A Picture Book for Sick Children

Do you know a child who needs cheering up, perhaps sick and stuck in the confines of a room at home or in the hospital? Give them the gift of healing as they find themselves in the company of appealing and helpful animals in this wonderful and personalized picture book, A Healing Child’s Friend.

A Healing Child’s Friend features beautiful photographs of colorful birds and furry animals that a child will love to look at. It is a photo journal of animals who hear that (child’s name) is sick. They pass the word to the other creatures in the wilderness and they make an effort to provide help, wishing the child to get well soon. The storyline flows from the animals’ finding out that (child’s name) is not feeling well to the final page where he/she can go out and play. It thus allows children the opportunity to hear and see themselves heal. In the words of one grateful mother, “The book you sent to Olivia was really the most special gift she received. We read your book over and over again while we were in that NY (hospital). It is still her favorite. I do believe that it helped her through the trauma.”

Giving this entertaining picture book to a child who needs cheering up may be just what the doctor ordered. Get a copy now.

This book will be featured in the Frankfurt Book Fair (International) in Frankfurt, Germany, on October 10-14, 2009. For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Authors

Vic Hanson is a retired architect who specialized in medical facility design. He participated in pediatric department and clinic design where he observed many sick children. He and his wife Barb have seven children and thirteen grandchildren. Jan Fegley is a retired secondary English teacher, writer, and artist.

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Author shares ‘the joy of writing’ with children

by Adam Van Hart (The Rolla Daily News)

Rolla, Mo. -The girl walked up to the front of the Rolla Library basement where David Harrison was sitting Thursday.

“Did you write all of those books?” she asked him, pointing to the table where 25 children’s books placed upright.

“Yes I did,” Harrison said.

The girl looked at him with uncertainty, but accepted the answer and sat back down.
In his decades-long career as an author, Harrison published many more books than were displayed, more than 70 books.

His works run the gamut from children’s books, poetry and environmental subjects, oftentimes mixing up different genres — in 2007 he released a book of poetry that focused on bugs.
Harrison came to the Rolla Library to speak with children — not about the importance of reading but on the importance of writing.

“I want to take the ‘concern’ out of writing,” Harrison said before his presentation, adding kids can often feel peer pressure at a young age that can inhibit them from exploring writing.

“Kids need to understand that writing can be just as satisfying as reading,” Harrison said.
For kids interested in writing, he suggested they approach it like reading, something fun to “see what you can create,” and the technical aspects should be secondary.

Harrison said he was rejected numerous times early on in his career when he submitted books to publishers, but continued on because of his own enjoyment.

The session was more like a writer’s workshop, with Harrison describing how he gets ideas and develops them for books.

“I just think of people, characters, personalities,” Harrison said.

He picked up one of his books, “Vacation: We’re going to the Ocean,” and explained about the collaboration between him and the book’s illustrator, Rob Shepperson.

In the beginning, Harrison started with an idea for a character and sent it to Shepperson, who would garner a drawing in return, which would then prompt Harrison to move the story forward.
Harrison also tried to allay concerns by assuring the children’s mistakes and revisions were nothing to worry about.

“Part of being a writer is revising,” Harrison said.

The event wasn’t all talk about writing — Harrison gave a book reading, with some audience participation.

Some of the stories Harrison read required audience participation, turning the kids from audience members into participants, who added noises to the stories such as car horns and bug sounds.

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Ideas for teaching kids the meaning of July 4th

by Megan K. Scott (The Seattle Times)

America traditionally celebrates its birthday with flags, fireworks, parades and barbecues, so how are children going to get the real meaning behind Independence Day?

Lots of ways. Try some of these:

Start a conversation

For younger children, describe July Fourth as the nation’s birthday, said Mary Eames Ucci, education director of the Wellesley College Child Study Center. Tell them the parade, fireworks and hot dogs are for the celebration.

“As children get older, they can begin to understand what independence means,” she said. “When you become independent, you get a lot of freedom but you also get a lot of responsibility.”

Make it an annual ritual for kids spend a few minutes thinking about and then discussing the contributions they want to make to their country — and to the world, said Debra Condren, a psychologist and mom.

“Help them come up with age-appropriate ideas for short-term, intermediate and long-term ways they can give back to and carry on the cause championed by those courageous leaders who originally fought for our independence,” she said.

Visit a historical site

Brandon Marie Miller, author of “George Washington for Kids,” she suggests exploring Revolutionary War battlefields and other historical places online. Try the virtual tour at the Web site of Valley Forge National Historical Park (www.nps.gov/vafo) in Pennsylvania. It’s where the Continental Army set up camp. The site has podcasts for kids ages 8 to 12 covering the significance of 10 locations in the park, along with lessons and activities spanning other aspects of the American Revolution.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens (www.mountvernon.org) has a virtual tour of the first president’s home, memory games to learn about the archaeology of the estate and jigsaw puzzles that include a portrait of Washington.

Read all about it

There are many wonderful children’s books about the Fourth of July, said Amy McClure, professor of children’s literature at Ohio Wesleyan University.

She recommends “The Story of America’s Birthday” by Patricia A. Pringy for babies to preschoolers, and “O, Say Can You See? America’s Symbols, Landmarks, And Important Words” by Sheila Keenan for kids ages 4 to 8.

“Any opportunity parents can have to engage children in reading over the summer can only benefit children,” McClure said. “You can make reading relevant and connect it to an exciting event in their lives.”

Turn kids into patriots

Tell kids they can have a party, said Jen Singer of MommaSaid.net, an online community for moms. Let them plan the day’s events, allowing them to get excited about the party.

But then impose rules, such as they can only eat carrots — no ice cream — and they can only play inside. When they get upset about the rules, explain that’s how the patriots felt when England made rules and imposed taxes on Americans.

Use books and videos to explain the Revolution and Independence Day. Then let them have their party and ice cream.

Do an activity together

Make a quill pen by shaping a point at the end of a clean feather and dipping it into a bottle of ink, Miller said. It will give kids an idea of what the Declaration of Independence was written with — and kids like the scratching noise, she said.

They can also make hasty pudding, which was a staple in the 18th century and mentioned in the song “Yankee Doodle.” Other activities include designing a recruiting poster for Washington’s army, learning to dance a minuet, an 18th-century dance; and creating banners or flags with stars and stripes.

Let your child send e-cards to family members passing along a fact about July Fourth. Have them start a journal of what they do for the holiday each year, said James Heintze, a librarian emeritus at American University.

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Baby Bee is Growing Up — A Young Bee’s Excitement At Becoming a Grown-Up

Bees are cool characters of children’s stories. Their yellow and black bodies look cute and attractive in storybooks, and they are a good example of hard work. Know what it takes to become a strong and responsible Big Bee with Virginia Marie Capps‘ Baby Bee, an engaging children’s tale.

Baby Bee is a young bee who’s excited to become an adult bee. As he eagerly waits for that day, he begins to ask questions about his “bee-ness” and takes advice from his Aunt and Uncle Bee. With their help, he is able to explore the splendor of the bee world as he flutters around the beautiful and fragrant flowers in the garden. The Queen Bee, his mother, opens his eyes to the busy world of bees and prepares him for more obligations as he approaches the next stage of his life.

What does life have in store for Baby Bee? Will he fulfill his responsibilities to his kind?

With Capps’ light and upbeat style, your kids will learn about colors, insects, flowers, and basic reading. Get a copy of this delightful storybook now! For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

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Writing Tips – The 4 Traits of Successful Children’s Book Writers

by Laura Backes (Article Alley)

My son’s been taking karate for 4 years, and every time he tests for the next rank (he’s up to his brown now), fewer kids who started with him as white belts test alongside him. It’s not that Matt’s necessarily a better athlete than they are, but karate is more important to him. He likes learning the forms, and he enjoys surviving a two hour, physically grueling test knowing that most of his friends would have been flattened in the first 20 minutes. When aspiring writers start identifying themselves as authors, just as Matt sees himself as a martial artist, they’ve taken that first big step toward success.

But there’s a difference between wanting to see your name on a book, and wanting a career as a children’s book author. Anyone with a few bucks can publish their own story, and many books are perfectly suited to be self-published titles given to family and friends. The career mentality, however, is more complex. Check out some common characteristics below and see how you measure up:

Humility: When I get emails from people saying, “I’m going to be the next Dr. Seuss,” I cringe. Confidence is fine, but don’t compare yourself to someone like Dr. Seuss right out of the gate. In fact, don’t compare yourself to anyone. Work on finding your own style and voice. And know that you don’t have to become a literary institution to be a success. Learning to write well is a lifelong process, and the writers who get published understand that each manuscript, whether it sells or not, teaches them something. They’re not afraid to be critiqued or edited. They’ve put their heart into a book or article, and then removed their ego. They understand that if their critique group or editor says a plot is too predictable, it’s far better to chuck the storyline and start over than to fight to preserve a mediocre manuscript. And they’re grateful for the input that saved them from dozens of rejection letters.

Will Work for Resumé: Successful authors know that their query letters are more impressive if they can list some publishing credits. They’re willing to write for little or no money at first, because the experience of meeting a deadline and working with an editor is invaluable. They may decide to sell one story to a magazine that buys all rights so their next story can be sold to a bigger publication that purchases first rights only. They’ll submit to local magazines, regional publishers and small presses as they perfect their manuscripts intended for larger, national publishers. Well-published authors don’t overlook any market that might be right for a particular work. And when you’re just starting out, seeing your byline in a local parenting publication is just as satisfying as appearing in Highlights for Children.

“Tensity”: Matt’s karate teacher urges him to be intense about his practice, and Matt’s dubbed this mindset “‘tensity.” The prolific writers I know think the same way. Though most have families and jobs, they live, eat and breathe writing. Any spare moment is devoted to working on a manuscript. Free weekends are spent at conferences and workshops. When they’re not writing, they’re reading children’s books. As soon as they get one manuscript in the mail, they start the next one. In fact, super successful authors work on several manuscripts at once. If they’re uninspired to revise a scene from their novel, they’ll write a query for an article idea or do research for a picture book biography.

You don’t have to maintain this level of activity to become published. Most writers don’t. But if you want to make a living as a children’s book author, if you want your web site to list 50 or more books in print, then it’s practically required.

Plays the Field: Well-published authors don’t limit themselves to one genre. They’ll write picture books, novels, short stories for magazines, poetry, nonfiction, and material for adult markets such as parenting magazines or writing newsletters. After one book comes out they don’t wait for their editor to ask for another manuscript; they create what inspires them and if it’s not right for their current editor, they market it someplace else. In fact, it’s more difficult to get widely-published if you only write one type of book. A publisher carries a limited number of titles per season, and the editor of your middle grade novel might not appreciate your having another novel for the same age group come out with a different publisher simultaneously. But a magazine article or nonfiction picture book won’t compete with a book for older kids, and still gets your name in front of reviewers and book buyers.

Successful authors don’t dabble in writing now and then, they embrace it and do whatever it takes to get published because it’s what they want more than anything else. So dive in, work with ‘tensity, and send us a quote for our web site when you hit the jackpot.

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Appealing Alliterative Alphabetical Book

Announcing A Book of Creature Ditties, an artistic use of alliteration in absorbing the alphabet for “Fun-to-Mental” learning. Written and illustrated by Lori Lee Ericson.

Alive with alliteration, rhythm, rhyme and song, along with colorful, whimsical illustrations, this little creative book of alphabetical ditties serves as an entertaining educational tool. Written for preschool and elementary ages, parents and teachers alike will find this imaginative book a wonderful resource for teaching letter-sound association, reading and language development.

Educational magic occurs when children recite or sing these imaginative twenty-six ditties to the alphabet tune. They can be used for learning fun, classroom performances, while traveling or at bedtime. Other learning activities include having one person choose a letter and the other recite the ditty or have children discover which ditties have the most alliterative words. There are many fascinating ways to use this book creatively!

Since research supports the use of alliteration, rhythm, rhyme and song to enhance learning and maximize memory, A Book of Creature Ditties is a smart choice! To learn more and view excerpts from the book, log on to Abookofcreatureditties.com or Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Lori Lee Ericson, (Anne Rasmussen-Salajekeh) grew up in Greenville, Michigan, a small Danish community, in a family of five. As young as age nine her enthusiasm for motivating children to learn began to emerge. She and a friend organized a little neighborhood “preschool” in her garage, which ran for several months. Even then, she created little books and dreamed of becoming an author. She loved babysitting and always adored inspiring little children.

