Last Minute Kids' Books for Christmas

Need a few suggestions as stocking stuffers?  Here are several wonderful books that just might fill the bill:

Who pushed Humpty Dumpty? tells the story of a police detective who investigates  mysteries  within classic fairy tales/nursery rhymes. Did Humpty Dumpty just fall off that roof, or was he pushed? This is just one of the questions looked into by detective Binky. David Levinthal is the author, telling these classic tales in the style of a 1940s noir detective novel for kids.

With all the renewed interest in President Lincoln, the Magic Tree House series offers Abe Lincoln at Last! The series characters of Jack and Annie go back in time to help the president with a tough issue.  

As to a lovely Christmas book, Cheryl Malandrinos has written  a beautiful book titled Little Shepherd.  Obed is in the hills outside Bethlehem when the angels appear to announce the Savior’s birth.

Can he trust that the miracle of the first Christmas will keep his flock safe while he visits the newborn King?  Published by Guardian Angel Publishing, this lovely book is so timely.

One Family's Christmas by Mary Jean Kelso tells the story of a family whose star for their Christmas tree is destroyed, they search for another.  They resurrect the treetop angel carried across the Oregon Trail by a young pioneer and bring the story of The Christmas Angel full circle.

 Another wonderful book for very young children is Monday the Bullfrog by Matthew Van Fleet.  The story teaches kids the days of the week, but the book is actually in the mouth of a plush bullfrog that can also be used as a puppet.

Enjoy these books and others during The Season.  Remember to read, read, read to your young ones!   That is the very best gift anyone can give to a child!

Happy Holidays to you all!

Cheryl Malandrinos Interview (Author, Editor, Freelance Writer)

I am so very delighted to have my friend, Cheryl Malandrinos as a guest on the blog today.  I've known Cheryl for quite a few years, and we are fellow authors at Guardian Angel Publishing.  I've also worked with her on blog tours with Pump Up Your Book, and it was always a pleasure. 

 NS  Tell us a bit about what in your past prepared you for and led you to this moment in your writing career?
 
CM  Thanks for having me as your guest today, Nancy. I’ve been an avid reader my entire life. I also enjoy considering what is behind the stories I read. Yes, I was the girl who didn’t mind writing book reports. It helps that I love learning. I would go back to school tomorrow if I could afford it.
 
I didn’t start writing original material until I was a teenager. After my mother’s death, I needed an outlet for my grief. My writing gave me that.  I didn’t seriously pursue writing as a career until I became a stay-at-home mom in 2004. I enrolled in a writing course, began blogging, attended writers conferences and submitted my work. It took time, but I’m glad I persevered.
 
 NS  Between freelancing, editing  and writing your own books, how much of your day is taken up with the writing profession?
 
CM  Not enough. I wish I could say I am the dedicated professional who sits and writes something every day. I’m not. I read a lot, especially in the genres I work in. I blog five days a week. Social media also gets attention. I work daily on expanding my reach.  All that said, two or three days a week are dedicated to some aspect of my career.
 
NS  Everyone wants to know where we get our ideas and inspiration in writing.  Could you address how that happens in your life?
 
CM  I would probably find it easier to pinpoint what doesn’t inspire my writing. The only time I’ve consciously considered my ideas is when I participated in National Picture Book Idea Month in 2010. The goal was to come up with one new idea for each day of November. A few months later, I turned six of those ideas into stories for Picture Book Writing Week. One of those stories is currently under consideration with my publisher and I am editing the others.
 
My first book, Little Shepherd, was inspired by a Christmas carol. A Christmas Kindness will be out this fall. That was inspired by a desire to teach my children the importance of thinking of others. Amelia’s Mission, a middle grade historical, came about as part of a writing workshop. I saw Amelia very clearly in my mind, and her story has taken me a bit by surprise. I love it. The antics of my children, newspaper articles, and community events have also inspired some ideas.
 
NS   I have worked closely with you on four Pump Up Your Book tours.  You are leaving the organization after some very successful years.  What general new horizons are in your view at the moment?
 
CM  I still plan to write, but now that my girls are a bit older, I’m returning to the workforce in a larger capacity. Ideally, it will be a career that will allow me to work from home part-time and occasionally in the office.  The evolution of technology allows more opportunities than ever before for work-at-home situations. Having worked from home for five years, I know I can be productive.
 
