Blog Archives
Literary Titan Gold Book Award – Mar 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise, and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Award Recipients
Rethink Your Financial Health AJ Uitvlugt
Off Kilter by M. Lee Musgrave
A Guide for Aging Heroes: Owning the Second Half of Life in 30 Days by Randolph Harrison
A Murder in Ashwood by Robert Brighton
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award – Mar 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise, and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
What did we get ourselves into?
A Dog in my Yard follows a boy who must convince his parents to let him keep his dog after she causes some problems around the house. What motivated you to write a follow-up book to “No Dog in my Yard”?
Like many new puppy owners, we had no idea how much work a puppy would be. So, when Millie, our Golden Doodle, came home it was a matter of days before we said, “What did we get ourselves into?” Millie was an 8-pound tornado swirling around the house and getting into trouble. As we shared “Millie stories” with family and friends, we found everyone laughing at us, not with us. It became obvious that I had some good material for a second book. I do admit, the threat to rehome her was real, but I’m so glad we hung in there…barely.
What are some life lessons that you wanted to build into your story?
I love this question because although this is a children’s book, many lessons can apply to children and adults alike. Jonathan, the boy in the book, puts his negotiating skills to the test in his attempt to save Millie from being rehomed. He looks for the positive when things get difficult and sees the good in something he loves so much. With patience and not giving up so quickly, the parents recognize that in time, their new addition is the definition of unconditional love.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun creating?
The scene that was the most fun to create with my illustrator, Jim Pearson, was when Jonathan questions if Millie has put his parents under a spell. On one page, the parents are in a comical trance which signifies a transformation. They’ve gone from frustration and threatening to rehome to the next page – talking so sweetly to Millie and sneaking her treats. Jim was so creative in bringing the entire story to life, but these pages in particular were fun to develop.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I hope readers not only consider the lessons mentioned earlier (look for the positive, see the good in others, have patience, and don’t give up) if they own a pet, but apply the same life lessons with classmates, neighbors, and/or siblings.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Millie has turned the house upside down!! She chews holes in Jonathan’s undies, interrupts meetings, leaves “surprises” around the house, and so much more! When there is talk of re-homing Millie, Jonathan puts his problem-solving skills to the test and builds a case to keep her. Can he convince his parents to see the good in something he loves unconditionally?
A Dog in my Yard is a follow-up to the heartwarming and hilarious children’s book, No Dog in my Yard. Whether you have a dog or not, both books in the series are a fun read for children, parents, and teachers and promote skills that will be used for a lifetime!
This Could Help So Many Families
Happy in Your Skin follows young Rafa as he learns why his skin is brown, his Indian heritage, and self-love and shares what he learned with others. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This story was written for my child when he had questions about why he looked different from the others in his preschool. I felt unprepared to anwer the question right away, but then I told him stories about India and our family lineage. I searched for books that could tell our stories and unfortunately I didnt see books with Indian charecters. so I worte the story that I would want to tell him. I got it illustrated and read the copy to him. He said “Rafa, is just like me!” this was the first time I saw him connecting with a charecter. I thought this could help so many families to learn about these strategies to address skin color questions for early learners.
How do you see your book fitting into teachers and parents lesson plans on diversity and inclusion?
When questions and curiosities about race are not addressed, Children start forming their beliefs based on the stereotypes they see in the media. This book is a resource for teachers who are looking to add new ways to help children learn to embrace everyone’s uniqueness and give children a sense of pride and security in who they are. Cirriculum that is focused on helping and prepareing our young children to become exceptional future leaders through cultural sensitivity and awareness, this one will be a great add to open discussions around ethnicity and culture.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun creating?
I loved creating the scene where the parents sit Rafa down and share the proud Indian Heritage with him which includes the art, dance form, historcial monuments, National bird, National flag, history, music, food.. and more. there is so much beauty that needed to be captured on one page and I love how that came together for that scene.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book I am working on is when Rafa experiences criticism about his food which looked and smelled different during lunchtime in school. Food is comfort and everyone has a unique relationship with their foods. Rafs learns to share his food and ethnicity with his class friends and introduces his peers to authentic cultural tastes from his family’s recipe book. The Book Name is I Love Curry and I’m not Sorry – By Erlin Kakkanad. The book will be out in June 2023.
