Blog Archives
Marco, Pablo, & Olivia Volume One: Bella The Alpaca (Story Two)
Marco, Pablo, and Olivia are unpacking boxes and come across a photo album. One of their friends sees a picture of an alpaca and asks them how they go it. The kids tell the story of how they met a magical alpaca, that was prone to sleep flying, and the extraordinary adventure that brought them together.
This is an enchanting graphic novel that follows a trio of kids on a fun adventure with a cute alpaca. The story focuses on young Pablo and how his determination helped bring them together. I loved seeing them as a family unit throughout the book. He argued with his parents, but they still came together in the end and worked it out, with some support from his siblings. This is a great example of how supportive a family can be.
Each cell in the graphic novel is vibrant and all the characters emotions are easily visible. The story is told in English, but there is some occasional Spanish words throughout the story that gives the book a unique Latin flair and offers some additional educational moments to young readers looking to learn about a different language or culture.
Marco, Pablo, & Olivia: Bella The Alpaca is a fun graphic novel that showcases the importance of family and helping out creatures in need.
Pages: 42 | ASIN: B0BLJK62LD
Halloweenie
In a magical neighborhood, a friendly pumpkin comes to life. She can not wait to go and explore the neighborhood and see all the wonderful sites around her. Unfortunately, not all magical pumpkins are nice, some are scary and mean, and a group of them quickly sound her and scare her. Just when she thinks it is about to end, a group of teenagers arrives, but they are not the good samaritans the little pumpkin had hoped for. They start smashing pumpkins left and right. The friendly little pumpkin knew she was a goner until a small girl showed up and stopped the teenagers from smashing her. Gently the little girl picks up the friendly pumpkin and takes her away from danger.
Halloweenie is a captivating picture book by Amanda McCann. This heartwarming children’s book teaches children about standing up for people, and that friend can come in any form. The friendly pumpkin learns that not all humans are evil and out to harm her, and the little girl shows kids that even when you are small, you can still stand up for others and do the right thing.
The illustrations in this picture book are awe-inspiring. The story alone is magical and wonderful, but the images bring it all to life. The details on each page are eye-catching and will keep children actively engaged in the story. Each page in the book enhances the story without being too scary.
Halloweenie is a spellbinding picture book about friendship and fears. Children will learn about being a good friend, doing what’s right, and being okay when you are afraid of something. This is a captivating storybook to have at home or in a classroom to introduce the fall holiday season.
Pages: 42 | ISBN : 1667863320
It Has Been All About The Journey
The Adventures of Cathy the Catfish and Sammy the Swan follows two best friends who live in a pond and learn how much their friendship means to them. What was the inspiration for your story?
I provide security for an insurance company in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have a beautiful spread of a property. One of my duties is to ride around on a golf cart and check out the property. In the back of the building, there is a nice pond that many different animals frequent throughout the day. One day, I noticed a crane by the bank of the pond picking off small fish. I thought, what an unusual friendship that would be: bird and fish. Many children do not know what a crane is, but know of swans. The idea of two characters and a storyline came to me and I went back inside and started writing. The story was written in under 20 minutes and it just took off from there.
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
My target audience for this book is Pre-K and Kindergarten. This story teaches our young that not only can two different animals from different backgrounds come together and become friends, but they can do so in the same environment. This is an extremely important lesson for our children to learn, especially in today’s world. Even if they do not entirely grasp this concept, putting it in their ears is imperative.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
In my experience, it has been all about the journey. I received my Masters of Science in Sport Administration in December of 2021. During the process of getting my degrees, I wrote hundreds of papers. I would always joke that it would be nice if I could write something that would benefit me other than scholastically. When I started having success, I began kicking myself for not writing projects sooner. Then I realized that it took the journey for me to get here. I wasn’t ready at that point in my life.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have 5 books ready for production. I am waiting on illustrations before I can pitch them to my perspective publishers. My plan is to publish two books by the end of 2023, including a Christmas sequel that I’m calling: Christmas on the Pond; A Cathy and Sammy Story. I wish I had more of a definitive answer on the others, but I am playing the waiting game as well. In the meantime, I will enjoy watching Cathy and Sammy. It’s almost award season!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
By: Adam Houchins
Sharing a pond, Cathy the Catfish and Sammy the Swan become good friends. This is the story of their friendship and a memorable life lesson. Giving children a platform to think, ask questions, and learn, author Adam Houchins hopes this book will create smiles and family bonds.
About the Author
Adam Houchins is a father of four children and an uncle to two, and they will always inspire him. Houchins is currently a graduate student at Arkansas State University, and he is from Jacksonville, Arkansas. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and has been to twenty-four countries. Houchins is also an avid sports fan and a history buff.
New Ways of Learning
Musical Soul Mates follows a nervous little girl who loves music and learns how to share this passion with her classmates and overcome her fears. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for my story was our daughter, Eleanor, who has ADHD and anxiety and learned better through music. She loves music so much and had difficulty speaking in front of others, and I wanted to find a way for young children to know that they can connect to reading and lead by opening their hearts to new ways of learning.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Estelle Corke?
Estelle was wonderful. I wanted someone who used watercolor and she was able to bring my book to life. I described the characters, and Estelle drew them exactly how I saw them. She draws great expression in her illustrations. Estelle starts with pencil drawings and then moves to color once the drawings are approved. It was a wonderful collaboration.
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I believe that using onomatopoeia words in children’s picture books is important because it draws the reader into the book, thus causing them to want to read more and then increase their reading ability in the future.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am working on another children’s book about a young boy who chooses the perfect pet, and I hope to have it out August 2023.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
But when it’s Eleanora’s turn to speak in front of her kindergarten class and share her Show and Tell, the fun disappears. The only way Eleanora will ever be able to conquer her fears and show her talent is with the help of a close, yet mysterious, friend.
