Blog Archives
Raise an Optimistic Nation
The Day Albert’s House Went Quiet follows a young boy who discovers his house is quieter than normal and learns how to deal with change throughout the story. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My mother and her life-changing counsel given to families who were in crises.
Mum died following a protracted illness in 2020. She loved her family and took time to instill in us a love for people. She was an early childhood educator. I watched her good counsel transform families that cane to her for help. Often she was hired to run primary schools that were struggling. Any school she took over prospered as well. She taught me that perfect love drives out fear and that an unstable society is a harbinger of an unsafe home.
I also work with broken families. I look for ways to help people understand that change is possible if we all work together and try to get along by learning to understand each other rather then react negatively to what we hear. Children have a way of seeing things adult may overlook, and if we know to create a world where kids feel safe, nurtured and loved, we will invariable raise an optimistic nation. It starts at home. So no matter what stage we are in as a family, my mom taught me that we could reset our homes, our minds and our attitude for a better outcome. Everyone has a role to play in making the change successful
The art in this book is cute and emotive. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator?
I used Upwork services. The illustrator was easy to work with. I told him that it was a fun book and I would love it to have many colours because Albert is inquisitive but happy despite his circumstances. The illustrator used his creativity and added his ideas and thought to the pictures. We work well together.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some of the themes I explored was the fact that family is an important institution, and we need to embrace it and learn to work together. I also touched on the aspect of peer groups and the impact that they have on children. Kids see the worked differently, and they need to be able to ask questions and made part of family discussions to help them learn how to deal with various life issues
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have just published My Grandpa.
I will also be releasing another picture book Mr I don’t Know.
I have two other books I am writing, DoThinker – adventure series and my biography.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
A Different Way to Learn
Let’s talk! A story of Autism and Friendship teaches readers about autism and accepting others through a fun and engaging story. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It was important to me for a few different reasons. Working in this field I get asked all the time by parents if I think their child has Autism and then they tell me how afraid they are of the diagnosis. I feel that this is sad because Autism is just a different way to learn and is actually beautiful. I wanted to write something that showed families it is ok that their child has Autism. I also wanted to show people the way I see Autism as just a different way to learn. There Is not enough research out there on Autism and there is still that negative connotation. That is something I am striving to change with this book and the rest that are coming in the series.
The art in the book is vibrant and charming. What was the art collaboration process like with Blueberry Illustrations?
It was so simple and easy. I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants to self publish or is looking for an illustrator. They followed my instructions to the letter. They also were so kind and gracious when I had one illustration that needed to be changed. They sent me a work schedule that they either stuck to the day of or would send me work early. They really made the process enjoyable and I am now working with them for the third time on my second book.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I really wanted to explore the idea of friendship. I wanted to show that child like innocence of our children that is open to anyone no matter our differences. I also wanted to make sure my characters were of different ethnicities than I am. That specifically was done to show that Autism can happen to anyone, of any race. Because it is primarily seen as a white disorder. It does happen to others they just don’t talk about it and that I would like to change as well.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book is called Lets Talk! And go to the zoo, the sequel. It will be available April 2, 2021 from amazon, barnes and noble, Walmart and any small independent book store that can order it or from me and my etsy shop palepinkadventures.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram | GoodReads
Found Within Ourselves
Where’s My Joey? is a heartwarming story following a mother Kangaroo searching for her lost joey. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My inspiration to write this book came while teaching in Perth, Australia in 2007. Photos with the first draft of this story were sent to my young nieces in America a furry kangaroo photo album and they loved it.
The art in this book is beautiful and detailed. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Roxana Antochi?
It is wonderful to work with Roxana. She far exceeded my expectations with the detailed research she put into every aspect of her gorgeous illustrations.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main theme (spoiler alert) is for me the profound wisdom that what we are truly looking for can only be found within ourselves.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have written the first draft of my second book. It will be a picture book about the nature of light and dark. Roxana and I are not pursuing it yet because we still have many plans for Where’s My Joey?. The coloring book was recently released. We are currently working on a hardcover version as well publishing the book in other languages.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram
Who will help Mother Kangaroo in Canada? Do Moose or Bear or Beaver have any clues? Where’s Joey? Read and find out!
Written by a teacher who lived in Australia, this book is entertaining, engaging, and educational on many levels. (It has a secret spiritual message for those who want to discover it.) Filled with beautiful illustrations and a beautiful story, this is a book all ages will enjoy.
