Mr. Pig Live . . . with Toby! + a TOBY Literary Lunch!

Happy Friday, folks! I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a heartwarming, feel good episode.

And that's just what we have for you today.

Please welcome today's friendly, four-legged and furry guest…

TOBY!

<<applause>>

Toby is the real life pooch who inspired Hazel Mitchell's picture book of the same name.  

First, let's watch this very charming clip. . .

Ahh, what a sweet story. Okay, Toby, hop up on the couch so we can have a chat. Good boy, Toby.

(Note, the transcript for this interview has been translated from woofs to human, by our trusty canine translators.)

What is your full name?
Toby.

What one word best describes you?
Loveable.

What is the best thing about being you?
Living with my excellent people.

TOBY. Copyright © 2016 by Hazel Mitchell.
Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.

What is the worst thing about being you?

I get scared of a lot of things. That makes it hard for me to enjoy things, sometimes.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring?
Pepperoni.

Glad you didn't say bacon. What is your idea of the perfect day?
Wake up. Run around the garden. Get a cuddle. Nap. Wake up. Run around the garden. Get a snack (pepperoni). Nap. Have supper. Run around the garden. Get a cuddle. Bedtime.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Find homes for all the animals without people of their own.

What are you reading right now?
Because of Winn Dixie.

What is your favorite word?
Cuddletime!

TOBY. Copyright © 2016 by Hazel Mitchell.
Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.

What is you least favorite word?
Goodbye.

What is your favorite sound?
Daddy’s car drawing up.

What is your least favorite sound?
Fireworks.

Share one thing that most of our readers don’t know about you.
I was lost for eight days in wildest Maine.

If you could dine with three characters from other books, who would they be?
Snoopy, Lassie, Winn Dixie.

If you have a pocket, what is in it right now?
Pepperoni.

What is your most embarrassing moment?
The time when I was running fast, fast, fast and ran into a lawn chair and the cat was watching.

What is your pet peeve?
When my sister, Lucy, steals my hidden snacks. It’s so rude.

Quite. What was it like working with Hazel Mitchell?
She is pretty good. She draws me just right. I gave her a bit of help on the layout of my book, but otherwise it was ok. She always has pepperoni to share. Making books makes you hungry!

Speaking of hungry, we have a very special TREAT for you, Toby. Nina, from Mamabelly, has made you your very own Literary Lunch! While we roll the credits, follow me to the kitchen.  

TOBY by Hazel Mitchell
Publisher - Candlewick Press
(September 2016)
ISBN: 978-0763680930

"Inspired by her own dog’s adoption story, illustrator Mitchell’s ... first book as author centers on a boy who has moved into a new neighborhood with his (presumably single) father...The highlight of this getting-to-know-you tale is Mitchell’s visual channeling of her characters’ emotions, both human and canine."
— Publishers Weekly

"Toby is a pleasing pup."
— Kirkus

"The book’s warmth and appeal come from the artwork. Pencil drawings are tinted with a soft palate of watercolor washes and digitally added colors. And while the soft browns, blues, greens, and grays create a subdued, rather melancholy tone throughout the book, both the boy and his lovable dog are smiling by the final scene."
— Booklist

Hazel Mitchell has illustrated numerous books for children. Toby is her author-illustrator debut. Originally from Yorkshire, England, she now lives in Maine with her husband and a brave rescue poodle named Toby, whose eight-day disappearance drew national attention when the story was shared across social media


[TOBY. Copyright © 2016 by Hazel Mitchell. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.]

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A TOBY LITERARY LUNCH!

Meet TOBY, the star of Hazel Mitchell's new heartwarming book about a boy, a rescue dog and the challenges to grow into a family. The book is based on the author's own experience of rescuing her dog Toby.

Nina from Mamabelly.com made a lovable lunch to match:

• grapes with Toby's name (although never feed your dog grapes!)
• ham with a (dog) friend
• cucumber and carrot hearts representing the love between Toby and the boy
• animal crackers for the other shelter dogs waiting to be adopted
• and a Toby cream cheese sandwich

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Want more fun literary lunch ideas? Follow Mamabelly here:
* web: www.mamabelly.com
* facebook: www.facebook.com/MamabellysLunchesWithLove
* twitter: @LunchesWithLove

Mr. Pig LIVE… with LITTLE BLUE BUS!

