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The Ballad of Billy McFee
Billy McFee is a fish with a ship. The problem is his ship is stuck in the muck. He wants to sail his ship and have fun, but he can not pull it free. While singing a shanty and working to pull the ship free, he attracts the attention of other sea creatures. Two clams tell him he will fail. A crab watches from the seaweed, and a shark and a whale swim over to help. Finally, the unlikely team works together to free the ship from the muck.
This whimsical children’s book, written by Ruby Mosher, takes a sea shanty theme and turns it into a lighthearted story about teamwork, diversity, and positive thinking. The song aside, this book has fantastic artwork that will appeal to adults and children. There are many easter eggs hidden in the pages and parallel stories. The clams are hysterical with their naysayer attitude and side discussions that relate back to Billy’s ship problem. Billy learns to ignore them, just like we all have to ignore the naysayers that try and push us off our own paths. All the books that Emma the crab is reading have entertaining titles and give fun extra facts relating to nautical topics and self-esteem. Each member of Billy’s crew brings unique talents to the ship and this memorable story.
This captivating children’s book is designed to be read as a poem, a story, or sung as a sea shanty. This heartwarming picture book is a highly original concept that combines all the messages and storylines into one big picture while imparting critical social messages to children.
The Ballad of Billy McFee: A sea shanty to read or sing is an entertaining picture book that children and parents will love to read or sing to. Teachers can use this book for all preschool and elementary school-age children to teach different morals or introduce ocean science units.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B09KSBHV3F
I Found It Just As Interesting
Ships, Sleighs and Christmas Lights tells the story of how a young boy from Patara grew into the man we now think of as Saint Nicholas. What inspired you to write this story?
There are many wonderful things about gift-giving at Christmas time but for Christians who celebrate the holiday, it can be tricky separating the commercial from the spiritual. I have friends who want to embrace the fun of the season with their children, while making them aware of the historical figures associated with Christmas. I wrote the book with them in mind. Having researched Nikolaos’ life, I found it just as interesting as some of the fantasy stories about Santa Claus.
What were some of the challenges you had moving from being an illustrator to an author and illustrator?
I am used to complimenting an author’s words with illustrations so owning both aspects of picture book storytelling was a new experience for me. An outline of the story came first, then I sketched some of the key scenes. I worked with an editor before I started drawing, so the text was finalised and I knew how much space would be needed in the layout for the illustrations.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Nikolaos is recognised as a saint. I wanted to explore ways in which his upbringing shaped his beliefs. Not everyone will relate to him in this way but I’d like to think the book will be of interest to people with different beliefs too. Much of the book is about culture and the ways in which we influence one another (hopefully for the better). Although our clothes and countries of origin may appear to be different, people are always drawn to goodness.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
There were so many legends about Saint Nicholas to draw on and some were only hinted at in Christmas Lights. I am writing a story about three young girls whose father fell on hard times. Nikolaos allegedly provided the family with special gifts but I wanted to tell the story from the girls’ perspective so they have a sense of agency. Most girls work hard but are not given opportunities or rewards. I’d like to think a privileged man like Nikolaos would address such imbalances. I hope to publish it in time for Christmas 2022.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Courage Over Fear
Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear follows a young girl that must conquer her fear of water in order to attend her best friend’s birthday party. What inspired you to write this picture book?
When we started teaching our children about having a positive mindset and our positive and negative inner voices we came up with this great idea of a character called Sticky Icky Vicky, who must deal with water fear and face her inner voices.
The book is vaguely based on our youngest daughter’s fear of water. At the time Rhea was having great difficulty being introduced to water and learning to swim because she had grommets in her ears, (tiny tubes inserted into the eardrum to treat a build up of fluid in the middle ear and prevent recurrent ear infections), after having repeated ear infections and didn’t like putting her head under water.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Noor Alshalabi?
The art work is fantastic in that it’s vibrant, very imaginative and completely distinctive.
Noor Alshalabi is a Jordan based picture book illustrator while my husband and I are based In Canberra, Australia. All the collaboration for this amazing art work and illustrations for Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear was done through email, with the occasional phone call or FaceTime. This is all a testament to Noor’s brilliant communication skills and ability to work as part of a team. She is very skilled at reading into our comments and creating something amazing. We are very happy to have her working with us.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The principle message we want to pass across is that – it is okay to have fear, but it is not okay to let the fear stop you from doing what you like, love or need to do.
Courage over Fear offers children an inspirational/loveable heroine who learns some valuable lessons like courage, positive thinking and goal-setting. It is a reading experience that leaves children believing that they, like Vicky, can get past any obstacle in their way.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The second book in the Sticky Icky Vicky series is called “Sticky Icky Vicky: Choosing to Be Myself.”
