Blog Archives
The Fox’s City
Francis is a real piece of work and has been since he was a young fox. Known for his greedy ways and the bullying he inflicted on others, he grew into an even more selfish adult. When he finagles his way into becoming the acting mayor, his plans to run the city are no less conniving and self-serving. Erasmus, the mayor’s good friend and trusted assistant smells a rat and sets out to put a stop to Francis’s scheme. The days of Francis getting what he wants may just be coming to an abrupt end.
The Fox’s City, written by Tuula Pere and illustrated by Andrea Alemanno, is the delightful tale of one fox’s plan to outwit a city and have his way. Francis is your typical literary fox–sly, selfish, and always scheming. He is a fantastic main character and has every possible flaw needed to make him memorable and make his story worthy of rereading time and time again. Erasmus, who seems so unassuming, is the ideal sidekick to the mayor and gives readers someone to root for against the calculating fox.
Pere’s tale is well-written and engaging, and I was enchanted by Alemanno’s beautiful illustrations. Between the little element of mystery in Francis’s tale and the softly-lit illustrations, this story is a true delight to read.
The Fox’s City would make a wonderful addition to elementary teacher’s collection. I can see Francis’s story as part of a classroom unit on trickster tales. Cover to cover, Pere and Alemanno deliver a wonderful story with an important lesson in cooperation and teamwork. Suitable for both read alouds and independent reading in mid to upper elementary grades, I highly recommend Pere and Alemanno’s work to teachers and parents alike.
Pages: 22 | ASIN: B07HYYX99R
Scared to Swim (Little Fears)
Lillian is taking a bath one day and decides that it would be fun to learn how to swim. Her father agrees and quickly signs her up for swimming lessons. But that night Lillian feels that she may have been too hasty in her decision and starts to worry. Sure enough, when she is in class she is frightened by the noise and wild activity in the class. How will Lillian ever learn to swim?
Scared to Swim is an educational children’s book that shows young readers how to conquer their fear, specifically their fear of swimming. Many parents, myself included, think that sending their child off to swim lessons solves their swimming problem. But for some kids all the activity of a swim class can make them nervous. Author Tuula Pere illustrates this point perfectly in her children’s book.
I loved the art in the book as it made Lillian’s emotions throughout the story very plain. The dramatic enhancement of emotion on the characters make for some funny scenes, like when Lillian says she wants to learn how to swim. I literally laughed out loud when I saw her waving her arms around as if she was swimming.
This bright kids book sends a powerful message to young readers that if they trust in their parents, and give it a good try, together they can accomplish anything. I thought this book was going to show the parent encouraging their child to take the class. I was delighted to see that the parent is the one that helps their child learn a new skill and gain confidence in themselves. This shows young readers that relying on family can be powerful.
Scared to Swim is about so much more than swimming, and all of these ideas are shared in an easy to understand and beautifully illustrated picture book. This is a fantastic book to read multiple times as I’m sure that every time a child reads it they will pick up a new subtle but important lesson.
Pages: 34 | ISBN: 9523254510
I Really Enjoy Writing For Children
Siggy the Soccer Dog follows a dachshund that dreams of winning the FA Cup Finals through teamwork and kindness. What was the inspiration for your story?
I have been a Manchester United fan since 1975. Where I’m from lots of people support the team because of several local players who made their name there – most notably the world-class player George Best who made headlines and was known in the British press as “the 5th beatle” in the late 60s. He has a good claim on being the first soccer superstar but when he went through the wringer of fame there was no support like there is for Messi or Ronaldo today, and his story has quite a tragic element to it as well, which all adds to the aura and romance and adds a “what if” element, even though he actually achieved so much before his downfall. As a 5 year old I became a supporter because of my Dad and George. I wanted to do a story for the Utd fans and for their kids and this is what happened.
What was your inspiration for becoming a children’s book writer?