Greetings, race fans! Today on MR. PIG LIVE! we have a very special guest. Put your giant foam hands together for...

LITTE BLUE BUS!

<<Whistles>> <<Applause>>

She's the star of the all-new high octane Halloween picture book, MONSTER TRUCKS, from Anika Denise and Nate Wragg!


Before we begin, let's play the trailer. . .


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MP: Wow! I'm on the edge of my seat!  
LBB: Yup. That's how I roll.

MP: Let's get right to it. What is your full name? 
LBB: Little. Blue. Bus.

MP: What one word best describes you?
LBB: I've been told I'm quite perky.

MP: Do you have a belly button?
LBB: No, but I have a round hood ornament, does that count? It's an audi. *snort*

MP: What is the best thing about being you?
LBB: 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds

MP: What is the worst thing about being you?
LBB: My turning radius leaves a little to be desired.

MP: If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring?
LBB: Four spare tires and a trunk full of gas cans.

MP: What is your idea of the perfect day?
LBB: Can I say my perfect night? (I'm a bit of a night-bus.) Alone… on the speedway… with the wind at my taillights.

MP: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
LBB: Hmm, I was going to pick invisibility, but then no one would see me cross the finish line. So I'll go with flying. I'd be unstoppable with some wings and a jet engine!

MP: What are you reading right now?
LBB: Winning by Jack Welch.

MP: What's your favorite sound?
LBB: Crowds cheering!

MP: What's your least favorite sound?
LBB: Werewolf Truck's howl. *shiver*

MP: Share one thing that most of our readers don’t know about you.
LBB: Well, I do have this one big secret… but if I told you, it would be a spoiler.

MP: Fair enough. If you could dine with three characters from other books, who would they be?
LBB: That Little Blue Truck seems nice. I've heard the garbage truck from I Stink is a barrel of laughs. And I bet I'd have loads in common with the race car in Race Car Dreams.

MP: If you have a pocket, what's in it right now? 
LBB: No pockets, but there are some mints in my glovebox. Help yourself.

MP: Don't mind if I do. What is your most embarrassing moment?
LBB: The time I tooted in line for gasoline.

MP: Do you have a pet peeve?
LBB: Peeve? Is he here? That's Ghost Truck's third cousin. He's always hanging around.

MP: What was it like working with Anika Denise?
LBB: She's a little like a mad scientist. But I mean that in the best possible way.

MP: Well, that's a wrap, as they say. Read more about MONSTER TRUCKS and its mad scientist creators below. Then join us for a scrumptious MONSTER TRUCKS Literary Lunch, made by Nina from Mamabelly! 

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MONSTER TRUCKS
by Anika Denise
illustrated by Nate Wragg
(Harper, 2016) 

★ “Full-throttle Halloween fun.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“In the energetic rhyming text…the action never stops." —The Horn Book

“Sure to get cheering children on the edges of their seats...monster-truck fans won’t want to miss this Halloween showdown.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Bright, bold illustrations bring characters like Zombie Truck, Frankentruck, and Werewolf Truck to life....with lots of movement in the text and on the pages, this is a quick seasonal storytime selection that is sure to be popular around Halloween. Monstrous fun!” —School Library Journal

Anika Denise is the author of several critically acclaimed books for young readers including her latest, MONSTER TRUCKS, which Publisher’s Weekly pronounced, “a mash up made in heaven (or maybe hell)” in a recent starred review. When not writing tales of vroom and doom, Anika can be found zipping around her hometown of Barrington, Rhode Island in her monster minivan, or reading not-so-scary stories with her husband and three kids. Visit her online at www.anikadenise.com or on Twitter @AnikaDenise.