It follows Vicky and her love for playing in the mud, getting all icky and sticky. But when a school bully starts making fun of her, Vicky’s love for mud play is dashed. That is, until she learns about upcoming International Mud Day. Vicky wants nothing more than to get in on the fun—but first she needs to stop listening to other people’s opinions.
Sticky Icky Vicky: Choosing to Be Myself will be available for purchase from March 2022.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
In Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear, the first book in the Sticky Icky Vicky™ series, authors Alysia and Michael Ssentamu introduce readers to Vicky, a fun-loving girl who doesn’t mind getting a little sticky and icky. She loves rolling down hills and playing in mud—but when it comes to water, Sticky Icky Vicky’s fear prevents her from joining in the fun. Then Vicky gets an invitation for a waterpark party, and she decides that she really wants to go—even if it means ignoring the Negative Ned voice in her head and getting over her fear.
With vibrant illustrations and catchy rhymes, Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear offers children an inspirational/loveable heroine who learns some valuable life lessons, such as:
Courage
Positive thinking
Goal-setting
Aimed primarily at readers aged six to ten, Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear is a reading experience that leaves kids believing that they, like Vicky, can get past any obstacle in their way.
The Fascinating World Of Holes
The Hole Story takes children on an adventure exploring all the different holes there are in the world around them. What inspired you to write this picture book?
I have spent my life telling entertaining and educational stories to my 6 children and 13 grandchildren. I also love puns and wordplay and for many years joked about someday writing a book and calling it “The Hole Story.” During the pandemic when I was forced to be separated from my children and their families, I decided to write this book as a gift for my grandchildren. After receiving it, my daughter who is an Education faculty member at a university, encouraged me to publish the book as it had many elements that teachers could use in the classroom to help teach spatial concepts in a fun way. Thus, The Hole Story was made available for the public to enjoy!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Katelynn Hoefelman?
Katelynn is a joy to work with. We have a great collaborative relationship. I draft my manuscript and try to think of examples of scenes or illustrative elements that will augment the telling of the story and move it forward. I break down my suggestions into the sections of text for pages and suggestions for artwork and Katelynn takes it from there. As I have more than one book, and intend to write more, we have agreed on an illustration “style” for my books that will hopefully make them more recognizable. Katelynn is responsible for coming up with a number of innovative paths in the illustrations that just add to the readers enjoyment.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
First and most important, learning should be fun. And, second, you need to look beyond the obvious and use your imagination to see the possibilities all around you. Holes are just one example of looking beyond the obvious “hole in the ground”, for instance, and seeing that it has a purpose. It’s just one more step to seeing other critical things such as looking beyond a person’s physical appearance and being able to see who they really are. I also wanted to introduce children to wordplay and that a word may sound the same as another, but can be spelled differently and have a completely different meaning. Many paths for a teacher or parent to take with these concepts.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book will be “The Whole Dollar” and is based on a true story about my two oldest sons. This story focuses on the close bond between siblings, what it means to share, and the unexpected gifts that can return to you later on in life. It’s one that will tug at your heartstrings and will speak to big brothers, little brothers, big sisters and little sisters everywhere.
The book will be in pre-sale at major book distributors in the next couple of weeks and will be released on March 4, 2022.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
A Tribute To Her
Happy Tails Camper Stories: Lucy Learns to Share follows a young dog as she learns that having the toy you want but no one to share it with is not any fun. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My inspiration for this book was our Westie, Lucy, who actually did have a favorite toy at her doggie daycare that she would not share with the other dogs. I was also motivated to write her story as a tribute to her, because she got very sick and we had to say goodbye to her last year. Writing the book was cathartic for me and brought me closure after her loss.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Sarah Gledhill?
The publisher, Atmosphere Press, referred me to several illustrators so I could make my choice. What drew me to Sarah’s artwork was the way she draws dogs…they are charming and expressive without being “cartoon-y”. Sarah was able to draw Lucy, her friend Bingo and some other dogs based on photos I sent her. I’ve had many compliments on Sarah’s illustrations.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Sharing can be tough for young children, whether it is with siblings or playmates. I think children can relate to the sharing issue as seen through Lucy’s eyes and hopefully learn that it really is better to share toys with friends.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I actually have ideas for two more books in the series. Shortly after we lost Lucy, we adopted a stray that showed up in a friend’s neighborhood, so I am working on a story about Harry finding a new home. Also, I know a new baby in the family can be difficult for a child, so I think Bingo will be getting a little brother and will learn to deal with the issues that a new family member will present for him. I would like to have both books done by the end of 2022.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
On her first day at Happy Tails Dog Camp, Lucy meets other dogs and sees lots of toys to play with. But another dog grabbed the toy she wanted and ran off with it! Lucy has a plan to get that toy for herself, but when she does, her plan doesn’t work the way she had hoped.
