Lisa Cohn's Blog, page 2
August 21, 2023
Kidlit Review: “Bash & the Gang will Captivate Your Heart”
Cover of Bash and Lucy say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
The latest kidlit review of our book, Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!’ came from one of the winners of our LibraryThing giveaway, which ended July 25.
Here’s what the reader wrote on Amazon (and also in an email to us):
Heartwarming
This was a delightful book about a young student, Bash, with sensory issues who faces the school bully and a mystery of disappearing books with the help of his Grandma Vera, his sister Ally and his sensitive dog, Lucy. The book touches on many topics – history of Ukraine adoption of rescue dogs and bullying in schools to name a few. Bash and the whole gang will captivate your heart!
We really appreciate it when readers take the time to review our books! We also appreciate readers who email us with feedback. Of course, this review warmed our hearts!
Here are some other reviews from Amazon and Goodreads:
All Heart!
Another wonderful tale by the dynamic mother/son writing team, Lisa and Michael Cohn. This is a book for dog lovers and for those interested in Ukraine, the native land of one of the most lovable characters, Grandma Vera. One of my favorite scenes is where Grandma Vera works to get the town renamed to “Woof-Woof Nation.” She says “By naming the town Woof-Woof Nation, we change everything. We learn how to be good citizens. We teach people to act like a dog.” Pure gold! (Amazon)
I Want to Live in Woof-Woof Nation!
A loving tribute to our canine heroes that masterfully weaves fantasy and much needed empathy. Who wouldn’t want a sister like Ally, a grandmother like Vera, and a dog like Lucy? This book will appeal to kids and adults with sensory challenges and anyone who thinks we should listen and love like our four-legged friends.
A good book to read to elementary aged students. (Amazon)
A Heartwarming Children’s Chapter Book
A heartwarming children’s chapter book about a young boy named Bash who enlists the help of his family and friends to solve the mystery of the missing dog books from the library. With the aid of his golden retriever, Lucy, and his feisty Ukrainian grandmother, Vera, Bash and his sister Ally tackle the mystery while spreading a message of kindness and love for dogs. This book is perfect for young readers who love mystery stories and heartwarming tales about the power of friendship and family.
Right now, you can buy the book on Amazon for $6.86, which is nearly 50% off! Check it out here: Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” for $6.86
Don’t forget to watch our Bash and Lucy trailer, featuring puppy Hudson romping with 5-year-old Michael:
The post Kidlit Review: “Bash & the Gang will Captivate Your Heart” appeared first on Lisa and Michael Cohn.
July 9, 2023
Working on Our Next Kids’ Audiobook, with Voices of Children
Kids Record Children’s AudiobookWe just launched a crowdfund campaign to help us pay for our kids’ audiobook for Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
All our audiobooks feature the voices of children. Kids and parents tell us kids love to listen to the children’s voices.
It’s time-consuming and expensive to create the audiobooks (especially the audio editing), so we’re looking for help.
For the campaign, via Crowdfundr, we’re offering rewards that we hope will entice people to support us!
For a $2.50 donation, we’ll send digital versions of all four audiobooks (once the fourth is complete).
For a $15 donation, we’ll send the paperback version of Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” plus the four digital audiobooks.
Learn more about our campaign, which ends at the end of July: Help Us Improve Kids’ Reading Skills with Audiobooks Read by Kids!
You can listen to our first audiobook, with voice-overs by kids age 6-8: Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence audiobook.
It was Michael’s idea, at the age of 6, to create kids’ audiobooks with our voices and the voices of friends and family members. Even our dog, Hudson, has lent his deep bark to the audiobooks!
We give away our audiobooks to teachers and schools. If you’re a teacher or school librarian, email us at BashAndLucy@gmail.com.
