Penny & Jelly Blog Tour & Giveaway: Interview with Author Maria Gianferrari

Thank you Maria Gianferrai for including Kid Lit Frenzy in your Blog Tour for Penny & Jelly: The School Show. My niece and I really enjoyed the book. Also, thank you for answering some of her questions as part of your stop.

KK to Maria:   How did you come up with the idea for the story?

Maria:  Penny and Jelly was literally inspired by my daughter, Anya, and her dog sister, Becca. Anya’s very artistic and creative, like Penny, and as an only child, Becca has been her best friend and playmate. We adopted Becca as a rescue when Anya was 4 (now she’s 13), so they’ve grown up together. Here’s an early cute picture of them together.

KK:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Maria: I don’t think I was really inspired. In a way it chose me. I’ve always loved expressing my ideas in words, but I was initially afraid of failing at it—I liked the idea of being a writer, but it took awhile to actually commit to the hard work of day-to-day writing, and all of the rejections that are involved in wanting to become a published one. But, I persisted and persevered, and I’m proud of myself that I didn’t give up when I easily could have.

KK: Did you ever participate in a Talent Show in school and what did you do for the talent show? If so, were you successful?

Maria: I’ve never participated in any kind of public talent show. I was quite shy as a child (still am), so I definitely would not have enjoyed it. When I was a kid, we used to make up plays and perform in our garage for our friends and neighbors. We also used to do a holiday play at one of our neighbor’s houses for our parents. It was a lot of fun to pretend, and it was a more comfortable environment.

KK: Will there be any more Penny & Jelly stories? And are you working on any other books that you can tell us about?

Maria:  Yes! A second book, PENNY & JELLY SLUMBER UNDER THE STARS, is slated for release in June 2016. See if you can find the character that illustrator Thyra Heder modeled after me. I just love Thyra’s expressive illustration style. It has such warmth and humor.

I’m working on several different fiction and nonfiction picture book manuscripts at the moment. The one I’m currently having the most fun with is a nonfiction book about rats called RAT-tastic!

This is a photo of our rat sisters, Lucia and Nera (Lucia is white, Nera is black). Nera died on Christmas day last year which made it impossible to celebrate.

And this is our first pet rat, Sky.

We really miss Nera and Sky. Rats are very sweet and affectionate creatures, and they make great pets.

Thanks Maria for letting us also chat with Penny. 

KK to Penny: What are you plans for the summer break? And do you have any books that you are looking forward to reading?

Penny:  Lots of swimming in the lake with Jelly and my friends. Playing in my treehouse and catching frogs and fireflies and butterflies (don’t worry, I always let them go).

I love to read! I want to read the new biography on Jane Goodall called Untamed, and the new Penderwicks book. And Jelly keeps asking me to read his favorite picture book, Gaston.

KK: I really like doing gymnastics. Do you have any favorite sports?

Penny: I like to play soccer—it’s fun!

KK: What kinds of things do you like doing with your friends?

Penny:  We like to play games outside, like hopscotch and tag. We also like to climb trees.

**Penny has a question for KK:  Is KK your nickname? What does it stand for?  Penny’s my nickname, but my real name is Penelope. But Jelly is just Jelly. 

KK: KK is a nickname and stands for my first and middle initials. My first name is Kayla but everyone at home calls me KK.

Thanks for interviewing us, KK & Alyson!   ~Penny & Maria 

Hey Maria, This is Alyson. Guess what?! I saw on your website that you grew up in Keene, New Hampshire. What a small world since I went to college at Keene State College.  

About the author: Maria writes both fiction and nonfiction picture books from her sunny, book-lined study in northern Virginia, with dog, Becca as her muse. Maria’s debut picture book, Penny & Jelly: The School Show, illustrated by Thyra Heder, will be released on July 7th, 2015 (HMH Books for Young Readers). A second Penny & Jelly book titled, Penny & Jelly Slumber Under the Stars, will be released in June 2016. Maria has five additional books forthcoming from Roaring Brook and Boyds Mills Presses as well as Aladdin Books for Young Readers in the coming years. To learn more about Maria, visit her website: www.mariagianferrari.com or on facebook. 

And you can visit Penny & Jelly at their website: pennyandjelly.com, and on Instagram: @pennyandjelly.

