15 Children's Books that (mostly) feature Cats for International Children's Book Day

Since Cody's blog first began in 2009 I have been doing book reviews,  In the past year or so I have greatly cut down the number of books I had been reviewing because of the enormous amount of time it takes to read the books and write the reviews. They were beginning to take over my life!
Today is International Children's Book Day, which is an event that celebrates Children's literature. I remember as a child reading brought me enormous joy. It inspired my imagination by helping me to escape to other places, even other worlds, and it is something I hold close to my heart.

International Children's Book Day was founded back in 1967 by Jella Lepman the founder of the International Board of Books for Young People and it is always held on or near the birthday of celebrated author Hans Christian Anderson.

In honor of this event and it's importance to our young people, I have decided to share links to ten of our favorite children's books that we have reviewed through the years. (If you click on the title of each book it will take you directly to my review. NOTE:If there is a give-away attached to a review, obviously the give-aways have ended)  Now on to the children's books that I have chosen to feature:

"Staying Strong for Smokey" 

"Tis better to have loved and lost

Than never to have loved at all"

--Alfred Lord Tennyson

Losing a beloved pet is one of the most heart-breaking experiences that anyone who shares their life with a pet will ever have to face.  It is hard enough for adults to understand,  but how does one explain it to the special children in their life?

Explaining to a child that their beloved pet whom often they have known since they were born is aging, and ill, and that the most caring thing that you can do for that pet is to help them "pass peacefully to a safe place" is a difficult concept for adults to grasp, let alone a child. I was honored to review this book because Corey Gut, DVM is one of the Vets at the practice that Cody and Dakota go to so we are lucky to get to see her in person sometimes! 

 The KeeKee Adventure Series:

The KeeKee "Big Adventures" series is a complete delight and I am honored to have reviewed each and every book in the series! Before I share KeeKee's latest book:KeeKee's Big Adventures in Amsterdam, Netherlands, let's take a trip with KeeKee and visit the other fabulous books in the series, shall we? C'mon!!

KeeKee's Big Adventures in Paris, France ,  followed by KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy , (I had the enormous honor of having one of my quotes on the back cover praising the Paris book!)

KeeKee’s Big Adventures in Paris, France, was a Silver Winner in The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Children’s/Young Adult) category at IBPA’s 2014 Benjamin Franklin Awards. Visit ibpa-online.org for more information.

Covers courtesy of http://www.keekeesbigadventures.com/

I was super excited for the release of KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece  for a number of reasons, an important one is I have always been fascinated by the Greek culture. The food,  music, climate, history, architecture and so much more. I minored in Philosophy in college and majored in Rhetoric, (I intensely studied Greek Rhetorical theory), so I might have been just a tad biased about this book!

There is a formula to each of the books in the KeeKee's Big Adventure series  that makes the series a wonderful learning tool for children and adults alike:

1) KeeKee makes new friends

2) KeeKee learns new words in the language of the places that she is visting--in the back of each book is a handy guide that shows the proper way to pronounce the words that are featured.

3) KeeKee eats YUMMY food

4) KeeKee visits super cool places! There is always a super-cool map of all of the places that were visited in each book

From Author Shannon Jones: This great adventure begain on a KLM Airlines flight in 2006 moving to the wonderful city of Amsterdam with the real-life KeeKee. Amsterdam was our home for four years, and our travels across Europe led us on the path to launching KeeKee's Big Adventures. We dedicate this book to those inspirations.

Archie's First Adventure

Now, you are probably asking, "Why is a MOUSE being featured on your blog?"  That is a purrfectly fair question my furiends! Those of you who are long time readers know all too well that this is far from the first time a MOUSE has been featured on my blog. Why? Because I LOVE MOUSIES!! My favorite toys in the WORLD are MOUSIES!!

Photo Courtesy of Archie The Mouse.com

A Bed for Kitty

A Bed for Kitty is an adorable children's story that speaks to the quirkiness that is cats. Most of us can relate to buying new things for our cats that they promptly proceed to ignore. No amount of cajoling will make the cat use the new item.

In A Bed for Kitty, little Chloe is full of excitement to give "Kitty" her new present!!!  Kitty loves to sleep and Chloe feels that a new bed will be a most appreciated gift!! You have to read the book to find out what happens!

