Wanda Luthman's Blog, page 37
May 12, 2017
New Release Coming Tomorrow!
Tomorrow is the big Release Day for Gloria and the Unicorn! I’m so excited!
This book has tugged on my heart strings as I’ve written about a child whose mother died at birth, her father gave her away, and she has a droopy face because of the trauma of her birth. To top it all off, Miss Libby, the children’s lodge owner, tries to protect her by keeping her out of school. But all Gloria wants is to be like the other kids and to learn to read.
Then, her helpful unicorn, Sir Louie, shows up. He’s kind and wise. He teaches her how to read but more importantly how to love herself again.
She musters the courage to go to school, but the kids are cruel. And if that isn’t enough, evil Wizards want to kill her and lock Sir Louie up for all eternity.
How can anything good come out of all of that? Is Gloria key to overcoming evil? How can she be? She’s just a child with a lot on her plate.
Find out in the magical story of Gloria and the Unicorn. Pre-order today on Amazon at myBook.to/GATU and you’ll have it on your Kindle tomorrow.
Thank you for being on this journey with me of releasing a new chapter book for children.. I hope I didn’t drive you all crazy! I truly appreciate the blogging community. I love all the people that I follow. You write from your heart. You encourage me. You challenge me. And I appreciate your support.
[image error]Gloria and the Unicorn
May 11, 2017
Who Needs A Hero?
I’ve talked a lot about Gloria’s struggles from Gloria and the Unicorn recently but the story isn’t focused on those, no, the story is all about her hero, Sir Louie, the unicorn!
We all have struggles in our life, no doubt. We may not have the same ones as Gloria, but we have something. Sometimes those struggles feel bigger than life. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a hero swoop in and help us? I know it’s gone out of fashion having a Prince Charming swoop in and take Cinderella away from her troubles, but don’t we all secretly wish this would happen? I mean sometimes when life gets too big, we would like to just throw up our hands and call our Fairy Godmother and say, “Help me!” Then, with one wave of her magic wand all our problems fade away. We know it’s not realistic but boy it would be nice.
So, while Prince Charming’s and Fairy Godmother’s are the thing of fairy tales, guess what? Real life heroes do exist. Maybe you’ve even been one for somebody. Maybe your neighbor was sick and you made them a meal. Maybe your friend was crying over a break up or divorce and you brought them chocolate and a funny movie. Maybe someone was in a financial jam and you gave them money. Or even maybe your life work provides an opportunity to be a hero for someone–maybe you’re a counselor or pastor or hair dresser or bar tender–you listen, you care, you advise. Or maybe even bigger–you work for the fire department, police department, or in the military and offer your own life to save other people’s lives.
Sometimes, we forget that we can make a difference. But, just like Sir Louie, the unicorn, in Gloria and the Unicorn, he made a difference by listening, advising, helping, supporting, and loving Gloria. Simple things but huge things that absolutely make a difference. Think about the times in your life when someone was there for you and it made a difference. Don’t underestimate yourself. You can be someone’s hero. You can be there unicorn!
So, look for opportunities today to help someone, to lift their spirits, to make a difference. Be someone’s unicorn!
[image error]Gloria and the Unicorn
May 10, 2017
Blended & Adopted Families
Yesterday, I talked about blended families. Well, at least my blended family.
But, Gloria, in Gloria and the Unicorn doesn’t live in a blended family. She lives in an adopted family. I believe there are similarities between the two. Gloria’s Mom died in childbirth and her Dad didn’t feel he could take care of a baby by himself. He gave her to a children’s home called Miss Libby’s Lodge.
Miss Libby who owns the children’s lodge has no children of her own. She loves all the babies as if they were hers. Miss Libby teaches the children that they are a family and to be kind and loving to one another.
My Mom was also big on this. She didn’t delineate between half-siblings, we were all hers and we were one family in her mind. She taught us to love one another and be kind. We see ourselves this way. In fact, the other day I was talking to my sister and telling her how I don’t like to use the term “half” when talking about her or my brother–that just somehow feels “wrong.” She said she felt the same way. The term half or step feels like saying, “I don’t really want to be related to you.”
I wonder if children who have been adopted feel the same way about the word “adopted?” Of course, one can argue that being adopted means precisely that you were chosen and wanted, but I know some people whose adopted homes weren’t that loving. I don’t think anyone who has been adopted would want to be introduced as “this is my adopted son/daughter.” It seems as though you’re making a point to say the relationship is “less than.”
