Blog Archives
The Trouble With Bubble Gum
In The Trouble with Bubble Gum, author Shari Schwert crafts a charming tale that playfully addresses the timeless theme of a child’s adventurous disobedience. This story centers around a young boy, fixated on his delightful but excessive bubble gum chewing habit, despite his mother’s repeated warnings about its potential consequences.
Schwert’s narrative style is engaging and builds a subtle sense of anticipation. As the boy continues to disregard his mother’s advice, readers, led by the author’s hints, sense the looming trouble. This effective storytelling approach resonates particularly well in a children’s book, as it gently instills the value of heeding parental guidance. The boy’s journey to an inevitable sticky predicament serves as a light-hearted yet meaningful lesson about the importance of listening to one’s parents.
The visual appeal of the book is significantly enhanced by Mari Sebastian’s vivid illustrations. These colorful and lively images complement Schwert’s storytelling, bringing the narrative to life in a manner that is both entertaining and immersive. The artwork not only supports the story but enriches it, providing a visual delight that aligns seamlessly with the unfolding events.
My experience of reading The Trouble with Bubble Gum was one of amusement and delight. Schwert debuts in children’s literature with a tale that strikes a balance between fun and educational content. The book, with its engaging storyline and vibrant illustrations, is likely to captivate young readers and leave a lasting impression about the value of parental advice. This story comes highly recommended for its enjoyable narrative and the important message it conveys in an accessible and entertaining way.
Pages: 38 | ISBN : 978-1637556948
Every Contribution Has Value
The Knight, The Pig-Wizard, and The Dragon follows an unlikely quartet who embark on a quest that, in addition to being a great adventure, teaches them about self-acceptance and friendship. What inspired the setup of your story?
I’m disabled and, in a sense, I’ve given each adventurer a small “disability.” Some strange talent they had to find a resourceful way to use. The only question I asked myself was, “How far can silly go?” That worked wonders in creating the adventurers. After that, I challenged each to show their best selves. “How much can you achieve?”
The unlikely friendship that this group finds is inspirational for children to read. What was the inspiration for the relationship that develops between the characters?
Even though each is very unique, they still have something of importance to contribute. Every contribution has value. I wanted to show children that even when we are feeling like the odd man out, we all have a gift that we can give to others.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I really wanted to show kids that a little hard work can improve life and life skills. Everyone has a talent, yet it is unlikely that personal talents extend as far as we’d like them to. I also wanted to show that no matter where strength lies (even weird strengths) they will become useful, sometimes even mandatory when solving problems. Everyone has a place and it is of importance.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Yes, the second in the series is entitled, Quest For the Pig-wizard. The quest at the beginning is to find the wizard who accidentally vanishes himself. Then feeling invisible, sets out to find himself. But the adventurers, as usual, find a higher calling along the way. In the next book, the heroes must stop a war. (Which is sometimes hard to do when armed with pot roast.)
Disclaimer: No pork chops were harmed in the writing of this interview.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Will they slay the dragon? Will they find a way to stop an oncoming war? Will they save the Five Kingdoms Over the Wilds? Or will they turn into bacon? It’s anyone’s guess, in the book, The Knight, the Pig-wizard And The Dragon.
Crookedness, Dishonesty, and Betrayal
The Fox’s Palace follows a fox that tricks his friends in order to get the land he wants to build his dream amusement park, he learns a hard lesson however when his tricks are discovered. What was the inspiration for your story?
Francis the Fox is the main character of one of my book series. Through his actions and adventures, I have revealed many forms of crookedness, dishonesty, and betrayal. My goal is to increase children’s understanding of society and help them see the motives of different actors. This is an essential skill as an adult!
I write social satire for children. I want to bring out the dark sides of human relationships, business life, and society that also occur in real life. But I want to do it lightly enough and use a lot of humor so it works for children and teaches an understandable lesson on the right and decent ways of doing things.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
One exciting feature regarding the Francis the Fox Series and people’s reactions is the readers’ opinions about the endings of the books. Let me explain.
Some readers are hoping for the worst possible ending for this “wretched hero.” They would like to avenge the fox’s evil deeds even more severely than I have done in the story. Some would like to make the evil hero entirely out of business and incapacitated for the rest of his life.