Odie the Stray Kitten and Odie's Best Friend

"For Odie, because sometimes the smallest ones
become the biggest inspirations"

Odie the Stray Kitten is a charming book about a little orange and white kitten who lost his family on a cold winter night. He never expected to find a loving forever home in a horse barn. Not only did he find a loving, forever home, he also found hope, new friends and a name.  His name happens to mean "inspiration", which is no coincidence. Odie the Stray Kitten is not only an adorable read for little ones, but it shows that out of something that initially seems like a bad situation, something GOOD can come out of it!

"For Bandit, because every animal
has a story to tell"

Odie’s Best Friend is the second book in the Odie the Stray Kitten Series. It focuses on the story
of Bandit, a gray and white cat, and his journey to find a forever home. His adventures take him
through an animal shelter and life as a stray before he finds a home on the farm with Odie and
their girl. This is the follow-up to 2013’s Odie the Stray Kitten, which was a 2014 Next
Generation Indie Book Award Winner, 2014 Purple Dragonfly Children’s Book Award Honorable Mention, and 2014 Recipient of the Children’s Literary Classics’ Seal of Approval.

Both Odie the Stray Kitten and Odie's Best Friend were lovingly and skillfully illustrated by Lowell Hildebrandt. The illustrations are vibrant and delightful, children of all ages will enjoy them!

Are you ready? Odie and Bandit are based on REAL cats!

Odie and Bandit
This photo came from
Kristen's Facebook Page

Double Trouble

Book Cover Courtesy of Lou Belcher

Many in the cat world know that  Bugsy and Knuckles are kitty brothers, better known as The Boys who get along so well, and are so deeply attached to each other,  that they appear to have some sort of telepathic communication system that only they understand! Most of their antics take place on the blog that they share with "HH" aka Her Highness, who is known to the rest of the world as Lou Belcher, Author of The Zen of Max, and the blog (Before You Write), that she shares with Bugsy, Knuckles and their special friend, Checkers the Mouse.  In addition to being a superb author/free-lance writer, Lou is  also a talented artist.

This is "Bugsy"
(Photo Courtesy of Lou Belcher)
"He is mellow most of the time
and rarely takes the lead.
Consequently, he doesn't end up
in trouble as often as Knuckles."

This is "Knuckles"
 Photo Courtesy of  Lou Belcher
"He is full of energy
and is always planning
an assault of some sort.
He usually fails,
consequently, he is the
comic relief in my life."

Bugsy and Knuckles are REAL LIFE brothers! They are litter mates! Where one is, the other is sure to follow. They share a passion for play and their special telepathic communication system allows them to "pull off capers that have earned them the title DOUBLE TROUBLE"

"Bugsy and Knuckles"
Illustration Courtesy of Lou Belcher

Lucky Cats Paper Dolls

Literally translated as "the beckoning cat," a Maneki Neko is easy to recognize by its raised paw. This traditional symbol of prosperity originated in Japan and can be found around the world especially in shops and restaurants." This fun book was written and illustrated by our friend Maggie Swanson.

Where Is Catkin?

"This is a beautiful and
delightful book!"

"The word catkin is a calque from the Dutch katteken, meaning "kitten", on account of the resemblance to a kitten's tail.^[1]"  (taken from Catkin-Wikipedia, you can see more definitions and photos here)


If you have ever observed a cat outdoors, you were certain to see them forever chasing the "elusive butterfly", the flitting fly, galloping grasshopper, cavorting cricket or whatever has recently struck their fancy.


The outcome in most of these scenarios? The cat gets within a paw's reach of the tempting object, the object of desire manages to escape, leaving the cat with a bewildered look, frustrated and empty-pawed.

For cats it is all about the "hunt". From the Publisher: "When Catkin jumps off Amy's lap for an afternoon of hunting, his adventurous nature eventually turns into trouble!"

Rainbow Forest Fables

 isn't about cats, but it is about animals, lessons, enchantment, wonder, magic and is written by an author with a personal connection to...you got it! CATS!

Rainbow Forest Fables is a book "dedicated to the young and the young at  heart" whose message is "if we keep our hearts open, we can learn so much from each other and our surroundings."  This delightful book was written and illustrated by Pamela June Kimmel


Cat and Crow An Amazing Friendship 

 (published by Collage Books Inc.), was written by Lisa Fleming. 

