Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 17
April 16, 2019
Tuntun: A Wildlife Conservation Picture Book that invites us to be Brave
Tuntun… it’s much more than a book.
It’s a fun story with colorful illustrations that promote inclusion, it’s a vibrant picture book that invites young readers to be brave. The book is an adventure full of action, about a giant pink elephant who lives in Africa, but at the end, readers discover that almost all African wild animals they just saw are endangered, vulnerable or threatened species and we invite them to visit our fun educational website, where they will learn about African wildlife conservation, finding a great option to help.
Published in 2018 by author Anya Damiron and illustrator Pablo Pina, Tuntun represents everyone who is a little different while also showcasing all those species in danger of extinction and are gradually disappearing. It represents with its greatness those who feel alone in the world, who are judged by their appearance and who are crazy for an opportunity.
Tuntun is giant but does not know it. The sound of their footsteps scares all the other animals of the jungle, who think of everything before being brave and facing the truth. And is that many times, things are not as we think.
A daring wasp realizes what is really happening and takes action in an unexpected way, causing an accident that changes the jungle completely.
Things are never the same again. Tuntún knows all the animals, discovering that he is not alone in the world and the animals begin to live wonderful adventures with his new friend.
About Tuntun
There is a BIG problem in the jungle, a really big problem! But animals are too scared to try to find out who is the mysterious being that terrifies them every day. Thanks to a courageous wasp, everything changes unexpectedly. A funny story that reminds us that, many times, things are not as we thought.
“Over the last 10 years, I have self-published 14 picture books in the Dominican Republic, some of which were part of social impact projects,” Anya shared. “I believe we can help build a better future if we encourage kids to be curious, to dream, to invent, to be kind, and to help others, showing them how much their actions can change the world.”
About Anya
Anya loves creating, storytelling, and sharing picture books! She is a children’s book writer and a natural storyteller from the Dominican Republic. Anya first began her writing career in 2008 with Lucia Stories, a collection of picture books that encourages kids to be curious, to dream, and to use their imaginations. Since then, she has self-published fourteen books with the support of several major brands striving to communicate important messages in a way that
is impactful and fun. She believes books are a wonderful tool that can help us create a better tomorrow by affecting the way children see the world around them.
In the past few years, Anya started creating projects around her books. Her latest project, www.youaresuper.co , is about inclusion and is based on the multi-award-winning book SuperKids.
After becoming a mom, Anya discovered the power of storytelling and it changed her life. Now she gives interactive presentations of her favorite books every weekend, motivating hundreds of families to read together. She runs a renting book library created by her from books sourced around the world and has a big book corner at one of the most important malls in Santo Domingo. Anya loves the process of working with talented people to build not just a book or a project, but to generate ideas that can make the world a better place.
Something To Do
Paper Plate Tuntun Mask Activity: Help bring the Tutun story to life with this fun and easy paper plate mask craft. Don’t forget the pink markers!
LearnCreateLove.com has some great printables that will help to bring the rest of the animals to life as well.
And after a long day of running amuck in the jungle and being brave, what better way to refuel that with some Elephant Bread. Grab the instructions at DoingSplendid.com!
The post Tuntun: A Wildlife Conservation Picture Book that invites us to be Brave appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
April 9, 2019
Sharing the Life Journeys of 3 Amazing Women Writers
{Guest post from author, Julie K. Rubini}
The voice of justice in the world of sports. The most honored author of children’s literature. The original Nancy Drew ghostwriter.
I have had the honor of sharing the life journeys of these three amazing women writers through the Biographies for Young Readers published by Ohio University Press.
Christine Brennan was a 22-year-old intern at the Miami Herald when she made her way into a NFL locker room to get her story. Christine was one of the first female sports journalists to break down the walls and pave the way for future journalists to interview the players immediately after a game. In her roles as USA Today sports columnist, commentator, author and speaker, Christine uses her voice to ensure justice in the world of sports. My biography Eye to Eye: Sports Journalist Christine Brennan shares her journey from intern to insider in the male-dominated world of sports journalism.
