Blog Archives
Lucky the Leprechaun on the Loose
Lucky the Leprechaun comes to visit children from the first of March untill Saint Patrick’s day. In this short time, he stirs up as much mischief as he can, without being destructive, to make children laugh. He loves to bring a smile to the face of children by leaving notes, hiding toys, playing pranks, and even making a mess now and then. If you see a rainbow you know he is near, watching and waiting for the next time to appear.
Lucky the Leprechaun on the Loose by author Maria Cedolini Thompson is a fantastic picture book that tells the story of Lucky in a style similar to the Elf on the Shelf story that children love. Lucky hides and causes mischief around the house and the school classroom. None of his antics are dangerous or damaging, but simple fun pranks that children will relate to and find entertaining.
What I loved about this magical children’s book is the writing style. Each page is written in the style of a poem, and they all flow together to tell the story. Many children’s books rhyme, but this feels like each page is a unique poem telling the mystical story of Lucky. The beautifully drawn illustrations by Daria Shamolina bring the words to life. Lucky’s personality jumps off the page and will make children want to run along on adventures with him. The colors and whimsical style are eye-catching and integrate seamlessly with the story.
Lucky the Leprechaun on the Loose is a remarkable picture book about leprechauns and the fun they have leading up to St. Patrick’s day. The unforgettable poetry and remarkable illustrations will make this children’s book a favorite for years to come. Teachers and caregivers will find this to be a great read-aloud and introduction to the holiday of St. Patrick’s day for preschoolers and young elementary students.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B09MGFHSLQ
Danika’s Dancing Day
This educational children’s book serves to instruct children on dancing while also delivering a very sweet story. I think it’s cute that Korona creates and demonstrates dance steps for every illustration and story plot whether or not it’s part of a dance. For example, when Danika has had all the fun she can have, she decides to lay down and take a nap. Korona shows readers how to do a sitting spin on the floor before demonstrating how to curl up for a nap.
The illustrations are beautiful and very realistic. Danika’s dress, while dancing with the vacuum, is gorgeous with an almost opalescent glow. All the illustrations are as bright and colorful throughout the book. I especially love the little woodland animals in the backyard. The illustrator has put a great amount of detail into the nature scenes, and every time I look, I spot something new: a bird, chipmunk, a dragonfly, cute little things I love picking out from the landscape.
There are extra dance instructions at the bottom of the page that provide extra content, and value, to the book but I found it hard to understand sometimes. I think that a good audience for this book is children between the ages of five and seven; kids who are likely highly energetic. This is why I think this book is best read with an adult who can read the instructional material that is provided. But older children will easily be able to take the time to learn the steps.
The dance instructions use dance terminology and are accompanied by visuals as well. The story is adorable, and young readers will enjoy the story as parents help them work on their dancing.
The illustration of Danika’s mother is beautiful and wholesome. This book is absolutely charming, and I love how the book serves the double purpose of instructing little kids on how to dance. It makes me wonder if I would have loved dancing more if I read a book like this when I was a kid. I was not lucky enough to have an encouraging dance teacher; however, this book is full of positive, fun-loving vibes and delivers such a beautiful message.
Pages: 38 | ISBN: 1955555133
Inspired By A Girl Named Daisha
Daisha Gets the “I” in KIND follows a young school girl that wins an award for all the kind things she has done at her school. What was the inspiration for your story?
I was inspired by a girl named Daisha and other students that I work with. Their positive actions are noticeable and sparked an idea in my head.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Marcos Rodrigues?
I am so glad that you loved the artwork. I imagined each illustration and he brought it to life. I provided samples of the style that I envisioned, then wrote detailed notes about each scene of the story. He created sketches for my approval or for adjustments.
In the end I love the results.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main theme was kindness. I wanted readers to understand that kindness can be shown in many different ways. Also the main character Daisha, made the connection that she learned to be kind from observing in and participating with her own family.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book just came out. It is about self love, ” I Love Myself, Willliam’s Whys”. It explores the love that Willliam has for himself even when he makes mistakes or isn’t perfect. It is now available on amazon: https://amzn.to/34CO96t
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Peeps in Bloom
Isaac is in a new school, making new friends, and carrying an old secret. As he is trying to settle into his role as the boy trying to get noticed on the first day, he makes a couple of discoveries. First, there could actually be a witch living in his new neighborhood, second, he just might have made friends with the school activist. Meg, intent on saving the school’s courtyard, has enlisted the help of her friends, including Issac, and is determined to preserve her favorite part of their school environment. Isaac, willing to help but fighting his own battle, must figure out what is going on with himself before he can help anyone else.
Peeps in Bloom, by J.D. Suhre, is the story of two friends both facing their own very different obstacles but simultaneously solving their own little mystery. Suhre has included several parallel plot lines to capture young readers’ attention and keep them guessing throughout the book. Told in chapters that alternate between the first-person points of view of the two main characters, Suhre’s story offers two unique perspectives of the same plot.