Cat and Crow is based on the true story of a cat, (Cassie), and a crow, (Moses), who, in spite of  their obvious differences, became the best of friends.

When compiling a list of "must read" Children's books, be SURE that this one is on your list!

Purrsnikitty

If you are a teacher or have children,  if you have nieces, nephews, little cousins or grandkids, if you have ever prepared a child to welcome (or not) a new sibling, or introduced a dog into a home with a cat then you will enjoy Purrsnikitty.

The title  is charming. Purrsnikitty  which comes from  a play on the word "persnickety" which means "over particular, fussy, snobbish, having an aloof attitude" (http://www.dictionary.com/),  is also the name of the main character of the book. She embodies all of the previously mentioned characteristics, (as evidenced by the verse below taken from the book) as do most cats.

"I'm a very special cat!

I say that every day-

I love myself so very much

and always get my way!"

Purrsnikitty is the purrfect bedtime book for children. It has adorable illustrations done by Cameron Bennett, is written in rhyme (which children LOVE), it is a quick-read (40 pages, which Moms and Dads love at bedtime!) and in my opinion is ideal for children ages 6 and under.






So there you have it! I would say those are some pretty great children's books that should be in EVERY cat lover's children's library at home, school, and in your public library! 

Book Cover Reveal! "Plan Cee" by Hilary Grossman and Give-Away!!!

Yes, yes this is a cat blog, but today we are taking a break from cats (for a hot minute)  to share this  super exciting day for our dear friend, "bestselling author",  Hilary Grossman!! I had the distinct honor/pleasure of reviewing both of Hilary's previous books, (the most recent of which was Plan Bea. if you haven't read either of Hilary's previous books,  you MUST!!)  Hilary's writing is like chatting with a dear friend, or being nosy and peeking into their life!

Today, I am BEYOND EXCITED because  today Hilary is revealing the cover of her soon-to-be-published THIRD book!

ON TO THE

COVER REVEAL!!!

  DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!

ABOUT "PLAN CEE"

Would you abandon your present for a second chance at your past?

Cecelia Reynolds has spent most of her life trying to forget the commitment-phobic man who broke her heart. It wasn’t easy, but eventually she did it, or so she thought…

As Cecelia and her husband gather for a friend’s wedding, her perfect world is thrown into complete turmoil. Even though it’s been twenty years since she last laid eyes on Keith Emerson, all it takes is one glance for her to feel emotions she thought were long gone. When Keith ends up officiating the ceremony, she quickly realizes his message of love is directed at her, not the happy couple. But can she believe him?

We live our entire lives thinking we know ourselves. But do we ever really?

As secrets and lies cause Cecelia’s world to spin completely out of control, she is forced to seek advice from the most unlikely ally. In the process, she must confront the demons of her past and the events that shaped her into the woman she is now. Will she finally learn the real meaning of love, friendship, and family?

While this book is a sequel to Plan Bea, it also reads as a standalone.

PRE-ORDER "PLAN CEE" BY HILARY GROSSMAN HERE

About Hilary:

By day, Hilary Grossman works in the booze biz. By night she hangs out with her "characters." She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She's been known to walk into walls and fall up stairs. She only eats spicy foods and is obsessed with her cat, Lucy. She loves to find humor in everyday life. She likens life to a game of dodge ball - she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. She lives on Long Island. 

Facebook page 

Twitter 

Instagram 

GIVE-AWAY!!!

 WIN A $10 DUNKIN DONUTS GIFT CARD!!

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KeeKee's Big Adventures Winners!!

Thanks to all who entered our latest KeeKee's Big Adventures Give-Away!!!!

All of the winners were chosen by random.org

The THREE lucky winners of an autographed copy of:

Emma from MY GBGV LIFE

FUR EVERYWHERE

Sammy from ONE SPOILED CAT

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ONE LUCKY WINNER OF 

KeeKee's Big Adventures in Amsterdam PLUS a POSTER is

MOMMA KAT AND HER BEAR CAT

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THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER OF

 ALL FOUR BOOKS IN THE

KeeKee's Big Adventures Series

AND THE POSTER IS

Jan K. from

 WAG AND WOOF PETS!!!!

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HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!!

BECAUSE I AM HAVING 

HUGE EMAIL PROBLEMS AGAIN, 

I CHECKED, AND ALL OF THE WINNERS

 ARE ON FACEBOOK!!!