Virginia Hamilton is the most honored author of children’s literature. Ever. Virginia was the first African American male or female, to receive the Newbery Medal in 1975, for her novel M. C. Higgins, the Great. As a child, the stories from family members flitted around Virginia much like the summer fireflies on their property in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Virginia combined the elements of imagination, memories, and fabrications of stories as the basis of her incredible tales. It was an honor to meet with the late Ms. Hamilton’s husband Arnold Adoff in the home where many of her stories were crafted, and then to share her journey in Virginia Hamilton: America’s Storyteller.
Mildred “Millie” Augustine was born in Ladora, Iowa, a town so small that as a child, she claims to have read every book available. Millie was first published when she was twelve years old and proclaimed to her father that she wanted to become a writer. After graduating from the University of Iowa (the first, male or female, to receive a master’s in journalism from the college) Millie began writing for Edward Stratemeyer, the genius behind many series for young readers. Edward contracted with Millie to write the first three books for the new Nancy Drew Mystery Stories. Twelve days after the books were published, Edward died suddenly. Missing Millie Benson: The Secret Case of the Nancy Drew Ghostwriter and Journalist takes the reader from Millie’s childhood to her role in the survival of the series. Millie’s personal journey reads much like a Nancy Drew story, where the heroine prevails despite challenges.
I came into the world of children’s literature through tragedy. My husband and I lost our oldest daughter nearly 19 years ago. We felt compelled to not only honor Claire, but our relationships with each other and our two children as well. We established Claire’s Day, a children’s book festival in her honor. Claire’s Day has grown from a one-day event to multiple sites, featuring dozens of children’s book authors and illustrators, honoring over 1200 young children selected as the most improved readers in their schools.
Claire’s Day partners with over thirty schools for our author outreach program, impacting over 20,000 children and their families every year.
Claire not only loved to read but shared her passion with others. Claire’s Day does the same in our mission to honor and remember Claire by inspiring children and families to be lifelong readers through a variety of literary opportunities and experiences.
Julie K. Rubini is a children’s book author, founder of Claire’s Day, wife and mom.
Her published works include Eye to Eye: Sports Journalist Christine Brennan, Virginia Hamilton: America’s Storyteller, Missing Millie Benson: The Secret Case of the Nancy Drew Ghostwriter and Journalist, and Hidden Ohio.
Julie and her husband Brad established Claire’s Day, a children’s book festival in honor of their daughter. A highlight of the festival is the C.A.R.E. Awards, given to children selected as the most improved readers in their schools.
Julie and her family, including a daughter, Kyle, and son Ian have traveled extensively together, including all fifty states and several continents.
Julie is the recipient of the Toledo Area Jefferson Award (2015), YWCA Milestones Award (2016) and the University of Toledo Distinguished Alumni (2015).
The post Sharing the Life Journeys of 3 Amazing Women Writers appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
April 6, 2019
An April #DiverseKidlit Inspired Linkup
April, without a doubt, is a busy month for most people. It’s also a month filled with amazing national and global observances that are perfect for inspiring a love of reading and #diversekidlit discovery! From National Poetry Month and Poem-in-Your-Pocket Day to World Book Day and School Library Month, the online world is filled with endless opportunities to share the diverse books for kids that we love.
So, if you are a parent, grandparent, caregiver, teacher, or librarian looking for amazing diverse kidlit recommends to share with your young readers, you will appreciate this recurring monthly resource of diverse book reviews.
If you are a book reviewer, please join us in sharing your diverse children’s book links and resources, as well as visiting other links to find great suggestions and recommendations.
First, What Is #DiverseKidLit?
Diverse Children’s Books is a book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children’s books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of diversity including (and certainly not limited to) diverse, inclusive, multicultural, and global books for children of all backgrounds.
We encourage everyone who shares to support this blogging community by visiting and leaving comments for at least three others. Please also consider following the hosts on at least one of their social media outlets. Spread the word using #diversekidlit and/or adding our button to your site and your diverse posts.
We hope this community serves as a resource for parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors!
