NERD BLAST: Unforgotten: The Wild Life of Dian Fossey and Her Relentless Quest to Save Mountain Gorillas by Anita Silvey

 

 Today, we are excited to kick off this 5-day Nerd Blast for Unforgotten: The Wild Life Of Dian Fossey and her Relentless Quest to Save Mountain Gorillas by Anita Silvey! So... Be sure to check it out, share with your children, and grab your copy now!

Genre:

Children/Middle Grade

Science/Nonfiction

Publish Date:

June 29, 2021

Publisher:

National Geographic Kids

Synopsis:

Explore the fascinating life and legacy of groundbreaking primatologist and conservationist Dian Fossey, who made it her life's mission to study and protect mountain gorillas, in this powerful biography from award-winning author Anita Silvey.

In 1963, young American Dian Fossey spent all her savings and took out a loan to realize her dream--to go to Africa. It soon became her life's mission to study and protect the few mountain gorillas left on Earth. Fossey had no experience or formal scientific training, but she was smart, passionate, and strong-willed--and she just happened to meet paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey, who helped her pursue her goal of studying animals in the wild. Fossey set up a research camp and threw herself into tracking and observing mountain gorillas. Over the next 18 years, Fossey got closer to gorillas than any human ever had before. As she learned to mimic their behavior and became accepted by them, Fossey's studies grew into a labor of love and a mission to protect her beloved gorillas from poachers and other threats--no matter what the cost.

Sadly, Fossey was murdered at her camp in 1985, and to this day, her death remains a mystery. But her legacy lives on through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund: In 1973 Fossey recorded only 275 gorillas living in Volcanoes National Park; there are about twice that many today. Fossey's story is one of tragedy, but also passion, science, and preservation. As Jane Goodall, once said, "If Dian had not been there, there might be no mountain gorillas in Rwanda today." Unforgotten is the dramatic conclusion to Silvey's trilogy of biographies on Leakey's "Trimates." With unparalleled storytelling, sidebars, maps, and an award-winning design, Unforgotten will inspire the next generation of budding scientists and conservationists.

       

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Praise for Unforgotten

Silvey deals honestly with Fossey’s internal battles, including alcohol reliance and emotional trauma, and her murder in 1985, but largely elides the myriad repercussions of her anti-poaching efforts. Employing lush, full-color photographs of gorillas and rainforest-covered mountains, and informative sidebars on related themes (e.g., the history of San Francisco, the Leakey family) this is a visually compelling, though limited, treatment of its subject. Includes a foreword by Ellen DeGeneres, extensive notes, maps, and suggested resources for further study. —Publishers Weekly

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**About the Author**

Photo Content from Anita Silvey

As the author of 100 Best Books for Children, 500 Great Books for Teens, and Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book, Anita Silvey has devoted more than 50 years of her career to championing book that turn casual readers into lifelong book lovers. Books in this National Geographic series are Undaunted: The Wild Life of Birute Mary Galdikas and Her Fearless Quest to Save Orangutans and Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall. Recent books include Let Your Voice Be Heard: The Life and Times of Pete Seeger. 

Silvey has been a guest on NPR, The Today Show, 60 Minutes, and various radio programs to talk about the best books for young people. In a unique career in the children's book field, Silvey has divided her time equally between publishing, evaluating children's books, and writing. Her lifelong conviction that "only the very best of anything can be good enough for the young" forms the cornerstone of her work. Formerly publisher of children's books for Houghton Mifflin Company and editor in chief of The Horn Book magazine, she currently teaches modern book publishing, Modern Book Publishing and the History of Children's Book Publishing at Simmons University.

Stay connected with Anita Silvey

      

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***The Giveaway***

Giveaway Open Internationally | Must be 13+ to Enter

- ends August 6, 2021

Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box

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NERD BLAST: One Step Further : My Story of Math, the Moon, and a Lifelong Mission by Katherine Johnson

 Today, we have a Nerd Blast + Giveaway to share to spotlight NASA Computer Katherine Johnson's One Step Further: My Story of Math, The Mon, and a Lifelong Mission. Be sure to check it out and grab your copy now!