I have to explain to them that, unfortunately, I believe that the swindlers will continue to misbehave even in the future. Very few become completely clean and continue as perfectly decent citizens. My fox has such a mind that he does not stop pursuing his personal interests. He is very persistent and always continues to come up with new projects.
Another group of readers is those who enjoy the fox’s tricks and the fact that he always continues with new ideas in the next book. They see in the fox some human imperfections that can be hidden in all of us. We just value honesty more and control our selfish needs better.
I understand both of these opinions. I have an almost contradictory attitude towards this fox. First, I always let him try and go his own way, and then I make him fail in his actions, and some punishment follows. I don’t believe my villain, Francis, will ever become kind and honest, so there is still plenty to write about in the Fox Series.
Is there any moral or idea that you hope readers take away from the story?
“The Fox’s Palace” focuses on Francis’s dishonest actions and their consequences – as the entire Fox Series does. This time, the central conflict exists between the fox’s selfish goals and the townspeople’s common beach.
I want to draw attention to how cunning means the most power-hungry individuals are ready to use to achieve their goals. We must learn to recognize such characters in our immediate circle and at different levels of society. Otherwise, we cannot defend ourselves against dishonest activity and exploitation.
The story also has some side themes that I want to draw the reader’s attention to. I’ll pick a few here.
Building a false image of both events and himself is Francis’s specialty. He is good at recognizing the weaknesses of others and knows how to motivate his partners by feeding arguments, half-truths, and enticement accordingly. He does not hesitate to use even those closest to him – family or friends. It’s cruel how even his own mother is the target of his lies and manipulation.
Even though I feel significant irritation towards the actions of the fox I created, he also arouses pity in me. This poor thing has no one to be honest with. He has to be constantly careful that the web of lies and pretenses is not revealed.
I’m afraid Francis the Fox always tends to pursue things that will never make him happy. This is an essential message to my readers, too.
When thinking about some of your other books, Francis the Fox is drastically different than Colin the Crab in their personalities and approaches to life. Is it hard to get your mindset in the right place with so many diverse characters and personalities to write for, do you ever find characters from different series overlapping when trying to write?
What an interesting question! One of the attractions of writing children’s books is the possibility to vary different topics and approaches from one book and series to another. Also, the fact that some of the books are aimed at very young readers and some already contain more demanding subjects gives the author a lot of opportunities.
My way of writing is like diving into different realities in my fantasy.
I have different imaginary worlds ready for my different books. If I want, I can enter that world with my chosen characters at any given time. It’s all authentic to me. This also applies to the characters I created. They become real acquaintances for me, with their personalities and “existence.”
When my characters are “born,” their life cycle develops most naturally and almost self-directed forward. Some characters become so strong and close to me that they start demanding something and making suggestions as the story progresses.
They sometimes want to bring up more than I was going to say or take a more significant role, and I have to give in and trust their opinion. Each of my fairy tale characters has a unique personality and even a strong will. So, they don’t get confused in any way, at least not more than I would confuse people I know in real life.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
May I Come to Your Party?
Grace A. Wolf’s May I Come to Your Party? is a poignant and thoughtful exploration of the challenges faced by children on the autism spectrum, as seen through the experiences of the protagonist, Jimmy. Wolf portrays Jimmy as a compassionate and endearing character, grappling with the complexities of social interaction and inclusion. His journey underscores the often-overlooked emotional impact of feeling excluded due to being perceived as different.
The narrative unfolds with Jimmy’s realization that he has not been invited to his classmate Clara’s birthday party. This moment serves as a pivotal point in the story, highlighting the nuances of social dynamics among children. Clara’s response to Jimmy’s query about the party, masked by a lie, is a critical moment that Wolf handles with sensitivity and insight. Alice, another classmate, emerges as a key figure in the story. Her response to the situation reflects a deep sense of empathy and understanding. Wolf uses Alice’s character effectively to convey a powerful message about the importance of inclusivity and kindness toward those who may seem different. Wolf’s depiction of Jimmy’s autism is done with care and respect, emphasizing his sensitivities to sensory stimuli and communication challenges. The narrative strongly advocates for seeing beyond these differences, affirming that every child, including those with autism, deserves acceptance and inclusion.
