Grow Through It! Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

GROW THROUGH IT!
Written by: Jay Dee
Illustrated by: Jacob Chalkley, Darren Geers, Feras Khagani, Mike Shaposhnikov, Ishmam Ahmed, and Axel Schmidt
Release Date: May 17,2020
Publisher: Kraine Kreative
Ages 5+ 

Publisher’s Synopsis:

Ellen is stuck at home. There’s no school and no friends, and Mom is working all the time. It seems terrible until she learns about the choice each day offers: GET through it or GROW through it. See how starting each day with purpose and gratitude can make all the difference! Created during the CV-19 pandemic, 100% of the proceeds from sales of this book are donated to coronavirus relief efforts.

Buy Link: https://amzn.to/36kAr4D

Grow Through It! is a fun way to help kids try to understand what's happening in the world right now with the pandemic while also giving them a wonderful question to ask themselves. The book tells its readers that you can choose whether you "get through" each day that we're stuck at home without being able to go places and see friends and family - or you can "grow through" them by doing things to make things better for yourself and others. I liked how the story tells the kids that it's okay to hate how things are right now and to feel like it isn't fair. I also enjoyed seeing the different activities that Ellen decided to try in order to "grow" through the days. They were good examples for children who want to put this idea into practice and try to follow Ellen's lead.

The illustrations were all colorful and bright. Since the book was illustrated by six different people, the pictures varied in style throughout the story. You can definitely tell the different illustrators and their chosen styles of pictures but even though they weren't done in the same way, they all felt cohesive and added a new sense of fun to go along with the story. I definitely recommend this for kids who are old enough to understand that things are different now because of the pandemic and who might be asking questions. This story is a great example of both explaining what's going on and also providing some food for thought with the question of whether they want to just "get through" this or if they want to "grow through" it instead.

Jay Dee

Jay is an author, a certified coach, and the freshly crowned video chat expert for his nieces and nephews. As the coronavirus lockdown seemed to put life on pause, he was inspired to create a book that reminded kids (and himself!) that even days spent sheltering in place are opportunities to grow. Jay lives in San Francisco and is the author of the bestseller, The Night Before The Night Before Christmas. Find his other books at www.krainekreative.com.

Jacob Chalkley

Jacob is UX Designer based out of San Francisco, CA. His passions include music, movies, and making sure his portfolio is 5yrs out of date. His previous achievements include runner-up for student council president for Van Buren Elementary 1996, perfect attendance award for Plainfield Middle School in 1999, and achieving a bowling score of 132 in 2018. He has been using his lockdown time to prepare for his firstborn son due May 27th. He hopes to be a frontrunner for “World’s Best Dad” in 2020.

Feras Khagani

Having an interest in drawing ever since he picked up a book about how to draw Marvel Superheroes, Feras has continued to practice illustration well into his adult life. He loves to spend his time exploring art, books, movies, games, and YouTube essays. He’s both excited and grateful to contribute to a project aimed at helping others in need, and prays that everyone stays safe! He also wants to thank the brave medical experts and essential workers that are keeping our society going in this pandemic. His work can be found under his name on Instagram. 

Ishmam Ahmed

Ishmam is an illustrator, engineer, and writer based in Minneapolis, MN. He got his start as a kid who got in trouble for doodling in the middle of science class. He’s now well-known for his power portraits and digital paintings on ishmam.deviantart.com and recently fulfilled his long-time dream of illustrating for a children’s book. When he’s not hammering out his next creative project, which can eventually be found on ishmam.com, he’s reading novels in his hammock, biking around the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, or cooking up a curry.

Axel Schmidt

Axel is an illustrator based out of the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, WA.  During the COVID-19 lockdown, a random connection was made through an unlikely forum that presented the opportunity to participate in this project.  While never his goal nor intention for his art, many people who viewed his work often commented that he should do illustrations for children’s books.  So he made the jump to the realm where many people felt his talents should already be.  By day, he is a Project Manager in the renewable energy world and when not working or illustrating, he can often be found biking, hiking or camping in the great PNW trails and mountains.  His work can be seen at: www.adsillustrations.com

Darren Geers

Mike Shaposhnikov

Mike Is an illustrator and character designer based in Moscow, Russia.

He is bringing his vision of a fantasy world to life through game, children's book or animation projects, and creating original character designs in free time.

He is mainly active on kolgarave.deviantart.com

Enter for a chance to win a copy of  Grow Through It, by Jay Dee and a group of six illustrators!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• A paperback copy of Grow Through It.
  
• A $50 donation will be made in the winner’s name to UNICEF for COVID-19 relief efforts.

Nine (9) winners receive:

• A paperback copy of Grow Through It.

Giveaway begins May 25, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends June 25, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 



*Disclosure: I partnered with The Children's Book Review and Jay Dee to bring you this blog post and giveaway.*