Anne received her bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, with a major in Sociology and minor in Psychology from Central Michigan University. She and her professor husband, Robert, raised three children and over time, her natural gifts and true passions blossomed. She became involved in teaching preschool in a variety of settings and wrote over fifty colorful and stimulating books (yet to be published) in the “fun-to-mentals” of learning. These books have highly motivated her young students as well as children in afterschool reading programs.

Presently she is pursuing publishing of these “works of the heart” which she has dedicated almost fifteen years so far. If you have comments for her please email her at Datesandgrapes@aol.com.

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Teaching Children About Recycling — New Picture Book is About Taking Care of the Environment

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. How do we teach these important values to our children? One of the most effective ways, of course, is through an enjoyable story. An Alice in Wonderland for the environmental movement, Johnny Green and the Little Green Man is a delightful fairy tale that should be must reading for children.

One day, on his way home from school, this very ordinary boy Johnny Green runs into a little problem that soon becomes a very big problem. He thinks he can solve it, but can he when he is just a boy? Join Johnny in this eye-poppin’, unbelievable chain of events as he tries to figure out what to do next.

With charming illustrations and a catchy storyline, Johnny Green and the Little Green Man not only entertains, but also imparts important lessons on how we can do our part to help save our green earth. Children should be introduced to these values at an early age so that doing it will become a lifelong habit.

Johnny Green and the Little Green Man will let your children know more about how they can make a difference in their environment. After all, if we all do a little, together we can do a lot. Get a copy of this book now. For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Suzan and her husband live in Southwest Virginia surrounded by mountains and a beautiful lake. Her husband manages trash and recycling for the City of Roanoke, VA and they actively recycle at home. Suzan believes that children eat up the unbelievable and will remember a good story all their lives. Her hope is that this story will encourage both children and adults to make a conscious decision of what can be recycled in their homes, schools and places of business to help save our green earth. Suzan, along with her illustrator, Julia M. Floyd, have given life to Johnny Green and the Little Green Man.

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Enter The Wonderful World Of Mannaland

Welcome to Mannaland and enjoy a fun place where children can learn and grow. Let them learn important life lessons as they join in the Adventures in Mannaland, a delightful picture book co-authored by Tony Durkin and Jo’Ann Zimmermann.

Mannaland is a wonderful place where humans and animals all live together in peace and harmony. It is where children have fun as they learn good morals and grow a little closer to God. Man does not live on bread alone. Thus, they feed on the fruits of the earth and God’s word. Just as God sent manna from heaven to feed His people, these stories will inspire and allow children as well as adults to feed on God’s word and nourish their souls as they learn more about Jesus and His love.

Enjoy these spiritually uplifting tales and build a closer relationship with God. Join the Adventures in Mannaland and be blessed. For more information about these escapades, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Authors

Tony Durkin is a Sunday School teacher in the Charlotte, NC area who met Jo’Ann at church. His passion is for God’s Word and the Lord’s creation. He loves his sweet wife, Terri, praise music and kids everywhere.

Jo’Ann Zimmermann, more affectionately known as “Mama Jo’Ann” is a grandma, retired from twenty-six years in the Florida court system, now living with her family in Charlotte, NC. More importantly, at age sixty, she became a new child in Christ. “The Lord has shown me, with the help of these two other believers, how to share His word to children, no matter what your age,” says Zimmerman.

About the Artist

Katie Wekall is an elementary education student at UNC-Wilmington. This is her third illustrated book. God has blessed her with a passion for art and children’s stories.

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How to Start Writing Preschool Children’s Picture Books

Article source: Freelance-writing.lovetoknow.com

If you are interested in writing a picture book, the first thing you need to do is to take a good look at the existing market. If you want to change from a consumer of children’s picture books to someone who produces them, you need to conduct some market research first.

Check Out the Existing Market

Visit your local library or a book store to get an idea of the kinds of children’s books that are currently on the market. Get information about which ones are current bestsellers and study them carefully to get an idea of why they are popular.

• What themes are used?
• How does the author structure the story? Does he or she use rhymes or certain phrases to tell the story?
• What is memorable about the characters in the book?

Find a Niche

The children’s book market is already highly competitive, and it seems like just about every topic that children could be interested in has already been addressed. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but you do need to find a different angle for your story that hasn’t been written about several times already.

Another strategy that can help you figure out what kind of story you want to write is to spend time with some preschoolers. See what kinds of things they are interested in. Ask them what kinds of books they like to look at and have read to them. You may also want to think about your own childhood and the kinds of books that you enjoyed at that point in your life.

Start Writing

You don’t need to write your children’s story all at once. If you want to become a writer, you just need to start writing. Buy a notebook to write down your thoughts. At this point, you don’t need to be writing full stories, but you do need to get into the habit of writing often.

Develop Your Story and Characters

When you get an idea for a story, start working to develop it. You will want to make the characters in your story memorable in some way. When you are considering how to start writing preschool children’s picture books, keep in mind that you are not limited to including only human characters in your story.

Have some fun with the characters you are creating. Are they humans who are living in this time? Are they from the past or the future? Is the character a type of animal? Is it an object of some kind that has the power to tell a story? If you are the author, you can decide exactly which characters are going to be in your story and what kinds of situations they will be in.

Spend Time Polishing Your Story

More than likely, you will need to spend some time with your story before you can even think about submitting it to a publisher. This is a normal part of the process. You may even need to put your story away for a time and come back to it later on to get a fresh perspective.

It may be helpful for you to have someone else read your story and give you some feedback. Reading your story to a preschooler is a way to test-market your ideas. You will be able to gauge from the youngster’s reaction whether this age group will find your story interesting or if it needs some more work before you can submit it to a publisher for consideration.

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Learning About the Bible is Given a Fun New Twist!

Teaching kids about the Bible can be quite a challenge. However, author Mary Phillips overcomes this hurdle as she presents Children’s Sermons with Humor: By The Hilarious Miss Polly. Children and adults will laugh along with the hilarious Miss Polly as she presents her comical sermons.

Miss Polly is an uneducated, hillbilly lady who loves the Lord. She makes people realize that it can be fun to learn about God and engage in laughter as they learn Biblical principles. Children’s Sermons with Humor is sure to be a hit among kids and their parents. Each lesson in this book contains a scripture as well as a biblical message interwoven with humor. Join in the laughter as you take part in a fun yet insightful session with Miss Polly!

Children’s Sermons with Humor will be featured in this year’s New York Library Association Book Exhibit at Niagara Falls, New York on October 15-16, 2009. For more information on this delightful book, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Mary Phillips is a recently retired registered nurse. She and her husband of forty-two years, Clyde, Jr., live in Grafton, West Virginia. Phillips has delivered the Children’s Sermons in her church for over twenty years and taught Sunday School for over forty years. A few years ago, the Lord gave her the idea of creating Miss Polly and her humorous messages, which have been very well received by both the children and adults.

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Exciting Story of Two Sisters Who Find New Adventures in a New City

Share with the little ones a delightful story on coping with changes as Carol Hamill brings to you the charming tale of Mandy and Muffy’s Plant. Moving to another home has never been this much fun!

Mandy and Muffy are newcomers in the big city. The two young sisters and their little dog Rovy are uprooted from their spacious country setting when their parents find jobs in New York City. The tall buildings that almost touch the clouds and the noisy streets filled with different kinds of vehicles are far different from what the little girls used to enjoy in their small country village. In the country they could play in a big, tree-filled garden with lots of space to run and pick wild flowers, they could enjoy sailing a boat on a pond near their home. Living in a high-rise building, city life seems a terrible idea to Mandy, Muffy, and Rovy. How could anyone sail a boat on a terrace, or pick flowers in the city?

While pondering on how to enjoy their new home, the girls come across an abandoned plant in one of the empty apartments. Since it is dying and nobody wants it, the girls decide to bring the plant home. With a mission to save the dying plant and with something to tend to, will Mandy and Muffy and Rovy realize that living in the city is not that bad after all?

Enjoy a fun reading experience with your kids in this amusing tale filled with vibrant illustrations done by the author herself. Mandy and Muffy’s Plant will surely put a smile on your children’s faces! For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Carol Hamill has lived in New York City for most of her life. She attended the National Academy School of Fine Arts in Manhattan, and is a graduate of both Pratt Institute and Syracuse University Graduate School of Fine Arts. In addition, Ms. Hamill has studied art in Europe, where she often returns, drawn by her love of European Art.

For the past eighteen years, she has been teaching in an elementary school in New York. For as long as she can remember, she has had a passion for art and writing. It was her students who inspired her to become an author/illustrator of children’s books, and she hopes to continue the trend by inspiring her students.

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Discover The Legend of the Knot Gnomes — A Charming Tale About the Little Creatures That Play While Everyone Else is Asleep

Bond with your kids in an exciting world of make-believe as author Anne Stone brings a delightful tale in her new vibrantly illustrated book. Released by Xlibris, The Legend of the Knot Gnomes tells a charming story of the little creatures that play with you while you are sleeping.

Did you know that in the dark of the night when all are asleep, Knot Gnomes come creeping to play with your hair? The Legend of the Knot Gnomes follows a little girl’s dilemma as these gnomes happily knot and tie her delicate tresses. Every morning the girl is appalled to see that her hair is messed up again. Luckily, she has her mother to comb and fix her crown, and make her see that the little gnomes are not harmless at all.

Bursting with colorful illustrations and amusing characters, The Legend of the Knot Gnomes is perfect for parents and their children to enjoy a charming tale that speaks of having fun even during bothersome moments.

For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

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Autistic artist draws dinosaurs for book

by Deb Cleworth (wausaudailyherald.com)

Chris Wooldridge heard for years how his son Thomas would never be a contributing member to society.

Now 18, Thomas’ illustrations are the core of the book, “Dinosaurs Through My Eyes.” It’s the sub-title that might raise an eyebrow: “Pre-historic illustrations from an austistic mind.”

What Thomas lacks in verbal communication, he relates in his drawings — especially dinosaurs.

“It’s amazing what he can draw,” said Chris of Wisconsin Rapids. A divorced dad, Chris has been raising Thomas and his brother, Ben, 12, since the boys moved to Wisconsin Raids in 2007. He has two other children, Peter, 22, and Elizabeth, 20.

Thomas isn’t comfortable around many people, and social situations can be challenging.

Those challenges were leading Thomas on a downward spiral — until he came to live with his dad. Chris credits the staff at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids for Thomas’ successes.

“Lincoln saved his life,” Chris said. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am to the staff there.”

Thomas’ artistic abilities caught the eye of one of his teachers at Lincoln, Jerald Kline.

Kline got the idea to incorporate the drawings into a book.

“The main purpose of creating this book is to enlighten families who may have a child with autism, that they all have a special gift,” Kline said.

Kline worked with Thomas, who also is very computer-literate. Thomas researched the dinosaurs on the Internet — and knows how to spell and pronounce every dinosaur featured in the book. Once the illustrations were submitted, the publishing company, Xlibris, added color and background to the line drawings.

“I took little bits and pieces of what he wrote,” Kline said.

Kline said the easy-to-read, colorful book would be appropriate for elementary-age students.

While social interaction is a challenge for Thomas, his dad thinks Thomas is proud of his accomplishments.

“I think he was very happy when he saw his pictures in color,” Wooldridge said.

Ben often looks out for Thomas, and his beaming smile shows the pride he has in his brother’s accomplishment.

“He took that book to school and showed it to everybody,” Ben said. “I think it’s phenomenal. Everyone’s like, ‘I can’t believe an autistic kid (contributed to) a book.’”

Both Kline and Chris Wooldridge plan to donate a portion of the profits to autism research.

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Boy Sees Santa On His Rounds

The Night I Saw Santa was featured at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. It was widely received by attendants of the event.

It’s the night before Christmas and four-year-old Ricky has his mind set on one thing: catch Santa on his rounds. A new children’s book captures the innocence and wonder of a little boy who secretly wants to see Santa Claus. Glen Rayson’s new book for children, The Night I Saw Santa, with its rhythmic prose and wonderful illustrations, is an enjoyable read to its target audience and to every adult who remembers the magical feeling Santa Claus brought to their childhood.