Here are some reviews of our latest book, Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
Heartwarming Tales about the Power of Friendship and Family
A heartwarming children’s chapter book about a young boy named Bash who enlists the help of his family and friends to solve the mystery of the missing dog books from the library. With the aid of his golden retriever, Lucy, and his feisty Ukrainian grandmother, Vera, Bash and his sister Ally tackle the mystery while spreading a message of kindness and love for dogs. This book is perfect for young readers who love mystery stories and heartwarming tales about the power of friendship and family. (Godreads).
Engaging and EntertainingAn engaging and entertaining children’s book that teaches young readers valuable lessons about empathy, kindness, and the importance of community. The story of Bash, Lucy, and their family and friends is both heartwarming and inspiring, and the book’s message of spreading love for dogs is sure to resonate with young readers. The mystery at the heart of the story is engaging and will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Questions? Email us at BashAndLucy@gmail.com.
The post Working on Our Next Kids’ Audiobook, with Voices of Children appeared first on Lisa and Michael Cohn.
July 4, 2023
Library Thing Book Giveaway for Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
Cover of Bash and Lucy say, “Love, Love, Bark!”We just launched a Library Thing book giveaway for our latest children’s book, Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
You can enter the children’s book giveaway here: Library Thing Book Giveaway.
The giveaway runs until July 25.
We were very happy that 2,555 people entered our Goodreads giveaway, which ended May 25, when 25 winners were chosen.
Here are a few reviews of our book, which was released April 12:
A Heartwarming Children’s Chapter Book
A heartwarming children’s chapter book about a young boy named Bash who enlists the help of his family and friends to solve the mystery of the missing dog books from the library. With the aid of his golden retriever, Lucy, and his feisty Ukrainian grandmother, Vera, Bash and his sister Ally tackle the mystery while spreading a message of kindness and love for dogs. This book is perfect for young readers who love mystery stories and heartwarming tales about the power of friendship and family. (Goodreads)
Engaging and Entertaining
An engaging and entertaining children’s book that teaches young readers valuable lessons about empathy, kindness, and the importance of community. The story of Bash, Lucy, and their family and friends is both heartwarming and inspiring, and the book’s message of spreading love for dogs is sure to resonate with young readers. The mystery at the heart of the story is engaging and will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. (Goodreads) Good Book to Feature in the Children’s Area of LibrariesI won this in a Goodreads giveaway, but the review is my own opinion.*
I really liked this book. I feel like the story was executed well, and the words flowed smoothly. Both important for a children’s book. I wasn’t very fond of the illustrations, yet it’s okay sometimes. I think both kids and adults will enjoy this book. This would be a really good book to feature in the children’s area of libraries. I hope you enjoy it too. (Goodreads)
Again, enter the giveaway here: Library Thing Book Giveaway. And be sure to watch Michael dedicate our last book to immigrant Gramma Vera, who is the heroine of this book!The post Library Thing Book Giveaway for Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” appeared first on Lisa and Michael Cohn.
June 19, 2023
Raised More than $200 for the Ukrainian Foundation Selling Bash & Lucy Book
Ukrainian Foundation Fundraiser with VeraWe’re excited we raised more than $220 for the Ukrainian Foundation selling our latest Bash & Lucy book, Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
We ran the fundraiser in April and May, and appreciate all the readers who purchased our book and ebook during that time period.
Yesterday, I (Lisa) attended the Ukrainian fundraiser, “The World is With Ukraine,” during which musicians from all over the world performed to help raise money for the Ukrainian Foundation.
During the event’s intermission, Tatiana Terdal–daughter of Vera, pictured above–called me to the stage to present a check for $222.70.
Vera accompanied me to the stage, and I explained, while Vera spouted tears, why we raised the money for Ukraine. We wanted to support our heroine and her home country.
The heroine of Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” is Ukrainian Grandma Vera, and she is modeled after the real Vera, who is a smart, kind, opinionated and resilient do-gooder. We wanted her to be our heroine because she is a great role model for readers of all ages.
