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Good morning!  I’d like to begin today by thanking the good people of Foundation 65 for allowing me to moderate a panel discussion last night with Duncan Tonatiuh, Grace Lin, Matt de la Pena, Janice Harrington, and Steve Sheinkin.  Foundation 65 has created this cool program where these authors are visiting every single child in the Evanston, IL public school system this week.  I helped kick it off, which was lovely.  In this image you’ll see me in a rare moment of not lolling all over the podium (there was no seat high enough for me to sit on, and my heels were killing me).

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Travis just offered a fascinating look at the recently released Follett statistics of what children around the country are checking out.  It’s simultaneously unsurprising and disheartening.  If you’re into that feeling, check the list out here.

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Gotta hand it to Bookriot.  When they came up with a list of 9 Kids Books That Should Be In Print, they did their due diligence.  No mention of Hey, Pizza Man, but otherwise impeccable.  I have a copy of Trouble for Trumpets of my very own, so I can attest to its awesomeness, and The Church Mouse should definitely find a new audience.  Well written, Danika Ellis.

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Two Harold and the Purple Crayon related posts appeared around the same time last week.  The first was from The Ugly Volvo (a.k.a. my replacement for The Toast) called Harold’s Mother and the Purple Crayon.  The other was Phil Nel’s piece How to Read Harold in which he reveals the possible subject of his next book.  There are also some pretty keen links at the end.  Go to it!

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This one’s neat.  Middle school teachers Julie Sternberg and Marcie Colleen have collected short audio clips in which storytellers share memories from their childhood.  They write,

“For each memory, we propose writing prompts for students as well as questions for classroom discussion.  Topics range from moments when storytellers have experienced bullying or been bullies themselves; to the first time they remember doing something they knew to be wrong; to difficulties in their home lives; to the effects of keeping secrets.  We hope each story helps kids think through issues that can be difficult to address but impossible to avoid.”

The site is called Play Me a Memory and contributors include everyone from Sarah Weeks and Kat Yeh to Michael Buckley and Matthew Cordell.  If you’re looking for writing prompts to share with kids, this site may prove inspirational.

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This is neat:

It’s like fanart for a really recent picture book.  Cool stuff, Migy.

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I know Dana Sheridan says that artist Aliisa Lee’s illustrations of classic folktale characters are “manga characters”, but I think the adaptations go a bit further.  These creations look particularly Pokemon-esque.  I could see me capturing one in a public space.  Couldn’t you?

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Now for a double shot of espresso/adorableness:

Thanks to Marjorie Ingall for the link.

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I outsource some of my knowledge of children’s literature to those better suited than I.  For example, if you were to ask me what the best Christian books series out there might be, I’d probably hem and haw and then excuse myself to the ladies room where I would attempt to climb out the window.  Author/illustrator Aaron Zenz, however, knows his stuff.  Recently he said that the best series is Adam Raccoon and that the books are now officially back-in-print.  FYI, Christian reader type folks!

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Just the loveliest piece was written recently at the Horn Book by Sergio Ruzzier about his time looking at the work of Arnold Lobel and James Marshall at the Kerlan Collection.  And though I might take issue with the idea that Marshall’s humans were less charming than his animals, the piece is an utterly fascinating look at the process of the two men.

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Daily Image:

And for our last image of the day, we turn once again to good old upcoming Halloween:

Reminds me of the time I went to the Dan Quayle Museum and saw the Fabergé Egg that showed him being sworn in as VP (<— all that I just said is true).  Thanks to Marci for the link.

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So I’m sitting at my desk the other day, paging through some children’s books I was sent from who knows where (my records are spotty at best and comparable to what happens when a raccoon is set free in a paper factory at worst) when I stumble across this book Stories of the Saints by Margaret McAllister, illustrated by Alida Massari.  I don’t need to tell you that here in New York there is a HUGE need for books on saints for kids.  The local Catholic schools regularly assign such a project to their students and I well remember sitting at the reference desk, stumped, as the kiddos asked for books on one obscure saint or another.  So I pick up the book and start reading and lo and behold it isn’t just beautifully illustrated (which it is) but written with a funny, not snarky, style.