May I Come to Your Party? is a significant contribution to children’s literature, addressing vital themes of empathy, understanding, and the value of including everyone, regardless of their differences. Wolf’s narrative is a testament to the transformative power of embracing physical and intellectual diversity, fostering a sense of belonging and unity among children.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0CLKZ25C6
My Most Cherished Memories
The Christmas Lesson: Unwrapping Love and Family follows a young boy searching for his holiday gifts who is discovered by his grandmother and learns the true meaning of the holiday from her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My grandmother, Granny held a special place in my heart. She wasn’t just a grandmother; she was my best friend. Our shared love for Christmas created some of my most cherished memories. The essence of Christmas, to me, was always about spending quality time with her, whether it was decorating the house or simply having conversations about life in general.
I felt a deep desire to honor our bond, but finding the right way proved challenging over the years. It wasn’t until I noticed the increased commercialization of Christmas, with stores jumping into the festive spirit as early as October, that inspiration struck. Witnessing this trend, which seemed to overshadow Thanksgiving and dilute the true spirit of Christmas, motivated me to do my part in taking action. That’s when I decided to channel my feelings into writing a book, The Christmas Lesson: Unwrapping Love and Family. Through it, I aim to pay tribute to Granny and, more importantly, remind readers of the meaning of Christmas.
When you think about the holidays, what is your favorite childhood memory that always brings a smile to your face?
The Tanglewood Festival of Lights holds a reputation as one of the premier holiday light shows in North Carolina. Granny and I had always planned to attend, but her fear of riding on the highway, given its 45-minute distance from our home, kept us from making the trip. Instead, we created our own tradition, exploring various parts of the city and delighting in the local Christmas light displays. Those moments, filled with oohs and ahhs, forged a deep connection between us.
Despite numerous invitations from friends to visit Tanglewood over the years, I consistently declined or came up with an excuse, holding out for the day I could share it with Granny. Sadly, that day never came as she passed away on November 4, 2010. It wasn’t until December 2016, when my daughter Haelee was nine, that I finally experienced Tanglewood for the first time. The beauty of the lights left both of us utterly amazed. Keyshia Cole’s song “Sent From Heaven” began to play on the radio just as we pulled up. Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt Granny’s presence with us as Haelee stared out the window in amazement. It became clear to me that my first visit to Tanglewood wasn’t meant to be with Granny and I, it was meant to be a shared experience with Granny, Haelee, and myself.
What message do you hope children and families take away from your story?
The underlying message is that the true gift of the season lies in moments shared with family while honoring Gods sacrifices in Christian households like mine. A similar sentiment holds true for non-Christian households, in that The Christmas Lesson emphasizes that the most valuable gifts life offers are the love that exudes from family and friends.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
The title is still in the works but Lamar will return in an upcoming book that focuses on mental health in children. The release date and title are uncertain because my current focus is on supporting Haelee. We’re collaborating on her debut poetry book. My goal in that sense is to ensure that her poetry book takes center stage as we enter 2024, particularly since it marks our first attempt at such a project.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Love is Essential
The Love Tank explores the unique idea that children have a vessel that is just waiting to be filled with love and experiences that will shape their behavior and social interactions. I think this original idea is intriguing. How did you come up with this idea and develop it into a book?
The Love Tank was inspired by a conversation with my 3-year-old daughter, who saw me crying over the tragic news of a school shooting. I didn’t know how to explain what had happened, and the concept of a “love tank” came to mind. I started explaining that we all have a love tank inside, which is filled by giving and receiving love. And when our love tank is full, we are able to act kindly and lovingly with others. But when our love tank is empty, it is much harder to be kind and loving. I explained that there are people who have a love tank that is completely empty, and who can end up hurting others, and that I was crying because someone with a very empty love tank hurt others and it made me really sad. A few days later, I woke up and the story was in my head, so I wrote it down and eventually published it as a children’s book.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
I can’t narrow it down to only one experience because there have been various events that have influenced my writing, which is geared towards spreading messages of love, compassion, kindness, empathy, gratitude, authenticity and connectedness. Becoming a mother for the first time turned my world upside down and triggered a journey of self-discovery that led me to where I am now. Losing a really good friend to depression and drug use made me question our values as a society and made me want to contribute (through my writing) to creating a kinder, more loving world in which sensitive and beautiful souls like his could thrive. Similarly, events such as the school shooting that I previously mentioned, as well as becoming a mother to a baby boy in a society that sometimes seems to exude toxic masculinity, cemented my desire to contribute to building a kinder, more loving and more compassionate society through my writing.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
To me it was important to discuss love as “essential” in our life. The book explains, “just like the gas tank in a car that we fill with gas so the car will run,” we need love to be kind and do good things. I also wanted children to understand that if someone else is hurtful, it may be because that person has an empty love tank, not because of something they did or did not do. And I wanted children to know that they have agency to fill their own love tanks and to perhaps even help others, contributing to a kinder world.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
The Love Tank is the first book in a series of five books (Wholesome Children: Self-Awareness), which discuss the values of love, kindness, compassion, gratitude, authenticity and connectedness. The second book is titled The Gratitude Goggles, launch date to be determined (to be notified, readers can join our mailing list at www.wholesomechildrenbooks.com/mailinglist ).
