This Round-up features main characters that are African American. You will love these books! If you would like a sneak peek inside to view more pages, go to my Instagram and find the corresponding tile.
Snow Globe Wishes–By Erin Dealey and illustrated by Claire Shorrock What a delightful rhyming winter book! I love the line about “grabbing hands with neighbors, strangers, sisters, brothers.” My heart resonated with the final page spread–Peace on Earth!
The Little Mermaid–by Jerry Pinkney. Do you love different variations of familiar stories? In this version the little mermaid makes friends with another girl instead of falling in love. I found the artwork to be very mesmerizing…so much beauty to take in on every page.
Cannonball–by Sacha Cotter and illustrated by Josh Morgan. I love how this book can say so much with so few words. May we all overcome our fears and find our courage to “cannonball” like the sweet main character in this simple but profound story.
Early Sunday Morning— by Denene Miller and illustrated by Vanessa Brantly Newton. I loved this sweet story about overcoming the fear of singing in front of others. The vibrant illustrations make the pages come alive. Spoiler alert: I loved it when her dad did end up coming to hear her sing at the end of the book.
I Am Every Good Thing I loved the positive messages, strong metaphors, and stunning artwork in this picture book by Derrick D. Barnes and illustrated by Gordon James. These are a few of the phrases that resonated with me. “I am every good thing that makes the world go round–you know like gravity.” “I am one eye open, one eye closed, peeking through a telescope.” “I am a cool breeze.” “I am a roaring flame of creativity.” “I am two bounces and a front flip off the diving board.” I am that smile forming on your face right now.” I am a highlight reel of magnificence.” “I am tight hugs.” “I am a force of nature. A miracle. A blessing.” Powerful writing!! I highly recommend!
Superhero Grandma–by Timothy Knapman and illustrated by Joe Berger This picture book has charming and playful images will make you smile and want to celebrate your own grandma. I loved the illustrations and how they showed this grandma really involved in her grandchildren’s lives. She was playful and fun, just the way I want to be as a grandma some day!
I’ve been posting a lot of new content on Instagram–you can find me @mindybakerbooks, but I wanted to have a way to share it on the blog, too!
Here is my second ROUND-UP!
Remember, for a sneak peek inside all of these books…check out the individual posts on my Instagram page @mindybakerbooks. I usually share a few photo spreads from the books I review.
Here are 6 more books that I have reviewed in the past few months! Enjoy!
How to Build an Orchestra –Want to pass on your love of music to your children? This is a book you should try! Written by Mary Auld and illustrated by Elisa Paganeli, each page spread is full of fascinating details and treasures to discover. It comes wth a QR code to unlock so that your child can listen to the sounds of the London Symphony Orchestra.
Rare and Blue–Finding Nature’s Treasures Blue just happens to be one of my FAVORITE colors…so it was really fun to find this uniquely structured “spring” picture book highlighting different hues of blue. Written by Constance VanHoven and illustrated by Alan Marks, each page spread gives facts that highlight a specific creature in nature. Turquoise, cerulean, iridescent…what’s your favorite shade?
A Gift From Abuela–Abuela is saving her pesos to buy Nina a gift, but circumstances make that impossible. Written by author/illustrator Cecilia Ruiz, this is a book that reminds us that time together is the most precious gift of all.
Can I Be Your Dog by Troy Cummings is a picture book treasure. The text is all in letters from a puppy who writes to different people in the neighborhood trying to find his owner “match.” One by one they all reject him until at last the mail carrier adopts him.
C.R. Mudgeon –Every once in a while you find a sweet story that you just LOVE 100%. For me, this picture book by Leslie Muir, illustrated by Julian Hector, is just that. I loved this sweet-and-stuck-in-his-ways hedgehog from the first time I read his name and saw his cuteness on the front cover. The clever details of characterization make this book stand out above the others. The story is how a neighbor named Paprika moves next door and challenges C.R. to “spice” up his life. It is a wonderful friendship story with lots of embedded lessons. One important one is that even when someone is different than us, we should give him/her a chance.
