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Poems for April

frontcoverApril happens to be National Poetry Month and there are so many terrific poetry books available. However, not all kids love poetry. Maybe they’ve just been exposed to the wrong poems. Whether you seek humorous poems or those more serious, this selection offers something for everyone. A great starting point is A to Z Poetry For Kids written by SoCal college grad Kellan G. Peterson available at www.atozpoetryforkids.com. This helpful book introduces 26 different types of poems including many I had no idea existed!

9780446563826_154x233Recent poetry books of note are: 100 Great Poems for Girls edited by Celia Johnson, 100 Great Poems for Boys edited by Leslie Pockell, Poem in Your Pocket For Young Poets: 100 Poems to Rip Out & Read selected by Bruno Navasky, Poetry Speaks Who I Am: Poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence, and Everything Else in Your Amazing Future edited by Elise Paschen, and The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination edited by Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston.

9780810991422_s3For the younger set there’s Everybody Was A Baby Once and Other Poems by Alan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman, Truckery Rhymes (Part of Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown), Arnold Lobel’s Odd Owls & Stout Pigs: A Book of Nonsense with color by Adrianne Lobel, Maybe I’ll Sleep in the Bathtub Tonight and Other Funny Bedtime Poems by Debbie Levy with illustrations by Stephanie Buscema,
Countdown to Summer: a Poem for Every Day of the School Year, by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Ethan Long, and Tighty Whitey Spider by Kenn Nesbitt.

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Avoid The Summer Slide!

Finallogo4-C.largeScholastic’s Tips for Helping Kids Avoid the Summer Slide:

Encourage your children to read four or more books. Research shows that kids who don’t read at least four books during the summer break lose valuable reading comprehension skills that can put them behind when they go back to school in the fall.

Find great books. Nine out of 10 kids say that they are more likely to finish reading a book if they pick it out themselves, so make a trip to the bookstore or library more exciting by allowing them to show you which books they want to read!

Take reading beyond the book. Ask your child questions about the story they are reading and try to find relevant supplemental activities to enhance their comprehension, such as a visit to a museum, checking out the author or book website, or doing an arts and crafts project.

Join a fun, free summer reading program. Scholastic’s Summer Challenge is completely free and easy to use! Kids read books, log their minutes, and earn rewards! Parents receive emails each time their child hits a reading milestone so that they can keep the encouragement going all summer long.

Fun For Kids! On April 27th, Scholastic will launch the 5th annual Summer Challenge, a free online reading program for kids grades K-8, found at www.scholastic.com/summer . The Summer Challenge encourages kids to read books that are interesting to them and to log the minutes they spend reading on the website in order to win prizes and contribute to the Read For the World Record. Last summer, kids around the world read 52,710,368 minutes which broke the previous record, and we’re confident that they will do it again this year! Kids can keep track of their personal reading minutes and can also choose to contribute to their school’s tally.

Parents Win Too! Parents are provided with free recommended reading lists, and will receive emails when their kids hit milestones during the course of the summer. Plus, the site offers free resources, expert articles, and downloadable reading certificates you can print and hang on the fridge.

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Three Books that Teach Children About Saving the Earth

These three reviews by Debbie Glade are dedicated to our planet.

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How the Weather Works: A Hands on Guide to Our Changing Climate (Templar/Candlewick, $17.99, ages 7-11) is written by Christiane Dorion and illustrated by Beverley Young.

Put a pop-up book in front of me, and watch me revert gleefully back to my childhood. This one is a very sturdy, beautiful, unique, interactive science book with flaps to lift, wheels to turn and tabs to pull. It explains what causes our weather to change and how weather is predicted, and there is way cool page about hurricanes, (which I am all too familiar with, living in Miami.) There is even an awesome pop up that explains how we are adding greenhouse gasses to the environment. I love that fact that this book is fun to use but is about an important and serious topic. You’ll love it because it answers all those weather questions kids ask (and even some you’ve often wondered about). It really is quite sophisticated, so older kids will get the most out of it. This one is a keeper!

