I did not expect this one! Oh yes, I've won an autographed copy of "A Puppy, Not a Guppy" by Holly Jahangiri! I learned about this BOOK TOUR from Jena Isle's Random Thoughts, (Yes, that link below my contest banner!) and without having second thoughts, I joined both contest - hers and the one at the author's site.


I wonder if some of you dropped by on their sites... if not, you've probably missed my comments and Holly's engaging replies. I would like to share it here, read on:

My comment on Book Tour: A Red Carpet for “A Puppy, Not a Guppy":

I have learned a lot from this book tour starting from the author, the book itself, the characters and the moral lesson. I have read “The Little Prince” and if Jena compared “A Puppy, Not a Guppy” to it, saying that it encompassed the former's theme, then definitely it’s also worth reading because of its superb quality. Facts and humor are main elements of the story (based on the excerpt I’ve read) and it will definitely catch the hearts of many as it did to me. I am a kid at heart and this one will surely be a good read not to mention that it also suits the adult’s thinking brain. Say, this book will be a wake up call to parents who do not allow their kids to have a puppy. Hehe.

I have also posted my comments on Holly Jahangiri's Imaginary Friends. Please find time to read our interesting conversation... (at least to those kids at heart...)

Liz:
Irma’s character seems to be full of emotions, by any chance, have you felt the same when you were still a kid? By then, have you ever imagined yourself writing a book such as this one?

Holly:
Absolutely! I’m pretty sure I wanted a unicorn, and I’m pretty sure my parents said, “No!” Actually, I did get to have a cat and two dogs when I was a kid, and I had a Java dove when I was a teenager, but my parents weren’t especially EAGER to add these members of the household, as I recall. (We all grew to love them, of course.) But I can certainly relate and remember the emotions – working up the nerve to ask, the bitter disappointment of “No” – the willingness to compromise…

Actually, now that you remind me, there WAS an incident when I was a kid that sort of inspired this (and I’m sure my dad’s going to read this and raise an eyebrow, but he probably figured it out ages ago, and I’m 46 now so he can’t exactly turn me over his knee)… I wanted this little white mouse in the worst way. Bought it with my own money for maybe a couple of dollars. THEN thought to ask if it was okay. “No.” Whoops. Well, um, hm. I hid that mouse for days, and should’ve named him Houdini for all the times he escaped (turns out a dresser drawer isn’t the most secure rodent habitat) but always managed to catch him again. Carried him around in an otherwise empty purse. Finally put a friend of mine up to playing the role of Jimmy – gave him the mouse in a Play-Doh container and had him bring it by and ask if I could keep it, because he wasn’t allowed to. And at that point, my parents sort of reluctantly said, “Fine, okay.” Houdini finally escaped – for the last time – from a cage suspended from the basement ceiling. We figure he survived (and enjoyed what was left of his mousy little life), because we kept trapping all these speckled brown and white mice…

Liz:
Haha. Your childhood story made my day. I am laughing for real. I haven’t imagine any mouse to be an ideal pet. Maybe the one at Ratatouille(did I spell it right), that mouse chef will do! I am lucky that my parents allow us to take care any domesticated animals of some sort. I have had a rabbit, parrot, cats, dogs, hamsters, and guinea pigs. When I was a kid, I remember taking care of little turtles! Oh well, I don’t want to be nostalgic but yeah, I miss being a kid. Haha. Right now, what I have are stuffed toys in the forms of teddy bear, bunny and turtle. I had fun reading your post. ^_^

Here's more...

Liz:
If you are not to write books about kids and for the kids, what would it be? Why?

Holly:
That’s an interesting question, liezl, considering that until I wrote Trockle, most of my stories were for adults and older teens. Most of my “published books” are technical manuals, and I’ve written many freelance non-fiction articles for publication. My poetry isn’t written with any particular age group in mind – some of it is silly, some of it is serious, some is inspirational (some more perspirational). But I love writing for kids, mainly because I can let my imagination play like children do, and because I think it’s so important to encourage reading fluency and a love of books from an early age. I think books that have a “message” or a “moral” are great (and as it turns out, this one has several), but no child should be smacked in the face with that – it should just be a natural conclusion from a good story. Reviewers have hinted at the messages in A Puppy, Not a Guppy, but I didn’t sit down with the intention of teaching a lesson; in fact, my characters simply showed me lessons they learned. MY intention was primarily to entertain kids.

It's not too late to know more about the author and her works... just give her a visit! Or better yet, buy her books and be entertained!