Super Blake and the Cavity Monster is HERE! Review and Giveaway

I met author and media diva Tracy Bickhaus through the Seattle chapter of Ladies Who Launch. The group was doing a presentation on publishing, and I had a little booth (actually it was more like a throne, and I had the tiara to pull it off, thanks to the Divine Miss Teri B) from which I hawked copies of Everything I Need to Know About Motherhood I Learned from Animal House. The event was crowded; things moved quickly, and there wasn't much time for one-on-one conversation, but I collected a bazillion business cards and cultivated great friendships through Facebook afterward.

You may remember Tracy from her 20 Questions segment. Please note her answer to question #17... It's safe to say Tracy's dream has come true with the debut of Super Blake and the Cavity Monster!

Check out the trailer while I get my thoughts together on the review:



All done? Wasn't it amazing?! Now, let me introduce you to Blake.



Cute kid, huh? Now, here's the thing about Blake. You might not know he's a superhero just by looking at him. For the most part, he's just a regular boy who gets up in the morning, eats a hearty breakfast, and goes about his day. But... here's Blake's secret:

Anyone can be a superhero! It's about making excellent choices and believing in yourself. As Blake points out in his first book, "You are what you say, and what you do."

So, what happens when an otherwise regular kid makes amazing choices and does the right thing? Well, with the addition of a cape and a pair of tights, he becomes... SUPER BLAKE!... and cruises through his days helping others and making a difference.

When the Cavity Monster and his sidekicks, Ginger Vitis and Sir Plaque, attack, the entire city is threatened with tooth decay and other dental disasters. Thankfully, Super Blake knows what to do, because he listened to his parents and dentist. In short order, Super Blake saves the day by rallying the city's denizens and showing them how to defeat the Cavity Monster, Ginger Vitis and Sir Plaque on their own, each and every day.

The illustrations in the book are bright, eye-catching, and brilliantly crafted by Korey Scott. In fact, they look like they're straight out of a Nickelodeon cartoon storyboard.

Your kids will love Super Blake, and I can almost guarantee they'll want to run off to brush their teeth afterward (Curlytop and Snugglebug did!). This book is, in my opinion, well-suited for toddlers to first-graders. Your kids will love it!

In the interest of disclosure, Tracy sent me a copy of Super Blake and the Cavity Monster to review and give away, but Curlytop and Snugglebug claimed the review copy because they love it so much. I'll be purchasing another copy and having Tracy hold it and ship it to the winner.

Speaking of the winner, here's how to enter:

• Subscribe to this blog, and leave a comment saying you've subscribed (1 entry)
• "Like" The Gonzo Mama on Facebook, and leave a comment saying you've done so (1 entry)
• "Like" Super Blake Books on Facebook, and leave a comment saying you've done so (1 entry)
• Sign up for the free email list from Super Blake Books, and leave a comment saying you've done so (1 entry)
• Follow me on Twitter, and leave a comment saying you've done so (1 entry)
• Follow Super Blake on Twitter, and leave a comment saying you've done so (1 entry)
• Tweet this giveaway on Twitter, and comment with the permalink for the tweet - you can get the URL for the tweet by clicking on the TIME the tweet was posted (2 entries)
• Blog about this giveaway, and comment with the URL (5 entries)

That's THIRTEEN (lucky 13) chances to win, so get to it! I'll be tallying the entries for each participant, then randomizing the list with http://www.random.org/lists/ and selecting a single winner using http://www.random.org/integers/. Entries will close at midnight on April 28th. Good luck!


"Like" The Gonzo Mama on Facebook, and don't forget to see what's cooking with Sexy Vegan Mama today!

20 Questions with... Tracy Bickhaus

Welcome to "20 Questions with..." I want to feature passionate, creative women who are following their dreams. If you're interested in being a 20 Questions feature, let me know, and I'll send you the questionnaire.

Enjoy past installments of 20 Questions here.

Occupation: Freelance Writer
Company: Brickhouse Media
Website: Mama Brick House
Blog: Sister, Please!
Twitter: @mamabrickhouse
Pimpalicious link: Check out my flow on all my videos!


About Tracy, in two sentences:  Tracy is truly passionate about life and actively pursuing her dreams. She's a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother... but mostly, she's just crazy!