Check these blogs for more fun with Maria, Penny, and Jelly:

Friday, June 26th: Kidlit411/Sylvia Liu & Elaine Kiely Kearns
Monday, June 29th: Miss Marple’s Musings/Joanna Marple
Tuesday, June 30th: Pragmatic Mom/Mia Wenjen
Wednesday, July 1st: Watch Connect Read/Mr. Schu
Thursday, July 2nd: Kidlitfrenzy/Alyson Beecher
Friday, July 3rd: Writing for Kids While Raising Them/Tara Lazar
Monday, July 6th – Friday, July 10th: Emu’s Debuts virtual book week launch
Monday, July 13th: Bildebok/Cathy Ballou Mealey
Tuesday, July 14th: HMH Picture Book Parade

Enter to win a copy of PENNY AND JELLY by completing the rafflecopter below. Winners must be 13 years or older and have a US mailing address.

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To the Sea Giveaway & Interview with author, Cale Atkinson

To the Sea
by Cale Atkinson
Disney Hyperion (June 2, 2015)
Audience: Ages 3 to 5
Fiction * Friendship * Perseverance
Indiebound | WorldCat
 

About the book: 
Sometimes Tim feels invisible at school-until one day, when Tim meets Sam. But Sam isn’t just any new friend: he’s a blue whale, and he can’t find his way home! Returning Sam to the sea is hard work, but Tim is determined to help. After all, it’s not every day you meet a new friend! This picture book about the power of friendship by new talent Cale Atkinson is brought to life by charming, dynamic illustrations.

Quick thoughts on the book:
A few months ago, a bookseller friend placed the F&G (folded & gathered) version of TO THE SEA into my hands and told me how much she loved this book and that I must read it. I sat down right there in the store and read the story of a little boy and a big blue whale and a dilemma. When I got to the end, I had fallen in love with the characters, the story, the illustrations, and everything about this book.

Don't you just love the image here of Tim offering Sam a glass of water? 

There are so many moments and emotions that children will relate to in this story. 

Can you imagine pedaling a tricycle fast enough to move a whale? 

You can pick up a copy of TO THE SEA at your local indie bookstore or public library. Hope you enjoy this friendship story as much as I did. 

Interview with Cale Atkinson: 

If you could describe your book in 2 sentences, how would you describe it to someone?

TO THE SEA is about a boy named Tim who feels alone, until one day he meets Sam, a big lost whale outside his school. The two see each other for who they really are, and soon become friends, with Tim promising to help Sam get back to the sea.

TO THE SEA has an element of friendship, belonging, or the hope for something very special, what did you draw on to get the emotional element just right in the story?

For the emotion and feeling I wanted in the story I mostly drew from my own personal experiences in the past feeling ‘unseen’ or not fitting in. I think we all yearn for that connection of feeling seen for who we are and how heavy it can feel if we don’t have it. I tried to think back to how that really felt and how much it all can change once you find that connection or friend.

Any new projects that you are working on that you can share with us?

Yes indeed! I have a second book coming next year with Disney Hyperion titled ‘Explorers of the Wild’, which I wrote and illustrated.

Also in 2016 look out for a book I illustrated with Tundra Books titled ‘If I had a Gryphon’ (With writing by Vikki VanSickle) as well as a book I illustrated and wrote called ‘Maxwell the Monkey Barber’ with OWL Books. Woo hoo!

Summer and vacations go hand-in-hand. If you could go on vacation with your favorite book character (either in your own book or from someone else's book) who would you vacation with and what would you do?

Tough Question!

I’m going to go with a more recent character that I adore from Emily Hughes’ book ‘Wild’.  The main character is an untameable girl raised by animals who belongs out in the wild, not cooped up in a house. For vacation we would go run around the wild outdoors, hang out in giant tree branches and play with all the animals!

About the author: 
Cale Atkinson wanted to be a whale when he grew up, but chose to be an artist and animator once he realized it was impossible. This is his first book. Visit Cale online at www.cale.ca or on Twitter @2dCale.

Thank you to Disney Hyperion for offering a giveaway of this very special book. To enter the giveaway, please complete the rafflecopter below. Winners must be 13 years or older and have an US mailing address.