Author Links : GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Website
It’s challenging to explain the importance of giving and receiving love. Why do some people behave hurtfully? How can we respond with kindness and compassion?
The Love Tank guides children in imagining a superpower container inside their bodies that fills up with love. The book explains what can happen when someone’s love tank is full–or empty, and how we can help others to fill their love tank.
Nurse Florence(R), What is Glaucoma?
Nurse Florence®: What is Glaucoma? shines as a literary gem for young readers. Through its heartwarming narrative, students—Jean, Condi, and Sonia—engage in an enlightening conversation with the knowledgeable school nurse, Nurse Florence, as she unravels the details of glaucoma. This interaction unveils a wealth of insights, providing the children with a comprehensive grasp of this eye condition, including its various types and symptoms. With Nurse Florence’s skillful guidance, the narrative navigates the complexities of diagnosis, treatment, and even the potential for emergency surgery, providing a remarkably thorough exploration of the condition.
The book’s illustrations are a testament to dedicated craftsmanship. The medical depictions are meticulously detailed, playing a crucial role in enhancing comprehension and elevating the overall reading experience. Nurse Florence®: What is Glaucoma? achieves the dual feat of educating readers and stimulating curiosity, all while providing valuable medical insights that will captivate young readers. Books of this nature, exemplified by Nurse Florence®: What is Glaucoma?, help strengthen and build young minds. The exploration of the human body empowers them to embrace their health and well-being. While this engaging read is ideally suited for accomplished young readers, it can also serve as a beneficial tool for emerging ones, expanding their vocabulary and fostering linguistic growth.
Undoubtedly, Nurse Florence®: What is Glaucoma? stands out within its genre, inspiring young readers and building their knowledge base. Rooted in its purpose of education, enlightenment, and fostering curiosity, it stands poised on the edge of perfection, making it a truly exceptional addition to any reader’s collection.
Pages: 148 | ISBN : 978-1312585898
The Love Tank: A Book About Empathy, Kindness, and Self-Awareness for Children Ages 4-8
Among the children’s books that seek to teach invaluable life lessons, Andrea Mendoza-Vasconez’s The Love Tank emerges as a heartwarming and imaginative read. The author deftly navigates the landscape of essential human virtues – love, kindness, empathy, and compassion – delivering an experience that is both captivating and thought-provoking. Mendoza-Vasconez frames her narrative around the creative concept of the “love tank.” Within every child, this metaphorical vessel awaits to be filled with the essence of love, shaping their demeanor and interactions within society. The exploration of this metaphor is the focus of Mendoza-Vasconez’s compelling storyline.
The book effectively prompts young minds to picture their own love tank, fostering an appreciation for how its presence can shape both their own behavior as well as their interactions with others. The illustrations, vivid and inviting, convey the emotional experiences of the characters. This combination of words and images ensures that readers of all ages are enveloped in the story.
At the heart of The Love Tank lies the concept of extending kindness to fill the love tanks of others. This notion is more than a metaphor; it is an empowering call to action. The book gracefully reinforces the power young minds possess to effect positive change through their interactions. This concept is poised to cultivate a generation that understands its potential for fostering empathy and compassion. Mendoza-Vasconez’s prose is elegantly simple and leaves a deep impression on readers of all ages. The narrative’s pacing is comfortable and allows readers ample time to absorb the story.
The Love Tank is a wonderful addition to a children’s library focused on the teaching of values, and it is a poignant reminder that the smallest gestures of love can unleash waves of positivity and understanding across our world. Educators and parents alike will find this book a treasure trove to share with young minds, nurturing the growth of love, kindness, empathy, and compassion – the very building blocks of humanity itself.
Pages: 31 | ASIN : B0C7BVN1FZ
