Children's Books are Growing Fast Across the Genres

Have  a look at the children's section in the book store lately or see what's forthcoming this season, from picture books through titles for teens.

This fall's offerings span a wide variety of topics and suggest why children's books have turned into the fastest-growing segment of the publishing industry. And, interestingly, adults are crossing over to read their kids' books!

The magical spell J.K. Rowling cast over kid lit with "Harry Potter" found new blood with Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" saga and most recently, Suzanne Collins' fight-to-the-death "The Hunger Games," creating a halo effect for the entire genre that doesn't show any signs of slowing.

Last year, overall publisher revenues for children's books were up 12%, to $2.78 billion, and e-books made astounding gains, according to BookStats, a collaboration of the Assn. of American Publishers and the Book Industry Study Group.
 

In the middle-grade genre, Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" has begun a bevy of illustrated, humorous, confessional-style bestsellers, which will continue in the coming months.   Many forthcoming children's books have already been snatched up by movie studios.
 

The young adult, or YA, category is particularly healthy as a result of blockbuster franchises and strong crossover readership. Many young adult books are read as much by adults as they are by their intended teen audiences.

Scholastic reports that 50% of the readers of "The Hunger Games" are adults. And more than half of the readers of the bestseller "Divergent" by Veronica Roth are at least 25 years old, according to a HarperCollins spokeswoman.

The stigma of adults "reading down" with children's titles is gone, said David Levithan, editorial director of Scholastic Press, which also published the Harry Potter series in the U.S.

"Adults have no hesitation at all to buy young adult anymore, so it's very easy to cross over," said Levithan, who anticipates high adult readership for "The Raven Boys," a mythological paranormal thriller kicking off a four-book series by "Shiver" trilogy author Maggie Stiefvater, another Scholastic writer.

Like "The Raven Boys," many of the most anticipated titles for fall hybridize genres. Libba Bray's "Diviners," for example, is paranormal historical fiction that follows a young woman during the Roaring '20s who becomes embroiled in an occult-related murder mystery.
Paramount has already optioned Bray's book for film, which shows that readers aren't the only ones interested in what's coming.

"We're finding as much interest from networks and studios. They are so hungry for teen content they're acquiring rights even before the books come out," said Susan Katz, president and publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books. On Tuesday, the publisher will release "Don't Turn Around" from debut author Michelle Gagnon. The thriller, about a teen computer hacker, has already been optioned for television.

"What seems to be different about the teen market as opposed to adult fiction is that young, first-time authors have a wide-open opportunity to sell like gangbusters," Katz said.

Veronica Roth was in college when she began writing "Divergent," the first book in a trilogy that will conclude next year. The series, which has sold 2 million copies since it began in May 2011, was recently optioned by Summit Entertainment, the production studio that brought Meyer's "Twilight" saga to the big screen.

Although overshadowed by the crossover appeal and attention paid to young adult books, the middle-grade, or tween, category for readers ages 8 to 12 is drawing a growing number of talented authors.

 

This fall also sees the release of several highly anticipated sequels in bestselling series, including new installments in Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," Dav Pilkey's "Captain Underpants" and "Big Nate" by Lincoln Peirce.

susan.carpenter@latimes.com

Early Chapter Books For Young Readers!

 Many of these early chapter books are the first in planned new series. They are all excellent reads and most likely will entice kids, ages six to eight, into the pleasure of reading.  Holly E. Newton compiled the list.

Duck for a Day, by Meg McKinlay, and illustrated by Leila Rudge, is a story about the calamities of a class pet when it's brought to a student's home for overnight. Abby is very organized and orderly and prepares for the class duck in every way. But her neighbor, Noah, is messy and unorganized. How these two unlikely kids come together to find the lost pet will produce many smiles throughout this book.
 

Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super-Sleuths, by Megan McDonald, and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, not only has six short mysteries and helpful advice to become a detective, but is terrific in helping young authors develop their writing skills and incorporate this genre into their repertoire.
 

Sadie and Ratz, by Sonya Hartnett, and illustrated by Ann James, is a story about how an older sister, Hannah, copes with her baby brother. The ways Hannah copes and ultimately adjusts with her young sibling will surely bring about much discussion as the story progresses.
 

Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Pinkwater, is a new genre for this celebrated children's author and hopefully this will be the first in a series. Young Maxine, and her brother Nick, have just moved into a high-rise. But when looking out the window at just the right angle they spot a tiny house with a yard that is completely surrounded by buildings. Soon the children seek the house and its owner, sweet elderly Mrs. Noodlekugel – and off goes the story.
 

 

Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest, by Wanda Coven, and illustrated by Pricilla Burris, is another new series. This is the third book in this lively series with Heidi baking a magical cookie for the school's cookie contest while no one knows about her powers.

Marty McGuire Digs Worms!, by Kate Messner, and illustrated by Brian Floca, is one in a series of books where Marty experiences many adventures while in 3rd grade. Teachers will love this particular book because of the many teachable moments during the experiments.
 

LawnMower Magic, by Lynne Jonell, illustrated byBrandon Dorman,is
a delightful story and the second in this magic series, "Hamster Magic" was the first book. The Willow kids are sick when they discover their nice lawn mower has stopped working. But then everything changes when they find an old push mower in the shed that's loaded with magic!
 

Fourth Grade Rats, by Jerry Spinelli, is a reissue and a great story about bullying and how to deal with kids that try to overpower others.
 

Third Grade Angels is Spinelli's newest edition for young readers and a prequel to "Fourth Grade Rats". The subject is how to be the best behaved for a month in class. Suds is determined to accomplish this very difficult task – at least for him.
 

Libby of High Hopes, by Elise Primavera, is hopefully the first in a series as this charming story demonstrates patience and heart.

Libby dreams everything about horses. But her older sister ends up getting the chance to take riding lessons. Now, Libby has to deal with not achieving her dreams, being nice to her sister and still looking toward her goal of being with horses.


 

New York, Phew York New Scratch-n-Sniff Kids' Book!

NYC is many things to many people, and it has the smells to match!  The smelly side of the city was brought to life about a month ago by author, Amber Jones.  A concierge at a Times Square hotel, she has smelled it all--and decided to wax about it in her new kids' book New York, Phew York: A Scratch-n-Sniff Adventure. 


The book features everything from the odor of a foul-smelling subway rider to the aroma of pastrami.

I think it’s an honest depiction of New York. It’s a love letter to New York.

Her illustrator, Tim Probert, completed the artwork, and she and her team of two advisers began the arduous process of trimming the book’s 62 scents down to a more manageable 23.

Jones said having accurate smells in the book was paramount, and each scent — which can be activated by lightly rubbing the paper its printed on — required multiple rounds of sniffing before it was deemed print-worthy.

For each potential smell, the printer would send Jones myriad options. For the smell of coffee, for instance, Jones had to decide between the odors of black coffee, espresso, latte or cappuccino, she recalled.
“It was really exhausting,” she said, laughing. “Smell is kind of like taste. Everyone smells something differently.”  And it was up to her to select which scent was the best and most accurate to what was found in New York.In the end, Jones said her favorite smell in the entire   book is that of exhaust, because she feels it’s one of the most accurate.

Ms. Jones reports that children all seem to love the stench of the smelly man on the subway, which, she  says, is strong enough to make a reader recoil from the glossy pages of the book.


The book is also sold on her website, as well as on Amazon.com, and she said it has completely sold out of two gift shops inside the W Hotel in Times Square.  The book has also sold out of the Rockefeller Center and Grand Central locations of Pylones, a quirky store that stocks everything from wind-up robots to an Eiffel Tower-shaped cheese grater. 
 
The reviews for the book have been positive on social media outlets and on Amazon.com.
One teacher wrote on Amazon that she had read it to her first-grade class, “and they absolutely LOVED it!It was the most requested book for read aloud this year.”

Jones is actively looking for a distributor so she can get "New York, Phew York" into more souvenir shops and major booksellers.  And she's settled on what she hopes will be the second installment in a city-themed scratch-n-sniff series: "Smell-A," for the noses of and for Los Angeles.