Nate Wragg is the illustrator of TOO MANY COOKS by Margaret McNamara, GOLDI ROCKS AND THE THREE BEARS by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Beth Coulton, and AT THE OLD HAUNTED HOUSE by Helen Ketteman, among other titles. He’s an art director, an illustrator, and now a monster truck expert. Nate lives in Southern California with his beautiful wife and their wonderful daughter. To learn more about Nate's work visit http://n8wragg.blogspot.com.

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A MONSTER TRUCKS LITERARY LUNCH

prepared by Mamabelly Lunches with Love!

Meet Little Blue Bus from MONSTER TRUCKS, written by Anika Denise and illustrated by Nate Wragg. Little Blue Bus is "perky and cute" so what is she doing in the Monster Truck Race? Find out in this delightful kids' book with a surprising twist!

Nina from Mamabelly made a frightful lunch to match:

• MONSTER TRUCKS vanilla yogurt with chocolate decoration
• frightful mac'n'cheese puff creatures of the night
• a Little Blue Bus sandwich with jelly, (s)cream cheese and chocolate

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Want more fun literary lunch ideas? Follow Mamabelly here:

* web: www.mamabelly.com

* facebook: www.facebook.com/MamabellysLunchesWithLove

* twitter: @LunchesWithLove

The Little Crooked Bookshelf - Blog Tour Stop - Bella's Fall Coat!

Bella's Fall Coat
by Lynn Plourde

Illustrated by Susan Gal

This week's pick is from Cottager, Anika Denise.

What it's all about . . .

Bella's favorite fall coat—made especially for her by her Grams—is well loved and worn, and just a tad too small. But that doesn't stop her from whooshing outside to play in the crinkle-crackle leaves, or crunch the fresh red apples, or chase the honking geese. When at last Bella slows down long enough to sleep, Grams snips and sews so that when the first snowflakes fall, Bella is all set with a new "favorite" coat to wear. She even finds the perfect use for her old coat—adorning the first snowman of the season.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf . . .
Plourde is a master at capturing the sights and sounds of autumn, and the exuberance of a young child bounding outdoors to revel in its glories. Textured golden browns and warm reds serve as the backgrounds for Gal's bold-lined, charmingly rendered characters, making the perfect pair with  Plourde's crisply delicious text.

My favorite lines . . .

After lunch, Grams said, "Now, Bella, about that coat—"
But WHIZZ!
Bella was already outside.
She stretched and reached.
She picked and plucked.
She crunched and munched.

Most swoon-worthy illustration. . . 

Illustration ©2016 Susan Gal

Why kids will love it . . . 

The language, oh, the language! It's a delightful read-aloud that begs to be read again and again, with illustrations as warm and sweet as an autumn apple pie. Children will relate to Bella's high energy and enthusiasm, and will likely want to crinkle-crackle in a pile of leaves of their own after reading.

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
Bella's relationship with her Grams is quite dear, which adults are sure to appreciate. It's simply a honey of a picture book: fun to read, relatable, and a lovely way to celebrate the fall season.

Visit Lynn Plourde online at http://www.lynnplourde.com

To learn more about Susan Gal's work, go to: http://www.galgirlstudio.com.

Praise for Bella's Fall Coat

★"Adults may feel nostalgia over seasons past—and young readers will be introduced to the enticing lure of autumn and the joys of sharing it with someone they love." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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As an extra special treat for the BELLA'S FALL COAT BLOG TOUR, Nina from Mamabelly has prepared this sensational seasonal autumn Literary Lunch! 

Meet Bella and her favorite coat. Bella loves everything about fall: the leaves, the crisp apple, the geese AND her fall coat. It is getting worn out and old but she wants everything "fall" to last forever. Can Grams help keep Bella warm before the first snowfall? 

Nina from Mamabelly made a fall inspired lunch to celebrate Bella's love of fall:

• spinach and apple leaves
• chex mix to keep the geese from leaving
• Cheese crackers in Bella's favorite fall color
• and a Bella chocolate and cherry sandwich

Want more fun literary lunch ideas? Follow Mamabelly here:

* web: www.mamabelly.com

* facebook: www.facebook.com/MamabellysLunchesWithLove

* twitter: @LunchesWithLove

Literary Lunch . . . with Bacon!

