Happy November, y’all! It’s hard to believe we’re approaching the end of 2020. But I think we can all agree that we reach out to 2021 with a pinch of hope, and a measure of relief. The holiday season is coming like a freight train, and for most of us with little ones, the Santa haul might be a bit slim. One gift I can’t help but give, whether it’s my kid, or someone else’s, is the gift of books.
It’s a proven fact that kids who read learn faster, and begin their education with a considerable leg up. But it’s also a wonderful way to spend quality time with your kid. Books shaped my childhood, and now I get to give the same gift my mother and grandparents gave me to my son. Which is why I was so excited to get my copy of Marlene M. Bell’s Mia and Nattie.
Keep reading to discover more about the story and the artist that created this heartwarming children’s picture book. I had the joy of reading this to my four-year-old, and can’t wait to share his, and my thoughts on this fantastic true story. Keep reading to find out how you can score your own copy, below!
MIA AND NATTIE
ONE GREAT TEAM!
by MARLENE M. BELL
Illustrated by GRACE SANFORD
Genre: Children’s Picture Book (K-3rd Grade) / Farm Animals
Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing
Date of Publication: October 4, 2020
Number of Pages: 34 pages
Scroll down for the giveaway!
Nattie’s mouth was a little crooked. Her legs were a bit shorter than usual, and one horn was too straight, like a unicorn’s horn.
But Mia thought Nattie was perfect.
On a visit to her grandma’s farm, eight-year-old Mia discovers a newborn, orphaned lamb outside in the cold and takes her to the laundry room, naming her Nattie. As she tries to nurse the lamb back to health, Mia discovers that Nattie is different from the other lambs and struggles to fit in with them like Mia does with other kids her age.
When her grandmother says she will sell Nattie to a neighbor, Mia must come up with a plan to keep her friend around — one that will show the family just how special Nattie truly is.
CLICK TO PURCHASE
5 of 5 Stars
Mia and Nattie is a sweet, heartfelt story about a girl who always felt small, unwilling to abandon the ewe that doesn’t fit in. Award-winning author Marlene M. Bell invites adults and children alike to embrace what makes us unique. What makes one person (or animal) useful may not hold true for another. The important thing is to remember we’re all united in love, and our ability to give and receive it, no matter our differences.
I taught pre-school for years, but it’s always a revelation to see the way my four-year-old interprets stories. As an author and avid reader, I am always looking closely for things like story beats, characterization, and especially illustration. But children look for something different, don’t they? My son usually wants to be either entertained or to learn something. He’s always asking questions, and his reactions are blessedly genuine. So when my hardcover copy of Mia and Nattie came in the mail, I couldn’t wait to introduce it to my son’s bedtime routine.
My son and I live in an old farmhouse in the woods, and his uncle runs cows, so he loved reading about the sheep farm. Much like Mia, my son worried about Nattie’s fate and loved seeing the grow and interact with the other sheep. He asked questions like, “did Nattie grow up into that big sheep?” and as we’ve re-read the story since, “can I see the real Nattie again?” One of our favorite parts of the book is the ending, where Bell shares the true story behind Mia and Nattie, including a photo of the real Nattie hiding behind a tree.
Grace Sanford’s artwork, with its clean lines and soft tones, perfectly accompanies Bell’s clever prose. While some picture books are dominated by bold illustration work, Mia and Nattie’s story is accompanied by simpler art to balance stronger storytelling. Mia and Nattie is meatier than some picture books, which fit perfectly for my book-loving four-year-old. We look forward to more adventures from Marlene M. Bell and hope you’ll take a chance to fall in love with Mia and Nattie too.
**I was provided with a copy of Mia and Nattie by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**
MEET MARLENE M. BELL
MARLENE M. BELL is an award-winning writer, artist, and crazy sheep lady who resides in beautiful East Texas. Her renowned sheep photographs grace the covers of many livestock magazines where she also writes newsy articles about raising sheep from her hands-on experience.
Based on true events from the Bell’s ranch, Marlene offers the first of her children’s picture books, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! It’s a touching story of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb. Marlene is also the author of the award-winning Annalisse international mystery series, with the third book, Calico Raven to be released in 2021.
Marlene shares her life with her husband and dreadfully spoiled horned Dorset sheep: a large Maremma guard dog named Tia, and cats, Hollywood, Leo, and Squeaks. The cats believe they rule the household—and do.
◆ WEBSITE ◆ FACEBOOK ◆ TWITTER◆
◆ AMAZON ◆ GOODREADS ◆ BOOKBUB ◆
◆ BLOG ◆
DISCOVER THE ILLUSTRATOR
Visit illustrator Grace Sanford on her website!
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS
GRANDPRIZE (US only):
Signed copy of Mia and Nattie, Nattie Plush, Nattie Mousepad, and a Nattie pendant
2ND PRIZE (US only):
Signed copy of Mia and Nattie
3RD PRIZE (US only):
Signed copy of Mia and Nattie
Giveaway ends at midnight, CST, 11/25/2020
A RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,
or visit the blogs directly:
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11/16/2020 |
Review |
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11/16/2020 |
Character Spotlight |
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11/16/2020 |
Review |
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11/16/2020 |
BONUS Promo |
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11/17/2020 |
Review |
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11/17/2020 |
Sneak Peek |
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11/17/2020 |
Review |
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11/18/2020 |
Review |
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11/18/2020 |
Top 5 List |
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11/18/2020 |
Review |
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11/19/2020 |
Review |
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11/19/2020 |
Excerpt |
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11/19/2020 |
Review |
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11/20/2020 |
Review |
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11/20/2020 |
Character Interview |
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11/20/2020 |
Review |
blog tour services provided by
Jennifer Silverwood 
I love that your 4yo son was so engaged with the story. That’s exactly what we need with our young readers — it’s great training to be life-long readers! Thanks for a great review & for sharing the book.
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Me too! I love sharing books and my love of reading with him. He’s old enough now he always has plenty to say and an endless stream of questions. And it’s been extra fun sharing LSBBT books with him this year 😀
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