Gloria feels this acutely once she overhears the truth about herself. She feels less than. She feels unwanted. She feels unloved. I think these feelings are going to come for children of blended and/or adopted families. I think children need to be able to express these feelings without them being shoo’d away. That’s how they feel. There’s a reason they feel this way. There is at least one parent that didn’t want them or isn’t alive to be there for them. It’s okay for children to grieve that loss even if they have adopted or step-parents that have been incredibly loving to them. Research has shown that adopted children in their teens yearn to know their biological parent even when their adopted parent is very loving. It’s important to not take that personal and to allow the child the freedom to search and even connect, if possible, with their biological parent. Hard, I know, but important.
My best friend was adopted (remember the one I talked about on my lei day post?). She finally found her biological mother and re-connected. They have a very positive relationship but her adopted mom didn’t really like that. My friend needed to know her biological mom. She needed to find out for herself who this woman was that gave her up so many years ago.
Adoption/Blended families–they are complicated and deserve a sensitive, thoughtful response. What about you? Are you from a blended family or have you been adopted? What are your feelings on re-connecting with your biological parent?
[image error]Gloria and the Unicorn
May 9, 2017
Gloria and her Terrible Secret
In Gloria and the Unicorn, Gloria is 6 when she overhears a terrible secret about herself. She’s devastated but doesn’t think to clarify what she heard.
Has that ever happened to you? You overheard something and thought you knew the truth but didn’t actually ask anyone? Then, one day, you find out that what you heard wasn’t really the whole story.
This is true for Gloria but she suffers with her secret a whole year before she is able to let go of the pain it is causing because she sees it from a different perspective thanks to her unicorn friend, Sir Louie.
Secrets aren’t usually a good idea. Especially for children. It’s so important as a parent to keep lines of communication open with our children and teach them that they can talk to us about everything and should tell us anything that bothers them. Miss Libby, the children’s lodge owner, doesn’t know Gloria has overheard this information and therefore can’t help Gloria with the truth.
It takes another year before Gloria actually lets Miss Libby know her secret. Once Miss Libby knows, she tells Gloria the truth and helps clear up any of the misunderstandings Gloria had. Can you imagine believing something was true about yourself for two whole years before learning the truth?
This happens to all of us in different ways though. Often as kids, we don’t understand the grown up world so we comprehend things from our limited perspective. Once we get older, we see the bigger picture and can help our inner younger self heal. It may not be a secret about ourselves like with Gloria but it could just be something that happens in the family; maybe a death, or a parental fight, or something else less traumatic.
For me, I didn’t understand blended families until I was an adult. My Mom had two children from her first marriage–my sister and my brother. Then, she re-married and had me. We were all raised as one family. I never saw their Dad. They never left on the weekends to see him. There was no mention of him. So, I didn’t really know they were my half-sister and half-brother. We were told the truth that we were half-siblings but no one was ever referred to as half-anything and we didn’t refer to each other like that either. In fact, calling them my half anything now feels like I’m calling them a bad name. They are just my sister and brother and they feel the same way towards me.
Anyway, my brother apparently misbehaved every day at school because every day when my Dad got home from work, he would spank him. My brother would wail from the other side of the bedroom door. I cried too. I couldn’t bear hearing him cry. Being the favored child and not being able to stand it any longer, I told my Dad to stop being so mean to my brother. I knew in a limited way that my Dad wasn’t my brother’s Dad but I didn’t really understand why he was being so hard on my brother. Honestly, as a grown up, I don’t “understand” it because my Dad should have acted more like a father and provided love and guidance as opposed to all out “discipline” which bordered on abuse. But, I understand as an adult that feelings in blended families are complicated and not just simple and straightforward.
What about you? What have you understood one way as a child but now as an adult have a different understanding?
[image error]Gloria and the Unicorn
May 8, 2017
Gloria and the Unicorn
The children’s book, Gloria and the Unicorn, is my latest release. It will be available this Saturday, May 13, 2017. It is a chapter book for ages 8-11.
