Great YA Books for Spring!

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Peachtree for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Today, we are excited to share a couple of great YA reads for Spring!

Rosie Loves Jack

by Mel Darbon

Rosie is a 16-year-old girl with Down syndrome, fighting for little freedoms, tolerance, and love amid the vast landscape of London in Mel Darbon’s powerful debut YA novel Rosie Loves Jack 

Rosie loves Jack. Jack loves Rosie. So when they are separated, Rosie will do anything to find the boy who makes the sun shine in her head. Even run away from home. Even struggle across London and brave the Tube stations to travel to Brighton alone during a snowstorm. Even though people might think a girl like Rosie could never survive on her own. Rosie must deal with new situations and experiences and some frightening unfamiliar places and people, but she’s determined to prove to everyone, especially her parents, that she’s just as capable as anyone at following her heart. 

Written from Rosie’s perspective, this riveting novel gives readers an underrepresented but much-needed and thoughtful point of view. Author Mel Darbon’s voice-driven plot will immediately pull readers into Rosie’s world and have them excited, worried, proud, and cheering alongside her for every step of the journey, which is filled with lighthearted as well as darker moments. Featuring a diverse cast of characters and highlighting the range of abilities within the special needs community, this compassionate story drives home the message that we are all humans with feelings and the need to be valued and loved. 

MEL DARBON began telling stories to her autistic younger brother when they were children and has worked as a theater designer, freelance artist, teacher for adults with learning disabilities, and workshop teacher for teenage moms and young offenders. Mel is now focused on writing her second novel and developing creative writing workshops that encourage students with mixed abilities to work together for acceptance and inclusion. A graduate of Bath Spa’s MA in Writing for Young People, she lives in England. Follow her on Twitter @DarbonMel. 

You Were Made For Me

by Jenna Guillaume

Young adult author Jenna Guillaume (What I Like About Me) is back with her second contemporary novel, You Were Made for Me, a fun, feminist twist on the 1985 movie and pop-culture classic Weird Science.  

16-year-old Katie Camilleri wants the perfect first kiss from the perfect guy. So when she and her best friend Libby accidentally create “Guy”—a boy six-feet tall with floppy hair and eyes like the sky on a clear summer’s day, whose lips taste like cookie dough and skin smells like springtime, and who is completely devoted to Katie—things start looking up. But it turns out that the consequences of bringing a human being into existence are rather complicated. Will this spontaneous creation solve all of Katie’s romantic problems or lead to more unintended effects? Does Guy, the golden Adonis she created, like her because he wants to or because he has to? And will Katie actually get her first kiss?

Guillaume’s second YA novel is equally lighthearted and thought-provoking, written with a humorous narrative style recounting Katie’s and Libby’s hijinks, and filled with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. An entertaining and binge-worthy read perfect for fans of Jenny Han, it also features a cast of diverse, relatable characters and explores more serious topics like sexuality, body image, bullying, perfectionism, friendship, and dating. Guillaume’s refreshing twist on a classic narrative also provides plenty of pop culture callbacks to satisfy any 80s and 90s rom-com devotee. 

JENNA GUILLAUME was the editor-at-large for BuzzFeed Australia, where she wrote about pop culture, identity, feminism, social media, and, most importantly, Chris Hemsworth’s biceps. Previously, she worked in the features department of Girlfriend magazine in Australia, writing about everything from bullying and body image to bad kisses and boy bands. She also contributed to Girlfriend Life Hacks, an essential guide to navigating a girl’s completely-awkward-but-totally-awesome teen years. Guillaume lives in Australia. Visit her website at jennaguillaume.com.

 

Theses are both great books for fans of YA fiction and the perfect accompaniment for Spring Break road trips or beach or pool reading!

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

#EasterGiftGuide - Lizard Skins PS4 Controller Skins!

 *DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Lizard Skins for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

If you are putting together an Easter basket for a gamer, Lizard Skins controller grips would be a great addition!

Lizard Skins makes grips for all sorts of things like baseball bats, bike handles, hockey and lacrosse sticks and more, including game controller grips.  These grips come in cool colors and camo patterns that gamers are sure to love.

Lizard Skins DSP Controller grips are easy to apply and compatible with PS4 controllers.  They have grips for other console controllers as well.

The grip texture is optimized for the different touch-points of your fingers and the polymer feel is unlike any synthetic rubber. Lizard Skins are made from ultra comfortable, slip-resistant material with multi-textured grip for optimized feel and control.

D is loving his new Lizard Skins controller grip for his PS4 controller!

Check out Lizard Skins for some great gift ideas for the athletes and gamers in your home this Easter!

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

#EasterGiftGuide - Fun Strategy Games from Fireside Games!