Leaving Pump Up Your Book was a difficult decision, because I love promoting and talking about books. I felt the need to diversify my portfolio and see what else God has planned for me. I’ve been praying for guidance.
NS  You’ve had a successful Christmas book, Little Shepherd, and if you can, tell us what’s next for you in terms of your own writing.
 
My next book will be out this fall under the name C. C. Gevry. Entitled, A Christmas Kindness, it is the story of Robert, who visits the mall Santa on Christmas Eve with his wish list, but ends up asking for a special gift for a new friend instead. I hope it reminds kids that thinking of others is important. This book will be published by 4RV Publishing.

Friends have asked me why I chose a pen name for this book. It boils down to branding. With Little Shepherd I created a “Faith-filled journeys for kids” brand. A Christmas Kindness, while focusing on Christian values, is not a Christian story. I felt it important not to confuse my readers, so I opted for a pen name. The next book in the “Faith-filled journeys for kids” brand is already in the process of being written. It will tackle the topic of bullying.
 
CM  Thanks again for having me here today, Nancy. I wish you and your readers the best.

NS  Cheryl, it is always such a pleasure to have you as a guest on this blog.  I wish you nothing but the best in this next life adventure.  Please come back and let us know how it is going!

Sea Turtle Summer Reviewed at The Children's and Teen's Book Connection!

Today we have a special treat!   We visit and are reviewed by Cheryl Malandrinos at her marvelous blog, The Children's and Teen's Book Connection.

Cheryl Malandrinos

Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A founding member of Musing Our Children, Ms. Malandrinos is Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens. Her first children’s book, Little Shepherd, was released in August 2010 by Guardian Angel Publishing. She is also a member of the SCBWI.

Bella and Britt helping 97 Loggerhead sea turtle
hatchlings to the sea

With all that talent and experience, Britt, Bella, the ranger and I are excited to see what she thinks about our book!  We hope she likes it and gives Sea Turtle Summer a good review.

We are also excited to learn that Sea Turtle Summer is still on Amazon's Hot New Releases in Children's Books List.  And to add to that, both the soft and hard covers are on the list!

Thanks to all of you who support the Bella and Britt Series!

Books Can Educate and Entertain By Cheryl C. Malandrinos, Author of Little Shepherd

It is my pleasure to host Cheryl Malandrinos, author of the children's book, Little Shepherd.  Welcome, Cheryl.  I know my readers will gain insight from your words.

Some children’s books entertain readers. There are silly stories meant to make readers laugh and those that celebrate the joys of being a kid. Most times there’s a conflict and resolution, but others, you get a zany story that doesn’t follow those guidelines. Who said childhood should be all about following rules anyway?

When I sat down to write Little Shepherd, I knew I wasn’t creating those types of stories. Little Shepherd introduces young readers to five-year-old, Obed, who is in the hills outside of Bethlehem tending his first flock, when an angel appears to announce the Savior’s birth.

After the angel leaves, the other shepherds wish to visit this Savior, but Obed isn’t so sure. He’s heard the wolves howling in the distance. After some wise words from his father, Obed decides to join the others. His anxiety, however, remains. More than that, Obed can’t understand why his father and the other shepherds aren’t equally as anxious about their sheep being left alone where anything could happen to them.

Little Shepherd is the kind of book that educates while it entertains. Young readers have the opportunity to learn several things:

• The young were expected to assist the family and carried great responsibility.
• Sheep were depended upon for clothing and food, so it was important to protect them.
• Children can be confused by the actions of adults.
• Sometimes we have to step out in faith and hope for the best, despite our anxiety.

That last point captures the essence of Obed’s story. We often make decisions that require us to have faith in someone other than ourselves. We might have to depend on an older person’s wisdom to help us make a decision. We might make a choice that challenges common sense. In the end, like Obed, when we step out in faith, we reap the rewards.

A love of reading and writing is important to our children’s success. The children’s market is filled with so many wonderful types of books that I hope you and your child discover a new one every day.

Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer, children’s author and editor. Her first children’s book, Little Shepherd, was released in August 2010 by Guardian Angel Publishing. She is also a member of the SCBWI.

Cheryl is a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book, a book reviewer, and blogger. Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two children. She also has a son who is married.
Visit Cheryl at her newly redesigned website http://ccmalandrinos.com/ or visit the Little Shepherd book blog at http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/