Greetings, my friends!
Here we are, once again, at Perfect Picture Book Friday, and I have a delightful book to share!
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Tag: giveaways
Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Way We Say Hello PLUS A Giveaway!
Howdy, y’all!
That’s just one of the many ways to say hello that are about to be showcased in today’s Perfect Picture Book!
Get ready to have some fun and learn something new!
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It’s ALPHABLOGTIME!
Get out your party hats, everyone!
We’re having a birthday party!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, ALPHABEDTIME!
Happy Birthday to you!!! 🎉🎁🧁🎈⭐️
Of COURSE we will have cake!!!
And of COURSE it will be chocolate, even for a welcome baby cake because really, what other kind is there? 😊
Since today is the Alphababies’ birthday, Betsy and I are kicking off our ALPHABLOGTIME Tour because we want to celebrate with you and make sure you get plenty of chances to take our book baby home with you!
Today we will be featured on Simply 7 with Jena Benton, and also on Critter Lit with Lindsay Ward! (Both with Giveaways!)
Absolutely Bounce over and Celebrate, Dance, Eat cake, and Feel Free to enter the Giveaways!
Also learn all kinds of interesting stuff about how this book came to be.
For those who would like to follow along, here is the graphic to look for:
The link will take you to a list of all kinds of news, in-person events, blog stops, and giveaway opportunities, plus we’ll have some fun crafts and activities for you to share with your little ones.
We hope to see you and chat with you along the way!
Thank you all so much for helping us welcome our new little book! 😊😊😊
October 16 – Writing and Illustrating – Kathy Temean (plus Giveaway)
October 25 – Simply 7 with Jena Benton (plus Giveaway)
October 25 – Critter Lit with Lindsay Ward (plus Giveaway)
October 27 – YABC Author/Illustrator Chat (plus Giveaway)
October 28 – KidLit411 Giveaway (please scroll down)
October 28 – Perfect Picture Book Friday and Mystery Interview with Beth Stillborn
October 29 – Will Write For Cookies Interview with Vivian Kirkfield (plus Giveaway)
November 1 – Review and Interview with Maria Marshall (plus Giveaway)
November 5 – Alphabet Cookies with Julie Abery (plus Giveaway)
November 7 – Review and Activities – Laura Sassi (plus Giveaway)
November 8 – Interview with Laura Roettiger (plus Giveaway)
November 8 – Picture Book Look Podcast
November 8 – Stefanie Hohl Blogpost and Giveaway
November 13 Lauri Fortino Author/Illustrator Chat and Fun Craft! (plus Giveaway)
Ooh! A Baby Shower! (With A Present For YOU!)
I know.
It’s Saturday!
I never post on Saturday!
Well, hardly ever. . .
But today is a special day.
We’re having a baby shower!
Because. . .
COMING SOON. . .
Yes! It’s true!
I’m having a book!
Come on. . .
Have a look at the ultrasound!
Isn’t it cute?
It’s not due until October 25th, but I couldn’t wait to give you a little peek!
Even though it seems like forever when I’m so looking forward to meeting this baby in real life, October 25th is just a little over 4 weeks away. And after 9 years (yes, you read that right, Guinness Book of World Records gestation 🤣) oh! how I want this book baby to get a good start in the world!
If you’d like to give it a baby shower gift, here are a few ideas:
- Click HERE to add it to your Good Reads “Want To Read” Shelf and help create a little buzz!
- Share the cover on Social Media so lots of people get to see this soon-to-be-here li’l cutie!
- Ask your local public or school library to order a copy! Libraries want books on their shelves that their communities want to read.
- Ask your local bookstore to order copies! Bookstores do not automatically stock every title.
- Mention it to your friends (especially parents and grandparents, teachers, and librarians)! Word of mouth will help this baby find the love it needs!
- Pre-Order A Copy (or two!)! Pre-orders count toward a book’s first sales week, and how a book does in its first week can determine whether it thrives or languishes. A high sales rank out of the starting gate gains the book traction and visibility, which helps more readers to see it and, hopefully, bring it into their homes and hearts.
