Book Review and Giveaway: Big Cat, Little Kitty and One Wolf Howls. End Dec 19th

Big Cat, Little Kitty by Scotti Cohn illustrated by Susan Detwiler.

 

Giveaway Winner

Big cats are fierce predators that roam the world from the mountains to the deserts. How are these wild cats that hunt for their food the same as pet cats that might chase a mouse or ball of yarn? How are they different? Children learn the days of the week as they travel to seven different world habitats to meet the big cats, and then back home to compare and contrast the domestic cat s behavior to that of its relative. This book introduces children to counting and the months of the year as they watch the seasons change.

My Review: The author introduces us to seven wild cats like the tiger, cheetah, lion, snow leopard, cougar, jaguar, bobcat and pet cats in their different habitats. On different days of the week, each wild cat and the kitties are asked questions about whom they are and their habitat.

“Who are you?” asks a gibbon. “And whose jungle is this?” The big cat growls, “I am Tiger, and this is MY jungle.” She chases gibbon up a tree. That same night, a spider asked the same questions. The little kitty growls, I am Tiggy, and this is MY porch.” She chases spider under a plant stand.

What I found funny was when the tables were turned on the wild cat. When a bobcat steps out of the woods unto a fresh cut grass he saw sitting on a lawn a kitty and a dog. The wild cat bobcat asked, “Who are you? And whose backyard is this?” The dog growls and barks. “I am King.” Little kitty hisses and puffs out her fur. “I am Queenie.” Together they shout, “This is OUR backyard!” The bobcat screams and bounds across the lawn and disappears into the woods.

This book isn’t only a fun picture book but it’s full of 4 pages of educational activities like:

• What are cats and how are they related?
• Cats of the World: A map and matching activity
• Cat senses and adaptations
• Cat true and false questions

This is an easy to read book with great illustrations that will have any child interested in the world of animals. I highly recommend this book for classroom reading as it introduces children to counting.

Ages: 4 and up

Pages: 32

One Wolf Howls by Scotti Cohn illustrated by Susan Detwiler.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a wolf? What would you do in the cold winter months? Where would you sleep? What would you eat? Spend a year in the world of wolves in One Wolf Howls. This adventurous children’s book uses the months of the year and the numbers 1 through 12 to introduce children to the behavior of wolves in natural settings. The lively, realistic illustrations of Susan Detwiler complement the rhyming text and bring each month to life. From January to December, howl, frolic, and dance, while learning important lessons page-by-page!

My Review: I love the educational rhyming of this book that uses the months of the year and the numbers 1 through 12 to introduce children to the behavior of wolves in their natural environment. The story begins with one wolf who howls in the January moonlight and two wolves playing in February’s snowfall month to 12 wolves singing a December chorus.

It also provides 5 pages of educational facts and activities.

• Wolf Communications Matching Activity
• Wolf Fun Facts
• Wolf Life Cycle
• Wolf Calendar Activity
• Hunting
• Endangered Wolves

The realistic illustration by Susan Detwiler brings the book to life with the warm and cool colors.

Ages: 5 and up

Pages: 32

FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.

Giveaway Rules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There will be 2 winners

Author is giving away 1 copy of each book

This Giveaway is Open to the US ONLY.

Winners will be selected by Random.org

Giveaway Ends December 19th.

Comments like these would be deleted –  Great contest, Please enter me, Love to win this!, This is so cute!

1. Mandatory: First leave a comment about the review below. Leaving a helpful comment relating to this book would be appreciated and valid to the giveaway.

2. Mandatory Entry: Please click link below and read the author’s interview and leave a comment there 

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/interview-with-author-scotti-cohn/#respond

Do Not Forget to Click the link

above to leave Your Comment

  about the interview also!

 

This giveaway has ended!

Interview with Author Scotti Cohn

Bio: Scotti Cohn is a freelance writer and editor living in Pendleton, South Carolina. Born and raised in Illinois, Scotti began writing stories and poetry in elementary school, winning a state-wide poetry contest as a teenager. Scotti’s short stories and poems have appeared in numerous magazines for young people. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Scotti is the author of eight nonfiction books published by The Globe Pequot Press, as well as two children’s picture books published by Sylvan Dell Publishing. Her third picture book, which is about animal mass migrations, will be published by Sylvan Dell in 2013. http://www.scotticohn.com/

Interview with Scotti Cohn author of the Mom’s Choice Award for Big Cat, Little Kitty and One Wolf Howls.

