Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 47

A kidlit book about Ornithology and moving through grief (+Giveaway)

Happy New Year Everyone! Wishing you a year full of great reads in the coming months. Just a reminder that Multicultural Children’s Book Day is on January 27th. We have over 350 book reviewers signed up to review a multitude of amazing diverse children’s an YA books. We are also in the midst of planning an incredible twitter party that will happen at 9 pm on 1/27/17. There will be loads of book bundle giveaways, diverse kidlit discussions and don’t forget about our free classroom book giveaway for every teacher that signs up. These are stellar editions of  multicultural or diverse titles for your classroom.

P.S If you are a teacher or homeschooler, you will really love our Classroom Kindness Kit that includes two author-created posters and an activity guide and booklist that promotes kindness at home and in the classroom. Sign-up is quick, easy and FREE. Go here to download your free Classroom Kindness Kit courtesy of Multicultural Children’s Book Day.

I’m going to help you get the New Year started by presenting a new release from award winning author Monika Schroder.

Be Light Like a Bird is a poignant look at the grief process through the eyes of a 12 year old girl named Wren. After the death of her father in a plane crash, Wren’s life is turned upside down. As wren’s mother asks up everything they own and leave the only home she has ever known, this mother,daughter combo drifts further and further apart as grief takes hold of them. For readers aged 8-12.

Moving from one town to another, Wren and her mother attempt to create a new life. Finally arriving in the little town of Pyramid, Michigan, Wren decides this is the place they will settle down in. Each day she moves through her grief by re-establishing the hobby her and her father shared; bird watching.

After discovering a near-by pond, she learns that it’s to become a extension of the landfill. Wren takes on saving this natural habitat as a school project. Her principals guide her forward as she digs down deep to summon the courage to face this huge obstacles. along the way she encounters salt of the earth characters who are there to help her. As weeks and months pass, Wren and her mother must acknowledge their grief, forgive each other and rediscover what it means to be family.

This is such a diverse and moving book. I was totally captivated by the way grief is dealt with as a character in it’s own right in Be Light, Like a Bird. Monica Schroder is a gifted writer who moves us through the grieving process and out the other side in a gentle unfolding which never seems rushed. Interwoven into this journey of transformation are really solid and interesting characters. Wren’s friend Theo, who like her has lost a parent. Theo presents another view into the grieving process. He is a testament to making it through the pain and living a re-visioned life without his mother. Wren also works at a health store where a kindly old man embrace her efforts to buy a house and safe a pond. In an interesting turn of events, Wren meets a Native American, Randle, who helps her with the land and pond conservation issue as well as giving her a multi-tiered perspective from his own diverse practices of being both a native and a buddhist.

Through her grief, life held principals, and the people she encounters in the little town of Pyramid, her life slowly reassembles itself into something w which looks like living.  It’s a beautiful and inspiring story.

A Little More About Author Monika Schroder

Monika Schroder is an award winning children’s author. She writes historical fiction for middle and high school readers. Monica grew up in Germany. She has worked as an elementary school teacher and librarian in international schools in Egypt, Chile, the Sultanate of Oman, and India. She currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with her husband and dog.

Somethings To Do

Chattanooga

I was really happy to see Chattanooga in this book. Chattanooga is a place I know well and a favorite destination for my family. We love to walk over the Walnut st. bridge, eat our way through all of the local eateries, visit the aquarium which is really something, and then theirs Look Out Mountain, and Rock City. Home of the Chattanooga Choo Choo which is now a fun hotel in a redeveloped part of town, there is always way more to do in Chattanooga than time for. If you’re looking for a fun place to visit, here’s a link to get you started.

Bird Watching

Bird watching is a great way to bring awareness for the living creatures that live around you. It also trains the young mind to have a sharp focus and ton instill a love of nature and to preserve it. Here are some helpful hints to have some wonderful bird watching moments in your area.

Have a look in your own backyard or front yard for that matter. How many birds do you see flying around ? Just sit and observe all of the bird activity through their flying, eating, and singing. How many different sounds can you hear coming from the birds ?
Want to know what you’re looking at. Get a field guide so you can learn to identify your bird friends in the air.
Binoculars are so much fun. It really brings the bird into your close vision and makes birdwatching a delighted activity.
Get Excited About Birds. One of the reasons we go bird watching is to get excited about the birds. Many leave us for the winter and then come back again in spring. Want to get a really up close look? The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has great nest cams that let you have an uncles looks at what the birds are doing in their nests. It’s so much fun.