As a small thank you for helping my little one get a good start, I want to give a little present to YOU!
I will give away 3 personalized signed copies to 3 randomly selected winners who do one or more of the above and let me know about it in the comments below. You get a chance for each thing you do. Tag me if you post on social media so I see you (I’m on FB, Twitter, and Instagram). Let me know what bookstore or library you asked to order a copy so I know where my Alphababy might turn up. And if you preorder, let me know that too and I’ll be happy to send you a personalized signed bookplate to place inside your book – for yourself or for the little one, preschool, school, or library you purchase it for.
I will draw the winners in 2 weeks on Sunday October 9th. I’m hoping I might have books by then. . . but I might not. . . so the winners may have to wait just a little for their present!
❤️ Thank you all so much in advance for helping me celebrate this upcoming arrival! I’m so excited about it, and I hope you’re going to love it as much as I do!
(P.S. ALPHABEDTIME will be having a little blog tour between October 25th and November 15th or so, and there will be more chances for giveaways then!)
Enjoy your weekends, everyone, and thank you again! 😊
A few details about the book if you’re interested:
ALPHABEDTIME
written by Susanna Leonard Hill
illustrated by Betsy Snyder
Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House
October 25, 2022
https://susannahill.com/
https://www.betsysnyder.com/
Jacket Copy:
Bedtime is busy for the Alphabet family – after all, there are 26 kiddos to tend to. A, B, and C declare they are not ready, and Impish I and Jazzy J just don’t want to settle down, but by toothbrushing time the crew seems to be headed in the right direction. Of course, there is still bath time which is super splashy, and getting into jammies which is no joke. But finally, after a story’s been read and they are tucked in tight, peace reigns. Or does it? Toddlers are sure to get a kick out of this lively Alpha-family – and hopefully following each and every letter’s antics will tucker them out!
From Kirkus:
This spirited family is full of personality. . . . The illustrations capture the bustle of a house bursting with children. . . . The rhyming text bounces along, an easy read-aloud, with rich vocabulary like impish, jazzy, and scramble making for a fun, silly, relatable read with detailed, appealing illustrations. . . . A playful approach to teaching kids the alphabet.” —Kirkus Reviews
Purchase Links:
Perfect Picture Book Friday – And I Think About You PLUS A Giveaway!
Howdy, Pardners!
Now that the summer hiatus is over, we’re back to Perfect Picture Book Fridays! And not a moment too soon! I have about 47 books I wanted to share today 😊 Luckily, other PPBF participants are likely to share some of them.
Which reminds me, if you’re one of the dedicated folks who consistently posted Perfect Picture Books all summer, please feel free to add them all to today’s list. That will be wonderful for everyone!
I have a lovely book to share today, one that seems especially appropriate with school just starting. In the story, the mother is at work thinking of her child, and the child is at school thinking of their mom.
AND, as if a glimpse of this beautiful book weren’t enough, we have a giveaway! One lucky person is going to win a copy of AND I THINK ABOUT YOU! All you have to do is leave a comment in the comment section below between now and Wednesday September 14 at 9PM Eastern and you’ll be in the running to be randomly selected. I will announce the winner next Friday.
Title: And I Think About You
Written By: Rosanne L. Kurstedt
Illustrated By: Ya-Ling Huang
Publisher: Kids Can Press, September 20, 2022, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-6
Themes/Topics: family love (mother/child), being apart, reassurance
Opening: “Together we eat breakfast.
I drink my coffee.
You scoop your milk-soaked cereal.”
Brief Synopsis: A mother bear goes through her work day describing what she’s doing while always thinking about her little one, only to come home and discover that her child has been thinking about her too.
Links To Resources:
Special treat! A craft supplied by the author! Thank you, Rosanne!
