Picture Book Idea Month

I am so excited to participate in the 7th annual Picture Book Idea Month this November.  Thank you, Tara Lazar, for this incredible opportunity. 

Per Ms. Lazar's website...

The challenge is to create 30 picture book concepts in 30 days. You don’t have to write a manuscript (but you can if the mood strikes). You don’t need potential best-seller ideas.

You might think of a clever title. Or a name for a character. Or just a silly thing like “purple polka-dot pony.” The object is to heighten your picture-book-idea-generating senses. Ideas may build upon other ideas and your list of potential stories will grow stronger as the days pass.

Daily blog posts by picture book authors, illustrators, editors and other kidlit professionals will help inspire you. By the end of the month, you’ll have a fat file of ideas to spark new stories.

You can find more info at www.taralazar.com. 

Reserve Your Copy Now

Dee and Deb Off They Go: Kindergarten First Day Jitters Review

by Donna M. McDine

 

Title: Dee and Deb Off They Go: Kindergarten First Day Jitters

Category: Children’s Picture Book

Author: Donna M. McDine

Illustrator: Jack Foster

Print ISBN: 9781616336998

eBook ISBN: 9781616337001

Published: Guardian Angel Publishing, December 2015

 

Dee and Deb Off They Go is an endearing story to which all children can relate, whether or not they are a twin, as they take the big step to full time student. Twin sisters, Dee and Deb, are about to be separated for the first time ever on their first day of Kindergarten. Ms. McDine’s voice paints a realistic picture of first day jitters and creates characters and a school experience which is easily relatable for kids. She does an excellent job of hitting the high points of what matters most to children this age—a friend to play and interact with in school and what happens entering a classroom not knowing anyone, and in this case without your best twin sister-friend, and having to choose a buddy from a sea of unfamiliar faces. Ms. McDine’s story reassures and helps kids be less concerned about what they will face as they begin their school journey. Dee and Deb is a delightful read that will leave children more excited than nervous for their first big day of Kindergarten.  

 

Mr. Foster’s colorful and detailed illustrations almost leap off the page and really bring the story to life, drawing the reader fully into Dee and Deb’s adventure. The reader feels Dee and Deb’s anxiety and excitement with each flip of the page. 

 

Well done, Donna McDine and Jack Foster. A must read for all children preparing for the beginning of their school career.

 

Pre-orders are available at www.donnamcdine.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Struggling to Create

I have been frustrated lately with life's ongoing balance.  All good things, but yet things, that "get in the way" of my TTD list and cause me to move things from one day to the next when I don't accomplish what I set out to on a given day. 

I struggle because work is busy, life is busy, as it is for all of us; I'm not out of the ordinary.  I have a senior in high school which brings with it many new things...things that need to be accomplished, applications to be completed, college visits to schedule and complete, etc.  Most importantly, the realization that my first born is about to fly the coop, and I am NO WHERE NEAR READY!! 

So, I have been working hard to appreciate the time I have now with my daughter as we negotiate this new world of making future plans--all the while trying to ignore what it all means long term--as well as managing the day to day life a family with three busy kids brings.

Sometimes I want to crawl under the covers, ignore the world until my house is quiet and empty and then have the day to myself to tackle what needs to be done and maybe, just maybe, have some time to write as well; but, ultimately, I haven't yet done that much as I'd like to do so.

I was just in the store the other day shopping for the necessary items on my kids' lists and saw this sign.  It really hit home...I spend a lot of time dreaming of what I want and hope to accomplish but while I may inspire to do so, I've not actually done much recently.  I spend a lot of time imagining what I want to create but haven't actually sat, butt in chair, and spent time creating something new.  I do, or really want to, believe I can and will write, but, in order to really achieve that goal, there is always something in my way I feel the need to accomplish first. 

I'm on a mission to just flat out spend time to INSPIRE, CREATE and ACHIEVE and not just DREAM, IMAGINE and BELIEVE.  

I'm so very open to advice should you be willing and interested in sharing.  This is an ongoing dilemma for many of us, I know.  I am also working hard to stop expecting time to just fall in my lap.  I need to make the time, fight for the time and use it wisely.  Goal for November! 

Good luck to all of you NaNoWriMo people.  I wish you well and hope to do so next November.  This year, I will just focus on writing a little bit each day.

Little Bug Review

I am so excited to share Beverly Stowe McClure's wonderful review of Little Bug.  Thank you so much, Beverly, for taking the time to review my book and for your kind words!

Without further ado...

LITTLE BUG REVIEW

For Fun Friday today I have a fun story to tell you about. Take a look at Author Karin Larson's new picture book. Eugene Ruble is the talented illustrator. Just wait until you meet Little Bug.

 

Isn't he cute?