Silent Music–by James Rumford. I think kids will connect with Ali, the main character of this book. He loves soccer, music, and the art of writing calligraphy. He compares writing the Arabic words to a soccer player running down the field. His hero is Yakut, a famous calligrapher from Baghdad, who wrote in ancient times of war. Ali writes calligraphy in modern times and longs for peace. Like Ali, I also long for peace. I loved the culture-filled images in this beautiful picture book featuring the Arabic language and the city of Baghdad.
Which of these books have your read? Which of these books would you like to read?
In case you didn’t know…summer is a great time to read!
***If you haven’t heard, I’ve teamed up with some author friends (Laura Sassi, Tina Cho, and Rebecca Gomez) to create a new website! We are hosting summer reading challenges and you are officially invited to join us! The website is called www.readdiscussdo.com. Stop on by and see the latest news! (So far eating ice cream and playing in dirt have been involved!…Aren’t you glad I didn’t say playing in ice-cream and eating dirt??? Ha ha!)
Hey everyone! I am thrilled to welcome best-selling author Laura Sassi to my blog today. She has so much creativity and talent…I just love all of her publications. Today I am featuring her newest realease, Little Ewe.And, thanks to Beaming Books, I am giving away a copy of Little Ewe (details at the bottom of this post).
I have to tell you Laura, in case you didn’t know, I am a huge fan of your writing, and I also consider it an honor to call you a friend! Thank you very much for joining me. I know everyone is excited to hear your answers to my questions!
Thank you so much for having me, Mindy. It is wonderful to be here.
First of all,where did the idea for Little Ewe originate? What inspired you to write Little Ewe?
The little lamb, who I have named Little Ewe in my story, is inspired by one of my favorite of Jesus’ parables. Known as the parable of the lost sheep, or the parable of the ninety-nine, Jesus’s story is about a shepherd who realizes one sheep is missing, so he leaves the flock to find that one and bring it safely home.
As a child I loved this beautiful reminder that, like the shepherd in the parable, Jesus came to find the lost and, oh my, how wonderful it feels to be found. My hope is that, like Little Ewe in my story, readers of all ages will sense the comfort and joy of knowing that our Shepherd, too, wants to find us and care for us when we are lost.
That is such a wonderful Bible story. I am so glad that the Savior cares for us and searches for us when we are lost. Let’s talk writing for a moment. I am curious about your writing process. How do you shape a manuscript into its final form?
I let ideas percolate for a long time before writing by making lists, playing with possible plot twists, settings, points-of view etc For Little Ewe I also wanted to honor the original setting of the parable – the hills where Jesus walked – so my percolating stage included investigating to make sure the wonders my protagonist discovers along the way would have indeed been native to that time and place. My list included sparrows, figs, frogs, spiders and more!
Because of all this time spent pre-writing, once I was ready to write, I wrote the entire (early version) in one sitting. But, the story, at that point was far from publishable. For starters, the earliest versions were far too long, involving not just a numeric climb, but also a countdown, which caused issues with pacing. Resolving these issues and making sure the story was the best it could be took time, lots of it.
So, in addition to ample percolating, I would say the use of a time filter is a key part of my writing process. Once I have a draft I’m happy with, I set it aside for several days, or weeks, before taking a re-look. This way, I approach each revision with fresh eyes. I repeat this process again and again until every word and moment pushes the story forward in a fun, meaningful way. I also ask for feedback along the way from my critique buddies. This has been the process for each and every story. It works!
I love the word percolating. And that is very good advice. I know it is easy to rush things instead of making sure that the story is as top-notch as it can be. I am also curious, what is your favorite illustration from the book and why?
It’s hard to pick a favorite spread because I think they all work together so well to enhance the story’s mood. However, at school visits, I’ve noticed that littlest readers, who feel sad when Little Ewe gets lost, especially love that next-to-last spread where Shepherd finds her. You can almost feel preschoolers’ relief at the sight of Little Ewe so snug in Shepherd’s hug. I also love the tender way Tommy depicts that moment, which is glowingly enhanced by his choice of sunset hues to capture the warmth of their reunion.
Laura’s favorite illustration
That is a beautiful illustration. I can really feel the love of the shepherd for his sheep. Laura, you have been doing this for awhile and have published many titles. What is your favorite thing about being a picture book author?
