Blog Archives
The Voice of God
Silvia Ledon’s The Voice of God gracefully navigates the realm of spiritual awareness for young readers. This narrative centers on a young girl’s journey in sensing the divine in her everyday experiences. Whether it’s in an affectionate embrace or the simple utterance of ‘I love you,’ she perceives God’s omnipresence in her life.
Ledon’s prose is succinct yet rich in its ability to calm and soothe its audience. It’s a testament to her skill in crafting a narrative that’s accessible to children while providing a sense of serenity. The book’s illustrations by Diana Canales Rojas are a notable highlight, boasting vibrant and engaging visuals that enrich the reading experience. A particularly thoughtful addition to this work is the ‘let’s talk about it’ section at the end. This interactive element encourages meaningful dialogue between children and their parents, fostering a deeper understanding and personal connection to the themes presented. Ledon’s book is not just a story but a gentle guide for young minds exploring the concept of a higher presence in their daily lives.
Silvia Ledon’s The Voice of God stands out as a gentle yet impactful exploration of spirituality for children. Its blend of engaging storytelling, vibrant illustrations, and interactive discussion points creates a well-rounded experience. This book serves as a catalyst for deeper conversations between young readers and their caregivers. It’s an enriching addition to any young reader’s collection.
Pages: 28 | ASIN : B0CS9HJ9ZC
Entertain and Educate
Pets: Do You Want One? introduces children to sight words through vivid photos and graphics of animals while also educating them on the responsibilities of pet ownership. What was the inspiration for your story?
Growing up and throughout my adult life, animals and pets have been a constant presence in my world. I’ve noticed that my students are particularly drawn to stories about animals and pets when they read to me. One little girl in my class, in particular, had a fondness for simple pet books and would read them repeatedly. Inspired by her enthusiasm, I decided to create a vibrant pet book that showcases various pets while also emphasizing the importance of proper pet care.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
Working on my books has reignited the creativity I experienced in my youth, providing relaxation and presenting me with new goals and challenges. I thoroughly enjoy the process of playing with borders, colors, and selecting just the right photos to captivate children’s imaginations. My aim is to integrate books into my classroom and the wider world that not only entertain but also cover curriculum content in literacy, math, science, and social studies in an engaging and enjoyable manner.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
As a child, I cherished the works of beloved authors such as Beatrix Potter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Margaret Wise Brown, Richard Scarry, Janette Sebring Lowrey, and Mercer Mayer. Now, as a primary school teacher, I’ve expanded my collection to include books from a variety of other authors that I share with my students year-round. My classroom library features captivating stories from the likes of Robert Munsch, Eric Carle, Jan Brett, Patricia Polacco, Todd Parr, E.B. White, James Dean, and numerous others.
What is the next book in the series that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My upcoming children’s book, “Bunnies: Big and Small,” is set to be published just in time for Easter. This picture book is brimming with adorable bunny pictures, captivating rhyme, vibrant colors, and engaging counting activities. I’ve dedicated much of the winter to perfecting it, adding extra details, and ensuring that the layout and text are perfectly tailored for my grade 1 students. I can’t wait to share it with them and with readers everywhere!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Pintrest | TikTok | YouTube
Wild Acres Farm Series
Crafted by Carolyn Wild with extensive literacy education experience, this collection of leveled emergent readers integrates beginner sight words, picture dictionaries, science facts, repetitive decodable words, rhyming text, colored rebus picture clues, math concepts and learning-to-read tips. Recognized for its positive impact, the series has earned recognition and awards for reading success in classrooms, daycares, and homes.
Finding Peace at Christmas
Christmas Switcheroo follows a family preparing for the holidays who get overwhelmed with preparations and cause a gift mix-up that could be disastrous. What was the inspiration for your story?
I have to admit right away that I am a Christmas person. So, it’s fun to write stories about the Christmas season. The inspiration for my ”Christmas Switcheroo” can naturally be found in the things related to Christmas in my home country. However, I left out many Finnish-related and religion-related issues and instead focused on the general rush associated with preparations for the festive season. Christmas provides a good background for how different people’s expectations and preparations for a big celebration differ.
People’s age is significant when we follow how they feel about the upcoming holiday season. In children’s minds, fun activities, happy excitement, and the “fairytale” elements of the holiday season are highlighted. The adults may be worried about schedules, financial issues, and various responsibilities. They think about who to buy gifts for, who to visit, who to invite… It is easy to conclude that for many adults, for example, Christmas time is not the same joyful thing as for carefree children.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
In ”Christmas Switcheroo,” I also wanted to transform some typical roles into slightly new positions. I wrote about children who love peace and seek an authentic Christmas atmosphere. I tried to bring peaceful atmospheres and places where you can find genuine Christmas spirit into the story. It doesn’t happen in the hustle and bustle of a shopping center but can be found, for example, in a quiet library or a small cafe. Crafting paper snowflakes or drinking warm cocoa on a cold winter evening can give a much more incredible feeling than flashy neon advertisements and theme music blaring everywhere.
