In celebration of the release of the Space Zombies:  13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem! DVD comes…A NEW (AND VERY SHORT) WEB SERIES!

 A Man of Great Importance Explores the Scary Changes, and Social Decline, and Secret Horrors of Our World, and He Doesn’t Like it One Bit (in 13 short episodes)

The world as we know it is always ending…then it becomes something else, inevitably, something worse.  And then that ends and it all goes to hell and changes yet again!  Let a Man of Great Importance, the official Narrator of Space Zombies!, all around know-it-all and “told-you-soer” advise you in his 13 weekly episodes on Triple Take’s YouTube channel and Triple Take and Space Zombies Fan Page Facebook posts.  He will steer you through the madness that is life, before your inevitable demise.  It’s almost as if he’s clairvoyant…but he’s not!  Because that would be crazy.  Crazy, and an infringement on other folks, both human and fictional of character (cough, cough…Criswell!…cough!).

Yes, Triple Take will be bringing you short episodes of “Advice” and “Warning” regarding many possible apocalyptic and conspiratorial scenarios from this Moral Man of Space Zombies:  13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem! on a weekly basis starting August 2nd, 2016.  Check out our YouTube channel and Triple Take’s Facebook page, as well as the Space Zombies Facebook page for episodes!  Don’t forget to “Like” what you see…you have to.  For your own good, and the good of humanity!

Series writers:  R. J. Downes, Allison McWood, Jason Reilly, and Regan W. H. Macaulay.

Series cast:  Jason Reilly, R. J. Downes, Andrea Lyons, Frodo B. Macaulay-Risk, Raxl D. Macaulay-Risk, Sookie S. Macaulay-Risk, Albert Masters, Conor McCreery, Kevin Risk, Darcy Windover, a Starfish puppet, Trevor Risk's stunt double, and a mannequin from Desigual in The Distillery Historic District.

Series crew:  Director and Editor Regan Macaulay, and Lights and Camera Operator Kevin Risk.

Chances Are
by Susan Bangert-Wood
Illustrated by Jack Foster
 
In Chances Are by Susan Bangert-Wood, we see the alphabet presented in a fun rhyming scheme with wonderfully kooky animals!  Children will really enjoy the associations made with each letter and its corresponding animal doing wild and crazy things.
 
Adorable illustrations, as usual, from the talented Jack Foster.  It’s fun to see all these animals included.  Some of the critters are a little more unusual than the standard creatures you’re likely to find in a picture book, making the book more interesting and creating an excellent learning opportunity for young children.
 
Chances Are includes excellent activities and games at the end of the book that teachers and parents will appreciate and children will love.
 
Learn more about Susan at:  http://www.n4m.com/sbwbio.html

Please note:  I reviewed a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

Here's our little 8-year-old Sookie Monster "acting" with Andrea Lyons in Episode #10 of  A Man of Great Importance Explores the Scary Changes, and Social Decline, and Secret Horrors of Our World, and He Doesn’t Like it One Bit. 

And here's a birthday e-card to Sookie from her Grammie.  :)

Signs of Trouble
by Janet Ann Collins
Illustrated by Jack Foster
 
In Signs of Trouble, by Janet Ann Collins, a pair of girls with learning disabilities are accidentally separated from their Special Education class while on a field trip.  Using what they’ve learned about signs, strangers, and what to do when in trouble, they are able to find their way back. 
 
I love how the book helps lift some of the stigma and encourages empathy towards children with special needs.  The two main characters are able to think their way through their problem—being lost and separated from the group—and come up with a truly creative solution, resulting in a happy ending.  Reinforcing important information, such as “911”, and “stranger danger” is included in the story as well. 
 
I’m really enjoying Jack Foster’s illustrations (this is the second book I’ve reviewed that include his illustrations).  They are so fun, colourful and sweet!  The expressions on the childrens’ faces are priceless!
 
Signs of Trouble includes excellent activities for children to learn about safety rules, get a better understanding of people with special needs, reading and creative writing.  An excellent classroom resource!
 
Learn more about Janet at:  http://www.janetanncollins.com/home.html
 
Please note:  I reviewed a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

Little Bug
by Karin Larson
Illustrated by Eugene Ruble
 
Little Bug by Karin Larson is a story about a little bug with persistence to spare!  He seeks out a friend, a morsel of food, a drink of water, a place with shade, a place to climb, a puddle to bathe in—you name it.  He doesn’t really find what he’s looking, except for some peace and quiet at the end of the day, but he’s willing to go looking for it all again tomorrow.  Turns out this little guy has patience as well as persistence.  He doesn’t lose it when he’s unsuccessful this time around, he will just keep trying.
 
This is also an excellent story for young readers to learn prepositions, antonyms and expand their vocabulary. 
 
I love the zany illustrations by Eugene Ruble.  His style is unique and brings us a truly madcap character.  Little Bug is an excellent read aloud story and highly recommended for early readers (ages 7-10). A terrific book to add to any school, public or private library!
 
Check out the adorable video trailer for Little Bug at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Cw9ifmkmg
 
Learn more about Karin at:  www.karin-larson.blogspot.com/ and www.facebook.com/KLarson5
 
Please note:  I reviewed a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

As a precursor to the “airing” of the 13 new Space Zombies-related episodes on YouTube (A Man of Great Importance Explores the Scary Changes, and Social Decline, and Secret Horrors of Our World, and He Doesn’t Like it One Bit), and to help celebrate the new Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem! DVD, we will be posting one of the special features from the DVD on YouTube and Facebook!  Specifically, an interview with the Feline Stars of Space Zombies!
Check it out on our YouTube Channel, Facebook page, and the Space Zombies Facebook Page on Tuesday July 26th.  Find out what it was like for the cat actors to perform in Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem!