When Ricky and his sisters are huddled near the fire for storytelling, four-year-old Ricky can’t wait to get to bed. Ricky is determined to see Santa Claus, so he counts the hours until midnight. On the eve of Christmas when his parents and his two elder sisters are asleep, Ricky tries to stay up but fails. Late at night, he awakens to the sound of tiny bells, and when he peeks outside his window, he sees his heart’s desire. “It was he!” exclaims the little boy upon seeing the “ruddy, jolly” fellow. Santa leaves Ricky a special gift, and the following morning, everyone in his family wonders who gave it to the little boy. When his aunts and uncles and cousins arrive, Ricky tells them that the special gift came from Santa Claus himself, but no one believes him. Christmas was a special day spent playing in the snow with his sisters, cousins, and friends. That night, Ricky goes to bed with a smile on his face.

The Night I Saw Santa is a special gift for every kid, whether reader or non-reader, this Christmas. Kids will delight in hearing new words and sounds, especially the rhymes, and will love the colorful illustrations. Even adults will take pleasure in this new children’s book that reminds us of the jolly old fellow that fulfilled our fantasies and dreams during Christmas. For more information, please visit Xlibris.com or call (888) 795-4274 today.

About the Author

Glen Rayson is a physician and writer who has traveled widely in various countries as an observer and consultant. He was a four-time volunteer to country hospitals and clinics during the Vietnam War. He is now retired and writes stories, poems, and songs. Rayson is author of two recent picture books — The Night I Saw Santa and The Little Leaguer.

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A Colorful Lesson-Filled Picture Book Spiced Up With Numerous Literary Figures

A simple, yet poetically tended story line extracted from a previous tale starts out on a grand ranch, an animal farm. A Sheep Tale Unveiled In Color by author K. P. Palla will take us to the lesson-filled adventures and lives of Big Black Sheep and Gnarly Little Lamb.

A Sheep Tale Unveiled In Color is a fascinating condensed book that will bring us to the animal farm where the two main characters, Big Black Sheep and Gnarly Little Lamb, met and became friends. This short story tells about BB trying to teach Gnarly many lessons. As they started their adventure, they went searching for the vineyard, but they were a little lost, though they were not bothered about it. They made a good plan on how to get into the vineyard, which was surrounded by the crystal, blue river. When they made it, they enjoyed every fruit they could taste until they were so full that it became difficult to move. On the other hand, the shepherd was looking for the two lost sheep out in the farm just to bring them back for the yearly shear. After a stirring search for the two, they were found and brought back to the farm. Then, there was the dramatic twist of fate and plot that happened concerning the reward after the stressful yearly shear, which they didn’t care about. What is the yearly shear all about? How many lessons did Gnarly Little Lamb learn from Big Black Sheep? How will their story end?

This colorful book does not only contain beautiful illustrations, this is also spiced up with various literary figures, Bible quotes, and meaningful quotations that enrich the storyline and fill the story with distinctive arty elements that truly make it a very exciting read. The picture-illustrations present the story in a much more striking, attractive, and enlightening way. For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

K.P. Palla is a writer, author, researcher, poet, and illustrator. For many years, worked on a farm, tending and caring for animals of all types. This experience has sparked ideas and helped her write and illustrate this book. If you have any comments, criticisms, or suggestions about this book or if you like the colorful illustration that make up this book and would like similar type illustrations such as these in your project, please contact the following email to receive information and fiduciary details. Email: kpp7kpp@yahoo.com

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New book tells story of Molly Tango and friend

by Kate Czpalinski (TheRidgefieldPress.com)

It’s taken about seven years and a lot of ups and downs, but Terrie Martin published a children’s book based on an incredible friendship she watched form in a Branchville School preschool class in 1996.

My Friend Molly Comes to Preschool is the true story of two students, Molly Ann Tango and Lisa Fox, forming a bond in the classroom.

Ms. Martin worked with Molly as a paraprofessional with the school’s Special Needs Preschool program. Molly had limited mobility and was nonverbal. She was three when she came to the school. Lisa Fox was a part of the classroom’s general population and chosen to be a speech and behavior “role model” for Molly.

“I remember the moment the two girls connected,” Ms. Martin said.  “We were standing on line waiting to go home one afternoon.  Lisa stood next to Molly’s wheelchair and reached to hold Molly’s hand.  I will never forget watching their eyes meet and the smiles that were exchanged.  You could almost hear the silent words they spoke to each other.”

Ms. Martin worked with Molly for three years.

Molly died in 2003 but her life  inspired her parents and friends to start the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation — providing financial assistance and guidance to dozens of special needs children.

Molly’s life also inspired Ms. Martin to write her story — a promise she made silently at Molly’s memorial service in December 2003. She imagined the book honoring Molly by promoting acceptance among children and advocating for classrooms to “share the fun” with all students.

“Preschool is a unique time for students — they have one agenda and that’s to play,” Ms. Martin said. “They don’t have peer pressure or prejudices. It’s the perfect time for kids to connect regardless of differences.”

After she wrote the short story, Ms. Martin received enthusiastic permission from Todd and Cathy Tango and she promised that proceeds from the book would go to Molly’s foundation.

She began navigating the tricky world of self-publishing. Her family, friends and continuing education classes with Peggy Bruno were a big help in completing the hardcover book.

“I really felt like Molly was holding my hand,” Ms. Martin said, “she was saying ‘come on, let’s do this.’ She worked her magic again and again.”

Ms. Martin’s biggest challenge was finding the right kind of artist to create colorful artwork that would appeal to children.

Unexpectedly, Ms. Martin met Roxanne Lasky, owner of the Quilter’s Alley at 422 Main Street.

The two became friends as Ms. Martin started taking quilting lessons and gradually began talking about the book.

“I’ve been a watercolorist for years,” Ms. Lasky said. “I always wanted to do a children’s book and it appealed to me even more because I’ve taught classes with handicapped and special needs children.”

Ms. Lasky studied photos, took pictures of the Branchville classroom and worked tirelessly to create the more than ten illustrations in the book. She included an illustration of Ms. Martin and Molly’s other teacher, Bridget Schumacher.

Molly’s mother, Cathy Tango, couldn’t believe how well Ms. Lasky illustrated Molly in the book.

“The book is unbelievable,” Ms. Tango said. “It captures Molly perfectly.”

Ms. Lasky also made a story quilt to accompany the book, complete with beautiful colors and patches of pictures from the book.

The quilt will be auctioned off at the Molly Tango Foundation annual Mother’s Day luncheon May 8. Kits to create a replica of the story quilt are also on sale at The Quilter’s Alley.

“Without Roxanne, this book just wouldn’t come alive — it’s just words,” Ms. Martin said.

While Molly made an everlasting impression on Ms. Martin, Cathy and Todd Tango believe that Ms. Martin and teacher Bridget Schumacher played a big part in making preschool one of the happiest times in Molly’s life.

“I always thought Terrie and Molly were perfectly matched,” Ms. Tango said. “It was scary to send this helpless child who can’t talk to school — I was scared — but I believe Terrie was sent to us.”

Molly Tango Foundation director Debbie  Haughney agreed that the book is a valuable educational tool.

“It’s a very simple message and it’s about friendship,” Ms. Haughney said.

The foundation has helped about 40 families so far.

The foundation has two fundraisers each year and Ms. Haughney said the book will play a large part in helping to raise more funds that go directly to children.

My Friend Molly will be on sale during the Mother Day Luncheon and at the Orange Elephant for $20. It can also be purchased at www.APreschoolStory.com.

All proceeds will go to keeping the foundation accessible to families in need.

“We don’t require a lot of paperwork, if we have funds to meet that need we grant it,” Ms. Haughney said. “Todd and Cathy’s vision was not to have an organization without all the red tape.”

The group has provided a number of gifts from wheelchairs, ramps, bath chairs to special summer camps and visits to medical clinics.

“We’ve been able to help every family that has needed it,” Mr. Tango said. “The costs of raising a special needs child are astronomical. We help them out where we can and let them spend time loving their kids instead of worrying about bills.”

The other goal of the foundation is raising awareness and the book will help do that.

“We want to increase awareness of special needs and bring it to the forefront” Mr. Tango said. “These kids deserve the same treatment and they love the same as anyone else does. It’s about normalizing (special needs) it.”

It’s a thrill for Mr. Tango every time he sees Molly’s name out there, he said.

“It’s my way of keeping her alive and keeping her busy,” Mr. Tango said.

The Mothers Day Luncheon Friday, May 8 will be held at the Salem Golf Club at 11:30. A $50 ticket includes food, a silent auction a number of inspiring stories from those the foundation has helped.

Ms. Lasky and Ms. Martin will sign copies of the book during the event. To purchase tickets or donate to the foundation call Jean Cobelli at 894-8626.

To learn more about the foundation visit MollyTango.org or call 431-4180.

“It is my hope that whoever reads Molly’s story will have their hearts and minds opened,” Ms. Martin said.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your children’s book!

Learn to Embrace Each Others’ Differences

Has your child told you about a new kid in their class? Did they try to make the new kid at school feel welcome? Author Daniel Noman relives the ‘new kid’ experience as he tells a delightful tale of friendship and embracing each others’ differences in Gorble and the New Kid.

Gorble and his family live in Woeyville, a town in Bubble City, on the planet Woey. Gorble attends school with his two best friends Wibble and Cronk. When a strange looking and sounding new student arrives in Gorble’s class, he finds himself unsure of how to treat the ‘new kid’. With the guidance of his parents and some fascinating personal experiences, Gorble comes to an important realization of how to treat others.

In this engaging tale about friendship, Gorble and the New Kid will teach children that it is wrong to laugh and make fun of other people. It also imparts an essential message about how important it is to accept each others’ differences. Did Gorble finally reach out to the new kid? Read on and find out.

Gorble and the New Kid will be featured in the 2009 Beijing International Book Fair at Beijing, China in September.

About the Author

Daniel Noman is a very happy man. Within these covers, he is combining two of his greatest joys — his family and his writing. Married for twenty years and the father of seven children ages eighteen years to fourteen months (his squad of eight muses), Dan is teacher, author (Shake the World, Victory in the Valley), poet (The Snapdragon’s Dentist — coming soon), and scriptwriter (Doing Time) — writing for children, adults, and those of us in between.

Dan has a Bachelor of the Arts in Counseling Psychology, a Masters in Logistics Management (comes in handy around the house!), and is currently earning his Master of the Arts in Christian Ministry. As a former military officer of fourteen years, he has been a student in the world classroom, with all peoples, in scores of amazing cultures. Through the loving simplicity of Gorble and his friends, and the disarming playfulness of the planet Woey, he seeks to gently underscore character and highlight the sincere joys of respecting our diversity.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your children’s book!

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How to Write a Personalized Children’s Book

by S.M. Clark (Associatedcontent.com)

Writing a children’s book sounds like a daunting task. The truth is, writing a children’s book for children that you know, not one to be published, is easy and fun. It also makes a fabulous gift.

Children love to feel special, and they love to feel loved. There isn’t much that is more special than having a book that is all about them. Even better, a personalized children’s book helps kids feel that they are special to you. You loved them enough and thought that they were interesting enough to write a whole book about them.

The first step to writing a personalized children’s book is getting over the mental hurdles. You need to through out whatever “no, I can’t” mentality might be cluttering up your creative process. If you think you can’t, then you won’t be able to do it.

Why You Can?

The children in your life already love you. They care about you and want your acceptance, love and affection. Writing a children’s book just for them strengthens that bond.

There is no judgment and rejection. When you write a children’s book personalized for the children in your life, you are not sending it to an editor or publisher. Children are not likely to notice any small errors. They are not likely to pick apart your plot. You are almost guaranteed a fabulous response, because you have written a children’s book all about them.

How You Can?

The great thing about writing your own children’s book is that you can use your creativity. You can use any tools you like. Your story can be as imaginative as you want – kids love silly. The following tips are meant to get your creativity rolling so you can have fun with your project.

A great place to start your children’s book is your local office supply or craft store. Getting your self all set up with the basics lets you be prepared any time inspiration strikes. You may also find that it gets your creative juices flowing.

A binder cover makes a great book cover. You can get one with a soft, cloth cover like some photo albums, or you can get a regular one. Clear presentation cover sheets are also useful. They can come with tabs to fit into a binder and offer protection for much-read pages.

You will, of course, need a variety of other supplies. Have fun picking out paper, markers and anything else that strikes your fancy. If you’re not overly artistic, you can find stencils and stickers to adorn the book. Children’s books should be full of fun and color.

Once your creativity is stimulated by getting the tools you need, you’re ready to write your children’s book. Try not to pressure yourself with a deadline. If you want a book for a certain date, start well in advance. This will make it easier for you to enjoy writing your children’s book.