 WINNERS!! PLEASE PRIVATE MESSAGE ME

(TO MY PERSONAL PAGE)

 YOUR COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS

 ON FACEBOOK TO BE SURE THAT I RECEIVE IT!!! 

THANK YOU!!!!

Children's Book Winner! A Friend For Macaroni by Terri DelNegro

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

TO THE LUCKY WINNER

LISTED BELOW:

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This win is extra sweet and extra special. Kathe had left this comment on the give-away post: "This is a lovely book and if I am lucky enough to be the winner it will be donated to our Weed Library...our library burned down in the Boles Wildfire in September 2014 and we relocated in April of 2015 to another building in downtown Weed. This April our Children's Library opened up in the same building and we doubled our space! Cheers!"  This comment deeply touched me. I had asked Kathe to email me, and told her if she wasn't selected as the winner, that I would give her my copy of this darling book.

When I mentioned this to the author, Terri DelNegro, she told me that even if Kathe wasn't selected as the lucky winner, she would be more than happy to send her a copy which will enable me to keep my copy.

The stars were aligned! Kathe was chosen at random as the winner!!! She had sent me photos of the library that was destroyed by the fire, and photos of the new library.

Library after the fire

Photo of the new Library
which was built in a historic building
that was previously used as a bank

Library grand opening April 2015

New sign for the NEW Library

The new Children's Library
a lot of the furniture was
hand-crafted by local wood artisans

Mother and son reading at new library

 I couldn't be happier that this book is not only going to a good "home", but that it is going to bring countless children so much joy!!

Kathe is a blogger, her blog name is "It's a Snap" I linked to it, be sure to visit!!   

Children's Book Review And Give-Away! A Friend For Macaroni by Terri DelNegro

It is not the norm to begin a book review with an author's bio, but in this case it is a most appropriate way to begin.

Copyright Terri DelNegro

During author Terri DelNegros' childhood, her mother was a photographer. Terri grew up in the camera's eye, posing for photos and even taking a "shot" (pun intended), at taking photos herself. The OLD way. Back in the days when photos were taken with REAL cameras, that required REAL FILM. Photos weren't shared then on social media, there WAS no social media. Photos didn't instantly appear (ok, I know about Polaroids, but those don't count). Back in the day, photos were created in what was called a dark room. For those unfamiliar, that was a room that, yes, was DARK and contained trays and trays of smelly chemicals. (I know this first hand, because in High School I took a photography class where we  developed our own photos. It always felt like magic to me watching a photo appear from beneath the chemicals).

Back to Terri... her first household pet that she considered to be HERS was her black cat, "Pepper." Terri, way ahead of her time used to "stage" moments with Pepper, using various props and took photos. Those photos were her first attempt at capturing animals in HUMAN situations. (Those reading who are bloggers can totally relate! We all know it is often NOT an easy task!) Today, Terri's studio, Pepper Kitt Studios,  is named in honor of her first cat.

"Pepper Takes a Seat"

Copyright Terri DelNegro

A few years later, for a school project, Terri created a book called "Animal Thoughts." She took her collection of photos and tried to imagine what the animals were thinking and added captions....(can you say those had to be the first memes EVER!!??)

From Terri DelNegro's website:

"I had forgotten about these early efforts until after I finished work on “A Friend for Macaroni”. I suddenly realized the book's style was similar to things I had created decades earlier. You just never know what influences from your childhood will resurface later in your lifetime." 

"When you unleash your imagination, who knows what wonders you'll find?

It is no surprise  that Terri's darling book:

is chock full of some of the most endearing, colorful, LIFE-LIKE and creative photos I have had the pleasure of viewing in a children's book. It is a PURR delight!! The text, narrated by Macaroni himself, is engaging, intriguing and will be sure to captivate not only the little ones, but the adults who have the pleasure of experiencing A Friend For Macaroni .

Macaroni is a simply purrfect,  ADORABLE ginger tabby who reminds me of our friends (Sammy,  Eric and Flynn).

Macaroni lives with Hannah, a little girl who loves him to the moon and back, and sings to him every night while cuddled under the warmth of her "fuzzy blanket."  Macaroni is an indoor cat who spends the day, as most cats do, sitting by the window watching "animals romping and playing." Oh how he wished he could go outside and make friends with them!

