9 Little People by Regina Feldmann ~ Children's Picture Book Review

 

9 LITTLE PEOPLE

By REGINA FELDMANN

Illustrated by Martina Stuhlberger

Children's Picture Book / Multicultural / Community

Publisher ‏ : ‎ NorthSouth Books

Expected Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 2, 2025

Print length ‏ : ‎ 40 pages

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years

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ABOUT THE BOOK: A sweet, joyous celebration of nine unique children and their lifelong friendship.

Nine little people are born on the same day. All of them experience love and care in their different families, and they grow up doing everything together. They become the best of friends.

9 Little People is an ode to friendship and family. It is an ode to belonging and acceptance. It invites children–and their families–to imagine a community where everyone is brought together by their commonalities, as well as celebrated for their differences.

In sweet, rhyming text, author Regina Feldmann shares how the nine children change and develop, celebrating important and silly moments together—and many moments in between. Martina Stuhlberger’s thoughtful illustrations bring their world to life in vibrant colors.

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BOOK REVIEW

I don't spend time on plot summary, so please read the book synopsis above.

HALL WAYS REVIEW: Oh, what a delight it is to read 9 Little People! And it's double-y delightful to read it with my observant five-year-old granddaughter, Amelia. While we did have a misfire trying to read the ARC on Kindle (formatting was awful), and she was frustrated at having to read it on my iPad via the NetGalley app, (MIMI, why don't you have this REAL book to hold???), we had a wonderful time reading together.

In 9 Little People Martina Stuhlberger's soft, expressive illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to Regina Feldmann's rhythmic and rhyming text. The combination invites young readers to truly study the pages. My young reader made sure to verify that there are indeed nine little people on each page, and when there wasn't, she was quick to explain that some kids have siblings. 

"9 little people make big plans together. 9 little people stay best friends forever." 

Since the story progresses from when the babies are bulges in their mommies' tummies to when they're independent children, there are even more opportunities for page-studying and discussion. In 9 Little People, readers see children and their adults who celebrate what they have in common and their unique connections that bond them together.    

Adults will likely find the author's note in the "Dear Reader" section of interest. It explains the impetus for writing the book, and it's a reminder to place faith and hope in our younger generations. 

When Amelia and I finished 9 Little People (the second time), I asked her to give me a thumbs up or a thumbs down to buying the hardcover edition. She gave me TWO thumbs up! Can't get a better recommendation than that. 

I received a copy of the book and reviewed this book as part of Camp NetGalley.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR

Regina Feldmann was born in Germany. After living in Malta, Ireland, New York, and Portugal, she now lives in Berlin with her family. Regina writes and translates children's books and is also involved in projects that promote a diversity of voices in children's literature.

Martina Stuhlberger lives and works near Linz, Austria. Before realizing her childhood dream of becoming an illustrator, she studied journalism and languages in Salzburg and Nicaragua, and later worked as a copywriter and screenwriter. Her work is inspired by foreign worlds, the beauty of nature, diversity, and cohesion.

All of a Sudden and Forever ~ Picture Book Review

 

ALL OF A SUDDEN

AND FOREVER

Help and Healing After

the Oklahoma City Bombing

by

CHRIS BARTON

Illustrated by Nicole Xu

Children's Picture Book / Nonfiction / Healing / History

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 11 years

Carolrhoda Books

40 pages

Publication Date: February 4. 2020

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FROM THE TBR PILE. I've been a Chris Barton fan for a long time. He's a gifted author (my favorites are What Do You Do with a Voice Like That and Glitter Everywhere!) and engaging speaker, and an amazing advocate for libraries and readers' rights. I subscribe to his outstanding newsletter, and one feature of that is regular giveaways. I was lucky enough to win autographed copies of Barton's All of a Sudden and Forever, Manatee Summer by Evan Griffith, and Wintergarden by Janet Fox in the August, 2024 contest.  