I want to thank you for being my guest here on Mymcbooks Blog.

Thank you for inviting me, Ella!

What is the last book you read?

I just finished reading Bones of Faerie, a young adult fantasy novel by Janni Lee Simner, first published in 2009.

What was your favorite children’s book?

My favorites were Eloise by Kay Thompson (illustrated by Hilary Knight, published in 1955) and Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers (illustrated by Mary Shepard, published in 1934).

What were your earliest memories of writing?

I started writing stories and poems around 4th grade.

Were you encouraged to write or was it something that came natural?

A little of both. It was very natural for me to write stories and poems, plus I received a lot of encouragement from my parents and teachers.

Are you working on a new book?

Not at the moment. I have a young adult fantasy novel that needs revising, but I have not started anything new lately.

What inspired you to write Big Cat, Little Kitty and One Wolf Howls?

One Wolf Howls was inspired by a dream that prompted me to learn everything I could about wolves. The book came out of that. I wrote Big Cat, Little Kitty because I have always been fascinated by the similarities and differences between the big cats (lions, tigers, etc.) and domestic cats. I have had domestic cats as pets most of my life. At the moment, I have five of them.

Big Cat, Little Kitty received the Mom’s Choice Award, could you please explain this award and why it was important to receive it?  

The Mom’s Choice Awards® recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality, family-friendly media products and services. Entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost. The panel of judges includes Julie Aigner-Clark, creator of Baby Einstein, and Dr. Twila C. Liggett, founder of PBS’s Reading Rainbow. Parents, educators, librarians and retailers refer to this panel’s evaluations when looking for quality materials. It was a great honor to have Big Cat, Little Kitty receive a Mom’s Choice Gold Award for 2011 in the Children’s Books category.

What is the most difficult part of writing?

To me, the most difficult part of writing is turning an idea into a workable, publishable final product, whether it be a short story, novel, or poem. People often ask, “Where do you get your ideas?” as if that must be the difficult part. I am constantly coming up with ideas. The difficult part is turning them into something that “works.”

Do you write full time or do you still have a day job?

I am a freelance writer and editor, which means that I set my own schedule. I have to structure my time so that I can meet deadlines when necessary, and so that I have something to show at the end of the day for my investment of time and energy.

What do you do when you’re not writing or promoting your books?

I make jewelry, read, participate in a number of internet forums, and take care of my five cats. My husband and I also take trips to various parts of the country to visit family. http://jewelrybyscotti.blogspot.com/

How do you react to a bad review and have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

I can usually take a bad review in stride, although in one case, it really upset me because for a time, the bad review was the only review of a particular book posted on Amazon.com. I was relieved when a couple of other people posted positive reviews to offset that one. I experience writer’s block at some point in the process every time I write something. I find it helps to step away from the work mentally and focus on something else for awhile.

Who are some of your favorite authors you would love to dine with?

Cornelia Funke, Neil Gaiman, Terry Prachett, and Susan Cooper.

What author inspires you the most and why?

I write in more than one genre, so I have been inspired by different types of authors. Now that I think about it, none of my published books were inspired by any particular author. 

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?

I write every day, but I don’t really impose a schedule unless I have a deadline I need to meet. 

What do you hope that readers will take away from your book?

With all of my picture books, I hope readers will take away an appreciation for animals and a desire to make the world a better place for both animals and people. I donate a percentage of my royalties from my picture books to animal charities.

What advice would you give parents on selecting the right books for their children to read?

It seems to me that the most important thing is to read any book you are considering for your child. Read it all the way through, and decide if your child would learn from it, benefit from it, and enjoy it.

What advice you would give to new writers?

If you want to write, then write — but also be aware that if you want your book to be published and read by large numbers of people, you will need to network, market, and promote yourself and your book. Don’t be too quick to jump on the self-publishing bandwagon. There are advantages to having your book published by a traditional publisher, small or large.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Encourage your children to read by reading to them or with them. I am puzzled and dismayed when people tell me they aren’t going to purchase my picture books because their child or grandchild is “too young to read.” The time you spend reading to young children is something that both of you will always remember.

Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to the following winners.

