Friday Children's Book/Film Feature:Archie's First Adventure By Katherine Kleymenova

Hi my furiends! It's Cody!!! Hope you all had a great week and thankfully it is FRIDAY!

Mom usually does the book features/reviews here, but today is special!! Mom is allowing ME to introduce you to a friend of mine, his name is Archie and he happens to be a MOUSE!!! Not just any ordinary mouse mind you, but a mouse that is made out of wool using a process called "felting."   Archie and his book:Archie's First Adventure, were created by the exceptionally talented Katherine Kleymenova.

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!!

So anyway, back to my new furiend Archie!!

Photo Courtesy of Archie The Mouse.com

Now sit back kitties and kindly purrmit me to give you some background info about this darling book!

Archie the mouse, who lives in a little house under the big cedar's roots in the forest, has never been farther than Calm Creek. But when he receives a letter from his friend, Bruno, inviting him to visit for Christmas, Archie realizes it's time to do something very unusual - have a real adventure.

Photo Courtesy of Archie The Mouse.com

Archie

Archie is a smart, curious mouse. He loves to draw and read books as well as play with friends. He is responsible but sometimes he can underestimate efforts and time properly. He likes discovering all the new things for him.

Photo Courtesy of Archie The Mouse.com

Bruno

Bruno is a lizard. For some reason he doesn't sleep in the winter time. Instead he moves to his winter house built on the top of Lilac Mountain, and spends this time hiking and skiing. He loves to travel, he has been in some strange places, climbed mountains using ropes, sailed in oceans, and even went down into the volcano's crater. He also loves to play the guitar and dance.

Furiends, Mom wanted me to tell you that the second she opened the book to read it to me she was smitten! You see, when Mom was a little girl she loved forests, and chipmunks, mousies, squirrels and other forest creatures. She STILL DOES!

When Mom was a little kitten, she  used to sit under the picnic table in the back yard and bring tiny toy creatures outside and set them  in the overgrown grass under the table, and pretend that the grass was a "city" where the creatures lived. Mom felt (and still believes), that squirrels and chipmunks eat out of little acorn bowls, and have tiny tables in their miniature-sized kitchens in the trees where they live. Mom believes that certain "openings" on trees are "squirrel and chipmunk doors" (feel free to call a doctor and have them analyze her if you wish, but I digress). Mom says Archie's First Adventure  is  an extension of her childhood dreams!!! In other words, it's:

ADORABLE!!

Mom also wanted me to tell you something that is super cool and educational about Archie's First Adventure. In the back of the book, author Katherine Kleymenova has a section that tells how the book was made.

Guess what?

• Almost everything in this book was made my hand
• Most of the characters are made by felting
• Polymer clay, fabric, wire and wood were used for many other things such as pens, teapots, cups and more. 

See the table lamp in the photo of me reading the book above? The table lamp  has a real miniature electrical bulb inside and is plugged to the battery!!!

Photo Courtesy of Archie The Mouse.com

Mom and I can't begin to tell you enough how much we enjoyed this book! Mom wants to share some of the  magic from her childhood by giving this book to our great-niece this weekend. She is four years old and  Mom is certain she will LOVE it!

Hoping you will pawchase this book and share it with a little one in your life too, or donate it to a school, a library, a doctor's office or anywhere that there are little ones. They will LOVE IT!

The book information

Publisher: Cedar Alley Publishing
Cover: Hardcover
Language: English
Pages: 42
ISBN-13: 978-0-9939841-0-5
Size: 21.6cm x 21.6cm x 1cm
Weight: 380g

Where to Buy:

You can buy it HERE

Also the book can be found in the online stores:

Amazon US

Amazon Canada

Amazon UK

Amazon Japan

Amazon France

Barnes & Noble

Etsy

Photo Courtesy ofArchie The Mouse.com

About The Author:

Katherine Kleymenova lives in Vancouver, in beautiful British Columbia, with her family. She has been working as a professional software developer for almost ten years, but she loves to do some crafts she enjoyed during her childhood.

