New Review and Giveaway! Cooper and Me!

Contest Closed.

A while back I got a cute little book called Cooper and Me from the good folks at propeller.  I read it, put it aside, then forgot about it!  LOL  So, here I am sheepishly posting the "better late than never" review.  ;) 

This is a neat book because the illustrator and co-author is a child!  Check out the press release, and then read my thoughts.  :)

About Cooper and Me:


Cooper and Me was illustrated by 11-year-old Alexa Peters and co-written with her mother, Monique Peters. The idea was inspired by Alexa's own experiences on her first day of school. A talented young artist and writer, Alexa wanted to give back to others in a meaningful way through her art. Starting at a very young age, Alexa created illustrated stories about her daily experiences, and from the pages of her sketchbooks came the idea for her first book, Cooper and Me.

Through rhythmic verses, Cooper and Me tells the story of a young girl who is nervous as her first day of school approaches. She is frightened about leaving home and doesn't want to go without her best friend, her dog Cooper. Fortunately her mother finds the perfect solution to help the little girl overcome her fears – a small replica of her beloved pet she can take to school with her. In Cooper and Me, the story of a child’s fears about starting school has evolved into a timeless tale about overcoming separation anxiety and trying new things – basic emotions all people experience throughout their lives – but this time, written by a child, for children.

The story behind Cooper and Me also offers an inspiring example of families working together to help others. In addition to helping young children gain emotional resilience and confidence through their books, Alexa and mom Monique wanted to go beyond that to help less fortunate kids. Their search for an organization to which they could donate a portion of the proceeds from the Cooper and Me book led to a charitable alliance with the Happy Hearts Fund, founded and run by Petra Nemcova, the supermodel who was directly affected by the tsunami in Thailand. Happy Hearts improves children’s lives through education and sustainable programs in natural disaster areas.

My thoughts:

I found this to be an adorable book.  Admittedly, I am a homeschool mom, so the whole "first day of school" aspect of the book didn't apply to my family.  I mean, we school at home and our dog is right here with us!  LOL  However, we still have had first days at Sunday school, co-op, etc.  So, while I know most of my readers are also homeschoolers, I can still recommend this book.  I mean, what a cool thing that it's written by a little girl!  Even if you don't send your child to kindergarten, you can still enjoy the book and talk to your child about living out your dreams.  Maybe your child wants to write or illustrate books.  Maybe they have other dreams.  Maybe they have no dreams, and this will inspire them to do something more exciting than reach the next level of the latest video game.  LOL

Wanna find out more?  Check out the link below.

Website: http://http://www.cooperandme.com/

And now for the giveaway!  Would you like to win your own copy of Cooper and Me?  If so, just leave me a comment telling me who you'd read it to.  ;)  You can leave a comment either here or on my facebook page.  For additional entries: 

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The rules: You must be 13 years old or older to enter and not live in my house. :) Please leave your e-mail address or some other way I can contact you if you win. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY for up to five entries per person. More than one person may enter per household if they are at least 13 years old. That's about it. :)

The contest will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 4, 2011. The winner will be chosen on Monday, December 5, 2011 or sometime soon after.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: 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:  "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."



Happy Reading!!! :)