The Winners were selected using Random.org 

#16 – nylne is the Winner of The Adventures of Rodger Dodger Dog

#1 – domestic diva is the Winner of Donovan’s Big Day

#3 – Heidi Grange is the Winner of Cixi, The Dragon Empress

#20 – Alicia C is the Winner of Stella The Fire Farting Dragon

#10 – Heidi Grange is the Winner of Sleepover at Gramma’s House

#13 – Larissa Brunken is the Winner of Dog Parade

#2 – Kelly Moran is the Winner of Frog’s P.E

#3 – Larissa Brunken is the Winner of Frog’s P.E

#9 – Jeryl M is the Winner of Cinderella’s Magical Wheelchair

#5 – Ann Council is the Winner of What do you use to help your body?

 

Thanks to all those who took part in this giveaways.

Winners has been notified.

Check back for giveaways going on now or coming soon!

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/category/free-giveaways/

Book Review and Giveaway: Colors of Me. Ends Dec 19th

Colors of Me by Brynne Barnes and illustrated by Annika M. Nelson

Intriguing collage illustrations frame this playful rhyme told through the eyes of a curious, creative young child who determines the whole world is full of color. Would I climb a tree striped orange and blue? Does the rain have a color when it makes a puddle? If flowers had no color, would they smell as sweet? The child comes to realize and appreciate a world filled with all colors that paint the earth and sky–and decides she’d like to be them all.

My Review: A playful rhyme book celebrating the colors of the world by questioning whether the rain has a color to does the grass knows if it’s green? And if the rain doesn’t think of our colors when it falls on our head then why do we have questions about race, ethnicity and diversity? Does a child know which color is important? NO!

Like the author mentioned, “The whole world is full of colors just like you and me.” Illustrator Annika Nelson used bold colors to bring this book to life. I highly recommend this book for classroom teaching.

Pages: 28

FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.

 

Giveaway Rules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author is giving a signed copy to 1 winner

This Giveaway is Open to the US ONLY.

Winner will be selected by Random.org

Giveaway Ends December 19th.

Comments like these would be deleted –  Great contest, Please enter me, Love to win this!, This is so cute!

1. Mandatory: First leave a comment on the review below. Leaving a helpful comment relating to this book would be appreciated and valid to the giveaway.

2. Mandatory Entry: Please click link below and read the author’s interview and leave a comment there 

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/interview-with-author-brynne-barnes/#comments

 

Do Not Forget to Click the link

above to leave Your Comment

  about the interview also!

Interview with Author Brynne Barnes

Brynne Barnes knows a secret–that the whole world is a giant coloring book and the most beautifully potent crayons are words, laughter, and song. Since earning her B.S. from the University of Michigan and M.A. in Creative Writing from Eastern Michigan University, she has been coloring the world with her pen from Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she writes books like these, poetry, and music. She also teaches writing atAdrianCollegeand theUniversityofPhoenix. This is her first picture book.

Brynne thoroughly enjoys visiting schools, libraries, and bookstores. For more information, please email her.

http://www.brynnebarnes.com/

Interview with Brynne Barnes author of Colors of Me

I want to thank you for being my guest here on Mymcbooks Blog

What is the last book you read?  

The last children’s book I read was Press Here by Herve Tullet and the last adult book I read was Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point.

What were your earliest memories of writing?

I have very early memories of words before I knew what words were.  I was always drawn to their magic, I suppose.  I would walk around the house with a book tucked underneath my arm, even before I could read.  Some kids had teddy bears; I had books.  As far as writing goes, the earliest memory I have of writing — I mean, really crafting a piece of writing — was in the 4th grade.  We had to write a paper about our summer vacation and I spent so much time creating something really descriptive.  It was the first time that I realized I was writing something — and enjoying the process of writing it.

Were you encouraged to write or was it something that came natural?

It was something that came naturally to me.  By the time I was 12 or 13, I was writing a lot of poetry and that was when I really knew that I loved to write.  Writing is a funny thing because your experience has to catch up with your writing ability.  I think it was Fran Lebowitz who said, “There are no prodigies in writing.  You have to know something to write it down.”  I remember really Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou and Judy Bloom and having the desire to write.  

Are you working on a new book?

This question made me smile because I’m always working on a new book.  There are two books right now that I’m shopping to publishers, but I am working on a new one aside from those.  I don’t want to say too much, but what I’m working on now is very different from anything else that I’ve ever done.  It’s a really fun story and I’m very excited about it.

