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The Legend of the Summer Snowflake
Sky Watch has disbanded and Cloudia is missing her friends. Mother Sky is sad because pollution is getting bad on earth and there is nothing that she can do. That is, until a single snowflake falls in the middle of summer, bringing the Sky Watch team back together. Now Cloudia and friends have the power to fight pollution and save a baby dolphin from a plastic garbage patch.
The Legend of the Summer Snowflake is a colorful children’s book that features a diverse cast of young characters that band together to save a baby dolphin, but more importantly they bring awareness to a major problem that is collecting in our ocean; garbage patches.
This wonderful picture books clearly illustrates a complex issue in a way that young children will be able to easily understand. Along with that, the Sky Watch team has an array of fantastic abilities they can use to cleanup pollution. Children will be excited to see all the different characters show up, as they will get to point out their different abilities and see them in action. I really enjoyed seeing how those abilities were brought to life by illustrator Len Peralta.
The Legend of the Summer Snowflake is a wonderfully educational kids book that educates as well as it entertains. What I like most about this book is that it not only points out the pollution trouble, it also explains what humans are doing to resolve the garbage patch problem, giving readers an actionable path to take the lessons learned from the book into the real world.
Pages: 34 | ASIN: B09W1HQ9TW
A Big Part Of My Own Story
A Star Upon a Dream follows a discouraged young girl who tries to discover what her dream job is and finds renewed confidence from her father. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration behind the story is connected with my own personal story. Children are like sponges; they soak up everything. The people they are surrounded with can make or break that child. Having strong adult figures in a child’s life really is powerful. I have a supportive family along with great teachers and coaches. Without them, I would have given up for sure.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There were several themes I wanted to incorporate into this book. The most critical themes included school life and bullying because I know there are many other people out there that could probably relate to this story. I wanted to make wrestling present in this story because it was a big part of my own story. Wrestling is a great sport to correlate with real life situations. In wrestling, we can get taken down but you can always fight and get back up. This is the same concept we can apply to our own life. Sometimes, we get taken down in life but we have to fight and stand back up.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
Failure is something we all face in life. Failure does not define you. It’s how you deal with failure that makes you successful.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have another book in the development stage. My current focus is this book because it is my first book and the message is very important to me. If things work out then I hope to have it completed by 2024.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Follow Meleah Rowland, a third grade student whose dream is to become a zoologist someday. She quickly learns how it feels to be doubted, thus diminishing the light of this young girl. She learns a very important lesson from her father, Charles Rowland, through the story of his own past to becoming the shining star he is today.
I Wrote A Book I Needed
Billy Be Kind: Making A New Friend is an amazing children’s book on how to make friends that preschoolers can understand. Why did you feel this was important to write about?
I wrote a book I needed growing up as a shy little girl. Now that I am the mother of a shy daughter, I know the importance and impact friendships have on a child’s self-esteem and emotional health. I hope to simplify important life lessons with my short stories while teaching social and emotional skills to children at a young age.
The art in this book is fantastic it really jumps off the page. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Ayesha W.?
Since I have collaborated with my illustrator, Ayesha W. on several projects, she has a clearer understanding of my vision. I begin by sending her my storyboard and stick-figure drawings. She then sends me her interpretation of my ideas. We often go back and forth until we are both satisfied that the artwork matches my vision. Our personalities work in a manner that allows us to create and collaborate effectively.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I thought it was important to explore the theme of friendship. I used a shy protagonist in my story to show children that you can be shy and still be brave. Additionally, exploring the theme of friendship allowed me the opportunity to incorporate inclusion, diversity, and of course, kindness, a theme repeated throughout the entire series.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on 3 books that should be released by the end of 2022.
Billy Be Kind: My Big Feelings
Billy Be Kind: I Can Do Anything
Billy Be Kind: Sharing
Author Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Making a new friend when you’re shy isn’t always easy. It often requires putting in a little effort. Billy Be Kind the kind little mouse is there to help!
This wonderful, short, rhyming story is part of the Billy Be Kind Children’s series. Billy Be Kind is a kind, little magical mouse created to teach and encourage young children to be honest, brave, kind, to listen and so much more.
Parents, teachers and caregivers understand how challenging it is to grab and retain the attention of children. These engaging, short, rhyming stories will grab and keep their attention from the beginning to the very end.
Come join the Billy Be Kind family and make this series a part of your child’s library.
