🍃CONGRATS to WINNERS for this PARTY SITE🍃
- $10 Amazon Gift Card—Marlena Hand
- e-Book copy of DOG BONE SOUP—Jo Robinson
- e-Book copy of PURE TRASH—P. H. Solomon
- Paperback copy of AMAZING MATILDA—Micki Peluso
- Paperback copy of THE TANGRAM ZOO & WORD PUZZLES TOO!—Yvette M. Calleiro
Welcome to Rave Reviews Book Club’s “BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOK & BLOG BLOCK PARTY” at author Bette A. Stevens’s website/blog 4writersandreaders ONLINE! Location: Hartland, Maine where five (5) awesome prizes will be giving away today—September 10th!
Hi and thanks so much for visiting my blog and joining RRBC’s September “Book & Blog Block Party” today. To ENTER today’s GIVEAWAY, simply read along and leave a comment at the bottom of this post. You’ll get a glimpse into my books and find a short author bio too. As a writer inspired by nature and human nature, I continue to advocate for children and families, for childhood literacy and for monarch butterflies and their environment. To find out more about my books and poetry I invite you to explore my blog. I feature fellow authors and their books, share helpful writing tips and inspirational posts from my writer/blogger friends too. I hope you enjoy your visit! ~ Bette A. Stevens
Prizes Bette’s giving away today!
- One $10 Amazon Gift Card
- One e-Book copy of DOG BONE SOUP
- One e-Book copy of PURE TRASH
- One Paperback copy of AMAZING MATILDA
- One Paperback copy of THE TANGRAM ZOO & WORD PUZZLES TOO!
Number of winners for this stop: 5!
BOOK BLURBS:
“DOG BONE SOUP is not only a fabulous title for a novel, it’s also the staple diet of the young hero, Shawn Daniels. But it takes more than an impoverished family life, exacerbated by a drunken father, to keep our Shawn and his brothers and sisters down.” ~ Charles Bray (MG/YA/Adult coming-of-age historical fiction)
- Click here to READ CHAPTER ONE now!
“PURE TRASH (Short story prequel to DOG BONE SOUP) is an emotional and soul-searching short story read. Compassion is a beautiful thing.” ~Amazon reviewer
“How can so much imagery fit in such a small space? A host of human emotions and an entire era are crammed within a handful of pages. What’s even more impressive, is that it’s all accomplished from the point of view of a simple boy.” ~ Nicholas Rossis
- Click here to READ OPENING EXCERPT now!
Inspire the kids with AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning Monarch Butterfly picture book adventure! (ages 4-11)
- CLICK, WATCH & LISTEN as “Blossom” (author Pamela Beckford) reads AMAZING MATILDA—with permission from author Bette A. Stevens—for United Way literacy campaign.
Encourage the kids (elementary and middle-graders) with THE TANGRAM ZOO & Word Puzzles Too!—a great resource for home or school. Puzzles, poetry, reading, research, writing and projects too!
- “I’ve used The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! in my classroom with students(grades 4-8))—The Zoo is a great resource for integrating research and creative writing into a math or science curriculum. One of the project ideas included in the book is for the kids to create their own tangram animals to add to The Zoo… and write their own rhyming riddles. It’s hands-on learning that’s creative and lots of fun!” ~ Bette A. Stevens
Author Bio:
Inspired by nature and human nature, author Bette A. Stevens is a retired elementary and middle school teacher, a wife, mother of two and grandmother of five. Stevens lives in Central Maine with her husband on their 37-acre farmstead where she enjoys writing, gardening, walking and reveling in the beauty of nature. She advocates for children and families, for childhood literacy and for the conservation of monarch butterflies—an endangered species (and milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat).
Stevens is the author of AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning picture book; The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!, a home/school resource incorporating hands-on math and writing; and PURE TRASH, the short story prequel to her début novel, DOG BONE SOUP, a Boomer’s coming of age novel published in January 2015.
You’ll find all of my books on YOUR AMAZON. Once again, thanks for stopping by—don’t forget to share your thoughts and comment below to enter the giveaway. Good luck on winning one of the five prizes! I’ll see you at the next stop of this awesome Rave Reviews Book Club “BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOK & BLOG BLOCK PARTY” ~ Bette A. Stevens
To read excerpts from Bette’s books, find her poetry and some excellent writing tips or perhaps learn more about monarch butterflies and download some cool freebies about them (top of blog tabs), simply click the link below and explore her blog…
Comments on: "RRBC Back to School Book & Blog Block Party!" (99)
Hi Bette! Sorry I missed the RRBC party yesterday – looks like you all had a blast!