What was your favorite children’s book?

This is such a difficult question.  I loved so many books as a child and I was reading all the time, but I can list a few of my all-time favorites:

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Miss Nelson Is Missing!

The Madeline series

The Berenstain Bears series

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Anything Dr. Seuss

What inspired you to write Colors of Me?

Many things.  But it’s largely due to how I grew up.  Unlike most children, race wasn’t something that I acquired at home.  In fact, I didn’t even know that it existed.  My parents never made mention of race; they never discerned between people that way.  So it was a foreign concept to me. And I didn’t understand it (and to be honest, I’m pretty sure I still don’t).

I was 6 or 7 years old and a group of kids in my class kept asking me “whether I was black or white.”  I had no clue what that meant.  But I didn’t want them to know that.  So I just shook my head or shrugged or said “Does it matter?” and that worked for a while.  But they were persistent.  And one day, I asked them to answer their own question:  What are you?  They said, “Black,” as if I should’ve somehow known that.  So I replied, “Then I’m Black, too.”  They gave each other a look.  And then they informed me that I was white.  I reasoned, “We’re in the same class; we play together at recess; we like the same things; we’re alike.  So if you’re Black, then I must be Black, too.”  They shook their heads and informed me that I wasn’t like them because I didn’t look like them.  After school, I went home and asked my parents about it.  After giving each other knowing looks, they explained it to me.  And for several weeks afterwards, I wondered why it mattered.  I don’t think I ever stopped wondering; but eventually, I did start writing.  I knew that I wasn’t the only one who needed a book like this as a child.

What is the most difficult part of writing?

Hmm.  That’s a good question.  A really good question.  I think the most difficult part is figuring out what it is that you’re really trying to say.  It’s really a wonderful form of self-discovery, but it’s not easy.  And once you’ve figured that out, then you need to figure out how to say it so that other people can understand it. These two tasks alone can take years.

What do you do when you’re not writing or promoting your books?

I’m teaching writing at Adrian College and at the University of Phoenix, cooking, making jewelry, reading, making music, spending time with my friends and family (in no particular order).  

How do you react to a bad review and have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

My reaction is usually a sense of relief that at least someone felt strongly enough about something I wrote to write it down — whether it’s good or bad.  The purpose of  Colors of Me is to inspire children’s (and adults’) thinking about how we view the world and one another.  So, I suppose, if someone has thoughts about the book, or a strong response to the book, then the book has done its job.    

Writer’s block is not territory that I’m familiar with.  However, I will say that when I feel the urge to express something in writing, if it doesn’t come to me in one form (words) then I’ll translate it into another (such as music or food, for example).  I think by engaging in other creative pursuits, it prevents writer’s block for me.  By the time I’m done making a song or cooking a meal, it’s dislodged whatever “block” I had.

What do you hope that readers will take away from your book?

I’m hoping that they take away a new perspective on how we view the world and each other.  I’m hoping that children will ask the questions that adults have forgotten to ask.  I want children to realize that the color of the thing isn’t the essence of the thing.   And I hope that adults will realize that maybe if we change the way we see the world, it’ll change the way we see each other. 

Who are some of your favorite authors you would love to dine with?

Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Barack Obama, Tracy K. Smith, Hill Harper, Judy Blume, Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith.

What author inspires you the most and why?

This changes daily.  I would have to say that today, it’s Lane Smith.  I love the innovation, humor and postmodernism in his work.  It’s simply wonderful.  I recently read “It’s a Book” and I’m still in love with it.  And I do miss the dynamic duo of him and Jon Scieszka.  

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?

I’m not really on a writing schedule per say.  In fact, I just write as much as I can, whenever I can.  I  approach writing with an enthusiastic urgency.  There is always the desire to “get something out.”  So that’s exactly what I do — on napkins, on scraps of paper, on my Blackberry, wherever.  If I can write for at least an hour everyday, then I’m on schedule.  (This still proves to be challenging, by the way.)  However, I will say that much of the writing process happens during the “incubation period.”  This is before I’ve birthed words or a clear vision.  I do much of my writing in my head.  And then, when it’s clear enough to me, I then begin the process of making it clear to other people.  By that time, I’m Not a day goes by that I don’t do some writing.

What advice would you give parents on selecting the right books for their children to read?