 *DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Fireside Games for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Games are a fantastic gift idea for Easter baskets and Fireside Games has some really great options to choose from!  Check out a few of or favorites:

Grackles

Grackles are noisy, iridescent birds that love to gather on telephone wires at sunset throughout the southwestern United States. In this lightly themed abstract strategy game, you’ll line up as many of your birds on the telephone wire to score as many points as possible. Each turn, players choose between drawing and placing a tile, connecting 2 spots on the telephone wire with their birds, extending a line of birds, or rotating an empty tile. After the board has been built to 5 tiles by 5 tiles and all available pairs of spots on the telephone wire have birds on them, the player with the most birds on the telephone wire is the winner.

Stringamajig

Stringamajig is the party game that’s part drawing game, part charades!

Pick your word, and then draw, move, and animate the string to get the other players to guess as many words as possible in 60 seconds.

Play changes with Challenge Words that have you drawing with another player in the air, drawing with your eyes closed, and avoiding forbidden words!

This is a fun twist on charades and drawing type guessing games!

Bears! Dice Game

You and your friends have gone camping, and bears attack the campsite! Quick, everyone roll your dice and start making pairs! No time for turns in a bear attack!

Shoot bears or run from tents for a few points, or take a risk and score big by sleeping through the attack!

But watch out! If bears are left at the end of the round, your sleeping campers are done for!

In this surprisingly strategic scramble, you’ll soon want to invite more friends on the camping trip. Every box of Bears! lets 4 more players join in the fun.

Here, Kitty, Kitty

In Here, Kitty, Kitty! your neighborhood has a cat problem!

The problem is that all those cats don’t belong to YOU! Everyone in the neighborhood wants to claim those adorable kitties for themselves.

Outwit your fellow feline fanatics as you lure cats onto your property, move cats into your house, and steal cats from your neighbors. All’s fair in love and cat collecting!

Use your “Catlike Reflexes” to avoid “Stray Dogs” and “Hairballs,” and you might just “Land on Your Feet!”  Great strategy game for older kiddos and adults!

These games added tons of fun to our weekly Family Game Nights and worked really well for keeping our 12 and 14 year old kiddos engaged.  They were fun for the adults as well!  Fireside Games has some really fun options if you're looking to add a game or two to your kiddo's baskets this Easter!

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

#EasterGiftGuide - Tasty Cheese Snacks from Moon Cheese!

 *DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Moon Cheese for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Looking for a savory treat to add to your kiddo's Easter baskets this year?  Check out these crunchy snacks from Moon Cheese:

Moon Cheese is 100% real cheese that has had the moisture sucked out of it to make it a tasty shelf stable snack. Using super simple ingredients (in some cases, just cheese!) Moon Cheese is low in carbs and high in flavor.  This protein packed snack is gluten-free, keto-friendly and requires no refrigeration.  Check out our favorite Moon Cheese flavors:

Garlickin' Parmesan

Oh My Gouda

Cheddar Bacon Me Crazy

Get Pepper Jacked

White Chedda Black Peppa

Cheddar Believe It

These cheesy snacks are super satisfying and delicious!  

In our house, Moon Cheese snacks are both adult and kid-approved and we think they would make a great alternative to sugar-laden treats this Easter!

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

#EasterGiftGuide - Yummy Flavored Virginia Peanuts from Hubs Nuts!

 *DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Hubs Nuts for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Since we have a couple of vegetarians in our family, we love having nuts on hand for a healthy snack and protein option.  We also think nuts make a great addition to Easter baskets!  Hubs Nuts offers up some really yummy flavors of peanuts that are definitely gift worthy!  Check out their gift pack that features three of their most popular nuts:

This pack features these awesome varieties:

Big Reds - Salted Virginia Peanuts with Redskins

Underneath the outer shell, raw peanut kernels are enrobed in a beautiful red skin that is full of nutrients. Rather than removing this healthy little layer as is often done, Hub's has cooked these peanuts fully clothed. What you end up with are the same super extra-large salted peanuts but with a completely different taste experience. 

Home Cooked Virginia Salted Peanuts

Hubs salted peanuts are Virginia peanuts at their very best. These super extra-large Virginia peanuts have awesome crunchiness and flavor. 

Sweet Heat

The perfect blend of all natural spices, mild sweet chili peppers, and those popular Hubs super extra-large Virginia peanuts will have you reaching again and again for more. Not too hot.....not too sweet, Sweet Heat has just the right amount of "pop!"

If you are a peanut-loving family, add some delicious Hub's Nuts to your kiddo's Easter basket this Spring and get ready for some big smiles!  If you're lucky, they might even share 😊

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

#EasterGiftGuide - "A Kids Book About" Books Introduce Important Topics to Kids

 *DISCLOSURE* Thank you to A Kids Book About for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

We are so excited to share a new line of books with y'all today!  "A Kids Book About" books tackle tough and important lessons and put them into words that young children can understand and enjoy.  These books would be the perfect addition to an Easter basket this Spring!  Check out a few of our favorites:

A Kids Book About Systemic Racism

For Ages 6+

What's Inside

Systemic racism is incredibly difficult to understand—even for grownups! This book was made to help kids understand what systemic racism is and how it’s built into laws, schools, stories, and other institutions in a way that collectively makes life much harder for people of color.

