The Lighting of the Tree at the V Zoo Party 2009

Good morning, Zebee here. Boy! Did we have a great tree lighting party! So many of my boss Joy’s author friends came it was amazing. Many of them brought along their characters too. Let’s see how many we can remember.

Elysabeth Eldering came. She brought along Matt, Guy and Mary Beth, her Junior Geography detectives. They were searching for clues for one of her books.

Lea Schizas was there. Bubba and Giganto were with her. They sure are nice boys and good soccer players. We had a game between the story characters and all of us here at the V Zoo. We lost, but we vowed to have a rematch next year and win. We need a coach. Any volunteers?

Oh, and Bill Kirk came and brought along Ari. We all watched were we stepped so we wouldn’t crush him. He’s really a cool spider.

When Vivian Zabel arrived with Buddy, some of the characters wanted him to teach them how to rope Prairie dogs. Since the closest thing we have to that here at the V Zoo are the meerkats, that just wouldn’t work. Instead he showed them how to rope a fence poll.

Che Dee was there with Odo, the time children, Mashu, Cassie and the Tulies.

Mary Jean Kelso brought along Andy and Spirit. Spirit is a beautiful horse and Andy is amazing the way he can ride.

Dayna Hilton and Sparkles came. Sparkles had us all on our knees again. This time even I could do it. I’ve been practicing.

Rachelle Burk was there with Kenny and Allison. We all wanted to hear about living in a tree house. I’d like to climb up in a tree house someday.

Rena Jones and Dilly came. So did Shari Lyle-Soffe along with Aaron and Horace. Mayra Calvani and Humberto read us some of Humberto’s favorite books. Hugo also showed up with Elizabeth Dulemba with soap for everyone.

I’m sure I forgot some of the authors and their characters. The place was packed and we had a fun time.

Who got to put the star on top of the tree this year? Billy. He climbed up Star’s neck and placed it, very carefully, on the top branch.
Got to go, I need to finish making my gifts. We are all making things for each other this year.

posted by Zebee aka Joy Delgado
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Bubba and Giganto: Odds Against Us by Lea Schizas

Good day everyone, Zebee here. Today we have a few guests from the book titled “Bubba and Giganto: Odds Against Us”. Oh, and Lea Schizas the author is here too.

Hi Lea, Bubba, Giganto...I mean David and Jason. Welcome to the ‘V Zoo’.

(L) Hi Zebee. Thanks for having us all here today.

(B) This is a cool place. I like the Air Walk. I’ve never seen anything like it in a zoo before.

(Z) I know you guys want to wander around the zoo, so I’ll get right to the questions. Bubba, why were you so afraid of David when you first met him?
(D)Yeah, I’d like to know the answer to that one myself.

(B) Well, he's a big guy and well, I thought he was going to hurt me. Ended up we became friends.

(Z) Best friends is what I hear. Now, David, what was it like to find such a good friend in Bubba?

(D) He helped with kids who weren't very nice to me. Bubba is a true friend and I love him.

(Z) I know he feels the same way about you too. So,Bubba, did you ever think of changing your name, legally? I mean, since you don’t seem to like it very much.

(B) I would never change my name. Although I don't like it, my parents do so out of respect, I've dealt with it.

(Z) I can understand that. I know lots of animals who don’t like their name but would never think of changing it either.
So Jason, why did you feel you had to be mean in order to be cool?

(J) Not sure. I guess I liked feeling 'cool'. I never thought how it hurt anyone else.

(Z) I bet you’re glad that’s behind you now.
So, guys, what’s going on out there on the soccer field and at school now?

(B,D,J) We've teamed up and teaching little ones all about sportsmanship. It's cute to see the munchkins run after the ball like it's a magnet.

That’s really great and I bet it’s fun to get to teach the kids about the sport you all love so much. Well, thanks guys, you can wander around now if you want to.

(L) Meet me at the main entrance in an hour. Have fun and behave.

(B,J,D) We always do Lea.

(B) Come on guys, let’s go check out the lion exhibit.

(Z) So, Lea, thanks for bringing the boys by today. My boss Joy wanted me to tell you she’s sorry she couldn’t be here. She also wanted me to share her review of the book with all our readers.

(L) Thanks Zebee. Let’s see what she has to say.

* * * * *

Bubba and Giganto: Odds Against Us

by Lea Schizas

A great mid grade story about struggles and triumph.

Bubba is new in town, again. His dad moves a lot for work. Right off the bat he bumps (literally) into Giganto, uh David the biggest boy he’s ever seen. They become instant friends. The school bully, Jason, seems to love to give David a hard time and Bubba doesn’t know why.

Soccer tryouts are listed and both Bubba and David sign up, as does Jason who is the team’s star. Can anything bring these boys together as friends? What secrets are David and Jason hiding from Bubba? Will they make the team?

Lea is a skilled storyteller weaving ‘new boy in town’ with the ‘town secret’. The book grips you with the teen struggles that everyone can identify with. There are parental nudges sprinkled throughout but not in a preachy way that would turn off the mid grade reader.

There is a true understanding between the author and her characters. She has an uncanny way of getting into the head of the protagonist and letting you know exactly what he’s thinking and feeling.

This book is a good book for anyone who has struggled with bullies and being the new kid on the block. A great gift for any mid grade student, I highly recommend ‘Bubba and Giganto – Odds Against Us.

* * * * *

(L) Thanks Joy and Zebee. I need to go and round up the boys, we have a few more things to do today before we can head home.

(Z)Where can someone pick up a copy of your book today?

(L) You can pick it up at

4RV Publishing
Amazon.com
or right here



(Z) Oh, before I forget, my boss Joy wanted to let everyone her know that if they want to learn more about “Bubba and Giganto: Odds Against Us”, pop over to her blog. She’s talking with Lea there too. (Wow! You’re in two places at the same time, cool!)
Books Go Beyond Reading http://goingbeyondreading.blogspot.com/