I think that sometimes parents tend to select many of one kind of book — educational, etc..  I think they need to expose their children to as many different types of books and writing styles as they possibly can.  Let them read about people different from themselves, about families and places and countries different from theirs.  Show them the possibilities, the limitlessness and the similarities of the world through books.  

What advice you would give to new writers?

Write with no abandon.  Write ferociously and fearlessly, like you’ve never written before.  Write what you love.  Believe what you write.   Rewrite until it almost hurts.  And then rewrite until it actually hurts.  Don’t just fall in love with the pen — with the first time / first draft. Fall in love with the process.  Rewrite as if it’s your last day on earth and this manuscript is the only thing from your life that will remain.  Oh yeah, and have fun.  

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Sure! If parents, teachers, librarians and kids would like to keep tabs on me or Colors of Me, then they should visit me at brynnebarnes.com where they can stay updated about readings, signings, contests, book give-aways, etc.  Also, readers can sign up for my newsletter (sent 2-4 times per year) which will keep them abreast of cool events and such.

 

Gratitude Giveaway Blog Hop Winners!

Congratulations to the following winners.

The Winners were selected using Random.org 

#80 – truwinner

#7 – Donna Lawrence

Thanks to all those who took part in this giveaways. Thank you for following Mymcbooks blog, thanks for your comments and kind words.

Winners has been notified.

Check back for giveaways going on now or coming soon!

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/category/free-giveaways/

 

 

Mommies Point Of View interview Ella Johnson of Mymcbooks Blog

 

The Importance of Education – Guest post by Ella Johnson

We as parent know that Education is a fundamental human right. Our children and every child in the world are entitled to it. Education is not only important but critical to our children’s development as individuals. Development leads to a successful future and we must ensure that our children must have a quality education. If the child doesn’t have the basic of comprehension in reading, it can slow down or hinder his or hers’ learning in all subjects. Reading is the fundamental skill of all learning.

 

Interview with Ella Johnson

Q – Can you tell us who Ella Johnson is and why this makes you you?

A – I was born in England, so am British by birth. I moved back to Nigeria with my family in the 70s. I attended College of Education and majored in Fine Arts and Education.  I taught Fine Arts from nursery school to secondary school level before moving back to England. I live with my American husband inFlorida and own my own business.

Q – How long have you been blogging?

A – I started blogging April 2009

Q – How could other bloggers help you with what you do?

A – Well, they can help my reposting my giveaways on their blogs. This will help more parents take part in the free book giveaways and for a chance to win free books for their children or their classroom library. I used to feature bloggers’ giveaways on my blog and am about to start again under ‘Freebies’.http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/get-freebies/

Q – Would you like to tell us about your family and how they feel about what you do?

A – My husband is from Cleveland and is very supportive of what I do.  

To read more visit http://www.mommiespointofview.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment there.

 

 

 

Small Business Saturday

 

It’s going to be a big day for small business. Time to show your support for small business by shopping small on the 26th of November. Visit Memorable Children Books & Gifts and show your support by placing an order.

Visit http://www.mcbooksandgifts.com/ today and select from a wide range of Disney Personalized Books, Clocks, Placemats or DVDs. While you’re there check out the Educational Puzzles,Giggles for Babies, Alphabet Wooden Blocks, Alphabet Kids Books, Books Just for Kids, Audio Children’s Books, Glee Shopper/Lunch Bags, Personalized Keepsake Blankets and many more . Thank you.

Book Review and Giveaway: Babyberry Pie. Ends Dec 19th

Babyberry Pie written by Heather Vogel Frederick and illustrated by Amy Schwartz.

How do you bake a babyberry pie? Pick one wiggly baby from the babyberry tree. Pop him in the tub and scrub clean. Add sugar to his nose and toes. Tuck him into a warm pie crust. And don’t forget a kiss goodnight!

That’s the perfect recipe for a babyberry pie—and a playful, peaceful bedtime. (Just don’t let that little giggleberry wiggle away!)

My Review: This modern day lullaby plays on words of a “sweet little Berrybaby Pie”.  This story has the potential to be the next classic lullaby such as “Rock-a-by Baby” or “The Itsy bitsy Spider”.  Give your imagination a chance and don’t think too much into the story or the plot.  Just recite the cute little verses in rhyme to soothe your little one off to sleep every night.  The artwork is charmingly done and endears the story as it goes along.  The Berrybaby proves to be rambunctious as are most toddlers that need to be put down for the night.  This just adds a sense of both reality and adventure for the little one you’re reading too.  This little jewel with its endearing artwork has the potential to be a classic that will be part of your child’s favorite memories.