Best of luck with your Blog and your books!
ML
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Hi, Michael. Thanks for stopping by and for the well wishes too! 🙂
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I whoosh I had written these
I know a little about the mobile but not enough it seems did not know about the milkweed
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Bette, so glad & excited to see you participating in the Block Party. Thank you for a great post!! Enjoy the rest of the party!! 🙂
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Hi, Marlena. Great to have you stop by to party…It’s been a blast thanks to #RRBC friends like you! 🙂
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Wow, Bette, each time I visit I am impressed again by the loveliness of this site. What wonderful guests you have and I am proud to know more of them each day. It looks like you are having way more fun than the average bear.:) So glad I got to stop by and read all your posts.
You’re the best!
Micki
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Hey, Micki. Great to have YOU at my Party… Talking about the best, when it comes to writers and friends, you get top billing in my book! HUGS… ❤
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Hi Bette,
It’s lovely to learn a little more about you and the inspiration behind your work! I just have to say your picture poetry is absolutely beautiful. So very peaceful. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Natalie. I’m now following your poetry book page while enjoying and sharing your lovely poetry too! Have an amazing weekend! 🙂
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Thanks for the peek into your books – keep plugging on the early literacy!
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Hi, Christa. Thanks for joining the party. 🙂 You’re right on! Literacy is the key and we’ve got to hook all of our kids early and keep giving them what they love. It may take a village, but every ‘one-on-one-on-one” (adult/child/book) can make it happen. 🙂 We’ll keep plugging! 🙂
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Bette, we thank our dear friend, the late Kathryn Treat for you. You are one of those special JULES in our midst, here at RRBC. Great post, love the site, each and every time I visit. Hope you’re enjoying the party, it seems to be going really well here! And what an A-list crowd you have!
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Oh, Nonnie… How I miss our dear Kathryn. I do want to donate more books in her honor and will do so soon. How blessed we are all to have had her cheering us all on, even only for a brief time. Her memory lives on in RRBC and in each one of us.
So glad you stopped by to join the party at my place. Appreciate your gracious comments, your ongoing support, and all of the awesome ways Rave Reviews Rocks for us all. I’m rockin’ and rollin’ at my party thanks to each and every one of the A-list party goers here. HAPPY PARTYING all of SEPTEMBER…ANOTHER great idea from you and RRBC, Nonnie. 🙂
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You have a very nice-looking site, and your books sound interesting. 🙂
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Thanks, Michelle. So glad you came to the party! 🙂
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Hey, Bette! Nice job on the block party stop today. I enjoyed learning more about your books.
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Thanks, my friend! 🙂
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Hi, Bette! Your site is very nice. So, clean and not near as cluttered as mine! Good luck!
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Thanks for the compliment, Bruce. My site is always a work in progress and I had to spruce it up for the Party. I enjoy your writing and your fantastic music too, my multi-talented friend. Appreciate the support from you and all of my other #RRBC friends. So glad to stopped by! 🙂
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Hello, Bette! What a great blog and post. I send best wishes to you on this day! May you find great success.
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Thanks, Beem. Happy you could join the party, my friend! 🙂
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Ahh, I knew there was a reason I smiled as soon as I got to your blog. Even with the dramatic pieces, you also have fun ones too. Then I saww that you are a kindred spirit in the fact that you survived the MS classroom. I’m one of those crazies that loved teaching MS. Plus, I had to laugh when I saw you’re from Maine. My dad was from Caribou and many family members remain throughout the state. I miss the detour trip to Bar Harbor as a kid =)
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Hi, Janelle. Wow..small world after all. Thrilled to meet another ‘crazy tween/teen kid lover’ who admits it. Yay! And, can you believe we’ve got that Maine connection too… We’ve got to keep in touch! Thanks so much for stopping by to party. I’ve had a ‘wicked good’ time. 🙂
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Hi Bette! Its nice to see you again.Very nice prizes. I want the amazon gift card. I have some of your books; I don’t have “Dog Bone Soup.” Love that title.