New Jumping Pages App Narrated by Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder

Those of you who follow my blog regularly know that I like to showcase new apps from time to time.  Today I am pleased to do just that again. 

 This app, narrated by former Democratic Congresswoman, Patricia Schroeder, is delightful!  The House that Went on Strike, is a rhyming, musical and interactive new kids book app that teaches kids (and their parents) respect for their home.

Ms. Schroeder, now of Orlando, had a remarkable political career, including running for president twenty-five years ago.
 

Rania Ajami, Filmmaker and Jumping Pages founder, approached Pat to narrate the new app.  Happily, she agreed.

Her memoir, titled "24 Years of House Work...and the Place is Still a Mess," is a fun play on her years in the House of Representatives.

 And, in her former publishing role, she provides a great perspective about kids book apps in a just penned article called "A 'House' Grandma's iPad Story" that can be found on The Huffington Post.  Her work on the app is getting great reviews.  Wired and Smart Apps for Kids both love her work and the book app!

I want to thank John Casey, Director of Marketing and Development at Jumping Pages for providing information on this terrific new app.  Jump, don't walk to get it!

Two Loggerhead Sea Turtles Released After One Year in Rehab

Two loggerhead sea turtles rescued on Isle of Palms at the  have been released following a year's worth of rehabilitation thanks to the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program.

Jammer Before and After

Both turtles were brought to the center near death, according to an Aquarium news release. After a full recovery, the Aquarium is partnering with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Here is a bit of information on each turtle:



Heading Home

Jammer is a 93-pound juvenile loggerhead sea turtle. S/he was rescued on the Isle of Palms near the Windjammer beach bar in April of last year. When brought into the hospital by SCDNR, Jammer was extremely debilitated, suffering from emaciation, dehydration, and had a heart rate of only 7 beats per minute.

  Upon admittance, there was concern that Jammer had neurological damage because s/he was swimming in circles in the same direction, but after several weeks of intensive care, Jammer began swimming normally. Treatment included antibiotics, fluids, vitamin injections, barnacle removal and treatment for shell damage due to secondary infection. After more than a year of treatment, Jammer is finally ready for the journey back into the Atlantic Ocean!

Celebration for All

Hamlin Creek is a 75-pound juvenile

loggerhead sea turtle found in Hamlin Creek, also located on the Isle of Palms. S/he was rescued in June of last year suffering from severe dermatitis, dehydration, and had poor blood work.

  Treatment for Hamlin Creek included fluids, vitamin injections, and antibiotics. Since being admitted to the Sea Turtle Hospital, Hamlin Creek has gained weight and his/her skin has fully healed. Feisty and healthy, Hamlin Creek is ready to venture back into the open ocean.

Julia Child's One Hundredth Birthday Today!

Julia Child.  A name that conjures up visions of fabulous French food, a "we don't fear the kitchen," slap-dash approach to concocting said dishes, World War II spy, Paris and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

 Please see the video of Julia's life at the bottom of this post!

 On August 15, the world celebrates Julia's one hundredth birthday.  And what a birthday gift she gave to us all.  A universal appreciation not only of French food, but of a way of cooking good things with food that is good for you. Her  joie de vivre, of course, is legendary.

And that lovely party feeling continues around Julia in many ways.  Let me list a few:

Her publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, has led the celebration with "JC100: A 100-Day Celebration of Julia Child," which began in May and will continue until her birthday. 

 Knopf has compiled a list of the top 100 Child recipes, including her classic French bread, boeuf bourguignon and duck pate, and has been released one recipe per day until Aug. 15.  They can be found at JC100 and on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Other JC100 events include bookstores across the country featuring her books and hosting readings and tributes, 100 food bloggers making her recipes and writing about them, and 100 restaurants across the country celebrating Julia Child Restaurant Week from Aug. 7 to 15. (The list of participating restaurants was released July 14.)

A slate of books about Child have been released or re-released to coincide with the birthday, including two new children's books: "Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child" by Jessie Hartland ($17.99, hardcover, Random House); and "Minette's Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat" by Susanna Reich ($16.95, hardcover, Abrams Books for Young Readers), which tells a charming tale of Child's Paris cat, and how she tries to cook a meal the cat will enjoy more than a mouse.