A perfect bedtime story and I highly recommend this book.

Ages: 3 and up

Pages: 40 

FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.

 

Giveaway Rules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author is giving a signe copy to 1 winner

This Giveaway is Open to the US ONLY.

Winner will be selected by Random.org

Giveaway Ends December 19th.

Comments like these would be deleted –  Great contest, Please enter me, Love to win this!, This is so cute!

1. Mandatory: First leave a comment on the review below. Leaving a helpful comment relating to this book would be appreciated and valid to the giveaway.

2. Mandatory Entry: Please click link below and read the author’s interview and leave a comment there 

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/interview-with-author-heather-vogel-frederick/#comments

Do Not Forget to Click the link

above to leave Your Comment

  about the interview also!

 

This giveaway has ended!

Interview with Author Heather Vogel Frederick

Before I became a writer, I was a reader—and still am.

I was born inPeterborough,New Hampshireinto a family of bookworms, and spent most of my childhood holed up in the library or in my bedroom, reading. My mother used to say that if Heather had her nose in a book, the house would have to burn down around her before she’d sit up and take notice! Those are the best books, though, aren’t they? The ones that take your imagination by storm and spirit you off into a different world?

My father was an elementary schoolteacher and principal, and every night before bed he’d read to me and my two younger sisters. He’s a talented actor (he performs in plays on Cape Codall the time) and always came up with great voices for the characters. I think his finest role was as Aunt Sponge in Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, performed in our living room.

I was also fortunate enough to be born into a family of what my grandmother called “big talkers”—talented storytellers, especially the women. I loved to hide behind chairs and sofas when my mother and grandmother and aunts got together and eavesdrop on their stories. My grandmother’s were the funniest and the best, and I begged to hear about her childhood in ruralNova Scotia over and over again.

I wrote lots of stories growing up—including a whole novel during rest hours at summer camp one year—and my sisters and I would often put on plays. Since I was the oldest and bossiest sister, I always got the lead. Our middle sister, who was skinny and had short hair (the dreaded “pixie cut”), always got stuck with the boy parts, and we made our little sister take the animal roles. Once, memorably, she was even a vegetable (the pea in “The Princess and the Pea”). We had a lot of fun.

The summer after I turned 11, my family moved toEnglandfor a while, where we lived in a 400-year-old stone cottage on the edge ofCharnwoodForest. To this day I dream about that house—its cheerful pink kitchen, two-foot-thick walls, and especially its thatched roof full of birds. I still think it’s the perfect house. Just down the street inBradgateParkwere the ruins of the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey, who at sixteen ruledEnglandfor a mere nine days. I loved to wander in those ruins, then sit in my bedroom’s deep windowsill and write stories about castles and knights in shining armor and doomed teenage queens.

I continued to write stories for my own amusement throughout middle school and high school. Later, in college, I majored in English Literature and German. As a lark during the final quarter of my senior year, I signed up for a children’s literature course. The instructor, a wonderfully passionate children’s librarian who quickly became a dear friend, rekindled my interest in this genre, and it was then that I decided I would write books for young readers some day.

To read more visit http://www.heathervogelfrederick.com/about/about03.html

Interview with Heather Vogel Frederick author of Babyberry Pie

I want to thank you for being my guest here on Mymcbooks Blog

What is the last book you read? “Jane Eyre” — I just re-read it because my fictional book club will be reading it in the next mother-daughter book club installment.

What were your earliest memories of writing? I can hardly remember a time when I didn’t write!  I have a very clear memory of one of the first stories I wrote in school, though.  I was in the second grade, and my teacher put up pictures of familiar product advertisements as a prompt, and had us choose one and write a story using it in some way.  I wrote a story called “The Clever Giant” that somehow combined Spaghettios and Bosco the clown (he advertised a syrup used in chocolate milk when I was growing up).  My literary debut!

What was your favorite children’s book? Oh wow, I had so many.  Half-Magic.  The Wolves of WilloughbyChase.  The Borrowers.  Mr. Popper’s Penguins.  The Four-Story Mistake.  Charlotte’s Web.  Mary Poppins.  There’s no way I could pare it down to just one.  