Do you love bacon? (What a silly question, we know!) Well, then you'll eat up the book EVERYONE LOVES BACON by Kelly Dipucchio and illustrated by Eric Wight! 

Bacon is very loved. So loved he begins to think quite highly of himself. Once Bacon gains fans, he changes. He grows a mustache. He forgets about his old friends. And he enjoys stardom a little too much. Will this book have a Hollywood Ending? Will it end well for Bacon?

To keep you from missing Bacon while you're out buying his book, Nina from Mamabelly.com has made a lunch-on-the-run to help you remember everything about . . . Bacon. She's packed:

• sweet apples wrapped in Bacon
• Bacon butter popcorn
• and a Waffle-Egg-and-Bacon sandwich (with sweet apple decorations)

Literary Lunch . . . with Penny & Jelly!

Have you met Penny and Jelly from the new book Penny & Jelly: The School Show by Maria Gianferrari and Thyra Heder?

Having a best friend to help you pick a talent for the school show is the best feeling in the world. But what talent will they pick?

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love has packed a lunch to-go -- perfect for snacking on during a school show:

• a Penny Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich (pun intended)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly bars (because friends stick together)
• apple and cheese & chicken and cheese skewers (because stripes complement each other)
• and of course Jelly, sitting on a heart-shaped cup of sweet dried banana chips (because friendship is sweet)

Literary Lunch . . . with Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast

Ever wonder what's going on in your fridge once you close the door? Find out in Josh Funk's lively new picture book LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST, beautifully illustrated by Brendan Kearney!

Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast are best friends until rumor has it that only one drop of maple syrup remains in the fridge. The friends race to see who will get to the syrup first and enjoy the last of the sweet treat.

Our brilliantly talented caterer, Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love. packed what was in her fridge for today's Literary Lunch:

• A Sir French Toast 
• A Lady Pancake chocolate sandwich
• the prized, almost empty bottle of maple syrup
• and some carrot, red pepper, green grape and homemade chicken nugget onlookers.

Click here to read Mr. Pig's interview with Sir French Toast & Lady Pancake.

Literary Lunch . . . STORMY NIGHT by Salina Yoon

Meet Bear and Floopy from Salina Yoon's new book STORMY NIGHT. When Bear can't sleep on a stormy night, Floppy, his toy bunny; Bear's family; and a few tricks help Bear feel less frightened.

Even though Bear is scared of the storm at first, the storm is over before he knows it, thanks to a familiar song, kiss, and tickle.

This is a great book to read to kids during a thunderstorm. Nina's kids loved the beautiful illustrations and all the ways Bear's family tries to make him feel better.

And don't worry, Bear's frown eventually turns back into a big smile. . . .

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love packed a comforting lunch for any stormy night:

• popcorn to snack on while waiting out the storm
• a big fruit leather curtain to hide under 
• and a Bear and Floppy sandwich with chocolate decorations

Literary Lunch . . . with Early Bird and Night Owl!

Meet Early Bird and Night Owl, the charming stars of Toni Yuly's new picture books. Early Bird likes to get up early and Night Owl loves to stay up late. Since they're both in the Cottage today, Nina from Mamabelly made lunch for two:

Both books are beautifully illustrated with bright colors and clean shapes. While Early Bird emphasizes action words, Night Owl highlights sound words.

To find out if Early Bird really catches the early worm and . . .

if Night Owl really stays up all night, share these adorable books with your little early birds or night owls!

Nina from Mamabelly has prepared a lunch for both early birds and night owls everywhere:

• Early Bird's lunch includes blueberries, a raspberry Early Bird sandwich, and of course an Early (gummy) Worm
• Night Owl's lunch includes blueberries as well (it has to be fair), and a peanut butter and almond Night Owl sandwich

Nina | Mamabelly's Lunches with Love web: www.mamabelly.com facebook: www.facebook.com/MamabellysLunchesWithLove twitter: @LunchesWithLove

Literary Lunch. . . The Day The Crayons Quit

To celebrate the Crayon's interview (or non-interview as the case may be), Nina from Mamabelly prepared these delicious edible crayon treats! 