E is for Environment: Stories to Help Children Care for Their World – at Home, at School, and at Play ($18.99, Atria/Simon & Schuster, ages 5 and up) by Ian James Corlett

This is an innovative idea for a book. It includes 26 short stories that focus on the environment. Then questions are posed to make the reader think about solutions to the environmental situations presented in the stories. For example, one story is about a girl named Lucy, who loves to draw and writes many notes, stories and poems and uses a large volume of paper, crayons and pencils. The reader is asked what Lucy can do to waste less paper and make better use of her other materials. I like the way this book makes children think about how they can change their every day habits to reduce waste and keep the earth cleaner.

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climt_cover2How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Environment: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming (Paperback $11.95; Hardcover $18.95, Ages 9-13, Dawn Publications) by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch

Young curious minds get more than just an introduction to the science of climates and global warming when they read this sophisticated 66-page book. It’s packed with detailed facts and wonderful photographs to teach readers everything from changing animal habitats, rising seawater and temperature changes, to what they can do on their own help change their own “Climate Footprints.” There’s also a list of resources, a list of scientists mentioned in the book and a detailed index. I love that this book encourages students to think like scientists, and perhaps even inspires them to become scientists in the future. It sure got me thinking about saving planet earth.

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Tying the Knot Royal-Style

royalscomicbookDo you remember Charles and Diana’s wedding? All the pomp and circumstance? The crowds, the gowns, the guests? Will you take the day off work to watch festivities unfold on April 29 when Prince William and Kate Middleton say I do (or is it I will?)? I don’t know about you, but I always love a good wedding especially when there’s a “commoner” involved.

Now there’s a colorful new way to read up on all the details leading to this latest royal wedding … Bluewater Productions is releasing the biography comic book and graphic novel based on the lives of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Wednesday, April 27.

The Royals: Prince William & Kate Middleton written by CW Cooke and penciled by Pablo Martinena, looks to give context to two perceived fairy tale lives and how an eight-year romance flourished in such a fishbowl existence.

“The closer the wedding day comes, the greater the excitement for this book,” said Darren G. Davis, president of Bluewater, who appeared on a recent segment of the Today show featuring the comic book. “What I like about this issue is it presents both William and Kate as two well-rounded and grounded individuals. It’s a great love story.”

theroyalsgncoverThe standard 32-page comic book retails for $3.99. It will be available at comic book retail outlets. To make sure you get your copy, contact your local comic book store to pre-order it. To find a comic book store near you go to www.comicshoplocator.com.

The special collector’s edition 40 page graphic novel retails for $7.99. National book stores like Barnes & Noble will be carrying it, as well as several online venues including Amazon.com. The demand for the book is already so high that the distributor predicts the books will sell out the day it is released.

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Treasured Family Keepsake

lhb_sample_photo_1LIFE HISTORY BOOKS

At last, an opportunity to put your family’s story in print! I love the concept of this company and think you will not want to miss out. For a limited time the company is offering 30% discounts. See pricing below.

How many times have you thought about getting your family and personal history down in print, or wanted a loved one to do so?

Life History Books works with you to develop a custom-made, archive-quality book that can be passed down through the generations as a treasured heirloom.

lhb_sample_photo_4Memoirs: As a memoir service, they interview you or whomever the client is and then text from the transcribed interviews is laid into an elegant book, interspersed with personal photographs and other mementos. The result is a stunning, professionally-finished family treasure. They can also interview an additional loved one to fill in gaps or merely to add a second perspective. Books can be focused on specific experiences, such as immigrating to a new country or becoming grandparents. Baby books – tales from a baby’s first years – are also popular.

lhb_sample_photo_6Tribute Books: As a tribute book service, the company interviews 1-12 people who speak about a person being honored. Photos and other memorabilia are laid into a book along with the text. Tribute books make an excellent surprise gift or remembrance for a loved one who has passed.

lhb_sample_photo_5Book designs are fully personalized, from the cover’s appearance to font size. Every detail is in the client’s control, including the book length, and a proof is approved before the book goes to print. The process itself is enjoyable and meaningful, and it typically takes about one month.