About the Author
2021 Black Caucus American Library Association Best of the Best book list -Honorable Mention
Kim Adams is a wife, mother, and the author of the Billy Be Kind children’s series. She fell in love with the art of storytelling at a very young age and has been inspired ever since. Kim hopes to simplify some of life’s important lessons as well as strengthen social and emotional skills through her short, rhyming stories. She has always taught her children to lead with kindness and hopes to help spread her message to every little boy and girl.
Wondering Is A Fun Place
Gertie Saves the Day is about a groundhog competition to be the next Groundhog Day celebration groundhog. What was the inspiration for your story?
I have always loved Groundhog Day. I always found it fascinating that animals were able to indicate to farmers whether or not they should begin planting their spring crops. As a child I was always hoping for an early spring!
It bothered me that only male groundhogs were selected to celebrate Groundhog Day. I began to wonder what it might be like to have a female groundhog celebrate this special day. What would the selection process look like? How would the selection be made? Wondering is a fun place when writing children’s books.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Daniela Massironi?
The art collaboration process with my illustrator, Daniela Massironi, was amazing. Daniela is a talented illustrator who captured my attention with her portfolio of cute animals with beautiful facial expressions. For me, facial expressions are important when telling a children’s story. We worked together as a team. Daniela first concentrated on the main characters, then she moved on to the page illustrations. Daniela made some great suggestions along the way and was open to my suggestions. It truly was a team effort. I may have written the story, but Daniela’s illustrations made the story come to life!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
This book began as an introduction to Groundhog Day and as the story grew there were several childhood themes that developed. Competition and disappointment are themes that children can understand and relate to in their own lives. Sharing how Gertie handled her disappointment let’s children know it’s alright to be disappointed and there are different ways to handle disappointment. The book also has themes of friendship, kindness and teamwork. Each of these themes give parents and teachers the opportunity to have meaningful discussions with children.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am writing a series of books for young children about Kindness/Bullying, Sharing, Diversity/Inclusion and Patience. This series should be available late summer, early fall. My next project will be co-authoring a children’s book about acupuncture.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram | Website
Gertie Saves the Day is more than a book about Groundhog Day. It is a story that explores the excitement of a special event, competition, disappointment and friendship. It is a book that children will want to read over and over again and will make a wonderful addition to any classroom or home library.
I Found Something New And Exciting
Muddied Waters: Coda follows several characters as they explore different paths in life. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
In our previous interview concerning Muddied Waters, I mentioned how it didn’t feel right abandoning Chelsea’s character to the cutting room floor. Now that the novel is finished and I’m beginning to see the feedback, I’m very glad I wrote Coda. She is the most badass female character I could ever concoct and it was mostly to make things right for her, in my mind. Another big inspiration was my research on the Haitian Revolution, which felt like the missing piece I needed to set Coda’s atmosphere. Under no circumstances was I interested in retreading themes from the first book- I’d said all I was going to say about pirate culture. With this important piece of history, I found something new and exciting: musings about motherlands and their colonies, with comparisons to family dynamics, parents and their progeny.
What is one pivotal moment in the story that you think best defines Teague?
Excellent, excellent question! I never fully considered what defines my characters, likely because I’ve never really had that kind of introspection with myself. That being said, I believe a person’s character is defined many small moments, rather than just one or two cataclysmic events. Because Teague had seen and done so much in life, because he couldn’t think of a single thing left to carry on for, he spends the novel trying to find a way to die right, whether it’s by his own power or someone else’s. The terrier scene is directly inspired by a personal experience, so that holds a special place in my heart. I’m quite proud of the gallows scene as well. But when I read or watch movies, my favourite moments always tend to be the ones that at first glance are inconsequential, so I’ll say it’s when Teague throws Viceroy Belo’s destroyed pommel into Puerto Bello’s harbour. It’s the first real step he takes on his journey, and the first step is always the most important.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
I believe so. I’m happy with how I wrapped up Teague’s saga, and positively overjoyed that I could present Chelsea to you all! Jonathan began as a sort of last-minute addition, and I hope he rose above the literary tool I initially created him as to better flesh out Chelsea’s arc. I purposely kept Rafael and Bernal bare-bones, to make it feel as if the reader was on the outside, witnessing a conflict that was none of their business. Teo Quintana was the perfect replacement for Ross Stone. The only character that I’m still not sure about is Alger: he seemed removed from the main story, though if I’m honest, he should be, given his circumstances. I had a very difficult time developing his perspective as it related to Saint Domingue; I wanted him to represent the social progress in Europe at the time (ie. powerful white men benefitting from the status quo who also recognize the societal cost), but not so much that he came off as bleeding-heart or…dare I say it…”woke”. Regardless, if I was going to properly conclude Teague’s story, I had no choice but to provide Alger the same service. I did my best to do that.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a major project, still in its early stages. It will be my attempt at a fantasy. I also have an experimental novella that explores solitude and paranoia. That one is more of a psychological horror. There is no timeline for their completion and if I do end up finishing them, I don’t see myself coming up with anything else. Never say never, though!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook
Years after pillaging the Nossa Senhora Do Abismo, ex-pirate Jackson Teague continues to struggle with the costly fallout from the ill-fated galleon’s bounty. Half a world away, a grownup Alger Moore finds equal difficulty in reconciling their shared past. But when a ruthless and diverse crew of bandits begin rampaging across the Caribbean, both will be inexplicably pulled back into a world they thought had been effectively ended by Europe’s perceived social progress. Navigating around a burgeoning culture of independence within the New World’s colonies, both will be afforded the rare opportunity to find closure with each other and themselves.