I remember ALL OF A SUDDEN AND FOREVER being released around the 25th anniversary of the bombing, and I remember thinking, "How in the world do you write a children's book about that?" Now I know.

ABOUT THE BOOK: A profoundly moving nonfiction picture book about tragedy, hope, and healing from award-winning author Chris Barton. 

Sometimes bad things happen, and you have to tell everyone. Sometimes terrible things happen, and everybody knows. On April 19, 1995, something terrible happened in Oklahoma City: a bomb exploded, and people were hurt and killed. But that was not the end of the story.

Those who survived—and those who were forever changed—shared their stories and began to heal. Near the site of the bomb blast, an American elm tree began to heal as well. People took care of the tree just as they took care of each other. The tree and its seedlings now offer solace to people around the world grappling with tragedy and loss.

Released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, this book commemorates what was lost and offers hope for the future.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY: Bank Street College of Education, Cooperative Children’s Book Center, Evanston Public Library, Fuse #8 Production, Kirkus Reviews, Los Angeles Public Library, Only Picture Books, School Library Journal, Waking Brain Cells, and Writers’ League of Texas.

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MY BOOK REVIEW

HALL WAYS REVIEW: This past Saturday, April 19, 2025, marked thirty years since the Oklahoma City bombing, which is the subject of Chris Barton's ALL OF A SUDDEN AND FOREVER. I was still teaching junior high and remember the day very well. I turned on NPR, and as the reports were coming in, I recall the near desperate urge to leave work to get to and hold my then nine-month-old baby. As more and more information was released, the magnitude of the event and loss of lives coupled with the reality of domestic terrorism was almost more than my young-mother's heart could take. Sadly, since then, my mother's heart has had to endure one heartache after another as incidents that should be unimaginable have struck our nation. But still, I remember and I share the stories so they are never forgotten. And Barton's book helps that cause.

“Their stories would keep alive those they had lost. Those stories, told and retold, would make sure the past had a place in the present.”

Initially, I was not sure about who is the intended audience or how to use ALL OF A SUDDEN AND FOREVER. The point of the book is to remind us, all of us, to remember. And part of how that happens is by telling the stories to our younglings. Any elementary aged kid or older is already aware of dangers that happen in our world – they do school drills for active shooters, after all. But Barton handles the topic with finesse.  He writes intentionally, sensitively, and carefully, and I like that it’s left in the readers’ hands to decide if they want to learn more.

Barton's style of keeping things generic underscores to me that this is any person’s story and every person’s story. Had Barton included more details, it could be too much for the youngest readers.  Older readers will surely want more information, so I can see the book being a good springboard for additional research and discussions. He provides an Author’s Note, Illustrator’s Note, and recommended reading and resources (an extended list can be found on his website). 

Nicole Xu's multimedia illustrations keeps faces and places muted – a good move, I think, coupled with how Barton refers to people vaguely. Xu uses somber colors, darker at first, but as the story unfolds and the focus is on recovery, hope, and survival, the colors lighten. 

A recurring element in the story is the Survivor Tree. Its roots continue to spread and feed the damaged tree that is above ground and its seedlings bring comfort and hope to people. This brought to mind the more recent tree that symbolizes hope, Lahaina's resilient banyan tree, a similar symbol of recovery and community. We hold each other up. 

“And because of the stories so many of us have shared . . .

We will remember the help so many needed.

We will remember the help so many received.

We will remember the help so many provided.

We will remember.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Chris Barton is the award-winning author of picture books. He visits schools by the score and also loves speaking to professional gatherings of librarians, educators, and fellow writers.

He's married to middle-grade/YA novelist Jennifer Ziegler, and they co-host the children’s literature video series “This One’s Dedicated to…” in which we talk with other authors and illustrators about the dedications they’ve written for their books. 

They have four adult children and one dog and live in Austin where Chris serves as vice president of the Texas Institute of Letters, a 501(c)(3) non-profit honor society founded in 1936 to celebrate Texas literature and to recognize distinctive literary achievement. 