 

Grief Process for Kids

Death is difficult when it comes no matter the age but especially difficult for children. Here’s a great resource on how to help a grieving child. from the Dougy Center which is a national organization which helps children and families grieve.

Native American Land Rights , Sacred Land

“We must teach our students to honor the sacred spaces around them, within them and within others.”

Over the past several months the Lakota tribe have been in land disputes with the North Dakota pipeline project. This is a perfect opportunity to learn about and value sacred land. There is great learning for all of us in this, that our earth is precious and sacred, that how we act, think, and behave, reflects in our families, communities, and the planet at large.

Teaching Tolerance has developed a wonderful set of learning and teaching tools around Standing Rock. It’s a timely and important conversation to have.

Discussion Questions

Capstone Publishing provided a really great discussion guide for this book. I’ll share it with you here.

Authors often look for an interesting beginning to their stories. BE LIGHT LIKE A BIRD  starts with a scene in which Wren buries a dead squirrel in hopes that it will make her feel better. What was your reaction after reading the first chapter ? What did you expect the book to be about after reading it ?
what are Wren’s challenges in trying to make friends with Carrie ? Have you ever tried to make friends with a person you really wanted as a friend, but your attempt failed ? Have you ever felt like you had to act differently from who you really are around others in order to be accepted by them ?
What enables Wren to finally break off her relationship with Carrie ?
When Wren is first paired up to work with Theo she doesn’t like him. Over the course of the story they become good friends. identify the turning points in their relationship and discuss how their interactions impacted Wren.
why do you think Wren buries roadkill? What else in the novel is buried, or perhaps, unburied ?
Several people in the novel keep secrets from each other. What secrets does Wren’ts mom keep from her ? What secrets does Wren keep from her mom? From Theo? What prevents us from being honest with others about our private thoughts and feelings ? is it possible for a relationship between two people to exist completely without secrets ?
Wren and Theo work on a social studies project about a controversial public policy issue. Their teacher encourages them to pick a topic that has meaning in their life and to research its pros and cons. Think of an issue in your community and discuss pros and cons.
At the end of the book a community has formed in Pyramid that hadn’t been there before. how did this community form and what binds its members together?
Many characters in the book deal with loss and are at different stages in processing that loss. Discuss the losses Wren, her mother, Theo, and Randle have experienced
Theo reminds Wren that Randle forgave his mother for the pain she inflicted on him in his youth. Who else had to forgive another person in the novel? Why is it so hard sometimes to forgive someone ?
Consider the book’s tit,”Be Light Like a Bird” (not like a feather). Do you think this is a fitting title?
At the beginning of the book Uncle Huey asks Wren’s mother to hold a memorial service for the father to give Wren closure. What does it mean to reach closure after someone’s death? Do Wren and her mother find closure at the end ?

GIVEAWAY!

ONE winner will receive a copy of Be Light Like a Bird by Monika Schroder. Giveaway begins 1/5/17

Prizing & samples  courtesy of Authors of the above books
Giveaway open to US addresses only
ONE lucky winner will win one copy of Be Light Like a Bird by Monika Schroder.
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 1/13/17

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post A kidlit book about Ornithology and moving through grief (+Giveaway) appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Putting a New Spin on Old Kids’ Classic Stories #ReadKidsClassics

{Guest post by Hannah Rials}

I recently saw a graphic on Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s site that should children’s book predictions from powerhouse Scholastic for 2017.

The fact that Scholastic’s predictions (#5) that “the classics will return and be reinvented” ties beautifully into what I am going to share today!

The following is just that; old classics reinvented into fun new books and adventures for kids. Enjoy!

Wolf Tales: Read and Play Puppet Theater

This is an adorable, brilliant new idea that brings story telling to a fun, interactive level. In this package, you have three stories, all centered around the famous big bad wolf, as well as a stage, props, and different scenes to interchange.


The book tells the three stories of Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids, and The Three Little Pigs. At the end of each story is a breakdown of how you can frame each scene and what props and back drop you should use when.

I absolutely love this new, interactive book that can get everyone in the family involved. One person read, one be in charge of backdrop, and split up the characters. I wish I’d had something like this as a child!


Cozy Classics: The Nutcracker as told by Jack and Holman Wang

The Wangs capture the essence of each piece of the famous Nutcracker ballet in one word segments. Read the word then allow your child to be pulled into the world with the image on the next page. Of course, the next step is to go see the Nutcracker ballet live and experience it with the music. This is a great introduction to the beautiful Christmas story!