Why I Like This Book: This book lovingly shows how a mom at work does her job and simultaneously has her child in mind all day long. Though they may be apart, she is always thinking of her little one. The story flows seamlessly between what the mother is doing and thinking and what the child is doing, showing their parallel activities. As the mom reads her emails, she thinks about reading with her child, and on the page turn, her child is in school reading a story. As the mother eats lunch with a friend, she thinks about eating with her child, and on the page turn the child is eating lunch with school friends. This sweet story will reassure any child that whether mom and dad go out to work or work from home, any time they’re separated during the day they are always in their parents minds and hearts. The soft watercolor art captures the tender mood of the story perfectly. A wonderful choice for any bookshelf!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
Rosanne L. Kurstedt, Ph.D., has been an educator for over 20 years, supporting learners of all ages. She is the author of several books for teachers, including Teaching Writing with Picture Books as Models and a series entitled 100+ Growth Mindset Comments. Rosanne loves picture books and anything kid-lit so she volunteers as the Assistant Regional Advisor for the New Jersey chapter of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators. Her first book Karate Kid (Running Press Kids) was released in 2019 and her second book And I Think About You (Kids Can Press) was released in 2022.
She loves sharing her books and expertise with readers of all ages at various author events (e.g., school visits, festivals, teacher professional development, mom’s groups, etc.)
Rosanne is the founder of The Author Experience (www.TheAuthorExperience.org), a 501(c)(3) organization committed to the transformative power of sharing stories. In collaboration with students, families, and educators, TAE provides sustainable literacy-based experiences that build a culture of literacy—one that elevates connections and delivers lasting impact.
Rosanne lives in New Jersey with her family.
Rosanne’s Social Media:
Web: https://www.rlkurstedt.com/
Twitter: @rlkurstedt
Instagram: @rlkurstedt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RLKurstedtAuthor
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Perfect Picture Book Friday – Jackie And The Mona Lisa PLUS A Giveaway!
It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday and I have a wonderful treat for you!
A great Perfect Picture Book, a little insight from the author, 3 fabulous activity pages, and the chance for one of you (US resident only) to win a copy of the book just by leaving a comment in the comment section below by Wednesday March 30 at 9PM Eastern!
I really enjoyed this book, so I hope you’ll like it too!
Title: Jackie And The Mona Lisa
Written By: Deborah Rovin Murphy
Illustrated By: Jen Brickling
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press, March 15, 2022, nonfiction
Suitable For Ages: 6-8
Themes/Topics: American History, Jackie Kennedy, art appreciation
Opening: “Jackie Kennedy loved poetry. She loved dance and music. And she loved art. In 1961, Jackie became the First Lady of the United States. And everyone loved Jackie. More than that, everyone wanted to be just like her.”
Brief Synopsis: From the publisher: “Jackie Kennedy loved the arts. And America loved Jackie Kennedy. The first lady knew she had the country’s attention–what would she do with it? Encourage Americans to appreciate art, of course! She turned the White House into a historical site filled with some of America’s most treasured artifacts and pieces of art. She brought Shakespearean theater to the White House and ballerinas to the South Lawn. And most epically, she brought the Mona Lisa to the states (much to the chagrin of many Parisians) to encourage Americans to visit museums–and it worked! An inspiring story about one of the nation’s most influential first ladies.”
Links To Resources: The back matter of the book has additional information about both Jackie Kennedy and the Mona Lisa. Please see below for some activity pages you can use with the book.
I asked Debbie what inspired her to write JACKIE AND THE MONA LISA, and she responded: “Growing up, art was always my favorite class. I teach second grade now (which I love) but had also dreamed about becoming an art teacher. This, combined with my love of history and museums, and my admiration of Jackie Kennedy, came together to inspire me to write Jackie and the Mona Lisa. Another reason for writing this particular story is my love for all of the “little known stories” in history or incredibly interesting stories that have been lost in time that I believe kids (and adults) would love to know. When I hear someone say that history is boring… I just think that they haven’t heard all of the interesting stories and anecdotes that correspond with all of the names, dates, and people we are taught to remember. I hope that this book can inspire children to go to museums and learn about the arts.”