Monday Mousies: Winner!! "I Wish I Had A Pet" a new picture book by Maggie Rudy

Thanks to all who entered my give-away for:

THE LUCKY WINNER IS:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HUGE CONCATULATIONS TO:

CLICK TO VISIT THEIR BLOG!!

YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!

Mom will be emailing you soon!

Love, Cody

Mice offer sage advice in "I Wish I Had A Pet" a new picture book by Maggie Rudy-Enter to Win

When I was a child, I had an incredibly  vivid imagination. While  putting my feet into slippers or shoes, I pretended that they were going into their homes. Sitting under the picnic table with a cloth thrown over it, was my make-shift fort,  a haven where I would let my imagination take me to secret places. With lush emerald blades of grass as my cushion, I would become intoxicated by it's summery scent, my eyes occasionally catching a glimpse of an ant or a lady bug, would be the catalyst for my imagining that it lived in a grassy city of sorts,  full of  adventure.

Watching squirrels scampering up trees, I was certain that they retired to homes resplendent with acorn bowls used for eating, and that mouse holes were in reality, secret little hide-outs that contained miniature beds, pretty frocks and other treasures that made their houses cozy abodes that I was too large to crawl into and enjoy with them.

"Potato Forest" photo courtesy of Maggie Rudy

As I "matured", I never lost that child-like sense of wonder, and still believe that faeries, gnomes, mice and other miniature creatures live in magical places.

There are few authors I have reached out to whose books I desperately wanted to review. Maggie Rudy's I Wish I Had A Pet was one of them.

Book cover courtesy of Simon & Schuster

You never know what riches you will uncover when you read comments on blogs that you follow. I don't remember the exact chain of events, but I first discovered Maggie Rudy's blog: MousesHouses through reading a comment left on a blog that I follow.  Following the link, I was smitten:

"Reunion" photo courtesy of Maggie Rudy

I was transported to a magical place from  my childhood, where mice live, laugh and play with abandon. They are wearing adorable clothes, have amazing adventures, and frolic and thrive, just as I always knew they did.

Maggie Rudy, also known as the Empress of Mouseland, has been making mice with felt for twenty years and has been living in Mouseland for so long that she is starting to grow whiskers.

"Ice skating" Photo Courtesy of Maggie Rudy

"Deluxe accommodations" Photo Courtesy of Maggie Rudy

Maggie's Mice are made out of felt, pipe cleaners, cotton, nylon thread and black glass beads. They are pieced, sewn and glued. Maggie uses ALL that are made for her book illustrations.

Photo Courtesy of Maggie Rudy

I have a veritable pin-fest whenever I visit Maggie's blog.  I seem to never be able to visit her blog without pinning her images on a variety of my boards.

"Latkes" Photo Courtesy of Maggie Rudy

"Redhead" Photo Courtesy of Maggie Rudy

When I read her blog and found out that she had published a new book, my inner stalker detective kicked in! I HAD to know more about this gifted woman, and I desperately wanted a chance to review her book.

It is my honor to have been granted that opportunity!

Five-year-old-ME
was entranced by the digital photographs, which are scenes composed of objects in combination with handmade elements by Maggie Rudy.

Maggie Rudy photographing her mice! Photo Courtesy of Maggie Rudy

I Wish I Had A Pet enables you to follow a young mouse as she searches for a pet that is just right for her. It is a hard-cover, glorious picture book, (an ebook edition is also available, but in my opinion this is one you will want to HOLD and treasure in your hands, the way a book SHOULD be read).
I Wish I Had A Pet is a feast for the eyes and imagination of children, and those who embrace their inner child, as I do, while sharing an important message.

  I Wish I Had A Pet lovingly teaches children that while it is wonderful to WANT a pet, there are a few factors that should be taken into consideration  before deciding on the pet that they want.

Big or small,
scruffy or smooth,
frisky or quiet-
there are so many pets
to choose from!

Which pet is just right 
for YOU?

Children will learn that pets  come with responsibilities, such as, "when your pet makes a mess, clean up after it....every time."

I Wish I Had A Pet touches on how not all pets like the same things, ie, some pets do not wish to  be dressed, and some might not enjoy play dates. How could you NOT bring a pet into your home when your child learns that the pet will become a  life-long friend, "who is wishing for YOU!"

