Blog Archives
The Most Important Number
A Dog Named Zero and The Apple With No Name is a wonderful children’s book that teaches counting in an fun and imaginative way. What inspired you to write this book?
My older brother is a mathematics professor, and he said to me one day that he has spent a lifetime with numbers because of the number zero. And when I did my research and checked on what kind of counting picture books used the number zero, I didn’t find any. I am sure there are some, but I couldn’t find any, and the number zero is the most important number of all numbers.
How do you see this book being used by teachers and parent to educate their children?
That’s difficult to say. I hope teachers and parents will enjoy the humor in the book and use the boohooing and sniffing words in a way that will make children laugh. There is no better way to learn than through laughter.
Did the art in the book follow what you had already written, or did the writing follow the art?
That’s an excellent question. It happens both ways for all of my children’s picture books. I might draw a quirky character, and then the story comes from the drawing. There are times when the story comes first, and then I decide the art style I’ll use that fits the story.
Do you have plans to write more educational picture books?
I feel all children’s picture books are educational. Some are more specific with one point to be made, as in A Dog Named Zero and the Apple With No Name, than others. I have a new picture book that was published March 1st titled Letting Go. It’s about a leaf that doesn’t want to let go, a cycle of life story. And I have another picture book coming out titled Birds Fly, A Cat Tries on June 1st. It’s a wordless picture book about a cat who wants to fly. Each time the brave tabby tries, he fails. But in the end, with some help, the cat finally takes flight.
Both stories have a message, and although they are not as educational as a counting book, my point is, there is always a lesson to learn from every one of my picture books. Or at least, that is my hope.
My plan, though, is to publish at least one picture a year. This year is different, as I will have published the two I mentioned above, Letting Go and Birds Fly, A Cat Tries.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
And once, there was an Apple with no name.
Will they meet?
And if they do meet, what will happen?
Join Zero and his friends, and you will find this book adds up to be on of the most enjoyable ways to count from zero to ten.
LIFE LESSONS, WITHOUT THE FLEAS
![LIFE LESSONS, WITHOUT THE FLEAS by [Leonard Scott Long]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/517RJaaPoKL.jpg)
Life Lessons Without The Fleas is a charming Christian faith-based book by Leonard Scott Long. It follows the lives of his pets and what he has learned from them over the years. The pets range from cats, dogs, ducks, and even cows, with cute names such as Cowbell, Marshmallow, Heidi, and Ispep.
Their quirks are heart-warming and their personalities are quite lovable. After a while, you may even forget that they are animals. The author has a way of talking about them that brings you in and makes the narrative more personal. Moreover, he has an uncanny way of drawing faith-based messages from their everyday lives.
He also goes to great lengths to simplify biblical messages through the use of whimsical acronyms. Ultimately, there is a beautiful simplicity to the narrative. The animations are a nice touch as well, giving a cute spin to beloved characters.
Apart from a belief in God, some of the themes expressed in this book include love, patience, and the dangers of living in fear. These themes are put across not only through the specific stories shared but also through the scriptures tied to them and the explanations are given by the author. Ultimately, the author does a good job at linking the life of his pets to biblical scripture and then to everyday life.
Whether you simply want to grow in your Christian faith or want to introduce your children to it in a simple yet significant way, then this book is for you. In many ways, this book gives you a wide view of what it means to be a Christian, although oversimplified especially about matters of sin, repentance and the concept of “bad people”. As such, this book would be better suited to very young children.
Life Lessons, Without the Fleas is an creative Christian children’s picture book that does a fantastic job of educating young readers on various aspects of faith. The cute illustrations will keep readers entertained throughout this enlightening children’s book.
Pages: 94 | ASIN: B088HJ4H71
All People Are Beautiful
There may be no better time for a children’s book that celebrates and honors diversity than the present. Young readers are bound to have questions about the world around them and the feelings they perceive in the adults they encounter each day. All People are Beautiful, written by Vincent Kelly and illustrated by Cha Consul, is the visually stunning children’s picture book that drives home the fact that we are all beautiful through the differences in our talents, cultures, age, appearance, and race.