#DiverseKidLit is Hosted by:
Katie @ The Logonauts
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Becky @JumpIntoaBook
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Bethany @ Biracial Bookworms
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Carolina @ La Clase de Sra. DuFault
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Gauri @ Kitaab World
an online bookstore for South Asian children’s books, toys, and games
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Gayle Swift, Author of ABC, Adoption & Me
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Marjorie @ Mirrors Windows Doors
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Mia @ Pragmatic Mom
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Myra @ Gathering Books
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Shoumi Sen, Author of Toddler Diaries
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Svenja @ Colours of Us
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Terry @ The Reading Tub
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Click here to join the mailing list. Interested in joining as a host or an occasional co-host? Contact Becky@JumpIntoaBook.com.
The post An April #DiverseKidlit Inspired Linkup appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
April 4, 2019
Believing and Imagining with Moonlight and Molly™
They say it’s never too late to start your author journey. I couldn’t agree more since mine (Becky) didn’t start until age 53!
Another great example of making the leap into the children’s book publishing world later in life is author, Maureen Harris. At 60 years young, Maureen began chasing her dream of writing a children’s book series. Inspired by her adopted mustang, Moonlight, Maureen crafted her Moonlight and Molly picture book series with love and passion for all things magical and fun.
Moonlight and Molly™ will take children, young and old, to the forgotten Land of Imagination. A land where things that are imagined to be real or true, do exist.
Moonlight and Molly™, helping to inspire kids of all ages to create their own imaginative ideas and build their real-life skills of creative thinking and visualization.
If your readers are fans of magical fairies, smart and sassy youngsters, protective guardians, and a story that will sweep them away, this series is a “must have.”
A few things I noticed that parents might one to take note of is that there is quite a bit of text per page so this book would be best for confident readers. The illustrations are computer generated art so some of the images appear stiff and flat. The story is written very well and Moonlight is a simply beautiful magical horse!
The Moonlight and Molly Series of Picture Books
Moonlight and Molly™ Book 1: Molly meets the magical horse Moonlight and they become friends.
Moonlight and Molly™ Secret Revealed, Book 2: Moonlight reveals her secret to Molly. She is really a Unicorn from the Land of Imagination, and that she would like for Molly to help her restore imagination to young and old alike.
Moonlight and Molly™ Shamrock’s Magic Returns, Book 3: Moonlight and Molly™ help Shamrock re-unite with the girl who gave him his magic.
Moonlight and Molly™ Santa’s Visit, Book 4: Santa visit’s the Land of Imagination for Moonlight and Molly’s help.
Something To Do
Maureen’s website has all sorts of exciting book-related activities that help bring her series to life like this downloadable coloring page of Moonlight.
ReCreate the Moonlight and Molly characters with your own Fingerprints!
The book Finger Print: Princesses and Fairies and 100 Other Magical Creatures, has wonderful ideas of how to use your own fingerprints to create art!
Imagine how much fun it would be to create fingerprint versions of these Moonlight and Molly characters:
Moonlight
Molly
Katie
Shamrock
Mila the Fairy
Ethan the Woodland Nymph
In celebration of believing in unicorns, I think it’s time we make one of our very own. We’re making ours a reading unicorn and it’s present at every family read aloud. I found this absolutely delightful felt unicorn tutorial at Where Wishes Come from. Click the link or the image to get started on creating your own unicorn companion for this story!
Happy reading!
The post Believing and Imagining with Moonlight and Molly™ appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
April 2, 2019
Happy PB&J Day! Kidlit, Peanut Butter and Fluffernutter
National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day is celebrated annually on April 2nd. This food holiday is a classic favorite of many. The average American will have eaten over 2000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time they graduate from high school.
Even as an adult, on days when nothing else sounds good, a yummy PB&J sammy always hits the spot.
This holiday always reminds of me of the fun book from author Chris Robertson. I’ll Trade my Peanut-Butter Sandwich.