Author Links: Facebook | Website | LinkedIn
Children’s books on diversity and inclusion – There is an absence of cross-cultural/ethnic books in K-12. Especially, books written by parents having first-hand experience. This book is a good tool for parents and teachers who want to help their kids understand diversity and that everyone is OK no matter how you look.
Children become Ally’s – Research shows that talking about issues like race, gender, and by including readings for diversity and social justice from the age of two increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows children to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.
You Belong Here – This would be the perfect addition to all families, classrooms, and libraries. It is a simple story to teaches all kids, not just children of color, the importance of being kind and accepting.
Let’s develop our little people into future inclusive leaders – All children want to feel like they fit in, and this story teaches us we can be ourselves and shares why difference in each of us are wonderful. Children are curious and are open to questioning what they see. Grown-ups often post-pone conversations on complicated topics because it’s hard to know where to begin.
You will Love it – ADD TO CART today for your reading collection.
This book tells the story about Rafa, who is in preschool and is curious about why his skin color is different.
Young Rafa has a wonderful family. They are from India and now live in the United States. Rafa loves where he lives, but sometimes he gets strange questions that he doesn’t know how to answer.
“Why are you brown?”
“Why are you so different?”
At first, Rafa did not have the tools to navigate these questions… until he talks to some of the adults in his life!
It turns out that many people have gotten questions like that, and they can help him with what to say! His doctor, teacher, and parents help Rafa understand who he is and how to be proud of that.
Dear parents and teachers, Here is why I wrote this book:
Why is my skin color different? This was the question my preschooler asked me.
While it was hard to process at the moment for me, I knew I needed to help my child navigate through these feelings and curiosities about his identity.
When questions and curiosities are not addressed, Children start forming their beliefs based on the stereotypes they see in the media.
This book is a tool for parents to navigate questions about differences and give our children a sense of pride and security in who they are.
A resource for teachers who can help children learn new ways to embrace everyone’s uniqueness.
My mission through this labor of love is :
To help all young children to become exceptional future leaders through cultural sensitivity and awareness
For parents to know that you don’t have to do it all alone.
Erlin Kakkanad is a mom, Ph.D. in Education, promotes cultural sensitivity and awareness for children, youth, and adults in corporations; and raises Asian Indian American children in the Midwest.
Jacobi Jacobi What Can I Be…?
Jacobi Jacobi What Can I Be…? is a truly heartwarming and inspiring children’s book that is perfect for young readers. The story follows Jacobi as he embarks on a journey through the alphabet, providing positive affirmations for each letter. Author Amber Hill’s storytelling style is engaging and interactive, providing a fun way for kids to develop their literacy skills.
The book’s focus on positive affirmations and nurturing young children’s emotions is truly remarkable. It is a powerful tool for building self-esteem and promoting a healthy sense of self-worth in young readers. The vibrant and colorful illustrations are expertly crafted to immerse the reader in the world of the alphabet, making learning an enjoyable and fun experience.
What I appreciate most about this book is how it helps young readers learn the letters of the alphabet along with positive corresponding words. The author’s love and passion for her craft are evident in the way she expertly weaves words and illustrations to create a truly captivating picture book. It is the perfect story for parents and children to bond over, promoting positive conversations and building strong relationships.
Jacobi Jacobi What Can I Be…? is a highly recommended kids book that will inspire and uplift young readers. It is a powerful tool for building self-esteem and promoting early literacy skills in young children. I highly recommend this book to parents and educators alike.
Pages: 31 | ISBN: 1737054906
Brain Based Teaching
Hugh the Hippo Camps Out In My Head follows a young boy and his friends who go on a magical adventure to learn about the hippocampus. What was the inspiration for your story?
As an early childhood educator, I teach my ‘littles’ (K-5) about their amazing brain, specifically the importance of their PFC, Hippocampus and Amygdala. They are fascinated by how their brain learns! Since incorporating brain based teaching (neuroscience) in my classroom (8+ years), I have seen tremendous growth in academic achievement, as well as social-emotional learning (SEL). It changes how students approach learning by empowering them to learn more efficiently, calmly and confidently.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
How amazing our brain is and how we learn and remember things. My students love learning about their brain and how they can make their brain “smarter and stronger”! Additionally, it was important to integrate not only neuroscience, but also interesting science facts that children would enjoy learning.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Mark Jackson?
