Blog Archives
Harry the Hedgehog and the Missing Pumpkin
Harry the Hedgehog and the Missing Pumpkin, by Rayner Tapia, is a charming little tale that follows Harry the Hedgehog on a Halloween morning as he wakes up, ready to enjoy his treasured pumpkin, only to find it is missing. Determined to solve the mystery of the vanished pumpkin, Harry dons his detective “hat” and ventures out, meeting various woodland friends who help him along the way. Eventually, he discovers a family of mice who have found the pumpkin and offers to share it with them, learning a valuable lesson about the joy of sharing.
I found this children’s book utterly delightful. The writing is simple and engaging, perfect for its young audience and beginning readers. The scene where Harry interacts with Donna the Duck, who suggests the pumpkin might have been carried away by the wind, made me chuckle. The dialogue felt warm and playful, and I appreciated each animal’s unique personality, like Ollie the Owl’s wise demeanor and Sally the Squirrel’s cheeky energy.
Harry’s decision to share his pumpkin with the mice showed incredible kindness and generosity, which is a wonderful message for young readers. The idea of sharing as a source of happiness was woven beautifully into the narrative without feeling preachy. The feast scene, with pumpkin stew, pie, and roasted seeds, left me craving something pumpkin-flavored myself.
The vibrant watercolor illustrations bring the pages to life and are the perfect complement to Tapia’s lively tale. From Harry’s bright yellow pumpkin to the cozy cave of the mice, each illustration added charm and excitement. The scene I loved most was when Harry put on his detective hat, which was just a leaf–an adorable scene that is sure to delight young readers.
I wholeheartedly recommend Harry the Hedgehog and the Missing Pumpkin, by Rayner Tapia, to parents, teachers, and anyone looking for a heartwarming story to share with young children. It’s perfect for bedtime or a classroom read-aloud. The themes of kindness and community are timeless, and Harry the Hedgehog is sure to be a beloved character for many.
Pages: 28 | ASIN : B0DN1C1GTL
Follow the Rules
Adventures at Lake Omigosh follows two friends at summer camp who go point on the camp’s lake to try and find the mysterious creature that everyone claims lives there. What was the inspiration for your story?
As a youngster, my family would typically spend a week at Liberty Lake, just outside of Spokane Washington, where I was born and raised. The camp I described in Lake Omigosh was very similar to what I experienced. I was also a Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at age 13, which was unusual. So I had plenty of experiences to draw upon, except of course, for the creature!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The main lesson here is to follow the rules. The boys ignored all three rules about boating: Too late in the day, storm brewing, and no life jackets!!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Bryan Janky?
Bryan Janky is very talented and was very open to suggestions and collaboration. He is a gem and is involved in another book as well!
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
The next book is called The Dancing Shoes and is being printed now and can be preordered on Mascot and should be available for distribution on Amazon as well in about two months. The next book is called How Flowers Got Their Colors and is in production. The fifth book The Lost Locket On The Golden Gate Bridge is undergoing editing and should be ready for the artwork shortly!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
For many years, people have claimed to have spotted a mysterious creature drifting on the surface of Lake Omigosh. One day, when Felix and Harry decide to go canoeing, a bad storm arrives, putting the two in real danger. Who will come to their rescue when their canoe flips over and the boys are left stranded in the middle of the lake? Fuel your imagination with Adventures at Lake Omigosh.
TIP’s Magical Birthday
Barbara C. Mishkin’s TIP’s Magical Birthday enchants young readers with its delightful storytelling and meaningful life lessons. Set against the backdrop of TIP’s 10th birthday party, the story introduces a colorful cast of characters, each with distinct personalities and diverse backgrounds. Through their interactions, the book seamlessly weaves themes of friendship, acceptance, and the transformative power of community.
This charming addition to the TIP series invites children into a world filled with magic, optimism, and connection. The vivid illustrations, a standout feature, captivate young readers and enhance their understanding of the narrative. Each drawing complements the storyline, helping readers imagine the vibrant scenes of games, presents, and the joyful atmosphere of TIP’s celebration. Mishkin’s storytelling is immersive and engaging. Readers will feel as though they’re part of TIP’s party, meeting his unique group of friends and reflecting on the beauty of their differences.
