Blog Archives
There Is a Place for Everyone
The Kitten That Could Not Meow follows five kittens who are looking for their forever home, including one that could not meow. What was the inspiration for your story?
Last year, one of my daughters adopted a homeless cat, rescued in the streets of Tennessee after a terrible storm months before. He was frightened of everything, and he could not meow. No one wanted to take him home except my daughter. Showing us there is a place for everyone! Months later, I got a phone call, and what did I hear? “Meow!”
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I have always loved orange cats. My favorite orange cat, I named Bob, after Bill Murray in What About Bob? My friends at Draw and Care in Ukraine illustrated Maria and Clara from images of my daughters. I wanted to share their love for kittens and mine. Bob, of course, is the orange kitten. I believe one of the most precious sounds in the world is purring…it does not matter how we ‘hear’ it.
I felt this children’s story was well-written and intensely meaningful for today’s children. What experience as a writer helped you create this heartwarming story?
I just could not get the idea of my daughter’s cat, Simon, who could not meow out of my head. How many children would never hear a meow? How sad. I woke up in the middle of the night and envisioned how my little tale could end. It still makes me cry when I read the last page. When, as a writer, I can feel emotionally engaged every time, perhaps I have penned a meaningful story.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Penelope’s Peace Place, is another precious and timeless ‘tale with tails,’ illustrated by my friends in Ukraine. It is a journey showing children the importance of family and sharing. Look for it in July.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Amazon
Krystal Winkle and Galloping Giuseppe
Most emergency room doctors seek details about a patient’s accident to provide the best care possible, and most patients willingly share this information. However, Krystal is not a typical patient. She harbors secrets that her grandmother has urged her to keep hidden—secrets that, if exposed, could reveal her powers and her family’s extraordinary heritage. Krystal must carefully guard this knowledge, even from her own father.
Krystal Winkle and the Galloping Giuseppe, by Carolyn Roth-White, is the captivating sequel to Roth-White’s children’s adventure novel, Krystal Winkle and the Peacemaker of Kigali. In this brilliantly penned fantasy, Krystal is hunted for her exceptional powers, which include enlisting the help of animals from all over. Young readers will be enchanted by the mystique surrounding Krystal as a member of the Cristalli. Her secret life, hidden from outsiders, the Cristalli Huntsmen, and even her own family, unfolds amid the Roman catacombs, revealing fantastic creatures and remarkable connections with nature.
Roth-White excels at crafting memorable characters and weaving adventure plots with the perfect blend of chaos, mystery, and suspense. Krystal is a vibrant character, and the first-person narrative creates an engaging reading experience. The use of the present tense throughout Krystal’s adventures adds immediacy and pulls readers into her world with ease. As an elementary teacher, I value chapter books that balance narration and dialogue while challenging young readers. Roth-White’s writing alternates between vivid descriptions of Rome, action-packed sequences, and clever, quick-witted exchanges between Krystal and her unique companions. This sequel strikes the perfect balance, keeping readers engaged from cover to cover.
Roth-White’s continuation of the Krystal Winkle saga promises to thrill young readers and offers a fantastic opportunity for novel studies in literature classes. I eagerly anticipate the announcement of a third installment in Krystal Winkle’s adventures.
Pages: 232 | ISBN : 978-0-568-35975-5
Rest and Safety
Old Bess follows Cynthia and Keith, who, after the beloved cow Old Bess goes missing just before calving, embark on a suspenseful search to find her, confronting their despair and hope amid a stormy night. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It is a true story from my childhood growing up and spending the summer months on my grandmother’s farm at the base of Hog’s Back Mountain in upstate New York.
What was the collaboration like with illustrator Audrey Savage?
She was amazing. When she came for our first meeting, I knew I wanted her to do the illustrations. She comes from a classical education and loves literature, so Old Bess went straight to her heart… I like to say, “She got it.” I said I wanted black and white and she just went for it!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I like the idea of staying with the difficult and right thing to do, even it’s uncomfortable or frightening.