In “Happy Tails Camper Stories: Lucy Learns to Share” by Sharlene Novak, we experience Lucy’s disappointment when another dog takes the toy she wants and when her plan to get that toy has an unexpected result. But her friend Bingo saves the day with the perfect solution!
Changemakers Of The Future
You Belong Too follows a young girl as she navigates being the new kid in school. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for the set up to this story was to teach children the importance of including others and accepting one another despite differences.
The art in this engaging picture book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with Carrisa Harris?
The art collaboration process with my illustrator, Carissa Harris, was phenomenal. She is extremely talented. We worked well together as a team and she was very open to and patient with all of my suggestions, changes or additions I wanted.
What made you decide to write a children’s book on empathy and kindness?
I decided to write a children’s book on empathy and kindness because I believe these qualities will empower todays children to become impactful leaders and changemakers of the future. As well, there is always room for more kindness in our world.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The next book I am working on is about two boys and their adventures sailing the North Channel, but it is still in progress while I enjoy sharing this one.
Author Links: Instagram | Website | GoodReads
But to Annie, it’s so much more.
Today is her first day at a brand-new school. She can feel the butterflies fluttering in her tummy.
Even though Annie’s Mom reminds her that she can do hard things, she wonders if it’s really true.
As she sits alone at recess, she begins to lose hope.
Maybe I can’t do hard things.
…. Or can she?
Join Annie as she overcomes her fears and takes a brave step towards kindness and friendship that leaves a positive effect on her entire class.
The Remarkable Story of Willie the Crow
When a young hunting dog and a crow decide to be friends, the dog pack does not know what to think. They hunt birds, yet a crow wants to hang out and be friends with them. Willie, the crow, is undeterred by the gruff hunting dogs and enjoys playing with the puppy Patch. While playing, Willie flies over the pool, and Patch, not paying attention, falls in. Turns out Patch does not know how to swim. None of the dogs know how to swim. They run to find the Labrador Newt thinking he can swim, but he is terrified of the water. Finally, through some encouragement from family and friends, he jumps in to save Patch.
The Remarkable Story of Willie the Crow: A Hickory Doc’s Tale, written by Linda Harkey, is a creative picture book about the friendship between two unlikely animals. The pack of dogs is concerned that a puppy hanging out with a crow is wrong, and they try to convince their senior dog Doc to put an end to the friendship. Doc, however, is a thinker; he looks at the situation and, rather than jump to conclusions, evaluates the benefits. He backs up his decision by pointing out that Willie the crow has worked with them to save Patch rather than just flying off and leaving her to drown. The message of inclusion and acceptance makes this children’s book a great addition to any book collection.
Illustrator Mike Minick has done an excellent job capturing the emotions of the dogs and Willie. Each page is vibrant and engaging. Even without the text, the story is clear from the marvelous drawings. Children will laugh as they learn a valuable lesson about friendship and family.
The Remarkable Story of Willie the Crow: A Hickory Doc’s Tale is a captivating tale about friends, family, acceptance, working together, and believing in yourself. Parents and educators will love having this picture book to read to children in and out of the classroom.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B07LCKSXSW
Animal Acres
Sammy Skunk lives on a farm, Animal Acres. One night he wakes up from his nap to a strange sound. Finding his dinner, he looks up and sees a strange animal, a raccoon. Sammy has never met a raccoon before and notices how they are different, but this does not deter him from making a new friend. After inviting the strange animal over to share his dinner, they end up spending the night together playing and exploring.
What do a skunk and a raccoon have in common? Both love to explore and play at night, and both have stripes. While their stripes go in different directions, they still manage to become friends and go on an adventure together on the farm. Animal Acres by Colby Becknell Hardison is a cute picture book that doubles as a children’s coloring book.
Sammy Skunk and Rocky Racoon quickly become friends over a shared meal. They share stories about their lives, Sammy from the farm and Rocky from life outside the farm. They realize that being different is not harmful and can lead to great adventures exploring their friend’s world.
This creative story is more than just a picture book; children can color the pages as they read along with the story, which makes it more memorable. Learning that just because they are different doesn’t mean they can not be friends is valuable lesson for young kids. This imaginative story will allow children to explore the idea of friendship and adventure. The drawings are not overly detailed, making them great for younger children to color that may not color fine details yet.
Animal Acres is an amazing coloring picture book and is perfect for children and adults that are young at heart. The fun drawings add to the story, and readers will have to add their own flair to their adventures as they color the pages.
Pages: 24 | ASIN : B08NT884F3
LITERARY TITAN 