Mishkin’s book subtly encourages children to embrace diversity and recognize the positive influence of friendships in their own lives. As a role model, TIP inspires a mindset of gratitude, inclusivity, and positivity. The narrative fosters a sense of belonging, teaching children that building strong, diverse communities is essential for personal growth and happiness.
Perfect for elementary-aged readers, TIP’s Magical Birthday combines entertainment with a powerful message, making it a must-read for children in their formative years. It’s a delightful and impactful story that leaves a lasting impression on young hearts and minds.
Pages: 58 | ASIN : B0DGG7WPWR
I Love That Girl
Hannah R. Goodman’s I Love That Girl masterfully weaves the lives of four young adults, Nori, Ethan, Gwen, and Andy, as they navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery. From the turbulence of high school relationships to the challenges of early adulthood, the story captures the evolving connections between these friends. Their intertwined journeys are marked by emotional highs and lows, showcasing both the strength and fragility of human bonds.
The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of each character, offering a deeply personal glimpse into their thoughts and emotions. Nori and Ethan’s relationship serves as a focal point as they grapple with balancing their love for one another against the pull of individual aspirations. Meanwhile, Gwen and Ethan explore the possibility of a deeper connection, though unresolved issues from the past loom large, threatening any chance of a future together.
Goodman’s ability to tackle themes of identity and self-awareness shines, particularly as Ethan confronts his sexual identity and what it means for his relationships. Through introspective narration and dialogue, the novel explores these delicate topics with care, immersing readers in the characters’ struggles and growth. However, the reliance on the miscommunication trope, while effective in driving the plot at times, occasionally feels repetitive. Readers may find themselves yearning for decisive moments instead of the recurring uncertainty and questioning that dominate many interactions. The story culminates in a reunion trip that forces each character to make pivotal decisions about their paths forward. The epilogue ties up several threads while introducing new dimensions, leaving some lingering questions unresolved, particularly around Gwen and Ethan’s past relationship, yet offering a sense of closure that many readers will appreciate.
I Love That Girl, by Hannah R. Goodman, delivers a compelling exploration of friendships tested by time, love, and identity. The rich emotional landscape and dramatic dynamics will resonate with fans of contemporary romance, while its deeper reflections on personal growth and connection lend it a thoughtful edge.
Pages: 268 | ASIN : B0DK3YV4J6
Hope in Any Situation
Walking with the Sun follows two best friends who decide to walk to the West in an attempt to escape the scorching Sun, only to find no relief. What was the inspiration for your story?
My humble greetings to all the Readers! Long back, around 2010, I was a member of an online writing community. I had a Basic Portfolio with my poems and writings. We could participate in various contests; this particular contest had a picture prompt. The picture captured a beautiful Sunset; in the foreground were silhouettes of an Elephant on the ground and an Eagle flying. We all know that the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. This idea of what happens if you travel and move with the Sun was the intriguing question that lingered in my mind. I could only think of a Children’s story. And I wrote Walking with the Sun.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Julia Duclos?
Thank you! Yes, @juhd is fantastic. We have collaborated on six books so far. We are working on the next one. I love Julia’s unique, dreamy illustrations and memorable character designs. First, she read the story and made a storyboard; we split the text into a standard 32-page book with 12 full Illustration spreads. Then, we started with the characters Gaja and Garud. I was specific about the characters’ features being expressive. After a few attempts, we locked the character-looks. I was highly impressed! Having your characters come to life after almost 10 years is a great feeling. We celebrated by posting the Character introduction on all our social media platforms. Once the characters were designed, everything else just flowed. Despite any artistic disagreements, we share a beautiful friendship after working together for so long. We have a really strong bond that way. To work together as collaborators, we need the delicate understanding to treat work disagreements separately and not take things personally. After all, both the Author and the Illustrator are walking towards the same destiny and want the book to excel. Keeping the best ideas of both is the key. To more collaborations!
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
“Following Garud’s idea, they walk towards the West to escape the scorching heat. The ignorant friends only learn at the end that they are walking with the Sun. Later, there is a big surprise awaiting Gaja!”
As I wrote the story, I knew I had to talk about sorrow and how to handle discomfort. It is essential to show Children that it is impossible to come out of sad feelings if you sit with them.
You have to walk out and move away to overcome discomfort. And there is hope in any situation. There is definitely a way out.