The Cozy Classics series is the brainchild of two brothers, both dads, who were thinking of ways to teach words to their very young children. They hit upon the idea of “the classics” as the basis for their infant primers, and the rest as they say, is history.

Every book in the series is condensed into twelve child-friendly words accompanied by a beautifully hand-felted illustration, which accurately and humorously summarize each books plot.

I think this is where I need to mention that we aren’t talking about “kids classics” but adult classics turned into baby board books. They are simply delightful, captivating, and magnificently retell these age old classics.

Just released are Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy, and Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.

I know what you’re thinking because I was thinking it too…..how do you adapt these books for babies or small toddlers ? Well they do it very well I might add. These incredible and inventive books aren’t just for babies. They are good and great for all ages.

I love the whale from Moby Dick !!!

And let’s not forget the ship that said whale is going to attack.

Of course things can get muddy in Pride & Prejudice.

Love the one for Read! It’s perfect.

This series is exclusively published by Chronicle Books. They will be adding two new Cozy Classics each year and will re-issue 3 more Cozy Classics with a new design. We can expect The Nutcracker (New), Huckleberry Fin, Emma, and Les Miserables in the Fall.

The Little Red Hen by Mary Finch
‘

The lazy rooster and mischievous mouse can’t be bothered to help the Little Red Hen tend her ear of wheat. They can’t be bothered to help her take it to the miller either, or bake it into bread. But when her loaf of warm, fragrant bread is ready, the Little Red Hen is not at all inclined to share it with them. The rooster and the mouse soon mend their ways!-Amazon

The Christmas Horse and the Three Wise Men by Isabelle Brent



This is the part of the Christmas story that isn’t told. We all know about Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, and the hardships they face. But Isabelle Brent now tells the story of the Three Wise Men from Safanad the horse’s perspective. He describes the confusion, the rough journey filled with perils, and the fated miracle that they witnessed.

Not only does this story portray another facet of the story of Christmas, but it shows the different races of the wisemen, creating an accurate, multicultural air to this classic story. The illustrations are beautiful, clear, dreamy, and it is so interesting to hear the story from an animal’s perspective.

Something(s) To Do: All of these wonderful classic-inspired books also inspired their own set of book-related activities. Enjoy!




If you want to go all out this Christmas with a new outside decoration, try your hand at building a 7 foot Nutcracker out of flower pots!

The Sugar Plum Fairy would absolutely love these Sugar Plum Shortbread Cookies:


Once you and your kids know the story of the Nutcracker by heart, you can make these Nutcracker Popsicle Stick Puppets to act it out yourself. Download the music and put on a ballet with your puppets!




Lean how to make edible gold, frankincense, and myrhh HERE.


Learn the meaning behind the three gifts:
      1. Gold – the royal metal that signifies Jesus’s kingship
      2. Frankincense – a symbol of prayer, showing Jesus’s relationship as mediator between God and man
      3. Myrhh – a burial ointment, symbolizing that Jesus would die for man’s salvation

If you are feeling inspired by Moby Dick, learn a bit more about whales by Listening To Music Inspired by the WhalesAs we create a play list of whales and about whales we simply have to start with A Symphony of Whales author Steve Schuch who is also a violinist and composer. On his website he has this link which has him playing violin with the whales. It’s perfect to have playing while reading A Symphony of Whales.

 

Other additions to our playlist include:

Songs of the Humpback Whales by Roger Payne
Whales Alive by Paul Winter/Paul Halley
Whale Music by David Rothenberg
“And God Created Great Whales” by Alan Hovhaness
The Whale by John Tavener
Ocean by Kenny Larkin Flute Music with Humpback Whale Songs

Charles Dickens was the author of Great Expectation and what an interest man he was! Learn more about this great poet and author with Embark on the Journey’s Christmas Carol Learning Pack.

Create own Your Little Red Hen (Using a Red Solo Cup) using the instructions from River’s Edge Curriculum

Happy New Year!

I was given a copy of this book for this for review. The opinions expressed are purely my own.

 

Born in the hills of Louisiana and raised in the mountains of Tennessee, Hannah Rials is an 20 year-old author and aspiring editor. Her debut YA thriller Ascension has garnered a huge fan base and glowing reviews.  Hannah has always loved reading and the world of books. With a librarian grandmother who can tell the most magical stories, how could she not fall in love with the written word? Her library collection and love for books grows every day.

The post Putting a New Spin on Old Kids’ Classic Stories #ReadKidsClassics appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! May your 2017 be filled with book-inspired adventures!