I also wanted to show that exhausted adults can even get help from children. Christmas comes for the whole family, even with less stress. Everything can be fun if the family’s Christmas preparations are done together and kept to a reasonable level. Of course, each family member may have particular wishes that must be considered and respected. One likes to bake, another puts up decorations and Christmas lights, and someone listens to music. There is a place for all of these when there is a good spirit of togetherness.
The most important message I wanted to convey is that families must also have a peaceful time together. The most valuable moment during the entire holiday season can be a quiet moment together, looking at Christmas stars and snow lanterns and singing a familiar Christmas carol together.
What is your favorite part of the Christmas season?
All parts of Christmas are dear to me and associated with many memories from different stages of my life. What is important is how the experiences of Christmas are made up of layers of all the years of my life.
My mind can take me back to situations from decades ago: To the Christmas atmosphere of the village church or visits and Christmas carol performances at a local nursing home for older people. They are dear memories to me, and I hope that as many children as possible today could experience the same.
The joy of having a good memory is that even the deceased relatives and all my departed loved ones are still present at my Christmases. I can light candles to burn on their graves and next to their photos. I can think of them as grateful for all the intangible gifts they have given to my life.
The most meaningful things in my Christmas are the children and their bright eyes as they admire the candles and the Christmas tree. Christmas time is the darkest time of the year in Finland. You can imagine how beautiful it is if there are lights outside in the dark and in the middle of the snow, even in the trees and bushes.
I had a somewhat tight childhood financially, but I felt nothing was missing in my Christmases. I collected Christmas pictures from the newspaper in a small box and admired them in the evenings. I also saved a small amount of Christmas money, which I used to buy tiny presents for my little sisters and my parents. The joy of giving was great, even though the package was insignificant.
Finally, I have to mention Christmas music and candles. What could be more beautiful than listening to music that you have chosen yourself by candlelight? – But remember to be careful with fire! As a child, I enthusiastically burned candles – and once accidentally almost a wooden table.
What story are you currently in the middle of writing?
I always have many books in various stages of the publishing process. And in our small family business, I am involved in all those stages. I’m about to send many stories to my editor in the USA just now. They include yet another sequel in The Fox Series, as well as stories for the new ”Lyrics of Life Series” and two beautiful stories set in India.
I would also like to mention the ongoing illustration projects where my new “Active Kids Series” will have the first two books illustrated by Dane D’Angeli from Brazil. They feature new kinds of adventures – even an exciting detective story about a museum robbery.
Another interesting illustration is the fourth book in my “I Did It!” series. This time, the story illustrated by Catty Flores takes place in icy winter landscapes.
For next Christmas, we will have another Christmas book, which takes place in Northern Finland. As a child, I experienced similar moods at the mercy of nature and in the middle of snowstorms in the landscapes of my mother’s childhood home. In that story, I could also include many memories of my late Grandpa, his old house and horse, and the big clock that now ticks on my living room wall.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
For Dad, the most important thing is to have the garden decorated with tons of Christmas lights to delight himself and the neighbors. But the fuses blow nearly every time he comes up with a new lights arrangement!
This year the Perksons get the last presents ready in the nick of time. But things don’t play out quite as they planned. Will Christmas still come despite this year’s less-than-perfect preparatio
The Dreamlighters Go to Space
In The Dreamlighters Go to Space by Mike Gammage, readers are swept into a delightful blend of fantasy and reality. The story follows the journey of Kaleb and his sister Maya, two children with a burning curiosity to explore the vastness of outer space. Their dream seems out of reach until they meet Jazz, a mystical figure who opens the door to an extraordinary adventure.
Gammage’s narrative skillfully interweaves the magic of imagination with elements of real-world science, creating a tale that resonates with the universal longing to explore the unknown. The story is not just a whimsical ride; it also offers educational value. As the children prepare for their space journey, they interact with the scientists responsible for the rocket launch, providing young readers with a glimpse into the complexities of space travel. The illustrations in the book are vibrant and dynamic, adding depth to the narrative and bringing the characters’ emotions to life. The relationship between Kaleb, Maya, and Jazz is portrayed with warmth and affection, enhancing the story’s appeal. The portrayal of the engineers struggling with the rocket launch adds a touch of humor and realism, reminiscent of the challenges faced during real-life space missions like the Artemis 1.