One day in autumn Macaroni's wish came true. A brisk breeze blew the door open and off he ran! Hannah was beside herself as she watched him run away and screamed, pleading with him to come back. Macaroni, thinking that he must "be in terrible trouble", just kept running.

Macaroni's  quest for "friendship and fun" had just begun, but "along the way, he finds that things aren't always as they seem."

Copyright Terri DelNegro

Some of the new "friends" that Macaroni meets are a bird, an owl, chipmunk and a fawn (just to name a few!) Each photo that features Macaroni's new "friends" is taken to appear as if Macaroni is REALLY sitting in the photo with that animal. The photos are so LIFE-LIKE and so professionally created, that if I didn't know there is no way Macaroni would be sitting and chatting with a raccoon who offered him an apple, I would believe they were REAL. They are THAT GOOD.

 "Will he ever find that one true friend

 he so desperately seeks?"

The answer is YES, and as is usually the case, that friend happens to be NOT in "his own backyard", but in his OWN HOUSE....his TRUE FRIEND is Hannah. Hannah, the one who loves him more than any of his new "friends." ever could!


Many of my readers will leave comments saying they don't have little ones in their homes to gift a children's book to. PAY IT FORWARD. A Friend for Macaroni by Terri DelNego, is one of the most charming and delightful books I have read, (and those of you who have been reading my blog for some time KNOW that  I have read MANY!!) Gift it to your local library, a pediatrician's office, a children's ward in the hospital, your local elementary school, a nephew, niece, a woman's shelter. GIVE THE GIFT OF READING to a little one whether you have a child in your household or not.

NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN! 
 Although A Friend For Macaroni  is certainly a "children's book",  Terri mentioned that she  did sell a copy to someone for her mother who has Alzheimer's, one to a special needs counselor who will use it to talk about feelings and  another copy to a lady who works at a home for seniors.

Terri's thinking is (and I couldn't agree more),  that because it is illustrated with photos, it appeals to a bigger audience than typical children's books. 

Copyright Terri DelNegro

A Friend for Macaroni is the size of a normal picture book,  which makes it ideal for bedtime reading. It has a few lessons that can be learned through the conversation that will surely arise while reading this delightful book. It is soft cover, which is probably my ONLY criticism. A book that contains as many delightful photos as this book, should be  in hardcover form. The photos are much too precious and beautifully created to be in soft cover form, but that is just my opinion. (My husband just paged through the book because I was sitting here raving about it, and he says it is too short to be in hardcover form. Purchase a copy for yourself and let me know what you think!!)

What a joy it was for me to see efforts from Terri's childhood come to fruition in this engaging and captivating book, purchase a copy, (it is available on Amazon),  and experience Macaroni's adventure for yourself!

IF YOU VISIT TERRI'S WEBSITE there is a "FUN STUFF" section where one can join their little ones and help them "unleash THEIR imagination" with some fun activities!  When the children complete the activities, they can submit them to Terri and they just might be featured on her site!

GIVE-AWAY!!!
Terri has generously offered one of my readers who resides in the U.S. the chance to win a copy of A Friend For Macaroni. DO NOT PASS THIS BY!! As I said above, PAY IT FORWARD and give the gift of reading to a little one who doesn't have to be YOUR child or in YOUR family. Entering is easy! Simply enter on the Rafflecopter below, (there is only ONE MANDATORY ENTRY REQUIREMENT) and GOOD LUCK!!
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In full disclosure, I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of A Friend For Macaroni by Terri DelNegro in exchange for my always honest review.

Terri's current cat "Buckley"
who bears a huge resemblance
to her first cat "Pepper"

Copyright Terri DelNegro

Book Winners:Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts by Janet DeLee

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

HUGE CONCATULATIONS 

TO THE TWO LUCKY WINNERS!

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The winner of the KINDLE copy is:Little B.

The winner of the PAPERBACK is Jean F.

Winner: Plan Bea"by Hilary Grossman

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

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Cat Book Review/Give-Away:Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat by Lola and Dawn White

AUTHORS TAKE NOTE: I am a sucker for presentation. When I receive a book for review, I pay attention to details. When someone, (primarily an author, not a publisher), requests a review, I take note of:was it shipped directly from Amazon? Was it signed? ( if I receive a book signed by the author I will ALWAYS keep it, ALWAYS). If the book is not  signed, it will more than likely  be passed on to make room on my jam-packed bookshelves, after I read it, whether I loved the book or not.