I was first inspired to write about a miniature white unicorn when I was peddling through the countryside outside Orlando, FL. I saw a farm with one white miniature pony standing proudly in the field. I feel in love instantly. If you know me at all, I love animals–all of them! But, this one, well, he made my heart sing. I knew I had to write a story about him. I spent the rest of my bike ride wondering what story he would tell.
When I finally had a moment alone with my computer, I sat down to type and out came a girl named Gloria who had a droopy face on one side. At first, I wasn’t sure if I could write a tale about a girl with a problem that I hadn’t lived. I was afraid I wouldn’t know how to make it real or if I would be sensitive enough. But, Gloria’s little voice in my head kept encouraging me onward. She wanted her story to be told. And well, the pony became a magical unicorn named Sir Louie. So, on I typed.
I always carry a legal pad with me and one day while waiting at the DMV, I wrote another chapter about Miss Libby, the owner of the children’s home where Gloria lived. It was sad and heart-wrenching. Miss Libby had lost her own parents when she was 21. One night she took care of an abandoned baby until the police could find the baby’s parents. But, when the baby’s parents were found and returned to them, Miss Libby was heart-broken. That’s what made her want to actually adopt other babies and eventually led to her opening Miss Libby’s Lodge. But, that story didn’t make it into the book. No, it was a bit too traumatic for the little ones, my editor said so.
Then, I wrote some more and when I had finished it was 10,000 words long. I felt it shouldn’t be quite that long for a 3rd/4th grader (although I know some can read a book that long). So, I chopped several story lines out (they will be showing up in future sequels). And I worked with my editor and a content editor until I felt I had the story tight and Gloria’s voice was strong and real and lovable. It wound up being 10,000 words anyway. LOL
Now, Gloria and Sir Louie’s story is ready for the world to read. I do hope and pray that Gloria’s story which involves struggle, a beautiful, magical creature called Sir Louie, a difficult school day, and some evil wizards will bless all who read it. She is strong, yet uncertain. She is held back from her dream but perseveres. She makes a choice that has dire consequences. She loves fiercely with everything she has and that makes all the difference. Come along on Gloria and the Unicorn, Sir Louie’s, magical adventure.
Available on Amazon at myBook.to/GATU
[image error]Gloria and the Unicorn
May 4, 2017
Teacher eCards available…
Hey Parents, You might want to thank your children’s teachers with an ecard. Here are some free one’s for you!
With the arrival of Teacher Appreciation Week, I thought I’d offer a set of nine ecards to send to/share with friends and colleagues. [I’ve added a slide with three suggestions for how you can use them ‘out of the box’.] Sample below.
Home visits–not always a good idea.
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Yes! Send me the free ecards!
May 1, 2017
Happy Lei Day, May 1st
Today is May 1st and that means it’s Lei Day in Hawaii. I lived in Hawaii for two years while I was in High School and that’s how I discovered this wonderful tradition!
Moving, for me, was difficult. I had gone from Kindergarten through 9th grade in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO. It wasn’t a very diverse place.
Also, I had made the Cheerleading Squad and was voted to be Captain. And I had fallen in love for the first time. My life was finally looking up after the awkward years of middle school.
But, then, I was whisked away (far away) to Hawaii which, to any grown up, seems like a dream but, to me, a shy teenager, I was scared out of my mind.
I hadn’t had to make new friends, like ever. In fact, when new students came to our school, I had just ignored them. I had no idea how they might have felt. But, now, I was the new student. I was pretty sure I would be ignored.
Thankfully, I made a friend (she was also new to the school) the first day and we’ve been friends ever since (that’s 37 years now)!
Fortunately, I was also a swimmer so I joined the swim team. The season started in October so fairly soon after school started, I was part of a group and felt like I fit in.
Now, as a High School Guidance Counselor, I feel for students when they are new. Some take it like I did, upset and scared, but others embrace it and are happy for a new start. I’m always surprised at the happy ones because I never knew there could be a different feeling towards a move or a change. Perspective matters.
So, my first Lei Day was special because I didn’t know about it at all. My friend got me a lei and I wore it proudly all day. It smelled heavenly. Everyone in the whole school had on leis. It was magical.
There’s nothing like the scent of a beautiful flower to lift your spirits and make you feel loved.
Maybe that’s why I use flowers in my books as a symbol of hope and love. Because, just like flowers, I believe if we are living our passion, our authenticity, we are releasing an uplifting scent of hope and love to the world. That scent travels far and wide and encourages others to live their passion and to be authentic also. Increasing the hope and love in the world.