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The Princess and the Pony Blog Tour & Giveaway

The Princess and the Pony
by Kate Beaton
Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine (June 30, 2015)
Audience: Pre-K to 3
Fiction * Ponies * Princesses
Indiebound | WorldCat

About the book: 
Princess Pinecone knows exactly what she wants for her birthday this year. A BIG horse. A STRONG horse. A horse fit for a WARRIOR PRINCESS! But when the day arrives, she doesn't quite get the horse of her dreams...

From the artist behind the comic phenomenon Hark! A Vagrant, The Princess and the Pony is a laugh-out-loud story of brave warriors, big surprises, and falling in love with one unforgettable little pony.

My thoughts on the book: 
Princess Pinecone is no ordinary princess and definitely no ordinary warrior. I had a chance to first get a look at this book in January at the American Library Association MidWinter meeting. I loved the twist on the "princess and pony" theme. Often times, books depict a princess and a horse/pony in a predictable way. However, Kate Beaton throws a twist into her story. Maybe it is the comfy sweaters or maybe it is the adorable and sort of round pony that draws you in but you can Princess Pinecone's desires and frustrations. 

I love this spread where the other warriors get presents worthy of their warrior status. And then you have the comfy sweater....

I really enjoy Kate Beaton's illustrations. Does this look like a Warrior's horse? (below) Princess Pinecone wants a "big horse" worthy of being a Warrior Princess's horse. This was her present. Not exactly what she had in mind. 

However, Princess Pinecone and her pony certainly found a way to be accepted and find their place in the world. 

This is such a fun picture book and perfect for kids who like humor and also enjoy a book with a bit of a twist. Look for a copy of The Princess and the Pony at your local indie bookstore or public library. 

About the author: 
Kate Beaton is the author of Hark! A Vagrant, her #1 New York Times bestselling collection of comics which began as a webcomic in 2007. The Princess and the Pony is her first picture book. She is the recipient of multiple Harvey awards, and her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Harper’s, and The Best American Comics Anthology. Kate lives in Toronto, and you can find her on Twitter as @beatonna.  0r learn more at Scholastic.com  Visit the author at BeatonTown.com  Social Media: #PonyTime

Don't forget to enter into the giveaway: 

NOT YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESS prize pack
Two (2) winners each receive a copy of The Princess and the Pony.

Giveaway open to US addresses only and be 13 years or older.
Prizing and samples provided by Scholastic.

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Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave Blog Tour

Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave
by Jen White
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (June 9, 2015)
Fiction * Sisters  * Single-Parent Families
Reading Guide | Teacher's Guide | Read Chapter 1
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: 
After their mother's recent death, twelve-year-old Liberty and her eight-year-old sister, Billie, are sent to live with their father, who they haven't seen since they were very young. Things are great at first; the girls are so excited to get to know their father – a traveling photographer who rides around in an RV. But soon, the pressure becomes too much for him, and he abandons them at the Jiffy Company Gas Station.

Instead of moping around and being scared, Liberty takes matters into her own hands. On their journey to get home, they encounter a shady, bald-headed gas station attendant, a full-body tattooed trucker, free Continental breakfast, a kid obsessed with Star Wars, a woman who lives with rats, and a host of other situations. 

When all seems lost, they get some help from an unlikely source, and end up learning that sometimes you have to get a little bit lost to be found.

My favorite 5 Survival Strategies from SURVIVAL STRATEGIES OF THE ALMOST BRAVE:
Throughout Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave, Liberty carries a notebook. Each chapter heading corresponds with one of the survival strategies that Liberty writes in her notebook or uses to care for her and her sister. Here are 5 of my favorites.... 

Survival Strategy # 3: BLUE SKIES DO NOT MEAN HAPPINESS - The book begins shortly after Liberty and Billie have lost their mother. Even at a young age, Liberty learns that the sky can be a perfect blue and the weather the best beach day ever despite life feeling so stormy.  

Survival Strategy # 11: SOMETIMES YOU SHOULD FEEL SORRY FOR THE COBRA- Liberty and Billie's father left when the girls were very young. Since he is a photographer for National Geographic, Liberty watches animal programs to have something to speak with him if she were to see him again. After her mom's death, they are reunited with their dad. An interesting animal fact, snake charmers sew together a cobra's mouth because venom is poisonous. The knowledge of learning how to behave around cobras becomes an analogy for learning about how to act around her dad. In life, we all have people we have to learn how to behave around, but like cobras, maybe we should feel sorry for them?

Survival Strategy # 16: IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR A SEA TURTLE, IT MIGHT BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU - I like sea turtles and enjoyed the various references that Liberty would make about sea turtles. At one point, after her father abandoned her and Billie, she talked about instinct and how baby sea turtles knew what to do. Will Liberty know by instinct how to care for herself and Billie?

Survival Strategy # 20: PANIC IS NOT YOUR FRIEND - As someone prone to anxiety and worry, I usually say "anxiety is not your friend". Panic, similar to anxiety, is never helpful in a stressful situation. Liberty has to figure out how to care for herself and her sister, Billie. In a tough situation, she must remain calm rather than panic, even when Billie has a meltdown.

Survival Strategy # 41: DR PEPPER CAN RUIN EVERYTHING - I partially picked this one because Dr Pepper is my least favorite soda, so in my mind it does ruin everything. However, Liberty shares about an incident involving Dr Pepper and an accidental spill all over her father's maps and magazines.  This event was emotional and pivotal. In all of our lives, we can identify something that may be mundane but becomes the symbol for something much more significant. For Liberty and Billie, Dr Pepper was that pivotal moment. 

Look for SURVIVAL STRATEGIES OF THE ALMOST BRAVE by Jen White at your local indie bookstore or public library to read more about Liberty, Billie and their survival strategies.

Check out the interview with Jen White at Read Now Sleep Later, click here.

About the author: 
Jen White grew up in California, the oldest of five siblings.  In kindergarten, during a parent/teacher conference, her teacher told her mother, “She’s a little bossy.” Unfortunately, Jen thinks that same assessment might still be made today.  She blames it on birth order. When she was young she wanted to become an author and a teacher.  One of her earliest memories was learning how to read.  She remembers how excited she was when she realized she could read the signs she saw through the window when she was in the car with her mother. She also remembers how her stomach hurt when she read out loud because she read with such gusto.  

Jen has a degree in English teaching and also earned her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in writing for children and young adults. SURVIVAL STRATEGIES OF THE ALMOST BRAVE is her debut novel and was born from the real experience of Jen being accidentally forgotten at a gas station with her younger sister and cousin.  Jen currently tries not to boss around her five children and husband in San Clemente, California.  You can find Jen White on Twitter: @jenwhite_ | Tumblr | Website

Giveaway: One lucky reader, with a US mailing address, can win a copy of Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White. Please enter the rafflecopter to have a chance to win. 

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My Dog is Best Blog Tour: Interview with Laurie Thompson

My Dog is the Best
by Laurie Ann Thompson; Illustrated by Paul Schmid
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (June 9, 2015)
Fiction * Pets * Dogs
Audience: Ages 3 to 6
IndieBound | WorldCat | GoodReads
Sneak Peak at the Book, click here.

Thank you Laurie Thompson for stopping by and chatting with us about your new book, MY DOG IS THE BEST. Of course, I think that my cats are the best, but if you are going to have a book about dogs, this is certainly adorable. I look forward to sharing it with friends and kids. 

My Dog is the Best is your latest book. It's really different from your two previous releases (Be a Changemaker and Emmanuel's Dream). What led you to write MY DOG IS THE BEST? 

In 2009, I took a course on writing easy readers from Anastasia Suen. I wrote MY DOG IS THE BEST as the final homework assignment. I wanted to write something that had mostly simple vocabulary and repetition, but that also had humor, heart, and was something most kids would be able to relate to on some level. At around the same time, I’d noticed that I usually told my dog, “Good dog!” just as she was curling up to go to sleep. (She had been a hyper puppy, so it was still a relief to see her relax.) She always gave me this bewildered look. I thought it was funny that my idea of “Good dog!” was the exact opposite of hers and vice versa (and the same often applies to young children and their parents), so that’s where I started for the assignment.

Recently, I was talking with another author about the importance of teaching children to read both text and illustrations. In MY DOG, though simple text, the illustrations tell a slightly different story. Was this intentional on your part or did you and Paul Schmid collaborate on this or did Paul just have fun with the text? 

It was totally intentional on my part: that’s where the humor comes in! Surprisingly, though, Paul did not know that when he read the text, because all the illustrator notes had been removed. He read my mind and drew exactly what I’d been picturing (only much, much cuter!). I couldn’t believe it. He even got the surprise twist at the end. We did get to collaborate a bit during revisions, since we just happen to live near each other and were already friends. That was an amazing experience, and I love what it brought to the book!

