Blog Archives
Gnome Valentine: Who is my Valentine Today?
Do you ever wonder what exactly a Valentine is? How do you get one? Is there a special Valentine out there for everyone? Gnome Valentine: Who is my Valentine Today by children’s author Parker Bastian helps answer this curious question in a way that children will be able to understand.
Valentines are people you care about; it can be someone you love, like a family member, a person you want to marry or are married to, or just a really good friend. Bastian uses her Gnome Adventures series to teach children about different kinds of relationships and some of the many ways that people can meet. From hiking to gardening to even dating apps, this outstanding picture book shares that there is no wrong way to make friends and meet people you love.
I love how the author has made each page interactive for kids. Each verse shares a story about how the gnomes met or what makes them Valentines. It then ends with a question for readers to think about and answer. Some are as simple as favorite flowers or what gifts they prefer, while others are more thoughtful, like what puts a smile on your face. Each page is a chance for readers to have a discussion as a group or to think about their own answers and gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Gnome Valentine: Who is My Valentine Today is a magical picture book that children and adults will enjoy rereading time and time again. While the topic is Valentine’s Day, the message of friendship, family, and relationships holds valid year-round. This is a beautiful addition to a home or classroom library.
Pages: 30 | ASIN : B0BZCBYBFR
An Abundance Of Creativity And Magic
Cherry’s Big Wish follows a young mermaid who makes a birthday wish that takes her on an exciting adventure to meet fairies. What was the inspiration for your story?
My first inspiration comes from my experience as a little girl and wanting to read more magical stories. I loved magic, mermaids, fairies, and castles. In fact, I believed in fantasy so deeply I remember asking for my Care Bear colouring book to come to life. My second inspiration comes from the universe, which I believe carries an abundance of creativity and magic that is available to everyone.
I would like to add that I think all children’s books are inspirational. My love of reading wouldn’t exist if my mom hadn’t read me books by Dr. Seuss, Robert Munsch, and The Berenstain Bears. My first novel was R.L Stein’s Goosebumps book Say Cheese and Die.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Chloé Elimam?
Chloé and I met over Instagram and connected over our shared love of mermaids and fairies. Working with Chloe was a great experience. She did a phenomenal job of bringing the vision in my imagination to life. I enjoyed the anticipation of waiting for each illustration to arrive in my inbox and felt a flood of excitement with each reveal. We very much worked on this book side-by-side, and I think by the end, my attention to detail may have been a bit exhausting.
I encourage everyone to look up Chloé Elimam illustrations. Put her on your watchlist for breakout talent. I believe she’ll be illustrating animations in the near future.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Friendship, big wishes, and believing in the ability to make your dreams come true. I want kids to be inspired by those ideas and to stay connected to their childlike wonder as they grow up. Afterall, dreams come true when you’re young at heart.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a couple of new stories in the works. I’d like to see Cherry’s Big Wish expand into a series called Cherry and Friends. The next book will likely be a Halloween story as the first book has a birthday theme. In this story, a new boy mermaid moves to town, but he’s shy and afraid to show himself because he looks different. Cherry befriends Frank and signs them both up for the Halloween costume contest at school. Spoiler: Frank might win the Halloween contest for his Frankenstein costume with the support of his new friends.
The next story I’m really excited about is a stand-alone book that’s tentatively titled Susy Snippets. This story follows Susy, an 11-year-old girl who has an incredible talent for turning the boring hairstyles in her town into magnificent works of art. As word spreads about Susy’s talents, she’s asked to style the mayor’s hair for a special event. When Susy’s swivel scissors break the night before her biggest transformation, she must believe her talent lies within herself and not her magical swivel scissors.
I’d love to traditionally publish Susy Snippets, which means I am looking for an agent. I can imagine it being on store shelves in about two and a half to three years. I’ll make a big wish!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram
Baby Worries
When a baby is born, everyone who visits has thoughts on who the baby looks like and what they will grow up to look like. This humorous picture book is written from the perspective of a new baby as the extended family all come to visit him. With each new visitor, the baby gets a sometimes frightful thought of what he may look like as he gets bigger.
