Blog Archives
Bugs That Bug You
Fred is stuck in one of those days, the kind where nothing goes right and everything seems to crawl, buzz, or flutter in his way. From the first fly that zips past his head in the morning, the mischief snowballs. Breakfast is sabotaged by sneaky weasels, a moth takes a bite out of his jacket, and an ant boldly marches up his pants. With each new annoyance, Fred’s frustration grows, yet the chaos unfolds with such playful absurdity that young readers can’t help but laugh.
The rhyming text keeps the pace snappy and musical, making it a delight to read aloud. Rhythm transforms Fred’s exasperation into comic relief, so giggles replace groans. Children will revel in the silliness of every buggy encounter, while parents will appreciate the subtle reminder tucked into the fun: sometimes, the small irritations of life aren’t worth letting ruin the entire day.
The heart of the story beats through Fred’s mum, who gently nudges him to lighten up and find joy despite the pests. Her presence grounds the tale, offering both comfort and a lesson that lingers, resilience matters, whether you’re fending off flies or bigger frustrations.
Illustrations amplify the humor, packed with detail and plenty of creepy-crawlies to spot and discuss. They invite conversation, laughter, and the chance to share in Fred’s exasperation while enjoying the spectacle.
Bugs That Bug You balances humor with heart. It’s a picture book that entertains while quietly teaching the importance of perspective. With rhyme, rhythm, and a parade of pesky intruders, it earns its place as a storytime favorite, one children will request again and again, and parents won’t mind rereading.
Pages: 29 | ASIN : B0FMKPNXKM
Special Bond
Where’s My Wabby Dabby? follows a young girl looking for her father, who is away on a trip, as she asks all the animals in her yard where her Wabby Dabby is. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for this book came from a time when my husband was fighting COVID. He was in the hospital, and we were only able to talk to him on the phone and on FaceTime. My husband called one night, and we saw COVID winning the battle, but our faith in the Lord kept us strong. My husband called my granddaughter his Eva wava little baby. She was very emotional and called him her wabby dabby. When I heard that, I decided to create a story about their bond, showing how she would go out and speak to animals to see where her wabby dabby went. At the time, we weren’t sure if my husband would come home, but we prayed and believed God for a miracle. He came home. It was a long road to recovery, but he was home. The same way we were unsure he would come home, I wanted to create this story for those children who maybe one of their parents were absent, and they can use their imagination to remember something special about them, which would give them peace and comfort.
What was your writing process to ensure you captured the essence of Eva and the animals she talked to?
Discovery–I observed their special bond, which prompted me to start drafting and editing.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
When Eva is in her bedroom and she hears her wabby dabby’s voice say, “Goodnight, my Ava wava little baby.”
What is the next book you’re working on, and when can fans expect it?
My next book is in the illustration stage, and it’s called The Night We Followed the Moon. I’m not sure when it will be finished.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm
In Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm, author J.W. Zarek introduces young readers to a lively tale filled with charm, discovery, and gentle lessons. The story begins with Grandma Yetta tending her garden, inviting her granddaughter Bella to join her. Bella emerges with arms full of tools, only to encounter a buzzing bee. Convinced she’s being chased, Bella flees in panic and begs her grandmother for protection. Patient and wise, Grandma Yetta explains that bees don’t pursue people out of malice; they defend themselves and their young when they feel threatened. Respect, she reminds Bella, is the key to harmony. To bring this lesson to life, Grandma arranges a trip to a nearby bee farm where Bella can see for herself the remarkable world of bees. Will this adventure transform her fear into fascination?
Zarek’s storytelling once again shines. Choosing to educate children about bees, creatures so vital to our ecosystem, feels both timely and delightful. The narrative is simple enough for young readers to grasp, yet it conveys essential knowledge: bees pollinate plants, produce honey, and maintain balance in nature. Presented in such an approachable and entertaining way, the message resonates. Children walk away not only entertained but empowered to treat bees with respect and curiosity rather than fear.
One of the highlights of the book is the thoughtful tip sheet at the end. Zarek includes practical insights: which flowers bees adore, why bug spray should be avoided, and how children can share what they’ve learned with others. This addition transforms the story from a charming read into an educational tool parents and teachers will appreciate.
The visual storytelling is equally captivating. Every page is brought to life by Anastasia, whose full-page illustrations are bold, colorful, and enchanting. The images don’t just accompany the text; they elevate it, pulling young readers deeper into Bella’s adventure and making the experience immersive.
Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm is more than a story; it’s an invitation to wonder. Children will delight in the adventure, parents will value the lessons, and readers of all ages will leave with a new appreciation for one of nature’s smallest but most essential creatures.
Pages: 42 | ASIN : B0FF9C3MXF
Fear Is Normal
The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly follows a young sparrow who is afraid to fly, prompting him to embark on a journey that leads to self-discovery, quiet bravery, and ultimately, a leap of faith. Where did the idea for this story come from?