Good question. My favorite part of being a picture book author is the opportunity it gives me to connect with others through the sharing of story. This answer, of course, is maybe cheating a little bit, because this sharing of story involves many stages. First is the stage of joyful observation, where I get to look at the world through my writer’s glasses, writing down little sparks of inspiration that might lead to a story.
The next stage, at least for this picture book writer, is playing with those ideas in my notebook. Then comes the stage of writing and polishing and sending the stories off to my agent who sends them to publishers. Then, if I’m blessed to have a story published, I get to enjoy the final stage of sharing that story with the world – through events etc. So, I guess I should really say that I love everything about being a picture book author! It’s my joy and my jam!
I love these pictures of you sharing your stories with the world. Your events look so interesting! If you are interested in doing an event with Laura, you can contact her via her website. Finally, one more question, do you have any future news you would like to share with us?
Yes! I have a new book coming out with Zonderkidz just in time for Easter 2022. It’s called BUNNY FINDS EASTER and it’s a board book, perfect for Easter baskets. Stay tuned for the cover reveal…coming soon to a blog near you!
Ooh! Congratulations! That is wonderful news! I can hardly wait to see the cover and hear more about it. Laura, thank you so much for taking the time to join me and answer my questions today! I am sure all of my readers will really enjoy this interview!Best wishes!
About the author:
Laura Sassi has a passion for telling stories in prose and rhyme. She is the author of five picture books including the best-selling GOODNIGHT, ARK (Zonderkidz, 2014), which was a 2015 Christian Book Award Finalist; GOODNIGHT, MANGER (Zonderkidz, 2015); DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE (Sterling Children’s Books, 2018), which won First Honor Book for the 2019 Best in Rhyme Award; LOVE IS KIND (Zonderkidz, 2018), which was a 2020 Anna Dewdney Read Together Award Honor Book; and LITTLE EWE: THE STORY OF ONE LOST SHEEP (Beaming Books, 2021). In addition to books, she’s published over one hundred poems, stories, crafts, and articles in various children’s publications. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and a black Cockapoo named Sophie.
And now, drumroll please, details about the GIVE-AWAY!
Beaming Books has graciously provided one copy of Little Ewe to be awarded to someone who lives in the continental United States.
There are several ways to enter:
For 10 entries, follow this blog! (If you do, you will receive a free mini-magazine called “Make the Time!” It has loads of “togetherness” ideas for parents and caregivers of little ones.
For one entry, comment on this blog post!
For one entry, comment on any Instagram post this week that pertains to this contest.
After entering using one of the three methods above, an entry will be given if you follow both @mindybakerbooks and @Laurasassitales on Instagram. If you already follow both accounts, you will still receive the additional entry.
Tag a friend or friends on any Instagram post this week that pertains to this contest. One entry per friend tagged.
NOTE: No entries will be accepted after 6pm EST on Friday, May 21, 2021.
Winner announced on Saturday morning 5/22/21 on both this blog and my Instagram account! Happy entering!
Mouse wanted me to do a quick post reminding everyone that kindness isn’t seasonal! Can you think of a way that you can make a difference/spread kindness to someone else today?
Here are a few ideas:
Bake cookies (Make them in Christmas shapes for fun) and give them to a friend or neighbor…it’s okay to eat some yourself 🙂
Make a card to send to a grandparent or a friend that lives far-away.
Facetime a someone who you think could use some Christmas in July cheer.
Pay for the ice cream of the person behind you in the drive thru line.
Offer a cup of lemonade to someone who is mowing his lawn on a hot day.
Wrap a surprise in Christmas paper and deliver it to someone’s doorstep.
I bet you can think of many, many more ideas! What are your ideas? I would love to hear about what you did! Leave me a comment or send a message through this blog!
After you do your act of kindness, celebrate with a cup of hot cocoa and read about a little mouse who made a BIG difference in his Christmas village.
If you take a picture and don’t mind me posting it on social media, send that too. I would love to share your experience with my readers. It can be such an encouragement to SEE kindness in action!
I’m so excited to introduce my special guest to you today. It is Bonnie Clark, debut picture book author of TASTE YOUR WORDS which is being released on April 7 by WorthyKids. It is illustrated by Todd Bright.
