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Look who showed up to visit with Dee and Deb! Story Monster dropped by to say hello on this beautiful day in the Hudson Valley and to award the girls with his Story Monster Approval! How cool is that! The girls are making new friends wherever they go!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Linda F. Radke, Five Star Publications, Inc.
Phone: 480-940-8182
Picture Book, Dee and Deb Off They Go, Kindergarten First Day Jitters
Earns Story Monster Approval
CHANDLER, AZ (March, 2016) – The judges of the Story Monster Approved program, which recognizes accomplished authors in the field of children's literature have spoken, and Dee and Deb Off They Go, Kindergarten First Day Jitters by Donna M. McDine has earned approval.
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Title: Dee and Deb Off They Go, Kindergarten First Day Jitters
Author: Donna M. McDine
Illustrator: Jack Foster
Softcover ISBN: 9781616336998
eBook ISBN: 9781616337001
About Dee and Deb Off They Go, Kindergarten First Day Jitters: The anxiety of finding one's own place and friends in kindergarten without the comfort of having her fraternal twin sister nearby at first overwhelms Dee. Until she realizes even without her twin, Dee and her classmates for the most part are in the same boat. Suggested age range for readers: 3-8
About the Author: Donna McDine is a multiple award-winning children's author. She writes and moms from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI and Family Reading Partnership. Learn more about McDine’s writing career at www.donnamcdine.com and www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com.
The colorful, kid-friendly Story Monster Approved seal attracts the attention of young readers much more than a sticker intended for adult scrutiny. Kids know when they see the Story Monster Approved patch it means children their own age enjoyed the book and are recommending they read it, too. How do they know that? Because after books pass the first round of rigorous judging – which is done by industry experts, the books are then judged by a panel of youth judges who must also endorse the books before they can receive the official seal of approval.
"Who better to judge children’s books than the children who read them?” explains Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, Inc., the same company that launched the Dragonfly Book Awards program, now in its fourth year. "Judging these books gives children a wonderful sense of importance and responsibility. Some of our judging coordinators have told us that students who usually don’t enjoy reading or have difficulty reading have gotten a much-needed boost due to their judging responsibilities and have requested to serve as judges again." ###
Full Media Kit, Headshot, Book Cover Art and more are available upon request.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's AuthorIgnite curiosity in your child through reading!Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters ~ December 2015 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewPowder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewHockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewThe Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
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| Book received at no charge to facilitate review |
With winter coming, Mr. Bear and his family must prepare for their long winter nap. Just when they turn off the light they hear, "DO-RE-MEOW" from across the hall. With Miss Cat across the hall, the Pigs and Mice on the second floor and Mr. Owl and the Kangaroos on the top floor, it's nearly impossible for the Bear family to sleep at all.
Faced with a plethora of problem neighbors, the Bear family realize moving away isn't an option. Instead the neighbors try compromising by changing places in the Brownstone. It takes a lot of tries to get it right.
Keeping track of humorous scenarios and constant reshuffling feels like putting together a puzzle. The cartoon like illustrations adds to the zaniness. Besides creating plenty of snickers,
The Brownstone perfects the importance of compromise.
Rating: ★★★★☆
This book can be purchased on Amazon:
For Kindergarteners they sure do get around!
Dee and Deb have been busy traveling from the east coast to the west coast. Where do they get their energy?
Their latest stop is
Amazon and feedback of their adventures are available for your review.
Be sure to stop back in the coming days and weeks to see where their adventures take them!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters ~ December 2015 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
One reason I liked this story so much was probably because I wished I could hibernate.
Counting sheep doesn't always work.
Tea with a friend is helpful.
But counting bears is a novel approach. Anytime I have an illustration with bears, sheep and a tea party I'm happy to not be hibernating.
Only God can make a tree... but photoshop works for fools like me. I'm glad I didn't have to paint every leaf.
I like how the detail works even with closeups.
Sketching away... if at first you don't succeed - sketch, sketch, sketch again.
I thought I'd change things up a bit and celebrate the back cover reveal of my latest children's picture book...
Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters
What do you think?
The publication date is December 1, 2015, just in time for the 2015 Holiday Season!
Interested?
Cruise on over to my
website... I'm taking
pre-orders now!
Thanks for your time and interest!
Wishing you an inspirational day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters ~ December 2015 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Pre-OrdersA Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
I ink, therefore I am.
Inking is sort of like skiing - fun and a little dangerous with a sense of movement... or something like that. Descartes never did any skiing.