Baby Worries, written by Frances Mackay and illustrated by Dotti Colvin, is a delightful children’s book that imagines what a baby would think when friends and family visit and comment on their looks. With bright colorful images, readers will be entertained as they follow the story along. I loved that the multigenerational family is also inclusive of different cultures.
In addition to providing a funny story to young children, this picture book is a great opener for families and teachers to talk to kids about how to express their feelings, especially the feeling of worry. Learning to talk about their feelings in a way that is not scary is an amazing tool that will help children as they grow.
Baby Worries is a delightful and educational children’s book that any family or classroom would find a wonderful addition to their library. This is definitely a book I can see being read over and over again for entertainment, and don’t forget to look for the ginger cat!
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0BTCFZ94F
The Joys Of Friendship
Daisy Meets the Dolphins follows a loveable little dog who goes on a boating adventure and meets some bottlenose dolphins. What was the inspiration for the main character’s traits and dialogue?
Daisy Meets the Dolphins was created for our 25th wedding anniversary, on that day we all took a day trip to an near by island called Rathlin Island not far from Ballycastle, a coastal resort in Northern Ireland.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to create an adventure book with Daisy meeting her new aquatic friends from the ocean, filling it full of heartwarming hugs to bring to life the power of connecting with different cultures and the joys of friendship with others regardless of where they are from. I hoped to use this book to spark meaningful conversations and inspire kindness in children.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
To explore the world through the eyes of Daisy? When writing, staying true to yourself and letting your heart guide you is essential. After all, there are so many stories and adventures we want to share! With every paw step we take, I wanted to ensure my readers felt they were right there with us, experiencing every wag of the tail and sniff of the nose that Daisy takes. I wish for every reader to handle all the emotions and see all the pictures in their little minds as we embark on this journey together. Woof! Says Daisy…
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Each book is unique and very different as we explore the world and write another Daisy story.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Join Daisy, Blue and friends on this sunny, fun-filled day, as they laugh, play games by the ocean… and create another magical Daisy story!
Book of Leprechauns
Leprechauns are not only magical beings, as people often believe. In fact, they are beings who gather knowledge. For them, art reflects the essence of things, which is why they are guardians of stories. Furthermore, they have had to learn to protect everything they consider valuable, which is why they are cunning and resourceful. However, their life is not so simple because they have serious responsibilities to fulfill. Book of Leprechauns: The Lore Gatherers follows Molly, a young leprechaun who has lost the gold she was entrusted with. Alongside her father, Shaun, and her friend Dorker, they embark on a thrilling journey to ancient Rome and the realm of Caesar. Through this adventure, Molly learns more about her family, the responsibilities of being a lore gatherer, and the true magic that lies within her.
Author Jonathan Uffelman demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, crafting charismatic and engaging characters. Molly is a relatable protagonist who strives to excel while her father, Shaun, grapples with striking the right balance between guidance and independence. I loved reading about Molly’s relationship with her father and found it heartwarming. The vivid descriptions of the settings, particularly ancient Rome, are enriched with historical details, immersing the reader in the adventure. The narrative is further enhanced by including short tales discovered throughout the journey. The detailed descriptions and footnotes throughout the story add remarkable depth and richness to the narrative. The creative footnotes provide an authentic touch, effortlessly immersing the reader in the enchanting world of leprechauns.
Book of Leprechauns: The Lore Gatherers is an entertaining, thrilling, and unique middle-grade fantasy story. This novel is filled with adventure, exciting myths, and folk tales. This is a must-read for fans of sword and sorcery stories.
Pages: 320 | ASIN : B0BLY73KV8
Walking with the Sun
An elephant named Gaja and an eagle named Garud are the best of friends. They are always together, laughing, playing, dancing, and singing as they explore the forest where they live. One hot and sunny day, Garud suggests they go for a walk to the west in hopes of finding the night quicker. After many hours of walking, the heat was only getting worse, and they found a tree to stop and rest under. After falling asleep, they awake to the cool breeze of night and discover that by walking west instead of getting away from the sun, they were walking with it! When they turn around and head for home, Gaja has no idea there are more surprises still to discover this night.