Lisa, Tatiana and Vera (from left) at the Ukrainian fundraiserIn real life, Vera grew up in Soviet-occupied Ukraine.
Vera and her family members were always hungry, she says. To help keep her children fed, Vera’s mother planted a special kind of edible grass, as well as sugar beets.
“They would give us a ticket for one loaf of bread for one week,” Vera recalled in a story I wrote for The Immigrant Story. “When I was very young, I went at night and stayed in the long line to get bread.” She wrapped herself in scarves and lay in the dirt to hold her place in line.
After graduating, Vera worked in a shoe store, married, divorced, and became a single working mom. At night, after putting her children to bed, she often knit and sewed clothing to make extra money. She did this in the bathroom because she didn’t want to wake her children.
When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Vera lost all her savings: $10,000. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Soviet banks didn’t give Ukrainians their money.
Now, Vera babysits and sells her home-cooked food to raise money for Ukraine. During the pandemic, she sewed masks for essential workers. She’s always looking for ways to help others.
Vera passed on her tendency to do good to her daughter, Tatiana, who is a leader in the Portland Ukrainian community. Ever since the war with Russia began, she has organized rallies on a bridge in Portland on Saturdays. She hasn’t missed one Saturday! You can learn more about Tatiana in another story I wrote for The Immigrant Story titled “Portland Ukrainians’ Plea: Do Something.”
We were very happy to support this amazing family and their efforts to raise money for Ukraine.
Don’t forget to watch Michael dedicate our last Bash & Lucy book to Vera:
The post Raised More than $200 for the Ukrainian Foundation Selling Bash & Lucy Book appeared first on Lisa and Michael Cohn.
June 2, 2023
Kidlit Review: Teaches Lessons about Empathy, Kindness & Community
Hudson with our new bookWe especially like this kidlit review on Goodreads of Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” because it summarizes what we were trying to achieve in our book.
“An engaging and entertaining children’s book that teaches young readers valuable lessons about empathy, kindness, and the importance of community. The story of Bash, Lucy, and their family and friends is both heartwarming and inspiring, and the book’s message of spreading love for dogs is sure to resonate with young readers. The mystery at the heart of the story is engaging and will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.”
Here’s another one (posted on Amazon) that we like, because, again, the reader grasped our message. We understand that not everyone will get what we are trying to say, so it’s nice when readers do!
I Want to Live in Woof-Woof Nation!
“A loving tribute to our canine heroes that masterfully weaves fantasy and much needed empathy. Who wouldn’t want a sister like Ally, a grandmother like Vera, and a dog like Lucy? This book will appeal to kids and adults with sensory challenges and anyone who thinks we should listen and love like our four-legged friends.
A good book to read to elementary aged students.”
Thanks to the readers who have purchased our book to support Ukraine. We’re donating 100% of the book’s and ebook’s price (from May and June sales) to the Ukrainian Foundation. Learn more about the fundraiser.
Right now, we’re getting ready to record the audiobook for Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” This will take at least a few months because this book is longer than the others we have written. With each book, we have created an audiobook that features our voices plus the voices of friends and family members. Even Hudson, our golden retriever (pictured above) lent his deep bark to our last audiobook.
Speaking of Hudson, don’t forget to watch the one-minute book trailer of puppy Hudson romping with 5-year-old Michael (almost ten years ago!):
The post Kidlit Review: Teaches Lessons about Empathy, Kindness & Community appeared first on Lisa and Michael Cohn.
May 26, 2023
Last Chance to Buy Our New Children’s Book & Support Ukraine!
Vera and Michael wearing Ukrainian shirtsEvery time you buy our new children’s book or ebook, Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” in May, we donate 100% of the proceeds to the Ukrainian Foundation. If you purchase the ebook, it costs $2.99, and we donate the full amount. If you buy the paperback for $12.99, we donate the full $12.99, which includes our cost of producing the book.
