Looking Up
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the LOOKING UP by Stephan Pastis Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.
Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About the Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Timmy Failure series comes a quirky and heartwarming middle grade novel about a girl struggling with loneliness and the curveballs of life—featuring black and white illustrations throughout!
Living alone with her mother in a poorer part of town, Saint—a girl drawn to medieval knights, lost causes, and the protection of birthday piñatas—sees the neighborhood she has always known and loved disappearing around her: old homes being torn down and replaced by fancy condos and coffee shops. But when her favorite creaky old toy store is demolished, she knows she must act.
Enlisting the help of Daniel “Chance” McGibbons, a quiet, round-faced boy who lives across the street (and whose house also faces the wrecking ball), Saint hatches a plan to save what is left of her beloved hometown.
Praise for Looking Up
“Will delight readers. The story is generously illustrated with Pastis’ characteristic black-and-white cartoon line drawings … Pastis fills this deceptively simple first-person account with humor, puns, turns, and twists—and the final twist gives this friendship tale its surprising depth. Words and art combine to create a moving story.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Deceptively funny illustrated novel about loneliness and grief …Pastis’s distinctive, heavily lined b&w illustrations effectively convey the protagonists’ depth of emotion via amiable faces composed of two dots for eyes and a curve nose, while prose contains his signature absurd humor, which lightens this meditation on mourning.”– Publishers Weekly
“Readers will rally around Daniel, Saint, and elderly toy store owner Muffins, while seeing the dilemmas faced by Saint’s mom and Daniel’s uncle, who are struggling to make ends meet and care for their children. With this hilarious book and its comical black-and-white illustrations throughout, Pastis once again reaches out to reluctant readers with a multilayered tale of loss, grief, and growing up. With an imaginative ending that will make readers think, there is more than meets the eye in this funny gem.”– School Library Journal
More Praise
“A fabulous chapter book that, to an extent, doubles as an all-age graphic novel too. There’s so much to love about Looking Up that you won’t be sure what your favorite aspect of the book is. The humor fires on all cylinders. The heart of the book sneaks up on readers and provides a story on dealing with the ups and downs of life, as well as the invaluable worth of a great friend. If you’re in middle elementary school or middle school, you will love this book. It provides those ages something to learn, but it’s wrapped alongside so much humor and fun that it will be irresistible to all ages eight and up.” – Daddy Mojo
This adventure is all about Saint and how she handles the ups and downs of life. And a talking turtle, you know I love turtles! Her town is being torn down so Saint and Chance set out to save her home. Heartwarming with sprinkles of humor, I really enjoyed it. – Kim Wilch, One More Exclamation
About the Author
Stephan Pastis is the creator of the syndicated comic strip Pearls Before Swine, which appears in over 800 newspapers. He is also the creator of the Timmy Failure book series and the cowriter of the Disney+ movie Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. He lives in Northern California with his wife and two kids. –This text refers to the hardcover edition.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway for Looking Up
1 winner will receive a finished copy of LOOKING UP, US ONLY.
Ends October 10th, midnight EST.
Enter the GIVEAWAY HERE and good luck to you!
Looking Up Tour Schedule
| 10/2/2023 | Get outside and read | IG Post |
| 10/2/2023 | @evergirl200 | IG Review |
| 10/3/2023 | The Momma Spot | Review |
| 10/3/2023 | OneMoreExclamation | Review/IG Post |
| 10/4/2023 | FUONLYKNEW | Review |
| 10/4/2023 | @pagesforpaige | IG Review |
| 10/5/2023 | Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers | Review/IG Post |
| 10/5/2023 | @froggyreadteach | IG Review |
| 10/6/2023 | @enthuse_reader | IG Review/TikTok Post |
| 10/6/2023 | Two Points of Interest | Review |
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Stephan Pastis’ Book Tour
Monday, October 9, 2023 at 7:00pm PT
In-store event at Rakestraw Books
3 Railroad Avenue
Danville, CA 94526
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 7:30pm ET
In-store event at The Bookmark Shoppe
8415 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 6:00pm CT
In-store event at Chicago Comics
3244 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 12:00pm ET
Off-site event hosted by Source Booksellers
Detroit Public Library
5201 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 12:00pm ET
In-store event at Barnes & Noble
4015 Medina Road
Akron, OH 44333
Monday, October 16, 2023 at 7:00pm ET
Off-site event hosted by Politics and Prose Bookstore
Takoma Park Community Center
7500 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 5:30pm ET
In-store event at The Writer’s Block Bookstore
316 N. Park Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 6:30pm ET
Off-site event hosted by Brave + Kind Bookshop
Atlanta-Fulton Central Library
1 Margaret Mitchell Square
Atlanta, GA 30303
Friday, October 20, 2023 at 6:00pm CT
Off-site event hosted by Left Bank Books
St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly Library
225 N. Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 6:00pm CT
In-store event at novel.
387 Perkins Extd
Memphis, TN 38117
What a busy tour!
Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 3:00pm CT
In-store event at Garden District Book Shop
2727 Prytania Street, Unit 14
New Orleans, LA 70130
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 7:00pm CT
In-store event at Blue Willow Bookshop
14532 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77079
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 6:30pm MT
Off-site event hosted by The Bookies
Teller Elementary School
1150 Garfield Street
Denver, CO 80206
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 6:30pm MT
In-store event at Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S. McClintock Drive
Tempe, AZ 85283
Friday, October 27, 2023 at 7:00pm PT
In-store event at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore
3555 Rosencrans Street, Suite 107
San Diego, CA 92110
Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 6:30pm PT
In-store event at Barnes & Noble
Creekside Town Center
1256 Galleria Boulevard
Roseville, CA 95678
Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 3:00pm PT
In-store event at Powell’s Books at Cedar Hill Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Boulevard
Beaverton, OR 97005
Monday, October 30, 2023 at 7:00pm PT
In-store event at Third Place Books
17171 Bothell Way NE #A101
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155