When I received a copy of Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat by Lola and Dawn White, it was one of a mere handful of books that impressed me by the care and thought taken when it was sent to me. It was signed and there were a few "goodies" included.

 Call me crazy, but when asked to review a book, reviewers  are NOT your "average" reader. Authors, take heed. Pay attention to presentation when mailing books to reviewers, it shows us you care about your book. For me, the experience of reading a book begins when I open the package/envelope that it arrives in, followed by cover presentation. More often than not, my impression of a book after I have read it, has matched my initial impression of the book when it arrived. Funny how things work.  Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat by Lola and Dawn White is one of those books that immediately impressed me upon it's arrival and it did NOT disappoint!

Cover photo Courtesy of Dawn White

From Lola herself: "Hi, I'm Lola! My life definitely took a turn for the worse when I was thrown away in a garbage dumpster and ended up in a shelter where I got very sick. But I was lucky because I found a fairy godmother who saved me and made sure I got a wonderful life. But not all animals in the shelter have a fairy godmother. I'm just lucky." Lola

I am in awe of so many of you who are reading this review who have rescued cats from shelters that might not have been "perfect" cats or kittens. While rescuing all cats is noble, rescuing a cat or a kitten that is ill or has physical challenges is something that I hold in high regard.

Author Dawn White comes from a family of cat lovers. Her "first love" was Marvin, a black and white cat with a "smudge" on his nose who she was forced to give up due to life circumstances. That led her to adopting "Lexy" a Marvin look-alike who had been at the shelter for nearly a year and was passed over because people thought at two years old, "she was too old." Dawn says that adopting Lexy was "the best decision I ever made."

After about 8 months, Dawn decided that Lexy needed a companion. Enter the magic of Facebook. Dawn was looking for someone to help her trap a spay when she came across Lola's photo on  the page of a cat-sitting business. "She looked pathetic, sick, and neglected, but there was something in Lola's eyes that drew me to her immediately." Dawn visited the vet where Lola was being taken care of and "5 minutes later I had adopted this 3.4 pound skinny cat with a face full of mucus who was so sick and weak she couldn't even meow. That was the second best decision I ever made."

Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat by Lola and Dawn White is a diary primarily pawed by Lola herself.  Each diary entry lists the month, date and year of the entry from Lola's abandonment, to her first year "Adoptiversary."

With each entry, Lola becomes more confident,  secure and much braver! I particularly LOVE that this book was written from the eyes of Lola herself.  Charm and love fill every entry:

August 5, 2011
Mommy's flip-flop makes a nice pillow. I think I may be onto something here. Maybe I can find an agent and sell flip-flop pillows. I'd be famous.

November 3, 2011
Mommy is a little under the weather and is going to bed early, so I've been missing out on computer time. Hey! I have an idea! I can hold her mouth open and pop one of my pills in there to make her feel better. I wonder if I can get some of my friends to help me?"

Lexy on left and Lola on right
Photo courtesy of Dawn White

Those of you who have had the pleasure of bringing a new cat home and introducing it to the resident cat(s) will love and be able to relate to the process as seen from the eyes of the "interloper" herself that are also abundant throughout this marvelous book.

November 12, 2011
This morning Lexy and I were on the bed and Mommy came in and sat down. Of course, I went over and gave her a lick hello. Then she gently brought me over by Lexy, and Lexy started licking my head. "See, you can be great friends," Mommy said. And then something happened...I won't keep you in suspense, I'll just tell you; Lexy bit my ear. Epic fail, Mommy, epic fail.

  As you can see by the excerpts I shared above, the  sweetness of Lola and her loving nature, as well as her impish side,  which is sometimes conveyed by a wicked sense of humor, is incredibly endearing. Each page reinforces the importance of and the unconditional love that is received when one adopts a rescue cat. 

Speaking of rescue cats, in the back of the book are some beautiful stories from friends of Lola and Dawn who share the most beautiful stories of how they adopted their special furbabies. 

Ten Percent of the proceeds from the sales of this book will be donated to animal rescue organizations and shelters.  - See more  here 

Author: Dawn White

Genre: pets/cats

Publisher: The Silloway Press

Publication Year: 2014

ISBN: 9780983155256

Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository, Books A Million and other online book sellers.