Please consider buying a book or ebook before the end of May! You can purchase on Amazon (at a discount, it’s now $11.69)): Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
Other purchase options are listed here: Buy Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
If you email us at BashAndLucy@gmail.com, we will send you a signed copy
Here are a few reviews:
I Want To Live in Woof-Woof Nation! (Amazon review)
A loving tribute to our canine heroes that masterfully weaves fantasy and much needed empathy. Who wouldn’t want a sister like Ally, a grandmother like Vera, and a dog like Lucy? This book will appeal to kids and adults with sensory challenges and anyone who thinks we should listen and love like our four-legged friends.
A good book to read to elementary aged students.
Love This Latest Installment of Bash and Lucy…All Heart! (Amazon review)
Another wonderful tale by the dynamic mother/son writing team, Lisa and Michael Cohn. This is a book for dog lovers and for those interested in Ukraine, the native land of one of the most lovable characters, Grandma Vera. One of my favorite scenes is where Grandma Vera works to get the town renamed to ‘Woof-Woof Nation.’ She says ‘By naming the town Woof-Woof Nation, we change everything. We learn how to be good citizens. We teach people to act like a dog.’ Pure gold!”
We’re doing a fundraiser for Ukraine to support our Ukrainian friends. As we’ve mentioned, Michael’s surrogate grandmother, Vera, is from Ukraine, and is the heroine of the book.
You can learn more about how we met Vera, her life growing up in Soviet-occupied Ukraine and how she became Michael’s surrogate grandmother by reading this blog post: Ukrainian Grandma Star.
Meanwhile, our Goodreads Giveaway is over, we’ve mailed the books, and will be doing another giveaway soon.
And if you’re a teacher, we’re happy to visit your classroom in person (in Oregon) or via Zoom or Skype to share our writing and publishing journey. We have visited 15 countries so far via Skype to talk to students about writing and hopefully to inspire them to write! We always send books to the classrooms before we visit.
And don’t forget to watch Michael (at age 9) dedicate our last book to Vera.
The post Last Chance to Buy Our New Children’s Book & Support Ukraine! appeared first on Lisa and Michael Cohn.
May 14, 2023
Winners Chosen for Our Bash and Lucy Goodreads Giveaway
Hudson with our new bookOur Bash and Lucy Say “Love, Love, Bark! Goodreads Giveaway has ended, but stay tuned for future giveaways.
We were excited that 2555 people entered the giveaway. Goodreads chose the 25 winners May 11.
We will send the books to the winners this week.
If you’re a winner reading this, email us at BashAndLucy@gmail.com if you’d like us to send a signed book.
If you’re a teacher interested in getting the book for your classroom, we’ll send one along for free. Email us at BashAndLucy@gmail.com. We’re especially interested in donating the books to classrooms with kids who can’t afford books.
If you want to support Ukraine, buy a book or ebook and we will donate 100% of the proceeds ($2.99 for ebook, $12.99 for paperback) to the Ukrainian Foundation. You can purchase on Amazon or Barnes and Noble or check out other options
at BashAndLucy.com.
Learn more about our fundraiser for Ukraine and Grandma Vera, a character in the book based on Michael’s surrogate grandmother: Ukrainian Grandma Star.
You can also read a story published in a local newspaper about Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” Mother-Teen Duo Team Up Again to Share Ukrainian Culture, Empathy in Newest Children’s Book.
And don’t forget to watch Michael at age 9 dedicate our last book to Grandma Vera:
The post Winners Chosen for Our Bash and Lucy Goodreads Giveaway appeared first on Lisa and Michael Cohn.
May 10, 2023
Grandma Teaches Sensory-Sensitive Child about His Superpowers in New Kids’ Book
Bash, sensory sensitive–with superpowers!Grandma Teaches Sensory-Sensitive Child About his Superpowers in New Kids’ Book
In the newly released book, Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love Bark!” sensory-sensitive Bash struggles with loud noises, strong smells and emotional sensitivity. He can smell what his friends ate for breakfast, and that often makes him feel nauseous.