I have always had a crippling fear of falling. To me, it just seems obvious, like, I could die if I fall from this height, so clearly I’m freaking out. Of course, my friends are dancing on the edges of mountains, so it’s not quite the universal fear of imminent death, it seems to me! Anyway, I was spending a few weeks in Italy, and while visiting a friend in Siena, I was taken by the Torre del Mangia in the city’s main square, Piazza del Campo. I had never written a children’s book before, but for some reason, my imagination took flight (pun not intended!), and I couldn’t help but think about how terrifying it would be to be at the top of the tower. And at dusk, birds would circle above the piazza, and I don’t know when I connected it, but I realized I wanted to write about a bird who is afraid to fly. So when I got back home to Los Angeles, I set about writing it!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted it to be a lesson about understanding that fear is normal and even healthy. Fear is our mind’s way of protecting us when it perceives we’re in danger, so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about when you’re afraid. And I thought having Sam just work up the courage to take that first step out of his fear was obvious and easy and had been done a million times. So I wanted another lesson to be that it’s okay to accept help from others when we’re not strong enough to do something ourselves.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I really enjoyed writing about the different kinds of birds there are in the world. Birds who swim and birds who can’t fly, and how Sam is envious of bats because they can’t see well, and how he wants to flit with the fireflies, and how he imagines starlings to be like stars and bluebirds like patches of sky. I got to be really creative building the world through Sam’s tiny worldview.
What story are you currently in the middle of writing?
I have two more completed children’s books. Up next is Violet’s Pretty Purple Playground, about a little girl who loves purple so much that she wishes for the whole world to be purple (I mean, it sounds lovely to me), and when her wish comes true, she finds that variety–not singularity–is what makes the world so rich. The second is about a young unicorn whose horn doesn’t change color to mark his passage to adulthood, and he worries that means he isn’t special. I also have a story about a tomboy damselfly and a Christmas story called Holly Jolly about a mischievous white cat, both of which still need to be written. And I’m working with a producer on notes for my mind-bending psychological thriller screenplay, The Alexandrite Ring, to get it into shape so he can start looking to attach a director. There’s always a lot happening!
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
What are you afraid of?
Sam is afraid to fly.
Being a bird makes this awkward.
His parents don’t understand.
His brothers and sisters don’t understand.
Sam himself doesn’t understand.
He wants to bob with the bats and flit with the fireflies and soar with the starlings.
But he can’t even look over the edge of his nest.
What to do when fear stops you from living?
Suitable to be read to younger children, or read by ages 8–11, The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly will captivate readers with charming illustrations of Sam, his family, and the Italian countryside while they learn that it’s OK to be afraid and to accept help from others.
Wonderment
Animals are Great is a playful, rhythmic children’s picture book, structured like a song, that invites young readers on an imaginative journey through the animal kingdom. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration started with a silly song that was interactive for children. We wanted to explore different parts of the voice by using animal sounds and thought it would be fun to have Animals Are Great as a book that kids could read and listen to at the same time.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
We are real-life musicians and teachers. Teaching kids voice and movement while pretending to be an animal is a great way to explore different parts of their voice.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
“Walking through the woods thinking all the time, animals are great, they really blow my mind. Some are furry, some are big, and some are kind of small, animals, oh animals, I like them all.” We love the silliness of this verse and the wonderment it creates.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
We are actually working on 2 more sing-along books — I Love That Train and No More Sugar. Also, we are excited to share that the audio track for Animals Are Great is available on Spotify, iTunes, etc. as a single. I Love That Train and No More Sugar song tracks will also be available when the books come out.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Facebook | Amazon
The Importance of Family
Muunokhoi’s Awakening follows a marmot who wakes from hibernation early and is unable to return to sleep, finding himself alone and needing to find a way to survive the winter. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wish I could identify an inspiration for the story, but the truth is I stumbled upon the idea. The initial plot I had in my mind when I began to write the novel, was a children’s story about a marmot who is transported in its dreams to different countries during hibernation. At each place, it gets to experience the people, culture, and an adventure or two. However, I quickly realised when I began writing, that the idea would not be credible. The interactions in various places will have to be with humans in towns or cities to experience the culture, and the idea of this animal living like a human would be a stretch. So, I shelved this idea, but I still wanted to write an anthropomorphic tale. I went back to it after about a week pondering what to do next when the idea popped into my head; what if instead of dreaming, it is the only one awake in the burrow? Several ideas and questions quickly flowed from this which ultimately led to the story. I settled on a Mongolian marmot because this species hibernates for 7-8 months which allowed one sufficient time to develop the story without rushing it; I also found the animals of Mongolia quite fascinating.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
Muunokhoi’s journey was going to be long enough for him to meet a variety of creatures he did not know. It was important therefore that the creatures he meets should include those with good character traits as well those with bad undesirable character traits to reflect what we as humans see around us. Thus, we meet creatures who are greedy, selfish, arrogant, cunning, and untrustworthy as well as creatures who are courageous, empathetic, goodhearted, caring, selfless, well-meaning, and trustworthy.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some themes I wanted to explore were the importance of family, loyalty, betrayal, friendship, bravery, perseverance, several aspects of loneliness, and hope.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The next book I am working on is completely different from this first one. It is primarily about the lives of students, at a university in Ghana (my country of birth) in the early 1970’s, a period of political instability and economic hardship in the country. The idea is to weave in the fiction with political events occurring in the country. My inspiration for this is Paul Scott’s quartet of books The Raj Quartet which I read decades ago. My ambitions are more modest as I plan to write only one book.