Nina made a fun snack to nibble while reading the hilarious and colorful book from Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers. It includes:

• a cream cheese and American cheese YELLOW CRAYON sandwich which needs to be eaten first
• a cream cheese and strawberry RED CRAYON sandwich which needs to be eaten while humming
• a cream cheese and blueberry BLUE CRAYON sandwich which hopes to make you happy and
• a cream cheese and kiwi GREEN CRAYON sandwich who will finish your lunch.

Literary Lunch . . . with Henny!

Meet the star of Elizabeth Rose Stanton's new book Henny. Henny is an avarage chicken. Well, almost. There is one tiny little thing different about Henny. Have you spotted it yet?

Well . . . Henny was born with arms. Which is pretty unusual for a chicken. But Henny likes being different. And she can do lots of fun things with her arms that other chickens can't. Like eating bugs with chopsticks!

Nina's kids loved this book and this was their favorite page, so she used it for Henny's Literary Lunch inspiration!

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches With Love made an egg-cellent lunch chock full of:

• Fruit Booty Corn Puff Worms to eat with chopsticks
• A Henny sunflower seed sandwich with cheese, seaweed, and carrot decorations
• An egg (an important part of the book, but we can't give away everything now, can we?)
• And some spinach leaves to keep those arms strong underneath all of that yummy food!

SURPRISE DELIVERY Literary Lunch… for Petal and Poppy!

Our fabulous caterer Nina from Mamabelly.com was off on an adventure when Petal and Poppy stopped by to visit Mr. Pig in the cottage. And since none of us does lunch as well as Nina, we served them some boring old cheese and crackers. (Sorry, Nina.)

Well, Nina could not resist making a special surprise lunch to deliver especially to Petal and Poppy to celebrate their book: Petal and Poppy and the Penguin - written by Lisa Clough and illustrated by Ed Briant.

In Petal and Poppy and the Penguin, Petal and Poppy discover a penguin in their garden! Petal is too afraid to let him into the house at first but soon this cute, friendly and very talented penguin wins her over.

Nina from Mamabelly.com made a Petal and Poppy lunch - of course with penguin! Packed are:

• a Petal sunbutter sandwich
• a Poppy peanut butter sandwich
• and a salad with carrots, grape tomatoes, cheese and cherry flavored cranberries.

Our lunch was inspired by this page from the book Petal and Poppy and the Penguin.

Make sure you go and read all of Petal and Poppy's fun adventures!

Isn't Penguin cute as he is sitting in his BabyBel Cheese and grape tomato hot balloon drifting in cherry flavored cranberry clouds and flying over lettuce and carrot fields?

Literary Lunch . . . Leroy Ninker

Meet Leroy, the dreamer who wants to be a cowboy, from LEROY NINKER SADDLES UP, written by two-time Newbery medal-winning author Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen.

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love packed a lunch perfect for rescuing the horse of your dreams:

• carrots for Maybelline, the horse
• popcorn from the Bijou Drive-in Theatre concession stand, where Leroy work
• and a Leroy Ninker Salami Sandwich

Literary Lunch

What happens when an Otter and his Teddy open a Toast Restaurant? Of course, all the toys line up to get seated and try their fantastic toast menu! Sit down, grab a plate and meet Otter from the new book I AM OTTER written by Sam Garton!

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love made a lunch for toast fans of all ages:

• a checkered table cloth apple
• organic strawberry yogurt dessert with Teddy and edible food color decorations
• and of course TOAST: white, swirled and pumpernickel toast filled with ham & cheese, peanut butter & jelly and lettuce & bacon
• a few broccoli florets (hopefully not just for decoration) 

DELICIOUS! Thanks, Nina! For step-by-step instructions on how to create this and other fabulous  bento box lunch creations, visit her website at www.mamabelly.com.