I have always enjoyed writing and won English prizes and things like that when I was younger. As I have grown older I have kept writing. I became a lawyer, which I’d say is being a “wordsmith” using legal language for money. But it never gave me the same satisfaction as writing stories. I wrote thrillers that almost made publication in my late 20s and then I was inspired by some local children during lockdown to write something for them. The books that exist now came out of that, and I have found to my surprise that I really enjoy writing for children and it gladdens my heart to see and hear their enthusiastic reactions to my stories.
Are there any memories from your own life that you put into your books?
Definitely. The series of “Siggy the Sausage Dog” stories – and the upcoming “Wee Moos” and “Phlower Phaeries” series are all based around kindness and seeking happiness. When I was a youngster my dad always told me: “Be a happy man!” and I’ve appreciated that simple advice more and more as I have become older myself. It took me a while, but now writing for children has made me a happy man. I want to share that philosophy and to help children hold on to their natural happiness if I can.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I think the next book after (Siggy the Soccer Dog) will either be “Hello Moo!” the first of the Wee Moos series or “Siggy and the Balloon Festival” the next Siggy story. I am continuing to write the first Phlower Phaeries children’s novel but this is taking longer than the shorter stories are!
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website
But as they watch him, little do the family know that in his dream he is “Siggy Sosidj” the star player for Manchester United. It’s up to Siggy to rescue his team in the biggest game of his life. But can he do it?
Join Siggy and a multi-national cast of doggie players to find out – in a fast-paced, beautifully illustrated tale about overcoming the odds, staying true to your purpose and being kind…
Its “Cool” To Be Kind
Cool Kids follows a young boy who becomes a bully to earn a spot on the football team, but when terrible things happen to him he wonders if it’s worth it. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My father was my inspiration. He was a great storyteller. It was a time when television was first becoming popular; however, not everyone could afford one. Storytelling still attracted the children on the block and they could not wait to hear the stories about a character he created, Ruffy Butchbang. Ruffy Butchbang was a bully who always got in to trouble. It was the only way he could feel important. In every story my dad told, there was a lesson learned. Each story was so exciting because my dad added his special sound effects. This character, Ruffy Butchbang was embedded in my memory. I too told stories about Ruffy to my children and grandchildren. My sons Ted and Eric knew my father but my grandchildren never did. However, they knew who created Ruffy Butchbang, Grandpa Harry. Now that bullying is a subject in today’s society, it seems perfect to bring Ruffy Buthbang back into the spotlight, and so I created Cool Kids.
How can your book help children, parents and teachers with bullying?
I think Cool Kids offers families and educators a great teaching opportunity. It offers them the perfect opportunity to help a children understand their emotions and social dynamics involved in bullying. It open the door for many conversations, whether your child is bullied or bullying. It allows for different discussions and outcomes and steps to take in various situations. Cool Kids shows kids that changing your behavior to become a bully in order to fit in isn’t being cool. Be true to yourself. It shows that there is a power in kindness and its “cool” to be kind. Discussions about this subject is a great way for families to have an open dialogue with their children.
The art in this book was fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Amelina Jones?
After I wrote my story, I needed an illustrator. Mascot Books sent me the sample works of various illustrators. I chose the one who best fit my story. The drawings of Amelina Jones were perfect. She sent me drawings for each character for approval, even my beagle and matched the characters to the script. We made changes because I did not realize things could be inferred and not need to be seen. We communicated with each other through Mascot Books. When all was said and done, I almost did not see a drastic error. Amelina Jones was from the United Kingdom. My story involved football and she drew a soccer ball. Well, that had to be changed to an American football and it was just in time! She also added her personal touches and I loved it. I must say, I was lucky to work with such a talented illustrator.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have thought about a second book about RUFFY BUTCHBANG and his adventures, still involving the same characters. In each story, there needs to be a lesson learned. I am thinking about the twists and turns that will take place so teachers and families can have continued dialogue and children will love it. I am a former school teacher so I know that communication between adults and children is so important. The paper and pencil is right by my bedside ready for creative ideas. It will ,come not sure of exact dates.