But his Grandma Vera, an immigrant from Ukraine, trains him to make the most of his sensitivities in ways that make them superpowers. That makes Bash’s friends jealous. They want to have superpowers like Bash. This is especially true of James, who bullies Bash by scratching his skin or banging pans next to his ears.
At the beginning of the book, someone steals Bash’s favorite dog books, books that calm him when his world is too loud, too noisy or too busy.
Vera, Bash and Bash’s dog, Lucy, work to solve the mystery of the missing dog books and are joined by James. Along the way, Bash realizes that James, too, has sensory sensitivities. And James isn’t just a bully. He’s smart and thoughtful, and always asks great questions, Bash realizes.
Over the course of the book, Bash and James become friends. Bash is thrilled because he no longer feels so alone.
In an interview, Michael (who is 14) and I can discuss:
Why it’s important to include sensory-sensitive characters in children’s booksWhy the Bash and Lucy book series features a sensory-sensitive kidWhy it’s important for kids to have a Vera in their lives–someone who accepts them no matter what, and teaches them to make the most of their sensitivities.Watch Michael and Moira talk about their sensory issues in this video created when they were 9 years old:
Learn more about the book on Amazon.
A review on Amazon:
A loving tribute to our canine heroes that masterfully weaves fantasy and much needed empathy. Who wouldn’t want a sister like Ally, a grandmother like Vera, and a dog like Lucy? This book will appeal to kids and adults with sensory challenges and anyone who thinks we should listen and love like our four-legged friends.
A good book to read to elementary aged students.
For more information, contact Lisa Cohn at BashAndLucy@gmail.com
The post Grandma Teaches Sensory-Sensitive Child about His Superpowers in New Kids’ Book appeared first on Lisa and Michael Cohn.
May 5, 2023
Thanking Our Bash and Lucy Team
Teammate Hudson, a bark-over artist in our audiobooksWe want to thank our Bash and Lucy team–our illustrator, designer, editors, readers and voice-over artists.
Here’s how we thank the team in our new children’s book, Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
Acknowledgements
Thanks to illustrator Heather Nichols for bringing our books to life with creativity, playfulness, and a sense of humor. Designer Vinnie Kinsella, we appreciate your vision, expert advice, and design talent. Editors Laura Garwood and Catherine McCrorey, thanks for your attention to detail. Elisa Wood and Ally Merkel, we appreciate your ongoing support as readers and cheerleaders.
Thanks to all the friends and family members who have lent their voices to our audiobooks. (That includes Hudson, pictured above, who barks in our last audiobook).
Big thanks to Tatiana Terdal for sharing her amazing mother, Vera Moroz, with us. And Vera, we can’t thank you enough for enriching our lives with so much goodness, wisdom, spirit, and love.
–Lisa and Michael Cohn
Michael and big sis AllyOf course, we also want to thank our dogs!
Our dedications:
HudsonFor Hudson, our ball-chasing best friend, comedian and bark-over artist. We love you!
–Lisa and Michael
Illustrator Heather Nichols’ dog, SprigDedicated to my dog, Sprig, for the love and joy he brings to my life.
— Heather
We’d also like to thank the folks who wrote early reviews of our book.
You can read them here:
Reviews of Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
Meanwhile, you have until May 11 to enter our Goodreads Giveaway. Check it out: Book Giveaway for Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
Or, you can skip the giveaway and help us support Ukraine. One hundred percent of the proceeds of our book and ebook sales go to the Ukrainian Foundation in April and May.
That means if you buy a $2.99 ebook, $2.99 goes to the Ukrainian Foundation. Or for the paperback, we will donate the entire sale price –$12.99–(which includes our share of costs). Check it out on Amazon.