WEBSITE   LINKEDIN   BLUESKY   FACEBOOK    INSTAGRAM

The Aquamarine Surfboard ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Pop-Up Blog-Hop & Giveaway!

 

THE AQUAMARINE SURFBOARD

by

KELLYE ABERNATHY

Middle Grade / Magical Realism / Fantasy

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Page Count: 290 pages

Publication Date: November 22, 2021

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“Age never matters; these things are about bravery and heart.”

Thirteen-year-old Condi Bloom’s dream is to learn to surf, but her laid-back beach town isn’t what it used to be. Big resort owners are taking over the cove. Worse, someone’s harassing the Beachlings, the mysterious old women living in the cliffs off Windy Hollow, a lonely tower of rock that people say is haunted. When a new surfer boy named Trustin shows up in town and invites Condi to a forbidden surfing spot, she’s swept into an extraordinary underwater adventure, where a surprising encounter with Koan, the Riddlemaster of the Sea, changes her life. Along with Trustin, his quirky twin and a mystical aquamarine surfboard, Condi learns the untold stories of the Beachlings, uncovering the timeless secrets of Windy Hollow.

Ebbing and flowing between reality and magic, times past and present, The Aquamarine Surfboard by Kellye Abernathy is a riveting beach tale about opening up to mystery, building community when and where you can — and discovering the ocean is filled with magic—the really BIG kind—the kind that changes the world.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon  *   Barnes and Noble

IndieBound  *  Bookshop.org

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Listen to author Kellye Abernathy read from her book, The Aquamarine Surfboard!

Kellye Abernathy's passions are writing and serving trauma survivors as a yoga teacher and practical life skills advocate. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education from the University of Kansas. Her home is in land-locked Plano, Texas—where she’s dreaming of her next trip to the sea!

Website * Instagram * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Amazon *

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Yazzy's Amazing Yarn ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Promo, Book Trailer, & Giveaway!

YAZZY'S AMAZING YARN

by

CATHEY GRAHAM NICKELL
Illustrated by Emily Calimlim

  Genre: Children's Picture Book, Ages 4-8 

Publisher: Twenty-Eight Creative

Date of Publication: August 1, 2019

Number of Pages: 32

Scroll down for giveaway!

Yazzy is a creative girl, always sketching out her next adventure. She loves yarn, and she loves to knit! Her neighborhood park is dull and rusty, but Yazzy has a grand plan. 

With a little help from her friends, Yazzy’s knitted wonders transform Penny Park into a fuzzy rainbow of warmth and color. What yarn-tastic idea will Yazzy think of next? 

The book includes a “History of Yarn Bombing” page for readers who are not familiar with this creative and whimsical type of art.

“As a teacher, it's refreshing to find a book that exposes children to an alternative art form. I'm inspired by Yazzy's story, and I know my students will be, too.” -- Deborah Horwitz, Art Teacher, The Emery/Weiner School, Houston, Texas.

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Cathey Nickell is a busy author and elementary school speaker, having presented at more than seventy schools to date. Yazzy’s Amazing Yarn is her second children’s book about creativity and outside-the-box artistic endeavors. She is also the author of Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car, which was awarded first place by the Texas Association of Authors in the category of Children’s Picture Books-All Ages. Cathey lives with her husband, Kevin, in Houston, where they raised their four children.

WEBSITE  ✦  FACEBOOK  ✦  TWITTER
INSTAGRAM  ✦  GOODREADS   
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Emily Calimlim, while not a knitting whiz herself, loves creating art with humorous and lively watercolor pictures for children. She lives in Houston with her fiancé, George, and silly studio bird, Simon. Emily spends her days capturing her ideas and imagination with paint and pencil.