A little bit about the author:
Here are a few activity pages to use with the book:
Why I Like This Book: I found this book interesting, accessible, and engagingly written. I learned a lot about Jackie Kennedy’s time as First Lady and her passion for the arts. It was wonderful to have a glimpse of someone who seems so elegant searching through the White House basement! The story (without ever saying anything preachy!) clearly sends the message that if something is important to you, you can accomplish it if you put yourself into it. Young readers will really enjoy this book about everything Jackie Kennedy did for the arts in America.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 Don’t forget to leave a comment below by Wednesday March 30 at 9PM Eastern for your chance to be randomly selected to win a copy of this wonderful book! (US residents only – sorry!)
Perfect Picture Book Friday – How To Dress A Dinosaur PLUS A Giveaway!
Hi Everyone!
I’d like to start by apologizing for my absence lately, and for making you all wait so long for the results of the Valentiny Contest. I’m afraid a family medical situation has been demanding most of my time and, burn the candle at both ends as I might, I can’t seem to find time for everything. But I am making my way through the entries – wonderful, AMAZING entries, really! You guys all did such a good job! – enjoying every minute of reading, dreading having to narrow the field to 12, and I hope to have your results soon! Thank you all for your patience. I so appreciate it. You have been so kind about the wait!
Meanwhile, I have a treat for you today! A wonderful new book I know you’re going to love, plus a few words from the author and some wonderful activities she has provided, AND she’s offering a giveaway!!! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Wednesday March 9 at 9 PM Eastern and you’ll be in the running to be randomly selected to win a copy of today’s delightful book!
So let’s have a look, shall we?
Title: How To Dress A Dinosaur
Written By: Robin Currie
Illustrated By: Alycia Pace
Publisher: Familius, March 1, 2022, fiction (board book)
Suitable For Ages: 2-5 years
Themes/Topics: humor, getting dressed, dinosaurs
Opening: “Roar! Oh no – You turned into a dinosaur!”
Brief Synopsis: Every parent knows the struggle of getting a child dressed and out the door. But with a cast of hilariously coiffed dinosaurs to teach toddlers how to stomp their feet into pant legs and reach their claws into shirts, getting dressed becomes a game.
Links To Resources:
First, a few words from author Robin Currie! It’s always interesting to know where a book came from 😊
Back Story (or the Tail of the Dinosaur)
The original inspiration for this story was in the fall of 2014 when my youngest grandson was 3 years old and had many things on his mind to do with dinosaurs but few with getting dressed. James was in the dinosaur phase where he can’t pronounce “Spaghetti” but can say “Pachycephalosaurus” and correct my mispronunciation. He also owned dinosaur-themed shirts, hats, socks, jackets, and underwear. And hundreds of plastic painful-to-step-on in-the-dark dinosaur figures.
A brain burble became first a badly rhyming text – what rhymes with Diplodocus? (Hopped aboard a bus? Was oozing green pus? Super-flu-i-us?). Now I am pleased to introduce you to 14 chewable pages of How to Dress a Dinosaur! If you are counting, that is a total of 8 years for a board book! Always believe that the best ideas out there will find a home! Even if it seems to take longer than the Pleistocene era!
More dino crafts, books and snacks at https://www.pinterest.com/currie0535/how-to-dress-a-dinosaur/
Wow! So many fun things to do!
Why I Like This Book: If you’re a parent, you’ve had the showdown at the getting dressed corral! This book makes getting dressed so much fun kids will probably want to do it extra times each day 😊 How can you not love a story that will make a necessary chore fun for everyone involved? But to make it even better, young readers will learn a little bit about dinosaurs. The art is adorable. All those cute baby dinos are irresistible. (My personal favorites are diplodocus and triceratops 😊) A fun story to read aloud, a way to make getting dressed something to look forward to, a little info about dinosaurs, and appealing illustrations – what’s not to love?