I am going to throw this out there in hopes the right person in each school system hears it–every school needs this book. Kelly and Consul’s children’s book is a must-have for every school library and would make a fantastic addition to a classroom collection on diversity. I can see this book fitting easily into several different social studies units for grades K-3. With truly beautifully-fashioned illustrations, All People are Beautiful quickly captures readers’ attention and makes for a fantastic read aloud. It’s not often that I tout a book as one suitable for repeated read-alouds, but this one is short enough and the message is a powerful one. Students would both benefit from and enjoy hearing it over and over again.
I am giving All People are Beautiful, written by Vincent Kelly and illustrated by Cha Consul, a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. This is the children’s book we all need. The message throughout Kelly and Consul’s work is one of unity, mutual respect, and harmony. There is no better theme, and there is no better addition to a child’s bookshelf.
Pages: 32 | ISBN: 1735950416
A Dog Named Zero and the Apple With No Name
Zero just wants to get his paws on that apple. The apple, who has no name, knows not what awaits him. Zero is in no way tall enough to reach the apple with no name and needs a little help from his friends. Counting their way from 0 to 10, the ever-growing group of friends cooperate to help Zero in his efforts. His friends vary in size and shape, but they all have one thing in common, they want nothing more than to give their friend a hand. Will they make it? Will Zero ever get his apple?
A Dog Named Zero and the Apple With No Name, by T.C. Bartlett, is the beautifully illustrated children’s book focused on counting. There are many counting books out there, but Bartlett has a whole new take on the concept. With a more advanced vocabulary that challenges readers, A Dog Named Zero and the Apple With No Name contains bits of humor that parents and teachers will also appreciate–those are the best kinds of children’s books!
I have used my share of counting books over the years as a parent and elementary teacher, and Bartlett’s work is one of the best I have seen. There is much more to this little gem than meets the eye. Each of the different animals in the series of numbers offers readers the opportunity for discussion. Parents and teachers will easily find ways to have conversations about why and how each type of animal might want to help Zero. There are plenty of teaching opportunities to be had within the pages of Bartlett’s work.
I highly recommend this adorable counting story to anyone looking for an alternative to the traditional counting books. A Dog Named Zero and the Apple With No Name makes a great addition to anyone building a library for infants and toddlers.
Pages: 48 | ISBN: 1733908617
Hunted by Unworldly Creatures
Grotto of Chaos follows a group of friends who disappear into a world like none could have dreamed and set out on a wild adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I remember visiting Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Located there is the Marvel Cave which is said to be the 3rd largest cave system in North America. How it was discovered was a young Osage tribe member was running through the woods when he fell through a sinkhole into the earth several hundred feet. I could only imagine what was going through his mind. He must have thought that he was being swallowed up into some unknown world. It made me think of what would happen to my characters if they did the same but slide even further. And then I thought, what if nature evened the odds by providing a bioluminescent light for them? Could five young teens and a dog escape from such a deep pocket in the Earth while being hunted by unworldly creatures trying to catch them?
Clarence and his friends were all interesting and well developed. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The kids in the book are like my offspring. They have many of my own traits as well as characteristics of people that are close to me. For example, we can take my character, Rasheed. One of his skills is that he is a sword fencer who dreams of one day being in the Olympics. I myself have been a fencer and did actually try out for the Olympics. Olivia is a dancer and martial artist. I too, have spent many years studying various martial arts, and my mother and daughters were dancers. Even the main protagonist, Clarence, was named after my fraternal grandfather, who passed away from brain cancer when I was very young. My grandfather Clarence was said to have been full of so much ingenuity, which you can see in Clarence in the book. Even the ethnic diversity of the circle of friends is based on people who have been very close to me throughout my life. So much of my own essence and the attributes of my loved ones are embedded into my characters. So for me, my characters are very personal, as if I have put part of my soul into this story.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
From start to finish, there is a lot of action in this story. But that does not mean that there is little dialog either. While the kids are being thrown into constant danger, they are constantly communicating to combine their efforts and skills to work their way out of trouble. Sometimes Clarence may rely on memories of the past to help the situation at hand. Aside from the characters, world-building was very important. Many mythological creatures are encountered, but also, a lot of science is embedded into this universe for believability. Creatures such as krakens and ghost might show up in only fiction, but the fact that you really don’t know what you would find miles into the earth, also make it feasible. According to many theories related to quantum physics, since there is an infinite number of universes, these creatures actually exist. Since the gang finds themselves in a system with somewhat of a Mandela Effect, that is where worlds collide, then all things are possible.
This is book one in The Exploits of Clarence Griffin series. What can readers expect in book two?