Author Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Like most kids, Michael and his friends are so excited for their first day at a new school. They have a lot of questions about what to expect, but most of all, they wonder if theyll get to join the football team. That would be the perfect way to start the year! However, Michael soon finds out that its not as easy as he thinks. The team is filled with bullies, and to join, he has to become one of them. In order to be cool enough to get a spot on the football team, Michael has to start changing his behaviorfor the worse! Suddenly, terrible things start happening to him. Finally, he begins to wonder: Was it all worth it?
Dance Stance: Beginning Ballet for Young Dancers with Ballerina Konora
Ballet begins with learning how to stand. That sounds much easier than it actually is. From knowing the proper foot placement to being fully aware of one’s own spine, finding the right stance is not only essential but promotes good health. A proper stance, as the author points out, isn’t only for dancers. People of all ages can benefit from learning how to stand correctly. Broken down into simple steps with beautiful illustrations, the author and illustrator have handed readers everything they need to know to literally take the first step into ballet.
Dance Stance, Beginning Ballet for Young Dancers, by Once Upon a Dance and illustrated by Stella Maris Mongodi, is an incredibly informative book that will be useful to every reader whether they dance or not. The illustrations lend themselves perfectly to the narrative and provide comical moments throughout the book. It is worth noting that this book appears to be for younger readers, but the vocabulary and sentence structure is more appropriate for upper elementary and beyond.
I was especially impressed with the snippets of advice from a ballerina placed strategically throughout the book. These notes are right on target with the narrative and give readers an insight into the discipline a ballerina must maintain. I am not a dancer, but I appreciated these sections of the book; they served to add to the authors’ message.
Dance Stance, Beginning Ballet for Young Dancers, by Once Upon a Dance (Ballerina Konora and Teacher Terrel) and illustrated by Stella Maris Mongodi, is a short read that I enjoyed and recommend it to anyone curious about becoming a ballerina or improving their own posture. This book would make the perfect gift for anyone who is thinking of studying ballet. It is full of fantastic advice for readers of all ages.
Pages: 63 | ASIN: B09ZGHW76H
The Legend of the Summer Snowflake
Sky Watch has disbanded and Cloudia is missing her friends. Mother Sky is sad because pollution is getting bad on earth and there is nothing that she can do. That is, until a single snowflake falls in the middle of summer, bringing the Sky Watch team back together. Now Cloudia and friends have the power to fight pollution and save a baby dolphin from a plastic garbage patch.
The Legend of the Summer Snowflake is a colorful children’s book that features a diverse cast of young characters that band together to save a baby dolphin, but more importantly they bring awareness to a major problem that is collecting in our ocean; garbage patches.
This wonderful picture books clearly illustrates a complex issue in a way that young children will be able to easily understand. Along with that, the Sky Watch team has an array of fantastic abilities they can use to cleanup pollution. Children will be excited to see all the different characters show up, as they will get to point out their different abilities and see them in action. I really enjoyed seeing how those abilities were brought to life by illustrator Len Peralta.
The Legend of the Summer Snowflake is a wonderfully educational kids book that educates as well as it entertains. What I like most about this book is that it not only points out the pollution trouble, it also explains what humans are doing to resolve the garbage patch problem, giving readers an actionable path to take the lessons learned from the book into the real world.
Pages: 34 | ASIN: B09W1HQ9TW
Addison Braves Brazil
Addison’s family is planning a trip to Brazil, and Addison is preparing herself for quite the adventure. What begins as some light reading to become familiar with the beaches she is looking forward to visiting becomes something a little less inspiring. Before she knows it, Addison is reading about some of Brazil’s less appealing features, and she begins to dread their trip as she pictures herself amidst a plethora of jungle-dwelling bats, bugs, and snakes! Will her trip be everything she fears? Or will she find a different side of Brazil–one that will amaze her and leave her with fun memories?
