Blog Archives
Voyage To Bravery
Sam is tired of the hospital and tired of treatments. Wishing for the life he considers normal, Sam tries to reacclimate himself to his life at home and away from the life to which he has grown accustomed in the hospital. When Sam’s mother brings him home, he is greeted by a most wonderful display of love and support. Even the amazing show of generosity by a local running group isn’t enough to fully lift Sam’s spirits. He yearns to feel normal and he wants, more than anything, to know his purpose. Will he recognize it when it presents itself to him?
Voyage to Bravery, written by Jeremiah Shelton and illustrated by Sarah Hameed, is the beautifully woven tale of Sam, a young boy seeking his purpose in life. When he decides to follow the signs he is being given and push himself to overcome his feelings of despair, things begin to turn around for Sam and in a big way.
As I read, I couldn’t help but think what a wonderful companion book Shelton has written. Each year, my third graders complete a unit study on Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Sam’s story is a fantastic paired reading for Sadako’s story. There are some great parallels between Sadako’s real-life experience and Sam’s. The focus on strength, bravery, and power is an important one for readers of all ages.
I am giving Voyage to Bravery, written by Jeremiah Shelton and illustrated by Sarah Hameed, an enthusiastic 5 out of 5 stars. Hameed’s intricate and breathtaking illustrations are beyond stunning and pull readers even further into Sam’s adventure. I intend to use the story of Sam and his fantastic voyage in a theme unit on strength of character with my students. I highly recommend Shelton’s work–a definite must-read for young readers.
Pages: 72 | ISBN: 1649531060
www.VoyageToBravery.com
The Doing of Good Deeds
Tiny Tim and The Ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge is the children’s edition to your previous award winning book. What motivated you to turn your story into a book for kids?
Hello! Thank you so much for inviting me here. To answer, the adult edition of the book had several themes and lessons and was too complicated for younger children, but I felt children could learn a valuable lesson from a children’s edition. I selected one of the major themes of the book that children understand and can relate with readily.
What were some parts of the story you absolutely had to keep when condensing this for kids?
1) Kindness to others. Something we ALL can do that can change the world, in my opinion. 2) The lesson that WE continue the goodness that is in this world that we inherit from those who came before us. Life goes on and so must also the doing of good deeds from generation to generation. Of course, all the main characters are there: Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge, Becky, and Jimmy!
The art in this book is stunning. What was the art collaboration process like with Voxillustrations?
Voxillustrations was such a great partner in capturing the essence of each page of story text in their art! I gave them detailed ideas of what I was looking for such as character actions, expressions, backgrounds, and the little details of Victorian life, and they worked hard to get each illustration just right for the story. This art style they call ‘Fantasy’. Love them!
What part of the classic Charles Dickens story speaks to you the most?
That we are all redeemable, no matter what the situation we are in, how hopeless things feel, or how far down we are. Thank you for letting me speak with our readers! It is such an honor!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
In the continuation to Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, ‘A Christmas Carol’, a troubled Tiny Tim, now grown-up, has ghosts of his own and is gently reminded what Christmas is all about.
Beautifully illustrated and told in verse, narration with audio Christmas Carols and print music editions add to the Christmas charm of this classic holiday sequel. (Christmas, Holiday, Children, Classics, Gift Book, Narrated, Christmas Carols, Picture Book)
Harrison Waits
Harrison Waits follows a boy who is waiting. Who is he waiting for? You’ll have to wait and see. This book will help children understand the sometimes nebulous idea of waiting. What are you supposed to do while you wait? Just sit there? No way! Author Missy Hagen, teaches children how taking up different activities can help the time go by.
Harrison Waits is quite simply the cutest book I have read in quite some time. Each page has a cute picture, illustrated in a soft color scheme, that is reminiscent of the classic cartoons in newspapers. I know that I have told my young child plenty of times to ‘wait’, and I just expected them to know what I was talking about. This book gives parents and care givers the perfect opportunity, and resource, to talk about the idea of waiting. It also helps give children the tools they’ll need to wait, by showing them different activates they could be doing while waiting.
Author Missy Hagen has written a wonderfully charming book, with rhymes and cute images, that will keep children’s attention and educate them as well. This is perfect for parents or teachers that are caring for young children that find themselves waiting.
Pages: 30 | ISBN: 0988904888
Tiny Tim and The Ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge *Children’s Edition*
![Tiny Tim and The Ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge: The sequel to A Christmas Carol (Children's Edition - Narrated with Audio Christmas Carols) by [Norman Whaler, Voxillustrations, Esther Randell, David Deighton (UK)]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51caYJjd-nL.jpg)
Tiny Tim and the Ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge: The sequel to A Christmas Carol (Children’s Edition) by Norman Whaler, with illustrations by Voxillustrations, is a picture book intended for children aged 4 through 10. Set in London, Tiny Tim is now grown up. He loves Becky, but her parents will not allow a marriage between the two of them. After many years pass, Tim has started to forget the lessons he learned from Ebenezer Scrooge. He forgets the hardships of his childhood–and appreciating the simple joys of life. After Mr. Scrooge passes away seven days before Christmas, Tim is visited by Scrooge’s ghost. Will Tim finally remember the true spirit of Christmas?
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a perfect story for parents to share with their children this holiday season. It has a good lesson about generosity and kindness, and a message of faith through trials and struggles. Quotes about kindness at the beginning of the book, including from scripture and literature, reinforce the message of the story. This book can be enjoyed even if a reader is not familiar with the classic Charles Dickens’ story, since there is a quick overview of A Christmas Carol in the first page of verses. The rhyming verses are fun and young children will enjoy looking at the pictures as the story is read to them. I liked the change in font to indicate strong emotion in the dialogue, and I enjoyed the happy ending. I wanted to know more about Becky and her son, Jimmy.