Genre:

Children

Science/History

Publish Date:

January 5, 2021

Publisher:

National Geographic Kids

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Co-Authors:

Joylette Goble Hylick and Katherine Goble Moore

Illustrated by:

Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

Synopsis:

This inspirational picture book reveals what is was like for a young black mother of three to navigate the difficult world of the 1950s and 60s and to succeed in an unwelcoming industry to become one of the now legendary "hidden figures" of NASA computing and space research.

Johnson''s own empowering narrative is complemented by the recollections of her two daughters about their mother''s work and insights about how she illuminated their paths, including one daughter''s fight for civil rights and another''s journey to become a NASA mathematician herself. The narrative gracefully weaves together Johnson''s personal story, her influence on her daughters'' formative years, her and her daughters'' fight for civil rights, and her lasting impact on NASA and space exploration. Filled with personal reflections, exclusive family archival photos, and striking illustrations, readers will be immersed in this deeply personal portrayal of female empowerment, women in STEM, and the breaking down of race barriers across generations. Historical notes, photo/illustration notes, and a time line put the story into historical and modern-day context.

The inspirational tale of Johnson''s perseverance is both intimate and global, showcasing the drive of each generation to push one step further than the last. With its evocative family album-style format and novel approach to storytelling, One Step Further is sure to inspire the next generation of rising stars.

       

  

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Praise for One Step Further

Engaging, collage-style art augments the text, with speech bubbles, archival family photographs, and Barlow’s child-friendly illustrations. Concurrently accessible and intimate, this book will both inform readers and inspire them to reach for the stars. ―Publishers Weekly

A concise, engaging story of a Black family in the South during the Civil Rights era. ―Booklist

The blend of Johnson’s and her daughters’ voices is intimate and inspiring —Hornbook

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**About the Author**

Photo Content from National Geographic Kids

Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. She calculated and analyzed the flight paths of many spacecraft during her more than three decades with the U.S. space program, and her work helped send astronauts to the moon. She died on February 24, 2020.

**About the Co-Authors**

Joylette Goble Hylick and Katherine Goble Moore grew up during the space race of the 1960s but never fully grasped their mother’s role in it until years later. Hylick graduated from Hampton University and received a Master’s at Drexel University. She followed in her mother’s footsteps, working at NASA as a mathematician before taking a job with Lockheed Martin as a Senior Requirements Engineer. She lives today in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. After attending Bennett College and Hampton University, and receiving a Masters of Science in Information Systems from Montclair State University (formerly Montclair State College), Moore spent 33 years working in public education as an educator and guidance counselor in New Jersey. She currently resides in Greensboro, North Carolina.

**About the Illustrator**

Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, granddaughter of Caldecott-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney, was surrounded by art as a child. Her passion for illustration grew after being introduced to the world of watercolors. She received her BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and her MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

Stay connected with Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

   

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***The Giveaway***

Giveaway Open Internationally | Must be 13+ to Enter

- ends March 22, 2021

Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box

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BLOG TOUR: Lark's Labyrinth by Cathy Cash Spellman

Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for Cathy Cash Spellman's Lark's Labyrinth, the first title in The Sacred Secrets Mysteries series!! Today, on our tour stop, we have my review on this interesting read. Plus, there is a cool tour-wide giveaway to enter as well! Be sure to take a look at what I thought about this intriguing read and grab your copy now! Follow the tour, HERE!

Genre:

New Adult

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Mystery

Series:

The Sacred Secrets Mysteries, #1

Publish Date:

November 29, 2017

Publisher:

The Wild Harp & Company, Inc.

Synopsis:

The Spear that pierced Christ’s side on the Cross has played a secret, but major role in history. Charlemagne, Constantine, Otto the Barbarian, The Knights Templar and Adolf Hitler all owned it... and believed it gave them the power to rule the world.

What if they were right?

The first time Dr. Cait Monahan ever heard of the Spear of Longinus was the night her husband was murdered because of it. That was when the terror began.

…right before the U.S. Government, the CIA, Neo Nazis, the Vatican and a secret cabal of 13 powerful global manipulators sent their assassins after her and her 9 year old.

...just before a lethal secret propelled her across Europe following a riddle that hadn’t been solved since the Holocaust.

…just before Cait Monahan became entrapped in an interdimensional labyrinth that her own husband may have helped design.