Why am I so surprised?  Because great Christian literature for kids, that has been reviewed in professional journals, is very hard to come by. The need is there but the reviews are far and few between.  In New York we try to serve patrons of every religion, but it can be tricky when we’re talking about Christian publishers. Certainly I’ve been rather impressed by Lion Children’s Books as of late, and I’ve always admired the work of Eerdmans Children’s Books.  Add in Zonderkidz and you officially exhaust my knownledge of Christian children’s book publishers.

With this in mind I tapped my friend and author/illustrator Aaron Zenz and began to discuss with him those children’s authors and illustrators that work in the Christan book market.

The first thing Aaron informed me was that there are WAY more of them working in both the Christian and the secular publishing market than you might initially assume.  Here’s a quickie roster of some mainstream author/illustrators that straddle both fields:

N.D. Wilson – One of my first encounters with Nate came when I reviewed his book Leepike Ridge and his father linked to my review.  My blog stats skyrocketed.  Turns out his dad is Calvinist minister Douglas Wilson, who is a big time deal.  Nate writes Christian books for adults like Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl and has a series of interviews and lectures online as well as children’s book titles.  Aaron turned me onto a Lewis / Narnia one shown here:

John Hendrix – According to Aaron, John’s next book with Abrams is about the miracles of Jesus and is due out in 2016.  As it happens, John illustrates his church’s sermon notes and shares his sketchbooks online.  Naturally I hope they’ll be a book in and of themselves someday.

Doug TenNapel – This one I knew.  Turns out that the guy behind books like Bad Island and Cardboard is responsible for a whole lotta VeggieTales and has even been nominated for an Emmy.

Steve Bjorkman – I know him from a variety of picture books he’s illustrated though he may be best known for illustrating Jeff Foxworthy’s books.  Turns out he’s illustrated a bunch of Christian books as well.

Molly Idle – Surprise!  It’s true!  The Caldecott Honor winner actually was better known to Aaron as a Christian book illustrator long before Flora.  Did you know that?  I sure as heck didn’t.

Ben Hatke – Zita the Spacegirl rocks, but she was hardly Ben’s first work.  Turns out he worked on a couple other things first.

But that is not all, oh no. That is not all.  Aaron was kind enough to give me a rundown of some recommended Christian titles for kids that he can vouch for. And since I found it useful I thought you might like to see it as well.  Here are sixteen of his recommendations with his comments:

1. Tip of the Top, the absolute best of all time are the “Adam Raccoon” books by Glen Keane.  Yes, Glen Keane the animator behind Ratigan, Ariel, Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Tarzan, Silver, Rapunzel.  There are 10 Adam Raccoon books, but I don’t know their print status, I have no idea if you can still get them.  If they are unavailable, it’s a huge shame.

2. “You are Special” by Max Lucado.  All of Max Lucado’s children’s books tend to be pretty good.  But his six(?) “Wemmicks” books are the best, and the first in the series “You are Special” is far and above.

3. “Tales of the Kingdom” by David and Karen Mains.  There are two other books that follow this one that I haven’t read but have heard aren’t quite as good.  But I’ve read Tales of the Kingdom to hundreds of kids countless times in multiple settings over the years.

4. “Hymns for a Kids Heart” by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada.  Four volumes – 2 regular, a Christmas one, and an Easter one.  Great stories behind classic hymns with wonderful illustrations.

5. “Noah’s Ark” by Peter Spier.  Classic, and a Caldecott winner, and one of the few shining stars.

6. “Parable” — this is a collection of 17 graphic novel stories, just like the Flight series.  It includes work by Ben Hatke (Zita) and Stephen McCranie (Mal&Chad)

7. There are 3 books by Karma Wilson and Amy June Bates that are amazing: “I Will Rejoice,” “Make a Joyful Noise,” and “Give Thanks to the Lord.”

