Book Review + Giveaway: Cool Kids

On By StephMWardIn Giveaways, iRead Book Tours, Picture Book, Review

Title: Cool Kids | Author: Arlene Freeman | Illustrator: Amelia Jones | Category: Picture Book | Publisher: Mascot Publishing | Release date: October 2021

Book Description: Like most kids, Michael and his friends are so excited for their first day at a new school. They have a lot of questions about what to expect, but most of all, they wonder if they’ll get to join the football team. That would be the perfect way to start the year! However, Michael soon finds out that it’s not as easy as he thinks. The team is filled with bullies, and to join, he has to become one of them. In order to be cool enough to get a spot on the football team, Michael has to start changing his behavior—for the worse! Suddenly, terrible things start happening to him. Finally, he begins to wonder: Was it all worth it?

My Thoughts: This unique picture book focuses on a 4th grader who starts a new school. When Michael tries to join the football team, he’s met with a group of bullies who won’t allow him to play if he doesn’t play the part of bully. Michael betrays his close friends to impress the bullies and begins to physically transform into a monster. Can he ever become himself again and make it up to his real friends?

In a longer word count than traditional picture books, Cool Kids takes on the issue of bullying by focusing on the way being mean can make you feel (and look!) ugly. With a clever approach, Michael actually sees himself becoming something ugly as the result of his actions. Illustrations can sneakily include clues — so keep your eyes peeled! But as he realizes what he has done, he starts to change his ways and becomes himself again. Cool Kids can be a starting point for conversations with children about changing schools, bullying and being true to yourself.

Buy the Book
Mascot 
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble
 
 
Meet the Author:
Freeman’s first career was a third-grade schoolteacher in the Passaic School System. Teaching children is her true passion, and she incorporated this passion in her community involvement. Her second career as a real estate broker and appraiser enabled her to open her own real estate company, Prime Realty, with a partner. After thirty-five years, they sold to Coldwell Banker. She loves dogs, playing piano, telling stories, singing, dancing, and sharing wonderful examples of life’s lessons with her grandchildren. Arlene lives in Woodland Park, New Jersey. She has two sons, Dr. Ted Freeman of Long Branch, New Jersey, and Dr. Eric Freeman of Westfield, New Jersey, as well as three grandchildren: Michael, Max, and Quinn. This is her first book and maybe her third career.

Connect with the Author:  Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Tour Schedule:

Nov 22 –Cover Lover Book Review– book review / giveaway
Nov 22 –Gina Rae Mitchell– book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 23 –Rockin’ Book Reviews– book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 23 –Splashes of Joy– book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 23 –A Mama’s Corner of the World– book review / giveaway
Nov 23 –Bound 4 Escape– book review / giveaway
Nov 24 –Jazzy Book Reviews– book review / giveaway
Nov 26 –Older & Smarter?– book review / giveaway
Nov 29 –Locks, Hooks and Books– book review / giveaway
Nov 30 –Pick a Good Book– book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 1– icefairy’s Treasure Chest– book review / giveaway
Dec 2 –She Just Loves Books– book review / giveaway
Dec 2 –Kam’s Place– book review
Dec 3 –Sefina Hawke’s Books– book spotlight
Dec 6 –I’m Into Books– book review / giveaway
Dec 6 –Reading is My Passion– book review / giveaway
Dec 6 –Writer with Wanderlust– book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 7 –Lisa’s Reading– book review / giveaway
Dec 8 –@twilight_reader– book review
Dec 9 –The Phantom Paragrapher– book review
Dec 10 –The Page Ladies– book review

Enter the Giveaway: Click the link below to enter the contest for your chance to WIN a copy of COOL KIDS. Good luck!

 COOL KIDS Book Tour Giveaway

  https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js

One thought on “Book Review + Giveaway: Cool Kids”

  1. Pingback: Guest Post: Author Arlene Freeman – Stephanie Ward

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