If you don’t have a story in mind, starting with the pictures can be very helpful. Even if you plan to do your own illustrations, using a few photographs is a good idea. Children will identify more with the story being about them when they see their own faces.

Your children’s book can be a realistic story or a fantasy tale. If your creativity stalls, use pieces of real life to get you going. Your kids can be telling the story to a friend or relative. This dialogue can be used, complete with pictures, when you need a boost.

Writing your own personalized children’s book can be a fun and rewarding experience. Kids love stories about them. Writing them their own book gives you practice at your writing and can be a great bonding experience.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your personalized children’s book!

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Join a Lovable Cat as She Searches for Her Favorite Toy!

From the moment Sunshine saw Mousey, she never let go. She and Mousey had many memorable moments together. But what if Mousey got lost? Will Sunshine ever find her favorite toy? Find out in Where Is Your Mousey?, a delightful picture book written by Audrey E. Simonson.

The first in a series of six books, Where Is Your Mousey? tells a fun story about a cat who lost her favorite toy. The author takes you on a rhyming photographic journey as the cat searches the house. Meant to be read aloud, both adults and children will identify with the loss of an object because they just can’t remember where they left it. Those who think they don’t like cats will be able to identify with the search; those who LOVE cats will chuckle as they see her doing what cats do best — acting like a cat.

Based on a true story witnessed by the author, Where Is Your Mousey? is an engaging tale that is both entertaining and educational. Through Sunshine, the feelings and unique personalities of pets are revealed. Parents and their kids will enjoy reading this charming story together, as will cat and pet lovers.

Where Is Your Mousey? will be featured in the 2009 Beijing International Book Fair at Beijing, China in September 2009. For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Audrey E. Simonson is a lover of animals, having grown up on a farm in Minnesota. Today she lives on a farm in Iowa with her husband Roger, her cat, dog and three miniature horses. With three grown children, she now has time to observe and photograph the cat, dog and other farm animals. The stories evolve out of the funny things pets do when they are just being themselves. She likes writing stories that adults will enjoy reading aloud to children.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your children’s book!

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Best Summer Tip for the Love of Children and Reading

by Rhonda Cratty (eXaminer.com)

There are few things you could give your children this summer that would have a greater value than the love of reading.

I would like to share a literacy practice that will enable your children to not only acquire a fun reading strategy, but also writing strategy, to help them achieve success with their “thinking” about their reading.

I am suggesting a reading journal, or diary, in which you share with your child a book you are reading together. The journal can be something you purchase together with the idea you are both are going to write about what you are reading, or a gift left on your child’s pillow the first time with a note that you have written, a note about the book you read that night.

Children benefit from writing about the world in which they live, and that includes what their parents are reading, and doing in daily life. There is a strong connection between writing and reading. When children write about what they read they make connections to the meaning of the text and what they are writing, they are thinking deeper about what they are reading, thus improving comprehension of what they read, see, hear, understand and write.

One night after you read pick up a pencil and journal and write a note to your child about the book you are reading, “I remember when my teacher read this book to the class. Everyone wanted to read it when the teacher finished sharing the story. Does that happen in your class, too?” The trick to this is your child can’t “tell” you he/she must write back. Make a special spot for the journal and pencil to live that is easily accessible to both of you. It might be as simple as when you have written back to your child, you place the journal on their pillow, when they have written to you they put it on your pillow. You can talk about an article or comic from the newspaper or an interesting magazine that you place with the journal. Ask questions about what you read. Talk about new words. For new readers play word games such as “I Spy.” When reading a book about colors write “I spy a word on page 3 that names a color. Can you find it?” Keep it simple; A few sentences. You are not writing a book report, you are sharing ideas about what you read. Your child can not be wrong about their opinions about what they are reading. Maybe they truly do not want to read any more books that dogs die at the end. Allow them the flexibility to communicate to you their true feelings about what they are reading, even if you don’t agree. Try to keep this very positive, this would not be the place to remind your child to clean their room. This would be a great place to encourage their efforts in both reading and writing.

If you, as their parents, value reading and writing, your children will come to value reading and writing. The efforts you make as a parent, to instill a love for reading in your children will result in lifelong enrichment. Open a book; sharpen a pencil and write your child a love note about a book you are enjoying together. I promise your words will last longer in your child’s mind, then all your long summer days.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your children’s book!

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How Do You Make a Monster Sandwich? — New Picture Book Tells Appetizing Tale

Lewis and the monster under his bed decide to have a late night snack. But their late night snack quickly morphs into a crazy Monster Sandwich building contest, in this funny, imaginative, (slightly grotesque), offbeat children’s book, by Michael Reilly, M.D. Who will prevail?

Brimming with vibrant illustrations, Monster Sandwich will entertain both kids and parents, read after read after read!

For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Although Michael Reilly, M.D.-the ex-Nashvillian singer/songwriter turned classical composer turned physician-is new to the world of children’s books, his friends and family know he’s been telling stories for years. Monster Sandwich is the first of many wonderful books to come.

Dr. Reilly owns and operates a holistic medical clinic in Fox River Grove, Illinois.

His best-selling classical music CD is available at cdbaby.com.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your children’s book!

A Little Girl Learns the Meaning of Beauty

Impart to the young ones the valuable lessons of thoughtfulness and determination as Xlibris releases LaDelle Cravey’s new delightful picture book. Filled with adorable and vibrant illustrations by artist Dee Sturgis, Petunia and the Make-up is a delightful tale that follows Petunia Cuddlebug, an energetic and inquisitive five-year old who learns valuable lessons from her curiosity.

Petunia is the youngest member of a very large family. She lives in a big house with her dad, mom, four of her five brothers, and two of her four sisters. Having big sisters gives little Petunia some great things to do. Jenny and Maria are teenagers, and Petunia loves watching them as they dress up and apply make-up. She badly wants to wear make-up herself, but in the house, girls have to be thirteen to be allowed to do so. One day, Petunia sneaks into the bathroom and puts on every available make-up. She then curls her hair and enjoys every second of it. But as soon as her mother finds her, she is reminded that she shouldn’t be wearing make-up at her age. So after washing her face, she voluntarily helps in baking cookies and gladly serves them to her brothers. Later on, Petunia joins them in a basketball game. Even though she doesn’t know how to play, she eagerly tries to learn and never thinks of giving up.

After a long day of activities, she sits on her mother’s lap and tells her that she still wants to wear make-up to be pretty like her sisters. But her mother tells her that true beauty isn’t measured through the make-up a person is wearing. If it isn’t so, then what is it? Join your kids in finding out the answer with this charming tale filled with fun and learning. Petunia and the Make-up is one book that they will surely love.

For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

LaDelle Cravey resides in rural South Georgia with her husband. With ten children, nine of which she has been home schooling since 1991, she is afforded many opportunities to observe her children and their many adventures. A natural storyteller, she has spent countless hours reading stories in her own dramatic style, entertaining her children and their friends. Now, countless others may benefit from her unique storytelling humor.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your own children’s book!

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When a Peacock Follows You Home

A day at the zoo with her grandchildren inspired author La Verne Olsen to write a collection of amusing tales for them. A peacock followed her grandchild, Matthew, around the zoo all day. When they got home, the little boy asked, “Grandma, what would happen if the peacock followed us home?” This tender moment marked the beginning of the first children’s story that would soon be followed by more.

In the book, If A Peacock Follows You Home, Matthew and his grandma spend a nice day at the zoo. There, Matthew examines the differences of the animals — their habits, their food, and why there are certain rules in the zoo. Suddenly, a peacock appeared looking for something to eat. Matthew fed him popcorn that his grandmother bought from the stand. The big bird ate the popcorn until it was all gone. Soon, it was time to go home. What Matthew and his grandma didn’t know was that the peacock had jumped onto the roof of the car and came home with them. What would the little boy do? Can he keep the beautiful bird as his pet? After all, it did follow him home.

Find out how what happened after the peacock followed Matthew home in this endearingly illustrated and engaging read by La Verne Olsen. The illustrations are done by children of a children’s art class in Tucson, Arizona. It also includes other short stories for children, some told by the author’s grandchildren themselves. Kids and parents will surely enjoy reading these wonderful tales over and over. For more information, log on to Xlibris.com. This book is returnable through Ingram Distribution.

About the Author

La Verne Olsen is a retired medical transcriptionist. She wrote her first story, If A Peacock Follows You Home, at the age of seventy-three, after she took her grandchildren, Matthew and Garrett, to the zoo. From then on, Grandma and Matthew wrote the story and more followed. When her grandchildren talked, she listened. They have been her inspiration. If A Peacock Follows You Home is her first book of children’s stories written especially for her six grandchildren, Kyle, Ryan, Kristyn and Chad Olsen, and Matthew and Garrett Prellberg, but now it is for everyone to enjoy. The author lives in Tucson, Arizona with her daughter Jana. She still works part time as a medical transcriptionist.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your children’s book!

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Through the Eyes of a Little Warrior

Native American Culture holds much fascination for us who know little about their unique way of life. Have you ever wondered how a Native American child is raised? Author Edward Rodriguez gives us a glimpse of this through the eyes of a Little Warrior. Follow his exciting adventures in this delightful picture book that will capture your child’s imagination.

Get to know the five-year-old Native American child named Little Hawk. He lives the normal life of a child growing up in the tribe of the Cheyenne. Little Warrior chronicles his adventures as he encounters the happy as well as the sad moments of his childhood days. He meets two very special friends who become a significant part of his life. Join Little Hawk in his adventurous times and experience the fun and excitement. Let your little ones enjoy some wonderful moments with the Little Warrior. Buy a copy of this charming read and enjoy it with your kids!

Little Warrior will be featured in the 2009 American Library Association Annual Book Exhibit at Chicago, Illinois on July 11-14, 2009.

About the Author

Edward Rodriguez was born in Del Rio, Texas and raised in Houston, Texas. He currently resides in Crosby, Texas, just outside of Houston to the east. He graduated from the Texas Academy of Art in 1970 and after a stint in art, went to work for a photo lab’s art department. After studying under a Master of Photography, Edward went on to become a professional photographer.

Edward writes, “Very early in life I became fascinated with Native American culture, reading and researching literature. I have traveled to states from New Mexico to Montana and all the states in between that the Native Americans called home, just to visit and see the beautiful lands they were forced to abandon and to learn and better understand their culture. After seeing this majestic part of this country you can understand why they refused to give up the lands they called home.”

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your children’s book!

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Mommy Why Do I Feel This Way

by Rose Ann Haven Anchor and Community Coverage (WKRG.com)

A Baldwin County mother and daughter are sharing their unique perspective on mental illness. They’ve written a children’s book and they hope to put it in the hands of other families here on the gulf coast and around the world.

“What was it like growing up with a mom with OCD?”, asks WKRG News 5’s Rose Ann Haven. “The biggest thing I remember is anxiety, nervousness, just kind of a generalized state of anxiety”, says Julie Smith.

Smith’s mother, Jan McVey has O-C-D, obsessive compulsive disorder. For much of McVey’s life, the disease forced her to carry out rituals like washing her hands constantly.

“It’s an illness like any other we try to hide it and children do too, and they’re afraid, and people will tell me well we didn’t know you had anything wrong. I say well, I hid it as long as I could but all the time I was miserable.”, says McVey.

Years later, through medication and therapy, McVey found relief. Now, she and her daughter, a family therapist, have put their expertise and life experiences on paper to help other children.
“Mommy Why Do I Feel This Way?” is about a little girl named, Tiffy. Her constant obsessions and fear of germs make her very sad. “We’d just like to get it to pediatricians and schools and parents and children to know that there’s nothing to be ashamed of”, says McVey.

In the book, Tiffy goes to the doctor and gets help just like McVey did in real life, and that makes it better for the whole family.

“We have a better relationship than we ever have..so we have a friendship now, and we do things together and we spend time together so yeah. We have come a long way”, says Smith.

McVey is very active with The Baldwin County Chapter of NAMI, The National Alliance on Mental Illness.
For more information on how to get “Mommy Why Do I Feel This Way?” contact McVey 251.213.0668 or go to Xlibris.com.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your children’s book!

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From Six to Twelve — a Rich and Vibrant Poetry Book for Children

In a wonderfully illustrated volume From Six to Twelve, Isaac Bell redefines metric poetry for a whole new generation of readers. The easy conversational writing style, the logic flow of the story, the vivid imagery and the rich allegory make this book an instant classic.