Ella Learns to Dance
Whoever heard of an elephant that does ballet? Ella is an elephant and she loves ballet. When she joins a ballet class she finds out that ballet is harder than she thought. With some perseverance, and a helpful tip, she is well on her way to becoming a graceful ballerina.
Ella Learns to Dance is a charming children’s book following a little elephant as she tries to accomplish her dream of being a ballet dancer. At first her friends make fun of her, which is a little sad, but I think this is something that many children will be able to relate to. Author Stenetta Anthony then shows young readers that they don’t need their friends acceptance in order to pursue their dreams, they just need to believe in themself.
When Ella joins the ballet class the book then shows her struggling, which I thought was another relatable moment for many kids as they often try things and fail the first time. This picture book is a fantastic resource to teach children perseverance, and to accept advice from others.
Ella Learns to Dance is a cute children’s book that will teach kids valuable life lessons and is fun to read. Seeing the cute elephants in the book, especially Ella in her outfit, will ensure kids stay glued to the pages.
ISBN13: 9781685266653
Emu Town Stories
Magician Emu follows an emu who aspires to be like a great magician but struggles and must find her own magic and path forward. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Magician Emu is book #3 in the Emu Town Stories picture book series. I’d been thinking of exploring the theme of self-acceptance in this book but didn’t quite know who the main character would be. I was volunteering at a kindergarten classroom last year, when a little girl came up to me and said, “I want to be a magician when I grow up!”, waving her imaginary wand with confidence. That was it – my character had to be an aspiring magician! Being in the classroom, I also heard a lot of kids say, “I want to be like (someone)”. I was inspired to create another character that the magician would aspire to be, which led to Spikey Spike.
The art in this book was fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Anastasia Yezhela?
Anastasia is a joy to work with! She has illustrated all four of the Emu Town Stories picture book series. I was blown away when I saw the character design of Magician Emu and Spikey Spike for the first time. Her vision and vibrant style bring my stories alive. I am so grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with her on this book and hopefully more in the future!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I write books that promote social-emotional learning in children. In Magician Emu, I explored themes of self-acceptance, celebrating who we are and daring to be different. Children will feel empowered to believe in themselves and be whoever they want to be! Also, there are very few female magicians in the world, which is why I wanted my main character to be female – with the hope that it will inspire young girls to consider being magicians, should they want to.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next picture book is YOGIC EMU, book #4 in the Emu Town Stories series, which goes on sale February 2023. It explores the benefits of mindfulness and yoga through a funny, rhyming tale.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram
In old and charming Emu Town…an emu aspires to be like the great magician, Spikey Spike. But her magic goes all wrong and nothing like Spikey’s! Will the emu find her magic and dare to be different?
With award-winning author, R.C. Chizhov’s playful rhymes and Anastasia Yezhela’s colorful illustrations, Magician Emu is a funny and heartwarming tale of embracing who you are!
Perfect for holiday gifting, read-aloud, classroom discussion and bedtime!
There’s a Nanny in MY House!
On a regular Monday morning, someone rings the doorbell. Who can it be? It’s Millie and Freddie’s new nanny. Millie feels a little unsettled, but when her parents leave for work Millie and Freddie spend the day with Nanny Riah. Will Millie and Nanny Riah get along? Find out in There’s a Nanny in MY House!
Author Maria Culley has created a wonderfully educational children’s book that will help children come to terms with having a nanny. It can be difficult for kids to have a stranger in their house. This book shows children all the wonderful things that a nanny can do for them and with them. It showcases all the fun children can have with a nanny to help soothe their unease.
This picture book contains wonderful sketch art on every page. I loved how Freddie was giggling and happy throughout. Millie’s anxiety can be clearly seen on her face, and I enjoyed seeing her emotion slowly change so that we can see that she’s having a good time by the end of the book.
There’s a Nanny in MY House! is a fantastic resource for parents that want to prepare their children for having a nanny in their house. The book also includes helpful transition tips at the back of the book for parents. Children will love the illustrations and be able to relate to Millie in this educational picture book.
Pages: 61 | ISBN: 173981908X
Lilah Loves Life
It’s a bright and beautiful day and Lilah is excited for all the fun things that she can do today. Right after breakfast she heads out to play. She enjoys a variety of fun activities like playing hopscotch, making bubbles, and flying a kite. Her entire day, from morning to bedtime, is filled with fun activities.
I loved Lilah’s energy and enthusiasm for life. This charming children’s book will show children how, with a little imagination, they can have a lot of fun all day long. The book also shows Lilah having fun all by herself, which I think will be great for parents that have only one child. It’s great to play with others, but you don’t need to in order to have fun, as Lilah will show you. I enjoyed the large amount of activities that Lilah did in this book as well. This will give kids a lot of activities they can do on their own if they can’t think of any.
Every page has wonderful graphic art with bright colors and shading that really gives the images great depth. I loved seeing Lilah in different situations because the artwork makes everything look so cute. Children will love pointing out all the adorable little animals that make an appearance throughout the book.
Lilah Loves Life will show children how to make the most of their day and will inspire them to go outside and play. This excellent rhyming book is perfect for early readers as it contains easy-to-read words. The vibrant illustrations will also help parents keep their young kids focused as they read this story to them at bedtime. This is a wonderfully imaginative picture book that children will surely enjoy.
Pages: 36 | ISBN: 1639886117
LITERARY TITAN 