GET YOUR SPELLS AND POTIONS READY! Blog Tour: Grace-Ella Witch Camp

-
Today, I'm delighted to share my stop on the
GRACE-ELLA WITCH CAMP BLOG TOUR!
celebrating the arrival of the second book by Sharon Marie Jones; illustrated by Adriana J Puglisi.

We met Grace-Ella in the first book, Grace-Ella: Spells for Beginners. Grace-Ella was just nine years, nine months and nine days old when she discovered her witchy powers. Bedwyr and Fflur, her very best friends are the only ones who know (apart from her parents, of course) who know she is a witch. Mr Whiskins, her black cat moved in on the same day and the Witches Councils sent her her 'must-have' items; a Witch Tablet with first spells and potions, her cauldron, her wand and the all-important Book of Rules. 
And now, Grace-Ella has just received her invitation to join her very first Witch Camp! And we get to tag along.
Now that is exciting!

GRACE-ELLA: WITCH CAMP
author: Sharon Marie Jones
illustrator: Adriana J Puglisi
Firefly Press (30 September 2019)
ISBN: 9781913102067
Grace-Ella is excited when she receives her invitation (finally!) to attend Witch Camp over the week of school break. At  Witch Camp, she'll have the opportunity to allow her skills to grow as she learns at the side of the best Witches the Council has to offer. And she can meet young witches like herself; sharing spells, talking about all things magical. It's going to be brilliant! But, she'll need to get there first. With Mr Whiskins at her side, Grace-Ella solves the riddle and walks the right path straight to Witch Camp. Once there, Grace-Ella is matched-up with fellow new witches, Mati, Aisha and Dilys. Together, they are determined to win the special "Best Coven" award at the end of camp. There is one problem. While all young witches are nervous about their abilities, Dilys seems to be the worst witch her family has ever seen and nothing...absolutely nothing goes right for her! When her broom-flying takes awful turn and her broomstick breaks, the girls decide they must break the rules to help their new friend. But the rules are there for a reason and before you know it, disaster strikes. Grace-Ella has to face her fears and find a way to help her friends before it's too late!
Containing so much joy and the all-important magic, this book is an absolute joy! While there are moments of drama and danger, it is a gentle story, full of fun and interesting episodes that grip the young reader.  Amongst the exciting adventure, there is a fair amount of opportunity for problem solving, investigation and showing support and compassion. The friendship grows between the 4 girls quickly. They easily find common ground and bring out the best in each others' different qualities. The characters stand out as individuals and show personality, not unlike people we know. So it is easy to plop yourself right in the middle of the tale, feeling as if you completely belong there. The incredibly charming black and white illustrations sprinkled throughout the book help the readers really immerse themselves in the story. They demonstrate so much expression, setting the mood and atmosphere; a marvelous addition.
A story about friendship, accepting yourself as you are, courage and determination, this is an utterly wonderful sequel; spell-binding, enchanting and filled with heart. Grace-Ella: Witch Camp sparkles and sings with heartfelt magic!


Huge thanks to Meg and all at Firefly Press for sending me a copy of this beautiful book to share with all of you. It's a wonderful book to share and just perfect for young, confident readers.
You really should have a look at the rest of the blog tour stops for even more fun and magic with Grace Ella: Witch Camp.







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rights of the Reader

-
Image
The Rights of the Reader; Daniel Pennac, illustrated by Quentin Blake Summer is here and we do encourage summer reading with numerous incentives and programmes. It is important for children (of all ages) to 'keep their reading up' outside of school time. This is the time when kids develop their own taste in books and can be free to read books of their own choosing. And this is the single most important factor in young people developing a lifelong reading habit. But how do we, as the 'gatekeepers' of kids reading, encourage them properly without running the risk of thrusting pressure and our own ideas on them? Do that and you'll run the risk of pushing them away from reading, and there are already so many distractions for the young reader to contend with that can tempt them elsewhere. Published by Walker Books; 9781406300918 In 1992, French writer Daniel Pennac originally published this little gem of a book; The Rights of the Reader. I highly recommend
Read more

The Summer of Lily and Esme by John Quinn....25 years

-
Image
This year marks the anniversary of the publication of an extraordinary book. In 1991, Poolbeg published The Summer of Lily & Esme by John Quinn and in the 25 years since, it has never been out of print. The Summer of Lily & Esme tells a quiet story, filled with compassion, friendship, memory and heart. It is the story of Alan, an 11-year-old boy who has moved from the city into a house in the countryside; in the middle of nowhere.The house is old and extremely large and immaculate; and there is a locked, boarded over attic room that is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young boy who died tragically. Alan is not too pleased with this move and becomes even less thrilled when he discovers his closest neighbours, in fact his only neighbours, are a pair of elderly sisters, Esme and Lily, who seem to be suffering from dementia.  When Alan falls down a hill of brambles and weeds, the sisters, who believe they themselves to be children, mistake Alan for their
Read more

Launch of Genesis by Eilis Barrett

-
Image
A week ago, I played a small part of the launch of Genesis , the much-anticipated sequel to Oasis by Eilis Barrett; this time at Charlie Byrnes Bookshop in Galway. Vinny Brown introduces Eilis Eilis is a remarkable young woman, as you might imagine since she is 18 years old and this is her second book. ( Oasis was published when she was 16.) Articulate and accomplished, it is a real privilege to know her, to hear her speak and to read her writing. Genesis author: Eilis Barrett publisher: Gill Books (8 September 2017 ISBN: 9780717174355 Genesis picks up the story of Quincy Emerson. She now finds herself a captive once again, in the maximum-security prison, the Colosseum as a security risk. Held in deplorable and brutal conditions in the prison, where anarchy rules and rival gangs wage a 'street war' of sorts, Quincy takes care to not make an enemy of either gang boss, while holding allegiance to no one but herself and her comrades on the outside. Food is scarce an
Read more