'Tis Almost the Shopping Season

Holiday shopping season is quickly approaching. If you are looking for new children's picture books, check out ALPHABET ZOO as well as all the other wonderful kid lit on the SCBWI Bookstop site. They make shopping easy!

Here is a link for my book, Bookstop: Alphabet Zoo. Have fun learning about the animals of Alphabet Zoo!

5 Star Review!!

I am so excited to share the newest, and 5 Star, review for ALPHABET ZOO! Thank you, Carmen Tenorio!

 

Reviewed by Carmen Tenorio for Readers' Favorite

Alphabet Zoo by Karin Larson is a read-along alphabet concept book that uses the zoo to teach the alphabet to young readers. The author features a letter from A to Z along with an animal name that begins with it, together with details of a special trait or characteristic associated with the animal. Mostly written in harmonious rhyme, the book uses large fonts and shows the alphabet letters in bold uppercase, with the rest of the following words in lowercase. The book also features fun, cartoon-like, and colorful illustrations by C.E. Dale to complement the text. There is an animal trivia section at the end where questions are posed and answers are provided with fascinating facts to further broaden the reader's understanding of animals.

Alphabet Zoo is a great book, especially for beginning readers who continually need practice and reinforcement to memorize and read the alphabet. Karin Larson uses amusing and descriptive rhymes and informative sentences that characterize and differentiate one animal from another. There are usually only around two lines of words per page, which makes the material easy to read and not overwhelming. The simple yet colorful illustrations by C.E. Dale will not only appeal to this reading age group but serve as creative and memorable picture clues. The additional trivia is educational and delightful as it reveals more information about the various animals. It's a resource for learning as much as entertaining, with animated language and eye-catching drawings that will make shared or solo reading time enjoyable for kids. 

 

A Day in the Life of a Writer

 

To write or not to write? To edit or not to edit? To blog or not to blog? To read or not to read? To promote or not to promote? And, above all, how to balance the degree of each and the time dedicated to any one thing in any given day?

This writing life is full of these choices in a never-ending cycle, tipping the balance of time one way or another at various points.

I don't know about you, but I tend to struggle with how to best prioritize my time in order to accomplish as much as possible on any given day, particularly when days and writing times are limited for a variety of reasons, work and life related. Sometimes I do the easier things first to check more items off my to-do list more quickly. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed and push papers around my desk and never really accomplish much of anything at all.

It seems, ultimately, the most important thing to do is to write. None of the rest really matters without something to edit, blog about, submit and/or promote. The stories drive it all, so, why then, do I seem to leave that till the end of my TTD list and then run out of time? Sometimes inspiration strikes, and I do nothing but sit and write. Other times, I spin my wheels thinking and thinking and never get anywhere. Reading a picture book I love or scrolling Instagram for inspiration can help, but time is often of the essence which can further serve to shut one's brain down ASAP.

Such is a day in the life of a writer, I guess. I'd love to hear your order for tackling your day or how you deal with being as functional as possible in the time you have. If you are open to leaving a comment, please do.

The Germination of an Idea

Starts. It seems this is the name of the game these days. I come up with an idea I feel has merit. Start the manuscript, sprinkle in a few other ideas, see which way it may go, and then let the dust collect on it. I've started so many stories over the last few months, but only one has come to fruition as a complete PB. I am quite excited about this story and have high hopes, but I am stuck trying to figure out how to be better at developing the seed of my other ideas into a complete story.

September brings a new month, a new start, and I am re-energized to be productive and develop the fresh ideas as they come. An upcoming SCBWI conference should help fuel the fire as well.

I would love to hear your strategies for productivity and what helps you see an idea through to completion should you be inclined to share.

Enjoy the long holiday weekend and happy writing!

Newest Book Review of ALPHABET ZOO

I am excited to share another lovely book review of ALPHABET ZOO. Thank you, Ann Marshall, for taking the time to read and review my book. Read Ann's review below:

"Alphabet Zoo is a delightful book, full of clever rhymes and colorful, adorable illustrations. Besides being such an entertaining read, it’s also a wonderful teaching tool—not just for helping children learn the alphabet, but also for gaining fascinating animal facts (e.g., Did you know ostriches can’t fly…and that the jaguar is the world’s 3^rd largest cat?!). Congrats to author, Karin Larson, and illustrator, C.E. Dale, for creating this fun-filled journey through the alphabet that kids will love!"

 

Here is one of the adorable illustrations by C.E. Dale to which Ann was referring.

 

 You can find more on my website as well as purchase information.

New Book Review

I am delighted to share the first review of my newest picture book, ALPHABET ZOO, by award-winning children's book author, Donna McDine. Donna's review reads...

Alphabet Zoo is beautifully illustrated by C.E. Dale. Children’s author, Karin Larson takes the reader and their young muses on a whimsical tale through the alphabet, from A to Z. The habitat of each animal is captured perfectly through the written word and illustrations. The “what comes next question” will continually be had before turning each page and the discovery of what animal that correlates to each letter of the alphabet is fun for all ages. Alphabet Zoo is a true delight and inspires thought provoking imagination. Bravo!

Thank you, Donna. Much appreciated! 

For more information, visit my website at www.karinlarson.com.

Explore Alphabet Zoo

 

It has arrived! Hard and soft cover copies now available from me as well as from 4RV Publishing, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase from me personally, I can sign and send or deliver to you.

I hope you have fun learning about the animals of Alphabet Zoo!