This is a book you will treasure for years and enjoy with your children (or grandchildren) again and again.
Squishy Sand
Squishy Sand, by Charlene McIver is an educational picture book about three friends who take a trip to the beach and run into a problem on the sand and must come up with a creative solution. They’re all playing together, enjoying ice cream as they walk along the boardwalk. As Cosmo begins to grow bored he suggests going into the water. But there’s an issue: the wheels on Leigh’s wheelchair get stuck in the sand! The three kids try and figure out how to bring Leigh into the sand, going through different ideas. As they begin to lose hope, Cosmo finds something amazing!
Author Charlene McIver does a fantastic job of showing the different issues people struggle with. She shows that even if someone is in a wheelchair, they’re still capable of having fun and doing the same things everyone else does. The story shows how empathetic and kind Leigh’s friends are, encouraging children to copy that behavior. This book provides fantastic opportunities to talk to children about these topics and also gives some great examples of how these ideas apply in the real world. The art in the book is a wonderfully vibrant blend of sketch and water color styles, and makes me think of something Bob Ross would paint. There are cute creates on every page!
Squishy Sand is an educational children’s story that teaches young readers valuable life lessons and problem solving using creativity, all wrapped up in a fun little beach adventure. This book shows that it’s important to be understanding and patient with people that struggle with a disability. The story is fun and entertaining for the audience. Overall, the book is a great read for children to learn about others, and how to help them!
Pages: 38 | ISBN: 0648417832
Let’s Talk! A Story of Autism and Friendship
Let’s Talk! A Story of Autism and Friendship, by Lisa Jacovsky is a fun and educational children’s story about a little girl named Harper. While at the pool one day, she meets a girl named Emma. She tries to talk and play with her, but she notices something’s off. Emma doesn’t speak, and she just stands there, flapping her arms. Harper offers to play in the pool with Emma and once she does, she learns that Emma has autism! Even after knowing why Emma behaved the way she did, she didn’t mind and Emma still became her best friend.
Let’s Talk! A Story of Autism and Friendship is a light-hearted and engaging story that teaches young readers a valuable life lesson. Author Lisa Jacovsky is able to write about a sensitive topic while keeping it easy for kids to understand. The colorful and detailed illustrations allow for the reader to better visualize the story and the characters. I really enjoyed how the story shows what it is like to have a friend with autism, letting the audience know that they may think differently, but they are still fun people to be around!
Let’s Talk! A Story of Autism and Friendship is a touching and easy to read picture book that will make it easy for parents and teachers to begin a discussion about autism with children. It teaches kids about the importance of accepting others and learning how to make them feel more comfortable, and Lisa Jacovsky does it all within an entertaining story.
Pages: 14 | ASIN: B08CBDT71J
The Day Albert’s House Went Quiet
The Day Albert’s House Went Quiet details the life of a young boy named Albert who experiences a change in his home: peace and quiet. Albert wakes up one day and finds that his mom is not getting angry with him because of a missing sock and finds that his family too is not arguing or shouting. This is a big change for Albert, because he is used to chaos–so accustomed to it that he and his group of friends at school bonded over the chaoticness at home.
Author Dr. Debbie Obatoki has created a great children’s picture book that teaches young readers that there are always solutions to our problems. This story also illustrates how change is not always a bad thing, for Albert the change that happened was for the better and it strengthened his family. This book is a perfect way to start a conversation about change with your kids. The bright and emotive digitally rendered graphics compliment the light-heartedness of the story and will allow children to learn and understand different emotions. This is a wonderful story with a great message. The Day Albert’s House Went Quiet provides plenty of educational material in one feel-good story that will entertain any young one.
Pages: 46 | ASIN: B08SYN76R7
When We Read Together
Daniel’s Dreams: Monster Mountain follows a boy who goes on an adventure to a magical land filled with monsters that teach him an important life lesson. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My inspiration is two fold. My daughter inspires me to write. She has such a creative and imaginative mind and I adore how innocent her thinking can be. The idea of her going to different places and putting on accents when she is playing filled me with such joy. I wanted other children to experience these feelings when they read my books. Reading is something that we have always done together since she was a little girl. It is something she loves to do and its a nice moment in the day where everything is just focused on where stories will take us. When we read together, I often wonder if I could write books like the ones we read together. As an English teacher, it was always something I wanted to do, but when the Pandemic hit and the world came to a stop, I took the opportunity to sit down and write something in the hope that it would be enjoyed and that it would help children all over the world. I always hope to make my daughter proud, and if she enjoys the stories I write then I am making progress with my dreams.