WEBSITE  ✦  FACEBOOK 

TWITTER ✦  INSTAGRAM 

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THREE AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF YAZZY'S AMAZING YARN

August 27-September 6, 2019

(US ONLY)

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

8/27/19	Top Ten List	Sybrina's Book Blog
		Sybrina's Book Blog
8/27/19	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
8/28/19	Review	That's What She's Reading
8/29/19	Review	Sydney Young, Stories
8/30/19	Sneak Peek & BONUS Review	The Page Unbound
8/31/19	Deleted Scene	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
9/1/19	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
9/2/19	Excerpt	Books and Broomsticks
9/3/19	Sneak Peek & BONUS Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
9/4/19	Review	All the Ups and Downs
9/5/19	Review	Missus Gonzo

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Aransas Morning ~ ~ Blog Tour Promo & Giveaway!

ARANSAS MORNING

by

JEFF HAMPTON

  Genre: Literary Fiction / Family Life

Date of Publication: September 22, 2017

Number of Pages: 304

Scroll down for the giveaway!

When Sam Barnes’ high-flying life in Dallas falls apart, he flees to the coastal town of Port Aransas, Texas and fades into the life of a reclusive beach bum. But things start to change when he meets Dave, a young widower working through his own loss; Shelly, owner of the Dream Bean coffee shop; Bo, a crusty old shrimper; and Allie, Bo’s free-spirited daughter. Together they are tested and forced to confront their own issues. In doing so they discover family and community.

PRAISE FOR ARANSAS MORNING:

“Engrossing characters that keep doing unexpected things. Strong sense of place along the Texas coast and deep knowledge of the culture. This book is about relationships and how ‘family’ and ‘community’ might be redefined.”

“In this heartwarming book, Jeff Hampton took me to a place I’ve never been and captured me with his delightful characters, seaside landscape, and deft use of words to portray a small group of people who came together to create and run the Dream Bean cafe. Great summer reading.”

“I loved the characters, with their flaws and their graces. It is an honest and heart-warming story of redemption coming through community. I’m really glad I read it.”

“Really nice character development, articulating in a very comfortable and readable style the messy, complex, joyous and hopeful ways we build, break and nurture ‘community.’”

“Very quickly in the story, the characters became like friends. The book is engaging and held my interest.”

CLICK TO PURCHASE:

◾   Barnes& Noble  ◾   Jeff Hampton Writer   ◾   
  ◾   Etsy  ◾    Amazon   ◾   

During a 35-year career in journalism and communications, Jeff Hampton has covered and written about topics ranging from business and finance to history and faith. His bylines have appeared in publications ranging from The Dallas Morning News to The New York Times.

He attended Baylor University where he majored in journalism and was editor of the Baylor Lariat campus newspaper. He began his professional career at the Waco Tribune-Herald and has written for newspapers, magazines, businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies.

Hampton has based his life and career in Texas where his interest in observing the people around him has led him to write essays, short stories, and novels that explore relationships and communities in their many forms.

Aransas Morning is his fifth book, following Grandpa Jack, When the Light Returned to Main Street, Jonah Prophet and The Snowman Uprising on Hickory Lane.

Watch for Aransas Evening, a sequel to Aransas Morning, in 2018. 

 ║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║  
║ Instagram║ Goodreads ║

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FIVE SIGNED COPIES!
JANUARY 23-FEBRUARY 1, 2018

(U.S. Only)

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

1/23/18	Promo	A Page Before Bedtime
1/23/18	Promo	Reading by Moonlight
1/23/18	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
1/24/18	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
1/24/18	Review	Bibliotica
1/25/18	Excerpt Part 1	StoreyBook Reviews
1/25/18	Excerpt Part 2	Forgotten Winds
1/26/18	Review	Texan Girl Reads
1/27/18	Review	Tangled in Text
1/27/18	Bonus Post	The Love of a Bibliophile
1/28/18	Author Interview	The Page Unbound
1/28/18	Playlist	Syd Savvy
1/29/18	Review	The Clueless Gent
1/30/18	Promo	Texas Book Lover
1/30/18	Scrapbook Page	The Librarian Talks
1/31/18	Review	Momma on the Rocks
2/1/18	Review	Missus Gonzo

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