There is SO MUCH TO SEE in the images in this book. The mice have "pets" of their own, lady bugs, caterpillars, etc. One of my favorite images in the book features two mice pushing baby strollers which were crafted out of walnut shells, tucked lovingly into the shells are none other than what I believe to be LOBSTERS!

I Wish I Had A Pet would be a gift that a child will cherish. It can be read as a bed-time story, for quiet time, in a children's reading group, as well as a classroom setting. The topic of what should be taken into consideration when deciding on a pet, and the detailed images, will plant seeds that will lead to HOURS of discussion!

Often, when I review a children's book I pass the book on to one of a number of children I am fortunate to know in my life. Not the case with this book. I am going to be selfish and keep it. I will keep it in my office where it will be an important reminder of the imagination that brought me so much joy as a child. I will share the book with little ones who might happen to visit, but ultimately, this one is going to be mine,  delightfully mine. I will share it when I feel like taking a much-needed respite into the joys of  child-like wonder, and I will continue to be awed by Maggie Rudy's talent, whenever I take that journey.

Beach Lane Books
Simon & Schuster
ISBN 978-1-4424-5332-6
Available wherever books are sold

MAGGIE RUDY is often spotted in Portland, Oregon, where she has a studio. You can see more of her mice on her blog: MousesHouses, follow Maggie on Tumblr and Twitter.




GIVE-AWAY!!!  I MAY NOT BE SHARING MY COPY OF I WISH I HAD A PET, (a $16.00 value), BUT MAGGIE RUDY HAS OFFERED A COPY FOR ONE OF MY READERS. IF YOU RESIDE IN THE U.S. YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN BY ENTERING ON THE RAFFLECOPTER BELOW!! (My apologies to my International readers).  GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY TO HOLD ‘TGIFFFF’ EVENTS: THANK GOODNESS IT’S FURRY AND FEATHERED FRIEND FRIDAYS

Friday adoption events to feature small furry and feathered pets

"Coco" photo courtesy of Michigan Humane

HAPPY FRIDAY ALL!!!  Yep your eyes ARE NOT playing tricks on you, that IS a rabbit featured above and NOT a CAT! This is Cody and it does my heart GOOD to share this special info for you from our furiends at Michigan Humane.

Many people don't realize that along with cats and dogs that are available for adoption, there are other pets that need furever homes too!!!! Whomever adopts them will have a wonderful new member of the family and MHS will throw in some extra goodies for their new companion!!

"Sgt.Carter" photo courtesy of Michigan Humane

During the month of November, the Michigan Humane Society (MHS) will hold a series of Friday adoption events called “TGIFFFF” – Thank Goodness it’s Furry and Feathered Friend Fridays! The adoption events will take place at four MHS locations and will feature birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, rats, mice and more.

The events will be held each Friday in November, starting Friday, November 1, at the MHS Rochester Hills Center for Animal Care, the MHS Berman Center for Animal Care in Westland, and MHS’ off-site adoption center at Petco Sterling Heights. The adoption fees for the event are as follows:

•             Rabbits: $20 each or 2 for $30

•             Guinea pigs: $5 each (prefer to live in same-sex groups)

•             Rats: $3 each (prefer to live in same-sex groups)

•             Gerbils: $3 each (prefer to live in same-sex groups)

•             Hamsters: $3 each (prefer in most cases to live alone)

•             Mice: $3 each (prefer in most cases to live in same-sex groups)

•             Birds: (budgies) $10 each

The MHS Detroit Center for Animal Care is located at 7401 Chrysler Drive in Detroit. The MHS Rochester Hills Center for Animal Care is located at 3600 W. Auburn Road. The MHS Berman Center for Animal Care is located at 900 N. Newburgh Road in Westland. MHS’ off-site adoption center at Petco Sterling Heights is located at 13701 Lakeside Circle. To see a listing of adoptable animals, or to make a donation to help support MHS’ cruelty investigation efforts, please visit www.michiganhumane.org.