Life History Books is the first company with highly skilled and experienced personal historians spread throughout the world. They offer a wide variety of packages to meet your needs and budget. Audio CDs of the interviews are available, as well as extra book copies. Books may be updated over time.

PRICING
Standard Package: $950
4 interview hrs, 15 photos, 40-60 pages

Deluxe Package: $1,850
8 interview hrs, 30 photos, 80-120 pages

Golden Package: $4,000
16 interview hrs, 60 photos, 120-200 pages

Please contact:
Jennifer Lidar, Personal Historian
Life History Books Ltd.
Phone: 626.321.7649
Jennifer@LifeHistoryBooks.com
www.LifeHistoryBooks.com

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6th Annual Autism Awareness Month Giveaway from Brookes

libraryIn honor of Autism Awareness Month, Brookes Publishing will pick three lucky winners weekly in April to receive one of six subject-specific mini-libraries (Behavior, General Autism, Inclusion, Clinical, Transition, Author Paula Kluth) of six titles. Brookes has been publishing books for improving the lives of people with autism over 30 years. Register for the giveaway at www.brookespublishing.com/autism


Winners will select one of the following mini-libraries:


Behavior: Resolve meltdowns and other challenging behaviors in school, at home, and in the community with these practical, must-have guidebooks
General Autism: A diverse collection of essential books on inclusion, transition, intervention, behavior, generalization, and special education
thompson-71738Author Paula Kluth: From renowned autism expert Paula Kluth, these popular, research-based how-to guides will help you ensure the best possible education for learners with autism
Clinical: Animal therapies, assistive technology, ADHD…these books from top experts are required reading for anyone managing the clinical aspects of autism intervention
Inclusion: Get the nuts and bolts of fully inclusive education with these invaluable resources on friendships, access to the general curriculum, and successful paraprofessionals
Transition: Smooth transitions to adulthood will be easier with these practical guidebooks on everything from college preparation to employment

See exclusive Q&As, video clips, and other resources from Brookes Publishing’s 11 expert authors, when you visit Brookes Publishing’s Autism Resource Center at www.brookespublishing.com/autism.

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Put on a Hoppy Face!

Regular Contributor Lindy Michaels of BookStar on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City claps her hands with approval for IF YOU’RE HOPPY ($16.99, HarperCollins/Greenwillow Books, ages 2-5), written by April Pulley Sayre with illustrations by Jackie Urbanovic.

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Who doesn’t know and love the musical ditty, “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands…?” But what if you’re HOPPY and you know it? What are you? Are you a frog? A bunny? What, I ask! Since they’re all HOPPY, you could be any of them or more, right?

Now, let’s see… what if you’re SLOPPY and you know it, what are you? No, no, your extremely messy children don’t count. But they will love this sing-songy, adorable, colorfully illustrated book as they try and guess who is GROWLY and FLAPPY and… well, you get the picture.

What I love about IF YOU’RE HOPPY is that it’s fun and silly and will even encourage little ones to come up with their own thoughts on who is hoppy and floppy and so on and so on!

But a warning! You can’t just read IF YOU’RE HOPPY. No, no, no. I insist that you sing it! And that will make you and your tots… happy. And if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!

lindymichaelspic1The very versatile Lindy Michaels aims to inspire young minds through children’s literature. Lindy owned L.A.’s first children’s bookshop, OF BOOKS AND SUCH (1972-1987) where she did storytelling, taught drama to children, had art and poetry contests and the like. According to Lindy, “It was truly a ‘land of enchantment.” She also spent years lecturing on realism in children’s literature at colleges in the state. For close to five years Lindy has worked for Studio City Barnes and Noble (BookStar) in the children’s section and does storytelling every Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

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Can They Get Any Cuter?

So Many Animals!

