Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Children's Book "KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy" Story by Shannon Jones, Illustrations by Casey Uhelski--Enter to Win!


Hi all! It's Cody and I am Miao-ing with delight that KeeKee is back, and Mamma mia I couldn't be happier!!

I bet you are wondering, just who is KeeKee?

The REAL KeeKee is a calico kitty, (Mom and I like that she prefers to refer to herself as "a colorful cat." )

Her real-life pawrents adopted her from a shelter in Seattle, Washington, but she spent four years in Europe!  While living in Europe she traveled in her hot air balloon visiting all sorts of places while her pawrents were at work!

The KeeKee in  her two catabulous books is "the adventurous calico kitty who travels the world in her hot air balloon. Her first stop was Paris. And now? Mamma Mia! It's Rome, Italy!"


For those of you who are long time readers, you will remember that I reviewed KeeKee's first book: KeeKee's Big Adventures in Paris, France!  Well, I am honored to say that KeeKee included a line from my review: "Vibrant, colorful and bursting with PURRsonality!" where it appears on the back cover of her latest book:"KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy"

Once again, Mom and I purred while reading about KeeKee's adventures, (this time in Rome, Italy),  because the illustrations done by Casey Uhelski are vibrant, colorful and are just BURSTING with purrsonality! If it is possible, I think the illustrations in KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy are even MORE VIBRANT and possess even MORE amazing details than her first book! (Wait til you see the illustration of the Sistine Chapel and her take on Michelangelo's masterpiece! Mamma mia it's SPLENDIDO!!!!


This time my Mom and I followed  KeeKee  as she flew in her hot air balloon and landed in the "world-famous Cat Sanctuary" in Rome where she was greeted by a new furiend, Emilia. KeeKee has always wanted to visit the Colosseum, the Pantheon,and  the Sistine Chapel, (or as KeeKee calls it, the Sixteenth Chapel MOL!)  Emilia knows just the person who can act as KeeKee's tour guide for her latest journey, it's   Alfredo, who "knows Rome like the back of his paw."

 KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy, enabled me to learn all about Rome and some impawtant history, and the best part? I had FUN while doing so!!! YOU WILL TOO! Mom and I both feel that this book ISN'T just for those who are between the ages of 4 and 7 (as the jacket states), because GROWN UP KIDS and ADULTS can learn from this book too!



As KeeKee's first book had, there is s a Pronunciation Guide & Glossary for Italian  words and places that were mentioned in the book!

Examples are:


  • Amico Mio (ah-MEE-coe MEE-oh) which means "My friend"
  • Benvenuto (ben-veh-NOO-toe) which means "Welcome"
  • Grazie mille (GRAHT-see-eh-MEE-leh) which means "A thousand thanks"
  • Mangia (MANH-juh) which means and kitties we love, "EAT!"
  • Miao (mee-yow) which means....what else? MEOW!


Just to name a few!

So, not only are you and your little ones going to enjoy the story, but you will all learn something at the same time! Heck, MOM learned some Italian words that SHE never knew! Me? I'm kinda suave and "Splendido" so I already knew some of them.

YOU CAN LEARN THESE WORDS TOO and share KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy with her!



ENTER TO WIN: ONE LUCKY PERSON WILL  WIN ONE COPY OF KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy and ONE COPY OF KeeKee's Big Adventures in Paris, France, OPEN TO EVERYONE  LOCATED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!    (An appox $35.00 value)....you must be 18 and older to enter.

HOW TO ENTER:leave a comment telling me that you would like to enter and be sure I have a way of contacting you should you be the lucky winner!
EXTRA ENTRY: "like" KeeKee's Big Adventures on Facebook and or Twitter, tell them Cody from Cat Chat With Caren and Cody sent you, and leave a comment here telling me that you did that.

THE GIVE-AWAY IS OPEN NOW and will end on MONDAY, MARCH 24TH at 5PM EASTERN. The winner will be chosen by www.random.org and will be announced on TUESDAY, MARCH 25TH.

If you can't wait: you can purchase the book here


For more information,   visit http://www.keekeesbigadventures.com/

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: For Shannon Jones, her love of travel began at a young age. It opened her eyes and ears to the world. As a grown-up, living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with her husband Paul and kitty KeeKee, the idea for KeeKee's Big Adventures was born. After 20 years in the marketing field, Shannon is launched on her new adventures, following her passion for writing and excited to be helping kids in their quest for learning and discovery. 