Addison Braves Brazil, written by Laura James and illustrated by Jasmine Smith, follows young Addison as she travels with her family, meets new people, and finds herself having a very different experience than the one she anticipated. James’s book offers young readers a look at Brazil while also addressing issues with which readers will relate to including bullying, some common medical problems, and children’s misconceptions.
Addison Braves Brazil is the second in a series by the author. This book has a unique structure and offers readers a thorough look at a long list of words that begin with the letter “b.” While it is written for readers who are typically older than those who are studying initial consonants, it is a great addition to school libraries and classroom libraries for grades K-5. There are many ways James’s book can be incorporated into a curriculum. The author has essentially handed parents and teachers a wonderful tool filled with vocabulary words and their definitions used in context–a teacher’s dream come true.
Addison Braves Brazil is a children’s adventure story that is a great addition to a child’s library. Within one book, young readers will be introduced to nearly 40 pages that are filled with challenging vocabulary words. James’s work is an asset to any parent, homeschool, curriculum, or classroom. It is short enough to read in a couple of sittings and lays the framework for some great discussions for both teachers and students. As a teacher, I look forward to more installments in this series.
Pages: 41 | ASIN : B09SBS5622
Help Secure Their Online Experiences
Oh, No …Hacked Again!: A Story About Online Safety is about a girl that loses her game account because of a hacking website. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I wrote this book inspired by the experiences of my own children. During the pandemic, I noticed how my children were spending more time online gaming or for school. With that exposure, I also saw two of my children’s gaming accounts get hacked on more than one occasion. Their online experiences motivated me to write my 2nd children’s book “Oh, No… Hacked Again!” a story to teach children the important message of online safety.
As someone who is an immigrant Black woman who transitioned into cybersecurity from the legal field after moving to the US from Ethiopia 9 years ago, I quickly learned about the glaring lack of diversity within the industry. I hope to convey an important message through the story to spark interest in young readers, especially girls and girls who look like me, to consider cybersecurity as a meaningful career option.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about online safety?
People, have this misconception that out of a huge internet who would be interested in targeting me? Even if they do and become successful what valuable data would they be staking from me?
However, the fact of the matter is it isn’t about who the cybercriminals are targeting. Usually nothing personal and it doesn’t have to be big corporations or rich or celebrity folks. The bad guys are targeting everyone yes including common individuals using automation tools throwing their net to fish whatever sensitive information they could get their hands on exploiting any system’s vulnerabilities that we might have neglected or put off to update in any of our devices.
The other misconception is thinking that Usernames and passwords provide enough strong protection. When in fact in reality that isn’t the case. usernames and passwords are vulnerable to brute force attacks and can be compromised.
Attackers have tools to crack the passwords so it’s important to use a strong complex password and implement multi-factor authentication to plus to enhance your security by requiring a user to identify themselves by more than a username and password. It’s also vital that we don’t reuse our passwords and instead use a password manager because we don’t have to remember all the passwords we use to authenticate for the various devices.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from this story?
It’s important that parents cultivate a culture of open communication with their children so that kids are comfortable sharing their online experiences with their parents should they encounter something out of the ordinary or they think they are getting in trouble. Its critical that we also instill a culture of having a security mindset and the importance of online safety to our kids, teach them not only the importance of not sharing our passwords, and any personal information with others, having strong passwords but also the importance of implementing Multi-factor authentication to help secure their online experiences be it for entertainment gaming or for school purposes. It is also meant to spark interest in o a possible career option in the field of cybersecurity fighting against cybercriminals and protecting sensitive data, especially of the most vulnerable population.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
May be 🙂 I am currently focusing this year on finishing my grad school program Masters’s degree in Cybersecurity at Georgia Tech University and promoting my two children’s books!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram
What happens when she suddenly cannot log in to her favorite game? She’s been hacked before. How will she recover if it happens again? Elham must lean on her mom and siblings to stay safe while navigating the digital world.
Grab this fun family story, gather the children, and learn the importance of online safety and explore the exciting and ever-evolving field of cybersecurity as a future career option.
LITERARY TITAN 