Blog Archives
Twinkling Wings and Toothy Things
Twinkling Wings and Toothy Things tells the story of Nutter Nate and his crew of tiny tooth-builders who live in the Tooth Fairy Realm. They plant lost baby teeth in the ground, grow them into strong adult teeth, and then team up with a tooth fairy named Maribel to deliver them to kids like Sam and Sadie. A mix-up, a pup, and a lot of teamwork turn their mission into a late-night adventure. By the end, they learn about cooperation, courage, and that mistakes don’t mean failure.
I got a real kick out of the whole idea of teeth growing like crops in neat little rows. It made me smile right away. The writing feels playful and warm, and it moves fast. I liked how each character had a goofy name that matched their job. It made the world feel silly in the best way. I enjoyed the teamwork in this children’s book as well. I kept thinking about how sweet it was that they all supported each other when things went sideways.
As I kept reading, I felt this surprising wave of nostalgia. It reminded me of being a kid and believing that tiny magical creatures zipped around at night. The pup made me laugh. I loved how the story didn’t pretend everything has to go perfectly. Mistakes happen. The fix matters more. That part actually felt kind of touching.
The illustrations in this book are bright, playful, and full of tiny details that make each scene feel alive. The soft colors and warm lighting create a cozy mood while still keeping everything fun and energetic. The little fairies are bursting with personality. Every image has something charming for kids to spot. The style feels gentle and expressive and fits the story’s sweet, whimsical tone perfectly.
I really enjoyed this picture book. I think it’s perfect for young kids who like magical stories and bright, cartoonish art, and any child who finds the whole tooth fairy thing exciting or a little mysterious. It would be especially great for kids just starting to lose teeth. It might even calm a few nerves. I’d happily recommend it to parents, teachers, and anyone who wants a bedtime story that feels gentle, silly, and full of heart.
Pages: 32 | ISBN : 1966786239
Simple Questions With Positive Responses
Play With Me follows a young child and their companion who go on a picnic adventure and explore their world and invite young readers along to join them. What was the inspiration for your story?
Do you want the official answer or the truth? Official answer: I saw a TED talk about how kids learn to talk with questions. Someone asks, “What’s your name?” They answer. Someone asks, “What color do you like?” They think about it and answer. It’s how most conversations begin—a question and an answer. So that’s what I wrote. (That’s all true, it’s just not the full truth. For that…see below.)
The secret, unofficial answer is that I watched a relative reading to my granddaughter and was surprised that he just read the words. There was no pausing, no interacting, no questions with the child. That’s when I realized many people don’t know how to “read” a book with a toddler or how to engage the child in the book. So, I wrote the questions and the interactions to help the adults engage with their child and the book together.
And I’m thrilled, thrilled, thrilled with how it turned out!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Lorraine Nam?
That was all RISE publications. My incredible editor Nicole Fox chose Lorraine, and I was over the moon. Lorraine made sketches that the art director critiqued. I was shown them, but mostly said, “OMG that’s gorgeous!” And voila, beautiful book!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I needed the book to be interactive. Simple questions with positive responses. My editor and I discussed what activities to portray. I was happy with all her suggestions because, for me, it’s about the question/answer format of the book.
Will this children’s book be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
A series! (A Playdate Series)
Book 1 – Play With Me. Releases April 2, 2024
Book 2 – Play with Me Outside Releases June 11, 2024
Book 3 – Play Games with Me. Releases Nov 11, 2024
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
This board book series invites young readers to take part in a playdate activity of their choice, thereby empowering them with autonomy and validation. The picnic playdate models balanced and shared play, creating a positive experience that will provide readers with a reference for what caring and considered friendship looks like. Many toddlers and preschoolers consistently ask for someone to play with them, and this book provides just that for the quieter moments of the day. Simple language and gentle questions will help children develop their social skills by practicing conversations, all while engaging them in fun and familiar topics.
Can We Get a Rhinoceros?
Can We Get a Rhinoceros?, by Christian Kueng, is a delightful tale of a young boy’s boundless imagination and his quest to find the perfect pet. This whimsical narrative takes readers through a series of fanciful pet suggestions, from a rhinoceros to a blue-footed booby, each more extravagant than the last. The boy’s mother, aware of the limitations of their small condo with a modest patio, gently tries to guide his choices toward more practical options. This gentle push and pull between mother and son forms the heart of the story, capturing the essence of childhood imagination and parental guidance.
The charm of the story is further amplified by Nana Melkadze’s vibrant and engaging illustrations. These images not only complement the narrative but also deepen the reader’s connection to the story, offering a visual feast that sparks the imagination. The illustrations’ bright colors and dynamic compositions make each page a delight, encouraging young readers to ponder their own wild animal choices.
Kueng’s tale goes beyond mere entertainment, offering a delightful avenue for interaction between children and parents. It serves as a springboard for playful discussions and imaginative thinking, encouraging families to engage in creative and silly dialogues. The story provides a light-hearted and enjoyable experience for both children and parents, making it a wonderful addition to family reading time. An added educational component is the “Animal Information” section at the book’s end. This informative addition enriches the reading experience by offering fascinating facts about the animals featured in the story, further engaging young readers’ curiosity.
Can We Get a Rhinoceros? is more than just a story; it’s an invitation to explore, imagine, and learn together. It’s a book that celebrates the joys of childhood imagination, the warmth of family interaction, and the thrill of learning. For those reasons, it comes highly recommended as a delightful read for families looking to add a touch of whimsy and education to their bookshelves.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0CQPC9THQ
Haiku Makes Me Happy!