It’s no wonder kids get so excited about reading books about animals. There are so many cute creatures to discover and an abundance of fascinating facts to learn. Today Debbie Glade reviews three adorable books…

9780375858864Orangutans are Ticklish: Fun Facts from an Animal Photographer ($16.99, Schwartz & Wade, ages 3-7), written by Jill Davis, is a uniquely wonderful book. The book starts with photographer, Steve Grubman explaining what it took to get all those amazing photos of the animals in this book, including his frightening experience having a tiger run after him. And the photos of the animals in the book are uncommon indeed, as Steve waited for the perfect moment to capture each of them in rare poses. The descriptions about each creature, along with the photos are a great read. Did you know that, unlike a crocodile, when an alligator’s mouth is closed, you can’t see his bottom teeth? Or that a zebra has black stripes on a white background, rather than having white stripes on a black background? Read this book and you’ll find out why. And yes, Orangutans are undoubtedly ticklish!

all_agesyoung_childrenThose who love baby animals will delight in two ZooBorns books (Beach Lane Books, ages 2 & up), written by Andrew Bleiman and photographed by Chris Eastland. ZooBorns: Zoo Babies from Around the World is written from the perspective of the animals. ZooBorns: The Newest, Cutest Animals from the World’s Zoos and Aquariums is a bit more sophisticated and includes animals’ birthdates and facts. The photos in both of these books will melt your heart, and your kids will want to look at them again and again! You’ll enjoy them too.

debbieglade24Debbie Glade, today’s guest reviewer, is the author, illustrator and voice talent of the award-winning children’s picture book The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica, published by Smart Poodle Publishing. She visits South Florida schools with her reading, writing and geography programs. For years, Debbie was a travel writer for luxury cruise lines. She writes parenting articles for various websites and is the Geography Awareness Editor for WanderingEducators.com. She blogs daily at smartpoodlepublishing.com.

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Born To Run Wild!

cvr9781442406735_9781442406735CHICKS RUN WILD ($15.99, Simon & Schuster, ages 2-6), written by Sudipta Bardan-Quallen and illustrated by Ward Jenkins, really tickled guest reviewer Lindy Michael’s fancy! Find the enthusiastic Lindy at BookStar on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City and she’ll take you right to where a copy of this terrific new children’s book can be found.

I think we all know how hard it is to get a wee one to go to bed, especially if they don’t want to, which as a parent and grandparent, I know is almost all of the time. After yet another story, another drink of water, another song, how many times have we kissed our child’s forehead, hoping, beyond hope, for not another peep out of them?

Well! What if you’re a mama hen with five little chickies, none of whom want to lay their little feathered heads on their pillows? After mama tucks them in their feathered beds and kisses them for the umpteenth time, then tip-toes out of the room for some much needed rest, yes, those CHICKS GO WILD!

“First they wiggle and they jump
Then they giggle and they thump,
Playing, swaying in pajamas,
when they hear their tired mama…”

Now, of course, like all smart little ones, they fake “catching zees” when mama peeks in the room and is finally satisfied her babies are indeed, asleep. But then, wait for it… CHICKS GO WILD, yet again… and again… and again.

But don’t mess with mama. She has a plan to finally get her babies off to dreamland. And she’s one smart, albeit, weary and worn out mama hen.

After reading this delightful story, I give all of you frustrated and tired and at the end of your rope mamas (and papas, too), permission to definitely try this at home. Then you can drag your exhausted selves onto your living room couch and run wild, also, just like mama hen does!

lindymichaelspic2The very versatile (and energetic) Lindy Michaels aims to inspire young minds through children’s literature. Lindy owned L.A.’s first children’s bookshop, OF BOOKS AND SUCH (1972-1987) where she did storytelling, taught drama to children, had art and poetry contests and the like. According to Lindy, “It was truly a ‘land of enchantment.” She also spent years lecturing on realism in children’s literature at colleges in the state. For close to five years Lindy has worked for Studio City Barnes and Noble (BookStar) in the children’s section and does storytelling every Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

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Let’s Put on a Puppet Show!

Making Puppets is Fun for the Whole Family!

Regular contributor, Debbie Glade, tells us how easy it is to create a clever puppet character.