"Hank"
photo courtesy of Michigan Human
ATTENTION KITTIES!!
Don't get TOO excited looking at Hank!
He is NOT FOR CHASING!!
He is for someone to adopt to give him a
LOVING HOME!!!

The Michigan Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values.

Book Review: Crazy Critter Lady by Kelly Meister

After having reviewed a delightful book by author Bob Tarte, I was contacted by author Kelly Meister, a friend of Bob's, asking if I would be interested in receiving her book, Crazy Critter Lady, to review as well.  I eagerly accepted figuring that if she was a friend of Bob's, whose writing I greatly admire, then the odds were pretty good that I was going to enjoy her book as well. My instincts were correct.

Kelly Meister, spent years in therapy as a result of childhood sexual abuse. Her life, for many years, was spent in "darkness and chaos." Lesser people might have shattered to bits, never breaking free of the depression that ensued as a result of having endured such horrific experiences.

The "saner" Kelly became, the less she chose to spend her time with "dysfunctional humans." She turned to animals instead.

From the publisher: Crazy Critter Lady takes readers on an emotional roller coaster ride, as Kelly discovers the hitherto-unknown delights of friendship with a band of flightless ducks, deals with Spanky the cat's low self-esteem, and learns life lessons taught by an aged horse. The author spends money she can't afford on creatures others are content to leave dying at the side of the road, and often risks rabies, and drowning in the process. Sharing her life with a quirky cast of characters, Meister invites you to come along and meet the gang.

Kelly and "Spanky"

Some of the "gang" include:

Winkie the leash/harness wearing "soul kitty" who passed much earlier than he should have. The pain and love in Kelly's words will touch the hearts of anyone who has lost a beloved "soul" pet.

Zoe the Barking Dog who was virtually ignored by her owners, but every day would wait by the fence of her yard, delighting in the biscuits and love that Kelly would give to her.

Kelly touched the lives of birds, frogs, mice, raccoon, her uncanny ability to sense what an animal was feeling had a Dr.Doolittle-esque quality.

Kelly's life now is about healing. She is healing the wounds of the past by helping a vast array of animals either "heal" or helps them cross the Bridge with loving kindness, in many cases it is kindness that the ailing animal probably never had experienced before, but at least was able to experience in it's final hours.

Kelly feels that the "critters" helped her to become "whole", helped her to heal the wounds of the past.

Crazy Critter Lady is touching, in many instances, humorous,  it is raw, honest, and throughout the entire book, it speaks the language of love. There are moments when you will rejoice, some where you will shed a tear, but in the end you will marvel at how through helping to save animals, with a dedication that is truly a passion, you will cheer for the woman who learned how to save HERSELF.

Kelly learned how to save herself by the lessons the animals she has touched have taught her. She learned how to be patient, loving and trusting through the animals that she met along the way. In her mind, "she owes them BIG."

There are many of us who can relate to wanting to return the gifts that animals have given to so many of us. If more people felt this way,  the world would be that much better.

In my opinion Kelly is hardly "crazy", those who can turn their backs on animals in need are the "crazy" ones, not Kelly.

"Duck Hug"

In this world we need more Kelly's and many of you who are reading this review ARE like Kelly. True animal lovers  can relate when Kelly says when referring to the gifts the animals have given her, "I owe them. I owe them BIG. It's a debt that I'm happy to spend the rest of my days repaying. So I'll keep chatting with chipmunks, I'll shoo squirrels out of the road. I'll rescue flightless ducks from frozen ponds. I'll stop to help injured raccoon and I'll worry about things like rabies later. If that makes me crazy, then so be it."

To that, I say, "YOU GO GIRL!!"

Kelly and the ducks!

As is stated in the early pages of this inspiring book: "The greatness of a nation, and its moral progress, can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
-Mohandas Gandhi

From Cat Chat: God Bless you, Kelly Meister, for all you have endured, for the creatures you have touched, for the lives you have saved. God Bless you for loving and fighting for the rights of those that cannot speak for themselves.



To purchase Crazy Critter Lady on Amazon click here
It is also available via Barnes & Noble by clicking here
Buy the e-book here

Connect with Kelly on her blog by clicking here
Visit her website here