Episode 19 - Brian Farrey - PCS Reads

Author Brian Farrey visits PCS Reads and shares about writing and his books including his Minnesota Book Award Winning The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse.

Visit pcsreads.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep19.html to listen and for more details about the episode,

or subscribe to PCS Reads through iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

5 Questions answered about Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey by Chris Grabenstein

Chris Grabenstein's books, the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series and his many series coauthored with James Patterson like I Funny, Treasure Hunters and House of Robots, are well loved in my library

His latest book is Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey,
and I have the answers to 5 questions you may (or may not) have.

Published: May 23, 2017

1. Is Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey part of a a series?

The #2 may have given it away... Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey is the second book in the Welcome to Wonderland series. Last year Welcome to Wonderland #1: Home Sweet Motel introduced readers to P.T. Wilkie (named after P.T. Barnum) who lives at the Wonderland Motel--"a motel with a lot of wacky decorations and tons of incredible stories but not too many paying customers."

2. What if I read book #2 before reading book #1?

Book #2 is its own outrageously ridiculous story. This time P.T. and his friend Gloria have a plan to convince the Hollywood producers of Beach Party Surf Monkey to film their movie at the Wonderland Motel--a movie featuring teen celebrities and you-tube superstar, Kevin the capuchin monkey. They hope it will cement Wonderland Motel as a tourist destination and keep them from having to sell to their new neighbor Mr. Conch of Conch Reef Resort, the guy who ordered bulldozers to demolish their old neighbors, and the guy who wants to bulldoze Wonderland.

Reading #2 first will probably end up making you want to read book #1... and then you might feel like reading book #2 again, so in a way reading #2 first could maximize your reading time for outrageously ridiculous P.T. Wilkie tales.


3. Is the Welcome to Wonderland series really "outrageously ridiculous"?

Book #1 did just win the 2017 Sid Fleischman Humor Award.

Also it says it's outrageously ridiculous right in the book:

And you can see for yourself and read the first five chapters of Book #2 here:

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4.  Is Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray celery flavored soda (a favorite of P.T.'s grandfather) a real thing?

Yes, it really is. 

And someone needs to update the Cel-Ray Wikipedia page to include the Welcome to Wonderland series in the "Cel-Ray was mentioned in" section. 

5. Will there be a book #3?

Yes! Banana Shack Shake Up is coming in January 2018.
This summer readers can enter the "Fun in the Sun Summer Reading Contest" to have a character in book #3 named after them and earn a chance for their school to win a virtual visit.

Have more questions? Ask Chris yourself.

Enter to win a copy of
Welcome to Wonderland #2: Beach Party Surf Monkey

Visit Chris Grabenstein's Web Page:

Find Welcome to Wonderland #2: 

Beach Party Surf Monkey 

on...

Thank you to Random House for sending me a copy of this book, and providing a copy to giveaway.

Episode 19 - Erin Downing - PCS Reads

The first episode of the second summer of PCS Reads is here to kick off summer reading!

Author Erin Downing shares about her new book Moon Shadow along with her recommendations for summer reading.

Visit pcsreads.blogspot.com/2017/06/ep18.html to listen and for more details about the episode,

or subscribe to PCS Reads through iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior

5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior is the beginning of an epic quest that unites three kids Oona Lee--a clumsy sand-dancer with a destiny, An Tzu--a musically magical boy from the poorest of slums who is slowly turning invisible, and Jax Amboy--a beloved Starball player with a big secret. Together they embark on a magic adventure connecting 5 worlds.

"One by one the five great beacons went dark and the Gods were gone. And none would ever again light the shining Beacons, save a Warrior of Sand, crowned with living fire..."

This series is destined to have well worn covers and never enough copies in my library. To start the word of mouth among readers in your life, hand 5 Worlds to fans of Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet or Faith Erin Hick's Nameless City.


You may know that I like to watch for 5s in kidlit and always enjoy a good #fivespotting.

So the first book in the 5 Worlds series had me intrigued right from the start with its beautiful swirly 5 on the cover.

While the 5 in 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior may have initially caught my attention, it was the following 5 things that made me a serious 5 Worlds fan:

1. Truly lucious artwork


2. Sand dancing!

3. Controlling plants with music!

4. An epic magical adventure that has already captivated the readers in my life

5. The promise of more in 5 Worlds: The Cobalt Prince

Enter to win a copy of 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior

Visit the 5 Worlds Tumblr

Find 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior on...