This book is written for children 6 to 12 years old (kindergarten through elementary school). Its goal is to boost their curiosity, to improve their memory, to encourage good behavioral and social habits, to invoke love for poetry — and all of this — while providing good entertainment. From Six to Twelve starts with simple 4-liners for the youngest kids and gradually progresses to more complex forms and subjects. The poems are written in a well-rhymed, rhythmical format, which makes it easier for children to memorize and to recite them, and the numerous illustrations make them even more entertaining. As to the general subject of the book — the subtitle “Animals, things with the wings and other stories” says it all.

Enhancing the poet’s outstanding job of weaving a child-friendly tale, the illustrations are equally inspiring. Nikolay Aleksandrov’s exuberant paintings, done in a rich, colorful pallet, burst off the page. Both text and artwork combine to paint a vivid, moving story. From Six to Twelve is a rare and special treat that simply must be savored and shared.

For more information about the book log on to Xlibris.com or visit www.IsaacBellPoetry.com. You also will be able to find there information about another hit by Isaac Bell — his second book of poetry — From Russia With Love.

About the Author

Isaac Bell (Isaac M. Belotserkovsky) immigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union in 1979 with his wife Valentina and their two children — Robert and Veronica. He received his Master’s Degree with Distinction in Radio Engineering from Lvov Polytechnic Institute in 1956 and had a 45-year-long successful engineering career, including the last 20 years at RCA. His numerous professional achievements include 24 patents, 15 papers published in various scientific journals and a presentation at the 1999 International Conference on Consumer Electronics. He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Poetry has been his lifelong passion. He authored more than 450 poems and songs in Russian and English, including several dozen translations. His first poetry book for children, “From Six to Twelve,” was published by Xlibris in 2006. It was followed in 2008 with “From Russia With Love,” containing both his original works and translations of Russian classic poetry to English, and vice versa. He lives in Tucson, AZ with his wife Valentina and teaches poetry at Pima College. He often recites his poetry to various audiences and also volunteers his time to teach the art of poetry to school children and senior poetry groups.

Check on My Poetry Into Book to learn more about poetry.

Xlibris Publishing Guide - Get this free guide now and learn how you can self-publish your poems for children into a book!

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How to Market a Children’s Book

Article source: eHOw.com

You’ve written a children’s book that will be on the Newberry list, if you could just get someone to notice it. Knowing how to market your children’s book is just as important as writing it since your audience will only benefit from it if they read it. Here is how to devise a marketing plan for your children’s book to get it noticed.

Step 1

Define your book’s audience by researching the marketplace. It is imperative to determine the exact audience that would benefit from your children’s book because your marketing strategy should surround that audience. For instance, if you’ve written a picture book about fire safety, you need to reach children ages 2 to at most, 6 years old.

Step 2

Write articles for periodicals and mention your book in the process to market it. If you have written a children’s book about cats, you might try writing an article for a child’s magazine and be sure to mention your book in the byline.

Step 3

Build a website. If you don’t have a website, get one. In today’s online culture, you must have web presence in order to get noticed. If you are not well versed in web design, you might want to hire someone to design the site while you write the content.

Step 4

Make direct contact. Going on a book signing tour is one of the most effective ways to market your book. Nothing compares to seeing the author in person.

Step 5

Enlist help. Most book publishers will have a marketing plan in place for you, but you still may need to hire a publisher. Even with self publishing, marketing plans are available for a fee. If you are not experienced in the marketing end of things, consider investing in someone else to market your book for you.

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Image source: Cache.daylife.com

New Book Tells an Engaging True Story Kids Will Enjoy Reading Over and Over Again

Often time, gifts are given to commemorate a special day. On the day of Jacob’s birth, his grandparents give him a soft, fluffy teddy bear, which he named BoBo. Join them as they embark on many fun adventures in BoBo, my Favorite Teddy Bear, a delightful book by Joyce Ann Landon.

Out of all the stuffed animals in his crib, BoBo is Jacob’s favorite for he is the softest and the greatest of all. From the very first moment they meet, he and BoBo are inseparable. Join them on their escapades as they ride on Grandpa’s wheelchair, visit their new baby and more! A wonderful book filled with vibrant illustrations that will capture children’s attention, BoBo, my Favorite Teddy Bear is an engaging true story they’ll enjoy reading over and over again.

BoBo, my Favorite Teddy Bear will be part of the Combined Book Exhibit (CBE), which is one of the most widely recognized and highly respected names in the publishing company. For almost 75 years, CBE has been showcasing published works at national, and now international, book shows and expos, becoming a dependable resource for publishers it serves, and the librarians and educators who depend on it. CBE’s reputation with publishers has helped it grow into one of the biggest — if not the biggest — exhibitor at each show it attends, while its reputation with educators and librarians makes its exhibit one of the busiest.

For more information on this delightful children’s book, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Joyce Ann Landon, grew up in Kidron, Ohio, in a Mennonite community. She has an undergraduate degree, a B.S. in Elementary Education, from Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana. She received her Masters Degree in Reading from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She taught Second Grade in the Ann Arbor Public Schools in Ann Arbor, Michigan for 17 years. She also taught Third Grade and Fourth Grade in Elementary Schools in Ohio and other parts of Michigan. She taught Elementary School for a total of 26 years. She retired three years ago and now resides with her husband, Dennis, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dennis and Joyce had three children. Their son, Doug, works as an attorney in Phoenix, Arizona. Their daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Andy, and their two sons reside in Dansville, Michigan, a one hour drive from Ann Arbor! They have the wonderful opportunity of babysitting their grandsons once a week! They really do have a special day with their grandsons. Part of the story is an accurate portrayal of their “special day” with their grandson, Jacob, each week! Baby Alex was born on Sept. 13, 2008. Alex’s birth is in this story!

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Image source: Teddy-bear-shop.co.uk

Zigiyama: a Cat Who was Lost, Found, Loved — New Book Tells the Captivating Tale About a Lost Cat Who Found a Home

Motivated by the belief that developing a passion for reading early in life is indispensable for a firm foundation in education, author Grace Okyere shares an endearing tale about a cat who was left scared and alone, hoping that she could fly and find her way home. Eventually, she was found by a loving couple who made her feel blessed in every way. Follow the simple yet winning story of Zigiyama the Cat as she narrates her fascinating life.

Abandoned on the highway, a lonely cat wishes that she could fly like a bird, a bee, or a butterfly. Being a cat, she could not. Soon though, she is rescued by a couple who gives her special attention and attends to her needs. They call her Zigiyama, which means “everlasting” in an African country called Ghana.

Even when the couple has their own baby, Zigi still feels the love and care of her adoptive parents and is grateful for all her blessings. Zigiyama the Cat will surely capture you child’s undivided attention while instilling morals and a deep regard for living creatures. Bond with your children while reading about the life of Zigiyama the Cat!

For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Grace Esi Okyere is originally from Ghana, west coast of Africa. She grew up in a town called Akwatia, in the eastern part of the country. A middle school (10th grade) graduate, she has the passion for the welfare and education for children. She has been a Sunday school teacher, living and working in the United States of America for the past seventeen years. Currently, she works as a home health aide for the aging.

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Image source: Thepurplejournal.files.wordpress.com

Xlibris Release Advocates Love for Reading in 100 Ways I Love To Read

Middle school teacher Amy Klees chose to self-publish her book of poetry after the school principal inspired her to make one. Her love for reading culminated into a series of poems that will delight not just a young reader but adults as well.

100 Ways I Love To Read enriches one’s creativity by coming up with several ideas that makes reading fun and exciting. This Xlibris release is perfect for kids who are going to make reading an essential part of their lives not just in school but in countless venues as well.

When authors are very much inclined to work on their own children’s book, self-published author Amy Klees seemed to make it look like it had a preparation level of zilch. The full-colored illustrations are very professional and indicative of a larger trend to follow in the children’s book publishing industry. This self-published release is very much illustrated in a vibrancy that will motivate anyone reading to pick up that book and start enjoying what else, reading.

100 Ways I Love to Read is synonymous to those how-to books that give you life’s littlest instructions but somehow found its way to an even bigger audience. With the growing target market of children, it will not be a surprise to see this children’s book sell achieve success and popularity among kids.

This book teaches children to love and to grow up in an environment that advocates love for literature and is a good book for kids to keep with them throughout their growing years.

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Children’s Books – Do I Need to Find My Own Illustrator?

by Lori Calabrese

So you’ve written a children’s book and you’re wondering, What about the pictures? This question often comes up a lot and it’s one of the most common questions asked by a new children’s writer– “Do I need to find an illustrator for my picture book?” The answer is no. Unless you are a professional-quality illustrator, do not submit illustrations with your manuscript. You’ll clearly come off as an amateur, and the publisher may shy-away from you because of it. Instead, sit back and concentrate on your writing. It’s hard enough to get your writing published– imagine selling your writing AND pictures!

As a writer of picture books, your job is to imagine the illustrations in your head as you’re writing the story. By doing this, it’s easy to become attached to the illustrations in your mind and when you land that book contract, you feel compelled to convey your vision. However, a publisher is the one who knows what will sell a book and their job is to match an illustrator with a manuscript. Publishers have illustrators they like to work with and will pick the illustrator they think has the best style for your manuscript. When you’re lucky enough to land your contract, discuss your thoughts of the illustrations with your editor, but leave it up to them to do their job and find the perfect illustrator. If it’s not what you had in mind, you have to decide if you want to turn down that offer and find another editor who has the same ideas as you. Be confident that an illustrator will take your story and put his or her edge on it. That’s the magic of a picture book.

One of the hardest things for an author to do is to find the right publisher for their book. It takes researching publishers’ catalogs to find the place that your book will fit in. That includes looking at the illustrations and style of each publishing house. If you think the illustration style for a certain house is amateur and not up to your standards, don’t send your manuscript to that publisher.

I’ve heard of authors who have no contact whatsoever with their illustrator and I’ve heard of authors who have some say in the design. It depends on the editor, your experience, and the illustrator. However, the main rule of thumb is do not describe how you see the illustrations, except in cases where the illustration is required for the story, and not indicated in the text. Only experienced authors with many published works can put a clause in their contract to approve or oversee the illustration process.

If you’re one of the few who has the talent to write and illustrate, then go for it! Why split your royalties in half when you don’t have to? It’s a no brainer! Put together a dummy book with your text and illustrations and submit with 2 or 3 completed illustrations. Be sure to emphasize in your cover letter whether or not you want the text and illustrations to be considered separately. There’s the chance an editor might like your story, but not your illustrations. Are you willing to search around for that publisher who wants both or are you willing to sacrifice one for a contract? You have to decide.

Lori Calabrese is a freelance writer who specializes in parenting and children in both her personal and professional life. Lori’s publishing credits include Boys’ Life, Odyssey, Appleseeds, Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Stories for Children Magazine, and The Institute of Children’s Literature’s Rx for Writers. Lori is a graduate of The Institute of Children’s Literature and a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

To learn more, please visit http://www.loricalabrese.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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Image source: Chrisdyrud.com

How to Illustrate a Children’s Book

Article source: eHow.com

Illustrating a children’s book is a difficult, but rewarding, occupation. You can spend hours creating colorful pictures to be enjoyed by children all over the world. To do this well, have patience and cultivate competence in a variety of artistic modes of expression.

Step 1: Decide what the plot and tone of your book will be. This will determine the character of the drawings or paintings that you create. A serious book may be illustrated with somber colors or dark black with pen-and-ink illustrations. A comical, happy book may need bright, primary colors.

Step 2: Prepare your materials according to the project that you’re going to illustrate. It’s important to have everything you need in order to let your creative mind get to work on the illustrations you want to create.

Step 3: Think carefully about the visual impact that you want each page to have. If the book is heavy on text, your image will be lighter and smaller. If the image itself is the focus of the story, you will want to create large, captivating images.

Step 4: Remember that you’re drawing for children. Make the images colorful, easily “read,” and attractive. Subtlety isn’t as necessary in children’s books, though substantial detail and richness of context are pluses.

Step 5: Be open to many materials and methods. You can illustrate with simple pencil drawings, or you can use pen and ink. You can use colored paper, ripped or cut into the desired shapes, or you can use clay images, mount them and photograph them. You can photograph real-life scenes, or you can use paints of all kinds.