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The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo and a fun kirigami activity

A young boy goes to buy some fish at the market when he spies a fortune teller in a gypsy tent. Instead of fish he got his fortune. In response to the question how can I find my sister? The answer came swiftly and with confidence,”An elephant will lead you there”. An elephant?

So starts the story by the very acclaimed writer Kate DiCamillo.

Around the same time the very astute Madam LaVaughn went to the theater in the evening to see a magic act. The magician, only intending to make a bouquet of lilies appear, instead made a real life elephant come tumbling down out of the ceiling and landing directly on Madam LaVaughn. Luckily she lives but is crippled. Now she is imprisoned in her wheel chair, the magician is taken to prison, the elephant is locked up in the stable and Peter, the young boy who went to buy some fish but found his fortune instead, must try to meet this elephant to find his sister. Anymore I cannot tell you.

Without knowing it, this lovely elephant is a catalyst for change. He opens the hearts and doors of many to an understanding of how we are connected and how each one of us holds our own magic.

Something to Do:

Make a towel elephant to help you remember your stories! Check out this fun activity from TwentyTwoWords.

Make a Memory Box so you’ll never forget anything!

You’ll need:

a wooden case or chest

Paint of whatever color! I saw some pretty pastel yellows and blues

Black paint

Letter stencils

Paint brushes

What to do:

-Paint the chest/case your base color and let it dry overnight.

-The next day, come up with what you want to label the chest as. I went to Austria, Germany, and Switzerland this summer, so I would label it as such.

-Line your stencils up straight, you might want to use a ruler.

-Paint your letters and let dry!

*You can add decorations if you want, just let everything dry first.

-Throw every memory for this particular occasion into the box—ticket stubs, pamphlets, pictures, posters, anything! Now you’ll never forget.

Kirigami Activity: So we’ve been talking about an elephant which comes tumbling through the ceiling. That’s not any sort of magic so we can’t very well do any sort of elephant project. Today we are venturing into the world of kirigami. This is the Japanese art of paper-folding and cutting.

1. Take an 8in x 8in piece of paper

2. Fold it in half.

 

3. (photo above) Place the fold you just did on top and fold it in half again.

 

4. (photo above) Fold it diagonally, with the previous fold on the left.

5. Trace the elephant pattern below onto you triangle

Very Important Note: Do not cut off the tail, back leg or the swoop in the trunk. If for some reason you transfer the pattern on the wrong side of the triangle you will come up with an “x” of elephants,which is beautiful in it’s own right. To get the square just draw your pattern on the other side of the triangle.

You can use origami paper or scrapbook paper. I also made an elephant square out of 4inx4in origami paper and set it into my large square to make “art”.

I must give credit where it is due. Today’s art project was inspired by The Little Traveler’s.  This mom lovingly documents the journey of her two girls as the travel around the world. To explore the sights,sounds,tastes, and cultures of some beautiful countries have a look here.

**some of these links are affiliate links**

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My Top Middle Grade, Picture Book and YA #Booklists of 2016

 

Are you curious to know which posts from Jump Into a Book have been the most popular with my readers in 2016?  Well…the wait is over and here are the stand-outs and “populars” from 2016. Do you see your favorite on this list?

If I could pin-point a reoccurring theme for 2016 it would have to be DRAGONS! From the movie Pete’s Dragon to my own and awards with my kidlit picture book Dragons Are Real, these delightful beasts have been all around me in 2016. And what would my dragon year be without a booklist about dragons (or two). Read more here.

NOTE: Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on Amazon for the limited-time sale price of 8.88!  We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.(email becky@audreypress.com after purchase to claim your bonus activity guide). Get deeper book details HERE and learn why this captivating picture book has won the Royal Purple Dragonfly Award and is a Kirkus Reviews Top Pick for 2016.

Another common theme in 2016 was KINDNESS. I’ve always thought the best way to teach my kids to be kind is to be kind myself. While that’s a really good start, I can’t be with them all day long and life is filled with opportunities to be both kind and unkind. This got me thinking, what books are out there that teach kindness? Here’s a look at what I found;The Kindness Booklist for Kids.

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney is a classic. I’ve read it to a variety of nieces and nephews throughout the years, and my own children grab it often. Miss Rumphius is an old friend that we go back to again and again.

This lovely book inspired a graphic that has been shared, tweeted and RePin MANY times. Read the fill post HERE.