Voices provided by:  Kim Croscup, Dave Krstin, Jason Reilly and Kevin Risk.  Interviews by Regan Macaulay.
Be sure to get your copy of the DVD, available in the Triple Take shop and HERE.

CHECK OUT THE TRIPLE TAKE WEBSITE FOR MORE.

Karin Larson, author of Little Bug, published by Guardian Angel Publishing, has reviewed Sloth the Lazy Dragon!  Check it out:

"In SLOTH THE LAZY DRAGON, Regan W. H. Macaulay addresses the importance of diet, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle in a very clever way.    Children will gain a wonderful example of the universal importance of kindness and helping others as well as dedication as Sloth’s transformation takes three years of hard teamwork.
 
This story shows the evolution of Sloth, an apt name for a fat and weak dragon living in the bowels of a mountain on a mound of gold and jewels, as he transforms into a fit and strong dragon able to have the energy needed to live an active and healthy lifestyle, compliments of the help of a brave dwarf named Radish, also a clever name for one offering lifestyle advice.
 
Radish offers to help Sloth and does so by presenting him with many new food and exercise options in his quest to aid the dragon in lightening his “girth” in order to fly and live a healthy lifestyle.  Children will enjoy developing an awareness of new healthy food choices as Radish brings Sloth items like nuts, fruits, vegetables, pumpkin, legumes, fish and lean meat.
 
Ms. Zgud’s beautiful illustrations have a whimsical feel that children will love and really bring to life Sloth’s transformation from a fat and weak (Sloth) dragon into a fit and strong dragon ready to fly and see the world beyond the confines of the mountain.
 
SLOTH THE LAZY DRAGON is highly recommended for children ages 4-7 and offers a clever way for parents to address the importance of diet, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle and will foster excitement in children to try new and different food items as Sloth did.
 
** Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.  This review consists of my truthful opinions, not influenced in any way by the author or publisher."

Multi-award winning children's author Penelope Anne Cole (Magical Matthew, Magical Mea, Magical Mea Goes to School, Magical Max and Magical Mickey, Magical Max and Magical Mickey's Big Surprise, In and Out, All 'Round About, What's for Dinner? and for Halloween:  Ten Little Tricksters) has now reviewed Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese...check it out:

"Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese, by Regan W. H. Macaulay, beautifully illustrated by Alex Zgud, is an imaginative cat adventure. Beverlee is on a fun romp through nearby meadows, hills, woods, a pond, and by a river—which looks like a creek in the illustration. Beverlee meets a lot of familiar creatures on her outing. She imagines each one to be an exotic, fierce, prehistoric, or mythical animal that she’s running from. Her final encounter leads to a sweet ending as she is carried home.
 
Alex Zgud’s playful artwork is a joy and delight. Beverlee bounds, trots, and sprints across the pages. Children will thrill to an adventuring cat with such a vivid imagination and a story so wonderfully worded and adorably illustrated.
 
Parents and teachers will also enjoy this thrilling flight of fantasy. It’s the perfect vehicle to stimulate budding student authors to write their own exciting, make-believe adventure stories. Ms. Macaulay’s fun-filled cat’s adventure is highly recommended for ages 5 to 8."

You can also see Penelope's review of Beverlee HERE on her blog.

Baby Poopsie Loves Ears
by Deb Gardner Allard
Illustrated by Jack Foster
 
Baby Poopsie Loves Ears by Deb Gardner Allard is a fun, rhythmic and rhyming story.  A simple, enjoyable book with a terrific sense of humour that will be extra pleasant for young listeners’ ears. 
 
The illustrations by Jack Foster are giggle-inducing—such kooky, colourful characters!   Baby Poopsie Loves Ears is an excellent read aloud story and recommended as a bedtime story for young children.  Also a good story for practice reading. 
 
Learn more about Deb at:  http://www.debgardnerallard.com/bio/
 
Please note:  I reviewed a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
 

Little Bug
by Karin Larson
Illustrated by Eugene Ruble
 
Little Bug by Karin Larson is a story about a little bug with persistence to spare!  He seeks out a friend, a morsel of food, a drink of water, a place with shade, a place to climb, a puddle to bathe in—you name it.  He doesn’t really find what he’s looking, except for some peace and quiet at the end of the day, but he’s willing to go looking for it all again tomorrow.  Turns out this little guy has patience as well as persistence.  He doesn’t lose it when he’s unsuccessful this time around, he will just keep trying.
 
This is also an excellent story for young readers to learn prepositions, antonyms and expand their vocabulary. 
 
I love the zany illustrations by Eugene Ruble.  His style is unique and brings us a truly madcap character.  Little Bug is an excellent read aloud story and highly recommended for early readers (ages 7-10). A terrific book to add to any school, public or private library!
 
Check out the adorable video trailer for Little Bug at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Cw9ifmkmg
 
Learn more about Karin at:  www.karin-larson.blogspot.com/ and www.facebook.com/KLarson5
 
Please note:  I reviewed a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion/review.