Three key talking points/messages in the book:
- An interesting journey with Gaja, the Elephant, and Garud, the Eagle. Beautifully illustrated
characters and story events. The illustrations are dreamy, soothing, and intriguing all at the same
time! - Morals:
●Walk away from discomfort to overcome it.
●Sorrow is never permanent.
●After every sunset, there is a promising sunrise. - A sweet surprise and a celebration at the end!
Walking with the Sun is a cute jungle friendship story, with an Elephant and an Eagle as
characters. This book is a winner of 2023 Literary Titan Award and a 2024 Next Generation
Indie Book Awards Finalist.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
After Walking with the Sun, I have published a poetry chapbook (A Mirage of Golden Glitter). And I recently published a Science Fiction Novella, Lost. Leap. Loop. Both of these are available on Amazon. Also, I recently published an Audiobook version of Walking with the Sun. It is free if you have a Library Card (Overdrive and Libby). It is available on Audible, too. I am currently working on another Children’s Picture Book, The Work of Art on the Wall.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Libby | Amazon
round the clock,
Did they find a hawk?
Or a big rock?
What did Gaja talk?
Who did Garud mock?
Ideas, they unlock!
Squawk… squawk…
Knock… knock…
Following Garud’s idea, they walk towards the west to escape the scorching heat. Did they really walk away from the Sun? Later, a big surprise awaits Gaja!
Bob and Fluffy’s First Adventure: A Story of Kindness and Friendship
Bob and Fluffy’s First Adventure: A Story of Kindness and Friendship, by Hong Lee, is a delightful children’s book that captures the joy and responsibility of caring for pets. The story follows Bob, a lively and compassionate young boy who discovers a lost, shivering puppy named Fluffy while exploring his neighborhood. Instead of leaving Fluffy in distress, Bob takes him in, feeds him, and gives him warmth and comfort, demonstrating the selflessness and care involved in helping an animal. Determined to reunite Fluffy with his family or find him a permanent home, Bob’s adventure unfolds with a message of kindness and compassion.
Hong Lee crafts this heartwarming tale with simplicity and charm. The writing flows easily, using short, clear sentences that young readers can grasp with ease. This rhythmic, approachable style ensures the story is engaging without overwhelming its audience. Despite the book’s concise nature, it packs an emotional punch, teaching not just the practicalities of pet care but also the love and empathy that come with it. Moments of Fluffy’s journey, from being separated from his mother to adjusting to new surroundings, are poignant and relatable, helping young readers understand that pets have feelings, too. Yet, Lee balances these tender scenes with playful adventures, like Bob and Fluffy’s visits to different homes and their sweet, joyful moments together.
The illustrations in this book truly stand out. They’re simple yet vividly colorful, bringing Bob, Fluffy, and even side characters like neighbors and other animals to life. Each expression and gesture is rendered with great detail, making it easy for children to understand the emotions of the characters. The artwork amplifies the narrative’s impact, making every scene feel lively and full of heart.
I found this book particularly effective at teaching empathy. It offers young readers a gentle but powerful lesson about the responsibilities of caring for animals, while also emphasizing the bonds of friendship and loyalty. Bob and Fluffy’s First Adventure isn’t just an engaging story; it’s an invitation for children to consider the feelings and well-being of the animals around them. It’s a must-read for families looking to instill values of kindness and understanding in their little ones.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0DFZYRLXG
Untangling the Lies
Anemone follows a sixteen-year-old boy living in the mid-60s who is unable to rescue his brother from a burning house fire and must find the real arsonist or be charged with homicide. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In the mid-60s, a friend in my class, whom I knew had abuse issues at home, supposedly burned down his house and was never seen again. The mystery of his disappearance has stayed with me, and I wanted to use it as a starting point. After much back and forth, I also wanted ANEMONE to blur the lines between the personal and the elemental, to weave the inner turmoil of its characters with the larger forces of nature, creating an almost mystical connection between the two. Russell’s journey toward uncovering the truth about the fire—and, by extension, the truth about himself—mirrors the unpredictable, sometimes violent forces of the sea that surrounds him.