Now she’s a player in a game that has led to mystery, magic, mayhem and murder for over 2000 years, and only the help of a tribunal of long dead men may be able to save her.

Vibrant and cerebral, filled with intrigue, Conspiracy Theory and more ancient secrets than the Dead Sea Scrolls, Lark’s Labyrinth pits characters you’ll care about against a mystery you’ll want to solve.

Inside Lark’s Labyrinth is a secret men have killed for …now a woman, her sister, her child and their small band of friends are all that stand between us and the dark, insidious power that’s a hairsbreadth away from ruling the world.

       

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Praise for LARK'S LABYRINTH

"Politics and religion collide as Spellman delivers another fast-paced, suspenseful, and totally enjoyable thriller... The author constructs a blistering story--replete with political and religious intrigue--that never slows down and will keep readers turning the pages of this spectacular thrill ride." ―Publisher's Weekly

Praise for Cathy Cash Spellman

“...Almost impossible to put down. The Author has the ability to produce one powerful scene after another and the action draws you helplessly on...” ―Publisher’s Weekly on So Many Partings

“...A cross between The Thorn Birds and Ragtime...” ―ALA Booklist on So Many Partings

“Flows along with an inexorable narrative current that propels the readers from one involving episode to the next.” ―Booklist on So Many Partings

“An energetic plot that never takes a breather.” ―Kirkus Reviews on Paint the Wind

“A western extravaganza.. a plot teeming with outsize characters.” ―Publishers Weekly on Paint the Wind

“I have never read a book or connected with an author who has touched me so deeply – as a mother, a grandmother, and another psychic kindred soul!” ―Elizabeth Taylor on Bless the Child

“This book has really touched my heartstrings as both a mother and grandmother. And Cathy Cash Spellman is one hell of a writer!” ―Maureen Stapleton on Bless the Child

“With a seductive, at times spellbinding style, author Spellman (An Excess of Love) incorporates ancient myths into an entrancing romantic thriller.. Spellman succeeds in capturing the reader’s close attention as an unrelenting sense of foreboding drives the narrative forward with power.” ―Publisher’s Weekly on Bless the Child

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**About the Author**

Photo Credit: Dakota Cash

Multiple New York Times and International Bestsellers, a Paramount Movie, book sales in 22 countries, Cathy Cash Spellman writes stories about love, friendship, adventure, and history. Known for her big sprawling sagas and memorable characters, Cathy writes the kind of stories women like to lose themselves in, and then remember long after the book is done. 

Her books range through several genres: contemporary, historical, mystery, mystic and romance. Several take place in two time-frames, both current and historical.

Bless the Child was a Paramount movie in 2000, starring Kim Basinger and Jimmy Smits, and Paint The Wind has been optioned for film and TV.

Cathy is an Astrologer, Martial Artist (Black Belt Goju Ryu Karate) and has expertise in Chinese Medicine, several alternative healing modalities and many metaphysical disciplines.

She has written for Self, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Mademoiselle, Cosmo, Penthouse, Mode, Kung Fu and many other magazines about women, health, empowerment, sexuality, spiritual philosophy and Astrology. She blogs for The Huffington Post and The New York Times.

Stay connected with Cathy Cash Spellman

      

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

First things first... Wow! Lark's Labyrinth is such an in-depth work of fiction with an abundance of history, intrigue, and mysticism. With a plethora of history intertwined into this story, Cathy Cash Spellman weaves a story rich with supernatural elements, as well as, historical events. With her imaginative storytelling and extensive research, Lark's Labyrinth took me on a dangerous adventure with a great many twists and turns as secrets were revealed.

The imaginative world-building and complex character development makes for this fascinating read. Although this can be a long read, Lark's Labyrinth entails an abundance of historical events that tie together the story's plot. The sheer immense size of the book can be daunting, but fans of this genre and history just may get immersed into this world of secrets, the occult, and schemes. So, yes, in the end, I read this book and enjoyed being drawn into this gripping story. Moreover, I do have to warn readers that Lark's Labyrinth is not for everyone. This is definitely a read that takes patience to piece the "pieces" together as these characters work at solving this "puzzle."

My rating:

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***The Giveaway***

Giveaway Open Internationally | Must be 13+ to Enter
- ends May 4, 2020
Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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