The main character in this book is very clever as he’ll trade his peanut-butter sandwich for just about anything. The prose kept my children engaged and the illustrations are so inventive and downright funny. The ironic thing is that after all the trades he makes for “bigger and better things,” he realizes that he’s hungry and all he wants is his sandwich back!
When a boy trades his peanut-butter sandwich, it begins a series of increasingly absurd and outrageous trades, until he finally discovers an appreciation for the simple things in life.-Amazon
I’ll Trade My Peanut Butter Sandwich is a perfect read-aloud for children who love books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series. Perfect for ages five and younger because of the engaging illustrations and the short text. I really enjoyed this book and I would not trade the experience of reading this picture book for anything, not even a Peanut-Butter And jelly sandwich.
Just for fun, ask your family what they would “trade their peanut butter sandwich” for.
Something To Do:
The History of Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches aka PB&J Sandwiches
In the early 1900s and served in New York City’s finest tea rooms, peanut butter was considered a delicacy only for those who could afford it. It was often paired with such things as celery, watercress, cheese, or nasturtiums and served on toasted crackers. Eventually, a recipe for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches was published in Good Housekeeping Magazine and from there the lunch box staple was born. By the 1920’s the price of peanut butter declined so much that it could easily be found in every household in America. During World War II peanut butter and jelly were on the U.S. Soldiers military meal ration list.
Crazy Peanut Butter Combinations
Of course, we know that peanut butter can be eaten with jelly, but did you know there are a variety of other items that people eat with their peanut butter? My mother’s favorite sandwich was peanut butter and onions. It gave me chills just to watch her eat it.
Other famous peanut butter combinations are:
Peanut butter and banana sandwiches
Peanut butter & fried pickles
Peanut butter & pears
Peanut butter & Apples (with honey!)
Peanut butter & Honey
Peanut butter, & chocolate
Fluffernutter Much?
Then there is something called a Fluffernutter: You take peanut butter and marshmallow fluff and put it on bread. I know you are drooling with anticipation so here is The Ultimate PB& Marmalade Fluffernutter Sandwich Recipe!
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons chunky peanut butter
3 slices white bread
1 1/2 tablespoon orange marmalade
1 1/2 tablespoon marshmallow creme
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
Spread 1 Tbl. peanut butter on one slice of bread. Spread marmalade over top. Set aside. Spread 1 Tbl. peanut butter on another slice of bread, then place on top of marmalade, peanut butter side down.
Spread marshmallow creme on the exposed side of bread. Sprinkle cheese on top of marshmallow creme. Spread remaining peanut butter on the remaining slice of bread, then place on top of cheese, forming double-decker sandwich.
More Books from Chris Robertson
The post Happy PB&J Day! Kidlit, Peanut Butter and Fluffernutter appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
March 26, 2019
Through the Eyes of Om: Exploring Malaysia Book Review
Exploring Malaysia
Through the Eyes of Om: Exploring Malaysia by Sonny Tannan exposes young readers to a new culture and family situation with a deep hope of inspiring children and their parents to live life with curiosity and enthusiasm for what’s to come and openness to exploring new cultures. Enjoy!
Om is going on an adventure to visit Malaysia! He’s traveling all the way across the world to meet his family for the first time. He’ll go to new places, try new foods, and discover a whole new culture.
He can’t wait to explore, and is excited for you to come along with him! Through the Eyes of Om is all about experiencing life and the world through the unique perspective of a child.
As Fans of 3, each of Om’s observations or shared lessons are presented in threes, as information presented in groups of three is easiest for children to remember.
About The Author
Sonny TannanSonny Tannan is a proud veteran, award-winning business developer, and passionate philanthropist. After becoming one of LinkedIn’s first video content creators, he began developing a new series called Through the Eyes of Om to depict his young son Om’s unique perspective of the world. Now the first of a planned book series Through the Eyes of Om: Exploring Malaysia uses the curiosity and insight of their popular LinkedIn series to tell the story of Om’s very first visit to his mother’s home country.
To learn more, visit eyesofom.com and watch their recent interview on Fox Morning News.