Step 6: Read books like Writer’s Market, that tell you what publishers are looking for. If you’re working on a specific book, check out publishers that would take on a book like that, and follow their guidelines.

Step 7: Get your work out there to be noticed. Select your best pieces and upload them to one or more of the various web sites that cater to the promotion of illustrators. The more people know about your work, the more likely you are to get hired as a professional illustrator.

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Image source: itz4kidz.com.au

Author: Children need diversity in books

by Denise Richardson (TheDailyStar.com)

ONEONTA _ Families are created differently, and sharing that fact early can help children understand others and themselves, the author of “Heather Has Two Mommies” said Tuesday.

Leslea Newman read her book in Lee Hall at the State University College at Oneonta, then led a discussion with the group of 25 listeners that included male and female elementary education majors and faculty.

Newman, of Northampton, Mass., was visiting the college for a presentation late Tuesday night titled “You Can’t Be a Lesbian _ You’re Jewish” at the college’s Center for Multicultural Experiences.

At the earlier program, she and the students discussed that children may live with a variety of family configurations, including with a single parent and partner, with two parents living in separate homes, and in heterosexual or same-sex marriages.

“There’s a whole constellation out there,” Newman said. “If you can be as inclusive as possible, that’s just better for everybody.”

But silence initially answered Newman when she asked students what they would do if a school administration said they couldn’t read a book such as “Heather Has Two Mommies” or how they would respond to children who say they have two mommies. A few undergraduates replied they would read the book, an answer Newman quietly favored.

Some parents may object to books about gay and lesbian parents being read to young children, Newman said. Parents may fear that exposure to homosexual characters will influence their children, said Newman, a self-described voracious reader who found no book that “turned her straight.”

As a Jewish girl growing up in Brooklyn in the late 1950s, Newman said she saw little in the media that represented her origins. The lack of diversity enhanced her sensitivity to isolation that children might experience, she said, and she worries about the “gay kid” who won’t find any message that says “you are absolutely OK just as you are.”

Newman, who acknowledged she isn’t a teacher, said that in a classroom full of children, an observer cannot tell who is being raised by grandparents or foster parents, or who will grow up to straight, gay, lesbian or transgender. A key message to give children, she added, is that each family is special and that people in families love each other.

“It wasn’t long ago that interracial marriage was illegal,” Newman told the students, and the time will come when children will be surprised to hear that gay marriage wasn’t legal.

Caitlyn Caron, 21, a senior elementary education major from Woodstock, said she learned from Newman’s presentation the importance of differences, and that there are many ways to present messages to children.

“There are all different types of families,” Caron said after the program. “It’s something that needs to be taught.”

Newman said there are many books for children that present gay and lesbian characters, though a gap exists in publications for students in third through seventh grades. In response to questions, Newman recommended the book “And Tango Makes Three” and a film, “It’s Elementary.”

Newman, who doesn’t have children, said she was inspired to write “Heather Has Two Mommies” after a woman told her there weren’t children’s books illustrating life with lesbian parents. When Newman couldn’t find a publisher, she and a friend raised money to meet the costs.

Newman is a faculty member in the creative writing program at the University of Southern Maine. She is an award-winning author who has written more than 50 books. Her short story “A Letter To Harvey Milk” has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.

She appeared at SUNY Oneonta as part of Pride Week sponsored by Open Minded Unity and the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center at the College. Her visit was sponsored by the College Union Activities Council, Hillel, Open Minded Unity, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Office of Student Development, Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, Center for Multicultural Experiences, and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

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Book image source: Familiesjoinedbylove.com

Tips for Writing Children’s Books

Article source: Howtobooks.co.uk

Remember, as award winner Jill Paton Walsh said, ‘Only the very best writing that we can produce is good enough for children.’

When American children’s author Robert Cormier was asked how he learned his craft he said, ‘ Reading, reading, reading! Reading is the most important thing I do besides writing.’

Read children’s books out loud. This way you will discover that children’s stories, especially those for the younger age groups, are best when they are rhythmical. Reading your own work out loud will show you when you have used an infelicitous word or phrase.

Make time to write. ‘I’m going to write a book when I have the time’, is something many people say. But if you really want to write, you will make time.

Thinking time is as important as writing time. American writer Grace Paley said, ‘When I’m writing a story, I’m really writing all the time, wholly involved in it. When I’m not writing I’m still thinking.’ Next time you are doing a mechanical job like ironing, cleaning the car, washing the dishes or weeding the garden, use the time constructively, thinking about your story.

Thinking time is as important as writing time. American writer Grace Paley said, ‘When I’m writing a story, I’m really writing all the time, wholly involved in it. When I’m not writing I’m still thinking.’ Next time you are doing a mechanical job like ironing, cleaning the car, washing the dishes or weeding the garden, use the time constructively, thinking about your story.

Listen to the slang children use. As mentioned before, the vogue words for ‘good’ and ‘bad’ change almost from year to year. Old slang dates a book.

Collect nuggets of information on subjects that interest you – you never know when you will want to use them in a book.

It is important to remember how you felt when you were a child. Although many things were different then – the types of schools, the sweets we ate, family rituals – the feelings and emotions of children do not change. It is useful to write accounts of your childhood and what you did and thought at different ages. As you begin to describe the house you lived in when you were five, all sorts of things you had forgotten will emerge from your memory. This is a treasury you can call upon when you are writing.

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Image source: Homeschoolmentor.com

Will This Young Sheep be Able to Find the Land of Her Dreams? — Follow the One Sheep’s Quest to Make Her Grandest Dream Come True

Making your biggest dreams come true requires a lot of sacrifice, even for children. An unforgettable adventure filled with moral lessons is all set to begin as Xlibris releases Molly & The Fields of Gold, the new children’s book authored by Paul McKenzie.

In this book readers will meet Molly, a young sheep who dreams of living in the grassy fields of gold and playing along its glittery pastures. During the day, she spends time playing with her flock on the greenest parts of the land, only to realize later that there simply was not enough of it. After much thinking and dreaming, Molly boldly decides to leave the flock and find those fields of gold. Will she be able to fulfill her personal quest or will she be lost forever? Read the book to find out.

Molly & The Fields of Gold is highly-recommended to children and is now available for ordering online at Xlibris.com or at your local bookstore or visit the website.

About the Author

My main inspiration for writing came from my college professors. During this time, I wrote mostly short poems and stories and found ways to express my thoughts and feelings through them. The professors I had enjoyed my work and encouraged me to write more but I could not, because my major was in more of a technical field totally opposite from writing. Over the years I have written many poems for friends and loved ones but I never had it in my mind to publish anything until recently.

I was going through a rather difficult time in my life and I had one friend who would call me and always cheer me up while I was feeling alone and down. This act of kindness inspired me to write this book. I found a happy thought and like it says in peter pan, you find one happy thought and you can fly. This happy thought dealt with mostly sharing and not giving up on your dreams. I wanted to share these thoughts and feelings with everyone I could and that became my own personal dream.

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The Sisters

Description

Meet Lena, Tina, and Lucy Three Sisters and the best of friends, you see. The girls hope you like the story in here As you follow their adventures throughout a year. One of the main ideas is how much fun sisterhood can be. The girls love playing with dolls, running around outside and pretending to be grown-ups. They do get in trouble when one of their great ideas turns out to be not so great. Like all sisters and friends, they have their disagreements. However these disagreements never last for long. Then it´s back to making living room forts and running around outside.

About the Author

Lisa Chelkowski graduated from Siena College and Sage Graduate School. She is currently working at a high school in New York. This is her first book. Lisa´s family inspired her to write this story. She tried to contain the memories to when there were only 3 kids in her family. Even that proved to be difficult as she narrowed down the moments. She just kept telling herself that she could save it for another book down the road!

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Believe in the Magic of Fairy Tales! — A Wonderful Collection of Seven Contemporary Tales Your Kids Will Enjoy

Fairy tales are myths which children and some adults believe in. At the depths of our consciousness, some of us believe that somewhere, there exists a place where dreams could come true and magic would be within everyone’s reach. As we grow older though, we realize that this fantasy world is a mere product of our imagination. What is important is what we learn from the lessons each story tries to impart so that we could be the instruments of goodness in our own imperfect world. Immerse yourself into a world of fantasy and magic as author O. L. Cairo brings you seven magical tales for kids, Fairy Tales.

Fairy Tales is a fictional children’s book, which presents seven charming contemporary stories which capture moments pointing to courage, love, patience and wisdom as represented by the characters, hoping to instill important values and life lessons to our children.

Witness the disastrous fate of an evil witch and a blooming young love in Adam’s Dream.

Alina, the Three-Eyed Beauty proves true love exists, as a young girl meets a man who successfully breaks the evil spell cast upon her.

In Chin-Lee’s Quest, join a young Chinese guy in his fun-packed adventure to save a beautiful princess trapped in the body of a squirrel!

These and other exciting stories will prove readers that love, kindness, and magic also exist in the world of mortals. Bursting with colorful and lively illustrations on each page, this storybook is polished with wit and sophistication as any other classical tale is. Leaf through its glowing pages and give your children a fascinating experience! For more information on Fairy Tales, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

O. L. Cairo was born in Cuba but came to the United States as a teenager in the early years of the Castro era. She resides in Miami, FL with her husband Roberto, daughter Adi (a teacher) and son Robert (a police officer) and three grandchildren.

In 2001 when her first grandchild was born she began outlining on paper different ideas of stories that she could one day tell her grandchildren. In 2003 when she left the work force to take care of her third grandchild she began in earnest to write the stories.

She is already working on a new book series about the adventures (or misadventures) of a crossed eyed kitten and already has some ideas about a couple more fairy tales.

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Children’s books fun, educational

by Robert Walch (Thecalifornian.com)

“Freddy the Fire Hydrant Finds His Purpose,” by Lisa Rorman, illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier (Xlibris; $21.99).

i Local connection: A Pebble Beach resident, Lisa Rorman is the parent of three children.

i Content: “Freddy the Fire Hydrant…” centers on an old and somewhat worn fire hydrant who has lost a sense of what his purpose is.

He’s not sure if he exists to serve as a resting place for those who want to sit for a short while or as a latrine for neighborhood dogs.

Poor Freddy just isn’t sure what his real function is until a fire breaks out one day in a store across from his corner.

When the firemen arrive to save the building, Freddy finally realizes he actually has a very important role in the community and he now understands what it is.

i Audience: Lisa Rorman writes that the idea behind her picture book is to show that everyone and everything has a purpose. “Freddy the Fire Hydrant…” is appropriate for children ages 3 and up. With its colorful, full-page illustrations, this would be a perfect read-aloud picture book for bedtime.

“Wuzzie Comes to Camp,” by Nancy Raven (Trafford; $18.27).

i Local connection: Nancy Raven, a longtime teacher, musician, photographer and artist, lives in Monterey.

i Content: “Wuzzie Comes to Camp” is based on the life of a Paiute Indian, Wuzzie George, who spent years teaching people in northern Nevada how her people survived in the harsh desert. Based on this remarkable woman’s life, this story is written in the voice of a young boy who has absorbed many of the lessons Wuzzie shared.

The reader will discover the difference between tules and cattails, how to use a winnowing basket and how to cook with coals in a basket.

i Audience: Aimed at an older audience, “Wuzzie Comes to Camp” is appropriate for youngsters in the fourth grade and up. The illustrated chapter book is based on Nancy Raven’s own contact with Wuzzie George at the Washoe Pines Camp in Nevada.

Both books can be obtained online at the publishers’ Web sites.

i Robert Walch of Monterey writes about Central Coast Authors for the Arts & Books page Friday in The Salinas Californian. Contact him in care of Central Coast Authors, The Salinas Californian, P.O. Box 81091, Salinas 93912; fax to 754-4293; or e-mail to newsroom@thecalifornian.com.

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Image source: Exchange3d.com

Author writes new life story – Finding success by overcoming adversity.

by Troy Roberts

If the old adage “It’s a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness” is true, then Lake City resident Calandra Wise is on the verge.

Wise, who works as a teacher’s aide at Harriette’s Right Way Day Care in Lake City, has written and illustrated two recently published books and is currently putting the final touches on a third. But the 38-year-old Lake City native had to conquer life’s challenges to get to where she is today.

The daughter of Lake City resident Betty Wise, Calandra Wise moved to Jacksonville in the early ‘90s, though she never anticipated the crises she would go through while there. She said she was in an abusive relationship and later became homeless.