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Always great to see, Shirley. I’ve got Our Lady of Victory on my TBR and look forward to the read. #RRBC is a great place to meet authors, discover great books and make new friends who are as supportive as you. So glad we’ve connected and hope you enjoy my books. Have a great week! 🙂
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Hi Bette. Nice to see you on the Back to School Blog Party. I don’t recall visiting your blog before so it was a worthwhile stop for me.
Best of luck to you today with all your visitors
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Great site and post, Bette ! Thanks for sharing a bit of you with all of us!
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Thanks for joining the party at my place, Marc. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Page.
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THANKS! 🙂 ❤
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Your books sound interesting, Bette. I have “Dog Bone Soup” in my TRB list and hope to get to it soon. Your “The Tangram Zoo” sounds perfect for my 5 years old grandson too. Perhaps it can get at least one more interested in reading. And I love butterflies, and I used to collect figurines of them.
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Hi, Kim. Thanks for joining The Party…my head’s spinning and I’m delighted to get to chat with old friends and meet new ones too. That’s RRBC for you–“Best Book Club on the Planet (in my book)!” Five is a perfect age to get our little ones excited about reading. It’s the perfect time to enthrall them with the fun and beauty of words. Here are a few from me:
Dr. Seuss is the #1 kidlit guru to be sure
Even grownups never get too old to say,
“Let’s read some more!”
~ Bette
p.s.Have lots of fun getting your little grandboy hooked on books!
I’ve always found reading with and to kids is a symbiotic experience… the ultimate win-win.
Thanks so much for your support and encouragement. 🙂
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Bette–I love the concept behind The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! I’m ordering it today! I hope you garner many fans at your party today!
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Thanks so much for your support, Rebecca. Meeting lots of friends old and new at the party and so glad you could join in. I hope you enjoy The Tangram Zoo… and I look forward to supporting you as well. Have a great week, my friend! 🙂
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Hi, Bette! So glad that your bright and beautiful blog and wonderful books are sweeping up a whole bunch of new fans for you and your books today – it really is the best thing about this RRBC party, even if you were already a regular visitor 😉
Writing for kids in an engaging and interactive way is tough, even if you’ve worked with them – we truly need more people like you who manage to charm as they educate and make reading a true joy at the earliest age for the new generations. Have a ball here today and no doubt I’ll see you tomorrow! 😀
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Great party! So glad you could make it…Thanks for your continued support and encouraging words. It’s been a great meet and greet for old friends and new. #RRBC rocks and so do you! 🙂
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Great website! I love your trailers and your bright colors! Very inspirational to kids, moms and educators! I’m gonna get Dog Bone Soup! Have a wonderful tour day!
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Hi, Ernestine. Thanks for the lovely shout-out; I do hope you enjoy my book. So glad you could join the party! 🙂
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As always, Bette, I LOVE visiting your site! I’ve read all your books except for Tangram Zoo, and I love your blog posts. Hope you have a great book and blog block party! Thanks for being such an inspiration 🙂
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Rockin’ & Rollin’ with old friends and new. We can always count on Nonnie & our fab Rave Reviews Book Club members (like you) to keep the momentum going. So glad you stopped by to Happy Dance the day away. You’re an inspiration too! 🙂 p.s. See you tomorrow and every day this month. Parties…parties…parties. Yup, we’re having a ball! 🙂
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Bette – You got me. Nice site. I lived in Plymouth, Maine for years back in the 70s. I owned an organic farm and taught in the Newport School district. I also toured with my good buddy, legendary Maine humorist Tim Sample and the Dubious Brothers. Ayuh!!!
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Small world, my newly disclosed nearly (former) neighbor. And a buddy of Tim Sample’s too. Wow…I’m impressed, ayuh! Fun to reminisce about ‘the good ole days’ and find we share a few common denominators. Small world, indeed. Happy to hear you enjoyed the PAHHHTIE. 🙂
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Pretty site, Bette. You give this first time visitor the feeling of visiting a favorite aunt. Best wishes on your Block Party day.
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Thanks, Jonna. Delighted to meet new friends and so glad you stopped by. Enjoy your week! 🙂
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I always love visiting your site, Bette! You are so supportive, and you deserve a wonderful, active day today – and I have no doubt that’s exactly what you’ll have!
