A Big Year for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher, ©2013

Lily Lapp’s family has settled into their new home in Pennsylvania, but life still holds big changes and big steps for Lily. Good changes, like once again living close to her beloved cousin and best friend, Hannah. Bad changes, like a mean girl who plays tricks on her. And no change at all where Lily would most want one–Aaron Yoder sits near her in school and relentlessly teases her. Surprises are in store for Lily as she learns, with Mama and Papa’s help, to manage the ups and downs of growing up Amish.

The third of four charming novels that chronicle the gentle way of the Amish through the eyes of a young girl, A Big Year for Lily gives children ages 8-12 a fascinating glimpse into the life of the Amish–and lots of fun and laughter along the way. It combines Mary Ann Kinsinger’s real-life stories of growing up Amish and the bestselling writing of Amish fiction and nonfiction author Suzanne Woods Fisher. With charming line drawings in each book, this series captures the hearts of readers young and old.

My Review:

Lily Lapp is a fun-loving inquisitive girl you would like for a neighbor! The story opens and it is summertime. She and her friend Beth have fun in Beth's playhouse. Bats in the belfry? Maybe not, but Lily's new attic room has a secret entrance her father cannot find. As school begins, Lily looks forward to her new school year. My favorites? A Big Chief tablet ~ I loved the long smooth pages; two sharpened Ticonderoga pencils, and a fresh box of crayons. I always got tripped up when math problems were reversed ~ how could they have the same answer?

    
This is the third book in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series. Ages 8-12 will enjoy reading this series, as well as anyone else who likes Little House and Janette Oke prairie books. I especially like the illustrations by Tim Foley. They are pencil drawings that bring the story to life. My favorite is the Christmas at Whispering Pines picture.

   Papa was first to open the door, with Lily right on his heels. There on the porch were Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Susie! Behind them were Uncle Elmer's and Uncle Jacob's families. Everyone! Everyone was here!
   --A Big Year for Lily, 131

Purchase a copy: ow.ly/mVlq1

Meet Suzanne: Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your iPhone or iPad! Download the Free App! bit.ly/134r55G

More about Mary Ann Kinsinger: Mary Ann is the gentle voice behind the very popular blog, A Joyful Chaos. Mary Ann Kinsinger lives with her husband and three children in the beautiful Appalachian mountains in southwestern PA…only a few miles from the house where she grew up in an Amish family. Mary Ann has enjoyed writing from a very young age and has had some of her work published in magazines. She is a busy mother and enjoys spending time with her family, reading, crafts, cooking, and for the past year blogging… where she is chronicling her journey from a happy little Amish girl to where she is today. --suzannewoodsfisher.com/blog/2012/07/this-week-on-amish-wisdom-ex-amish-blogger-mary-ann-kinsinger/

Learn more about Lily at adventuresoflilylapp.com/

***Thank you to Litfuse for sending me a copy of A Big Year for Lily. This review is written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***

Win an iPad Adventure Pack from @SuzanneWFisher | A Big Year for Lily Giveaway Extravaganza!

Suzanne Woods Fisher is celebrating the release of A Big Year for Lily, book three in the beloved Adventures of Lily Lapp series, with a giveaway extravaganza!

  One winner will receive:

• An iPad Adventure Pack (includes a fun stand and an art kit) 

Twelve winners will receive:

• Special prizes specially picked by Lily (something new each day)! Suzanne will announce the winners on July 29 on her blog!

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 27th. All winners will be announced July 29th at Suzanne's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 29th to see if you won one of the fun prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)