How Do You Haiku? A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates helps readers understand the form of Haiku and teaches them how to write their own beautiful poetry. What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to write a book I wanted to read as a child. I’ve always loved playing with words. I had many excellent teachers along the way but ten-year-old me would have loved to have had access to a book that taught me simple ways to understand and write Haiku while encouraging me as a shy child. I would have loved to have a book that told me my words were worthwhile and my poetry was worth sharing. This book is part technique, part pep-talk, and part wordplay with a whole lot of templates and Haiku crafts.
What draws you to the Haiku style of poetry? Is there one poet who stirred your love for this style of writing?
Haiku makes me happy! It isn’t a long, arduous poetry form, so I can write it on the fly or while I quietly observe the world through my window. I love that one can express so much with so few words. Writing and reading about little winking moments in nature and time significantly impact my well-being.
Of course, I admire the masters’ Haiku, but I also love Haiku written by current poets and fellow children’s book authors, such as the poets who contributed to this book, Kate Coombs, Raven Howell, and Amy Losak, among others. I also love reading Haiku written by children. Kids come up with amazing poems with unusual and entertaining wordplay!
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
Many kids (and adults) feel they can’t write poems or that their poems are not “good enough.” I wanted to give my readers ample opportunity to see that writing a poem can be easy and fun! My goal was to explain Haiku in a way that gets kids excited about it and gives them the confidence to try something new and be proud of their work.
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 book?
How Do You Haiku? is a stand-alone book, but another Haiku book is available for my littlest readers (Preschool & up). Peek-A-Boo Haiku (Little Simon) features Haiku about hidden woodland animals, plus flaps that reveal those animals! It’s never too early to introduce kids to poetry!
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Website
This book will help you understand haiku so you can create poems with powerful words and images. Each chapter contains examples from Japanese haiku masters and current poets. The included activities and templates will guide you through fun ways to “haiku,” including painting poem stones for your garden (Kuhi), creating haiku comic strips, and writing group poems with your friends (Renga). How Do You Haiku? This handbook will show you how— step-by-step.
Includes haiku by contributing poets Kate Coombs, Nancy Etchemendy, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Raven Howell, Linda Hoffman Kimball, Amy Losak, Bobi Martin, Angie Quantrell, Sydell Rosenberg, Lee Wardlaw, and Linda Whalen.
How Do You Haiku? A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates
Poetry is an art form that allows us to express ourselves and concisely share feelings. However, the characteristics of poetry vary based on its place of origin. In Japan, for instance, we encounter Haiku, a seventeen-syllable poem with a unique structure and composition. The Haiku aims to draw us out of our daily routine, encouraging us to pause and appreciate nature as if we were capturing a special moment in a photograph. In this context, Danna Smith introduces us to How Do You Haiku? A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates. This guide showcases Haiku’s meditative aspects and highlights its ability to explore the dramatic and the amusing. Thus, Danna Smith leads us through the fundamentals of Haiku efficiently and engagingly, providing instructions, examples, and tips.
Danna Smith discusses how the Haiku sparks imagination and shifts our perception of our surroundings. But she goes even further. She shares vocabulary and explains how to find dynamic words to maintain a solid structure. One of my favorite parts was the Haiku’s history, as it offers insight into using poetry as a means of expression. Furthermore, the book presents clear explanations, and the numerous examples are enjoyable. Another aspect I appreciated is Danna Smith’s addition of translations and explanations for the Japanese terms she uses, enhancing our understanding of Japanese culture.
Writing poetry might initially seem complex, especially in Haiku, where space is limited. Nevertheless, Danna Smith does an outstanding job motivating us to give it a try. While more examples of Haiku would have been helpful to complement the emphasis on technical aspects, overall, the information is well-explained, and there’s ample material to inspire us.
How Do You Haiku? A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates is an exceptional children’s book to help educate and inspire children and adults. This guide is excellent for beginners, serving as a helpful tool to learn how to perceive the world through the lens of poetry and practice the art of Haiku.
Pages: 112 | ASIN : B0CF65LDHT
Count and Play with K Dot
Count and Play with K Dot, The Little-Bitty Learning Ladybug: Learning Numbers 1-10 is More Fun with a Friend! by author Kimberly Becker is a colorful and fun way to introduce the concept of counting to children. K Dot the ladybug wants to be your friend and together you go on an adventure to learn to count from one to ten. How many new friends can you make as you learn the numbers 1- 10?
This engaging picture book is filled with bright colors and K Dot is a welcoming and friendly character that children will be drawn to right away. Each page has a simple illustration, perfect for babies and toddlers. From the beginning of the story, young readers will be asked to engage in the story as K Dot asks what their name is and if they want to be friends. This makes the book an active reading story from the start and encourages children to do more than sit and listen.
The story’s rhyme is a classic children’s song that the author has turned into an imaginative story. Adults will recognize the nostalgic rhyme while giving children a fresh look, thanks to K Dot’s jovial personality. Becker has done a great job bringing this classic to the next generation of children. I am happy that she kept the last line, “sit on a big fat hen,” which has always been my favorite part.
Count and Play with K Dot, The Little-Bitty Learning Ladybug: Learning Numbers 1-10 is More Fun with a Friend! is an excellent book for preschools and one of a child’s first books. The creative illustrations and musical rhymes will provide entertainment, and with so many new friends joining K Dot, the story will never get old or boring to read. Children will enjoy counting the bugs sounding each number as K Dot signs her song.
Pages 42: ASIN : B09Z2733SZ
LITERARY TITAN 