Blog Archives
Feeling Good is Good for the Brain
Your Brain Kids Edition educates readers on brain health and nutrition with fun imagery. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book is important for me to write because I train many seniors and stroke survivors in my line of work. I personally have seen my father extremely ill at his age. I feel that the earliest in life we understand that eating well and exercise is not just for the way we look and our body health it is our brain health.
What were some key ideas you wanted to share in this book?
The brain is the engine to the body. When we are treated kindly it makes us feel good. Feeling good is good for the brain. Being kind to others and not bullying, is healthy for others brain health. So, I encourage kids and adults to eat well, hydrate for overall brain and body health as well as being kind to themselves and others for mental and emotional care. This book is the children’s version of my adult book The Engine to Your Body, a Fitness Trainer’s Guide to Brain Health. I woke up one morning and thought, making a Kid’s edition of this book would be a great idea to help kids understand this at a younger age. Plus, it can help it be fun to learn about the brain. And with covid and home schooling I thought parents would like it as they help kids with homework and reading.
The art in this book is colorful and cute. What was the art collaboration like on this project?
The little girl in the book is the young kid version of my logo I use for my business. I thought if I could get an illustrator to make the kids version of my logo that is a cartoon type character of me it could be cute. So, I use Fiveer for my muscle illustrations and formatting my books before publishing. I ask a person there that re does logos if he could make a little girl and a teenage girl version of my logo. Then I would ask him now can you make her in the garden with my dog as a puppy. I sent him a picture of my dog, and so he did. All the pages are me having an idea or finding a pic I like and asking him to make it in our version of things with my girl in it. And since I wear hearing aids, I wanted a girl who had to wear hearing aids playing on a swing and jump roping to show that kids with hearing g aids can play just like other kids. Wearing hearing aids when you have a hearing loss is good brain care.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have four books in my series of books on Stroke Recovery, a book on spine care, a book on fall prevention and my two books on the brain. My next book is on Hearing loss. I have severe hearing loss and wear hearing aids.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Your Brain Kids Edition
Filled with tips on brain health, nutrition suggestions, and the benefits of drinking water, Your Brain: The Engine to Your Body. A Fitness Trainer’s Guide to a Healthy Brain is exactly what the doctor ordered. Tracy L. Markley, fitness specialist, has gifted readers a phenomenal book that is brimming with ideas that readers can put to immediate use in their daily lives. Whether they want to improve their quality of life or are recovering from a brain injury, readers will find a long list of wonderful and practical tips that are all backed by science.
As a mother of two and a teacher who was recently diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, I am especially interested in the tips regarding improving brain function. Markley’s research and experience in brain health are thorough and organized for readers in an easy-to-follow, relatable format. Markley also gives many tips for gentle exercises that can further improve balance and thereby enhancing both hearing and brain function.
I highly recommend Your Brain: The Engine to Your Body. A Fitness Trainer’s Guide to a Healthy Brain to anyone that is dealing with issues surrounding brain health or any caregiver that wants to learn more about ways to encourage brain function for their loved ones or patients.
Pages: 13 | ASIN: B08KHNVH1Q
Merren and the Heron
![Merren and the Heron by [Tony Dow, Darya Shchegoleva]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+EmLZMqvL._SX260_.jpg)
Merren and the Heron, by Tony Dow is an adorable story about a class of children visiting the zoo. Their teacher instructs them to take a picture with an animal that rhymes with their name. As the children wander around the zoo, they struggle to get their pictures. Then, an even worse problem arises, they can’t find their classmate Merren! As the kids continue to search for Merren, they still haven’t gotten their pictures and now there’s too much to worry about!
Tony Dow’s story is filled with lovable characters and exciting rhymes. It engages young readers, allowing them to learn rhyming structure, while solving a fun mystery. The drawings on every page have colors that pop, making it even more appealing. Overall, Dow provides a story that children can read many times without getting bored.