But she overcame the adversity. In 2006, Wise began the process of piecing her life back together and moved back to Lake City. She began attending Olivet Missionary Baptist Church and said the church helped her sort out her life, although she wasn’t sure what her future held.

“But God made a way for me to work at a day care,” Wise said.

She began working closely with Harriette Williamson, the owner of Harriette’s Right Way Day Care, whom she now calls a mentor and credits for helping get her life back on track. In fact, she dedicated her first book, “Momma’s Day Care,” to Williamson. And she said that while she always enjoyed writing when she was younger, her interests lie in poetry, not children’s books.

But as she continued to work alongside Williamson and more closely with the children, she felt a need to write a children’s book.

“I’d been working with the day care for three years and with me being there, I just became more and more comfortable — like a home away from home — and it just triggered an inspiration to write children’s books,” Wise said.

“Momma’s Day Care,” is a fully-illustrated, interactive learning book. Wise said she believes the book will help children feel more comfortable in a pre-school environment. It discusses meals and activities that children will take part in, and also serves as a reference guide for teachers who would like to implement various tools into their curriculum. A second book, “Imagine Africa,” focuses on children’s imaginations.

“I’ve found that when they use their imaginations, they’re more focused on classwork, especially writing,” Wise said.

She is working on a third book, “A Fight to Finish,” that speaks out against domestic violence. She said she is pulling from her past experiences to write the book and wants people to know that they can get out of difficult and abusive relationships by trusting in God. She hopes to see the book released sometime next month.

“I went through a lot of things to get to where I’m at now, and while it was hard, I want to reach out to the community and teach that, when you set your mind to something, you can fulfill your dreams,” she said.

Her books are available online at Xlibris.com or by calling 888-795-4274.

Wise said she hopes to begin speaking and reading to students in Columbia County, and encourages anyone interested to call her at 292-1594.

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Article and image source: Lakecityreporter.com

The Value of Reading Aloud to our Children

by Seth Mills

Most children learn three-quarters of the words that they will use in their lives (at least in their primary language) by the time they are four or five years old. How do they manage to amass this huge vocabulary at such a young age? Mostly through imitation and repetition. Very young children don’t learn from explanations – their intellects are not yet developed – but rather by making intuitive connections between the sounds they hear and the world around them. The primary way in which they make this connection is by tuning in to the voices of their parents or caregivers.

When we read aloud to them, then, we are giving them a concentrated dose of the mental stimulus that they receive whenever they’re in our presence. Many parents balk at the idea of reading to infants or really small children because they figure the young ones won’t understand the majority of the words anyway. But these children learn to speak, in the first place, by repeatedly listening to words that are initially beyond their comprehension.

Very small children – infants, even – utilize so many subtle impressions to build their picture of the world. After only a few months, an infant can discern a parent’s mood by the tone of his or her voice. They can, to a similar extent, follow the mood of a story before they can intellectualize the meanings behind the words they’re hearing.

All the while, though, they will be developing their future facility with words through a process of association and repetition. When the time comes for them to formally learn how to read themselves, they will have memory impressions of all those hours spent hearing stories – i.e., hearing words and the feelings associated with them.

The Commission on Reading, funded under the U.S. Department of Education, gathered what they believed to be conclusive evidence to support the idea that the single best way to help children build the knowledge needed for eventual success in reading was to read aloud to them. Indeed, it is believed that this activity is more effective than all the other time-honored approaches, such as homework, book reports, recitations and flash cards.

The growing complexity of our modern world has made the ability to read more essential than ever before. As with most other skills, reading is more easily mastered by those who enjoy it. We can cultivate this passion in our young ones early by reading aloud to them. This simple activity, if pursued even for a few minutes a day, will condition them to associate reading with pleasure.

Building upon this pleasurable response, they will be more likely to read on their own when they get older – to entertain themselves, satisfy their curiosity, and ultimately to find inspiration and knowledge.

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Article and image source: Articles.familylobby.com

What Happens When Jeremy Meets The Easter Bunny? — An Enthralling Picture Book That Proves How Kindness Reaps Great Rewards

“As you know, I am the king of Leprechauns and my job is to make sure all the Holidays run smoothly,” Jeremy said this as he was sipping tea with the Easter Bunny. You see, Mr. Bunny was having a problem delivering his eggs and coloring them and Easter was less than a week away. Sensing this, Jeremy appeared on his doorstep with just a blink of an eye.

Jeremy Meets The Easter Bunny is a heartwarming story about a king Leprechaun who loves to help others. From lending a hand to Santa when he had a problem with his reindeer, giving the Tooth Fairy Leprechaun coins to give to the children, and to helping out the Sandman, Jeremy sees to it that everybody’s Holiday is a success. Learning of the Easter Bunny’s dilemma, he appeared just in time to lend a hand. However, he was not so sure of what he had to do for it included dogs. As we all know, dogs and Leprechauns could never get along, and although he has powers, it would never work on dogs. Nevertheless, because he already gave Mr. Bunny his word, off he went to the last house in Mr. Bunny’s list. Nervous and afraid, he finally reached his destination. But what he soon discovered shocked him — the dogs were very friendly, so he accomplished his job with ease.

Dedicated to the young at heart and believers of Leprechauns, enjoy this book as it entertains you from the first to the last page. Let your imagination fly and visit the world of Jeremy as he once again saves the day.

About the Author

Native of Waycross, Georgia, J. Pusch decided early in life to follow his dream. After 20 years of active military duty in the U.S. Army, he retired to Oklahoma where he and his wife share a 20-acre ranch with a couple of horses, four black labs and a family barn cat.

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Image source: Sketchedout.files.wordpress.com

Puppy Breath — A Charming Tale About a Puppy Who Finds a Christmas Gift for the Children

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but ask any child, and they’ll tell you nothing beats puppies. Children’s book author Pat Trant Kidd presents an endearing tale about a playful young Rottweiler in Puppy Breath, a heartwarming color picture book for kids.

Written in memory of the author’s own Rottweiler dog, Puppy Breath is one puppy’s Christmas story. Bordeaux, a black and brown Rottweiler, finds himself unable to take a nap. Everything seems quiet in the house-no noise coming from the children, no TV set turned on, no computer games being played, and no bath tub running over with water.

Bordeaux realizes that it’s because no children were around. Frantically, he runs down the hall looking for the kids, slipping and hitting his head in his panic. And that’s when he sees the tall, green tree decorated with colored balls and lights that blinked and winked. Underneath it were presents wrapped in red, green, and gold bows. Suddenly, Bordeaux gets a great idea.

What could this adorable puppy be up to now? Where are all the children, anyway? Will Bordeaux be able to take his nap again? Will Bordeaux be able to give the children a Christmas gift? These questions will be answered in this engaging story about a puppy’s love and the children who adore him. For more information, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

This book was written in memory of Pat Trant Kidd’s Rottweiler dog.

Pat Trant Kidd, a native of Texas, attended at the University of Hawaii on a swimming scholarship in the 1950’s. She returned to the states and attended SMU in Dallas, Texas. She met her husband and got married and has three great children. She started writing while at SMU because of the encouragement of her English Professor Dr. Ruffin. Her greatest enjoyment is her children, grand children and great grand children. She took piano lessons because she wanted to play classical music. She contributes in her community by participating in social and service organizations. She is a member of St. Paul Methodist Church. Her pass time is writing.

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Image source: Vkwrottweilers.com (**Kid in the image is not the author.)

Writing is a Bow-Wow Blast!!!

by Animal Gambill  (Louisville, KY)

How did I combine my love of animals and my appreciation for the true spirit of children? I self-published a children’s book about my dog, Riley.

The decision to self-publish my book, Riley’s Bow-Wow Blast, came about due to my desire to have full creative rights with regards to telling Riley’s story. I wanted to utilize Riley’s story to help children appreciate the human-animal bond while also facilitating a feeling of empowerment by children to be a positive force in helping and caring for animals.

For years, I have wanted to share my love of animals with children in an entertaining and engaging way. When I came to the conclusion that writing books would be the best outlet for this, I didn’t want to be censored or have to wait for the approval of a publisher. What I did want was the feedback of children and their caregivers/teachers. I figured that if they enjoyed the book, then I would publish more (with the same goal).

Although I enjoy the creative rights of self-publishing, I don’t relish the roadblocks that self-publishers face with regards to distribution and marketing. For example, my local newspaper would not write an official review of my book due to the fact that my book was not nationally published and national bookstore chains wouldn’t list my book in the customer’s computer book index since this was offered only to national book publishers.

On a positive note, I did strike up a great professional relationship with a Borders executive who helped me facilitate book events at Borders. I facilitated this by showing her my book and my plan to market my book via local media, posters and book events in her stores. It was important for her to know that I had a plan to market the book once she gave the book space on her shelf.

As a self-publisher, I enjoyed the luxury of choosing and directly collaborating with an illustrator and graphic designer who shared my vision for the book. I edited my book and made every single decision with regards to text, color, images, naming the characters, etc. I didn’t have anyone telling me that I couldn’t rhyme the words, that I couldn’t put a purple eyepatch on Hobo Kitty, or that I couldn’t allow Riley to narrate the story.

However, I did have to pay for everything – the illustrator, printing, etc. I also had to initiate the placement of my book in bookstores as well as actively market the book via television, radio, newspapers, and schools.

It is a lot of work, but I am glad I did it. The experience of self-publishing has been very fulfilling and creatively liberating! I highly recommend it (and so do Riley and Hobo Kitty)!

I printed my book via the help of a local book-printing liaison. However, a friend of mine just printed a beautiful book via a print on demand website. That is a great option too.

See how Riley gets promoted on the internet.

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Article and image source: Best-childrens-books.com

Know more about the forty-three US Presidents in a delightful picture book

I solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States …

Guess which president liked to swim naked in the Potomac River? Guess which president weighed only 100 pounds?

Full of entertaining trivia and interesting facts, Andy’s Presidents Book, is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the United States Presidents as illustrated and told from the unique perspective of its talented young author.

Andy’s Presidents Book began on a whim when Andy, who was learning about the presidents in his 2nd grade class in Leonia, NJ, decided to draw pictures and write down some of the fun and interesting facts he had learned on pieces of old construction paper he found in a drawer in his house. What emerged is an informative, engaging and youthful book full of bright colors, whimsical drawings in their original form and fascinating yet sometimes silly facts. This is a charming book that parents will love to read to their young history enthusiasts over and over again.

Andy Marquardt was born in 1999 and lives in Leonia, NJ with his mom, dad, sister, brother and beagle, Wrigley. This is his first book. Text and illustrations © 2007 by Andy Marquardt. He is currently working on a second project on biographies.

Andy’s Presidents Book is also available on Xlibris.com, Andyspresidentsbook.com, Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other online booksellers.

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A Great Adventure in the Land of Dreams!

Sharing the world is never an easy task to achieve, especially when there are so many different kinds of people, attitudes, and cultures conflicting with each other. But no matter how daunting it is, people can still live in peace and harmony together as long as understanding and acceptance between them exists. This is the theme that author Tapan Sen shares with readers in his amazing story that will take them to a realm of fantasy and friendship in the new picture book Beyond The Land of Dreams.

Beyond The Land of Dreams tells the story of a nine-year-old boy named Sammy, who lives in the outskirts of New York City. Lonely, Sammy is lucky that he has friends and that his next birthday celebration is moving closer. Unfortunately for him, his best friend Jill would miss his birthday. Good thing however, Sammy received his birthday present from Jill, a fantasy novel titled Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland which made him ecstatic. A short time later, Sammy read the book and just when he was feeling tired, a rabbit appeared before him. Surprised, Sammy examined the rabbit to see if it was real but learned it was called a “habbit”, not a “rabbit”. But the excitement did not end as soon enough, Sammy met even one more animal, a boy and a girl, and with them he socialized, learned their names, learned their species, and even went to places beyond his wildest imagination! His experience with the animals, the boy and the girl and the new world overwhelmed him deeply, but are all of these real or is it all just a wild imagination sparked by the new book?

Imaginative and richly layered, Beyond The Land of Dreams is an entertaining fantasy enriched by the moral lesson of making friends by accepting and understanding them despite their differences. Readers will realize that the different characters in the story represent different groups of people who have differences in characteristics, customs and ways of life. As the story teaches readers not to have any problem in accepting one another (no matter how different they are from each other), parents will definitely be interested in this picture book which they can use to teach their children in an enjoyable way to accept the unity in diversity of different people. No doubt about it, Tapan Sen’s Beyond The Land of Dreams is one of the most entertaining and most educational picture books to find at your local bookstores or libraries today!