About the Author

Jordan Thierry is a documentary filmmaker, activist, and storyteller. He has worked for over a decade to highlight the stories of people of color and working to undo the ongoing legacy of systemic racism in the U.S.A.

A Kids Book About Gratitude

For Ages 5+

What's Inside

This book explores what it means to be grateful. Not just for the big things like birthday parties and iPhones, but the small things like dinner, a cozy bed, and a sunny day. This book doesn’t teach kids how to pretend like everything is always ok, but to change their perspective to live bold, influential, and authentic lives.

About the Author

Ben Kenyon is a podcaster, influencer, Founder/CEO of Great Day Squad, and Portland Trail Blazers Performance Coach. He lives in Portland Or, and tries to live generously and with gratitude every day.

A Kids Book About Empathy

For Ages 5+

What's Inside

This is a book about empathy. Feelings aren’t always easy, especially when they are other people’s. This book teaches kids (and grownups) how to feel “with” someone, and not just for them. 

About the Author

Daron K. Roberts is a recovering NFL Coach, practicing leadership professor and hopeful triathlete. He averages 100 keynote speeches a year. Daron and his wife corral five children every Saturday during their weekly "Donut Council" outings.

Even though my kiddos are 12 and 14, they learned from these books.  These lessons can be difficult for even adults to understand and process, let alone find the words to explain.  "A Kids Book About" books are super helpful jumping off points for future conversations and educational opportunities with your children on each subject they cover.  These fabulous authors give you the words you need and the confidence in your ability to share these important lessons with your children.  Pure awesomesauce! 

These days we need all the help we can get addressing the challenging, empowering, and important topics that kids experience every day.  These books treat kids like they are smart and speak to them straightforwardly and honestly.  They are honest and don’t shy away from the most difficult aspects of each topic and, I don't know about you, but right now we could really use a bit more of that in our life!

We highly recommend you check out the fantastic selection of books "A Kids Book About" has to offer!

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

#EasterGiftGuide - Super Fun Games from Winning Moves!

 *DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Winning Moves Games for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Winning Moves Games has some great throwback games and lots of fun new games as well!  We love putting games in our kiddo's Easter baskets.  Check out some of our favorites from Winning Moves Games this Spring:

Words Over Easy

How do you like your words? Over easy, of course! Pop the Letter Eggs into the Egg Sorter to see which letters you can use to spell words. Letter Eggs that fall into the green side are good, while Letter Eggs that land on the red side are rotten. Players scramble to come up with words using all the letters, face-up, on the “good eggs” and none of the letters from the “rotten eggs”. Great for word game players of all ages, so get cracking!

We used Words Over Easy as part of our language arts curriculum in our homeschool.  It helps with spelling, vocabulary and quick thinking and it's fun to boot!

Trashed

Trashed was inspired by the old-time favorite card game Garbage. With custom cards and unique twists to gameplay, Trashed takes the classic game to a whole new level. Your goal is to get your cards lined up in the right order, from 1 to 10. But, look out for the terrible Trashed card! Wild cards allow for excitingly big turns, while Stop cards will stop you in your tracks!

Pass the Pigs Party Edition

Celebrating more than 25 years of Pig-tastic fun! Rack up points by rolling the pig-dice but be careful not to ''Pig Out.'' A classic party game enjoyed by Oscar nominated star Jeff Bridges!

This game teaches some math skills and is reminiscent of Yahtzee, but with pigs instead of dice.  We loved it!

Pass the Pigs Big Pigs

These fabulous oversized foam swines can hit all the pig poses that their little pig dice cousins do.  This is played the same way as the original, but with larger and equally adorable piggies!

Risk Europe

This enhanced game of conquest will excite gamers with hours of battle and strategizing to control Europe! Each player steps into the role of a medieval king and competes with a full army to expand their kingdom and take over Europe. Through shrewd tactical planning –and a little bit of lucky dice rolling- one player will conquer Europe and reign supreme! 

This is a classic game that B loved as a child and he is excited about teaching it to A and D.  The OG strategy game😊

Large Print Tile Lock Scrabble

Your Scrabble words won’t be slip-slidin’ away thanks to this boards clever “tile-lock” design. Every word counts when you are playing this specially designed large print version of the world’s leading word game. The integrated turntable function makes rotating and moving the board simple, and that large print board, tiles, and rules booklet are clear and easy to read.

 

Another classic game that helps to teach spelling and vocabulary, we love the update of tile-lock pieces and the large print means we can play with the grandparents!

Monopoly 1980s Edition

Fond memories will spring to life, with family and friends, when you play Monopoly The 1980's Edition. Advance To Go and enjoy!

Speaking of OG, this is the classic OG game of Monopoly, the one I remember playing when I was a teen.  We have had several variations of this game over the years, but this version remains my personal favorite!

Check out Winning Moves Games for these and many more board, dice and card games that the whole family is sure to enjoy this Spring and for years to come!

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Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.