For adults, "Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child," a new biography by Bob Spitz ($29.95, hardcover, Knopf), is set for release on Aug. 7.  Also out is a new edition of 1999's "Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child" by Noel Riley Fitch ($18.95 softcover, Anchor).

If you want to see how it all began, PBS is set to release the DVD "The French Chef: Julia Child's French Classics" ($19.99), which features six episodes from Child's original 1960s black-and-white television show.

Child's series debuted in 1963, and introduced American home cooks to French cuisine. Episodes on the 180-minute DVD include her preparing French onion soup, coq au vin, quiche lorraine, chocolate mousse, French crepes and French apple tart.

"Bon Appetit!"

w.sacbee.com/2012/07/02/4604556/countdown-to-julia-childs-100th.ht

Boxcar Children Mysteries Prequel Written by Patricia MacLachlan

Seventy years after its debut, the Boxcar Children series is  getting a prequel, written by Newbery Medalist, Patricia MacLachlan.

 In The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm, Patricia MacLachlan, author of Sarah Plain and Tall, provides what she calls “the beginning before the beginning."  Gertrude Chandler Warner wrote the series about four siblings who live alone in a railroad car in the woods.

According to Publisher's Weekly, the book will be available on September 1 from Albert Whitman.  It will give a backstory to the series, which debuted in 1942 and has grown to more than 150 titles across a variety of formats, including beginning readers, graphic novels, and special editions.

Warner  thought up the plot of the original novel one day while she was home sick from her teaching job.  Since then the Boxcar Children Mysteries has more than 50 million copies in print worldwide.


Patricia MacLachlan
Photo:  John MacLachlan

Senior editor, Wendy McClure, has been at the
editorial helm of the series for the past decade; she explains that the prequel was sparked in part by letters that the publisher has received from readers over the years. “There are a couple of questions that readers always ask,” she says. “One of them is, ‘What happened to the parents?’ We realized that there was a story there and decided that it was time it was told.”
 

MacLachlan was an easy choice, according to McClure:



We knew from the start she’d be perfect. She writes so beautifully about families and about families coming together in unusual ways. She had great insight into the young characters.

When approached, MacLachlan says, she willingly took on the task. “A door opened and I decided to walk through it and see how it goes,” she says. “I like these children a great deal, which made it easier to write about them.” MacLachlan says that she did find the prospect of writing a prequel a bit daunting, but it provided her with some boundaries, too. “I did invent the parents, but in a sense I knew what kind of parents they had been, because of who their children are. The siblings are thoughtful and kind, and they take care of each other.”

Patricia MacLachlan and Nancy Stewart
IL Reading Council Conference (2012)

In preparation for writing The Boxcar Children Beginning, MacLachlan read a number of the series’ installments – and listened to her son read them to her six-year-old granddaughter. “I sat on the edge of her bed as he read the books, and I was able to hear her reaction to them,” she says. “This helped draw me into the lives of these characters. ”

The author also drew from her own grandparents to create the prequel, in which the Aldens share their farmhouse with another family that has lost its home in the Depression. “My grandparents took in a lot of people who had lost their jobs during [that time],” she says. “So I was able to use their lives as well."

Though she has finished the novel, MacLachlan says the Alden children haven’t entirely disappeared from her life. “I sometimes dream of them going back to the farm,” she says. “I’m not exactly sure where that comes from. I guess they have in a sense become part of my family.”

Some Great New Chapter Books!

Have a look at some terrific new chapter books for kids!  Chapter books usually are done in a series but not all the time.  The secret, of course, to a successful series is a memorable character or characters.  The protagonist needs to be lovable, admirable, smart or savvy, but must stand out in a way that appeals to kids!

A Hero for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

In this wonderfully illustrated sequel to The Search for WondLa, Eva Nine
believes she's reached the end of her quest in New Attica -- a Utopian city
where everyone lives in Harmony.

 But as Eva soon discovers, not everything is as it first appears, and she just may need to save her world once again.

Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli

The story of one summer where everything changes is told alternately through the voices of Jake and Lily, twins who have always shared a special connection. They've even shared the same dream since they were six. But as they turn eleven, Jake begins to choose the neighborhood boys over his sister.