Tales of the Monkey King
Monkey is capable of some marvelous things. He wishes to be a master in virtually every area, Small but mighty. His thirst for knowledge is unmatched, and his abilities outshine everyone around him. When he transforms into the famed Monkey King, it is just the beginning of his fantastic journey. Monkey is, however, quite a character. He never fails to be the center of any and every bit of chaos. Monkey is filled with intensity and determination from his temper to his strength. There is no one else like him.
Tales of the Monkey King, by Teresa Chin Jones, is a retelling of classic Chinese tales of the famous Monkey King. Jones delivers a fabulous series of chapters tracing the making of the Monkey King through his outrageous adventures to the fascinating end of his journey. Along the way, readers will meet captivating characters and find themselves in awe of the fantastic and, sometimes, harrowing situations in which Monkey and his cohort find themselves.
I was taken with the colorful characters and the vibrant language throughout the book. Though there are beautiful illustrations placed sporadically throughout the chapters, readers will have no trouble visualizing the characters and exquisite settings. Jones does a fantastic job of building Monkey and his comrades into strong mental images for her readers. In addition, the more challenging text structure and choice of verbiage will push young readers. I can see Tales of the Monkey King as a beautiful read-aloud addition to any classroom.
As a teacher, I appreciate the added summaries at the beginning of each chapter. Teachers and students alike will find these little bonuses helpful when picking up reading where they left off. As I usually spend a little time reviewing previous chapters before reading, I can see these summaries making that much more manageable and bringing my students and me quickly up to date. In addition, young readers will find the summaries an easy way to review on their own.
I truly enjoyed reading Monkey King’s escapades and seeing Jones’s work as a real asset to upper elementary and middle school classrooms. Folklore is an essential part of literature education, and I highly recommend Tales of the Monkey King to any fan of classic folk tales and legends. Monkey is sure to bring a smile to readers’ faces.
Pages: 277 | ASIN : B091721V92
A Key Driver For Change
Teaching Professionals shows how to teach the CAISSEP technique and provides guidance that will improve educators teaching abilities. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I have thirty years’ experience in education, principally in legal education, curriculum development and professional legal practice. Drawing on these experiences, I developed the CAISSEP® technique which is found in the book Teaching Professionals.
Adult education is a key driver for change – globally. There is a vast international teaching challenge and an educational divide exists. Illiteracy among adults internationally is estimated at 770 million, two-thirds of whom are women. To meet this challenge, motivated and motivational teachers are its lifeblood. The COVID-19 pandemic has been the largest disruption to education systems in history – billions of students across every continent have been affected. Given the significant impact of COVID-19 on global teaching and learning, the United Nations has been prompted to call upon the profession to “reimagine education and to accelerate change”.
It is my modest hope that with commitment and care, but with fewer resources at hand, Teaching Professionals and the CAISSEP® techniques may provide positive, practical resources to assist teachers, and those wanting to be teachers, to reimagine and accelerate change for today’s and future generations.
What is a key component of the CAISSEP technique?
The key themes of Teaching Professionals are:
- the key principles of effective adult learning;
- the four elements of experiential learning;
- a variety of practical teaching techniques and approaches using the CAISSEP® technique; and
- guidance on how to develop a teaching plan utilizing the CAISSEP® template.
