Friday, January 16, 2015

Blog Tour: A Mom For Umande By: Maria Faulconer


Hey ya'll I am happy to post my first ever review/blog tour for a children's book. I have been dying to introduce a children's review section to the blog and this is a great step in that direction. I know many of you are adults or at least young adults who follow my blog but I hope that you have a young someone in your life to be able to share this amazing book with. I know I started reading at a very young age and some of my fondest memories are laying in bed while my dad or mom read me Dr. Seuss, and eventually when I got old enough, to trade of reading pages of Magic Tree House with my dad. I hope that I can at the very least inspire at least one person to go out and read to someone, be it a child, your younger sibling, grandchild, or even a niece or nephew like do. 

I hope you all enjoy, and be sure to enter the great giveaway going on at the bottom of the post.

Also be sure to check out all the posts along the tour :)

A MOM FOR UMANDE by Maria Faulconer (http://jenhalliganpr.com/tour/a-mom-for-umande/)




The heart-tugging true story of how a baby gorilla found love in the arms of a surrogate mom.

When Umande was born, his mother didn’t know how to take care of him. So, he was hand-reared by keepers at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. For eight months, the keepers crawled on the ground with him to show him how to walk; coughed in his face to teach him discipline; and gave him happy gorilla grumbles to encourage him. But for Umande, something was still missing. Luckily, a thousand miles away at the Columbus Zoo, a mom was waiting just for him.

This touching true story about finding a family will resonate with animal lovers and adoptive families alike.

Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung

A Mom for Umande: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Review:
I absolutely loved this book. This is the first time that I am doing a review for a children's book, and I am so happy I picked this one to be my first. Maria has a lovely way of telling the story. She writes in a simplistic way that many children can understand, and makes the story personal for the kids. I loved not only getting the story of this tiny animal but also that of her keepers and the struggle they go through to make Umande's life better, even if that means not getting to be around her anymore. I also love how she was able to share this true story in a way that will interest children. I know when I read the book with my nine year old niece she was on the computer the minute we finished looking up info about Umande. I love books that can get kids involved. Sadly I don't think kids get enough of these kinds of books in their life, and I really respect Maria for writing such an amazing book. 

Ok lets talk illustration for a few minutes. I absolutely loved loved loved Kathleen's images. They were bright and beautiful. The way she drew the pictures they were extremely fun and kid friendly. I smiled with each turn of the page. My niece also enjoyed them, loving how cute Umande was.
If I ever attempted to write a kids book I would defiantly want her to be my illustrator. 

Both woman did such an amazing job and I am so thankful for the privilege of getting to read this book. Thank you to not only Maria for sending me a copy of it to read and enjoy but to Jen Halligan PR for introducing me to the book and putting up with my lack of communication over the holiday months. I appreciate the opportunity you all have given me for this tour.

About Maria Faulconer:
Maria Faulconer has published fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. She loves writing stories, especially ones that tug at the heartstrings. A huge animal lover, and an adoptive mom herself, she knew when she saw a photo of a baby gorilla snuggling with his surrogate mom that she had to tell their story – A Mom for Umande. Her first children’s book, Arianna and the Strawberry Tea, was used for a statewide literacy program. She currently writes for Colorado Springs Style magazine and is working on a YA novel. She lives in Colorado with her husband and two children.


GIVEAWAY:

Winner will receive a gift basket that includes a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of A MOM FOR UMANDE, a stuffed baby gorilla, a gorilla zoo book, a miniature wooden zoo train set, Gummi Bears, and rock candy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday, January 12th - Geo Librarian
Tuesday, January 13th - A Book and a Latte
Wednesday, January 14th - Bumbles and Fairy-Tales
Friday, January 16th - In Between the Pages
Monday, January 19th - Such a Novel Idea
Wednesday, January 21st - Mundie Kids
Friday, January 23rd - Adoption Mama
Monday, January 26th - WS Momma Readers Nook
Wednesday, January 28th - A Leisure Moment
Friday, January 30th - Historical Fiction Obsession

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