Something To Do
Making a Game of Three
Through the Eyes of Om is all about experiencing life and the world through the unique perspective of a child. As Fans of 3, each of Om’s observations or shared lessons are presented in threes, as information presented in groups of three is easiest for children to remember.
As #Fansof3…the author’s vision is to:
Focus
Collaborate
Inspire
“Our goal is to broaden perspectives by sharing professional & personal life experiences. We firmly believe in the importance of education to grow and explore the world. By being positive we know that we can make an impact.”
As you read this book, look for the 3s.
On page 1, what 3s do you see?
On page 15, what three things does Om learn about respecting his elders?
On page 17, what 3 foods does Om learn about?
On page 19, how many groups of 3 do you see? What are they?
Malaysian Foods:
In the book, Om learns about 3 different Malaysian foods; Roti Canal, Hainanese Chicken Rice, and Satay. TheLondonerInMe has a great recipe for Satay so give it a try!
All About Malaysia
Here are some interesting Malaysia facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.
Population: 32 million people (2018)
Capital: Kuala Lumpur with more than 7 million inhabitants, the administrative capital, however, is Putrajaya with less than 100,000 inhabitants!
Name: Malaysia
Motto: ‘Unity is Strength’
Learn even more on KidWorldCitizen.com and don’t forget to sign up for her free passport activity for kids!
The post Through the Eyes of Om: Exploring Malaysia Book Review appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
March 21, 2019
A Diverse Picture Book Review: Nonni’s Moon by Julia Inserro
Guest post by Jolie Valentine-Field Elementary School Library
Thank you to Julia Inserro, the author of the new picture book, Nonni’s Moon, for gifting Field Elementary Library with a review copy.
Nonni’s Moon is written by Julia Inserro and illustrated by Lucy Smith, published by Julia Inserro. This is a picture book about a young girl and her family separated by many time zones, and their struggles to stay in touch. Beanie misses her Nonni desperately and wants to talk to her every day. Rather than calling on the phone, the two devise a clever plan to use the moon to send messages to each other.
A Diverse Picture Book: Nonni’s Moon
A Story about staying connected with loved ones, even when you live far apart.
No one knows more than Beanie how hard it is to live far away from loved ones. She lives across the world from her Nonni and misses her every day. But then she figures out a way she and Nonni can send messages back and forth—through the moon!
Beanie’s teacher wears a headscarf and her family is mixed race. Some elements of the illustrations, like the palm trees and desert hills outside Beanie’s school, may call to mind a setting in the Middle East, but no country is specifically mentioned in the text. Nonni, (Italian for “grandmother”) seems to live in a large city on the “other side of the world”, although the illustrations blend from page to page in such a way that it is difficult to place any character precisely.
The text is welcoming and natural at the beginning of the book, reflecting the way children talk about missing relatives and their attempts to understand time zones and large geographic distances. The solution about “sending messages through the moon” is comforting and sweet and helps give Beanie things to look forward to each day besides just thinking about her sadness. Beanie is excited to share her strategy with her teacher who also has faraway relatives.
The text was very well paced until the last two pages, with the extra problem of how to use the new communication strategy during a new moon. But overall, many children with faraway family members will be able to relate to Beanie and her worries and will appreciate her solution.
About The Author
Julia Inserro is a mom of three littles, living abroad with her husband and a handful of cats. She is a writer, reader, photographer, and explorer. She is the author of Nonni’s Moon, her first children’s book, released in 2018. Subscribe to be the first to hear about her next book(s) — there are at least TWO scheduled for 2019.
Nonni’s Moon Activities and Printables
Subscribe to Julia’s email list to receive the Nonni’s Moon Activity Book. It’s 20 pages full of moon-related activities and crafts for your little one.
**This review was created in honor Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2019 (1/25/19)**
Now in its 6th year, Multicultural Children’s Book Day was founded by Valarie Budayr from Jump Into A Book and Mia Wenjen from PragmaticMom. Our mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves while also working diligently to get more of these types of books into the hands of young readers, parents, and educators.