About the Author

Tapan Sen moved to the United States from India in 1972. He earned two master’s degrees in mathematics: one from Calcutta, India, and the other one from the United States. He then received a doctorate degree in Operations Research. Dr. Sen wrote fourteen books in his native language – Bengali – on various topics. Beyond the Land of Dreams is his first venture in English. Dr. Sen has lived with his wife Tripti and his son Badsha in Greensboro, North Carolina, since 1980.

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New Picture Book Tells the Cautionary Story of a Little Girl Who Wanders Away and Finds Herself Pulled by a Stranger

It is every parent’s nightmare: to lose one’s child in a crowd of strangers. When children wander away, or are persuaded to go with someone they do not know, serious consequences can result as well as creating intense anxiety and regret in their mind. A cautionary and educational tale for children is set to begin as Xlibris releases Let Go of Me! You’re Not My Daddy!, the inspiring new picture book written by author Joae Brooks.

Let Go Of Me! You’re Not My Daddy! tells the story of a young girl who wanders away from her mother in a mall and finds herself being pulled along by the hand by a man she doesn’t know. Instead of going quietly, Molly yells “Let Go Of Me! You’re Not My Daddy!” at the top of her lungs. She pulls back as much as she can, kicks him in the leg, and even bites his hand. She keeps shouting for him to let go, that he isn’t her daddy and because she doesn’t give up people notice there is something wrong and walk toward her to help. The story has a happy ending and Molly learns a huge lesson that she will not forget. This story and its colorful illustrations will teach young girls or boys what to do in a similar situation.

Joae Brooks’ Let Go Of Me! You’re Not My Daddy! is now available at Amazon.com, Borders, and Xlibris. If you are fond of taking your children to the mall or other crowded places, then get a copy of this book and read it with them. The lessons they’ll learn will be something you’ll be grateful for the rest of your life!

About the Author

Joae Brooks, M.D. is a retired child psychiatrist. She is the author of No More Diapers!, I’m a Big Kid Now! and When Children Ask About Sex. She is a mother and grandmother and resides in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

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How to Distribute Your Self-Published Book Offline

by Judy Collins
© 2001

Where is your book now? With a distributor? In a bookstore? On your website? Or, did it already die an early death after a few months?

New self-published authors often believe they need a distributor to sell a lot of books. They want to use Ingram or Baker & Taylor because they think they need to get their book into the “brick and mortar” bookstores like Barnes and Noble. They go through many hoops and snags to accomplish this– what I call the “traditional publishing nightmares” of inefficiency and lack of care for authors with so many hoops, some give up.

So many authors I speak with who have gone this route still have thousands of unsold copies littering up storage space. Talk about discouragement.

Distributors Can be Dangerous to Your Book’s Health and Your Wallet

One author wrote, illustrated and marketed six beautiful children’s books. Her books were well reviewed and received. For some time, the profits rolled in until her distributor went bankrupt, owing her $160,000. After she stopped crying, she decided to take her books on the road—to local fairs and talks where she could KEEP all the profits.

Distributors take quite a chunk of money from the author’s profits too. They charge the author for storage, and when books are returned, the author loses those sales, and has to pay the distributor too. Authors lose from the bookstores because payment is late or unreliable. Some authors wait for funds way beyond 90 days. In fact, many just don’t get paid. Writers are not always good at collections either. You see, middlemen not only take most of the author’s profits, they cause much stress too.

How Can Self-Published Authors Distribute Offline?

For print books (perfect bound, comb bound or stapled) or eBooks (sent over Email through Word or Portable Document Files)

One. Local Distribution.

For each venue, make sure to include ordering information such as your Web site URL, your company address, your toll-free 800 number, and your local phone number.

1.Distribute Through the Press:

-Create a “Power Press Release” (include tips and how-to’s)
-Get a Feature Story from the Media
-Write a how-to article and submit

2. Distribute Through Flyers:

-Carry 25 flyers with you. Give everyone you meet a flyer with your book cover on it.
-Include excerpts and testimonials.
-Make it easy to buy. Offer to accept credit cards or checks.
-Include your toll-free number, local number, web site, and email.

3. Distribute through a local Talk Show-Radio and TV:

-Your audience wants “how-to” information, not other details about your book. Don’t sell, inform.
-Offer a free report to audience to capture email addresses

4. Distribute at local talks to groups. Sell your print books at the back of the room. Take a clipboard and capture everyone’s email at the talk. These people become your dedicated sales force and tell others. Word of mouth takes up to two or three years, so be patient for results. Check your library for Clubs to offer your talk.

You don’t need a traditional distributor to get your books out. Follow the above advice and note your increased sales.

Article source: Writerswrite.com; Image source: Runningforreading.com

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Reading Aloud to Kids: The 12 Benefits of Reading Books Out Loud to Children of All Ages

Article and image source: Sixwise.com

Reading aloud to children is one of the most important things you can do to ensure their future success, and more and more Americans seem to be jumping on the read-aloud bandwagon. While only 78 percent of families read to their pre-kindergarten-aged children frequently (three or more times a week) in 1993, this increased to 86 percent in 2005, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Kids of all ages (and adults, too) benefit from being read to, including even babies and toddlers.

“Children are never too young to have stories read to them,” says Nancy Verhoek-Miller, a specialist in early childhood education at Mississippi State University.

The benefits are so profound, and kids form so much of their intelligence potential during the early years of their life, that experts recommend reading aloud to your child as soon as he or she is born, and continuing indefinitely.

Why Read to Your Kids? Here are 12 Important Reasons

“The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children,” a Commission on Reading report found.

In fact, reading is so important that a non-profit group called Read Aloud America is traveling to different schools to promote literacy, encourage a love of reading in adults and children, and increase children’s prospects for success in school and life.

Their Read Aloud Program (RAP) brings together kids and families at host schools to stimulate their interest in reading, decrease television viewing, increase family time spent in reading activities, and connect the values of good books to everyday life. Although the program is currently only offered in Hawaii, you can gain the same benefits from reading to your kids at home.

Here are 12 of the key reasons to start (or continue) reading aloud to your kids today.

1. Build a lifelong interest in reading. “Getting kids actively involved in the process of reading, and having them interact with adults, is key to a lifelong interest in reading,” said BeAnn Younker, principal at Battle Ground Middle School in Indiana.
2. Children whose parents read to them tend to become better readers and perform better in school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
3. Reading to kids helps them with language and speech development.
4. It expands kids’ vocabulary and teaches children how to pronounce new words.
5. Reading to toddlers prepares them for school, during which they will need to listen to what is being said to them (similar to what they do while being read to).
6. Reading to older kids helps them understand grammar and correct sentence structure.
7. Kids and parents can use reading time as bonding time. It’s an excellent opportunity for one-on-one communication, and it gives kids the attention they crave.
8. Being read to builds children’s attention spans and helps them hone their listening skills.
9. Curiosity, creativity and imagination are all developed while being read to.
10. Being read to helps kids learn how to express themselves clearly and confidently.
11. Kids learn appropriate behavior when they’re read to, and are exposed to new situations, making them more prepared when they encounter these situations in real life.
12. When read to, children are able to experience the rhythm and melody of language even before they can understand the spoken or printed word.  

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A Lesson In Love

Source: Gagirl.com

I watched intently as my little brother was caught in the act. He sat in the corner of the living room, a pen in one hand and my father’s brand-new hymnbook in the other. 

As my father walked into the room, my brother cowered slightly; he sensed that he had done something wrong. From a distance I could see that he had opened my father’s new hymnal and scribbled in it the length and breadth of the first page with a pen. Now, staring at my father fearfully, he and I both waited for his punishment. And as we waited, there was no way we could have known that our father was about to teach us deep and lasting lessons about life and family, lessons that continue to become even clearer through the years. 

My father picked up his prized hymnal, looked at it carefully, and then sat down, without saying a word. Books were precious to him; he was a clergyman and the holder of several degrees. For him, books were knowledge, and yet he loved his children. What he did next was remarkable. Instead of punishing my brother, instead of scolding or yelling or reprimanding, he sat down, took the pen from my brother’s hand, and then wrote in the book himself, alongside the scribbles John had made: John’s work, 1959, age 2. How many times have I looked into your beautiful face and into your warm, alert eyes looking up at me and thanked God for the one who has now scribbled in my new hymnal. You have made the book sacred, as have your brothers and sister to so much of my life. 

“Wow,” I thought. “This is punishment?” 

The years and the books came and went. Our family experienced what all families go through and perhaps a little bit more: triumph and tragedy, prosperity and loss, laughter and tears. We gained grandchildren, we lost a son. We always knew our parents loved us and that one of the proofs of their love was the hymnal by the piano. From time to time we would open it, look at the scribbles, read my father’s expression of love, and feel uplifted. 

Now I know that through this simple act my father taught us how every event in life has a positive side – if we are prepared to look at it from another angle – and how precious it is when our lives are touched by little hands. But he also taught us about what really matters in life: people, not objects; tolerance, not judgment; love, not anger. Now I, too, am a father, and, like my dad, a clergyman and holder of degrees. But unlike my father, I do not wait for my daughters to secretly take books from my bookshelf and scribble in them. From time to time I take one down – not just a cheap paperback but a book that I know I will have for many years to come, and I give it to one of my children to scribble or write their names in. And as I look at their artwork, I think about my father, the lessons he taught me, the love he has for us and which I have for my children – love that is at the very heart of a family. 

I think about these things and I smile. Then I whisper, “Thank you, Dad.” 

- Arthur Bowler

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Image sources: Daniellesco.com and Vgreets.com

Twenty Valentines

By Marion Mallette Thornton

“Oh,” said Millicent, watching the postman’s blue coat up the street. “I wish he would come here day after tomorrow and bring me twenty valentines!”

“Will he, Mitty?” Jimmy-Boy asked eagerly.

Millicent shook her head. “‘Course not, Jimmy-Boy. I know only six little girls; I couldn’t get but six.”

Aunt Sara was listening. She was Millicent’s very prettiest auntie from the city, and she nearly always found a way to help.

“How would you like to send twenty valentines?” she asked.

Millicent laughed. “Why, auntie, I couldn’t send but six, either. I don’t know any more girls. Besides, I haven’t any more valentines.”

“Suppose I should show you how to make twenty valentines, and find twenty little girls to send them to; would you like, to do it?”

Millicent came running from the window with Jimmy-Boy close behind her.

“I’d love to, auntie! Please show me right away.”

“Love to, auntie, right away,” echoed Jimmy-Boy.

“You can help,” Aunt Sara promised. “You can bring the mucilage while Millicent gets the scissors.”

When they came back with these, Aunt Sara had a pile of gay pictures on the table, and some sheets of thick white paper.

“We will cut this into hearts,” she said, “and you can cut out these birds and flowers and paste them on. Let’s see which can make the neatest and prettiest ones.”

Jimmy-Boy had to be helped a little in cutting out pictures, but he had learned to paste neatly at kindergarten, and his valentines were so pretty it was hard for Aunt Sara to choose between his and Millicent’s.

It was such fun making them that Millicent almost forgot about the twenty little girls they were to go to.

“Who are they, auntie?” she asked when she remembered. “Where do they live?”

“Away down in the city,” Aunt Sara explained. “Each one in a little white bed in a Children’s Hospital. I don’t know their names, but I’ll send them to the superintendent, and they will get them safely on Valentine’s Day. You can’t think how happy they will be.”

“Oh, I just like to try to think!” cried Millicent. “I’m glad we made them so nice.”

The twenty valentines went off in their white envelopes the next morning.

On Valentine’s Day the postman brought Milly six from the six little girls and two from Jimmy-Boy and Aunt Sara. They were lovely, and there were some for Jimmy-Boy, but they did not please the children nearly as much as a letter that came a week later.

It was from the hospital superintendent and said: “I wish you could have seen my dear little sick girls smile when they saw their pretty valentines. They looked at them all day and slept with them under their pillows at night. One tiny girl kept hers in her hand. They all send a big ‘Thank you’ to Millicent and Jimmy-Boy.”

“Next year we’ll begin sooner and make forty,” Millicent decided; “it’s lots more fun than getting them, isn’t it, Jimmy-Boy?”

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Article source: Apples4theteacher.com

Image sources: Apples4theteacher.com and Iconarchive.com