LET’S ALL SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Chana Stiefel’s newest picture book that launches TODAY:
Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to WAKAWAKALOCH, Happy Birthday to You!
MY NAME IS WAKAWAKALOCH
Written by Chana Stiefel
Illustrated by Mary Sullivan
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers (August 27, 2019)
Here’s a bit about the book:
No one can pronounce Wakawakaloch’s name. Why couldn’t she be called something simple . . . like Gloop? That’s a name you can find on a T-shirt! But after a visit with her village’s elder, Wakawakaloch discovers what her name means, and how powerful names can be. Gloop may be easy to say, but the girl who helps her friends embrace differences and wear their names proudly? Her name is Wakawakaloch!
Folks, I’ve read the story and it is full of heart and humor – definitely a must-have for every home bookshelf and school library!
Here’s a bit about the author:
Chana Stiefel is the author of more than 25 books for kids about exploding volcanoes, stinky castles, and creepy critters. Her picture books include MY NAME IS WAKAWAKALOCH!, illustrated by Mary Sullivan (HMH, 8-27-2019) and DADDY DEPOT, illustrated by Andy Snair (Feiwel & Friends, 2017). Recent non-fiction titles include ANIMAL ZOMBIES, BLOOD-SUCKING BEASTS, CREEPY CREATURES & OTHER REAL-LIFE MONSTERS (National Geographic Kids, 2018), which was selected as a Top Ten YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers in 2019. Chana’s next picture book, LET LIBERTY RISE (illustrated by Chuck Groenink, Scholastic, 2021), reveals the true story of how children helped build the Statue of Liberty. Chana loves visiting schools and libraries and sharing her passion for reading and writing with children. She earned a Master’s degree in Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting from New York University. Chana is represented by agent John M. Cusick at Folio Literary. Follow her @chanastiefel on FB, Twitter, and Instagram. To hear Chana pronounce her name, click here. Learn more at chanastiefel.com.
By the way, the illustrations are fabulous – if you want to find out more about the artist:
And lucky for us, there is a book trailer which you will absolutely LOVE:
And guess what?
The lovely Chana is offering a brand-new, hot-off-the-press copy of WAKAWAKALOCH to one lucky winner…please leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. And remember that the best way to show an author that you love a book is to:
Ask your library to purchase a copy for their collection
I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week. Please stop by this weekend when we have ANOTHER awesome back to back Perfect Picture Book Friday and Will Write for Cookies with author Barry Wittenstein and his newest picture book: A Place to Land: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Speech that Inspired a Nation which also launched today.
Looking forward to reading this one. I taught elementary school for a few years. That first week of school I had the students tell me their names instead of calling them out from a list out of fear I may mispronounce them.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
I can’t wait to add this book to my personal library and my grandsons’ school library. Happy Book Birthday Chana and Mary and WAKAWAKALOCH!
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Looking forward to reading this one. I taught elementary school for a few years. That first week of school I had the students tell me their names instead of calling them out from a list out of fear I may mispronounce them.
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