I loved all the vividly colored pictures with bright pinks and greens and beautiful scenery and landscapes. My two favorite pictures were the scenes of the bedroom at night and in the morning. The glow from the candle was very realistic. It actually appeared as though light was shining out of the book in this picture, and also the one where the sun was shining through the bedroom window the next day. The illustrator’s use of perspective was very good and many pictures had an impressive three dimensional look.
There are nine Christmas carols at the end of the story with lyrics and sheet music, which are a wonderful addition to this book.
Pages: 95 | ASIN: B08MKJT2YH
Feeling Good is Good for the Brain
Your Brain Kids Edition educates readers on brain health and nutrition with fun imagery. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book is important for me to write because I train many seniors and stroke survivors in my line of work. I personally have seen my father extremely ill at his age. I feel that the earliest in life we understand that eating well and exercise is not just for the way we look and our body health it is our brain health.
What were some key ideas you wanted to share in this book?
The brain is the engine to the body. When we are treated kindly it makes us feel good. Feeling good is good for the brain. Being kind to others and not bullying, is healthy for others brain health. So, I encourage kids and adults to eat well, hydrate for overall brain and body health as well as being kind to themselves and others for mental and emotional care. This book is the children’s version of my adult book The Engine to Your Body, a Fitness Trainer’s Guide to Brain Health. I woke up one morning and thought, making a Kid’s edition of this book would be a great idea to help kids understand this at a younger age. Plus, it can help it be fun to learn about the brain. And with covid and home schooling I thought parents would like it as they help kids with homework and reading.
The art in this book is colorful and cute. What was the art collaboration like on this project?
The little girl in the book is the young kid version of my logo I use for my business. I thought if I could get an illustrator to make the kids version of my logo that is a cartoon type character of me it could be cute. So, I use Fiveer for my muscle illustrations and formatting my books before publishing. I ask a person there that re does logos if he could make a little girl and a teenage girl version of my logo. Then I would ask him now can you make her in the garden with my dog as a puppy. I sent him a picture of my dog, and so he did. All the pages are me having an idea or finding a pic I like and asking him to make it in our version of things with my girl in it. And since I wear hearing aids, I wanted a girl who had to wear hearing aids playing on a swing and jump roping to show that kids with hearing g aids can play just like other kids. Wearing hearing aids when you have a hearing loss is good brain care.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have four books in my series of books on Stroke Recovery, a book on spine care, a book on fall prevention and my two books on the brain. My next book is on Hearing loss. I have severe hearing loss and wear hearing aids.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Zappy The Happy Crane: Come Laugh With Me – Book Trailer
Zappy a is a red-crowned crane on a mission to instill happiness in both children and parents through 34 happy, positive, thought provoking, and funny poems where jumping, singing, dancing, laughing are all parts of the party. As a bird, the red-crowned crane symbolizes happiness, longevity, and good fortune. In Greek stories, the crane is said to be a sign of good luck and good things coming. Colorfully designed, Zappy, through this inspiration packed collection, wants to make sure every reader is empowered to fully live a deservingly happy life. Zappy is here to be your friend forever.
Tideon: A New Myth
![Tideon: A New Myth by [Elizabeth MacDonald, Bron Williams]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51g2ZZcgZTL.jpg)
Tideon: A New Myth follows the life of Tideon, and his mother, as Tideon makes a discovery that will change his life forever. After an accident gives him the ability to hear ocean animals, Tideon spends hours each day exploring the ocean, leaving his mother envious. But they both come to terms with their positions in life and learn much more in the process.
Tideon: A New Myth feels like the beginning of a larger fairy tale. Author Elizabeth MacDonald has written an enchanting story that mesmerizes you with its easy flowing words. Tideon goes on a magical journey that introduces readers to all sorts of animals and sea creatures. Along the way Tideon, and the reader, learns about God as well.
This book should be read by adults to children, as I think there are some large words and concepts that would need some accompanying explanation. While the story could be for children, I think it could also be for adults who want a light read, as the book goes into some deep topics. I really liked the relationship between Tideon and his mother, the conflict, and its resolution were the centerpiece to this story, I think. But the relationship Tideon had with his father was not explored and left me wanting to know why there was so much animosity.
The art in this book is phenomenal. The book is filled with some powerful imagery in muted colors that make the brighter colors pop when they appear and brings your attention to the important parts of the art pieces. Some of the pages were a single art piece that could easily be printed, framed, and hung on the wall.
Tideon: A New Myth is a mesmerizing story that provides plenty of material for internal reflection after reading. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking book to read to their kids.
Pages: 32 | ASIN: B08KGYDBY4
Your Brain Kids Edition
Filled with tips on brain health, nutrition suggestions, and the benefits of drinking water, Your Brain: The Engine to Your Body. A Fitness Trainer’s Guide to a Healthy Brain is exactly what the doctor ordered. Tracy L. Markley, fitness specialist, has gifted readers a phenomenal book that is brimming with ideas that readers can put to immediate use in their daily lives. Whether they want to improve their quality of life or are recovering from a brain injury, readers will find a long list of wonderful and practical tips that are all backed by science.
As a mother of two and a teacher who was recently diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, I am especially interested in the tips regarding improving brain function. Markley’s research and experience in brain health are thorough and organized for readers in an easy-to-follow, relatable format. Markley also gives many tips for gentle exercises that can further improve balance and thereby enhancing both hearing and brain function.
I highly recommend Your Brain: The Engine to Your Body. A Fitness Trainer’s Guide to a Healthy Brain to anyone that is dealing with issues surrounding brain health or any caregiver that wants to learn more about ways to encourage brain function for their loved ones or patients.
Pages: 13 | ASIN: B08KHNVH1Q
LITERARY TITAN 