I met Mark through a mutual friend. It was absolutely Divine! He grew up reading comic books and is a self-taught graphic artist. This is the first book he’s illustrated, and he was an absolute delight to work with. He and I met twice a month to collaborate on the concept, characters, and amusing scenery (we wanted to add an abundance of fun visuals, like gaming, dragons and venus flytraps, so children could make ‘connections’).
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have published eight books, and am currently concentrating on marketing my books. I plan to write a Cindi (the Teenie Chiweenie) Easter book in 2024.
Author Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
There’s an important part of your brain, called the hippocampus. It helps you learn and store information. It’s where your memories ‘camp out’!
DID YOU KNOW? When you smell chocolate chip cookies and think of ooey gooey sweetness — know the name of your friends, your letters, numbers and colors — or remember how to level up in your video games — that’s your hippocampus at work.
In this fun, educational and highly entertaining story, Oliver meets his hippocampus, Hugh. Together, they grow, learn and become inseparable sidekicks.
When Oliver and his friends, Bella and Beau, get lost in an enchanted forest, they find out just how important their hippocampus is! Early readers will laugh out loud at the amusing illustrations and this super cute adventure story.
A Dog in my Yard
Johnathan loves having his dog Millie around, but when she starts chewing up things, potty’s on the floor, and interrupts meetings, his parents think about finding the golden doodle a new home. Johnathan sets out to build a case for keeping the puppy. Through his efforts, readers learn that there is so much value and love that comes from having a dog in the house.
A Dog in my Yard is a vibrant and amusing children’s book that educates readers on the challenges of owning a puppy, like needing to take them for a walk, rain or shine. It also shows them all the wonderful things that come with having a dog in the family, like health, friends, and love. Young readers will learn all the little quirks puppies have, and Millie specifically, through fun and flowing rhyme.
Each page is beautifully illustrated with vibrant artwork that will capture every child’s attention. This will be a great picture book to read to toddlers or kindergarteners because they will love seeing Millie on the page as the story is read to them. I surely loved seeing all the different adorable dogs throughout the book, and I especially loved seeing Millie in different funny situations. And if you own a puppy, you’ll find this story relatable.
A Dog in my Yard follows a charming little boy and his rambunctious puppy and teaches valuable life skills along the way. This entertaining kids’ book is highly recommended as a fun bedtime story or as a teaching tool to inspire conversation about the responsibilities that come with having a puppy in the family.
Pages: 40 | ASIN: B0BLFKCM3C
Learning Can Be Fun
Alliteration Boosts Communication: The ABCs of Vocabulary teaches children interesting vocabulary words to improve their communication skills while entertaining them. What was the inspiration for writing this story?
My inspiration for writing this book was seeing and knowing that our students lack high level robust vocabulary. Studies show that children living in poverty only hear a total of 13 million words before the age of four. Compared to 45 million words compared to its counterpart. As an Educator this was unacceptable and I wanted to change this!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Wheeler Lentz?
The collaboration process with Wheeler Lentz was smooth. He was easy to work with. I gave him my vision and he illustrated it. We made changes where we needed them. He also gave suggestions when needed. Wheeler was a constant professional.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The idea that learning can be fun. I wanted dynamic illustrations that went with each word that was shown on the page. I wanted students and educators to be able to create their own stories (Alliterations) with the illustration. This book has language standards, Science standards, and Math standards connected.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
This book is a trilogy. The next one that will be released is Acronyms Bolsters Communities: The ABCs of Communities. The last book is Affirmations Build Characters: The ABCs of Positivity.
I do have a joint venture book entitled Hey, Black Boy! Coming out this Spring!
Author Links: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website
My goal is to boost our children’s vocabulary to improve their communication through words at an early age. Studies show that the earlier we boost a child’s vocabulary, the better they are with reading and comprehension. Vocabulary knowledge along with background knowledge provides our students with a better chance of understanding the text they read.
LITERARY TITAN 