Isaac’s problem is a tricky one. While it is difficult as a parent to watch him face his own health issue virtually alone, I am sure this is a dilemma experienced by many children daily, especially at this upper elementary/middle school age. In fact, his apprehension in telling anyone about his strange episodes reminds me of the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. There is a great lesson to be learned from both stories, and Suhre touches on a hard reality with Isaac’s storyline.
I was pleasantly surprised at the turn the story takes when it comes to rumors of the witch in the neighborhood. There are so many ways a plot like this one can take; it was refreshing to see the way Suhre incorporated Mrs. Peekers into Meg and Isaac’s stories. As an adult reader, if I had an aha moment, young readers are sure to experience a thrill when they realize the truth.
Peeps in Bloom is a short creative novel geared for upper elementary and tweens. It carries within its pages some difficult lessons and wonderful examples of what strength, determination, and courage can do. Young readers will benefit from taking this journey with Issac and Meg.
Pages: 126 | ASIN : B09R1ZDN46
Wondering Is A Fun Place
Gertie Saves the Day is about a groundhog competition to be the next Groundhog Day celebration groundhog. What was the inspiration for your story?
I have always loved Groundhog Day. I always found it fascinating that animals were able to indicate to farmers whether or not they should begin planting their spring crops. As a child I was always hoping for an early spring!
It bothered me that only male groundhogs were selected to celebrate Groundhog Day. I began to wonder what it might be like to have a female groundhog celebrate this special day. What would the selection process look like? How would the selection be made? Wondering is a fun place when writing children’s books.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Daniela Massironi?
The art collaboration process with my illustrator, Daniela Massironi, was amazing. Daniela is a talented illustrator who captured my attention with her portfolio of cute animals with beautiful facial expressions. For me, facial expressions are important when telling a children’s story. We worked together as a team. Daniela first concentrated on the main characters, then she moved on to the page illustrations. Daniela made some great suggestions along the way and was open to my suggestions. It truly was a team effort. I may have written the story, but Daniela’s illustrations made the story come to life!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
This book began as an introduction to Groundhog Day and as the story grew there were several childhood themes that developed. Competition and disappointment are themes that children can understand and relate to in their own lives. Sharing how Gertie handled her disappointment let’s children know it’s alright to be disappointed and there are different ways to handle disappointment. The book also has themes of friendship, kindness and teamwork. Each of these themes give parents and teachers the opportunity to have meaningful discussions with children.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am writing a series of books for young children about Kindness/Bullying, Sharing, Diversity/Inclusion and Patience. This series should be available late summer, early fall. My next project will be co-authoring a children’s book about acupuncture.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram | Website
Gertie Saves the Day is more than a book about Groundhog Day. It is a story that explores the excitement of a special event, competition, disappointment and friendship. It is a book that children will want to read over and over again and will make a wonderful addition to any classroom or home library.
Asset Allocation For All Markets
Terry Grennon has written a masterpiece that will be of service to entrepreneurs or any anyone looking to learn financial skills. By the end of the book, readers will be able to invest and grow their assets with ease. Reading this book is akin to being in a virtual economics class. The author discusses diverse contemporary markets in detail and explains how investors can make more wealth. By following the simple guide shared by the author, readers stand to benefit, not just as an entrepreneur, but also as an average citizen, as the wealth readers gain will help in the community.
I loved reading this book because the author separates reality from fantasy. Terry Grennon is genuine and sober with his thoughts. Terry Grennon uses facts, data and statistics to expound on his discussions. His theories are objective and the advice given is relevant to the economic times we are in
One of the major lessons in the books was about markets. Getting to understand how markets work, your target market and how fluctuations occur is as critical as any other element in the industry.
The author also inspires readers to embrace change, and be open to new trends. You have to put in all your effort and be willing to accept new ideas every day. Having been present when there were economic crises through different years, Terry Grennon has the best tips for investors that need to survive future economic turmoil.
The research alone done by the author is enough for one to buy this book. The author has analyzed different markets and gives a breakdown of the past 50 years. The language in the book is relatively easy to understand and exposes the average reader to new marketing and economic terms. I also got to understand inflation and the role governments play in raising prices of products.
Asset Allocation For All Markets is a compendium on markets, wealth distribution and simple economics. I left this book with a new confidence, and a pragmatic and actionable strategy, to invest my assets.
ISBN: 9781684895786
I Found Something New And Exciting
Muddied Waters: Coda follows several characters as they explore different paths in life. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
In our previous interview concerning Muddied Waters, I mentioned how it didn’t feel right abandoning Chelsea’s character to the cutting room floor. Now that the novel is finished and I’m beginning to see the feedback, I’m very glad I wrote Coda. She is the most badass female character I could ever concoct and it was mostly to make things right for her, in my mind. Another big inspiration was my research on the Haitian Revolution, which felt like the missing piece I needed to set Coda’s atmosphere. Under no circumstances was I interested in retreading themes from the first book- I’d said all I was going to say about pirate culture. With this important piece of history, I found something new and exciting: musings about motherlands and their colonies, with comparisons to family dynamics, parents and their progeny.