 In trying to understand why they are growing apart, Lily turns to her grandfather. As the summer progresses, both Jake and Lily must decide what's important, and who they really are.

The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone

7th grader Louise Terrace (or Thumbelina, as she likes to be called) has a secret admirer -- he's been leaving notes under her door and drawing chalk hearts on her steps. As Louise attempts to discover who he is, she
begins to uncover things about herself and her past. Can she face the painful secret that has threatened to tear her apart, and recognize the love of those who have been with her every step of the way?

Five Lives of Our Cat Zook by Joanne Rocklin

When their cat becomes sick, Oona and her little brother Freddy conspire to steal him from the vet's office. In the meantime, Oona comforts Freddy by regaling him with stories of Zook's first five lives (since as everyone knows, all cats have nine).

  Unknowingly, each tale Oona spins parallels her own life, as she and her family try to cope with a devastating loss, as well as change and the possibility of new love.

These are but a few of the great new books out there.  Have a look.  They're so close that you can reach out and snag them with little effort or money. You'll be glad you did!

My Hero-- R.L. Stine and Goosebumps!

Those of you who follow this blog know that I love R.L. Stine and Goosebumps!  The series came at a time when books were not to scare children, when traditional books ruled.  And yet, his books are fun, a little scary but not too scary.  They're just right. 

Please have a look at a recent interview of Stine by Nick Zieminski.  Read and enjoy! 

Stine is the author of "Goosebumps" and other series for young readers that have sold more than 300 million copies in 32 languages and inspired TV shows, merchandise, a theme park attraction and a Wii game.


For many children, Stine's mildly scary books are their first step up from picture books. Their language is accessible and they tend to sidestep real-world concerns, relying on fantastical creatures, ghosts and the occasional slow-moving zombie for their scares.
July was the 20th anniversary of Goosebumps, which still sell several hundred thousand copies a month. Stine writes six Goosebumps books a year and at least one novel. A horror story for adults, "Red Rain," about evil children, is due later this year. Stine spoke with Reuters about his extraordinary productivity:

Q: At its peak, you sold 4 million books a month. Why?
A: "The secret of Goosebumps, and the reason it got so enormous in the 90s, was it was the first book series to appeal equally to boys and girls. Everyone in publishing (assumes) girls read and boys don't read. In fact, these books were originally done for a girl audience. And then the fan mail started coming in and it was half from boys.



"I have a boy and a girl in every book. They're all 12. They're aimed at 7-12 year olds. Second graders can read them. By 12, I sort of lose them. They go on to other authors."

Q: There's little outright cruelty in your stories. Where do you draw the line in terms of what's appropriate?
A: "I have some rules. No one ever dies in a Goosebumps book. If there happen to be ghosts and they are dead, it happened before the book starts. And I don't do any real serious problems. Kids have to know this is a creepy fantasy and it couldn't really happen."

Q: And it's always the kids who solve problems. Parents don't interfere.

A: "The parents are useless. Either the parents don't believe them or the parents aren't there."
Q: When you write, for example, about a hideous mask that the heroine can't take off, one wonders if your deeper theme is the horror of adolescence.
A: "I didn't really think of that. When my son was little he was trying on a green Frankenstein mask and he was pulling it down over his face and he couldn't get it off. And he was tugging, tugging. I thought, what a great idea for a story. I should've helped him. I wasn't a good parent that day."
Q: Do you still claim the title of "the world's best-selling children's author"?
A: "I think J.K. Rowling's passed me by. I'm No. 2 now."
Q: This is your obligatory question about the number of books you've published.
A: "I've lost count, which is kind of obnoxious. I've written 330 books, or something. I've got a ways to go to catch up to Isaac Asimov. I used to see him at the post office, mailing off two or three manuscripts at a time. He wrote 550 books."
Q: What were you into when you were the age of your readers? How did you come into this line of work?

A: "I was a very shy kid, very fearful of a lot of things, which is bad when you're a kid but now it's very helpful. I can remember back and remember that feeling of panic being a kid, and try to convey that in the books.