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Having lots of fun and so glad you stopped by, Bethany. Looking forward to one of your books, it’s getting up there on my TBR. Thanks for your support as well, my #RRBC author friend! 🙂
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Good looking site. Lots of activity and interest
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Thanks, Michael. Glad you stopped by! 🙂
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I must echo many of your other visitors here today, Bette, that your site is always a delight to visit – colourful and cheerful with all kinds of interesting things to see. Would it sound strange for me to say, as a fellow retired teacher, that I wish I had you for a teacher when I was in elementary school? I’m glad you continue to share your talents with new generations of children – and with old kids like me! Have a ball at your party, Bette!!
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Thanks so much for the lovely compliment, my talented teacher/author/RRBC friend. Much like you, each of my students holds a special place in my heart and I still enjoy reading to kids and ‘talking books’ with them. I’ve been blessed! Having a blast at my party and thank you for your awesome support! 🙂
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What a beautiful blog post for the party! I hope you’re enjoying your day, Bette. Your book Dog Bone Soup looks very interesting!
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Hi, Renae. It’s been a great day and I’m so glad you dropped in to help me party the day away. Thanks! 🙂
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Loved how you organized this site, Bette – and how focused you are in your choice of subject matter in your work. Congratulations and enjoy today’s blog party!
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Thanks so much for stopping by to PARTY, Lisa. I’m having a great time and happy to hear you’ve enjoyed the visit, too. Appreciate your thoughtful comment, my friend. Happy reading & writing! 🙂
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Great post and I can’t stop raving (so to speak) about Dog Bone Soup. Wonderful book and so well written.
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Thanks for the “Party Rave,” John. Your support and encouragement mean a lot, my #RRBC friend! Can’t wait for your sequel to MY GRL to come out…sure to be another ‘edge of my seat’ thriller! 🙂
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Thanks Bette.
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I’ve read PURE TRASH, DOG BONE SOUP, and AMAZING MATILDA – fabulous books!
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Many thanks for all of your continued support, Michelle. I love your book reviews and enjoy finding great new reads and recommending them to friends and followers. You’re a reviewer we can count on! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks, Bette. You’ve made my day.
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These books are so different yet all Amazing in their own right, just like “Amazing Matilda.” Thanks for being a part of the Back to School Giveaway.
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Thanks for joining the party and for the ‘shout-out’, my amazing author friend! ❤
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You’re living the dream! Retired, writing and living on a farm….how awesome! I live on the opposite side of the country but love visiting the farms in Washington and sampling all the fresh produce. You’re books sound wonderful and I’m adding them to my reading list. Have fun with the Block Party!
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Hi, Tara. We are living the dream and loving it! Although we did get to spend six years iner CA (love the Pacific Coast too) and traveled the coastal highway from San Diego all the way through Washington and drove cross country by southern, central and northern routes. Our nation’s awesome beauty abounds everywhere. We loved Washington and were surprised ethe diversity as we traversed the state. Thanks so much for adding my books and for stopping by to party, my friend! 🙂
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I want to go to your state so badly! You probably hear this all the time, but I’ve loved the idea of Maine ever since Hawkeye talked about it so rhapsodically on M*A*S*H.
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Bet you’d love it up here, Joe. I know we do. After being ‘away’ for ten years, we’re back to stay! Thanks for stopping by and have a great week! 🙂
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Hi, Fellow Traveller. Hope you are enjoying your party day as much as I am enjoying mine. Great that you are promoting reading for children. In an age where electronics seems to substitute for everything, people with your spirit are sorely needed.
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Thanks, Brian. I enjoyed your awesome new blog site and wish you much success with your books, my new friend! 🙂
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Shared your post on Facebook Group Forum Writers and Authors. I have a lot of members there who have children. Thank you.
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Thanks for your continued support, Sharon and for the ‘shout-out’ about my party. Have an amazing week, my friend! ❤
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Nice collection of titles. I enjoyed your post today.