The old saying, “bloom where you are planted” is meant to encourage us to accept where we are at but I believe the most important part of that sentence is the word “bloom.” Let us all bloom, find our voice, and give our self to this world.
Lilacs have a wonderful scent. They have come to represent my company, Lilacs in Literature, Growing Children with Character. I want to encourage children through literature to be the best they can be so they can grow up to be passionate and authentic individuals so they can give the gift of themselves to the world and make it a better place.
[image error]
So, Happy Lei Day and here’s to blooming into our passionate, authentic selves!
[image error]Read more at http://www.wandaluthman.wordpress.com
April 25, 2017
Can Children with Disabilities be Overcomers?
Do you have a child that struggles with a physical, mental or emotional challenge?
Do you wonder if your child will have difficulty learning?
Are you worried that other children will pick on them?
These are real concerns and maybe you’re wondering how you can empower them to overcome.
Well, these are the issues that Gloria in the delightful children’s chapter book, Gloria and the Unicorn, faces. Listen to her story and maybe you’ll decide she can help your child.
Gloria’s birth was difficult because her mother was dying and Gloria has to be pulled from the womb leaving Gloria with a droopy face on one side.
Her father is so mired in grief that he can’t take care of a newborn, so he gives her away to a children’s home.
The owner, Miss Libby, lovingly takes Gloria in but when it comes time to go to school, Miss Libby’s fear gets the best of her. Miss Libby chooses not to send Gloria to school. Gloria comes to believe she’s unlovable.
She longs to be like the other children in the home and learn to read.
Then, a kind unicorn named Sir Louie shows up to help.
Who would have thought that their friendship would threaten some evil wizards?
Come along on their journey as they fight evil and empower children everywhere that they, too, can overcome.
Available for pre-order on Amazon.
April 17, 2017
Startling Early Literacy Statistics
I was reading a blog by Edmentum ( a blog about Educational Issues) called ‘By the Numbers; Why Early Literacy Matters’ and it gave some startling statistics such as the following:
“1 in 6 children who are not reading proficiently in 3rd grade do not graduate from high school on time –4 times greater than the rate for proficient readers1″
However, if you do this, you can make a major difference
“Children who are read to at least 3 times a week by a family member are twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading as compared to children who are read to less frequently1″
Reading is necessary in our world. Reading and writing is a large part of how we communicate, especially in our digital age. If you can’t read and write an email, read Google searches and put together a PowerPoint, you are at a serious disadvantage.
Don’t let your child be that 1 in 6 that isn’t reading proficiently by 3rd grade and then not graduate from High School on time. I’m a High School Guidance Counselor and I can tell you firsthand how disheartening it is to have to tell a parent or god-forbid a grandparent that has traveled from afar for graduation that their child isn’t graduating. I have sat across from these family members and the tears have flowed down their faces.
You can make a difference and the answer is simple–read with your child. Start early and make it a special time. Pick a comfortable place (a lot of people choose the child’s bedroom, but it could be a comfortable chair or anywhere); have a small library of books (or go to the public library and have your child pick out several for the week) that the child can choose which one they want read to them; and read aloud. Change your voice for the different characters; have your child follow along with their finger pointing to the words and even sounding them out with you; and ask questions about the story to allow the child to think about and process the story.
This is a fun time, a special time that will build your child’s reading skills and vocabulary and will provide you and your child with wonderful memories.
Why not start today?
Read the full article here, edmentum
And to help you with a selection of books for your child, I have several written for different ages that have positive messages.
The Lilac Princess unravels forgiveness. A chapter book for ages 8-10.
A Turtle’s Magical Adventure embraces self-acceptance. A chapter book for ages 6-8.
Little Birdie Grows Up encourages perseverance. A picture book for ages 0-5.
Gloria and the Unicorn addresses self-worth. A chapter book for ages 8-10 (currently available for pre-order).
[image error]Read more at http://www.wandaluthman.wordpress.com
April 14, 2017
B is for Buy: Uncommon Additions for Baby’s Bookcase
Check out Crystal’s awesome list of books for baby that are unusual but great for food, music, and art. While you’re reading, follow her blog and share posts that you enjoy!
Source: B is for Buy: Uncommon Additions for Baby’s Bookcase
