Author Guest Post with Lori Orlinsky & Book Review

Welcome to the May 7th stop on the blog tour for Balloons for Tiger by Lori Orlinsky, organized by iRead Book Tours. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, author guest posts & interviews, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

Welcome back to the blog, Lori! It was so nice to review another book for you.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.

Author Guest Post

Publishing a book during a pandemic

My second book, “The Tooth Fairy’s Tummy Ache,” was released in January 2020 – weeks before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Gone in an instant were my dreams of a Spring book tour, where I had planned to visit schools, libraries, and bookstores. I had to think quickly on my feet about how to get my book in front of children during this unprecedented time.

As such, I began doing virtual author visits, which allowed me to visit more schools because I wasn’t bound by distance. This gave the teachers a well-deserved break from teaching in front of the computer. In addition, to accompany the visit, I created interactive “drag and drop” comprehension activities that kids could do on their computers after reading my book. I also worked with local bookstores, libraries, and museums to host virtual storytime events for kids since they were also closed and looking for social content. In addition, because kids were using tablets to consume books, I partnered with interactive Apps and websites to integrate my books and coloring sheets into their platforms, reaching even more kids.  I also worked with talented YouTube content creators who did fun read alouds of my book for families to enjoy at bedtime. Finally, to capitalize on the fact that learning turned to computers and tablets, I created both eBook and audio book options for all my books.

About the Book

Balloons for Tiger
by Lori Orlinsky

Published 4 May 2021
Mascot Books

Genre: Children’s Fiction
Page Count: 38
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

How can children begin to heal after losing a pet? Balloons for Tiger takes an imaginative look at this tough topic as colorful balloons travel from the hands of children to their beloved cat who has passed on. This book lets children open up their hearts and imaginations for a magical journey to the farthest corners of the world, where they’ll meet skydivers, astronauts, superheroes, and everything in between. As they watch the balloons voyage to the other side of the rainbow bridge, they learn to positively process their grief. Balloons for Tiger is a great tool for any child who has experienced the loss of a pet- or any other loved one, too.

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK
B&N | IndieBound | Mascot Books

My Review

My Rating: 5 Stars
Consider liking my review on Goodreads.

I was granted complimentary access to Balloons for Tiger as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with iRead Book Tours. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

I’m not crying, you’re crying! Excuse me while I find my cats for a big hug.

Okay, I’m back.

Balloons for Tiger is a very sweet story about saying goodbye to a beloved pet. A family releases balloons with messages of love as a way to say goodbye to their recently deceased cat, Tiger. As the balloons float away, the family muses about where the balloons might visit on their way to Tiger’s new home in heaven.

The illustrations are beautiful and a lot of fun! The story itself is very sweet and creative, and the majority of the pages in the middle didn’t bring me to tears, but oh my goodness the conclusion when little Tiger receives her messages turned on the waterworks! It immediately made me think of that “Rainbow Bridge” poem vet offices like to include in condolences cards.

This book would be very helpful in helping young kids understand and accept the loss of a pet, and could possibly be extended to the loss of others in their lives. Definitely consider picking up this book when facing loss with preschool/primary school age kids. My one plea to parents/guardians and teachers who may make use of this book is to please be aware that releasing balloons in this way in certain areas can result in dangerous plastic litter that is harmful to certain birds and sealife. Maybe borrow the spirit of this book, but a different item/activity, if you’re in an area with a vulnerable wildlife population such as right on a coastline.

About the Author

Lori Orlinsky is a multi award-winning children’s book author, freelance writer and marketing director who lives in Chicago. Lori is the mother of two little ladies who are small but mighty. Lori is certified by the CDC in Bullying Prevention and Response Training, and is an Ambassador for the National Bullying Prevention Center. At 5″1, she wishes her children’s picture book “Being Small (Isn’t So Bad After All),” was around when she was growing up. Lori’s books are published by Mascot Books.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon

Giveaway Alert!

Win signed copy of Lori Orlinsky’s BALLOONS FOR TIGER) (USA only) (ends June 7)

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.