LA Times Article
I am nominated for the picture book category of the SCIBA Awards, next to two amazing wonderful talented poeple of this trade, Eve Bunting and Marla Frazee. I’m thrilled. Please read details in the below LA Times article.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/08/sciba-so-cal-awards-finalists.html
New York Times Sunday June 20- Book Review Section – GOAL!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/books/review/Bookshelf-t.html
Iraninan.com online magazine http://www.iranian.com/main/2010/aug/mina-javaherbin
Two fantastic reviews. Wow thanks, I’m blushing.
http://bookends.booklistonline.com/2010/06/23/goal-by-mina-javaherbin/
June 23 2010 -KIRN 670 AM Morning Show,
with Sassan Kamali - thanks for having me !
June 11 2010-Interview with OC Register
http://www.ocregister.com/news/soccer-253056-book-south.html
May 05 2010 – Here is my interview with the blog SEVEN IMPOSSIBLE THINGS BEFORE BREAKFAST Please click on the link below.
http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/
April 14 2010 – This is a recent “Guest Blog” I did for RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) please visit their website they do great work.
GOAL!
Allow me to introduce you to a new author – Mina Javaherbin - and her debut book to be released this month from Candlewick Press. I was charmed by the story and how she wove a real-life situation of children at play with the larger story of how pivotal the game is for the young protagonist who wins a soccer ball for being such a good reader. Meet guest blogger, Mina Javaherbin:
“…in the face of poverty, bully rulers, and unsafe alleys, people play soccer. Through war, revolution, and hardship, people play soccer. In South Africa, East Asia, North America, the West Indies, and in all corners of the world, people play soccer. Soccer bonds. Soccer makes both young and old feel that they belong, that they matter, and that they can win.”<
GOAL! BOOK LAUNCH
Saturday April 17, 1:PM
Aliso Viejo Library
1 Journey, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
GOAL REVIEWS
Publisher’s Weekly Review
Subject: PW Reviews 3-15-10
SLJ February Reviews
JAVAHERBIN, Mina. Goal! illus. by A. G. Ford. unpaged. CIP. Candlewick. Mar. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4571-7. LC 2008047266.
Gr 2-4–Six boys in a small South African town thwart a group of bullies who threaten to stop their soccer game by stealing their prize possession, a federation-size ball. The camaraderie of these youngsters is evident as they play soccer after chores and homework are done in order to find some relief from daily hardships. The bullies arrive suddenly on bikes, even though the boys had planned ahead and posted a lookout atop a nearby building. The author uses repetitive phrasing, “Left is clear. Right is clear,” to indicate that the youth are always aware that the streets are not safe. Illustrations rendered in oil are impressive. Large and colorful action shots, many full spread, keep the story moving at a quick pace. Expressive facial features emphasize the tension felt when the hoodlums interrupt the soccer fun. Choose this book with an international bent to supplement other books on bullying, because it will open up another opportunity for conversation and discussion.–Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
BOOKLIST March Reviews
Goal! Javaherbin, Mina (author). Illustrated by A. G. Ford. Apr. 2010. 40p. Candlewick, hardcover, $16.99 (9780763645717).
Arriving in time for the 2010 World Cup, this heart-tugging picture book from a debut author tells a lyrical soccer story in the voice of a young boy in a South African shantytown. After winning a federation-size “football” at school, the narrator and his friends enjoy a game, but bullies interrupt them. With some deft foot maneuvers, though, the young players deter the aggressors and resume their game, this time with a wary lookout: “The streets are not always safe.” The poetic text’s rhythmic repetition emphasizes the boys’ joyful empowerment: “When we play, / we forget to worry. / When we run, / we are not afraid.” In full-page oil paintings, Ford uses unusual angles to intensify the sense of the scuffling, exciting action; the tense confrontation; and the reality of shantytown life. An afterword includes fascinating historical notes and reinforces the narrator’s moving message about soccer’s power to inspire and connect fans and players around the world: “I follow the ball to the end of the alley; / I follow the ball to the end of the world.”
Gillian Engberg
Goal! Mina Javaherbin, illus. by A.G. Ford. Candlewick, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-7636-4571-7
In her debut picture book, Javaherbin crisply relays a simple story that should strike a chord with a wide range of readers. In a barren South African village, Ajani calls for his friends to come out to play soccer. The boy carries the pristine federation-size ball (which he won for being the best reader in class) in a dented pail he’ll later use to fetch water. Ford’s (Barack) dramatically lit oil paintings convey Ajani’s excitement and prid
Ever since I was a child I knew about UNICEF. This world charity has a special place in my heart. I admire what and how they help the children around the world.
Every Halloween for the past seven years, my children and I along with the help of family and friends have gathered together for a bake-sale event and have gone door to door “trick or treating” for UNICEF.
The gathering together, the funny costumes, the laughter and the collecting money for UNICEF is an unexplainably beautiful experience that I wish upon every single one of you.
This event is a great opportunity to expose to our children about many who live in less fortunate circumstances than what’s around us. It’s also a good time to exercise that often neglected compassion muscle.
I wish you join me this Halloween in making events like this in your own neck of the woods and bring the dead in your neighborhood back to life while poking for compassion….
Happy Halloween !
I’m here to announce the arrival of my first book GOAL due hopefully in April of 2010. This is a picture book and is published by Candlewick Press. Ages 4 to 10.
It’s an amazing feeling to create something and share it with the world out there. My great editor and the staff at Candlewick paired my words with the fantastic art of Mr. AG Ford for this book. He captured the essence of my words beautifully, and we communicated until everything started to sing together.
Hope you enjoy this book. I have another book, Secret Message due in Fall of 2010, and then some more…
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