Cover Photo
Thanks for joining me, Bonnie! First off, I LOVE the title and idea for your book. It seems so relevant for not only children, but all of us as we think about our speech. I have to ask you, where did the idea for this book originate?
The idea for TASTE YOUR WORDS originated with myself and my children when they were younger and learning to communicate with each other. (LOTS of sibling squabbles!) Inspired by Proverbs 16:24, I would tell them to taste their words before they let them out of their mouth. The idea that we could taste our words was fun and I was surprised at how quickly they understood the concept.
That really does make the concept more understandable. I love it! I am also wondering what sparks your creativity as you contemplate new ideas for your picture books?
I think all writers are noticers first, and I get inspired almost everywhere I look. But most of my inspiration comes from my personal experience and interaction with my children. If I discover something that is helpful or interesting, the writer/mother in me wants to communicate it well (simply and entertaining) through a picture book.
We really do write from our own experience, don’t we? I am also curious about your writing process. How do you shape a new book into completion?
After I’m inspired, I write my thoughts in an outline or first draft that I hope no one ever reads! I meet monthly with my kidlit Critique Group and at this point I may run the idea by them to get their opinion on the project. After I get the idea out, I begin creating the story. I usually know how I want to end it- the problem I want the main character to solve, but the challenge is creating the arc and timing of events. Again, I will get feedback from my group about what is working and what is not and eventually the story starts to emerge. I personally like to paginate my manuscripts because page turns are important in picture books and help with the pacing. When I start to feel good about a manuscript, I will then start trimming. Word Count is another important piece of picture book writing and I like to keep mine around 500 or less. When I feel like its getting closer I’ll read it to my kids (my OTHER critics!) and then I’ll send it to my agent Adria Goetz for her review (with my fingers crossed). 🙂
Very interesting!It is definitely a process, isn’t it?I have also found a critique group to be very helpful. Ilove the cover for the book.Do you have a favorite illustration in the book? What is it and why is it your favorite?
Oh wow. That’s a really hard question and you will understand when you see these AMAZING illustrations by my step-brother Todd Bright. He is an incredibly talented and accomplished animator and he has indeed made this story come to life on the pages. BUT if I had to choose, I think my favorite spread is the “ah-ha” moment in Amera’s bedroom after she has struggled through her day and finally discovered how to turn it around. It is an incredibly sweet scene and the light pouring in the window is just gorgeous. I love her expression and the way she is sitting on the bed. And the picture on the wall behind her has a special meaning for me personally. You’ll have to wait until April 7th to see it!
I am really looking forward to “seeing” what you are describing!Now that you have a book published, do you have any inspiration or words of advice to share for other debut authors?
My biggest piece of advice for any aspiring author is to join SCBWI and get involved in a critique group that will give honest and kind feedback. For me, my group of Kidlit authors and illustrators have been an invaluable piece of my journey to publication. I couldn’t imagine making my way in this industry without their constructive criticism and timely advice. I joined the group to learn and as a bonus I’ve made some pretty incredible (and talented!) friends.
Doyou have any other exciting news that you can share with us about upcoming books?
2020 will be a BIG year for me… TASTE YOR WORDS will launch on April 7th and my second picture book CATCHING THOUGHTS will launch August 11th. While TASTE YOUR WORDS is a book about speaking kind words, CATCHING THOUGHTS addresses mental health- a topic that I am passionate about and hope that kids who are struggling will find helpful.
Both are such important topics and issues. Sounds wonderful!I wish you all the best, Bonnie! Thank you again for answering my questions!
Thank you for having me Mindy! I hope your 2020 is full of yummy words and beautiful thoughts.
Bonnie Clark loves books that make her laugh, cry, or think for a long time. She enjoys writing for children because she believes that childhood is the most important time in a person’s life–the time that shapes who we become as adults. When she isn’t writing, Bonnie does yoga, reads books, raises three adorable kids, and drinks lots of coffee. Bonnie lives in Canton, Georgia, with her husband, their children, and two French bulldogs.
You can find out more about Bonnie Clark at her website.
Follow Bonnie on Intstagram, Facebook, and Twitter! See links from her website.
