! John and Cathryn Sill deliver the latest in this acclaimed series showcasing the natural world of parrots.

Through simple language and beautifully detailed paintings, this guide describes the characteristics of different types of parrots – from the colorful Blue Lorikeets of the Polynesian Islands to the Rosy-faced Lovebirds of southwestern Africa.

Kirkus Reviews calls this “uniquely attractive work…an appealing and comprehensive introduction” for readers ages 3-8. The information is masterfully “portrayed in clear, vivid watercolor illustrations with a simple text describing physical characteristics and habitats.”

Here is the tour schedule:

Monday 8/4- JeanLittle Library

Tuesday 8/5- GeoLibrarian and Kid Lit Reviews

Wednesday 8/6- Chat with Vera

Thursday 8/7- Blue Owl and Kid Lit Frenzy

Friday 8/8- TheFourth Musketeer

Blog Tour for Fall 2014!

Peachtree Publishers — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Blog Tour for our Fall Titles! We have an exciting list of titles for this season that we’re happy to share with you, thanks to the help of our dedicated volunteers of librarians, children’s literature specialists, and educators. They have received advanced reading copies of this season’s titles and will be the guides on this literary tour. They will provide honest reviews, sneak peaks, author interviews, and giveaways!

Blog Tour Schedule

About Parrots August 4- August 8

Double Reverse August 11 – August 13

Stanley the Builder September 1- September 5

Stanley’s Garage September 8- September 12

Pig and Small September 15- September 19

Charlie Bumpers vs. the Squeaking Skull September 22- September 26

Can I Come Too? October 6- October 10

Claude on the Slopes October 13- October 17

Murphy, Gold Rush Dog October 20-October 24

Stay tuned!