61oertvi26l_sl500_aa300_I’ve often read that children who perform regularly for their families are more successful in school and in their careers years down the road. I think the reason for this is that it brings out creativity and develops social skills at an early age. 10-Minute Puppets ($10.95, Workman) is a fabulously creative book. The author, Noel MacNeal is a puppeteer and a producer and performer for Sesame Workshop. He was also the voice of the Bear in Disney’s The Bear in the Big Blue House.

I’ve always been fascinated by puppets, because they are such fun to make and such fun to use. Parents and grandparents delight in watching their kids perform too. In 10-Minute Puppets, you’ll get endless ideas about how to make everything from finger puppets to shadow puppets. You can even make your own hand puppet simply by attaching eyes! What I love about the book is that some of the puppets can be made in just a few minutes, with supplies you are sure to have hanging around the house. There are even instructions on creating theaters and tips on how to put on a great show. In the appendix are a bunch of fabulous templates you can use.

This is an ideal book for parents to buy so they can keep their kids entertained. It is also perfect for elementary teachers and day care centers to get the creative juices flowing in the classroom – in a most fun, educational and affordable way.

debbiegladeDebbie Glade, today’s guest reviewer, is the author, illustrator and voice talent of the award-winning children’s picture book The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica, published by Smart Poodle Publishing. She visits South Florida schools with her reading, writing and geography programs. For years, Debbie was a travel writer for luxury cruise lines. She writes parenting articles for various websites and is the Geography Awareness Editor for WanderingEducators.com. She blogs daily at smartpoodlepublishing.com.

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Pants on Fire

514c3k0schl_sl500_aa300_HELLO, GOODBYE AND A VERY LITTLE LIE, ($16.99, Capstone/Picture Window Books, ages 4-8) written by Christianne C. Jones and illustrated by Christine Battuz, is reviewed by Lindy Michaels of BookStar on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. (Editor’s Note: This book is one in a series of four Little Boost books helping to teach children valuable life lessons.)

I am not quite sure what kind of animal Larry is… sort of a hippo/horse/rabbit/donkey? What I do know is that Larry is a big, huge liar! He lies about doing his homework. He lies about building a playground. He lies about growing all the vegetables at the market. He lies about eating all the frosting his mother was going to put on a cake she was making.

“Larry, why do you lie so much?” his mother asked.
“I’m not lying,” Larry replied and explained he was “simply creating a fictional story. I’m telling a tall tale. I’m stretching the truth.”

Really? Really? Well,, one day Larry told a cute little girl, whom I can’t figure out what animal she looked like, either, that he could swim all the way across the near-by lake.

“No you can’t,” she said.
“Yes, I can,” insisted Larry.
“Prove it,” she replied.

Oh, oh. Would this end up being the very last lie Larry ever told? HELLO, GOODBYE AND A VERY LITTLE LIE is utterly delightful, with funny, imaginative illustrations. And, of course, with a very, very good moral and a happily ever after. What more could one want from a children’s book? Or… of course, I might just be lying about this entire review. No, no, no, I’m not! I swear. I would never lie to you!

lindymichaelspic2The very versatile Lindy Michaels aims to inspire young minds through children’s literature. Lindy owned L.A.’s first children’s bookshop, OF BOOKS AND SUCH (1972-1987) where she did storytelling, taught drama to children, had art and poetry contests and the like. According to Lindy, “It was truly a ‘land of enchantment.” She also spent years lecturing on realism in children’s literature at colleges in the state. For close to five years Lindy has worked for Studio City Barnes and Noble (BookStar) in the children’s section and does storytelling every Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

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Still Noisy After All These Years

NOISY NORA, written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells ($15.99, hardcover; $6.99, paperback, Viking, ages 1-5), is a tried and true classic according to guest reviewer Lindy Michaels of BookStar on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City.

What in blazes does it take to get a little attention from one’s parents when one has two needy siblings? That’s what little mousy Nora wonders. No, she’s not actually ‘mousy.’ She IS a mouse! “Jack had dinner early. Father played with Kate. Jack needed burping and Nora had to wait.” But Nora certainly did not go quietly into that good night.