Help from whatever community we have at the moment is always needed and we have to ask for it in good times and bad.
I wanted to explore the theme of how we find rest and safety…with each other, through hard work, and through creation.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am almost done with my second children’s book (illustrations and all). I am planning for “The Cabin” to be available to the world sometime in the fall of 2024. It is another almost true story that takes place in the same setting: Hog’s Back Mountain in upstate NY.
Author Links: Instagram | Website
Sir Flapalot’s Bubbly Bubble Blast
Sir Flapalot’s Bubbly Bubble Blast, by Charly Froh, is an enchanting children’s book set in the whimsical Emerald Kingdom. The story follows Flapalot, a dragon unlike any other, who can’t breathe fire but produces a delightful array of bubbles instead. Through his journey, Flapalot learns to embrace his unique abilities.
The writing in Sir Flapalot’s Bubbly Bubble Blast is wonderfully playful and imaginative. The vibrant and rhythmic language makes it a joy to read aloud. Phrases like “flippity-flappity flip-flap” and “bubbly-bobbly-wobbled” create a lively and engaging experience for young readers. The book’s humor is both clever and heartwarming, with Flapalot’s attempts to solve his bubble troubles adding a layer of delightful silliness that kids will love. The author’s skillful use of repetition and onomatopoeia makes the story memorable and fun to recite, adding to its charm.
The ideas within the book are impactful, especially for children navigating their own differences. Flapalot’s journey from feeling inadequate to embracing his unique gift is a powerful message about self-acceptance and the value of individuality. The turning point where Flapalot uses his bubbles to save the day underscores the idea that our differences can be our greatest strengths.
The fanciful illustrations by Zuzana Svobodová bring the Emerald Kingdom to life with vibrant colors and expressive characters, perfectly complementing the story and adding an extra layer of magic to the story. The artwork is detailed and engaging, capturing the whimsical essence of the story and making each page a visual delight.
Sir Flapalot’s Bubbly Bubble Blast is a delightful read for children aged 3 to 8. Its engaging narrative, heartwarming message, and enchanting illustrations make it a perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf. I think this picture book is particularly suitable for bedtime reading, encouraging young readers to embrace their uniqueness and find joy in who they are.
Take It All In
A Fairy on My Sleeve follows a woman who encounters a fairy while reading under a tree and causes her to contemplate the belief and magic of the ordinary. What was the inspiration for your story?
Many years ago on a glorious summer afternoon, I was digging in my flower garden, watching the bees, dragonflies, and butterflies, which were all flitting about me.
Without warning, a little one landed on the sleeve of my shirt.
It sat there for a short time, slowly opening and closing its wings.
As I gazed at it, I swear it looked back at me, just for an instant before it flew off.
It was a rather idyllic moment on its own, but in my mind, I changed it from an insect to a fairy.
With that simple revision, it had suddenly become a wondrous, magical event.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I think that the most important message in this story is to just slow down, smell the flowers, and pay attention to the little things that are all around.
Turn off your phone, go outside, and have a look around – and a listen. It’s amazing what you can discover when you start to pay attention.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from A Fairy on My Sleeve?
One thing I hope that readers take away is to put down the devices, go outside, and take it all in. Just by looking into a simple flower pot you can see an extraordinary hidden world, full of life.
Insects and other organisms that live in the dirt and hide amongst the leaves all have their own story. If you look at them long enough, they will tell you that story.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have a new book called Where Do All The Fairies Live? along with two others that are currently ready for illustration.
I also have my first children’s song recorded which is in the process of being mixed.
The song is called “Full Moon Friend,” a happy little bedtime song, which will hopefully be ready for release next month.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Join author, poet, and actress Mari Sherkin as she glimpses a magical world where things are as real as they seem.
Two Communities Happily Uniting
A Tall Tale: How the Ostriches Got Their Long Necks and Long Legs follows the residents of two communities living on opposite sides of a ridge who end up competing for resources. What was the inspiration for your story?