And don’t forget to watch our first book trailer, featuring 5-year-old Michael romping with puppy Hudson. Michael makes a special request at the end:
The post Thanking Our Bash and Lucy Team appeared first on Lisa and Michael Cohn.
April 23, 2023
New Reviews of Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
Cover of Bash and Lucy say, “Love, Love, Bark!”We’re excited about the latest reviews of Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love Bark!”
Here they are (posted on Goodreads):
The Power of Friendship and Family
A heartwarming children’s chapter book about a young boy named Bash who enlists the help of his family and friends to solve the mystery of the missing dog books from the library. With the aid of his golden retriever, Lucy, and his feisty Ukrainian grandmother, Vera, Bash and his sister Ally tackle the mystery while spreading a message of kindness and love for dogs. This book is perfect for young readers who love mystery stories and heartwarming tales about the power of friendship and family.
Teaches Readers Valuable Lessons
An engaging and entertaining children’s book that teaches young readers valuable lessons about empathy, kindness, and the importance of community. The story of Bash, Lucy, and their family and friends is both heartwarming and inspiring, and the book’s message of spreading love for dogs is sure to resonate with young readers. The mystery at the heart of the story is engaging and will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Will Make Some Students a Little More Understanding of their Differences
Bash and Lucy will make some students a little more understanding of their differences. Hopefully. I mean, that’s what you want. The book does a great job of this for smaller kids. I think it is a little too on the nose for upper grade students. Still, I love any book with a love of dogs. Pair that with a love of uniqueness, and I am sold.
And here are reviews from Amazon:
I Want to Live in Woof-Woof Nation!
A loving tribute to our canine heroes that masterfully weaves fantasy and much needed empathy. Who wouldn’t want a sister like Ally, a grandmother like Vera, and a dog like Lucy? This book will appeal to kids and adults with sensory challenges and anyone who thinks we should listen and love like our four-legged friends.
A good book to read to elementary aged students.
Love This Installment of Bash and Lucy…All Heart!
Another wonderful tale by the dynamic mother/son writing team, Lisa and Michael Cohn. This is a book for dog lovers and for those interested in Ukraine, the native land of one of the most lovable characters, Grandma Vera. One of my favorite scenes is where Grandma Vera works to get the town renamed to “Woof-Woof Nation.” She says “By naming the town Woof-Woof Nation, we change everything. We learn how to be good citizens. We teach people to act like a dog.” Pure gold!
Charming and Delightful Book!
ash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” is a heartwarming children’s book that is sure to delight both kids and adults alike. This is the fourth book in the series, and this time around, Vera takes center stage as the passionate assistant mayor who is determined to make the world a better place through her love for dogs.
The book not only teaches readers about the goodness of dogs but also sheds light on Ukrainian culture and history through Vera’s character. The Cohns’ dedication to Vera is evident in every page, as her spunky and resilient personality shines through in the story.
What’s even more commendable is that 100% of the proceeds from the book’s sales in April and May will be donated to the Ukrainian Foundation, making this book not only an enjoyable read but also a meaningful one.
Overall, Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!” is a charming and uplifting story that encourages readers to embrace the goodness of dogs and the value of kindness. I highly recommend this book to parents, teachers, and anyone who wants to share an important message with children.
Entertaining for Adults and Kids!
The Mystery of the Missing Dog Books” is fun and heartwarming. Bash’s favorite dog books keep disappearing from the library, so he and his sister Ally team up with their grandma and Bash’s trusty dog Lucy to catch the thief.
The book promotes being kind and loving dogs, and they even create Dog-tention to turn mean people into dog lovers. It’s a cute story that’ll make you feel good inside and remind you how great dogs are.
There’s still time to enter our Goodreads Giveaway: Book Giveaway for Bash and Lucy Say, “Love, Love, Bark!”
And don’t forget to watch co-author Michael Cohn dedicate our last book to Ukrainian Grandma Vera, who is the heroine of this book:
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