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| Book received at no charge in exchange for an honest review. |
Thanksgiving at the Bumpers' house looks to be a grand event. With fifteen people slated to attend, Charlie Bumpers can only imagine the incredible feast. Nothing can go wrong. At least that's what Charlie thought until he finds out his bratty cousin Chip will be staying at his house and sleeping in his room. What ensues nearly destroys Charlie's Thanksgiving.
Harley adeptly handles family relationships with humor through Charlie, the middle child who never seems to catch a break. However, this time he does when his older brother quits picking on him long enough to help him out and his annoying sister sticks by him for once without trying to get him in trouble. A heartwarming look into family life with Charlie finding a new definition for family. The reader can't help but relate to the real life scenarios and characters while they learn tolerance and acceptance.
Rating ★★★★☆
Publishing Information:
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (Sept. 1, 2015)
ISBN: 978-1-56145-835-6
Ages 7-10
Maybe you've listened to me complain how my neighborhood hasn't had a single bookstore in 5 years - even though it's named 'University Village'. Well things are changing... and today there's a new bookstore at last. I can scarcely wait to go in and look around. I even have a children's book that I did with Two Lions - so I wonder if it'll be on the shelves? Wow... having books on shelves... there's a novel concept!
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-opens-first-bricks-and-mortar-bookstore-at-u-village/
With a creak the barn doors open wide.
Scarecrow held up his lantern and cried
"This is our night of Jokes and Jitters!
Tonight’s the night to pretend ourselves silly...
Pigs can be pirates and hogs can be frilly"
The washboard started thumping loud.
The owls were hooting and cats meowed.
Bessie the cow got dressed in a gown
with fancy buttons up and down.
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) review of my latest children's book!
Scheduled for release: December 2015
Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters 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.
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Well done, Donna McDine and Jack Foster. A must read for all children preparing for the beginning of their school career.
Scheduled for release: December 2015
Category: Children’s Picture Book
Print ISBN: 9781616336998
eBook ISBN: 9781616337001
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters ~ December 2015 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Pre-Order Today
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
It's almost Halloween... as seen in this old art file. Halloween is possibly every person's favorite holiday, because we get to reinvent ourselves for a day. I've been reinventing my Mac Pro so now, like Halloween, my computer gets to be something new.
Having installed a new SSD boot drive, a 2 TB HDD and 12 G of memory it feels like something else entirely. I've been re-learning the basics of adding new disks and linking and disk managing. Not too hard to do.
So happily Photoshop & the Creative Suite now have a whole new lease on life. No more waiting 2 minutes for that Indesign file to finally open. Now it's more like 8 seconds to start the program and open the file. That's more like it.
It must be Fall! It's fun to be doing a book in tandem with the actual seasons - but then it's also fun thinking ahead to next Spring. I guess with children's publishing the seasons are often tied into the subject matter.
What People Are Saying...
“Author Donna McDine has a delightful way of supporting children through life's challenges and transitions. Her stories are realistic and feature likable characters that kids can easily relate to. With this book, she has lifted 'kindergarten anxiety' in a light and humorous way - leaving children with a smile on their face and an eagerness for new beginnings.” ~ Tina M. Games, certified creativity coach and author of "Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother's Path to Self Discovery” ~ http://moonlightmusepress.com
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“In Donna McDine’s PB, Dee and Deb Off They Go—Kindergarten First Day Jitters, fraternal twins Dee and Deb face separation in Kindergarten. This adorable book shows what happens on their first day. Like all kinders, they worry: who will they talk to and play with. Dee’s smart teacher has a super idea for first day fears—choose a buddy. Ms. McDine’s cute book will reassure nervous kinder kids and their parents. Jack Foster’s charming artwork adds to readers’ enjoyment.” ~ Penelope Anne Cole, Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew, Magical Mea, and Ten Little Tricksters. ~ http://www.penelopeannecole.com/
Thank you Tina and Penny for your heartwarming endorsements!
Pre-order today!
Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
This was fun - I'd never painted a potato field before this.
I did work on a Maryland tobacco farm once when I lived in Washington D.C.
and in a bull barn and a dairy barn when I lived in Manhattan Kansas...
which was unusual for a city mouse like me.
I was pleased with how this piece came out - I managed to keep some of the spontaneity of the sketch in the finished color. It seems like I'm always struggling to choose a line for the finals - but in this one I combined several different solutions - colored line and silhouette shapes and a dash of bright colors. Thanks to my pastel brush for the painting.