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 (And don’t forget to leave a comment by Wednesday at 9PM so you can be in the running to win a copy of this delightful book!)
Giveaway Winner – BUNNY FINDS EASTER!
Hi Everyone!
There’s no one up for Tuesday Debut today, so instead let’s party!
First, we get to celebrate the randomly selected giveaway winner of Laura Sassi’s beautiful book, BUNNY FINDS EASTER!
And the lucky winner is . . .
Pat Tilton!
I hope your great-granddaughter enjoys it! (I think she will! 😊) Please email me so I can get your book to you!
And what would a celebration party be without cake? I said we might have some, and so we shall!
How about this one?
Chocolate enough?
Let’s find out! 😊
And now, let’s round out our party by having everyone share the book they’re currently reading in the comment section. I’ll start. I’m reading something not at all kidlit – a psychological thriller by Michael Robotham called When You Are Mine. So far, it’s keeping me turning the pages! I also (as always) have a stack of picture books including How To Apologize by David LaRochelle, If You Ever Want To Bring An Alligator To School, Don’t! by Elise Parsley, and Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev (and let me tell you, that tiny elephant is SO CUTE! 😊)
What are you reading?
For a bonus party favor to take home with you, here is a little writing prompt to get the creativity flowing:
Q: What do you get when you cross a turtle with a porcupine?
A: A slowpoke!
Write a story about a slowpoke 😊
OR
Work on your Valentiny Contest entry – only a couple more days to go! If you haven’t read the guidelines yet, hop on over and check them out HERE. You can write THAT story today! 😊
Enjoy your Tuesday (and help yourself to seconds on cake! 😊)
Perfect Picture Book Friday – Bunny Finds Easter PLUS A Giveaway!
It’s the first Perfect Picture Book Friday of February, and we get to celebrate by being part of Laura Sassi‘s “Bunny Hop” for her brand new book!
What could be better in the midst of ice, snow, and freezing rain than an adorable bunny and a little glimpse of springtime and hope?
I’ll tell you! We have a wonderful activity to do with the book designed by Laura herself AND a book giveaway! One lucky reader will win a copy of this sweet book! All you need to do is have a US street address (sorry no PO addresses, and USA only) and leave a comment on this post by Monday February 7 at 5 PM Eastern to qualify for the random drawing (which I will do on Monday February 7 at 5 PM Eastern 😊.) The winner will be announced on Tuesday February 8 because there is no one up for Tuesday Debut that day so we can just celebrate. Maybe we’ll have cake 😊 (I would have posted the winner with PPBF next week, but we won’t be having it because the VALENTINY WRITING CONTEST will be underway! If you haven’t written your entry yet, click HERE for details!)
So let’s have a look at this wonderful book!
Title: Bunny Finds Easter
Written By: Laura Sassi
Illustrated By: Ela Jarzabek
Publisher: Zonderkidz, February 1, 2022, fiction
Suitable For Ages: baby – 4 years
Themes/Topics: holidays (Easter)
Opening: “Bunny wakes.
Hip hip hooray!
Let’s celebrate –
It’s Easter Day!
But what is Easter?”
Brief Synopsis: From the publisher: “Coloring eggs, wearing a lovely bonnet, joining in the fun of an egg hunt, and attending church with family are special things that are a part of Easter! But the most important thing about this holiest of seasons is remembering the reason we gather to celebrate and focusing on Jesus most of all.”
Links To Resources: We are so lucky to have resources provided by the author herself! Thank you, Laura!
BOOK-THEMED CRAFT: Make Your Own Bunny Ears
by Laura Sassi
Inspired by Ela Jarzabek’s whimsical Easter egg patterns in BUNNY FINDS EASTER, here’s a colorful version of bunny ears for little ones to make and wear after they read the book so they can go on an Easter hunt just like Bunny does in the book.