MCBD2019 is January 25, 2019We’d like to also give a shout-out to MCBD’s impressive CoHost Team who not only hosts the book review link-up on celebration day, but who also works tirelessly to spread the word of this event. View our CoHosts: http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/about/co-hosts/
FREE RESOURCES from MCBD
Free Multicultural Books for Teachers: https://wp.me/P5tVud-1H
Free Empathy Classroom Kit for Homeschoolers, Organizations, Librarians, and Educators: http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/teacher-classroom-empathy-kit/
Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.
The post A Diverse Picture Book Review: Nonni’s Moon by Julia Inserro appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
March 19, 2019
Raise brave + adventurous kids | The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry in Scandinavia
The Scandinavian countries are filled with whimsy and wonder. They are also exceptionally appealing to this Nordic mom!
Taking kids on an adventure to the beautiful countryside of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden is not in the budget (yet) for our family, but the magical travelogue of The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry in Scandinavia is a great fit for our lives right now.
There’s is just something extra special about this book too.
It’s one of those books that, once you hold it in your hands, you find yourself running your fingers across the embossed cover and holding it tight like its a special treasure. Beautiful inside and out, this special picture book will be something we will pass along from generation to generation like a keepsake!
About this travel series/book for Kids:
The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry in Scandinavia from This Little Street Press is the first book of a new whimsical travel series for kids, and I think readers of JIAB will absolutely love it not only for its content and esthetic but also for how much Lily’s adventures teach kids about the world, about being brave + curious + adventurous and embracing different cultures.
The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry in Scandinavia is the first book of a new travel series for kids featuring a brave, curious little girl named Lily Huckleberry. One day Lily finds herself invited in secret adventure society, and is given a magic globe that takes on whimsical adventures around the world. In each book of the series, Lily (and our readers) will discover a new part of the world.
In this first book, Lily Huckleberry uses her magic globe to travel to Scandinavia for a Midsummer party, where she finds herself ker-splat in the middle of a strawberry mystery.
As she travels around Denmark, Norway, and Sweden to save Midsummer, Lily explores the Nordic culture and meets a menagerie of friends. She swims with The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, mingles with the King and Queen of Sweden, rides the Dala horse, and faces a group of grumpy Vikings that may or may not have something to do with the strawberry mystery…
Raise brave + adventurous kids – the first book of a new travel series for little wanderers!
This first edition is 7x10inch (perfect for little hands), has a beautiful cover with gold foil & linen binding, and also includes a fun map of Scandinavia + fun facts + a glossary so kids can deepen their knowledge!
JOIN LILY ON HER ADVENTURES AROUND THE WORLD!
The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry in Scandinavia is the first book of a travel series for kids that aims to:
1) show kids the beauty + diversity of this world
2) give them a brave female role model to look up to
3) foster children’s imaginations
4) create a society of little explorers who are curious about the world and always ready for adventure
Book details: This first book has 90+ pages of colorful illustrations and a beautiful cover with gold foil + lining binding on the cover for a timeless feel. We included has a map of Lily’s journey at the end with more information on Scandinavia so kids can deepen their cultural knowledge + a little game to find all sorts of things hidden in the story.
About The Authors
Audrey Smit is the founder of This Little Street, a design company with a colorful aesthetic with the mission to a create a whimsical, happy world where kids can dream, learn and explore. Audrey designs her own products, works on licensing collaborations with clients worldwide, and co-authors/illustrates the Lily Huckleberry series. Originally from France, Audrey lives in Berkeley, CA with her Danish husband and their four silly, adventurous little girls, who give her a good run for her money and are constant sources of inspiration for her work.
Follow her on Instagram @thislittlestreet
Jackie Knapp wrote her first story about talking animals in the 2nd grade. For the past two decades, she has mentored and taught kids worldwide, recently working with orphans in Liberia. She serves as a Children’s Ministry Director in Albany, CA, developing a creative arts program that empowers children to collaborate on original films. Jackie has degrees in counseling and psychology and believes that the stories kids read shape the adults they become. This is her first children’s series, inspired by a Thursday Adventure Club concocted for Audrey’s girls and her own gypsy spirit.