"When I was nine or 10, I just started staying in my room and typing these stories, a little joke magazine. I wrote funny stories for years. I was an editor at Scholastic in my 20s and did social studies magazines for kids. Then I had a humor magazine, which was my goal in life. It was called 'Bananas.' I had the best time. While I was doing it, I started writing funny children's books, joke books."


Q: I've read you get a lot of fan mail. What do kids say?
A: "That's one of the best parts of writing for kids. I get wonderful mail, tons and tons. Here's a couple classic letters:
"'Dear R.L. Stine, I really love your books but can you answer one question, why don't the endings make any sense?'
"'Dear R.L. Stine, I'm huge fan of your books. Your friends and family are proud of you, no matter what anybody says.'
"'Dear R.L. Stine, I've read 40 of your books and I think they're really boring.'
"That's my favorite."
Q: What do you read for pleasure?
A: "I read a lot of thrillers and mysteries. I'm in the international thriller writers' organization. We all get together every summer. So I read Lee Child and Harlan Coben and Doug Preston and Michael Connelly. I don't read any nonfiction. I don't like the real world."
Q: These are physical books?
A: "Mostly. I have a Kindle when I travel."
Q: Do you feel boxed in by horror?
A: "No, because I put a lot of humor in the books."
Q: Are you a very disciplined writer?
A: "I'm a machine. It's like a full-time job. I work six days a week. I sit down at the computer, maybe 10 o'clock, and I write 10 pages a day every day."

Children’s Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Fun with Music – August 2012 Issue

Welcome to the August 2012 issue of Guardian Angel Kids Ezine. We call it GAK because that’s the name of our gecko mascot!

This month we celebrate the Fun of Music. The GAK staff can’t think of anything more universal than children enjoying music. They learn to respond and participate to music at a very early age.

As a child, Guardian Angel Publishing and Guardian Angel Kids publisher, Lynda S. Burch, loved to sing in the choir, learned the piano, and taught herself to play the organ. She enjoyed playing in the high school band from 7th grade through senior year of high school. She played the clarinet, soprano clarinet, and alto clarinet. Ms. Burch also sang in the school chorus and smaller groups and competed around the state just like Glee.

As an adult Ms. Burch always made up songs and sang them to kids. One day she decided to write and record them instead of just singing them. These songs turned into over a hundred musical children’s books to be played on computers. Ms. Burch’s extended family from around the globe break into song about the weather, fun noodles in the swimming pool, or even a new alphabet song. What fun she has had with these musical books!

We hope you develop a love for music as much as Ms. Burch and the GAK staff have.

Letter from the PUBLISHER: Lynda S. Burch

Featured Book:

The New Alphabet Song Musical Flip Book by Lynda S. Burch and Photo Art by Lynda S. Burch and MarySue Roberts

SPECIAL FEATURE:

God Will Take Care of You Music Video – sung by a two year old and his family, the Buctots.

Children’S poetry, ACTIVITIES, SHORT STORIES, and articleS:

“Jenny’s Song,” poetry by Debra Mayhew – learn how to let your song out. 

“Canary Choir,” by Carol J. Douglas and illustrated by Lisa Griffin – overcoming obstacles. 

“A Box with Bellows,” by Juilana M. Jones and illustrated by Clara Batton Smith – mother and daughter bond through the love of the accordion.

“Whale Songs,” by Shari L. Klase – The glory of the ability to sing.

“Fabulous Music Activities for Young Children,” by Kathy Stemke – children need to learn the basics of music early in life to develop creative intelligence.

“New Teacher Tips on How to Prepare a Lesson Based on a Unit or a Theme,” by Dorit Sasson – lesson planning is a skill which takes focus and organization.  

Visit Guardian Angel Kid today and www.guardian-angel-kids.com and enjoy a child safe and ad free Ezine.

We also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-Angel-Kids-Ezine/163785080346247.

Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Donna McDine an email at submissions@guardian-angel-kids.com and let them know what you think of Guardian Angel Kids and what you'd like to see in the future. They aim to please.

The Guardian Angel Kids Ezine staff and contributors look forward to your visit. Thank you for your time and interest.