My second inspiration was children in general. I had always wanted to help children, which is why I became a teacher. When teaching became more about data and ticking the right boxes than it did about the children, I decided to leave my teaching job in a secondary school and joined a special educational needs school. It was there that I was able to be of more help, but I wanted to help more. It was evident that children were suffering more than ever with their mental health and that they needs a way of understanding. It was important to me to help children with mental health, as I too have suffered with mental health, and know just how difficult it can be to understand and to express. If I can help one child understand mental health then I am on my way to accomplishing just what I wanted.
The art in this book is exceptional and really brings the story to life. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Leanne Brown?
When writing the book I had in mind exactly how I wanted the monsters to look. I researched different mental illness, the colours that represent them and the key features. I then had a written description of what I wanted as well as a rough drawing of what I wanted. I then sent all this over to Bear With Us Productions who commissioned Yogesh to do the illustrations. I had seen Yogesh’s work before and really liked his style of illustrations. Yogesh read the descriptions and took guidance from me on colours and key features that represent mental illnesses. He worked his magic and I must say that I am over the moon with what he has created. They are just what I had imagined in my head. He really made everything come to life for me and the story. I am already looking forward to working on the next book with Yogesh. I can’t imagine the characters any other way than they are now. It is exciting to see how he will bring the new character Preston to life as he suffers with depression.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Children’s mental health is really important to me. I have worked with children who have suffered with mental health but have been unable to articulate how they feel and how to understand their feelings. It is easier to show a physical illness than it is a mental illness, so I wanted children to know that they are not alone and that there are numerous people out their suffering with a mental illness, and that there are thousands of people wanting to help. I hoped my books would go someway to explaining why a child might feel the way they do and how they can deal with those feelings. My hope is to continue to write books for the series of Daniel’s Dreams, focusing on one particular mental illness at a time. This will be done through the idea of Daniel returning to Monster Mountain and meeting previous monsters and new ones.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The next book is the second in the series of Daniel’s Dreams which will focus in Depression. We will meet a character called Preston who suffers with depressions. His monster friends find it hard to understand why he is behaving the way he does. They feel that Preston let’s him down a lot. Daniel tries to understand what is going on with Preston and gets the monsters to show more understanding. Daniel, too, needs to understand what depression is so that he can take this back the ‘real world’ where he wants to help his friends and next door neighbour, Josie.
The book is currently in the process of being finished off before it goes to editing and then production. I am hoping it should be out and available later on this year, 2021.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Where’s My Joey?: A heartwarming bedtime story for children of all ages
![Where's My Joey?: A heartwarming bedtime story for children of all ages by [Wendy Monica Winter, Roxana Antochi]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61c90ofjGaL._SX260_.jpg)
Where’s My Joey? by Wendy Winter is a heartfelt children’s story of a mother kangaroo that’s lost her Joey! She travels all over Australia looking for him. She talks to everyone, Mr. Echidna, the Kookaburra Family, even friends in Canada! As her Joey’s dinner grows cold, she worries that she may not find him.
Author Wendy Winter’s story is filled with adorable characters that were very emotive throughout the story, which is important to help children learn to recognize emotions. Each page is covered top to bottom illustrations that have a soft color pallet that compliments that overall soothing feel of the story. The pictures are beautiful, detailed, and some of them are ready to frame and hang up on the wall as art. I’m thinking of two scenes specifically; the one where the mother and her joey are sitting and reading together, and the map of Australia. These are amazing art pieces all on their own and the map of Australia helps the reader learn where certain animals live, and the geography.
The plot of the story sends the mother kangaroo on a hunt that serves as a great opportunity to introduce children to different types of interesting animals. It reminds me of the P. D. Eastman book ‘Are You My Mother’.
Where’s My Joey? is a cute and entertaining story packed with loveable characters and vibrant scenes. Where’s My Joey? is the most heartwarming and educational picture book I have read all year.
Pages: 31 | ASIN: B08L27P6NZ
LITERARY TITAN 