9780670887224l“First she banged the window, then she slammed the door. Then she dropped her sister’s marbles on the kitchen floor.” This is what highly paid child psychologists like to call “getting negative attention,” big time. Sound familiar, mommies and daddies with multiple little ones? What could it possibly take for Nora to get any kind of attention, positive or negative? Here’s a hint. There’s a mad search and then, wait for it… a “monumental crash!”

All I can say, good children, everywhere, is please don’t try this at home. I’ve been reading NOISY NORA to little tykes since it was first published in 1973 and I never tire of telling this tale, nor laughing at adorable, albeit, noisy Nora’s antics, as she tries everything in her power just to get noticed. And trust me, get noticed she does! lindymichaelspic1

The very versatile Lindy Michaels aims to inspire young minds through children’s literature. Lindy owned L.A.’s first children’s bookshop, OF BOOKS AND SUCH (1972-1987) where she did storytelling, taught drama to children, had art and poetry contests and the like. According to Lindy, “It was truly a ‘land of enchantment.” She also spent years lecturing on realism in children’s literature at colleges in the state. For close to five years Lindy has worked in Studio City for Barnes and Noble (BookStar) in the children’s section and does storytelling every Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

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Are You The Next Great Children’s Book Author?

CALLING ALL ASPIRING AUTHORS!

box-and-book-lrDid you know that the annual Cheerios New Author Contest launches today! Do you have the ‘write’ stuff?
Are you an ambitious writer eager to pursue your dream of creating a children’s book that will be remembered years from now? If you are, you probably need no encouragement from us, so just click here to enter. The contest (www.spoonfulofstories.com), which is seeking the next great children’s book author, encourages aspiring authors nationwide to submit an original story, in either English or Spanish, for children ages three to eight.

In 2010, mom and small business owner Laurie Isop, of Renton, Wash., was named Grand Prize Winner and received a $5,000 cash prize. Also, beginning in late March, Laurie’s book How Do You Hug a Porcupine? will be featured in more than two million Cheerios boxes nationwide, with hard covers becoming available in July.

Isop offered some tips for raising kids who love books: “Start early, and don’t just read the words. Use as much inflection and drama as possible.” She encourages parents to offer a variety of books so children have lots of options. “Eventually they’ll find a character or subject they connect with, and voila! They’re hooked on reading!” She also says, “Don’t be afraid to conjure up your own books. When my youngest was four his preschool class got to visit a working construction site. That evening I wrote a little story on my computer. It was all of ten pages and had clip-art for illustrations. It was called Erik Visits the Construction Site. I used his name on every page and he just loved it; he begged me to read it to him again and again.”

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This One Takes The Cake

CLEVER JACK TAKES THE CAKE, ($17.99 , Random House/Schwartz & Wade, ages 4-8) written by Candace Fleming with illustrations by G. Brian Karas, is reviewed today by Lindy Michaels of BookStar on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City.

1What do fairy tales all seem to have in common? Hmm … well, there was poor Cinderella who needed a fairy godmother to help her meet the rich and handsome prince. Then there was poor Sleeping Beauty, who simply couldn’t wake up until the rich and handsome prince kissed her. Okay, you get the idea.

But what happens when Jack, a very poor boy, is invited, along with all the children of the Realm, to the rich and beautiful princess’s birthday party? What possible gift could he bring, befitting a real princess? With not a dime to his name, he decided to make her something. A cake! Since his cupboard was bare, he had nothing but his ingenuity and creativity to make a cake fit for the princess.

For eggs, he gave the hen extra feed, a kiss on the cow’s nose got him her sweetest milk, he gathered walnuts in the woods, dipped his own candles and found, in the strawberry patch, the “reddest, juiciest, most succulent strawberry in the land.”

