Blog Archives
Lifelong Friends, No Matter Where You Go
The Whole Dollar follows two brothers that love each other and share everything as they grow up. What was the inspiration for your story?
This is a true story about my two oldest sons. When something is an event from a real-life situation, the story literally writes itself. As a parent, I tried to capture and take note of those precious everyday moments that are fleeting. When you’re raising children, you feel you’ll never forget something and yet, you do. This is one of those events that was burned into my memory and was the hallmark of what a sibling relationship could and should be.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The obvious idea is the lifelong joy of a loving sibling relationship. The other major idea focuses on the act of sharing. I wanted to emphasize that sharing isn’t only about “giving something away.” It’s the act itself that brings the giver something precious in return. I also wanted to give the children reading this a hint of how sibling relationships change, and in some ways never change, as they get older. It was important to me that this book be a reminder that your brothers or sisters aren’t just a childhood relationship. They can be your closest and best friends for life, no matter where you go.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
I think it was to write about what you know and to write the stories the way I tell the stories. Humor, excitement, nostalgia, and sweetness among other things – especially when writing for children.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The Whole Dollar is releasing on March 4th. I am currently working on 2 additional books and one of those will likely be available early in 2023. The next book will focus on how children experience feelings of anger, anxiety, fear, being tired, being hungry, and how those feelings can make them act in ways that get them in trouble. This book will be a means of helping parents, teachers, and caregivers start meaningful conversations and teach children how to talk about and manage their feelings.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
The Whole Dollar
When two brothers are also best friends, they share everything. From sharing a room to toys, and even food, Big Brother and Little Brother shared all they had with each other. One day Big Brother wants to do a chore to earn a dollar, his mom asked him to rake the leaves, and he did. When he was done, she gave him a dollar bill. Wanting to share like always, Big Brother ripped the bill in two and gave half to Little Brother. Mom said she would put the two halves somewhere safe for the boys. Years later, as the boys grew older, they stayed just as close and shared everything still. Till one day, Little Brother must head off alone to join the Army. Mom has a surprise for the boys before they say their goodbyes.
The Whole Dollar is a beautiful children’s story about brotherly love, compassion, friendship, and mostly about sharing. Lori Croy has written this picture book using her own sons as the inspiration for the story. You can’t help but smile as you read through this heartwarming story because the love these two brothers share is immeasurable.
The language is geared to lower elementary level children and the illustrations are animated and colorful. Illustrator Katelynn Hoefelman has deftly captured the emotions of the brothers. Their personalities shine through in the images as they grow in the story. This creative story shows that even as they grow older, the things they share change, but the love they have for each other does not. Children will be able to understand the message that Croy is presenting while being entertained as well.
The Whole Dollar is a memorable picture book for younger children. The playful storyline and the message of sharing make this phenomenal children’s book ideal for use in the classroom. Showing the bond between brothers and the importance of family values will delight parents and caregivers of all children.
Pages: 28 | ISBN : 1667826190
The Fascinating World Of Holes
The Hole Story takes children on an adventure exploring all the different holes there are in the world around them. What inspired you to write this picture book?
I have spent my life telling entertaining and educational stories to my 6 children and 13 grandchildren. I also love puns and wordplay and for many years joked about someday writing a book and calling it “The Hole Story.” During the pandemic when I was forced to be separated from my children and their families, I decided to write this book as a gift for my grandchildren. After receiving it, my daughter who is an Education faculty member at a university, encouraged me to publish the book as it had many elements that teachers could use in the classroom to help teach spatial concepts in a fun way. Thus, The Hole Story was made available for the public to enjoy!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Katelynn Hoefelman?
Katelynn is a joy to work with. We have a great collaborative relationship. I draft my manuscript and try to think of examples of scenes or illustrative elements that will augment the telling of the story and move it forward. I break down my suggestions into the sections of text for pages and suggestions for artwork and Katelynn takes it from there. As I have more than one book, and intend to write more, we have agreed on an illustration “style” for my books that will hopefully make them more recognizable. Katelynn is responsible for coming up with a number of innovative paths in the illustrations that just add to the readers enjoyment.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
First and most important, learning should be fun. And, second, you need to look beyond the obvious and use your imagination to see the possibilities all around you. Holes are just one example of looking beyond the obvious “hole in the ground”, for instance, and seeing that it has a purpose. It’s just one more step to seeing other critical things such as looking beyond a person’s physical appearance and being able to see who they really are. I also wanted to introduce children to wordplay and that a word may sound the same as another, but can be spelled differently and have a completely different meaning. Many paths for a teacher or parent to take with these concepts.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book will be “The Whole Dollar” and is based on a true story about my two oldest sons. This story focuses on the close bond between siblings, what it means to share, and the unexpected gifts that can return to you later on in life. It’s one that will tug at your heartstrings and will speak to big brothers, little brothers, big sisters and little sisters everywhere.
The book will be in pre-sale at major book distributors in the next couple of weeks and will be released on March 4, 2022.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
The Hole Story
What is a hole? Is it just an empty space, or is it something more? The Hole Story takes children on an adventure exploring all the different holes there are in the world around them. Everything from holes in nature, to their home, to even their clothes and body. This picture book gives kids a lot to think about and teaches them to look beyond the surface of the things they do see.
Children are inquisitive and finding a hole outside to explore is a great adventure. Author Lori Croy has written this picture book with the curious nature of children in mind. She takes children on a tour of the obvious holes like in a tree or in the ground and then goes further like a puddle, even a hole in your sock. The simple language and fun examples that go beyond the ordinary will keep children engaged in the story.
The colorful illustrations by Katelynn Hoefelman bring this highly original storybook to life. The artwork does not just tell the story but encourages children to explore the world on the pages and find examples in their own world. The combination of artwork and narrative will give teachers and parents a lot of openings to discuss ideas.
The Hole Story is a fun play on words, as it is meant to be the whole story on holes. Teachers will love having this creative picture book in the classroom and parents will love having it to read at home where they can use it to point out different holes in their own home. This engaging story will take children on an adventure to see that holes are more than just an empty space in life. Reading this clever picture book will delight children in early elementary grades as they discover the amazing world of holes.
Pages: 26 | ISBN : 1098359623
LITERARY TITAN 