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Thanks for the thoughtful comment, my friend! 🙂
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Sorry, typing too fast … **I meant – I am very particular about children’s stories. I’m sure you know what I meant, though 🙂
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Your support means a lot, Traci. So glad you liked my story! 🙂
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I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Amazing Matilda’ here Bette. I would have known you had an education background, even if you hadn’t mentioned it on your site – a fellow children’s writer knows these things 🙂 The descriptions, the language, and the flow of the story was nothing short of enchanting. I love that it has an underlying lesson without being preachy. That’s the same style of my children’s writing. We have a lot in common. My favorite part of the story was the way you chose to describe Matilda while she was in the cocoon. I don’t think I’ve ever read that before and butterflies are my favorite! Great job! I will be purchasing this book for my children in care. I’ve been teaching for more than thirteen years, and I am very particular are children’s stories. I would rank this one right up there with my two favorites – ‘The Kissing Hand’ series by Audrey Penn, and pretty much anything by Eric Carle. Enjoy your blog celebration today! I’m already a follower 🙂
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Hi, Traci. Thanks for stopping by to party today. Your thoughtful comment is a gift for me… Enjoy your amazing kids 🙂 and have a fabulous week, my #RRBC friend. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Follow the magic! Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
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Hi Bette, great site and books! Thanks for sharing!
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Hi, Stevie. Thanks so much for your support! 🙂
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Hi Bette, after reading Matilda, I got more of your books in line on my Kindle. At the rate I’m going, it won’t be too late until I get to them. Have a wonder party. I’m sure you will. It is already kicking!. 🙂
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Hi, Jen. Sure appreciate your support, my awesome #RRBC author friend! I loved Tears in the Sun and look forward to reading more… Thanks for taking time to party with me today! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Poetry by Pamela and commented:
Amazing Bette and Amazing Matilda!
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Thanks so much, Pamela. You are amazing too! 🙂
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Maine is on my bucket list of places to visit! Now I can say I’ve been there virtually. 😉
I love how many of your books focus on the little kids and encouraging them to love reading and interacting with books. I teach intensive reading in high school, and it saddens me how many of my students never learned to love reading as a kid. So, thank you for doing your part to try to bring a love of reading to the little ones. 🙂
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Hi, Yvette. So glad you stopped to visit. There’s nothing like the joy in the eyes of our little ones when we carry them away with a great story. Thanks for doing your part too. Working with older kids is challenging. I found with my ESL Middle School learners, thatto they too enjoy great picture books of high interest to them AND that poetry (reading and writing) is a big hit with them. Have an amazing school year, my new friend! Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
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I just saw on #RRBC that I’m one of your winners! I’m so excited. (doing my happy dance) Thank you for hosting such a great blog! 🙂
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Great post, Bette. You have a nice selection of books.
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Thanks, Michelle. Glad you stopped by to party, my #RRBC friend! 🙂
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Enjoyed the glimpse into both Amazing Matilda and the Tangram zoo. You must have been one of those great teachers – setting example with your own creativity.
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Hi, Cassidy. Thanks for checking out my children’s books and for your lovely comment. I loved teaching and still take time to enjoy visits at local school and libraries. Nothing more inspiring than interacting with our amazing kids.:)
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Nice collection of books – but with 37 acres I’m surprised you have time to write 😊
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Hi, Sandy. Getting in the gardens now…30 acres of woodland with about 2 miles of trails and 5 acres of field near the homestead. It does keep us busy, but winters are long and leisurely, so do most of my serious writing then. So glad you stopped by! 🙂
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Hello Bette. Wonderful blog post. Thank you for hosting today’s party. It’s great to learn more about you and your work. I have shared your blog on Facebook and Twitter. Reblogged too.
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So glad you could join the party, Liz. Thanks for the ‘shout-out’, my friend! 🙂
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Hello Bette. Your site is very cheerful. I think my granddaughter will like Amazing Matilda. Illustrations are lovely.
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Thanks so much for the visit, Gordon. Have an amazing day with your wonderful granddaughter and I hope you both enjoy the book. Our Grands sure are Grand! Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
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Hi Bette. I’m glad you are part of the Back to School tour. I think this is my first time visiting your blog, and it’s great! I hope you have a good time as a stop on this festive tour.
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Thanks, Rhani. So glad you joined the party! #RRBC Rocks… 🙂
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Reblogged this on Jo Robinson and commented:
Lots of prizes to be won from the amazing Bette Stevens, and a fabulous reading of Amazing Matilda by my favourite poet, Pamela Beckford – check it out.
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Many thanks, Jo! 🙂 Pamela does a wonderful job with the reading and it’s all for EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY. Not only is she an amazing author and friend, she’s the CEO of her local UNITED WAY and loves donning her wings as “Blossom” and putting the fragrance of the joy of reading with her precious listeners. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Again, thanks!
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