Cody and the Fountain of Happiness -- Review and Giveaway

Thought for the Day:

“So the writer who breeds

more words than he needs

is making a chore

for the reader who reads.”

~ Dr. Seuss ~

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

Kristen Lamb has a terrific post HERE about the importance of well-rounded villains.

Writer’s Village has an interesting post HERE with tips for sneaking in information and avoiding the information dump. There are some good tips in the comments as well.

If picture books are your bailiwick, you won’t want to miss the post HERE by Mary Blount Christian. 

Last week I offered one of you a hardback copy of Finding the Worm by Mark Goldblatt.  This week's winner in Jess@Fairday's Blog. Congratulations, Jess! If you aren't familiar with Jessica Haight, she is one of the authors of The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow and she is one of the authors blogging HERE. Jess, I will get the book out to you this week.

By the way, if you click on Mark Goldblatt's name in the paragraph above, you can read an amazing story on Mark's home page. 

This week I am featuring a sweet middle-grade book by Tricia Springstubb. I reviewed Moonpenny Island by Tricia back in February. If you missed that review, you can find it HERE. I sent Tricia a note directing her to the blog post, and she contacted me and asked if I would like a copy of her newest book, Cody and the Fountain of Happiness. I had loved Moonpenny Island, so was happy to get her new book. This one is very different, but very cute and sweet. It is for the younger middle-graders and is charmingly illustrated by Eliza Wheeler.

It is the beginning of summer vacation and Cody is pretty excited to find out that the day camp she was supposed to attend was closed. It hadn't been the best experience for her the year before. For the time being, Cody would have to stay with her older brother Wyatt. Mom was working hard toward a promotion at the shoe store where she worked. Dad was a long distance trucker and was gone a lot. But Wyatt would be going to a science camp soon, so they would need to find someone to watch Cody. In the meantime, Cody meets a boy in the neighborhood, Spencer, who has lost his cat, MewMew. Spencer is staying with his grandmother in the neighborhood. When Mom announces she has found someone to take care of Cody, it is Peyton Underwood, Wyatt's secret crush. It's looking like a pretty interesting summer after all.

The story is fun with lots of interesting characters, amusing situations, and

Tricia Springstubb

terrific writing. The people in the book are ordinary people in ordinary jobs and lives -- people young readers can easily relate to, people they will like and sympathize with. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the beginning of a series. It reminded me in some ways of the Clementine books, which I also think are pretty adorable. 

I have a gently-read ARC of Cody and the Fountain of Happiness for one of you. To win, all you need do is have a US address, be a subscriber or follower and tell me that in a comment you leave on this post. If you are reading this in your email, click HERE to go to the blog so you can leave a comment. If you would like extra chances, please spread the word by posting the link on a Tweet, blog post, Facebook, or any other way you like. Let me know what you have done in your comment, and I will put in extra chances for you for each that you do.

Don't forget to check out Shannon Messenger's wonderful blog HERE for many more Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday reviews and giveaways.