Garden Surprise

Feb 5

Kaleidoscope Club, Book One, written by Marie Mazas and illustrated by Joëlle Passeron

It’s only a week into summer break and nine-year-old Nour is bored. But when she goes on an evening bicycle joyride with her best friend August, things get exciting when they discover a huge abandoned garden with majestic trees. They decide to build a treehouse—their own secret hideaway where they can have total freedom.

But building a treehouse takes planning, materials, and a little bargaining. But with ingenuity, some subterfuge, and a rose bush promise, they not only surprise themselves and their families with the outcome, but they manage to heal old wounds, rekindle friendships, and celebrate someone very special.

Kaleidoscope Club - The Garden Surprise is the debut installment in an illustrated chapter book series that focuses on family generations, friendships, and nature. Nour and August are a diverse and likable duo that young readers will relate to and the story’s best moments are when the friends work together and support each other, enhanced by painterly, colorful illustrations. This pedagogical storytelling with underlying themes of teamwork, problem-solving, and life skills will foster meaningful conversations with families and educators of young children.

Evocative of series favorites Cam Jansen and Becoming Ari, Kaleidoscope Club - The Garden Surprise furthers its message of being good stewards and helping others with back of the book prompts on how children can help protect endangered gardens and food crops through seed saving. This is a positive and engaging story with STEM undertones that is a wonderful addition to any home or classroom library.

Published by Blue Dot Kids Press

-reviewed by Tara Lewis

Tara Lewis

I am an experienced children’s book marketing professional with more than twenty years in the children’s book publishing industry. I have insight into the workings of children’s book publishers and internal operations and processes, having managed a global marketing department as a Director at Disney Publishing Worldwide for six years and managed teams at Scholastic Inc. for six years, before opening my own children’s book marketing business.

I have worked with a broad range of children’s original titles in the picture book, middle-grade, and young adult categories. I have also spearheaded the campaigns for many licensed book series such as Scooby-Doo, Disney Princess, Harry Potter paperbacks, Pokemon, Powerpuff Girls, Marvel, Lego, Tinkerbell, Matchbox, Winnie the Pooh, and Baby Einstein.

My marketing planning included not only devising the strategies but also conducting competitive analysis reports, writing press releases, articles, blogs, catalog copy, and news pieces for the product. I worked on a daily basis with the editorial teams to bring a successful book to market.

As a freelancer, I provide the following services:

-Marketing plan development (strategy, tactics, social, deliverables, etc.)

-Writing press releases, author bios, catalog copy, book blurbs

-Market research and competitive analysis

-Creating book proposals for authors to submit to publishing houses. Also query letters.

-Book editing and proofreading

-Book reviews

My areas of specialty are picture books, middle-grade, and YA. I love working with self-published authors to help them navigate and understand the publishing process. I also enjoy working with seasoned publishing veterans.

I have an impeccable career history at the highest level at the best publishing houses in the world. Let me help you - and your book - make the leap from good to great! I will help your book get the exposure and readership that it deserves.

https://www.taralewisbooks.com/

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