If you thought the kids’ game Mindcraft was popular, wait until you see the my booklist of 14 Minecraft Books for Kids

{Click to Tweet} If your #YA #readers Like Percy Jackson, Check THIS awesome #booklist!

Happy Birthday to our National Parks! 100 years ago on August 25th, the National Parks were created to preserve the unique and wild areas of this vast and beautiful country. Here is A National Park Picture Book Booklist

Anything Roald Dahl is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and this year was no different. Check out my Celebrating Roald Dahl Day with Fun, Freebies and BOOKS post.

I had some much fun this summer with my Notable Women series where I shined the spotlight on (and explored the lives of) notable women like author Pam Munoz Ryan, American Revolution hero Sybil Ludington and activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. Though there were many wonderful booklists and reviews from this series, this nature booklist by author Nicola Davies was a hit!

One of the things I love most about winter is SNOW and being “snowed in” seems to happen frequently (whether officially…or “by choice”). In 2016, I thought I’d share a few of our all time favorite books about snow. Enjoy The Snowed In Winter Book Festival-A Snowy Kidlit Booklist.

On a funner note-I was the first Featured Expert for 2016 on KidLit TV!

What JIAB booklists were your favorite in 2016?

So exciting! My book Dragons Are Real (illustrated by Michael Welply) has been named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2016!

What makes this book special is the idea that the fiercest beasts in known history or imaginations everywhere could actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Readers will also learn things about dragons that might not be common knowledge such as they are master of disguises and how they love sugar and sweets (at unacceptable levels) and will do anything for treats.



So if you haven’t started looking for a dragon to be your best friend, you’d better get going! Having a dragon as a friend is not what you think and I can assure you that everything you thought you knew about Dragons is a total myth.

To celebrate, this vibrant picture book is on sale for $8.88 until 12.31.16! Don’t miss this wonderful deal on a exceptional and unique children’s book. Click the image below or go HERE to grab your copy on Amazon.

The post My Top Middle Grade, Picture Book and YA #Booklists of 2016 appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Happy Holidays!

May your season be BRIGHT

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A book about being comfortable in your own skin: Swan Boy by Nikki Sheehan

**Guest post from Hannah Rials, author of the award-winning YA book, Ascenion.

Summary of Swan Boy

Being the new kid at school is hard. When the main character in the book (Johnny) moves and starts a new school, he has to deal with a bully who won’t leave him alone. But help comes from an unexpected and surprising source and Johnny’s growing power soon puts him in a very special place.

My Perspective

After Johnny and Mojo’s father dies, their mother moves them to a new home, new district, new school–new everything. Nothing has been right, nothing feels right. Mojo has slipped into a phase where he acts like an animal all the time; the Populars at school have picked Johnny as the kid to torture; and on top of all that, Johnny’s mom saddles him with the responsibility of taking care of Mojo while she works and makes new friends.

Soon after the school year, Johnny falls into a scrap with Liam and his squad of goonies, and they have a choice. They can either be on litter patrol or join the ballet–Swan Lake. As much as Johnny wants to blend in, be invisible, he soon begins to fall in love with dance and with the idea of swans in general, their power and grace. Before he knows it, he’s starting to transform into a swan–a white streak in his hair; white, fluffy down growing on his chest.

Instead of life becoming easier, things just get more difficult. The bullies won’t leave Johnny alone, he loses the one friend he starts to make, his brother’s odd behavior becomes increasingly odder, and his mother notices nothing. All he wants is his old life, to fit in, to be a kid–not to be the man of the house. So how can Swan Lake help all of that?

Nikki Sheehan has created a beautiful middle grade novel right when it is needed. Swan Boy teaches young readers how to cope with bullying, family and friend loyalty, as well as being comfortable in your own skin, as well as dealing with grief in a unique way both through Johnny and his brother Mojo. She experiments with the novel form by playing with the line format, mixing in a bit of poetry into this graceful story.

Something To Do

1. One of the major themes throughout this novel is the idea of children coping with grief. Johnny and Mojo cope in very different ways. Where Johnny lets out his emotion through dance, Mojo lets it out through drawing. If you’re child is experiencing grief of some kind, the key is to find outlets to let their emotions out.

Sports
Journaling
Dancing

You could even make a memory jar, in which you write down the best memories you have of the person or thing lost so that they will stay with you forever.

