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Maria Dismondy Book Reviews & Giveaway

When I wrote my most popular post ever 75 Books The Build Character there was comment after comment about Maria Dismondy and her fantastic books. I had never heard of her but I couldn’t wait to read her books.  One of the most wonderful things about having a blog is sometimes authors find you before you can find them. Maria contacted me herself and I was excited when she sent me two of her books to review and one to give away. Did I mention they are all signed? Yeah I love my job.

Pink Tiara Cookies For Three is a story I think most of us can relate to . It’s about two best friends who’s friendship is challenged when another little girl is welcomed by one friend and not by the other. I know as a young girl I dealt with this and it was heartbreaking. Now as a mom I watch my son and his two closest friends deal with this often. The author does a beautiful job at recognizing the feelings of rejection, loneliness and anger that children feel when this happens. The little girls in the story are probably a little more capable at expressing themselves than our children but that makes this book even more important. As my son and I read it today we took a lot of breaks for me to ask if he’d ever felt like any of the characters and that got him talking, relating and connecting not only to one side of the issue but to both. Oh and please don’t think it’s a girly book, it’s not my son loved it. His exact words were ” This would be really good for teachers to read to classes. ” I agree.

Spaghetti in A Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are is about bullying but it’s also about doing the right thing and not loosing yourself especially when it’s hard. When I sat down to read this with my son he was begging me to play war with him. I had just read 8 chapters of another book with him and I really wanted to read this book before his sister woke up from her nap so we could talk about it. He ignored my request but I had a trick up my sleeve – I started reading. I was three words in when he walked up behind the couch and stayed there the whole time following along over my shoulder. We both really liked this story about a little girl made who is teased mercilessly by a classmate and how she deals with it. What we liked so much was that the bully was really mean and the bullying seemed to come from no where. I think that is so important because when you are getting bullied it’s hard to make sense of it, and often there is no clear reason for being a target. The dialog that this opened for us was so enlightening and this book offers parents and teachers  many chances to talk about the complex issues of bullying. The thing about this book is that it’s not even so much about bullying but about not loosing confidence in yourself and who you are in the face of a bully. Lucy struggles with being teased but ultimately she helps her bully when he needs it even though he doesn’t deserve her help . She does the right thing and gains confidence in herself in the process.

Maria Dismondy also has a third book The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up For Others she co-authored with Bob Sornson.

So do you want a signed copy of Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun to read as part of our 3rd Annual Summer Reading Challenge  ? <— nice plug eh?

How To Enter : Contest CLOSED

Leave a comment on this post answering the question ” Where do you get new books to read?”

Official Rules
This sweepstakes is open to American residents 18 years or older. To be eligible for the sweepstakes you must leave a comment on this post answering the question “Where do you get new books to read?”1 winning commenter will be drawn at random, using Random.org, after the sweepstakes closes on Thursday June 14th  2012 at 8:00pm PST. The winner will receive  a signed copy of Spaghetti On A Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy, valued at approximately $10. After the winner is notified he or she has 48 hours to respond with their mailing address for me to ship their book to,or another winner will be chosen at random. No purchase necessary.The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Any information gathered through the sweepstakes including email and postal addresses will not be used in anyway other than contacting winners and shipment of winnings. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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88 Comments

  1. Marie says

    Most often, my new books come randomly off the library shelves. We have found some real jewels and some real duds this way. I wish I were organized enough to make a list before we head out, but I don’t. I mean to do it, but forget almost every time. We also get great books from suggestions from friends and family. Thanks for the giveaway! I’m going to try to right down this author and remember to take it to the library next time…

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  6. Jessica says

    I get new books from a variety of places. Since joining the world of young (and slightly broke) early childhood educators, I’ve recently rediscovered my love for the library. My library is great because I can borrow books from my entire county. They also they have e-books, so I can borrow books on my Kindle as well. I’ve acquired a lot of children books from my mother who has been secretly buying me classroom supplies for the last few years. I also picked some up at the local used book store. Finally, I have Amazon and my great group of friends for helping me acquire the rest of my personal library.

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  10. Tina says

    I find a lot of books by doing research onlinr. I also depend on co-workers for suggestions. I am a preschool teacher, and I LOVE to read with my students. Some of my students are in my class for up to 3 years, so I am always looking for new books to help me teach the same lessons. Spaghetti on a Hot Dog Bun sounds like a perfect book for my little kiddos at the beginning of the school year!

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  12. Alexis Gruehn says

    I used to get new books from browsing at our local chain book store. I really miss the ability to just look through things and discover treasures. I would buy some and borrow some from the library just so my husband didn’t freak over all my book purchases. Now, I get a lot of book suggestions from parents of my students and the children’s librarian. I sub at my kids school library from time to time and love talking about books with her.

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  15. Debi S says

    I get many ideas of what to read on Pinterest and blogs and word of mouth through teachers. I love when I can use the book in my class with activities or incorporating them in the lessons. I buy most of my books at Half Price Books or on Amazon. I go to the library weekly. I have many books in my classroom and like to display different books depending on our theme or needs that week. Next year we are emphasizing character and spiritual development, so I need to check these books out!

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  26. Colette Eason says

    Well, besides vendors, Texas Library Association Convention, ALA convention this year in Dallas, Boarders, friends, oh yeah, Scholastic Book Fairs, we also have a preview room where we can borrow books, write a review and keep catalogued books for free in DISD, these are where my new books are acquired. Mostly! Thanks for the opportunity. I also get some books from Barbara Langridge to review!

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  37. Lynn says

    As a teacher, I find books in many ways; through blogs like this, pinterest, Scholastic book orders, our locally owned book store, our local library, Barnes & Noble teacher emails, and parents. I really get excited when I find GOOD literature that will help with current issues and both of these books hit it on the head. I repined them to my “earlychildhood books to read” board. I hope to get them in time to read to my 2nd/3rd grade combo class the first day of school this fall. I may even read them to my preschoolers!

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  38. Jamie says

    I am a bookworm and hope that my daughter inherits my passion for books! Since I’m always reading something, I get books from where ever possible….garage sales, on-line warehouses, bookstores, and of course the library! Perhaps my most favorite way to get books is through my circle of reading friends. We are always exchanging books with each other and passing titles along that other people have suggested for our friends etc. I love turning the pages of a well loved book that has been through many lives before it has come into my hands! They seem to have such a personality to them! 🙂

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  45. Robin says

    I would go broke feeding my kids need to read, so we check out 30-40 books at a time from our local library (LOVE when they have book sale fundraisers where kid books are 10-25 cents). I’ll buy used ones from thrift stores….Savers is best, buy 4 (at $.70 ea) and get the 5th free. We also trade to earn credits at a used book store. The paperback swap online is another great place for good books, you just pay shipping and earn credits for every book swapped. And lastly, if I can’t get a particular book any of those places, I break down and buy it on Amazon, preferably used.

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  57. Stephanie Kierys says

    My DD and I go to the library weekly. We pick books randomly but also bring along some suggestions from this site.

    We also have a very charming bookstore in the area called Readmore Books. All their new titles are always 10 – 20% off. They also buy back used books and give you credit which you can use to purchase more used books. They usually have harder to find books than B & N or Borders (when they were still in business). Its important to support the small business owners in our communities! (:

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  86. Sharon says

    I get new books online, from the library (at least weekly), via Kindle, and from my mother, who loves to mail my kids new books! I talk with friends regularly about chapter books for my daughter, and about great topics to read to my soon-to-be Kindergarten boy. I talk with the people who work at the library about new books and books that are in high demand to be checked out. Yep, I got a ‘thing’ for books!

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