Walking with the Sun by Preethi Saravanakumar and illustrated by Julia Duclos, is a captivating picture book that teaches children about the movement of the sun. There is also a wise message about how to overcome discomfort; you need to walk away from it, not with it. Children also learn the valuable lesson of finding happiness in all you do and not carrying sadness with them through their journeys.
This touching children’s book will provide children with much to think about and discuss with friends and family as they follow Gaja and Garud on their adventures. The beautiful watercolor images are whimsical and enchanting, adding depth to the story and bringing the characters to life.
Walking with the Sun is a delightful children’s book that teaches children about friendship, positive thoughts, and taking chances. Families and teachers will enjoy sharing this story with children, and this would make an excellent addition to a home or classroom library.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B0BW6NQQN1
What Are Mondays Good For, Anyway?
Who likes Mondays? Monday morning means the fun from the weekend is over, and it is time to return to school. Bennie hates Mondays and dreads them each week. This Monday starts off with stinky green socks coming out of his favorite cereal box. At first, Bennie is irritated, but a small smile creeps across his face as he sees the humor in the situation. As his day continues, all the things he thinks he dreads about the day end up offering a glimpse of amusement. Can Mondays actually be good for something?
What are Mondays good for, anyway? by Nicole Frankel is a humorous picture book that teaches children to find the positive in things. Each situation that Bennie encounters could have been a disaster and made him grumpy all day. Instead, he finds something to smile or laugh about with each situation and, by the end of the day, realizes he has actually enjoyed his Monday. This story is a good reminder that just because something unexpected happens, it is not automatically a bad thing. It helps teach children to see things in a different light and look closer at situations. For example, Bennie could have been mad when he fell but instead saw the smile the fallen cereal made. Finding the good in all circumstances is a skill set that children need to learn early in life to help them through the more challenging areas as they grow.
I feel that one of the most important messages in this picture book is that we need to find a reason to laugh every day. Laughter can be healing, and smiling is contagious. What are Mondays good for, anyway? Is a wonderful children’s book with children and adults laughing and relating to little Bennie. The reminder to find joy and laughter in situations will benefit readers, young and old.
Pages: 35 | ASIN : B0BVWL596S
Winifred the Wonder Witch
Winifred the Wonder Witch faces two incredible challenges in this whimsical double feature! In the first story, The Witch who Lost her Magic, Winifred, the beloved Wonder Witch, struggles to regain her lost magic from the clutches of grumpy Gerald, the Giant. Enlisting the help of an unlikely ally, Winifred sets out on the quest to get her magic back, and absolutely nothing will stand in her way. In the second tale, Saving the Dragons, the young Princesses Madeline and Isabella do all they can to protect their endangered pet dragons. However, when a dreadful scheme by the evil black witches threatens their beloved pets, the princesses, with the help of Winifred and her friends, must use their wits to safeguard the dragons from harm.
Winifred the Wonder Witch by Margaret Harcourt West is a wonderfully whimsical tale of magic and adventure. Each concise narrative takes up about half the book, and gentle storytelling whisks the reader into a far-off world where anything is possible. There is a good focus on problem-solving, as witty Winifred thinks outside the box to protect her world from danger. Enemies can become friends, and allies can be found in the strangest of places in this lovely adventure. Charmingly illustrated by Hilbert Bermejo, these tales of friendship and fantasy are nothing short of enchanting, firmly securing a spot in my heart as Winifred soars high up in the skies.
Perfectly suited for ages 6 and up and all who love a gentle tale of magic, Winifred the Wonder Witch is an adventure that simply can’t be missed. With beautiful storytelling, an enchanting setting, and loveable characters, Winifred’s journey of overcoming problems as she fights to save the day is an excellent choice for bedtime or anytime. Together with Winifred, prepare to soar high as the Wonder Witch explores her wonderful world.
Pages: 42 | ASIN : B08XJNT6QM
LITERARY TITAN 