Were you encouraged to write or was it something that came naturally? My father was a huge influence in my life — he taught me to read when I was four, and he read aloud to me and my sisters just about every night until we were in college!  He also encouraged me to write, and kept me in paper and pens and notebooks.  He put a copy of Strunk and White’s “Elements of Style” into my Christmas stocking when I was 12.  At the same time, writing also came naturally to me — telling stories is just something I’ve always loved to do.
Are you working on a new book? I am!  I just finished final revisions on “Once Upon a Toad,” a middle-grade novel that’s coming out this spring.  It’s a fractured fairy tale, which is something different for me.  And I’m in also in the process of writing the sixth mother-daughter book club installment.
What inspired you to write Babyberry Pie? There’s a funny story behind this book.  I was picking boysenberries a couple of summers ago, for jam and for a pie.  I got to thinking that “boysenberry” was an odd name for a berry.  Then I got to wondering why there weren’t any “girlsenberries”?  From there my mind leaped to “babyberries,” and then right on that thought’s heels came the words “babyberry pie.”  I knew instantly that this was a great title.  (Writers tend to do this — noodle around with words and language.)  At any rate, I had the title first, and had to come up with a story to go with it.

What is the most difficult part of writing? Making myself sit down and do it.  There are a bazillion distractions in life, many of them quite legitimate.  There’s always a load of laundry that needs to be thrown in, or dogs who need walking, or meals that need preparing, and so on.  Once I finally sit down and focus, things start to flow.  But it’s the getting there that’s often difficult.
What do you do when you’re not writing or promoting your books? I love to hang out with my husband and my family.  I garden and read and hike and go to movies.  Walk the dogs.  Just very ordinary things.

How do you react to a bad review and have you ever suffered from writer’s block? I’ve had my share of bad reviews.  They sting, there’s no denying that.  But I also reviewed books myself for many years, and I know for a fact that a review is simply one individual’s opinion.  So I pull up my socks, as my mother would say, and get over it. As for writer’s block, it occasionally shows up on my doorstep, but I try not to buy what it’s selling.  I can’t afford to!  I’ve been writing for a living for many moons now, first as a journalist and now as a novelist, and I have a very practical attitude about my job.  I need to show up at my desk and write. Not everything that spills out my pen on a given day is going to be deathless prose.  Some of it will end up in the trash.  Maybe a lot of it will end up in the trash.  But I show up, and I write.  

If I get stuck (which is the term I prefer, as “block” sounds so permanent), I tend to do something physical:  walk the dogs, do some housecleaning, swim some laps.  There’s something about physical activity that, for me at least, almost always jars an idea loose, and then I’m ready to go again.

 What do you hope that readers will take away from your book? The feeling that they are loved and safe.  I hope they laugh, too!
What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.? Again, I’ve been making a living by my pen for over 25 years, so I am extremely disciplined about my work.  This is my job.  Yes there’s flexibility, and yes sometimes I show up for my job in my pajamas.  But I always show up.  I’m a morning person, so am usually at my desk by 8 or 9.  Mornings are reserved for creative work; afternoons for the business work.  As for my goal, it’s always to write the best book I possibly can.

What advice would you give parents on selecting the right books for their children to read? Take them for a test drive (the books, not your kids).  Go to the library or bookstore.  Browse.  Pay attention.  What attracts your eye?  What tickles your ear?  Chances are that the books that appeal to you will also appeal to your kids.  Also, make friends with your local librarian.  They know EVERYTHING and are fabulous resources.  ”My son loves stories about trucks — what can you recommend?”  No problem.  They’ve got it covered.
What advice you would give to new writers? Be patient with yourself.  It may take a while to get published, so enjoy the journey.  Take the time to learn your craft.  Take yourself seriously, and invest in yourself.  I have a whole shelf of books on craft that I’ve accumulated over the years.  Take a workshop or two.  Join SCBWI.  Also, read for pleasure, but read analytically as well.  I re-read “Charlotte’s Web” every year just to look over E. B. White’s shoulder and see how he does it.  I learn something new every time.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? The best gift you can give your child is the gift of YOU.  And what better way to share YOU with your child than by taking the time to read together?  Whether it’s a picture book or a novel, when you enter the world of the story together, something magic happens.  It’s powerful, and it’s memorable, and it’s unique. 

Thank you for this interview.