2. Johnny never says what kind exactly, but we know that his favorite food is Kebabs. If you’re interested in trying out this Mediterranean dish, check out this recipe:



3. Swans aren’t just beautiful, graceful creatures. There’s a lot more to them then meets the eye:

-Swans mate for life. If their mate dies, the other could die of a broken heart.
-Swans can fly super fast–up to 60 miles per hour! Whoa, baby!
-Swans aren’t just dumb birds. They are very intelligent and have great memories. They are able to remember who has been kind or unkind to them.
-Don’t get too close to their nests because though they are normally gentle creatures, they are very protective of their young and are strong enough to break an arm or two.

4. Are you being bullied or do you see it at school? Don’t be passive. Be an active defender of what is right. Here’s what to say –

One More Thing

Today is the LAST DAY to get my children’s book A Year in the Secret Garden at special holiday pricing!

As parents, we want/need quality books with extension activities to help our young ones unplug and create memories. Pulling books from shelves, and stories from pages, is also an important act that will aid in them being life-long readers. Quality books with companion book extension activities are not only work to create special family time, it allows kids to solve the world’s problems without major consequences.

A Year in the Secret Garden is just such a book.

This delightful children’s book that is co-written by Marilyn Scott-Waters and I offers unique and original month-by-month activities that allow readers to delve deeper into the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! With over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together.

This book will make a great gift and be the catalyst of many hours of family growth, learning and FUN! Grab your copy ASAP and “meet me in the garden!” More details HERE!

So I’ve decided to take my excitement and turn into An Extra Special Holiday Book Sale on this book, and only this book from my children’s book line-up.

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!

The post A book about being comfortable in your own skin: Swan Boy by Nikki Sheehan appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Dragons are Real is named to Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Book of 2016!

So exciting! My book Dragons Are Real (illustrated by Michael Welply) has been named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2016!

 

I’ve been asked how this wonderful and vibrant book “came to be.” Dragons are Real started as a chapter book for kids called Elsa’s Dragon. But I “wrote myself into a corner” and couldn’t find the magic that stories need to come to life.

So I let my graphic designer Roscoe Welply read it since his father, Michael Welply, was doing the illustrations for it. Roscoe asked for me to meet him on Skype the next day. He told me he felt that the first chapter needed to be its own book and that his own sons loved this story. He pieced it out for me on how this first chapter of Elsa’s Dragon could be a picture book. So Roscoe sent me off to work and came on as the editor and artistic director of the project. We had never worked as this sort of team before. So I went to the drawing board and wrote our Dragons are Real in about an hour.

After Roscoe edited the text, we sent it to his father Michael Welply. Michael and Roscoe got to work together creatively for the very first time. They enjoyed themselves immensely. I’d hear little murmurings from across the pond, but as is the tradition at Audrey Press, I only got to see Michael’s cover art and the full page spreads and a few sketches of the other art. Everyone wanted to have a “surprise” reveal. I love those. It’s like Christmas morning on those days.

What makes this book special is the idea that the fiercest beasts in known history or imaginations everywhere could actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Readers will also learn things about dragons that might not be common knowledge such as they are master of disguises and how they love sugar and sweets (at unacceptable levels) and will do anything for treats.

So if you haven’t started looking for a dragon to be your best friend, you’d better get going! Having a dragon as a friend is not what you think and I can assure you that everything you thought you knew about Dragons is a total myth.

Did You Know That…

That Dragons only breathe fire “sometimes” or that they have a fondness for poetry?

Did you know that Dragons love to read and like to hoard books for those rainy dreary days?
Did you know that Dragons are experienced Cha-Cha-Cha dancers and are happiest when they are getting down with the beat in a group of friends?
Do you know that Dragons are ridiculously ticklish and love to Laugh?

See? There is much you don’t know about Dragons and this is only the beginning!

There’s a dragon out there somewhere, just waiting to be discovered. Need some help? There are great dragon finding tips inside the pages of this colorfully illustrated book that will help young readers discover the magic within their own imaginations and just exactly how Dragons Are Real.

To celebrate, this vibrant picture book is on sale for $8.88 until 12.31.16! Don’t miss this wonderful deal on a exceptional and unique children’s book. Click the image below or go HERE to grab your copy on Amazon.

The post appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Weekend Links: Exploring the Joys of a Swedish-inspired Holiday

I know that Santa Lucia Day has past (12/13/16) but my Swedish family is still enjoy the food and festivities of the season. Both my parents and grandparents were from Gotland, Sweden so my Swedish roots run deep.

The following are some great Sweden-inspired books, booklists, activities and even food so you can celebrate along with me. Enjoy!