CAISSEP® is an acronym for each of the teaching and learning techniques which are illustrated in Teaching Professionals – Clarity – Analysis – Inquiry – System – Structure – Emphasis – and Professional! CAISSEP® is also a simple play on words – the French word “caisse” means box or case. CAISSEP® is both a learning and teaching technique and a toolbox (of information, tools, or techniques) with the addition of the key final letter – P for professional! For example, professionalism in teaching emphasises professional and ethical considerations, often integrated with reflective awareness. To enhance this technique, adopting a teaching style which encourages students to act professionally and to develop professional forward-looking ethical perspectives is of paramount importance.
What do you feel is a common misconception people have about educators?
Some people view teaching as simply the process of passing on information. By contrast, I see educators as change agents – as so powerfully illustrated in the following quotation:
“I chose to be a teacher because I believe that education has the power to transform the society we live in. What motivates me to be a good teacher is to be an active agent in this change that is so necessary for my country, to fight against discrimination, injustice, racism, corruption and poverty. Our responsibility as teachers is enormous, and our commitment to provide quality education must be renewed every day.” (Ana, a teacher from Lima, Peru, UNESCO, 2014 Teaching and Learning Global Monitoring Report)
Educators and educational environments need to stimulate the interest of teachers and students globally (whether in education, business, or otherwise). In my experience, by teaching we are given a gift. There is the gift of knowledge in our hands, together with the responsibility to share it; the gift of receiving from our students as they learn and discover with our assistance; the gift that, as we teach, we learn more about ourselves.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
It is my genuine hope that Teaching Professionals and the CAISSEP® technique will be an enduring gift that enhances and inspires the reader, day by day, to develop, reimagine and renew their art of teaching and mentoring and to become powerful and effective change agents.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
In a comprehensive publication, Dr. Nigel Wilson, a seasoned educator, lawyer, and inventor of the CAISSEP® teaching and learning technique, provides insights, guidance, and tools to challenge, inform, and stimulate the desires of teachers globally (whether in education, business, or otherwise) who wish to improve their craft and develop the art (and science) of educating adult learners.
Through his proven methodologies, teachers will learn a variety of teaching and learning techniques based on international best practices that include:
• the key principles of effective adult learning;
• the four elements of experiential learning;
• a variety of practical teaching techniques and approaches;
• guidance on how to develop a teaching plan utilizing the CAISSEP® template; and
• ways in which technology can benefit teaching methodologies.
Teaching Professionals assists educators worldwide to reimagine teaching and accelerate positive change for future generations. A comprehensive working resource, incorporating proven and progressive learning techniques.
The Message Of Positivity
Our 20/20 Journey Back to School talks about returning to school in a post COVID world, what was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for this setup to my story was the thoughts in my head about returning to school a few days before our return in February of 2021. I was fortunate enough to have my first-grade class loop up to second grade with me and so I knew the questions that they had been asking and had built a strong relationship with both my students and their parents. As a parent myself, I knew the importance of letting my community know that we are all in this together and that anything is possible (even though a pandemic). The message of positivity was necessary for all of us to cope with these challenges. The idea that we would conquer them as a team, was most important to me!
The artwork was very creative and engaging for young readers. What was the collaboration process like between you and the illustrator?
The collaboration with Daria Shamolina was amazing. She lives in the Ukraine and I have yet to meet her face to face or even on Facetime/Zoom. I trusted that she would produce incredible illustrations and she was truly able to make the story come to life. I found Daria on a Facebook Author page and saw her previous work and emailed her. I think it was meant to be because she had now illustrated my second book as well.
Returning to normalcy in a post COVID environment is challenging for adults and kids; you touched on the perspective of teachers and children in a relatable way. What was your thought process in writing this content in order to appeal to both the children and the adults reading with them?
In collaborating with teachers at my school and in Covid Facebook groups, I really got a good sense of what “all” teachers were going through. I learned so many things from the many groups I followed and was so thankful for the many resources that I had access to during this time. I really tried to put myself in the shoes of my students and think about how they might be feeling through this unprecedented time. I couldn’t be prouder of my group of students who were warriors through the Pandemic and who supported each other and myself alike!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My second book was just released at the end of November on both Amazon and Ingram Spark, it is called, “Lucky the Leprechaun on the Loose”. It is about a legendary St. Patrick’s Day leprechaun. Each year during the month of March up until the family Irish holiday, Lucky comes to visit children at school and at home. But he isn’t just here for a visit! Lucky wants to create some March magic by hiding toys, leaving messages and surprises, and even making messes while the children aren’t looking. In the spirit of The Elf on the Shelf, Lucky brings much delight to the hearts of children during this wonderful holiday time.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram
LITERARY TITAN 