 

LITTLE BUG Review

By Karin Larson

Illustrations by Eugene Ruble

 

Little ones, whether they’re children or animals, need friends. They need food and water. They need lots of things life has to offer; they especially need a home where they feel safe.

 

In LITTLE BUG, Author Karin Larson’s new picture book, Little Bug goes in search of a friend to play with. When he doesn’t find anyone, he decides he’s hungry and goes hunting for food. Again, he’s not successful and thinks, well, he’s thirsty, maybe he’ll search for a drink of water. Nope, no luck there, either. He is having a bad, bad day. What’s a little bug to do?

 

Karin Larson has written a sweet story about accepting things we can’t change and making the best of a situation. Little Bug doesn’t get angry and have a tantrum when he can’t find what he’s looking for. Instead, he keeps on trying. Will he ever find what he’s seeking? Or will he be content with what he does find? Only Little Bug, and you, the reader of the story know.

 

Eugene Ruble’s winsome illustrations show Little Bug’s different emotions with each situation just perfectly. You gotta love a little bug with big eyes and a heart full of hope that he’ll find what he’s looking for. Does he? I’m not telling, but Little Bug will.

 

I recommend LITTLE BUG for school libraries, public libraries, and of course your own private library. The book will be fun for parents and children to read together, or just to read by yourself in a quiet corner of your house.

 

###

 

Congratulations, Karin.

Available at Amazon     Guardian Angel Publishing

 

You can learn more about Beverly at http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

I saw this last week one day and saved it and now can't recall where I found it, so I apologize for not being able to give credit to whomever had it posted at that time.  But, how cool is this?  The root of all goes back to reading.  We must first read, read, read in order to then write, influence and, thereby, change the world. LOVE IT!

It is so true that reading A LOT in the genre in which one writes is imperative, but reading in general, both for writing purposes and for fun, is necessary.  I love to read, always have and always will.  It truly amazes me that some don't share that same feeling, though I know many do not.  One of my kid's complained the other day about having to read for school which then started a discussion (e.g., lecture) about the awesome privilege of books, the ability to have them and read them.  The ability to lose oneself in a new world, one in which anything is possible, to be able to lounge around and do nothing more than open a book and just simply read...at which point, he started to roll his eyes and look at me like I had two heads:).  He thought I was totally bonkers when I said I'd love nothing more than a free week of hours on end to read, read and read some more!

And then I saw this quote and bam!  I started to think of it from a different perspective.  Reading is empowering? Writing to influence and change the world? Well, yes it is empowering to read.  And, yes, I do hope to influence change with my writing.  At this point, hopefully, a little girl or boy begs his or her mom or dad to read my book just one more time before bed (or at any other time during the day, for that matter).  Maybe someday, it will be an influence of another kind, for a different age range; however, the ultimate goal is the same...to affect change of some nature, in some way, big or small, in the hearts and minds of those reading my books.  I want others to WANT to read my books in the same way I love to read books myself.   I do feel empowered when I write, and, hopefully, this empowerment translates into a positive change for those choosing to read my work.

Remember...

And NEVER forget!  God Bless America!

Book Review

I am excited to share Penelope Anne Cole's review of Little Bug.  Thank you for your time and effort, Penny, as well as your kind words about my book.

Without further ado...

Little Bug

by Karin Larson

Illustrated by Eugene Ruble

 

“Little Bug,” by Karin Larson, illustrated by Eugene Ruble, is the type of children’s book that I especially enjoy—a book about word play using opposites. In fact, I’ve got my own manuscript with opposites in it. As a concept book about opposites, “Little Bug” has just about all of them. He goes out crawling to find a friend, some food, a drink, a tunnel, a worm, a ride on a butterfly, some shade, a puddle, a tree, a flower, the ant queen, a resting place, and a house. Here’s an example of Ms. Larson’s word play with opposites at the beginning of the book:

 

Little Bug goes all over, under, around, and through in his journey. Poor little bug. At the end of the day, he will have to start his search all over again.

 

Unlike his more realistic illustrations, Eugene Ruble’s pastel artwork in this story has whimsy and silliness that would appeal to readers at the younger age range. Readers at the higher age range could make a game of writing down all the opposites--or even guessing which opposites go together. This would be a good book for teachers to showcase these opposites. Also, it’s a good book for parents and grandparents to quiz their students about opposites. “Little Bug” would make a good read aloud book as well. Recommended for ages 6 to 9.

 

Information on author Karin Larson is at www.karinlarson.com.

 

Eugene Ruble is an experienced illustrator and author for www.guardianangelpublishing.com.

 

Penelope Anne Cole, Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew and Magical Mea.

New:  Magical Mea Goes to School. For Halloween:  Ten Little Tricksters
Web:  http://www.penelopeannecole.com/
Blog:  http://pennyreviews-chat.blogspot.com/