The Tomten and the Reynard: A sweet kidlit review to get you in the Holiday Spirit

 

A Ride on the Red Mare’s Back Review and a look at Swedish Folklore

Celebrating Swedish Christmas Traditions and Foods

On any given day, you may hear as many as six different languages spoken in my home.

My life and household has been diverse and multicultural for as long as I can remember. As the daughter of parents who emigrated from Sweden, I have been immersed in Nordic culture since childhood. So as you can imagine,  Celebrating Swedish Christmas Traditions and Foods, and also recognizing Santa Lucia has been a huge part of my holiday traditions since childhood.

AND…FOOD is a big part of that celebration as well so I thought I would share our tried and true family recipe for saffron buns. If you get the wrong recipe the buns turn out to be like stones. The recipe in the book is similar to ours but we do some prep work that guarantees the success of our buns. It seems I’m a little biased about Lucia buns. I want everyone to have a positive and beautiful experience. Read more HERE.

Do We Do all Day has a Swedish Christmas and Holiday Picture Book list that is near and dear to my heart!

I had to smile and giggle when my Head Elf (assistant and project manager) told me she had never even heard of a Tomte until she met me! Is there really is such a thing as a Winter Tomte? Yes! This time of year especially we have many eager children waiting for the Jul Tomte to come on Christmas Eve bring sack full of presents, chocolate and good fun.

The Tomte in Sweden and Nisse in Norway and Denmark is a Scandinavian myth. Tomtes are small, bearded men who wear red colored caps and are rarely, if ever seen by humans. Since we are talking about Winter Tomte I have to also share that you’ll only see the menfolk as the women and children are home making merry and getting ready for the great celebrations ahead.

Sharing this family tradition, along with a robust booklist, made my An Exceptionally Magical Winter Tomte Booklist! even more special.

Speaking of Swedish Christmas, it’s something near-and-dear to my heart because my parents were from Sweden. Every December 13th, we continue a long family tradition of celebrating St. Lucia. In the darkest hours of the morning a young girl with a wreath of candles on her head brings hope, warmth and light to the darkest, coldest time of the year. I have taken all of our favorite recipes, activities and books that celebrate this event, along with the history of Santa Lucia as well, and created a very special color pdf for the holiday season.

The Celebrating a Santa Lucia Christmas pdf guide is my gift to you and simply click the image below to enjoy these fun family-friendly activities. Click this link or click the image below to grab your copy and create some new traditions in your own family! Thank you!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Don’t Forget

Children’s Book Reviewers! We Need YOU! MCCBD 2017 Reviewer Sign-up is OPEN

We still could use a Few Good Reviewers! Multicultural Children’s book Reviewers, that is

As the Co-founder of Multicultural Children’s Book Day is can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled I am at how this event continues to GROW. If you are unfamiliar with this very special online event that is coming January, 27, 2017, go here for the full scoop. In the meantime, we could really use a few more book reviewers.

It’s not too late to sign up as a review blogger for Multicultural Children’s Book Day! We have a plethora of simply amazing diversity children’s authors who are offering up a free books to bloggers who would like to do a review in honor of this January 27, 2016 online event!

The deadline to sign up is December 31st and we still have a few spots left. This is great way for bloggers to get involved in an important national initiative and gain new visitors to their site! All participating bloggers will be invited to add their book review to a Huge Linky on 1/27/17 that will ultimately become a valued resource for parents, teachers and librarians. Sign up ASAP!

 

The post Weekend Links: Exploring the Joys of a Swedish-inspired Holiday appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

4 Fun Chronicle Books for Kids with an Emphasis on SNOW

 

So as the frost begins to form gorgeous patterns on the window of my study, and the fluffy whiteness of winter begins to flitter down from the sky, I think it’s time to share some fun and chilly Chronicle Books for Kids with an Emphasis on SNOW. Enjoy!

First Snow by Bomi Park (Chronicle Books): There’s something magical about the first snow fall of the year. This little girl is woken by the pat pat pat of the first snowflakes on her window. She’s drawn outside by the magic white flakes and starts rolling her first snowman of the year, followed by her puppy friend. The longer she rolls her snow ball, the farther she gets into the forest. Then she comes upon an entire field of children making snowmen. It’s the magic of the first snow!

Bomi Park has created a fantastical, beautiful, dream-like book that follows this little girl through her snow adventure. It’ll be a great help in putting little ones to bed with dreams of snow and whimsy!