Follow her on Instagram @gypsyjac
Connect with us @lilyhuckleberry on Instagram.
Or drop us a line: lilyhuckleberry@thislittlestreet.com
I can guarantee her website will be an addiction I hope never wears off. I love, love, LOVE the colors, styling, and products of This Little Street. Visit and see for yourself HERE.
Something To Do
Midsummer may be the most typically Swedish tradition of all. It occurs every year in June and during this festive time, all of Sweden is in full bloom and friends and family gather to celebrate, sing, and dance around the Maypole.
The Maypole dance consists of holding hands and circle around singing funny songs. Young and old alike to all of the actions to the songs. The Small Frog is a “must sing” song during Midsummer.
Here are the lyrics in Swedish and English:
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
English translation:
The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to watch.
The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to watch.
No ears, no ears no tails do they have.
No ears, no ears no tails do they have.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
A Midsummer Strawberry Cake!
Ingredients
1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 cups of all purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 egg whites
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cups of fat free sour cream
2 tsp of vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Butter the bottom of two 9-inch round pans or one 13 x9x 2 inch pan.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar for about 5 minutes, until it is light and fluffy. Mix together the dry ingredients of flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside. Combine egg whites, milk, and vanilla extract. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture then add the sour cream, half of the milk mixture. Alternate, beginning with and ending with the flour mixture.
Pour the batter into prepared pan(s) and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake cake(s) about 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for about 5 to 10 minutes, and then turn the cake onto a rack. Let it cool completely before adding the whipped icing.
Whipped Cream Icing
1 1/4 cups of heavy whipping cream
sugar
vanilla extract
1 lb of strawberries
Before whipping the cream add 2 tbsp of sugar or more to taste. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and whip the cream into peaks.
If you have used round pans you can take extra strawberries, sugar them and put them in-between the layers of the round cake. Frost cake and then place whole strawberries on top.
Enjoy!
The post Raise brave + adventurous kids | The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry in Scandinavia appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
March 14, 2019
Read Your World with Celebrate Holi With Me! {+a Giveaway}
As the festival of Holi approaches, curiosity inspired us to reach out to author Shoumi Sen for some thoughts on this Indian celebration and the scoop on her beautiful diverse picture book, Celebrate Holi With Me!
Also called the Festival of Colors, Holi is celebrated at the end of winter, on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month marking the beginning of spring, making the date vary with the lunar cycle. The date falls typically in March, but sometimes late February of the Gregorian calendar. Holi is not just a Festival of colors but also a celebration of good over evil
1) Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? What was your inspiration to start writing children’s books?
No, not really! I had so many things I wanted to be – an astronaut, a doctor, a school teacher, even went through a phase when I wanted to play cricket! I liked math, this led me to study engineering through grad school and now I am an engineer turned marketing professional who loves to write.
My writing originated as one of my many ways to have my daughter appreciate a constant connection with her Indian roots while living in California. I spent a good part of my childhood in India and was surrounded by the magic of Indian festivals like Holi, Diwali, Durga Puja, just to name a few. I searched for books that would help her understand the significance of these festivals and how they were celebrated – and eventually decided to write them myself.
2) What made you write about Holi?
Even before I released my first book (Celebrate Durga Puja With Me!), I knew I wanted to write about Holi. Growing up, it was my favorite festival because of the colors, the dancing, music, food and the sheer excitement that surrounds this “Festival of Colors”. I always loved how it brought entire communities together!
That idea was reinforced when we were watching Holi celebrations in a Hindi movie and my daughter said she wanted to experience Holi for herself. She ran to the pantry for my jar of bright yellow turmeric (a staple in Indian cooking that can stain just about anything) and we narrowly averted a disaster in the kitchen! I explained the story of Holi to her, all the time wishing I had an age-appropriate book that we could read together.
3) If you were to let parents, teachers, and librarians know ONE THING about your book “Celebrate Holi With Me!”, what would that one thing be?