You will need:
- one strip of heavy paper (card stock weight) for the band. (approx 2” by 24”)
- one pair of bunny ears cut from card stock for each child. (approx 2” by 8” – rounded at the top)
- an assortment of crayons, markers, stickers, etc.
- tape or glue
Instructions:
- After reading BUNNY FINDS EASTER, take a moment with your child to hunt for all the Easter eggs in the book. Together, name the colors you see and count how many patterns you can find.
- Next, set out the precut bunny ears and have your child decorate with colorful patterns inspired by the book.
- Glue or tape the finished ears to the precut paper band. Test for size by placing it on your child’s head. Tape accordingly.
Play a game: Hide ten jelly beans (or other Easter treats) around the room. Then, have your child put on their ears so that, just like Bunny, they go on a hunt to find out what Easter is all about. Afterwards, as they enjoy their treats, remember together what Bunny discovered – that Easter is about Jesus!
And click HERE to download an Activity Guide created by Zonderkidz to go with the book!
Why I Like This Book: With simple text told in engaging rhyme, and adorable pictures that will delight any child, this lovely book reminds us what Easter is all about. Yes, there are hot cross buns, egg decorating, pretty bonnets, and Easter egg hunts, but at the heart of it all is the gift of love, hope, and faith that Jesus gave to everyone. Without being heavy-handed, this book is a just-right introduction for little ones that Easter is about more than jelly beans. The art is bright and friendly, with plenty for pre-readers to look at and engage with while they listen to the story.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
Watch the adorable book trailer!
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 Stay warm and dry, and think of spring 😊
Perfect Picture Book Friday – Bindu’s Bindis
It’s another Perfect Picture Book Friday, and not only do I have a wonderful book to share, I also have a giveaway thanks to Sterling Children’s Books!
Leave a comment on this post to be entered in the random drawing and you could be the lucky winner of a hot-off-the-presses copy of Bindu’s Bindis when it releases March 16!
Let’s have a look at this wonderful book! 😊
Title: Bindu’s Bindis
Written By: Supriya Kelkar
Illustrated By: Parvati Pillai
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books, March 16, 2021
Suitable For Ages: 3-7
Themes/Topics: family, tradition, culture, courage
Opening: “Every month Bindu’s nani sent her a new set of bindis from India.
Bindu adored her bindis.
She wore them to the temple.
She wore them on holidays.
She wore them at home.”
Brief Synopsis: Bindu loves her family, especially her nani, and she loves the bindis that nani sends her. But sometimes, she feels different in a way that doesn’t feel good. But with her nani beside her and a lightning bolt bindi for courage, she finds she’s able to embrace who she is even if others sometimes find her differences strange.
Links To Resources: an author’s note at the end offers wonderful information and details about bindis; we are all unique – what are some things about you that others might find different, strange, or hard to understand about you even though they seem completely normal in your family?; we all have things in common – what are some things you share with people who seem different in some ways?; Bindu chooses certain bindis to match her mood/emotional state – a lightning bolt for feeling brave, an oval for pride, squiggly lines for feeling unique. Would you choose as Bindi does? What shapes would you choose to match feeling shy? Fierce? Uncertain?
Why I Like This Book: Bindu is a delightful and charming main character who bounces believably between exuberant self-confidence and sudden worrying uncertainty, but no matter what she faces she feels surrounded by and grounded in the love of her family, especially her beloved nani. I love the warm feeling of family, Bindu’s deep connection to nani, and the way culture and tradition come through as a natural part of the story without feeling forced or contrived. The bright, colorful art is a perfect complement to the brighter moments of the story, dimming to more subdued colors on the pages where Bindu’s confidence and security are challenged, and rising to a swirl of bright pink dress in the purple background of the stage when Bindu finds the courage to join nani. A lovely book that will introduce young readers to the meaning and importance of bindis.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Don’t forget to leave a comment to get entered in the random drawing to win a copy of this lovely book!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
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