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Casey Uhelski graduated with honors from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration. As a little girl, she loved books, doodling, and daydreaming. She's never outgrown these early enthusiasms, and has happily gone on to pursue a career as a children's-book illustrator.

Good luck,
 Grazie mille, and
 Arrivederci, 
Cody

In full disclosure: I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy in exchange for my honest review.

36 comments:

  1. My stuffed brofur Balthazar have been in Rome with my mom-person :)
    Looks like a furry cute little book !

    XOXO

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    1. Oh he was so lucky!!!! It IS a cute book! Good luck! xoxo

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  2. Sounds like a pretty cool book :) I like that it teaches you how to speak the language (or at least a few words of it). The illustrations look really nice too!

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  3. What a darling book! Love that kids can begin learning a language as well as a bit about another country while enjoying the entire experience through Kee Kee's eyes! Love the artwork too - vibrant and fun. I'd love to enter - I know a couple of sweet neighbor boys who would LOVE the book!

    Hugs, Sammy and Mom

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    1. Sammy and "Mom", I began learning a language too!!! LOL!!!!! My photos don't even begin to do the illustrations justice, this one is just incredible! Good luck!

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  4. I loved the Paris version of this book, and it looks like this one is equally delightful. Great review!

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    1. Ingrid thank you and I did too! If it is possible, I think this one might even be better! I just loved it!

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  5. This sounds purr-fect. Did you ever notice that no matter what- cat books can be fully enjoyed by all ages and not just specifically kids! That's what mat makes it purry!!

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  6. Keekee in Rome sounds like a fun adventure. Have a terrific Tuesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  7. It would help me keep my Italian heritage alive.

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  8. What a neato idea for a book! Ciao Meow!

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  9. Oh WOW this sounds like the perfect book! We are so excited to hear about it and think our kiddos would love it since their Daddy is 100% Roman and they visited Rome two years ago. So excited to hear about this, we are off to increase our chances and follow on Twitter and like on Facebook!

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  10. Keekee!!! Thats the name of my one kitty, although spelled different.
    Seems like a super cute set of books and I know my daughter would LOVE it!
    I would love to be entered, and you already have my email.
    I really like how they even have a pronunciation guide and glossary!!! Cool idea!

    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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    1. Jenna, how cool is THAT??!! The books are ADORABLE, adults will learn from them too! Good luck!

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  11. You know, I was thinking the other day that I still had to order KeeKee's adventures in Paris, because that book looked so cute. Now I have two books to purchase.
    By the way, talking about Rome, guess who'll be in Rome during BlogPaws :-(

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    1. well, you can enter this give-away (it's world-wide).........and Paris is being given with Rome..........so sorry to hear about BlogPaws...........but Rome? Incredible!

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  12. So cute,we want to enter Caren,that is a fun review,xx Rachel and Speedy

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    1. thank you Speedy! The book is so much fun!!!! Good luck! xoxo

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  13. What a near-I book
    Snorts,
    Lily & Edward

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  14. The cats can learn with me before I go to Italy...hahaha

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  15. Muah! to you and your mom. LOVE the book cover illustrations. Merci :-) Golden Woofs

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  16. This looks like a real cute book! We love the cover! It's so lovely! :-) xoxo Roxy & Tigerlino

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  17. That sounds and looks like such a good book. A lovely idea too to teach some Italian words.

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  18. That is a wonderful review! I am glad to hear that they used part of your review for their first book!

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  19. HI EVERYONE!!! If you are entering, please say so in your comment! THE GIVE-AWAY IS OPEN TO EVERYONE! A lot of people are complimenting the book but not stating that they are entering the give-away, if you don't say you are entering, I am going to assume that you aren't.

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  20. Lots of cute cat books being reviews around the blogosphere. I can’t read so don’t enter me.

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  21. This book looks adorable and absolutely purr-fect. We would love to be entered in the giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity. {{hugs}}

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  22. KeeKee is so sweet, and we lover her book. Mumsy loves Italy and Rome. She has always wanted to go to Mass at the Vatican. We don't know why... it'll be the same as it is here... silly Mumsy :-)
    Hugs!

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  23. How cute and kids learn a language

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