With respect to when it will be out, my hope is sometime in 2027. I do not write daily or have a schedule for writing. I also write the initial and second drafts by hand with a pencil, so it takes time, but I am more than halfway through the first draft, so fingers crossed.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Muunokhoi emerges from his burrow into a hostile winter environment, to explore the availability of food. He first encounters an eagle owl, who advises him that with no food available in the winter months, his only option for survival is to embark on a quest to lower elevations where he can find food to sustain him until the spring.
The journey will be fraught with danger from predators that stalk the mountainous Mongolian terrain, but the marmot will surely starve to death if he stays put. Summoning all his courage, Muunokhoi sets out on an adventure that could ultimately save his life . . . or end it.
Muunokhoi’s Awakening
Muunokhoi’s Awakening is a strikingly original tale that follows the unexpected journey of Muunokhoi, a marmot who wakes from hibernation too early, alone, alert, and unable to return to sleep. As he grapples with the isolation and fear of premature awakening in a world still deep in winter, he must confront an existential dilemma: remain and face certain death, or venture into unknown lands in search of food and survival. What unfolds is a rich, anthropomorphic adventure that’s both literal and deeply metaphorical, exploring identity, purpose, and the meaning of community.
Gilbert Arthur writes animals better than most people write people. From the very beginning, Muunokhoi’s inner monologue feels real, relatable, and surprisingly witty. I found myself genuinely amused by his reflections on his consorts, colony logistics, and especially his pride in having the foresight to give each of his consorts their own chambers to avoid drama (smart marmot move). The attention to marmot colony politics, with just a dash of dry humor, makes the story feel lived-in and oddly familiar, even if you’ve never thought twice about a marmot in your life.
What really hooked me emotionally was the owl, Bolor. Their first conversation is gold. When Bolor, who’s supposed to be a predator, instead turns out to be this curious, wise, slightly sarcastic ally, the story takes a lovely turn. The dialogue between the two, like when Bolor says, “How can a marmot not hibernate? It’s the essence of who you are!” is sharp, funny, and somehow very touching. That whole chapter made me stop and think: What happens when you can’t do what your species or society expects of you? It’s a question a lot of us face, and Muunokhoi’s literal awakening becomes this beautifully written metaphor for that kind of existential shift.
The flashback chapters caught me by surprise with their emotional weight. The origin story of Muunokhoi and Sarantuya meeting was a standout. I didn’t expect to get misty-eyed over two marmots bonding over their shared baggage. Sarantuya’s boldness and unfiltered honesty, especially when she pointedly asks, “Am I going to be your consort?” added a refreshing and endearing depth to her character. The scene where she confidently returns to her former colony, openly showcasing her newfound happiness to those who had once belittled her, is particularly striking. It’s a moment rich with quiet defiance and personal vindication. This episode introduced unexpected emotional complexity to the narrative, weaving in themes of romance, resentment, and familial conflict, all anchored by an authentic emotional resonance.
By the end, I was fully rooting for Muunokhoi not just to survive winter, but to figure out who he is now that the rules have changed. The pacing takes its time in places, allowing for a deeper exploration of Muunokhoi’s thoughts and emotions. While some of the internal monologues are more extended, they offer valuable insight into his character. Throughout, the writing remains warm, thoughtful, and sincerely grounded in the emotional truth of the story. It’s not often a book about a marmot gets you to reflect on your own sense of purpose, but here we are.
Muunokhoi’s Awakening is a deeply unique story that somehow manages to be an animal adventure, philosophical fable, and heartwarming romance all at once. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy books like Watership Down or The Wind in the Willows, but want something more introspective and slightly modern in tone. If you’re a fan of stories that blend humor with heart and challenge you to see the world (and yourself) a little differently, this one’s worth waking up for.
Pages: 330 | ASIN : B0DST5M6X2
Misunderstood Creatures
Bart the Tiny Bat follows a tiny bat with one tooth who goes out one night and gets lost in a strange place, leaving him scared and alone, and only wanting to return home. What was the inspiration for your story?
So the bat hanging on the ceiling fan happened to me in real life. My initial reaction was similar to the character Barb’s in my book. I calmed down though and realized how scared the bat was. I got an oversized jar and scooped the bat gently in, and released it outside. I posted the experience on social media and it became clear this was my next book.
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
The importance of animals that we don’t understand and the role they play in the environment. Bats in particular play a very important role in our environment and are very misunderstood creatures. I also wanted to teach children to have empathy toward all animals.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
It was so fun learning about bats! I did my research and had some help from our local zoo. I illustrate my own books and that is honestly my favorite part. Creating characters, and drawing them into life.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
That’s a great question. I’m thinking about what other animals fall in the category of environmental importance and being misunderstood. There are a couple. The positive response from this book though makes me want to do more.
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