A lot of time was spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
Probably the innocent naivete of the main characters, what these people were really like. Too many 16-year-olds in books over the years seem to have a social intelligence, maturity, and a use of language that betrays their youth. Yes, there are moments in my characters when they demonstrate a certain cleverness and knowledge, but I find that most of the time they are guided by their lack of experience and gut feelings – they make terrible mistakes, they see through things without even knowing it, and they have a directness and level of honesty that I think is refreshing, and I hope, moving.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Abuse, friendship/loyalty, loneliness, and forced isolation, the need to find out the truth, and the fact that we all have to spend a considerable part of our lives untangling the lies we are told.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My book of poems, THIEF OF LAUGHTER, will be published in early 2025.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
After his failed rescue of his brother Wyatt in a suspicious house fire, sixteen-year-old Russell Cobb wakes up from a coma, strangely mistaken for him and thrust into the middle of an arson investigation. Russell’s only hope, before his bandages come off, is to deduce the likeliest suspect in his troubled past or risk being charged with homicide. In view of his brother’s death, he begins to see his family, Wyatt’s enigmatic girlfriend Edie, and a school gang in a darker light, colored by deceit and possibly his own paranoia, until Edie turns the tables, tying his brother to an unimaginable crime.
Set against the idyllic backdrop of Aqua Verde, a mid-60s California beach town, ANEMONE addresses society at a moral crossroads when what went on behind closed doors was nobody’s business. Russell flees to a condemned seaside hotel where he joins a draft-dodging surfer, and later, a fugitive Edie, with whom he falls in love. Through a tangle of twists and traumatic revelations, and mentored by the surfer, Russell discovers more than he could have bargained for about her, his family, and the real target of the fire.
Brutal, gripping, and tragic, ANEMONE is a coming-of-age tale that deals with issues still relevant today. At its core is betrayal, emotional survival, and revenge within two ordinary families whose misdeeds bring about a reckoning from which no one emerges unscathed.
Realizing Our Dreams
Sally Mitts and the Land of Imagination follows a curious cat who steps through a magical door into a world where creativity knows no bounds, embarking on an adventurous journey to restore the joy of imagination. What inspired you to create a character like Sally, a curious cat?
Sally’s a real persona to me. She isn’t a superhero, she’s vulnerable but she finds the courage to explore and grow in her stories. In her first book, she faces tough circumstances in a shelter and follows her instincts to choose a kind man for her new family.
In this second book, Sally Mitts And The Land Of Imagination, she discovers how powerful her creativity is when she embraces it and learns to believe in herself. Her potential for real friendships, aspiring, and healing all bloom when she enters the Land Of Imagination, where you can be whatever you imagine. And so can everybody else – sometimes hilariously. But that’s part of the joy of it.
The theme of imagination plays a central role in the story. What message do you hope young readers take away about the power of creativity?
I believe that a healthy imagination is essential to our well-being. It’s the path to realizing our dreams and desires. But this priceless gift is too often repressed as we “grow up.” Something invaluable is lost, without which our capacity for hope and beauty withers. Where there was life and color, there is only sterility and fitting into the status quo.
I hope Sally Mitts And The Land Of Imagination encourages young readers to treasure their unique creativity and facilitates a life-long love affair with their capacity to imagine. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Can you share more about the process behind the hand-drawn illustrations and how they complement the narrative?
I draw by hand because it allows me the greatest ability to capture the emotional content of my stories. Although time-consuming, I find this way I can best express the story’s nuances – from my heart to the readers.
When and where will the book be available?
Sally And The Land Of Imagination is available for half-price with pre-order on Amazon. It will be published on October 26th on Amazon and Ingram Spark. Audiobooks will be available on Audible and Find-A-Voice.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Website | Amazon
It all begins on an ordinary day when Sally spies a pair of shoes walking – without any feet! Curious, she follows them to a mysterious red door with the word Imagination etched above it. Beyond its threshold, Sally discovers a fantastical world of creatures living out their dreams:
A tender-hearted rabbit who loves long blingy gowns and singing opera. A shirty mole who believes he’s too smart to bear other’s company. A snail who floats through the stars and the joyful dancing Gollyphants who make the Rainbow Lake’s waves shake. And threatening them all; the hungry fog monster who steals hopes and dreams.
Full of wonderfully odd characters and unexpected twists and turns, this enchanting tale is a must-have for every child’s library.
Winner of The Golden Wizard Book Prize in Children’s Literature and The Literary Titan Book Award.
LITERARY TITAN 