I am giving Merren and the Herren, by Tony Down 5 out of 5 stars. Its mystery filled storyline and use of engaging literary techniques makes the story stand out from most children’s books. Its colorful drawings bring the characters to life and makes the audience even more absorbed with the story. Merren and the Heron is one of the most unique children’s stories I have read this month.
Pages: 13 | ASIN : B08LBQX961
Inside the Head of a Bully
Bullying: What Are We Really Scared Of challenges our current response to bullying and explores successful ways of dealing with bullies. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I was able to get inside the head of a bully, learn all the secrets as to how they bully and why. Stemming from this, I was able to devise an action plan to stop bullies from hurting me. After many years of implementing this plan, learning that it worked every time, seeing the world was in such a state with bullying problems, saddened, I felt it was imperative I shared the secrets to defeating the bullies to help victims with this worldwide problem.
What were some ideas that were important for you to focus on in this book?
Divulging the truth about bullying, that it is not just the schoolyard bully or domestic violator, but that bullying is in every aspect of our lives. Exposing their secrets and sharing how easy it is for bullies to be retrained during counselling from being a physical violator to a psychological abuser because that is when they are most dangerous. Demonstrating, with examples, how easy it is to fall victim to bullies and what to look out for to be safe from the manipulations of bullies. Explaining to victims that the Justice system is more often than not, a lame duck when it comes to seeking help from them so they don’t fall into the abyss of depression when it fails to help them. Most importantly, I wanted to empower victims to be self reliant, to help themselves to stop the bullies in their lives.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about bullying?
That bullying is scary, that once they fall victim to a bully it will never stop, that they cannot defeat it and no one would believe them.
Do you have plans to write other books on this topic?
Yes, I am in the midst of writing a book for younger children (ages 3-8) to help them understand bullying and what they can do to stop it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Winner of the Best Self Help Book for 2018 by the Pacific Book Awards, Finalist for Self-Help Books for 2019 by the Book Excellence Awards and a Gold Winner Award for Education/Reference for 2020 by the Elite Choice Book Awards.
This informative book challenges the current “system” response of victim blaming and punishment and lays the foundation for a successful way of dealing with bullies.
The author gives:
• Realistic, affordable and easy solutions to the bullying problem.
• Empowering victims to overcome their fears so they can stop the bullies easily.
• Aiding victims to diffuse bullying situations.
• Educating bystanders to understand their role in helping victims
• Educating parents to understand the situation their child is in and how to help.
• Educating school staff how to help the victims instead of punishing them.
• Educating the Justice System to help victims of all forms of abuse.
• Educating governments and education departments on better policy and decision making.
Bullies are really not that scary when you understand them, in fact, they are easy to control when you know how. Put all bullies in their place today, order your copy of Bullying What are we really scared of?
I Wanted Him to be Honored
My Time With Papa helps readers deal with the loss of a loved one by reminding them of all the wonderful memories they have. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It was important for me to keep the book lighthearted but also provide a discussion for parents to have with children. I also wanted to make sure my stepfather came to life in the book by capturing things he loved and the bond he had with his granddaughter.
The art in this book was vivid and bright. What was the art collaboration like on this project?
My illustrator was fantastic in capturing my stepfather’s likeness. It was uncanny. I was very specific in what I wanted in the book because it was a reflection of him and I wanted him to be honored. My illustrator took the details and embodied the emotions I wanted to capture by keeping the illustrations lively and colorful.
Do you have plans to write other children’s book?
Yes, I do! After writing this book, I fell in love with process and wrote three more. I look forward to sharing those with the world as well!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Mommy, Daddy Please Teach Me!
![Mommy, Daddy Please Teach Me! (What I Tell Myself) by [Michael A Brown, Michelle Mathews, Zoe Ranucci]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51CjFXcXroL.jpg)
Mommy, Daddy Please Teach Me!, by Michael A. Brown, is an educational children’s story about appreciating what our parents have done for us. Through this book readers will learn to value the things their parents have taught them by exploring various real life examples such as learning to dress themselves and learning to love themselves. The story portrays diverse families in many different situations that children find themselves in on an average day. The author then uses this base to show some simple, but effective, examples of the numerous ways that parents help their children learn and grow.