1. What it is you do, and why do you do it?

I create content for various companies [blog posts, video, pictures etc…] I also manage social media tools [Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, LinkedIn etc…] for them. I do this because I can get paid to follow my passion!

2. Did your passion sidle up next to you and offer to buy you a drink, or did it pimp-slap you and say, “You’re gonna work for me now, see?”

I have always had a love for writing and all things creative. The kids are getting older and I have finally started writing full-time. I am passionate about being creative and ignoring that passion is NOT an option.

3. Disney is remaking Snow White, and has cast you as the eighth dwarf. What’s your name?

Wacky! My personal FB page bio line states “I'm a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother...but mostly I'm just crazy!” I like to have fun and will opt for that any day over housework!

4. Are you more of a Jackie, or more of a Marilyn?

I’m curvy like Marilyn but classy like Jackie.

5. Peter Pan, in all his lithe nimbleness, has appeared at your window with the intent of whisking you away to someplace fab. All you need to fly is one happy thought… What comes to mind?

Spa treatments!!! Nothing gets me more excited than the thought of being pampered. Bring on the full-body exfoliation, mani/pedi, facial and deep tissue massage.

6. What makes you feel sexy?

Jeans, a t-shirt and my favorite lip gloss.



7. If you had all the time in the world, what would you do more of?

I would enjoy more ways of being creative. I like to sew and used to make matching outfits for my girls. One Christmas I made 13 quilts to give as gifts to family members.

8. What’s the last thing you bought that later made you scream, “What was I THINKING?”

I am a clothes junkie and can never have enough cute tops to wear with my standard uniform [jeans]. Every once in a while I will love a shirt at the store and even in the dressing room and once it comes home I can’t stand it. Seldom do I take it back, because my realization doesn’t come until long after I have lost the receipt - and the will to drive back to the mall.

9. It’s 3:30 a.m. You wake up with an insane craving for what?

Anything chocolate! If that 3:30 a.m. falls in that one week a month when I am a hormonal nightmare… I will eat anything that’s not nailed down!!!!

10. What’s something you know you should do for your body, but don’t?

Bottom line---I need sleep. My husband, not so much. I try to stay up and hang with him into the wee hours of the morning and end up crashing… only to be unable to sleep in the next morning. The vicious cycle repeats itself and I end up burning out, getting sick and vowing to never stay up past 10pm [yeah, right].

11. What do you want on your tombstone?

I’m more of the "donate everything you can and burn the rest" kind of girl. But if I had a tombstone, it would read: Here lies Tracy B.,  mother of three and friend to everyone.

12. Let’s talk about your first kiss. What happened?

Let’s just say I was a late bloomer. I was the girl who was “sweet 16 and never been kissed.” My first kiss was from a guy in high school [junior year]. Honestly, it kind of grossed me out.

13. What’s one thing you’d never reveal on a first date?

My breasts! Or were you talking more figuratively? I would not discuss past boyfriends, infectious diseases or my fear of falling.

14. Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Sandra Bullock would be my first choice. She seems like a strong woman with a sense of humor.

15. What’s the one song that makes you feel like you can take on the world? You know – the one you bust out the serious moves for when no one is looking?

This song is inspirational to all of us who have a little junk in the trunk. It was a favorite of mine in college---“Baby Got Back.”

16. Fergie, Duchess of York, or Fergie, diva of Black Eyed Peas?

If we are talking living a rock-star lifestyle and getting to perform in front of thousands of people—Fergie of the BEP!

17. What real-life dream gets you so excited, it keeps you up at night?

I have written a lot of things over the years, but am most excited about a series of children’s picture books I have written. I am currently in the process of publishing them and working with an illustrator. Sometimes I get so excited, I just sit and smile!

18. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your 12-year-old self?

Just because Joe P. said you were too fat to be his girlfriend doesn’t make it true! P.S. - He totally porked out in Jr. High

19. Welcome to Suicide Karaoke. You’ve gotta sing. Your life depends on it. What’s the song that’s going to save you?

“Something to Talk About” ~Bonnie Raitt

20. You’re heading to a potluck. What’s your never-fail dish? Share the recipe!

I should have mentioned this earlier in question #7, but I used to love to cook. Now it’s a chore. When I’m asked to bring a dish I typically go to Costco and bring Artichoke dip and Stacy’s Pita chips or Tortilla Chips and Guacamole.