Bunny Slopes by Claudia Rueda (Chronicle Books):This bunny needs a little bit of help getting his ski day off to a great start. First, to help the snow fall, you have to shake the book. I mean, literally, if you don’t shake the book, snow won’t fall, and bunny won’t be able to ski. Then, he needs a bit of a push. He needs speed to jump over the hill. But sometimes, speed isn’t enough, and Bunny will end up slipping right back into his own rabbit den, where a nice hot cup of cocoa is waiting for him.

Claudia Rueda has created a wonderfully fun interactive book in which the readers are helping the story to progress. Bunny needs your help to ski, so you actually have to shake the book for the snow to come and tilt the book to get bunny moving. This is so inventive, even I played along!


When Santa delivers presents through a window instead of through the chimney, he doesn’t seem to quite get the whole picture of who he’s leaving presents for. What he thinks is a house of zebras is actually long-necked swans sleeping in the dark. When everyone wakes up and the presents don’t match them, kindness is shown by sharing and exchanging gifts–Santa helps everyone to get into the spirit of Christmas!


AND, how could you resist the Merry Makers Bunny Slope Plush! This was simply too cute to NOT share!

Presents Through the Window: A Taro Gomi Christmas Book (Chronicle Books)

Gomi uses unique cut outs to show Santa’s view through the window, then on the reverse, how well he is able to see from outside. The story is unusual but cute, and a different spin on the traditional tale of Santa Claus coming to town.

“Pink suit. Moustache. Helicopter. This may not be your ordinary Santa, but it’s still a daunting Christmas Eve challenge! There are so many presents to deliver, and so little time. It’s a good thing Santa has a plan. He’ll just peek into every window and toss in a gift. Done! The trouble is, Santa is moving much too quickly to see who really lives in each house. With interactive cut-outs throughout, readers will delight in following Santa’s lightning-speed Christmas antics as they discover the true (and hilarious) identities of the gifts’ recipients! From the beloved and bestselling Taro Gomi, here is Christmas cheer for all!”–Amazon

Cozy Classics: The Nutcracker as told by Jack and Holman Wang: The Wangs capture the essence of each piece of the famous Nutcracker ballet in one word segments. Read the word then allow your child to be pulled into the world with the image on the next page. Of course, the next step is to go see the Nutcracker ballet live and experience it with the music. This is a great introduction to the beautiful Christmas story!

Something Snowy To Do
If you want to go all out this Christmas with a new outside decoration, try your hand at building a 7 foot Nutcracker out of flower pots! Check it out here:






Each and every snowflake is unique. Add your own unique snowflake to your home with this activity from Chaos and Clutter!



You don’t need snow to make a snowman when you have this super cook Shivery Snow Paint Recipe from Growing a Jeweled Rose!

Make this book even more interactive by creating a bunny finger puppet!


After an afternoon of playing with your handmade snow, settle in for a nice cup of warm hot cocoa like Bunny did. Here’s the BEST hot cocoa!


And never forget the reason for the season…actually….the giving spirit is something that needs to be cultivating all year long. Happy Holidays!

**Some of these links are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will get a very small commission. This money will be used to get more books into the hands of parents, teachers and librarians.

ONE MORE THING…..

Here’s something else that is near-and-dear to my heart because my parents were from Sweden. Every December 13th, we continue a long family tradition of celebrating St. Lucia. In the darkest hours of the morning a young girl with a wreath of candles on her head brings hope, warmth and light to the darkest, coldest time of the year. I have taken all of our favorite recipes, activities and books that celebrate this event, along with the history of Santa Lucia as well, and created a very special color pdf for the holiday season.

The Celebrating a Santa Lucia Christmas pdf guide is my gift to you and simply click the image below to enjoy these fun family-friendly activities. Click this link or click the image below to grab your copy and create some new traditions in your own family! Thank you!

AP Holiday Promotions

Book Love Sale

 

As the holiday season approaches, consider adding the gift of books to your shopping list. There are many wonderful booklists available for parents looking to give their child the gift of reading and adventure. A book makes a great gift because they are meaningful, beautiful, portable, appealing, and inexpensive and it’s a gift that can be opened again and again. Books are the perfect gift for any age and a gift that doesn’t require batteries or sizing instruction!

If you would like to get started on your family reading adventure, or would just like to add to your family bookshelf, Audrey Press has some special deals on their catalog of books to get readers and gift-givers on their merry way. From November 28th to December 5th, give the gift of reading, adventure and education at extra-special (and extended) Black Friday prices! Go HERE for more details. Sale ends 12/5/16.

The post 4 Fun Chronicle Books for Kids with an Emphasis on SNOW appeared first on Jump Into A Book.