Playing Holi is a truly unique experience – you get to witness entire communities coming together to throw brightly colored powder and water on each other and creating memories to last a lifetime. As Riya and her friends immerse you with a rainbow of colors in ‘Celebrate Holi With Me!’, I would love for my readers to remember the underlying message, which is the victory of good over evil.
If you were to give any advice to those who dream of writing and publishing a book, what advice would you give?
If you want to write a book, write the best book you can without getting distracted about how it will get published. If you are passionate about something, things eventually fall into place. Today, apart from traditional publishing, there is also an option to self-publish so one way or another, the world will get to read your writing.
Celebrate Holi With Me! is available on Amazon, Kitaab World, and IMC.
Connect with Shoumi via her Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Shoumi:
Shoumi Sen is a Strategy, Sales and Marketing professional at a leading Energy Management company. She grew up in Bombay and Dubai and studied Engineering at BITS, Pilani and the University of Maryland, College Park. She loves to travel, has lived and worked in many countries, and currently lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband and daughter.
Giveaway Time!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
ONE winner will receive a copy of Celebrate Holi With Me!. Giveaway begins March 14, 2019
Prizing & samples courtesy of Shoumi Sen
Giveaway open to US addresses only
ONE lucky winner will win one copy of Celebrate Holi With Me!
Residents of USA only please.
Must be 18 years or older to enter
One entry per household.
Staff and family members of Audrey Press are not eligible.
Grand Prize winner has 48 hours to claim prize
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on March 21, 2019
The post Read Your World with Celebrate Holi With Me! {+a Giveaway} appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
March 12, 2019
Magical Miniatures | Fairy Houses and Fairy Gardens
Fairies have been revered and feared, sometimes simultaneously, throughout recorded history. But ask any child about fairies and their eyes will light up with delight and curiosity at the thought of magical little beings inhabiting the surrounding woodlands and hills. But loving fairy lore is not just for kids; some adults think its pretty wonderful as well (::sneaks hand up::).
The mystique and lore behind fairies began long before Disney came up with Tinkerbell and Periwinkle. The idea of fairies among us may seem novel and new, but the belief that fairies exist dates back centuries in countries like Great Britain, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In the U.S., the state of Maine has cultivated a vibrant fairy culture including a permanent fairy house village on Mackworth Island.
The legend has it that fairies are not very good home builders because everything they make blows away in the wind or falls down during changes in the seasons. Therefore, sprites are always on the look-out for places to live; which could be human-made fairy-friendly structures in the woods or even in our own gardens. The rumor is that, if you make a little spot just for them, they will move right in.
Fairy gardens and fairy house building are two activities that were virtually unheard of years ago but are now gaining in popularity as a fun, colorful and whimsical way to express creativity and spend time outside.
What are Fairy Houses?
Fairy Houses are small structures for the fairies and nature’s friends to visit. This human-made house is constructed solely of elements of nature like sticks, bark, dry grasses, pebbles, and pine cones. Special care needs to be taken by fairy house builders not to destroy living things or introduce man-made products into their designs. The responsibility of our earth is said to be very important to all fairies. Fairies are also attracted to happiness and beauty so creativity can range from a rustic to intricate “fairy mansions,” to whimsical and simple habitats built by children.
To best way to create a fairy dwelling is to find a quiet place away from roads and busy areas such as much traveled walking paths and trails. The bases of trees are favorite places, as are stumps, logs, large boulders or natural hollows in tree trunks. Using only nature’s supplies like fallen branches or sticks or cut brush, fairy house builders can create tee-pee-style abodes for fairy friends.
Decorating the inside of the house can be achieved by using items like leaves for beds or rugs, pieces of moss or wood fragments for chairs, acorn tops for footstools, flowers or feathers for decoration, pine needles for carpeting, pine cones for couches, berries from trees as fairy food, pretty rocks for stepping stones and seeds from trees as fairy food. Builders also need to be mindful to keep their houses small. If it is too big, no fairy would want to live there because it will be too obvious.
A fairy house is supposed to be anonymous and hidden so that it remains a mystery as to who made it. Its all part of the magic