This story and another dozen stories I created when my younger daughter Stephanie was 6 or so years old. The idea was to relate bedtime stories that were family-oriented and had a challenge or obstacle to overcome with a successful resolution. The “Ostrich” story has two communities rather than a family involved, but there existed a disparate gap in the quality of life between the two communities and finally, the one community that was disadvantaged decided to do something about it. Rather than further divide the communities, their encounter resulted in the two communities happily uniting. My message was to promote a happy conclusion to an uneven situation.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Alejandro Echavez?
My publisher, Amplify Publishing has a portfolio of artists they initially recommend. They provide a list of 25 artists and we (the publisher and I) review their style of work to see what is compatible. We then select five to provide sketches of several scenes from the story and we narrow the list down to two to provide more in-depth illustrations. Alejandro simply stood out! Throughout the process, Alejandro was very responsive to suggestions and recommendations on the art panels. He is a true professional and very creative!
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
In all my work I have tried to introduce elements of sharing, hope, communication, sympathy, and successfully addressing challenges or obstacles in a collaborative fashion. I also try to include some mystical or fantasy elements to make to story interesting and entertaining.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next book that is now in production is called Lake Omigosh which is a story about a mountain lake in New Hampshire where a large “creature” is occasionally sighted prompting an exclamation “Oh My Gosh” and the name stuck. The story is about two young boy camp attendees who went out on the lake and ignored the three rules of boating: Avoid bad weather, Don’t go out too late, and Always take your life preservers. The boys are capsized, and how they are rescued is the theme of the story. But, they were lucky!
The other book that has been edited and is having the artwork completed is The Dancing Shoes. It is about a young girl who is desperate to be an accomplished ballerina but lacks confidence and underperforms. Her Mother gives her a pair of ballet shoes she said were Mother’s shoes and she was an accomplished ballerina. The little girl puts them on and is immediately performing much better. Then, she loses the shoes on a bus. Her Mother went out and found some used ballerina shoes and scuffed them up to look like the originals and gave them to her daughter. With the “returned” shoes, she excelled and eventually became the principal dancer for the NY Ballet. The daughter thanked her mother for the shoes being the main ingredient for her success and the Mother said, “They were never my Mother’s shoes. You did this all your own!”
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
The No-Haves, always jealous of the Have-Alls’ pets, decide to gather the Squatz for themselves. What results is a fierce tug-of-war that changes the two communities—and the Squatz—forever!
The Mess
The Mess by Alicia Smith is a delightful and heartwarming children’s book that captures the essence of childhood exploration and familial love. Young kangaroos Marie and Elise and their mom embark on a day filled with adventure and creativity. Their nature walk is a splendid depiction of curiosity and wonder, while the afternoon art time reflects the innocence and joy of childhood. The sudden disappearance of their favorite teddy bears introduces a relatable crisis that many children and parents will recognize.
Alicia Smith expertly portrays the close-knit bond of this kangaroo family, highlighting the importance of working together to solve problems. The narrative is engaging and soothing, making it an excellent choice for young readers.
The illustrations by Olivia Smith H. are a true highlight of the book. Her gentle lines and soft watercolors create a magical, almost ethereal atmosphere that perfectly complements the story. The vibrant depiction of the kangaroo world is both enchanting and comforting, inviting readers into a bright and lovely setting. The interplay between text and illustrations enhances the storytelling, making each page a visual and literary delight.
One of the aspects I liked most about The Mess is the portrayal of the mother’s role. Her expert solution to the missing teddy bears not only resolves the conflict but also teaches an important lesson about organization and teamwork. This aspect of the story is handled with such warmth and wisdom that it leaves a lasting impression.
The Mess is a precious picture book that beautifully captures a day in the life of a kangaroo family. It is suitable for all ages and is particularly perfect for bedtime reading. This book is certain to warm your heart and leave you with a sense of contentment as you drift off to dreamland.
Pages: 18 | ISBN: 057890103X
LITERARY TITAN 