WRITTEN BY: Penelope Anne Cole
ILLUSRATED BY: Kevin Scott Collier
PUBLISHER: Magical Book Works
PUBLISHED: September 2015
PAGES: 32
The Magical series by award-winning children’s author, Penelope Anne Cole continues onward with another spectacular journey, this time Magical Max and Magical Mickey.
Siblings Matthew and Mea are intrigued and concerned at the sudden announcement for a family meeting. The two once magical siblings speculate as to what the meeting could be about. Stunned by the announcement of their mom’s pregnancy and impending birth of twins raise their concern that their soon to be new siblings will have magical powers as they once did. For you see, they worked hard with their Grandma Nonie to hide their once magical powers from their parents. What will happen with Matthew off at college, Mea busy with middle school and Grandma Nonie not as capable of all she once did? Will chaos ensue? Or will all the worry be for naught? Find out, as the newly expanded family takes a journey of discovery.
Penelope Anne Cole has crafted yet another “magical” story to churn the creative minds of our young muses.
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The spectacular illustrations of Kevin Scott Collier create a wonderful aging process for all the characters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewPowder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewHockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewThe Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
I guess one of the hazards of being a children's book maker is having to always answer questions from people who you haven't seen in a long while. "Are you still doing that children's book thing?". To which I say Ah... why yes! As a matter of fact that's been my chosen profession for many decades now and I still do, yes thank you very much. The other dreaded question is "What have you published.... lately?" With the emphasis being on the 'lately'. That one can be a bit trickier.
My feeling is like isn't it enough that one has published more than 50 books - but you have to answer to the 'lately' question also?
Usually I just say 'Oh I'm working on some illustrations about a rabbit or a fox' - which applies to a large portion of my working life. But really I mostly squirm at the question. Maybe I need a license plate that says 'CHLDNSBKART' or something. Or a theme Tee shirt to the same effect. But alas, I have neither.
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Book received at no charge in exchange for an honest review.
Nothing gets thirteen-year-old, Trenton Coleman more excited than anything mechanical. If only the leaders in Cove felt the same way. Creativity is frowned upon in Cove and inventing anything new is prohibited. Trenton can't wait for his chance to attend mechanical school but to his dismay, he is assigned to the School of Food Production.
While Trenton excels in his new assignment, his curiosity leads him to Kallista Babbage, a repair technician and daughter of Leo Babbage, an inventor who died in an explosion. Together, the pair discover the secret project Leo was working on before his horrible accident. With the help of the clues he left behind, Trenton and Kallista slowly put together a machine that threatens to expose the truth their city inside a mountain is built upon.
Savage masterfully weaves steampunk and fantasy with relatable characters to create suspense that will have the reader glued to the pages for hours.
Rating ★★★★☆ |
Publishing Information
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing ( Sept. 29, 2015)
ISBN: 978-1-62972-0920Ages: 10 and Up
This book can be purchased from the following retailers:
Here's a fun new sketch to start the week. In my mind I imagined all kinds of different line qualities - pencil, pen, brushed pen - but when I started drawing the final, I stumbled on this digital brush that I tweaked and liked it just fine the first try.
Of course keeping the spontaneity of the sketch in the finish is always the challenge.
Digital layers makes it quick and painless to try things out. Here's a history of a two page spread that was a work in progress. Lots of changes in the layout, drawing and color.
Here's a before and after - I'll let you guess which is which. My feeling is that one advantage to digital art is I can revise any aspect of the art without having to tear it up and start over completely... and that saves time & stress!
And then there's my New York Times editorial illustration.
There's a story behind that that I'll have to write someday. My first and last debut in the NY Times. But it was all fun.. .. it all started when I showed my portfolio to Steve Heller of the NYT. He seemed to appreciate my work, which was flattering since he's kind of legendary.
Then one day the regular artist for Craig Claiborne's column was out, so I was invited to fill in. I had to rush it all in 2 days and take the art down by train & subway to drop off in person. It was fun going downtown like that. Those were the days.
I decided, quite by accident one day, that this ought to be a style I should try to stick with. It's funny, since I'd deleted the original file already, but just stumbled upon an older jpeg version.
One of the things I struggle with forever is how to define figures - either with line or with just shape. And if it's line, then what kind of line. In a complicated way this piece answers a lot of those questions for me.
Here are some of the variations on the theme that I tried before deciding on this:
First there was the amusing sketch - which if you examine it in detail it is apparent that one leg has gone missing! Sometimes an artist forgets the most basic things.
But in the final color version everything came out exactly as planned.
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