Dawn White
Photo Courtesy of:
Lola The Rescued Cat

Meet The Author:

Growing up in Rockland County, New York, cats were always a part of Dawn’s family, but animal rescue didn't come to her attention until she adopted a cat from a shelter in 2011. Since that time she has been an advocate for animal rights and has utilized social media outlets to network for animals that need saving. She has also participated in animal rescue transports, assisting in bringing rescued, and previously unwanted, pets to their new forever homes. Dawn’s genuine sense of caring has led her to choose her career path to help others. A dedicated Human Services Professional working with individuals with Developmental Disabilities and Autism since 1988, she earned her Master’s Degree in Psychology in 1992, and became a Licensed Massage Therapist in 2014. She lives in New York City with her two cats, Lola and Lexy, who run the house. Dawn says “adopting two shelter cats has truly changed my life.” Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat is her first book.

GIVE-AWAY!!!

Dawn has allowed us to do a give-away! ONE  LUCKY WINNER who resides in the U.S.A will receive a copy of Lola:Diary of a Rescued Cat, a magnet and this TOTE BAG!!

Entering is super easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below. There is only ONE mandatory entry required, once you complete that, more entry options will open up. Good Luck!
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In full disclosure: we were not compensated for this review/give-away. We were sent a copy of Lola:The Rescued Cat in exchange for our always honest review.

Animal Advocate and Author Leesa Rowland Author of the Book:Discovering the IT Factor Within You:(Guest Blog) And A World-wide Give-Away!

Would if animals held the key to us developing our Charisma

and unlocking our true potential?

Author Leesa Rowland biggest passion in life is animal advocacy.  She has been active with national non-profit organization Last Chance for Animals since 1989 and is the founder and president of the New York non-profit group Animal Ashram. “Dogs being killed daily at local shelters because they cannot find a home needs to stop. It’s about the soul, not the breed,” says Leesa.

When writing her new release ‘Discovering the It Factor within You’ Leesa talks about how you as an individual can develop your charisma and find your “inner light.” What sets this book apart from other books that focus on Charisma is she also writes about animals and how they are charismatic and how this benefits us.

Leesa says bestowing love towards our dogs and treating animals humanely gives us better karma and, in turn, we build stronger charisma. Many dogs are military heroes, track-missing children and have saved people from dying. They are guardians to the blind. Dogs really steal your hearts with their unique personalities, charm, charisma and poise. The benefits Dogs provide to humans are endless; they deserve to live a beautiful life after all they help lead us in finding our true passions and talents.

Leesa Rowland is determined that dogs and other homeless animals will have shelter in New York City. Her dream is to build a physical Animal Ashram in New York. It will combine yoga, meditation, eastern healing techniques, spiritual workshops, metaphysical books and films with an actual animal rescue. The animals and people will be great companionship for each other and will aid in finding permanent and foster homes for a variety of homeless pets.

Leesa's research found that many charismatic people are not necessarily beautiful or handsome, true charisma comes from within, and if you believe that charisma is inside you it can be developed. This book includes the spiritual and religious aspects of charisma, not just the science.

Throughout the book Leesa Rowland provides examples and shares simple steps on how you can discover and develop your inherent charisma and personal and authentic uniqueness.

Individuals like Chris DeRose worked hard to develop their “It Factor.” Chis DeRose was born June 28, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, is the founder and president of the national animal rights nonprofit it Last Chance for Animals. Many charismatic individuals have made a positive impact on the world.

A portion of the proceeds of each book will be donated to the New York animal welfare nonprofit, Animal Ashram.non-profit organization. This is a book that you can definitely share with your friends and your pets!

Leesa Rowland is committed to the well-being of animals. She is an actress, author and animal advocate. She is primarily known for her role as Victoria in Troma Entertainment’s “Class of Nuke ‘Em High,” parts 2 and 3; Starz Channel’s “Return to Nuke ‘Em High”; and as Phyllis in Travis Campbell’s thriller “Slaughter Daughter”.

Discovering the It Factor within You is available on her website, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Give-Away!!!!!!

This Giveaway is open Internationally.
No purchase necessary to enter the contest.

PRIZES 1 One Winner will each receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash.
PRIZES 2 One Winner will each receive a Free Copy of the book Discovering the It Factor in You.

Entering is easy!! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below, good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway