Just look at the joy on these precious faces! They make me smile.
I’m THRILLED to present the cover of my new picture book BE KIND, MAKE FRIENDS! Published by Woman’s Missionary Union, BE KIND, MAKE FRIENDS will be available next month. Coming soon in JUNE!
Sending much thanks and love to the fabulous team at National WMU! You rock!
This is my mama Bonnie holding me when I was 5 weeks old. My mama and me, we go way back.
If you share about moms and how hard they work, my mama did all that. Six of us to care for on a regular basis (plus the extras who showed up), in addition to an always odd and crowded collection of pets, animals, and plants. Canning, sewing, crocheting, cleaning, cooking, shopping; repeat. But also loving, guiding, correcting, teaching, caring (and dare I say, on occasion, threatening us with “you better behave or else,” we were afraid of the “or else”).
Sending Mother’s Day wishes, hugs, and love to everyone who has a mother. (I hope you all raised your hands.) And to all the moms who have children, have lost children, who have children going through tough times, who have furry children, who have grandchildren-all the loves to you!
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” -Philippians 1:3 NIV
My mama and me.
Kevin and his mama Carole. My mom too!
Now here’s a fun idea I discovered on a recent walk through a beautiful neighborhood in Seattle. Just perfect for National Poetry Month!
We’ve all seen the Little Free Libraries. My dream is to have one, but it hasn’t worked out yet. And the Free Sticks collections for dogs.
How about a treasure swap? I walked past this cutie on different days.
Adorable.
So, not only poems, books, treasures, and sticks, but what else would littles and their people enjoy swapping?
Rocks, plants, art (OH, I’ve seen pictures of that, but not in person) . . . what would you like to trade?
Fussy Flamingo
Words by Shelly Vaughan James
Pictures by Matthew Rivera
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2020
Fussy Flamingo is a tasty, delightfully pink picture book just right for little flamingos. Thank you, Shelly Vaughan James for sending me a copy of your lovely book! It is so sweet!
I love Lola! Lola is a shrimp eating flamingo. Except she does not eat shrimp. So she is not pink. Lola eats other things and looks beautiful. But she is picky (quite like several young ones I know). Shrimp are not her thing, much to the dismay of her beautifully pink parents.
Fussy flamingo Lola is adorable and funny and perfectly like a picky eater. This picture book is a FUN read!
Why I like Fussy Flamingo:
~Adorable Lola
~Lola tries several ‘other’ foods, which make her turn different colors. But not pink.
~The simply shared facts about flamingos (eat shrimp and turn pink, wade in water, etc.)
~The humor
~The repeating refrain after each of Lola’s (not shrimp) meals
~The satisfying ending (which I will not spoil)
~The gorgeous illustrations
~The fantastic flamingo back matter
Thank you, Shelly and Matthew, for creating Fussy Flamingo.
Today I’d like to welcome Janet Lawler, author of the new picture book THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE (FSG, 2024). With Janet’s beautiful words and Tamisha Anthony’s adorable illustrations, this picture book is delightful!
Congratulations, Janet and Tamisha. Welcome!
Janet, tell us about your brand-new picture book.
Thank you for asking, Angie!
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE is a kid-friendly exploration of how hope makes us courageous, kind, and connected to one another. Tamisha Anthony’s diverse characters, shown caring and sharing in childhood/community scenes, beautifully complement my text.
My words are intentionally universal; I wanted to leave a lot of leeway for an illustrator to interpret them and add depth to this picture book. And I love what Tamisha did with my poem! For each couplet she developed a story vignette that helps children understand the concept of hope. For example, I wrote:
Hope helps you fix things
when plans have gone wrong
and offers you comfort
when nights are too long.
The illustration shows a child in pajamas, tossing and turning in multiple poses. The reader then sees that child snuggled with an older sibling under a blanket tent, reading a book.
I believe that THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE will provide comfort and hope for young readers and their families during difficult times. The book also will be a good addition to classroom, school library, and school counselor collections focusing on community and kindness.
I totally agree, Janet. We all need more hope, community, and kindness in our lives.
Where did you get the idea for THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE?
The recent pandemic severely challenged my usually optimistic outlook, both professionally and personally. My darkest days were those in early 2021, when it seemed as if there would never be a vaccine approved to change the course of Covid’s deadly advance. But sometime in January of that year I began writing about hope, sparked by a suggestion from my agent. That creative effort (and spring news of a vaccine!) sustained me over the next few months. I wrote, revised, and polished a picture book text that could be illustrated in a way that would make the positive pull of hope relatable for young readers.
From a place and time that seemed without hope, you discovered hope—and a brand-new picture book to inspire others. Excellent.
How did you decide to write this picture book in rhyme?
Honestly, I am not sure it was a conscious decision. I often write in rhyme, and my early scribbles came out that way. Maybe subconsciously I knew it was the right choice for writing about hope—a fluid, connecting, healing concept. And rhyming text, especially when read out loud, sounds musical in a very uplifting way, don’t you think? So verse seems to further my theme; at least, I hope so!
Give hope as a gift,
like the song of a bird.
Your words will have wings.
Your voice will be heard.
I think rhyme is the perfect choice for this picture book!
How are you celebrating the release of THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE?
I am very excited to be launching this book with an appearance at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, CT on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. CCMC has recently created an in-house TV studio, where guests can “visit” into the patients’ rooms via closed circuit broadcast, allowing for more entertainment for children in need of isolation for health reasons. I will read the book during an afternoon virtual story time and donate autographed copies of THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE for each child hospitalized there on Valentine’s Day.
What a perfect way to celebrate hope! And Valentine’s Day!
What’s next for you, Janet?
I have a couple of early nonfiction projects and a fiction picture book under consideration for possible acquisition. Those will require further development and revision if they move forward. In the meantime, I have new ideas percolating, as well as plans to revise a couple of stories I wrote a while back that might benefit from a fresh look.
We can’t wait to hear more in the future. Best wishes to you with all of your books, new and old! Thank you for stopping by!
Connect with Janet:
Something Wild
by Molly Ruttan
Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023
I have something in common with this lovely picture book by Molly Ruttan. Stage fright!
Thank you, Molly Ruttan, for sending me a copy of your delightful picture book. And thank you, Kathy Temean, for introducing me to Molly and her work. What a great picture book!
Something Wild is the story of a young violin player who loves playing her violin. But she is nervous about her upcoming recital. She desperately wishes for something wild to happen so she won’t have to go. But it doesn’t. She hopes again, but nope, nothing wild. Again. Nothing. When it’s finally her turn to play on the big stage, something does happen! But you’ll have to read the book to find out. Beautiful!
What I Love About This Book:
~ beautiful, emotion-filled illustrations
~ imagination
~ the theme of stage fright
~ the love of playing a musical instrument
~ the common challenge many young performers face when they prepare to share what they’ve learned at a recital
~ overall wonderful book
Thank you, Molly! Best wishes on your future projects!
My Tender Heart Prayer Book
Written by Laura Sassi
Illustrated by Sandra Eide
Paraclete Press, 2023
Thanks to Susanna Hill and her blog, Picture Book Builders, I was introduced to Laura Sassi’s new book, My Tender Heart Prayer Book. Thank you, Susanna and Laura, for sending me a copy of this beautiful book!
My Tender Heart Prayer Book is a beautifully illustrated board book. Which means it is sturdy enough to last through repeated readings, accidental food and drink spills, trips in the car, and the myriad of other life experiences of a book living with a child.
This book is filled with easy to read one page prayer prompts. The prayers are all related to things that naturally occur throughout the day of a young child. A title on each page lets the adult reader know the theme of the prayer. Next, the Bible verse(s) is listed. This is followed by a short rhyming prayer, perfect for young children. To finish each page, Laura has included a Heart Moment. This idea is a way for the reader to personally connect with the prayer theme. Some of the Heart Moments include encouraging a child to think of his or her favorite breakfast food and thank Jesus for each one, asking how a child can show love to their family that day, and naming ways God loves them.
My Tender Heart Prayer Book is just right.
Congratulations, Laura and Sandra!
Afikotective
Written and illustrated by Amalia Hoffman
Kar-Ben Publishing, January 2024
It’s time for new book news! Author Illustrator Amalia Hoffman kicked off 2024 with a new picture book! Amalia is joining us today to talk about her newest project. Welcome, Amalia!
Tell us about your brand-new picture book, Afikotective. What is it about?
A family of bears is getting ready for the Passover seder, preparing all the items for the seder plate. When the time comes in the seder for hiding the afikomen, Grandma breaks the middle matzah into two pieces. She hides the bigger piece, the afikomen, that the kids will eagerly search for later in the seder. It’s a good thing one little bear has turned his toy elephant into an Afiko-Sniffer! The invention sniffs out apples in a bowl, eggs in the fridge, and horseradish in the pantry, but can it help find the afikomen?
Amalia, this story sounds super adorable! I love learning about Passover in such a fun way.
Where did you get the idea for Afikotective?