After toiling over his delectable creation, he set off for the royal party. I could tell you that she loved it, that Jack and the princess, when of appropriate age, eventually fell in love and got married, which made Jack a prince and they lived happily ever after, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

On the way to the palace, Jack encountered four and twenty blackbirds, an ugly troll, an old, mean gypsy and her large bear, Samson and a palace guard, who wasn’t the nicest of fellows. Needless to say, by the time Jack got to meet the princess, he was empty-handed. But while the other children had presented the princess with jewels and other magnificent treasures, which quite frankly bored her, what Jack was able to give her, well, let’s just say, money couldn’t buy. And I do believe that eventually, they did fall in love and yes, lived happily ever after.

A delicious tale with a yummy moral you and your little princes and princess’s will want to read over and over again.

lindymichaelspicThe very versatile Lindy Michaels aims to inspire young minds through children’s literature. Lindy owned L.A.’s first children’s bookshop, OF BOOKS AND SUCH (1972-1987) where she did storytelling, taught drama to children, had art and poetry contests and the like. According to Lindy, “It was truly a ‘land of enchantment.” She also spent years lecturing on realism in children’s literature at colleges in the state. For close to five years Lindy has worked in Studio City for Barnes and Noble (BookStar) in the children’s section and does storytelling every Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

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An Interview With Big Dreamer Kristi Yamaguchi

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I recently read Kristi Yamaguchi’s wonderful new children’s book, Dream Big, Little Pig! and thought it would be fun to find out just what makes this amazingly talented and committed woman tick. Please read my interview with this figure skating superstar, Olympic gold medalist, philanthropist and mother.

By the way, fans, she’ll be in L.A. to promote her book March 21st – 23rd! L.A. Parent is giving away four family four-packs of tickets to the Pasadena Ice Skating Center on March 22nd (6:30-8:30pm) where she’ll be skating around and signing books for her fans. Click here for more info, but please note that the contest ends 9:30 a.m. on March 17.

Q. In your new picture book for kids, Dream Big, Little Pig, Poppy the Pig never seems to get overly discouraged because she has such strong support and encouragement from family and friends. As a child, did you have the same type of “You can do it” encouragement?
A. I did have similar encouragement growing up. From my family as well as my friends and skating coach.

Q. What would you say to parents who push their children to achieve what they want for their kids, rather than what the children want?
A. It’s a fine line between pushing too hard and lending support and encouragement. Sometimes kids need a push to get them on track again, but if it is constant, maybe that’s a cue that it is just not for them. An athlete needs to have a certain passion for what they do, for their sport. Success doesn’t come easy and if they don’t absolutely believe in what they are doing, it’ll be a tough road for everyone involved. Let the child take ownership of his /her activities.

kristi-yamaguchi_credit-claire-deliman-for-m-magazine1Q. What words of advice can you offer to children who suffer from low self-esteem and are fearful to try something new?
A. As a mom now, I find myself faced with all of these issues. I ask my daughter what is it that makes her afraid. And then try to reason or alleviate her fear or anxiety. Then show her how fun it can be. I also try to stress that it is OK to make mistakes. That is how we learn. ie. when we go skating I will fall on purpose on the ice and say ” see, even mommy falls down.” It’s all about trying and trying again.

Q. Your Always Dream Foundation inspires children to reach for the stars. But down to earth, how do you as a busy mom positively influence your two daughters on a day-to-day basis?
A. Easier said than done. Sometimes I feel like I’m just trying to get through the day remembering everyone’s schedule:) But I try to be positive myself around them and try to instill in them the same values that my parents gave me – having manners, treating people how they want to be treated, responsibility of their own things, trying as hard as they can in whatever they are doing.
Q. How is writing for kids different than writing your previous books?
A. With Dream Big, Little Pig!, it was fun to come up with a character with personality. I had my own big dreams of what Poppy would be like and what she would try. I wanted it to be very whimsical rather than factual like my other books. I had to also imagine the illustrations that would go along with the story.

Q. What qualities do you admire most in Poppy the pig?
A. I admire the perseverance that Poppy has. She is willing to try new things and when she finds that they aren’t for her she continues to look for her “passion.” When she discovers her passion, despite the obstacles and doubters, she pushes on and enjoys her own feeling of personal accomplishment. I love her positive attitude, too!

Q. Will Poppy be back to conquer more challenges?
A. I certainly hope so!!!

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