The Dreamlighters Go to Space is an adventurous tale that is heartwarming and captures the joy of dreaming big. Recommended for children aged 5 and older who are fascinated by space and the wonders of the universe, this book is an excellent choice for bedtime reading. It combines cheerful illustrations with a seamless blend of science and fantasy, encouraging young minds to pursue their dreams and explore the world around them.
Pages: 50 | ASIN : B0CQTWJDL5
I Write the Difficult Children’s Stories
The Owl and the Shepherd Boy follows a young boy who is left to care for the family’s goats up on a mountain when a storm destroys their home. He must now find a way down the mountain alone. What was the inspiration for your story?
My Survival Stories Series, including The Owl and the Shepherd Boy, were written in response to the devastating 2015 earthquake that struck Nepal. This tragic event brought immense challenges for the nation, resulting in emotional and material losses. The rebuilding and repairing efforts continued for years.
By writing my survival stories, I aimed to provide hope and inspiration to readers facing these difficult circumstances – or better understand and help those who struggle.
Various shepherd topics are close to my heart because I still remember many childhood experiences my father told me about. It’s not easy for a little boy to be responsible for guarding the neighbor’s cattle in the pasture all alone.
I also like to write about the power of nature and how it constantly surprises us. Often it’s about pleasant surprises, but sometimes the destructive forces of nature make us feel small and helpless.
In every situation, people should understand their place as a part of nature and not as its master. The surrounding environment deserves all our respect and care. We should learn this from childhood.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
I want to answer this question by describing the experience mainly from the point of view of writing stories on complex topics.
I also write about things many avoid in children’s books – such as poverty, fears, illness, and social crises. I consider it important that I can describe children’s experiences of how it feels to live in the middle of these situations.
As a writer, it would certainly be easier for me to avoid such demanding topics, but I think they are perhaps the most important ones. Writing about them requires the courage to stand beside the children and support them – at least with words – even when it is the most difficult.
In these more problematic stories, depending on the case, I also use various fantasy elements. They can help us to look at the situation a little “above” the everyday perspective. The main thing is that the result is understandable and comforting for the child. When the book cover closes, the readers should be left with the feeling that they have survived together with the main character.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
By telling the story of this shepherd boy, I wanted to emphasize the power of natural forces, which I already referred to earlier.
Another essential theme in this book is related to social differences between countries and regions. The young protagonist lives in a culture where children’s responsibility for work is more significant than in countries where livelihoods are more secure. In such an environment, children must take responsibility early on, often much too early. They carry tasks that are heavy, scary, or otherwise oversized.
Of course, there are various kinds of societies in which to live. For those children whose lives include safe schooling, play, and adequate food, it is good to realize that not everyone is equally lucky. Understanding this makes them more sympathetic toward others and increases their desire to support and help.
Also, I wanted to encourage children with this story. When they read about the difficulties and fears of the shepherd boy, they realize that it is possible to survive even in such a situation. It is important not to stop trying – which is pretty universal and encouraging advice.
What story are you currently in the middle of writing?
For the past few weeks, I have been writing two unique stories connected to India. They were “donated” to me by a friend, originally from India, who shared some of his own experiences with lots of human wisdom. Writing such stories has been a challenging and gratifying task.
Of course, the most important thing is to do justice to the actual events in the background of the books. I try to pass on the materials I receive from events, people, the environment, and culture. I’m melting these elements into my story version.
When the original ingredients and foreshadows of stories are light and fun, it’s easier to write without fear of hurting anyone’s feelings. But the events I heard also have such characteristics that they raise deep emotions in my mind as a writer, even sadness.
I want to emphasize that these two stories are products of the imagination detached from their models, but I still feel responsible. I also try to write the stories to fit a believable cultural and geographical setting.
I believe this credibility requires that I, as the author, have my own background knowledge and check the details, too. What bread are people buying at the market in the place in my mind? Which fruit trees can bloom in the garden? When is the rainy season, and how long is it? Finding suitable names is particularly interesting, as they have their cultural meanings. I hope I hit the right ones!
Overall, I took some time to ponder how to deliver my friend’s experiences and the wisdom in them to the little ones, too. – But as a children’s author, you always find a way.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
In the darkness of night, Nicky spots a big owl. Can the mysterious creature help Nicky find his way home?
Friendly Foxes
Jesse Bettio’s Friendly Foxes offers an insightful exploration into the world of emotional intelligence, particularly in the context of a family undergoing a significant change. This narrative, centered around a family of foxes, delicately handles the theme of a parent’s divorce, guiding young readers through the complexities of understanding and expressing their feelings in times of upheaval.