8. “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” by Kadir Nelson.

9: Two gorgeous books illustrated by Richard Jesse Watson: “Psalm 23″ and “The Lord’s Prayer”

10: Some favorite Biblical Chrstmas ones: “Through the Animal’s Eyes” by Christopher Wormell, “This is the Stable” by Cynthia Cotten and Delana Bettoli, “The Little Drummer Boy” by Ezra Jak Keats

11. There are some beginning readers just now coming out from Zonderkids illustrated by David Miles that are fantastic.

12. There are also some beginning readers from Zonderkids about a bear named Barnabas that I like.

13. “The Nicene Creed” by Pauline Baynes (yep, Narnia’s Pauline Baynes)

14. “Psalm 23″ by Barry Moser

15. “Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise” by Tomie dePaola

16. “Sidney and Norman” by VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer

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We are so excited about our next children’s picture book release, Ten Thankful Turkeys.  Stay tuned here for more details and promotions we will be doing.  You’ll want to gobble up these deals before they disappear.

 

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We are so proud of our children’s book, The Bee Bully.  He is being featured currently on Bookbub.com through April 17th and he is being very well received.  He is currently #4 on Amazon’s Movers and Shakers List for kindle and he is #1 in the Children’s Ebook category.  He has been reduced to $.99 during this promotion period and has over 80 five-star reviews.  Be sure to get a copy today and see what all the buzz is about!

 

 

 

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I’ve done a few readings at a local independent bookstore and I always enjoy the reactions I get to see from children as I read my stories.  As an author I know there are many children whose reactions I never get to see.  Today I received an email from this bookstore detailing a visit from a faith-based school that blew me away.  Lots of first and second graders gathered in the store while one of my books, Suzy Snowflake, was read.  Suzy is a snowflake fairy who prays to God when she feels different than her friends and teaches her good friend, Frost, how to pray.  The children talked about how they can be a witness to their friends who may be in need of God’s grace.

Our books can have an impact on others that we never get to see.  I’m so thankful that the bookstore knew enough to capture this moment for me and tell me about it.  This reading….that I didn’t even attend, has reminded me that we touch other people every day.  I’m so thankful my stories are having a positive impact on children.

This is why I write.

 

 

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We are thrilled to announce the release of our latest children’s book, The Christmas Owl.  This ebook is available at a special discounted price of $.99 through November 14th on Amazon.  We have also released this book on Barnes & Noble.  A Barred owl becomes injured and must ask others for help. He promises to give back to those who have a generous heart and he is true to his word.

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I first noticed it when I was a kid.  Growing up a fan of the comic page, my family owned some bound book collections of comics like Doonesbury and Garfield and B.C. I rather liked the old B.C. comics by Johnny Hart, actually.  In spite of the fact that characters had names like The Fat Broad and The Cute Chick, there was the ever amusing Grog (a Neanderthal in a caveman’s world) and The Apteryx, who always introduced himself as “a wingless bird with hairy feathers”.

But starting around 1984 the strip I saw in my newspaper started to change.  The comic that I’d always loved started to get strangely religious.  Hart, it seems, had experienced a religious conversion or renewal of some sort and suddenly it was all about the God.

I hadn’t thought much about old B.C. until the other day when I noticed that as series go, B.C. (which Matt has pointed out is ironically the ONLY comic strip to specifically say that the actions in the storyline happen “Before Christ”) is not alone.  Periodically there are characters and series that kids love that one day suddenly become evangelical.  Sometimes as a separate series.  Sometimes as part of the whole.  B.C., it seems, was just part of a trend.

Now I totally understand and am fine with a series being Christian.  My focus here is more on those characters that establish themselves as beloved and secular and then suddenly pull a religious conversion on their readers without much warning.  I find this whole idea fascinating.  How many characters have engaged in such a switch?  Two immediate examples come to mind.