Are there any other projects that you are working on that you can tell us about? Any new nonfiction projects?

My next project is a middle-grade series I’m co-authoring with my agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette, for Walden Pond Press. It’s called Two Truths and a Lie. I guess you could call it a hybrid, because every chapter has three stories—two are true and one is a hoax. We challenge the reader to try to spot the fake… and it is not easy! The first volume is scheduled to come out in 2017.

I’m also working on proposals for another MG nonfiction and a co-authored YA memoir, and I’m revising several picture books (mostly nonfiction) that are oh-so-close to being ready.

What is your writing routine like and do you have anywhere special that you like to write? (picture of work area is always welcome)

I’m not a morning person, so I do the reverse of what most productivity gurus (and successful authors) recommend. I can’t write first thing in the morning. I do less intense tasks like email and social media in the morning while I drink my coffee. Then I start writing later in the day once I’ve had a chance to wake up. My productivity is highest in the afternoon, so I try to set those hours aside for writing or revising.

I am supposed to be working at my treadmill desk: it’s great exercise, helps my neck and back stay happy, has a super workstation setup, and actually boosts my creativity and productivity by keeping me moving. My assistant hates when I do that, however, so all too often she persuades me to sit on the big comfy couch in the sunroom with her instead.

What has been your favorite letter/email or question from a child or teen? 

For Be a Changemaker, I received this note from a teacher: “I saw a student and his family today at student-led conferences. His mother thanked me profusely for showing him the book and said it was exactly what he's been looking for and that it changed his life.”

And, I’ve gotten two reviews for Emmanuel’s Dream that will always stand out for me, both from girls with limb differences:

Jordan wrote, “I think Emmanuel is a great example for me. The story literally is saying you can do anything as long as you try. The story makes me feel strong… that just makes me feel happy.”

And Keegan wrote, “I like seeing people that are similar to me in books because it’s like I know what they’re going through because I’ve gone through it myself. I’ve had people stare at me, laugh at me and whisper about me, loud or quiet. And Emmanuel stood up for us all, the disabled people, and I feel proud that I’m alive and going on healthy. I think that all of the other disabled people should, too.”

All three of those literally brought tears to my eyes. There’s nothing better than finding out your book connected with a reader in a meaningful way.

Since summer is my favorite time to catch up on reading, I love finding out what books are on other people's reading lists. Any fun beach reads on your list or other titles? 

One of my new favorite-books-of-all-time is The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough. You must read it this summer! It’s not a lighthearted romp, but it’s beautiful and gripping and unforgettable. Two others that I loved recently are Footer Davis Probably Is Crazy by Susan Vaught and Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison. Both of those two are a nice mix of adventure, humor, and seriousness. And I’m just finishing Arin Andrews’ Some Assembly Required, which is quite timely right now and I highly recommend.

As far as what’s on my to-read list for the summer, I’m really looking forward to book 2 of the Talker 25 series, Invisible Monsters by Joshua McCune (also not a lighthearted romp, I’m sure--the first was so gritty and thought-provoking!). I also can’t wait to read Jennifer Bertman’s Book Scavenger, Kelly Jones’ Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, and Cynthia Levinson’s Watch Out for Flying Kids! How Two Circuses, Two Countries, and Nine Kids Confront Conflict and Build Community. 

About the author: 
Laurie Ann Thompson's other books include Be a Changemaker and Emmanuel's Dream. From the day she was born, many of her best friends have had four legs and fur. She now lives with her husband, two children, a grouchy cat, and a disabled dog in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her website  or follow her on Twitter at @lauriethompson. 

To check all of the stops on the blog tour, see the schedule below:

6/6/15     Booking Mama     
6/8/15     Jean Reidy
6/9/15     Watch. Connect. Read.
6/10/15    5 Minutes for Books
6/11/15     Kid Lit Frenzy
6/12/15    Unleashing Readers
6/16/15    Anastasia Suen: Booktalking #kidlit  
6/19/15    Kirby's Lane
7/1/15      Library Lions

Complete the form below to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of MY DOG IS BEST.  Must have a US Mailing address to enter. 

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