What is one pivotal moment in the story that you think best defines Teague?
Excellent, excellent question! I never fully considered what defines my characters, likely because I’ve never really had that kind of introspection with myself. That being said, I believe a person’s character is defined many small moments, rather than just one or two cataclysmic events. Because Teague had seen and done so much in life, because he couldn’t think of a single thing left to carry on for, he spends the novel trying to find a way to die right, whether it’s by his own power or someone else’s. The terrier scene is directly inspired by a personal experience, so that holds a special place in my heart. I’m quite proud of the gallows scene as well. But when I read or watch movies, my favourite moments always tend to be the ones that at first glance are inconsequential, so I’ll say it’s when Teague throws Viceroy Belo’s destroyed pommel into Puerto Bello’s harbour. It’s the first real step he takes on his journey, and the first step is always the most important.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
I believe so. I’m happy with how I wrapped up Teague’s saga, and positively overjoyed that I could present Chelsea to you all! Jonathan began as a sort of last-minute addition, and I hope he rose above the literary tool I initially created him as to better flesh out Chelsea’s arc. I purposely kept Rafael and Bernal bare-bones, to make it feel as if the reader was on the outside, witnessing a conflict that was none of their business. Teo Quintana was the perfect replacement for Ross Stone. The only character that I’m still not sure about is Alger: he seemed removed from the main story, though if I’m honest, he should be, given his circumstances. I had a very difficult time developing his perspective as it related to Saint Domingue; I wanted him to represent the social progress in Europe at the time (ie. powerful white men benefitting from the status quo who also recognize the societal cost), but not so much that he came off as bleeding-heart or…dare I say it…”woke”. Regardless, if I was going to properly conclude Teague’s story, I had no choice but to provide Alger the same service. I did my best to do that.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a major project, still in its early stages. It will be my attempt at a fantasy. I also have an experimental novella that explores solitude and paranoia. That one is more of a psychological horror. There is no timeline for their completion and if I do end up finishing them, I don’t see myself coming up with anything else. Never say never, though!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook
Years after pillaging the Nossa Senhora Do Abismo, ex-pirate Jackson Teague continues to struggle with the costly fallout from the ill-fated galleon’s bounty. Half a world away, a grownup Alger Moore finds equal difficulty in reconciling their shared past. But when a ruthless and diverse crew of bandits begin rampaging across the Caribbean, both will be inexplicably pulled back into a world they thought had been effectively ended by Europe’s perceived social progress. Navigating around a burgeoning culture of independence within the New World’s colonies, both will be afforded the rare opportunity to find closure with each other and themselves.
Wilbur’s New Home
Wilbur’s New Home: A Surprise for Wilbur, written by author Deanie Humphrys-Dunne is an engaging picture book for toddler and preschool-age children. Wilbur the tractor is getting older, and working on Farmer Jim’s land is getting to be too much for him. Jim is worried about Wilbur and wants him to go to a new home where he won’t have to work so hard and be with people who will love and appreciate him. Jim is more than Wilbur’s owner; he is Wilbur’s best friend. After meeting several people that were not a good fit, Wilbur is afraid to leave Jim. Jim, however, reassures him, washing his wheels, covering him with his favorite blanket, and telling him that he would not let him go somewhere he did not want to go.
This heartwarming story teaches children about friendship, patience, trust, and openness to change and new things in life. Wilbur is happy with Jim but trusts Jim when he says he needs to go to a home where he can still be helpful but not overworked. Change is hard, and Wilbur is anxious as new people come to meet him, especially when they are unkind. Change is hard for many people, especially children. This exceptional book shows children that it is ok to be worried, it is normal, and finding ways to deal with strong emotions is key. Wilber uses his blanket not just to stay warm but for the comfort of something familiar. Jim makes sure to reassure Wilber that the owner will know what he needs to be comfortable in his new home. He also promises to visit him and make sure things are going well. The author includes at the end a list of quiz questions to open up discussions with children on these important topics.
Illustrators Wanda L. Urabazo and Holly Humphrys-Bajaj use strong colors and bold lines to portray the excitement and emotions of the characters. Their creative portrayals will engage children as they listen to this meaningful story.
Wilbur’s New Home: A Surprise for Wilbur is a feel-good picture book for preschoolers and young children that introduces challenging topics in an age-appropriate manner. This is an excellent resource for teachers, parents, and caregivers looking for a fun and lighthearted way to introduce the concept of friendship and change.
Pages: 53 | ASIN : B09N9YZJBD
LITERARY TITAN 