Meet Christian Archie

Archie comics rock.  This is proven by any cursory trip to ComicCon.  Find the Archie section of the conference floor and you’ll be immediately amazed by the hoards of Archie fans, young and old, that congregate there.  At some point in the 21st century Archie was allowed to be cool.

However, there was an interesting moment in time when Archie and friends got super Christian, super fast.  Back in the mid-1970s Archie comics staffer Al Hartley managed to do what today would be impossible.  He convinced his boss John Goldwater to negotiate a deal with Spire Christian Comics.  Spire would get to use the licensed Archie characters for specifically Christian comic books and the Archie name would get a leg up in the whole family friendly section of the world.  So eighteen such Archie comics were created.

Vanity Fair covered Archie back in 2006 and discussed this phenomenon.  The comics were never intended to circulate in the secular market, but somehow they did.  For a full history of the comics themselves you can read Kliph Nesteroff’s A History of Christian Archie Comics, which gives a thorough rundown of what happened.  Comics Alliance also worked up

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I love reviewing Christmas children's books during this time of year, and it is my great pleasure to showcase Little Shepherd on my blog today.

Anyone who leaves a comment on this post will be entered in a giveaway for a lovely basket of Christmas themed gifts retailing for $65. This giveaway is international. Please leave your email address so we can contact you!

My review

On a cold night outside of Bethlehem, a little shepherd named Obed watches over his sheep. Now five, Obed has his own flock to guard. He's proud that his father has entrusted him with such responsibility. After all, his family depends on the sheep for food and clothing. But little Obed is also worried about the wolves and so he keeps a sharp eye on his flock.

Then one night, a bright light shimmers in the star-filled night. Angels come with a message, a message of good things to come for everyone on earth.

Obed's father decides they must go to Bethlehem to find this newborn babe. Obed, however, is terrified. How can they even consider leaving the flock alone at the mercy of the starving wolves? His father tells him not to be afraid, but Obed is doubtful. Will his flock be safe in his absence? That will require a miracle!

The Little Shepherd is a 'cozy' picture book to read by the fire with the family this holiday season, especially on Christmas night. The author's prose flows beautifully, with just the right balance of narration, description and dialogue. It is a sweet tale about the power of faith and the good things that come with it. The story has a quiet, magical, slightly suspenseful tone and looks at the birth of Jesus from a different angle. I also enjoyed the colorful illustrations by Eugene E. Ruble. They do have a distintive style and add a splash of color on the pages and help transport the reader to a different time and place. In short, Little Shepherd will make a lovely gift to any child this Christmas. It will also be a worthy addition to any library or classroom shelf. I look forward to this talented author's next book.


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I’ve always enjoyed working with children. So it should have come as no surprise when I began writing, most of my success would come from writing for little ones. I have discovered when I write for children, I feel I am finally in my write mind.

Children are transparent and you immediately know if they like your story. Their little eyes snap and tiny bodies wiggle with excitement when they try to figure out what will happen next. I’ll never forget last year when I was invited to a Christian school in Rochester, Minnesota, to read my book Stubby’s Destiny to their morning and afternoon kindergarten class. The children had never heard this story before, but right from the first page their little feet began to dance when I read about the horses’ hooves prancing down the cobblestone street. As I continued reading, they began to cheer for little Stubby, a defeated donkey who felt he had been born wrong. When Stubby discovers his divine destiny, they began to clap their tiny hands for joy.

I think great literature can help shape small souls. I

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Guardian Angel New Releases!

September & October 2009

ANCIENT SYMBOLS, ARTWORK, CARVINGS AND ALPHABETS, Academic Wings
www.guardianangelpublishing.com/symbology.htm
Author/Artist: Eugene Ruble
Print ISBN: 978-1-935137-90-0; 1-935137-90-5
eBook ISBN: 978-1-935137-91-7; 1-935137-91-3
Use as an introduction to our past by studying cave drawings, ancient symbols and
alphabets. Professor Hoot teaches with remarkable renderings of numerous artifacts
of man's past.

Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster Littlest Angel
www.guardianangelpublishing.com/humberto.htm
Author: Mayra Calvani
Artist: Kit Grady
Print ISBN: 978-1-935137-92-4; ISBN 10: 1-935137-92-1
eBook ISBN: 978-1-935137-93-1; ISBN 10: 1-935137-93-X
Humberto loves books so much; he reads all day long. His neighbors, the squirrel,
the rabbit, the skunk, the hedgehog and the beaver want to become his friends, but
Humberto doesn't have time for them. He's too busy reading! Then one day, disaster
strikes and he must choose between saving his books and helping them.

Secret Service Saint Wings of Faith
www.guardianangelpublishing.com/secret-saint.htm
Author: Janet Ann Collins
Artist: Eugene Ruble
Print ISBN: 978-1-935137-98-6; 1-935137-98-0
eBook ISBN: 978-1-935137-99-3; 1-935137-99-9
Loosely based on legends about a famous saint, this book tells the story of Nicholas,
who discovered the fun of doing secret good deeds. Kids who read or hear the story
at any time of the year will be challenged to do the same.

Baby Jesus Is Missing, Wings of Faith
www.guardianangelpublishing.com/baby-jesus.htm
Author: Dixie Phillips
Artist: K.C. Snider
Print ISBN: 978-1-61633-000-2; 1-61633-000-7
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61633-001-9; 1-61633-001-5
The annual Christmas decorating contest left no room for Jesus until little Josiah Carr
teaches his mommy and daddy the true spirit of Christmas is finding Jesus. This
captivating story is guaranteed to warm the coldest heart and become a Christmas
favorite for families everywhere.

Rainbow Nights, Littlest Angel
www.guardianangelpublishing.com/rainbow-nights.htm
Author: Sally M. Harris
Artist: Kit Grady
Print ISBN: 978-1-61633-002-6; 1-61633-002-3
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61633-003-3; 1-61633-003-1
Dreams can be filled with fun and adventures! This bedtime story helps children look
forward to going to sleep at night. This is a delightful rhyming story with colorful art
to capture the imagination of the youngest readers.

Tiny Angel, Chapbook for Tweens
www.guardianangelpublishing.com/tiny-angel.htm
Author:Nancy Carty Lepri
Print ISBN: 978-1-935137-94-8; 1-935137-94-8
eBook ISBN: 978-1-935137-95-5; 1-935137-95-6
When her dad is transferred to a new town, ten-year-old Macy Carver leaves behind
her best friend and everything she knows. Suddenly she's the new girl.alone and
bullied. An unexpected flash announces guardian angel Jody, who teaches her how
to fit in and become a forever friend.

November 2009

Natalie's Ark Wings of Faith Chapbook for Tweens
www.guardianangelpublishing.com/natalies-ark.htm
Kevin & Kristen Collier
Print: ISBN: 978-1-61633-007-1; 1-6

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To celebrate the holidays we asked some of our favorite people in publishing what their favorite book was. Let us know in the comments what your favorite book is and be sure to check back throughout the week for more “favorites”.

Mark Sarvas runs the literary blog The Elegant Variation. His criticism has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Threepenny Review and others. His debut novel, HARRY, REVISED, will be released by Bloomsbury in the spring.

I absolutely loved David Leavitt’s The Indian Clerk. Within a few pages I was completely caught up, and found my pleasure never dimmed as I read this bracingly intelligent novel which recounts the unlikely friendship between the British mathematician G.H. Hardy and the Indian prodigy of the title, Srinivasa Ramanujan. It’s an epic and elegant work which spans continents and decades, and encompasses a World War. Leavitt’s prose is consistently gorgeous, and his control of this dense, sprawling material is impressive – astonishing, at times. And yet, for all its breadth, it remains firmly rooted in the interior lives of its two fascinating protagonists and affords us a glimpse at the costs of genius. A remarkable, affecting novel.

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