Without any spoilers, for those who have finished book one, we know that Clarence and his companions do not get out of this story unscathed and without debts. In book two, he will be asked to pay back that debt, thereby facing many more perils. The gang will need to stick together more than ever, and increasingly sharpen their skills for what lies ahead. Book two will also introduce new characters and foes, many of which are like none other ever featured in literature before.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
This mind-blowing story will leave you astonished as it takes you on a breathtaking journey full of intrigue and overwhelming action. Put on your seatbelt, because this sensational tale will not allow you to rest, while you find yourself on this rip-roaring odyssey from beginning to end. Currently Nominated for 7 awards:
IPPY Book Awards 2021:
◆Best Fantasy
◆Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Ebook
Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards 2021:
◆Best Fantasy
◆Best Children’s Fantasy
◆Best Children’s Adventure
US Selfie Book Awards 2021:
◆Best Young Adult Fiction
Readers’ Favorite Book Awards 2021:
◆Young Adult Horror
An Endangered Species
Song of the Blue Whale is an educational picture book that teaches readers about whaling and ocean pollution. Why is this an important topic for you?
The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth. This magnificent, gentle giant is an endangered species due to the ill effects of avoidable human behaviour. There may come a time when these beautiful creatures will only exist in photographs, video footage or on the pages of books. If properly educated, informed future generations can avert such a tragedy.
I loved the art in this book, especially the pictures of whales under the ocean. What is your favorite picture from the book?
In this volume, I included cameos of two characters from other books in the series. We see Mattie Boombalatty picking up rubbish from a beach with her mother. However, my favourite illustration features Shelly, the leatherback sea turtle with a purple heart painted on her shell. The double-page spread shows the beauty of a tropical coral reef spoiled by discarded tin cans, surgical masks, nets, plastic straws and bags. Shelly is coming to the aid of a companion trapped in a plastic bag. As well as colourful seahorses and tropical fish, we see two curious dolphins. It’s a powerful image that forces older children to think about how we deal with rubbish and how it may affect other animals.
What is a simple step someone could take to help reduce ocean pollution?
Using less expendable plastic and recycling as much of the plastics we do use can dramatically reduce pollution in rivers, lakes, oceans and seas.
Do you plan to write more books on these same topics?
There is a total of seven books in my series of illustrated children’s books. These appear in an anthology titled Wayne Gerard Trotman’s Rhyming Stories, introduced by the poet and novelist Dr. Benjamin Zephaniah. I also co-wrote Believe in Fairies with my wife, Sherrie. Several species of wildflowers have disappeared from the English countryside. This rhyming fairy tale introduces children and their parents to the various types that still exist and encourages them to plant wildflower gardens.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Magnificent and free with a barnacle on her tail
She swims the ocean’s depths; few follow her trail
In the coldest waters, where only the brave prevail
Despite a global whaling ban, the blue whale, the largest animal the world has ever seen, remains endangered.
Learn about the threats she faces, and what we can do to help protect her, in this beautifully illustrated rhyming story for ages 4+.
Can A Teddy Bear Be? (Animal Reader Series)
![Can A Teddy Bear Be? (Animal Reader Series) by [Jose Torres]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41LNslDL8DL.jpg)
Can A Teddy Bear Be? is an educational children’s picture book filled with cute images and repetitive wording to help children learn to read.
Author Jose Torres is both writer and illustrator and is able to combine both crafts in this beautifully illustrated kids book. With twenty two different adorable bears throughout this book, there is plenty to keep young readers attention. Each bear represents a different profession, which is yet another educational aspect to this picture book. Children will learn to read as well as learning about different professions. This provides a great opportunity for children to learn about different jobs, see what their interested in, and begin a discussion about different professions.
The simple and repetitive words used throughout the book will ensure readers pick up new words, practice them throughout the story, and master them towards the end. This is a perfect book to build confidence in young readers. I loved all of the delightful illustrations of the bears throughout this book. My favorite was the scientist bear. The book even provides readers with an opportunity to draw their own favorite bear at the end of the book, adding a bit of interactivity to this children’s book.
Can A Teddy Bear Be? is ideal for teachers and parents to read with their children as it is perfect for beginning readers. Jose Torres Animal Reader Series is a superb start to any child’s literary journey.
Pages: 28 | ASIN: B08QRGXTRC
LITERARY TITAN 