The book’s illustrations are a standout feature. Each page is adorned with handcrafted artwork that vividly captures the emotions of the characters. The expressive eyes of the foxes and the use of rich colors create a captivating, almost magical setting. Particularly noteworthy is the portrayal of the forest’s stability amidst the family’s changing circumstances, subtly reinforcing the idea that some constants remain even in times of change. Bettio approaches the topic of divorce with sensitivity and understanding. The narrative resonates with children and adults, as it acknowledges the legitimacy and importance of emotions during such transitions. The message that ‘Your feelings are valid’ is a powerful takeaway for readers of all ages, offering comfort and validation. The conclusion effectively emphasizes the importance of addressing and working through emotions in family crises.
Friendly Foxes is more than just a children’s book; it’s a tool for initiating discussions about divorce and emotional health. It is well-suited for various settings, from personal reading to educational environments, and is appropriate for children aged 6 and above. It is a commendable resource for those seeking to introduce the concept of divorce to young minds and emphasizes the importance of understanding one’s emotions.
Pages: 27 | ASIN : B0CQ9QRRMD
A Unique Superpower
The Birth of Agent Big Butt: Butt of Steel, Heart of Gold follows a newborn boy who is born with the superpower of explosive farts that can defeat any advisory. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As a family, we love telling stories. So, one night, while making up silly stories, an image of a big butt newborn popped into my mind. Immediately, the story began to unfold. It would be a story about a baby with a big steel butt that can fart the most powerful farts. The farts could form into anything he needed, and this baby decided to use these powers for good.
Big Butt is an entertaining character with a superpower that will make kids laugh and encourage them to want to read more of his story. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
There are many children fart books. We wanted to add a different spin to our version. We also wanted the humor in the book to be more than just farting. We wanted a character that was immersed in real world challenges who had many crash courses…dealing with family, friends, and bullies. And in that a lot of humor was discovered. We also wanted a main character that was lovable and cute – and our illustrator, Tom McWeeney, captured our ideas perfectly!
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
As a newborn, the main character had to deal with the learning curves of life, such as not only understanding his feelings but the feelings of others. He learned that sometimes there is no clear right or wrong. He also had to learn how to be responsible with his powers. So, when he faced insults from bullies or attacks from the media, he had to give a mature response. In short, he had to grow up fast.
Where does the story go in the next book and where do you see it going in the future?
In Book 2, The Defeat of Agent Big Butt: Out of Gas, Agent Big Butt loses all his powers and has to deal with a rampaging mechanical big butt operated by his nemesis Justin. It was pretty fun exploring what AB (our hero’s nickname) was like without his powers, as well as coming up with all the new, dastardly farts used by Justin.
In Book 3, The Brainwashing of Agent Big Butt: Under an Evil Smell, we see what AB is like when he goes over to the dark side. Writing a villainous AB was so exciting!
As for the future…AB3 was the last book in the series, but many fans have expressed an interest in an Agent Big Butt movie. It is definitely part of our vision!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
With a wild doctor pursuing him, this walking, talking newborn – known as Agent Big Butt – has to navigate the life of a superhero while dealing with newfound fame, going to school, making friends and defeating bullies, all before his first birthday.
Pets: Do You Want One?
Pets: Do You Want One? by Carolyn Wild is an endearing and interactive picture book ideal for young, emerging readers. The central theme of the book, “Do you want a pet?” resonates on each page, creating an engaging narrative for children. The children’s book cleverly combines high-frequency sight words with delightful images of various pets, making it an excellent tool for aiding in the development of reading skills.
The illustrations in this book are particularly captivating, with a range of small to large pictures of animals that not only adorn the pages but also aid in discussing each animal. These visuals serve as an excellent engagement point, encouraging parents to interact with their children by asking questions related to the content. Furthermore, the book extends beyond mere reading practice; it introduces young readers to the idea of pet ownership, touching on the responsibilities and care required for different animals. Carolyn Wild’s writing style is straightforward yet appealing, effectively using repetition to reinforce reading skills and familiarize children with high-frequency sight words. The repetition also enhances the learning experience, making the book a valuable resource for repeated readings.
This book’s charm and educational value make it a great addition to any early childhood classroom, especially for Pre-K and Kindergarten levels, where it can be a significant asset for teachers in developing literacy skills. The combination of adorable imagery, simple yet effective writing, and interactive elements make Pets: Do You Want One? a commendable choice for young readers.
Pages: 30 | ASIN : B0CM2M7Q6W
LITERARY TITAN 