When I grew up in Jerusalem, we used to attend the seder over at a family’s relative. The hosts used to hide the afikomen (the piece of matzah that is hidden during the Passover seder) in the most obscure places. One year, they hid it in a cactus planter that stood on the balcony. Another year, it was hidden wrapped in a towel by the bathtub. It was really challenging to find. But I was determined because finding the afikomen was rewarded with a small amount of money. At one seder, I stood up and announced: “I’m the afikomen detective!” I guess that this is what gave me the idea for the story.
So this picture book springs right from your own childhood! That’s pretty cool.
How did you decide to write and illustrate this book?
I wanted to create a book about Passover but to write a story that is fun and funny and will resonate with little kids’ sense of humor. So I came up with the idea that Afikotective and his “helper,” the Afiko Sniffer, look for the afikomen in all the wrong places, until Afikotective decides to fix his afiko-sniffer and finds the afikomen in the toolbox, that could be something that will put a smile on the face of a 3–7-year-old. I was always in love with anything pop-up, like pop-up books and cards. But producing a pop-up book is very expensive so I decided to illustrate the book by cutting elements so they look like they pop up off the page. I started by cutting elements out of paper and positioning them on boards. Later, I added color to my figuring and the background. I started using lighting to see how the shadow will play a role in the final photograph. Then, I incorporated other elements such as string, yarn, etc. For the cover, I painted a faux matzah.
Your illustrating style is unique, intricate, and captivating! I imagine it takes quite a long time to get all the illustrations just right. Well done!
How have you been celebrating the January 2024 release of Afikotective?
I decided to plan book launch not in January but closer to Passover. But on the day of January 2nd, when the book launched, I held it close to my heart and sniffed it. I love the smell of a freshly printed book. I also sniffed the flowers I got from my family.
Awwww, you are absolutely right! That new book smell is so enticing! Congratulations on your new book!
What’s next for you, Amalia?
I am working on a picture book about peace. I have a board book about the Jewish holiday of Shavuot launching in May. I am working on a picture book about peace and another picture book. I am also experimenting in different illustration style, using paper tissue collage.
Wow, you are busy! We look forward to hearing more about your upcoming book projects!
Thank you, Amalia, for visiting and sharing your new book with us.
You can see Amalia and her puppet helper Elfie in this sample of the presentation she does for Afikotective. Very cute!
See below for more information about Amalia and her new book. Afikotective is available now (the press release says Spring).
Spreckle’s Snack Surprise
Written and illustrated by Sandra Salsbury
Peachtree Publishing, 2023
Oh, sweet delight! Adorableness and humor! Spreckle’s Snack Surprise by Sandra Salsbury is a funny, engaging picture book. I love it!
Thank you, Sandra, for sending a copy of Spreckle’s to me, along with a sheet of cute stickers and a beautiful postcard! I learned about Sandra and her new book from Jena Benton on her blog. Thank you, Jena, for featuring Sandra!
Spreckle’s Snack Surprise is delightful. The front cover alone had me giggling and predicting that perhaps Spreckle would love to have some nice poppy little chicks for snack. But that would be horrible, right? The front and back cover read like a food container, filled with grocery-style information and ad copy. FUNNY and very clever!
But besides that, the story of Spreckle is adorable. Hatched on a farm, raised with chicky siblings, Spreckle needs a snack. Much to the reader’s dismay, obvious snacks peck around at his feet. But hold on, all will be well. We hope!
Why I Love This Book:
~humor
~clever wordplay
~assumptions
~food!
~dragon, chicks, chickens
~perfect illustrations
Thanks again, Sandra and Jena, for introducing me to Spreckle!
Ah, the good old family tradition of going tree hunting. That’s what we like to call it here in the northwest. After purchasing forest permits, we loaded up and drove to the nearby mountains to hunt down our tree. We found this fun creation. Not sure about the purpose, but it was great for photos. And possibly, with additional brush and a campfire, it might be quite cozy!
Poor people. They just have to put up with my attempts at taking pictures! As the almost shortest member with arms just as short, selfies are often quite comical.
Dogs (3, but never in the same picture), adults, and grands had a great time. A heavy blanket of snow added Christmas cheer and plenty of opportunities for the dogs to race, roll, and rumble. Snow gear was welcome in the often up-to-my-knees snow.
The Bachmeiers and Aucutts, plus Bear and new canine member Timber, crowd into the tree shelter. I mean, look at that! The dogs are facing forward and almost everyone is looking AT the camera. It’s a Christmas miracle.
The Quantrells also get a gold star (even grinning Ginger) for faces forward, eyes on the camera. Two Christmas miracles in one day!
The senior Quantrells took their turn in the tree shelter with all the grands. All eyes on the camera! Whoohoo! In the category of who is taller than Nana, the answer is nearly 50%.
My partner in life, love, and crime. We wish you all “Happy Christmas!”
Love, Laughter, and Life 