Day three of the KidzBookBuzz.com blog tour for the delightful book, The Year the Swallows Came Early. It’s a sad day. I could go on talking about this book for a while, yet.
I’m not kidding. Last night I was talking on the phone to writer friend who had also read the book. She told me she’d gone to lunch with a friend that day and spent half an hour telling her about the book. Then she told me, “The more I think about it, the more I like it.”
I had had that very thought earlier in the day. The more I looked at the book, the more I found to love in it. So my friend and I proceeded to spend an hour more discussing The Year the Swallows Came Early and what we loved about it.
We were cracking up over the mother and her desire to fix everything with a deep conditioning hair treatment. And the horror the mother felt at the suggestion that women on mission trips didn’t care about their appearances. She’s so funny. And then there was the time Groovy was crying and the mom offers crackers and liquid Tylenol.
I won’t go on because I know you’ll want to discover the story for yourself. But the point is this: my friend and I read a lot of books and write a lot of reviews and often we have to search and search for things to like about a book. Sometimes we have to struggle through books that bore us and sometimes we find books we like a lot and we are happy to report that they were pleasant and meaningful. Often one of us likes a book the other one doesn’t care for. But these books that keep us discussing the characters and themes long after the reviews are written, the books that “the more you think about them, the more you like them” are quite rare.
If you like to read, The Year the Swallows Came Early is a book you won’t want to miss.
So, it is with great pleasure that I tell you Kathryn Fitzmaurice, the author, has graciously offered to give away a signed copy of the book to a reader here.
I don’t know what kind of contest to run–a goofy poem contest just doesn’t work with this book–so I’m just going to ask you to leave a comment on this post. I’ll take comments from now until Wednesday, March 4, and then I’ll draw a winner.
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Edited to add:
I’ve found several other blogs giving away copies of the book so for more chances to win visit these other blogs:
[...] can enter to win at my children’s book blog, All About Children’s Books, or at any of the following [...]
[...] All About Children’s Books [...]
Wow, this sounds like a great book.
I love a book that gives you something to feel in your bones and this one looks like it (the girl on cover has her arms outstretched in all her glory). Coupled with your comment that the more you think about it, the more you like it, I am absolutely enticed to read it. The author should be prepared to be the next JKRowling–or at least DeJong (remember The Wheel on the School–the birds remind me of that–a GREAT book)
I learned of this blog tour via Superfast Reader, which led me to your review. Appreciate your close reading and all the delightful passages you pulled out for us. I’ve added the book to my ever-expanding TBR list!
Mindy Withrows last blog post..Currently reading
hi, stopping by to enter my name in for the book, I would love to see for myself what the book is about.
Val Brices last blog post..It’s A New Day
Thanks for the lovely introduction to such a wonderful book. The story and illustrations are marvelous. This sounds like a book that every person should read and reread for themselves and with their children. What a beautiful book to pass down through the generations! Please enter my name in your drawing. Many thanks,
Cindi
What a great find! Reading is so important and it seems like in the age of internet people have forgotten the beauty of books. When the world starts to become too stressfull or negative I slip into one of my favorite or current fantasy books — too another world.
Liz and Tristan would really enjoy reading this book.
Sounds like a beautiful book that I would love to own. I’m really sorry that the Bowen Press was a victim of the times.
Wow, now I really, REALLY want to read the book!
What a lovely book! I read the first page and the selection, and love the easy flow and readability. I bet the whole story is that way. This is one I look forward to reading.
Ramey Channells last blog post..A Delightful Man With a Funny Name
Would love to read this one!
Wow, this sounds like one of those sleeper hits that everyone starts talking about and THEN the biggies notice. I’m buying it for sure! (And isn’t that cover art just WONDERFUL?)
Thanks for tipping me off about this book. The title and the cover art are very enticing! Looking fw to reading it.
The Year the Swallows Came Early is on my wishlist. I would love a copy!
As a former librarian and Christian I am always excited to read great children’s literature I can endorse. Thanks for sharing this with us.
I would love to read this story! All of the buzz is so positive! Thanks for a chance to win!
kimfurd at hotmail dot com
I’ve come your way via Bellezza’s blog. I used to live in San Diego and have been to San Juan Capistrano, so this book is very appealing to me. Throw my name in the hat! I’d love a chance to read/review it on my blog.
Les in NEs last blog post..Photo Meme
I look forward to reading this book, would love to win a copy of it!
I have nine granddaighters in three families so I’ll need to buy three books (or only two if I win this one!)
well, tim, I already got yelled at by my sister for making her buy the book. She went to Amazon the read the first chapter and liked it so much she had to buy it. She couldn’t even wait a week to see if she might win a copy.
But I can’t feel bad. She’s getting a good deal for her money.
I’m a Middle School teacher in Southern California- the land where the swallows are returning too! I would love to win an autographed copy for my classroom library. I think my 6th grade girls will adore this new Southern Ca. author and love that San Juan Capistrano is the setting.
I’m sure your girls will really like Groovy, too. She’s a sweety.
You ought to see if Ms. Fitzmaurice will do a school visit, Amy. I’ll bet she’d be good.
As a former librarian and teacher who is now a caregiver for my mom who has Alzheimer’s I was so encouraged by the reviews of this book that I can’t wait to read it.
Looks lovely. Thanks for the contest.
It sounds amazing. I am keeping my fingers crossed that my name is pulled from the online hat.
Oh am I too late? Can I still enter? It sounds awesome!
Thanks for visiting me and by the way the background of your site is beautiful!!! I really love it!
Hmm. Donna, it looks like your picture belongs to Carole. Sorry. I guess you have to make your comments longer if you want your picture to be in the right place. maybe.
We’re open until midnight, Ello. And I loved your blog. And I suspect I’ll love your book when it comes out. The premise sounds wonderful and you have an artist’s touch.
Ah, there. I figured out how to move the pictures up, Donna.
I am a school librarian and can’t find this book on titlewave (our district’s approved vendor). I would like for my middle school students to have it. I hope you pick my name for a free copy.