It’s important to appreciate the things our parents have taught us. They have taught us a lot of things that have helped us become the people that we are today. Our parents have always been there to guide us through life and it is important to think about what we have learned from them. Michael A. Brown inspires this kind of thought and understanding in his exceptional picture book.
Along with the multiple examples given that show how parents educate children, this cute book also helps remind kids to cherish the lessons their parents give them. If the reader were to discover something in the story that they didn’t know about, such as the concept of money, then they’d have something new to discuss with their parents.
Mommy, Daddy Please Teach Me! is yet another brilliant book by Michael A. Brown that uses beautiful illustrations to capture children’s attention and then inserts a lesson while looking over all the beautiful imagery.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B08K3QQNMG
My Time with Papa
My Time with Papa by Shauntae Spaulding is a heartwarming children’s picture book that tells the story of a little girl whose father has passed away. Her mother is there to support her as she grieves and helps her understand her heartache. Her mother tells her not to think of it negatively, to remember all the fun times she had with her dad. Thus begins the story as the girl closes her eyes and she and her father are reunited in her imagination.
Shauntae Spaulding navigates the devastating topic of loss while being respectful. Spaulding’s tone throughout the story helps keep the mood happy, which I am supremely grateful for, because as soon as I found out what this book was about my heart ached and I wasn’t sure I was ready for such despair. But this is an ultimately uplifting story that will remind children that our loved ones leave their memories behind. It teaches them to stay optimistic and hold onto those good memories. The use of rhyme and vivid artwork keep the reader engaged and eager to continue. The art is exceptional and seemed to me like it was ready to be made into an animated story.
My Time with Papa is touching and thought-provoking and gives children a unique tool to deal with grief and loss and Shauntae Spaulding has managed to do this in a fun and imaginative way.
Pages: 24 | ISBN: 978-0228830726
Wildflowers
Believe in Fairies is an enchanting children’s picture book that gives readers a reason to appreciate wildflowers. How did you come about this theme for the book?
This book was Sherrie’s idea; she’s a keen gardener who loves fairies. My series of children’s books tackle the topic of conservation, and Sherrie shares my concern regarding the loss of wildflower species, here in the UK. The fairies help educate children and their parents about the various types of wildflowers, and their enemies such as snails and mice. The book encourages children and their parents to grow wildflowers and to appreciate them in the meadows and other open spaces.
You wrote this book with Sherrie Trotman. What was the collaboration like between you?
The collaboration was easy and enjoyable. Sherrie wrote the first draft of the poem, and I edited and added to it. I hired and worked closely with the illustrator, communicating Sherrie’s original ideas and those of my own. Once we approved the artwork, I designed the finished book.
I loved the little cute snail that makes an appearance in this book. Do you have any favorite scenes from the book?
Our favourite illustration is titled ‘Their will-o’-the-wisp may give you a fright’. It features three fairies with ghoulish-blue glows. In the foreground, we see two terrified mice fleeing from them. The cute snail was originally a mouse. However, because we have two mice in ‘Their will-o’-the-wisp may give you a fright’, I asked the illustrator to change the other mouse into a snail. I’m glad you like it.
Do you have any future collaborative books that you’re working on?
We have several ideas for collaborative books. However, at the moment, I’m working on the final two books of the Wayne Gerard Trotman’s Rhyming Stories series.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
So beautiful, magical, and joyous a sight
From the realm of the fays, across the sea
Watch as they play in the hollow of a tree
They keep many fields and meadows alive
By helping wild herbs and flowers survive
A fairy tale for the young and the young at heart.
Learn to appreciate wildflowers and be inspired to help them grow in this beautifully illustrated rhyming tale for ages 4+.
LITERARY TITAN 